A/N: I know it has been forever but I think it was worth the wait! Carry on...notes at the bottom!

Chapter 4

By the time the rodeo at San Antonio was over, Edward and I were all but inseparable. We would spend as much time as we could together during the day. If he wasn't riding, he would come to the farrier's area and work on his tack while I shoed horses and chatted with clients. If I wasn't working, I would watch him compete, cheering him on, and he would do the same for me. Every night after getting cleaned up, he would very correctly pick me up at Esme's door, hat in hand. We would go out to dinner or a movie. After our date, he would drop me back off at my door with heated kisses and a goodnight that included his crooked grin and a tip of his hat.

It had been two weeks of heaven, but I was starting to wonder. He certainly wasn't afraid to be seen in public with me; he took me everywhere. Dinners out, movies, bowling, even the judges and riders dinners hosted by the various rodeos we attended. But we had never truly been alone. Our relationship hadn't gone any further than the toe-curling kisses that left me wanting every night. I would go to bed alone in Esme's motorcoach aching to be held and wondering if there was something wrong with me.

The next weekend at the Glen Rose rodeo had me in the money, coming in second to Alice in the Barrel Racing with Esme right behind me in the standings. The Pole Bending saw Alice and Esme eating Rocket's dust when I beat them by a solid second and half. Again, Edward was cheering the loudest, waiting for me at the finish line to sweep me off my horse and into his arms for a celebratory kiss. But again, I was left with an ache in my heart and a lonely bed.

*CaA*

The road was only a faint vibration under the well-sprung tires of the motorcoach as Esme and I drove the three and a half hours from Glen Rose to Austin. It was a strange but welcome change to be a passenger after so many years behind the wheel, but it left me with far too much time to think. A sigh escaped me as I watched the scenery pass by in a blur.

"What's going on in that head of yours, my girl?" Esme asked from the chair across from me. Carlisle had hired their usual night guard/driver to take us from place to place, using the excuse that he felt better knowing we had an experienced class one driver operating the large vehicle.

I looked up and met her concerned gaze. "Nothing, Momma. Just thinking."

She smiled at me—that warm motherly smile that said she knew I was full of shit. "Uh huh…" She stared at me, making it obvious that she was waiting and had no intention of giving up.

Where Renee would have pecked and badgered me, making me dig in my heels refusing to tell her, Esme simply waited. Her warm stare made it all but impossible not to spill your deepest darkest secrets.

My breath escaped me in a rush of surrender. I never could stay strong against Momma. "It's just…"

I chewed on my lip nervously, never really having been in the situation to talk about boys before. Alice and I had been far too busy with horses in our teens to do more than go on group dates. The closest I got was listening to her gush about Jasper Whitlock and how jealous she was of all the girls he took out. After I moved to Forks, I hadn't really had any close girlfriends, and Charlie wasn't someone you talked about boys with. I had had a steady boyfriend my senior year of high school but we were great friends. There were no stampeding butterflies in my stomach, no, flushed cheeks and weak knees. The emotions I was feeling now…no one had ever made me feel like Edward does.

"I'm not sure Edward feels the same way about me as I do him," I murmured.

Esme stood and crossed the aisle to sit on the couch beside me. "What makes you think that?" she asked as she took my hand.

That was the great thing about Esme. Rather than brushing it off and insisting I was being silly, she wanted to know why I felt the way I did. "He takes me out, makes me feel special, and kisses me but…" I shrugged helplessly "...at the end of the night he always brings me back here. We've never really been alone, and he doesn't seem to want to…"

She frowned slightly, obviously trying to understand. "So you're worried because he's treating you respectfully?"

I let out a frustrated chuckle, shaking my head. "Sounds pretty stupid when you put it that way, doesn't it? I mean we've only known each other for a couple months. But we've been dating for more than half of that time…" Looking at her, I tried to make her understand what was scaring me. "What if…what if he's only taking me out to help repair my reputation? Like you and Alice are doing, but differently?"

