A/N: I do not in any way, shape or form own the Twilight Series. And this story starts about three years after the books end.
Chapter One
"You know, you didn't have to come with me right? I am old enough to fly by myself and I'm also old enough to take care of myself too." Jodi Wyler, a seventeen year old girl stated with a lopsided grin as she shifted a large black bag over her right shoulder. A man to her right, who looked to be in his mid-forties, playfully rolled his eyes at his daughter's statement. "You don't want your parents to travel with you? How cruel of you," He whined childishly, before slinging an arm around the teenage girl's neck and hugged her to his side in a tight grasp which made the bag on her shoulder drop to the floor. "Dad," Jodi giggled with a soft whine as a soft blush began to bloom on her peachy cheeks. "You're embarrassing me!" The older man laughed deeply with a wide smile, before his smile turned into a playful yet evil grin. "Oh, believe me I have not even come close to embarrassing you yet!"
Jodi wriggled in her father's tight embrace for a few minutes before she whined and glanced around her father's side to give her mother a sad, sympathetic pout. The elder woman laughed at the two, but shook her head and looked away as she tried to suppress a grin. "Momma, that's not fair!" Jodi pouted and sniffed as she tried to act upset, but the grin tugging at her lips made her act more obvious. Her façade quickly fell when her father playfully goosed her in the side and she let out a loud squeal that caused everyone in the airport to glance their way. "Dad, stop it!" She squealed and thrashed about when he did it again, laughing all the while. "Rory, try not to embarrass her too much," The woman laughed softly when her husband grinned and childishly poked his tongue out at her. "You, my dear take all the fun out of the game!" He announced loudly before goosing his wife in the side as well.
"Rory!" She jumped with a loud yelp and glared at him, though her glare wasn't even remotely stern. Rory grinned at the blush that suddenly fell over her face, before moving to pinch his wife again, only to have her gently slap his offending hand away and move further away from him. Rory grinned down at his daughter, before he gently released her to go over to her mother. "Rory, no, I mean it, now stop." Her mother frowned and straightened her back in a defensive pose, but as soon as her husband was within arm's length she turned around and ran. Jodi's eyes rolled at the sight of her father literally chasing after her mother around the airport like a couple of hormonal teenagers, but she smiled at them. Things were never boring when they were around, though her father was usually the one who started a commotion. Her mother was the more laid back and mature parent, but thankfully she had a good sense of humor and patience otherwise Jodi had a feeling her father would be divorced by now.
"Hey there little boy," A cheerful older man's voice called out from behind, just before the shocked teenager was suddenly engulfed in a tight bear hug. "Delwyn Elias Wyler, don't just tackle your granddaughter so suddenly you old fart, you'll give her a heart attack!" An older woman's voice scolded and a muffled 'pop' was heard before the man whined and let go of the shell-shocked, but snickering teenager. "Was that really necessary, honey?" Delwyn asked rubbing the back of his head, where his wife had so kindly slapped him for his transgression. "Obviously, you probably just scared five years out of her." The woman scorned with her hands set firmly on her hips. Delwyn chuckled softly and gently elbowed his snickering granddaughter in the ribs. "Can't argue with that old woman, now can I?" He asked with a grin that was hereditary, as the teenager gave him an identical grin that she had inherited from her father. "Don't worry about it gramps, I still have many more years ahead of me, I can stand to lose a few." Jodi replied with a grin, but tried to hide it when she saw the evil look her grandmother was sending her grandfather.
"Old woman, am I?" She asked with a dark look and made to step towards her husband but was suddenly engulfed in a hug. "Mom, dad is wrong you are definitely not old in any way," Rory complimented and a blush rose to his mother's face, even though she tried to be angry. It had always been said that there was something about the Wyler men that made all women, no matter how stern or moody, turn into mush when they smiled or laughed. Thankfully Jodi was exempt from the mushy part. Her father told her that she was exempt only because she had the feminine equivalent of their charms. She didn't quite believe him, but she was certain that she had inherited many of her father and grandfather's traits, such as their playful attitude and smile. She did however inherit a couple of her mother's traits, such as her mother's extreme ticklishness, which was her father's favorite form of playful torture especially when she or her mother was in a bad mood.