She squeezed my hand and gave me a hard look. "First of all, what Alice and I are doing is not simply repairing your reputation. We are traveling together as a family for the first time in years, and I love it. We love you and finally got you back, and I am never letting you slip away again. Carlisle and I have our own regrets over not making more of an effort to keep in touch. We second guessed ourselves, not wanting to step on any toes with your father when he just got you back, but never doubt that we missed you every single day. You are a part of this family, blood or not."

I had tears in my eyes by the time she finished her loving lecture. I had barely leaned forward before she pulled me into a tight hug, petting my hair tenderly. God I had missed this.

She leaned back and brushed tears from both our faces as we laughed. "Now secondly! Sweetheart, Edward isn't dating you out of some kind of misplaced hero complex. He truly cares about you. I daresay he feels quite deeply for you. But make no mistake, he is not going to do anything to make you look bad, and he certainly isn't going to disrespect me while you're living under my roof."

I blinked as I thought about what she was saying. It was an old fashioned notion, but I had to remember I wasn't in the north anymore. Things were still a bit more traditional here in the south, and especially with the way I had been treated in Fort Worth, Edward was going out of his way to display the best of the old school southern manners.

I frowned. "But, it's not like I'm a teenager."

"You know the way gossip spreads on the circuit," Esme said with a knowing look. "After everything you've been through, he isn't going to do anything that may cause people to talk badly about you."

I wanted badly to believe her. "How do you know?"

She smiled, sitting back and looking matter-of-fact. "You're right. I don't. Maybe you should talk to him about it?"

My eyes went a bit wider. Crap.

*CaA*

When the motorcoach pulled into the stables at the fairgrounds in Austin, Edward was there waiting to help unload. Esme elbowed me with a smirk as we climbed out of the back. "Yeah, he doesn't like you at all," she said sarcastically.

"Momma," I said in a hushed warning tone.

Edward walked up and tipped his hat to Esme politely. "Mrs. Esme."

She smiled and offered her cheek for a kiss. "Hello, Edward."

When his eyes met mine, they held a heat that sent a tingle up my spine. "Bella," he murmured and pulled me in for a hug. "Missed you."

Breathing in his scent, leather and horses and a cologne that was uniquely Edward, I buried my face in his chest. I loved being in his arms. "Missed you too."

"One of these times we're gonna to have to figure out a way for you to ride with me. I'd love to have you alone for hours." His words were rather innocent, but the tone behind them suggested more.

I sighed when he released me. Giving a gentle tug on my hand, he said, "Come on. Y'all are stabled with us as usual. Let's get your boys unloaded."

When I looked up, I saw Esme's mare was already backing down the ramp. Stanley was the next in line to come out. Edward looked at the big black rear end and swallowed. "I'll unload Rocket if you wanna grab Stanley."

I giggled. Stanley still hadn't warmed up to Edward, although he tolerated him more than anyone else. Brushing past him I whispered, "Chicken."

Esme laughed hearing us banter. As I led Stanley down, he eyeballed Edward and seemed to huff as we walked by.

Edward snorted. "Yeah, not chicken—smart. That horse is just waitin' for me to get close enough to take a chunk outta me."

I petted Stan's face and made cooing noises at him. "My Stan would never do anything so nasty. Would you, baby?" I laid on the baby talk and watched as Edward rolled his eyes and went to get Rocket, making me laugh.

The horses were settled pretty quickly, and the rest of the day was spent setting up our stalls and camping areas. We would be in Austin for two weeks, so we got a chance to get comfortable for a while.

Stalls and tack stalls were hung with monogrammed curtains in stable colors. Esme had reserved four stalls for us, so we sandwiched the tack stall between Esme's mare and my boys. The stalls were hung with the distinctive emerald green curtains trimmed in gold, the four leaf clover logo of the Lucky Strike ranch decorating the doors. Alice and Jasper had the next four stalls in royal blue with grey accents. The Whitlock 'W' logo was topped with a mountain top skyline, almost mirroring the W. Edward was on the other side of us, his stalls trimmed out in black and silver.

We weren't able to set up our campsite right next to Edward, but we were next to Jasper and Alice, who had pulled in right behind us. We set up a large shared picnic area and put out the awnings. Esme had a huge piece of outdoor carpeting so dirt wouldn't be tracked into the motorcoach every time we opened the door. Jasper was picky about setting up his barbecue station with a portable-style outdoor kitchen right next to it. Lawn chairs and picnic tables, self-contained campfires, wind chimes and flower boxes—it made me stare every time I watched them set up. I had lived for three years out of the back of my trailer and hadn't had a quarter of the amenities they deemed essential.

Edward caught me shaking my head and chuckled. "Come with me? I could use a hand setting up my site."

Nodding happily, I took his hand and followed him just down the lane to where he was set up under a tree. It was a quieter spot, away from the hustle and bustle near the barns and animal pens. I looked at him with a question on my face when we got there and I saw his site completely set up. A couple of comfortable chairs were set around a small, portable campfire. His folding picnic table wasn't as big as Esme's, and his barbecue wasn't big enough to roast a pig like Jasper's, but the site was welcoming.

His smile was a bit sheepish when he saw me take in the set-up. "I wanted you all to myself for a bit before things get crazy. He led me over to the chairs by the unlit campfire.

"Well, you won't hear me arguing with that." I smiled up at him, feeling more secure. Esme was right; he was just being respectful. Now how to get him to be a bit less respectful.

An idea hit me but it was going to take more guts than the first time I saddled up to ride pick-up for the bullriders. Time to cowgirl-up.

"Do you have anything to drink around here?" I asked sweetly, knowing he would have a fridge full of choices...in the trailer.

Edward looked embarrassed for a minute. "Of course! I'll just…umm…" He looked toward the trailer and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'll be right back." He turned and hurried into the trailer.

I waited for all of the two seconds it took to look around and make sure the coast was clear before following him inside. It was almost comical the way his head popped around the refrigerator door in surprise. "Bella! I was just…I have…"

Swallowing my nervousness, I closed the door in front of him. Mustering up all the courage in me, I put my hand on his chest looking up at him under my lashes. "I just wanted you all to myself for a bit," I whispered.

Edward hesitated for all of a second before folding me in his arms. "Bella," he breathed out before lowering his lips to mine and claiming my mouth. It wasn't the usual soft romantic kisses he normally gave me. Where those curled my toes and made me burn, this made me go up in flames. My knees felt weak and the feeling of his strong arms holding me up only made me feel even weaker. Just as I was losing my balance, he caught me. When I moaned into his mouth, he let out a rough growl and backed me up into the kitchen counter. Grasping at his shoulders, I was bent back as he ravaged my mouth. Just as it was getting uncomfortable, his large hands stroked and squeezed down my back to my waist, over my hips to my thighs. Scooping me up under my knees, he sat me down on the counter. When I gasped in surprise, he released my mouth to kiss, suck, and bite his way down my neck.

"God, Bella, you smell so good."

The heat of his exhaled words into my ear sent shivers down my spine. His hands were strong as they massaged my hips, fanning the flames threatening to consume me. I could only cling to his chest as one of those hands grasped my ribcage and then made its way to my chest. Every sensation was heightened. I could feel the strength of his hand through the thin cotton of my checked shirt and lace bra, the slight tug as the calluses on his work-hardened hands caught on the threads of the fabric. As my nipple pebbled under his deft fingers, a gasp escaped me when his thumb brushed over it.

"Please," I groaned as I arched into his touch.

As he pulled me forward, I felt the heat and hardness of him grind against the cradle of my hips. "You're gonna be the death of me, sweetness." His voice was rough.

My hands went to the small buttons on his shirt, and the two sides fell away under my fingers exposing a well-muscled chest and chiseled abs. When my palm felt the warmth of his skin through the light dusting of springy hair on his chest, he growled and ground harder against me. It had been years since I had felt the gripping bite of desire and never had it felt this intense. Just as I felt the cotton of my shirt being pulled from the waistband of my jeans, Edward's phone started to ring from the leather case at his belt.

Breathing hard, our wandering hands stilled. He pulled away to put the necessary inches between us so he could reach his phone. With unsteady fingers, Edward pulled it free on the fourth ring.