"So how long are you going to be with us?" Delwyn asked with a grin as he wrapped his granddaughter in a softer embrace. Jodi returned his hug and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure, how does all summer sound?" She asked with a grin. "That sounds great," He replied with a wide smile and a tightened hug. "Yes, your grandfather is right of once," Her grandmother agreed with a small pointed glare at her husband before wrapping Jodi in another tight hug, before holding the seventeen-year-old at arm's length so she could get a better look at her. "My look how much you've grown, so beautiful," The older woman cooed softly as she looked over her granddaughter with misty eyes. "Thanks grandma," Jodi smiled and hugged the older woman tightly, as she tried to wipe her tears away without them being seen by anyone else. When the elder woman managed to stop her tears she hugged the teen once more before they turned towards the rest of the group.
"It's good to see you again Cameron," Jodi heard her grandmother say and smiled when her mother was suddenly enveloped in a hug by her grandmother. Cameron laughed softly and returned the hug, "It's good to see you too momma Rose, I must admit I think I'm missed your cooking the most." Cameron admitted with a somewhat sheepish smile. The older woman just laughed good-naturedly and shook her head while trying to hide the blooming pink on her cheeks at the younger woman's complement. "Oh shush now, it's not good to tease an old woman like that you know." The two older women suddenly giggled and Jodi playfully rolled her eyes at their goofiness, already used to her somewhat crazy family.
"Well son are you and Cameron going to stay awhile or is it just gonna be the little boy," Delwyn asked after shaking hands with his son and hugging his daughter-in-law. Rory gave his father a wistful smile but shook his head, "Sorry pops, Cameron and I are stuck in Little Rock with work, but we'll try out hardest to come down sometime this summer." Delwyn nodded his head in understanding, but smiled when his granddaughter and wife stopped to stand next to him. "Well, you two are going to miss a great summer. Jodi here is going to break some more horses for me, since she did such a good job last time. We just bought four three-year-old mustangs from Wyoming and they're barely green broke." Rory laughed and nodded his head in remembrance of when he was young and spent his summers doing the same thing his daughter loved so much.
"Sounds like fun to me, when can we start?" Jodi grinned in excitement, which made everyone around her laugh and grin in return. She had been waiting a long time for her grandparents to buy some more horses that needed training. She loved helping around the small ranch her grandparents owned and handing horses was her deepest passion. "We'll start as soon as you're ready," Her grandfather chuckled playfully ruffling her hair. "But first we gotta make sure you got the right equipment for the job." He informed her and Jodi smirked. "My boots are in my black bag along with my hat, gloves and work clothes." Delwyn laughed loudly at her enthusiasm. She was a shorter female version of him when he was her age.
"She's been on pins and needles ever since January and couldn't stop talking about how much she wanted to start helping her grandpa break some horses again." Her father laughed and affectionately ruffled her hair which caused his daughter to send him a faux angry glare. "And," Her mother started with a grin, "She has something ask you papa Del." Cameron gave her daughter an encouraging look. All eyes turned to the grinning teenager, whose grin widened into a smile. "Grandpa, I was wondering if I could keep one of the horses this time." Delwyn gave her a thoughtfully stern look before he nodded his agreement. "You can, as long as I approve of the horse." He told her and was quickly enveloped in a lung crushing bear hug by his excited granddaughter.
"Well," Rory sighed heavily and looked at his wife's sad smile before turning back to his parents and daughter when an announcement rang over the airport intercom. "I guess we'd better get going before the plane takes off without us." Jodi's eyes darkened but she smiled when her father grabbed her up in a headlock and began to run his knuckles over her head. "Take care of yourself kid and have fun." Rory whispered before he pecked her on the temple and nudged her away and towards her mother. "Call us when you have time and send pictures of the horse you pick," Her mother told her as she pulled her daughter into a much softer hug. "I will momma, I promise." Jodi replied with a reassuring smile and slowly let her arms drop to her sides, before she reached down and grabbed her black bag off the floor.