"Yeah, Masen here." The rough sound of his voice sent a shudder of longing through me. "Don't be stupid. What'd ya want?"

Edward eyed me hungrily as he listed to the person on the other end of the phone. "Yeah, dinner sounds…great." He eyed me like I was dinner, and I licked my lips in anticipation.

"When?" He sighed and his shoulders slumped slightly. "Yeah, alright. That's fine. We'll be there."

I reached for him but he caught my hand and brought my fingers to his mouth. My head rolled back, my breath catching in my throat as he kissed and then lightly chewed on my knuckles and fingers. "Ice? Yeah, I got some in the freezer. Why?"

He froze and scowled, and I could faintly hear laughing on the phone as Edward growled. "You're an ass, Jay! We'll see you in twenty." And he hung up.

His head fell to rest on my shoulder and my hand went to his hair. It felt like silk as the short strands ran through my fingers.

"We gotta stop, sweetness." He wrapped his arms around my waist and squeezed me before lifting me off the counter and setting me on my feet. "That was Jasper. Mrs. Esme wants all of us to go out for dinner."

It was my turn to let my head drop onto his chest as I whined. The unresolved lust between us was hot enough to combust at this point, and I knew there was no relief in sight. His hand came up to cradle my face, and he gently turned my face to his.

"It's probably for the best." He kissed my forehead and stepped away leaving me feeling cold all of a sudden. That sudden thud when you realize you've been thrown from the saddle.

I hurried to straighten my clothes as embarrassment replaced desire. "Right." My voice cracked a bit as I brushed the stray hairs that had fallen in my face back into some semblance of order. "I'll just…"

I was reaching for the door when he caught my hand. "Where are you goin'?"

I couldn't look at him. My cheeks burned with mortification. I had practically ambushed him in his own trailer and then thrown myself at him. What the hell had I been thinking? "I'll just meet you at the restaurant. I'm sorry I barged in…I should never—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you talkin' about?" His face was a bit blurry when he tipped my head back so he could look at me. Concerned green eyes studied my face as a callused thumb brushed away one traitorous tear. "What's all this? What's wrong?"

I shook my head, looking down to break his gaze. I turned to the door, trying to escape my own embarrassment. "I get it, I shouldn't have pushed. You must think I'm—"

Edward spun me back toward him and silenced me by covering my mouth with his. The kiss was dominating without punishing, filled with desire and then softened to comfort. "I think you're beautiful," he whispered against my lips. He shifted his grip on me from holding my upper arms to cradling me as he rubbed my back. "I think you're independent and strong."

Pulling back slightly, he looked at me with sincerity in his eyes. He brushed a stray hair off my cheek. "I think you've had no one you can rely on for far too long. I know I wanna be the man you lean on, the one you put your trust in. I know I'm lucky to be the one you spend your time with. And I know, I am falling in love with you."

My eyes were full of tears when he finished. I couldn't speak; all I could do was fall into his arms. Reaching up, I clung to him as I sought his mouth. He crushed me to him and when the kiss broke, leaving us both desperate for air, I whispered, "I love you too."

Edward released me from our hug to look at me. "Really?"

I nodded, still teary, a smile splitting my face. "How could I not?"

"I was such a jerk to you."

I shrugged, laughing. I wiped away my tears. "Sometimes you're a knight in shining armor, sometimes you're just an asshole in tin foil."

His booming laugh filled the trailer. "Well as long as you don't expect me to be perfect all the time."

"I'll make sure I'm well stocked up on tin foil." Kissing him quickly on the lips, I gave him a sincere look. "I love you either way."

Strong hands stroked up may arms to cradle my face and then gently gripped my hair as he rested his forehead on mine. "I will do my damndest to make sure no one ever has any reason to say one bad word about you because of me. That doesn't mean I don't think about having you in my bed, laid out naked and wanting. Lookin' at me with those beautiful brown eyes full of lust as I make you scream my name."

My mouth went dry as I panted over the image he just painted.

"I want you for more than a few hurried minutes, stolen like they're something to be ashamed of. I've done a lot in my life I'm not proud of. I won't let this thing between you and me be something else I screw up and add to that list." He studied my face as if willing me to believe him. And I did.

I nodded. "I'm sorry I pushed."

He smiled that sexy crooked smile of his. "I'm not. That was hot."

I gasped in shock and then tried to playfully hit him as he danced out of reach, laughing.

*CaA*

The last few days of May found us finishing up in Marysville, after spending April and May in Nevada and now California. And while my relationship with Edward was solid and easy, having progressed to spending more and more time together over the past few months, the last couple of months of competition weren't. Jake had been lurking around looking more and more angry the more popular I got. He wasn't having the same level of success Edward was, and the tantrums he threw showcased it.

People now looked at Edward and I as a unit. The older, respected rodeo organizers apparently even teasing Esme about getting to plan another wedding. While we still hadn't spent the night together, we were taking more and more private moments to ourselves. While I loved traveling with Momma, she was turning out to be a serious stumbling block in my love life. Alice loved to tease me about my pent up sexual tension and Edward's determination to do right by me. I felt like a teenager again, and not in a good way.

And now, on our last day in Marysville, Edward's mare had pulled up lame when a cow he and Jasper were chasing in the team roping ran into her making her stumble and almost go down. Jasper and Edward had lost the cow and their points in the standings. Everyone was more concerned about the mare. It broke his heart, but Edward decided that she would be shipped back home to heal. He would continue on to Reno with just his geldings.

Alice, Esme, and I were all in the final rounds for the Barrel Racing. A couple of quick times, and I would be in the money. Rocket was in top form, and I knew if we did our best we would have the top spot.

The crowd was energized as the arena was set up for barrels. Rocket snorted and tossed his head, his eyes rolling as he danced in place behind me. I shushed him, humming as I pet his face trying to calm him a little. Nervous energy was fine, but if he got too worked up he tended to misbehave.

"Ready?" Edward's voice came from behind me, and I turned to see an excited smile on his face.

I nodded, grinning. "Turn and burn!"

Laughing, he stepped to my side. "Leg up?"

"Please!" I stepped into position at Rocket's left side. Normally, I would have no issue swinging into the saddle on my own, but it had become a sweet ritual for Edward to give me a boost.

"Stay safe," he whispered in my ear as he kissed my temple from his place at my back.

I lifted my leg so he could grasp my shin. "Always am." Every time I said it, I was reminded of the same words falling from my dad's lips before every shift. Every morning I would tell him to be safe, and he would always wink and me and reply, "Always am."

Once I was in the saddle, Edward searched his pockets. "Damn! I forgot the elastics."

Barrel racers looped large elastic bands around the toe of their boot, under the stirrup and around the small pegs of their spurs, to help keep their feet in the stirrups. In the occasional fall, the elastic breaks harmlessly, but in the race around the barrels the ride can get rough. A lost stirrup will lose you the run and very possibly the seat on your horse.

Edward looked up at me. "Be right back!" He ran off to my tack box to grab them.

I was adjusting my reins when a large hand fell on my leg. I looked down to see Jake's sneering face.

"How's the view from up there, princess?"

I would have nudged Rocket over and away from Jake, but another horse and rider had come up on the other side of me, effectively blocking me in. "Don't touch me!" I tried to brush his hand away but his grip tightened. "What do you want?"

He hissed at me, his grip turning painful. "You in the dirt, where you belong! Everything's so fuckin' easy for you, isn't it?"

I refused to show the pain he inflicted. I knew he was hurting me intentionally. "What the hell are you talking about? The last three years you have made my life a living hell! What are you even doing down here? Why aren't you up north?"

"You don't know the meaning of hell, princess. I can't get a shoeing job anywhere up north! You ruined it! You ruined me! All I got left is the rodeo, and the purses up north are shit."

"I didn't ruin anything! You did that all by yourself!" I tried to pry his fingers off my leg. I knew I was going to have bruises from his grip, and my leg was going a bit numb. "You lamed all those horses, not me! If you had finished farrier school, you would have known you were signing their death warrants with that half-assed bullshit trimming you were doing! Let me Go!"