"Do you want us to wait with you?" Jodi asked her eyes flicking to the nearest clock to check the time. "Nah, ya'll have a good drive back to Forks and the plane is already starting to load up, so we'd better go." Rory grinned, gently punching his daughter in the shoulder and immediately dodging her play punch afterwards. "Cheater," Jodi commented with a small smile and a roll of her eyes. "Cheater," Rory mocked in a high pitched mocking tone, before rolling his eyes overdramatically. "Get outta here or you'll miss the plane, old man," Jodi rebuked and good-naturedly shoved her father towards the terminal gate. Cameron rolled her eyes at her husband's immaturity, grabbed his arm and started to drag him away from his parents and daughter. She knew he was halfheartedly trying to make them miss the flight so he could stay on the ranch and get away from work. "Take care T-boy!" Rory called dramatically before disappearing around the corner with a wave.
Roseanne sighed heavily and shook her head. Her son was something else that was for sure. "That boy will never grow up," She spared a glance at her husband and granddaughter only to see them trading jokey punches over who would carry Jodi's luggage. "Just like his father, it must be hereditary." She muttered but made no move to near the two. As she studied the duo she noted that Jodi had inherited her father and grandfather's mischievously playful, yet responsible cloud-gray eyes and personality, but her mid-back length blonde hair that reminded the elder woman of dirty dishwater was uniquely hers. It wasn't her mother's dark blonde or her father's rich cinnamon brown, which had been inherited from his father and it most certainly wasn't her own, which was a deep rich black color.
"Alright that's enough fooling around you two," Roseanne chided them and grabbed the two bags at their feet before either one of them could argue against her. Roseanne only made it about two yards away before she heard two sets of footfalls start to follow after her. "Here let me take those Rose," Delwyn said and moved to take the bags, but stopped short when his wife's blue eyes narrowed dangerously at him. Delwyn gave her an innocent grin and held his hands up in silent defeat, before dropping back to walk with his granddaughter. "She looks really mad this time; did you do something before we got here?" Jodi asked in a soft whisper all the while keeping her eyes on her grandmother. Jodi's eyebrow rose in question when she saw her grandfather give a guilty grin and scratched the back of his neck. "Eh, yeah kind of," He chuckled but said no more. "She'll get over it though," Delwyn gave a reassuring grin and Jodi silently nodded, knowing that he was right.
"So, little boy you wanna get something to eat before we leave?" Jodi smiled abashedly when her stomach answered for her. "Guess that's a yes then," Her grandfather laughed heartily and cautiously handed over the truck keys to his testily wife, who snatched the keys out of his hand and quickly jumped into the dark forest green Jeep Gladiator and started it without saying a word. When Jodi and Delwyn were in the truck and safely buckled in Roseanne turned to Jodi with a smile. "Where would you like to eat honey?" She asked pleasantly, her face void of any negative emotions as she blatantly ignored her husband. Jodi smiled back feeling a bit sorry for her grandfather, but curious as to what he could have done this time to make her grandmother so angry. "Um, how does Chinese sound?" She asked glancing at both of her grandparents who quickly nodded their ascent.
"Chinese it is then," Roseanne smiled and shifted the truck into drive before pulling out of the airport parking lot as a barrage of eighties songs began to play. Jodi recognized the songs as soon as they began, as it was the soundtrack to her grandfather's favorite movie: Footloose. Jodi and her grandfather both began to softly sing and nod their heads when Quiet Riot's song Bang Your Head started playing. When the song went off and the next track began to play Delwyn turned the volume down a couple notches. "Are you still planning to go to Veterinary College after the summer?" He asked interestedly, "Yep, I'm pretty sure that I'll either go to LSU or Texas A&M but I'm not sure which one yet 'cause maw-maw Ellen and paw-paw Ryan want me to be able to visit them more often, but mom wants me to be closer so she can get to me faster if something unexpected happens."