Tears were forming and I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

"Get your Fuckin' hands off her!" Edward's voice growled out from behind Jake.

"Of-fuckin'-course. Your sugar daddy's back." Jake sneered at me before turning to meet Edward, releasing his grip as he did, the blood returning to my lower leg making me gasp. "You know she's only fucking you for your money, right?"

Edward's roar of anger drowned out my yell. "Edward, No!"

As the two cowboys went down in a rolling, punching, mess of dust, I tried to control Rocket's rearing panic. Just as I got him under control, Jasper and a familiar face came running to break up the fight.

Jasper grabbed Edward and the other cowboy yarded Jake off the ground with a cocky grin in my direction "Bells," he said happily, only to spin Jake around and hit him with all he had.

Jake hit the ground, out cold. Edward shrugged Jasper off and ran to me and a still nervous Rocket. The announcer called the next racer and the gate attendant yelled my name. "Bella Swan! You're next!"

Edward's wide eyes shot to mine. "Don't ride. Rocket's too keyed up and you're still scared."

I shook my head. I would not let Jake wreck this for me. "We can do it."

"Your man's right, Bells. This is a crappy idea." I looked over to see the old friend I didn't have the time to greet properly.

I looked down at Edward. "I love you. We'll talk about that..." I nodded at Jake's unconscious form "...in a minute."

I turned a very high-headed Rocket to the gate. "Be back in a sec!" I called out flippantly over my shoulder. There was no way I was giving in to that asshole still eating dirt. When he woke up, I would be in the money, supporting myself just like I always had.

When the string broke as I crossed the time barrier, I knew something was wrong. Rocket lurched and bucked a bit under me. I squeezed my legs on him and he shot forward faster than he ever had before. Instead of running free, he was running panicked. I should have stopped him, I should have pulled up and quit, but I had something to prove. As I reined him for the first barrel, Jake's revenge was complete. The cinch on my saddle slipped, and I went flying off the side.

Years of hard riding teach you to tuck and roll the best you can. The deep footing of the arena provided a relatively soft landing, but the momentum of my fall sent me tumbling and knocked the wind from me. I heard the "Ooooh!" of the crowd as dirt filled my eyes and mouth, and I felt like I was in a dirt filled washing machine as I somersaulted over and over.

"BELLA!" Edward's scream came from somewhere to my left.

When I finally came to a stop, I rolled painfully to my back, trying to breathe and mentally cataloging how hurt I might be.

I was coughing and wheezing as people ran up to me. The announcer was trying to reassure the crowd when Edward's face came into view over me. I struggled a bit trying to get up. "Shhh…easy, sweetness. Hold still. Just hold still so the medic can check you out."

"S'okay, 'm alright." I gasped but lay back down. "Rocket…"

Edwards face was distraught as he smoothed my hair back from my face. "He's fine. Your buddy's got him. He stopped as soon as you slipped off."

My good boy. He had been trained as a tie-down roping horse to begin with. When the rider jumps off, he was trained to come to a complete stop and stand still. He hadn't put on the size they had wanted to keep up with the work, so he had been turned into a barrel horse.

I felt hands checking me out as voices hovered above me. "Did you hit your head?"

"Does anything hurt?"

"Can you move your toes for me?"

It was all getting a bit ridiculous. Now that I had my breath back, I knew I was alright. I pushed them off me and slowly sat up. "I'm alright. I just had the wind knocked out of me."

"Sweetness, maybe you should stay down…" His voice was full of worry.

I looked over at him and smiled a bit. "If I coddled you this way every time you came off a bull, you'd never forgive me." I palmed his scruffy cheek. "I'm fine. Really."

Rolling to my knees I climbed to my feet. I was definitely going to be feeling this one in the morning, but it wasn't the worst wreck I had ever had. That was until I saw Rocket.

He was so freaked out he was covered in lather as he fought the man holding his reins. Snorting and rearing, I knew something was very, very wrong. Walking stiffly toward him, I barely heard the applause from the crowd, happy I was on my feet under my own steam. I only had eyes for my baby.