Delwyn nodded his head in understanding, also wanting his granddaughter to be able to visit more often but he refrained from speaking because it was ultimately Jodi's choice and no one else's. "Just go where ever you want honey. Do what makes you happy," Roseanne told Jodi with a smile and a gentle pat on her jean covered legs. Jodi smiled back and nodded her head. "Yes ma'am, I will." Roseanne smiled back proud of her only grandchild for growing into such a good, responsible young woman. "Hope it doesn't rain," Jodi muttered, as she slipped out of the truck, her eyes on the dark cloudy grey sky that threatened precipitation. The Gladiator was small, especially with three grown people in the front, so her bags were in the back and there was no covering. "Don't worry honey the forecast said we wouldn't get any rain for almost a week." Roseanne reassured before the two women followed after Delwyn who held open the door for them as they entered the restaurant.
The three spent a little over an hour or so in the restaurant eating and talking about what all had been going on in their lives and what had happened since their last meeting, before leaving for Forks. Jodi was pleasantly surprised to find out that her grandparents had built on to their house and added three more rooms with full size adjourning bathrooms, plus a den and they had also bought five more acres to add to their fifteen. Over the course of their conversation Jodi finally found out why her grandmother was angry with her grandfather. Apparently, he brought home a little female mixed breed border collie, that her grandfather named Jip, and never took her to get fixed and she ended up having a litter of six pups that they can't give away. The pups were said to be around six weeks old and already quite lively as well as looking just like a pure bred border collie, just like the mother. Least to say Jodi was ecstatic, but tried not to show too much excitement because of her grandmother's irritation on the subject.
On the way back to the ranch, Jodi nodded off about thirty minutes into the ride and slept peacefully for an hour and a half. About an hour or so afterwards the Gladiator pulled up to a remote two-story house surrounded by a deep and rather creepy looking forest, a good eight or ten miles outside of the town Forks. The house sat directly center of the twenty acres with the garage attached to the left side and the barn with the tool shed behind the house along with the back pasture where the animals were kept. The front part of the house was fenced in on both sides of the long driveway with a selection of fruit and nut trees, as well as a variety flowers planted alongside the fence rows. The fence and house had an antique yet homey appearance that Jodi loved. Jodi had always loved her grandparent's ranch, especially in the spring when everything was in bloom.
"Well little boy, what do you think?" Delwyn asked as Jodi silently eyed the house and grounds with a loose jaw. Jodi was speechless for a few moments. "I-It's awesome!" She finally managed to spit out with a wide smile. "How did you guys afford all this?" Both of her grandparents laughed and her grandfather winked at her before telling her that it was a secret. Jodi rolled her eyes and grabbed one of her bags before her grandfather could. "My old room is still in the same place, right?" She asked with a mock smart-alecky tone and a prissy cock of her head. "Of course, your grandma washed the sheets this morning and dusted several times before we left, so it should be just as you left it." Delwyn informed with a chuckle, as he pushed open the front door with his foot to let Jodi and Roseanne in.
Roseanne led the way up to Jodi's old room, which had once been her father's before he moved out. "Ya'll got new furniture too?" Jodi asked in bewilderment, but was unable to stop and gape as her grandfather nudged her up the staircase. "Yep," Her grandfather nodded. "We also re-did the floors about three months ago too." Her grandmother said over her shoulder. "Sweet," Jodi mouthed with a grin while her grandparents openly laughed at her childish wonderment. "Here we are," Roseanne voiced cheerfully as she opened a familiar door. Jodi smiled as she set her bag down by the bed. The room looked neither completely male oriented nor female and instead had a small flare of both, with the walls being almost completely covered in paintings, awards and photographs. The awards belonged to her grandpa, her father and some of them even belonged to Jodi herself. The paintings were mostly of horses or equine related, but there were a couple wolf ones in the mix as well as a few others. Jodi's favorite piece of art in the whole room was the sky blue plaque hanging on the back side of her door that read, Manure Occureth with a star in-between the two words.
"How does it feel?" Roseanne couldn't help but ask. She was a little worried that Jodi would no longer want to stay with them since she was a seventeen year-old woman now and looked nothing like the little dirt covered tomboy she once was. Jodi turned to her grandmother with a sincere smile. "It feels great to be back," She said softly before she sat on the edge of the bed and started to untie her sneakers. After she pulled off her shoes she quickly opened her black bag and pulled out her dark brown boots, her straw sand colored cowboy hat and a hair tie. She hastily slipped on her boots, snapped her hair in a low pony tail and put her hat on, before jumping to her feet with a wide grin and bright eyes. Delwyn laughed and silently motioned her to follow him already knowing exactly what she wanted, while Roseanne smiled holding back happy tears. Even though she was turning eighteen in a few months as well as going to head off to college and make a life for herself, Jodi was still the same little girl she had once been and Roseanne couldn't have been happier to find out.
Delwyn grabbed his white Shantung cowboy hat off the coat rack at the door and put it on, before opening the door to let Jodi walk out first. "So," Delwyn grinned and turned to look at his granddaughter. "What do you want to do first, go see the pups or the horses?" Jodi laughed and was silently thoughtful for a minute before turning back to her grandfather and asking. "Where are the pups?" Delwyn wrapped his arm around her shoulders and steered her towards the tool shed. As they neared the tool shed and the half closed door the sound of whining puppies and scurrying movement became louder. Delwyn was the first to reach the door and pulled it further open, but left the door partially closed. "Hey babies," Jodi heard her grandfather coo to the puppies who became louder in excitement at seeing a familiar face. Jodi watched as a seemingly miniature version of a border collie trotted up to her grandfather with a wagging tail, while six small bundles of fur tried to chase after their mother.
"C'mon Jodi, you're going to be a vet aren't ya? Get over here and meet Jip and the brood," Her grandfather ordered while scratching the happy momma dog behind her ears. Jodi approached with a cautious air, knowing that the dog had never met her before and would probably not like it if she just approached without warning. The black and white Border collie eyed Jodi for a few minutes with her intense topaz gaze before cautiously easing up to smell her outstretched hand. After the little collie dog sniffed her out and took in Jodi's scent, she started to bathe the grey eyed girl in kisses. "Are they Hunter's pups?" Jodi asked when she saw that two out of the six puppies were a reddish brindle and white just like her grandparent's old border collie. "Yep, he died about a month after I brought Jip home and then these six arrived so I'm assuming they are." Her grandfather nodded as he gently picked up the two red brindle coated puppies for emphasis, while the two black and white pups played at Jodi's feet.
Jodi found them all cute and adorable, but the ones that caught her eye the most was the two odd ball ones biting at her grandfather's pants. One was a pretty chocolate and white, while the other was a strange bluish dark gray color and white. "Ah, I see you've spotted the troublesome duo," He grandfather laughed and sat the two brindle pups down before he grabbed the two odd coated pups up and handed them to Jodi who took them into her arms with great care. "They're beautiful," Jodi smiled and rubbed the rambunctious pups between the eyes gently so as to soothe them. "Yeah that they are, Hunter's dad was a liver color, just like the little female and I think one of his grandparents was a blue-gray like that little male too." Delwyn commented while playfully wrestling with the two brindle pups, that were obviously his favorites of the six. Jodi smiled remembering an old saying about an old man and his dog.
"Rose won't let me name them, says she'll hurt me if I do." Delwyn laughed softly and Jodi grinned. There was quite a bit of truth to his words of that she was certain. "But, I doubt she'll get mad if you do," Jodi looked up from the two pups in her arms only to catch his wink. "Oh no," She laughed shaking her head, but silently wanted to keep them all. "Grandma would wring both our necks and you know it." She told the laughing older man who just pat the two brindle puppies again before he put them back on their bed of blankets and dog pillows. Jodi reluctantly did the same with the four by her and slowly rose out of her crouched position before following after her grandfather. "Ready to see the new horses," He asked after moving the door back to its original place. "You bet," Jodi replied with an excited grin.