"Shhh…easy, boy. Easy. What's the matter, my boy? What happened?" When he heard my voice, he lunged at the cowboy holding him and pushed past to come to me. Putting his head in my chest, he stood there breathing hard and wanting solace. I took the reins without a glance to who handed them to me. I looked my boy over, and what I saw turned my vision red. The saddle hung sideways off the side, proof that the cinch had been undone while I had been in the saddle. I reached around and carefully pulled the latigo, completely releasing the cinch, and my saddle fell to the ground, taking my saddle pad with it. The underside of the sheepskin pad was streaked with blood. Someone had planted small sharp metal spikes under the very edge of the back of my pad. It had been the reason he had tried to buck coming out of the chute. His ribcage on the left side was also bleeding. Bending down, I looked at the inside of my stirrup. Crazy glued to the inside edge were more metal spikes. None of them were more than a half inch long, but they were sharp enough that when I had kicked him into a run it had shredded his side.

Fury filled my body as I turned to the cowboy that had caught and held Rocket. "Seth, you drag that son-of-a-bitch over here right now! Where's the animal cruelty official?!"

"What's wrong?" Edward had been standing by my side but had still been looking me over for injuries.

"That asshole sabotaged my ride and hurt Rocket!" I shouted, gesturing to the somewhat calmer horse and the still-bleeding injuries.

Edward's attention snapped to Rocket, and he stepped forward to assess the damage as a number of rodeo officials hurried forward.

"What's the problem here, Miss Swan?" A portly man who I recognized as the gate official stepped forward.

My lips pursed in anger, and I waved my hand towards a staggering Jake who was being led forward by Seth and Jasper. "Did you see him assault me just before my run?"

The man removed his hat and scratched his balding head. "I saw him hasslin' you, but your man got there before I could step in. Why?"

"I want him charged with animal cruelty. I want sanctions against him with the International Pro Rodeo Association, the Cowboy's Professional Rodeo Association, and the American Quarter Horse Association. Please call the police so I can press charges properly." My tone was sharp and my furious stare never left the piece-of-shit that dared to hurt my baby.

"And assault with intent to do bodily harm," Edward snarled as he stood, my saddle and the vicious pieces of metal attached to it in his hands.

A few of the men stood and looked at each other while the event veterinarian checked Rocket over.

"Well, now…we don't know that he was the one that did that to your saddle. Could be you thought it would be the extra burst of speed you needed?" One of the other men offered as a half-assed explanation.

Edward and I both opened our mouths to start yelling but a soft spoken, equally furious voice stopped us. "Are you insinuating my daughter did that to herself?" The growing crowd of competitors, cowboys, and officials gathering to find out what was holding up the barrel event parted to reveal an irate Esme Cullen standing with her hands on her hips with an angry Alice standing by her side.

"Now, now, Mrs. Cullen, no one is saying…did you say your daughter?" The man gaped as he realized the enormity of the accusation he had so casually flung my way and the family he was insulting as he did.

The vet examining Rocket stood up and shook his head. "No one in their right mind would do this to a horse they intended to ride, Clive. Get your head outta your…er…rear." He shot an apologetic look at me as well as Esme and Alice for the near slip.

Another man who I thought had been assisting the vet stood up from looking over my saddle where Edward had dropped it in anger. "Doc's right. That little girl's been ridin' long enough to know that the stuff that's been done to this here saddle would'a darn near killed her." When I took a closer look I noticed he was wearing an event lanyard around his neck declaring him the man in charge of overseeing the safety precautions for the animals.

Regardless of the protests of PETA and other animal rights groups, rodeo participants and their organizers truly cared about the welfare of the animals involved. Animals were outfitted in protective equipment to lessen the chance of getting injured. Any cowboy found to be unnecessarily rough with the livestock was heavily fined and could be punished by any of the associations they belonged to. License suspensions, heavy fines, and sometimes expulsion from the association could result in the cowboy being banned from events for life. Western lifestyle had a long proud tradition that relied on the animals involved in the rodeo and western events. If they weren't at their best then our livelihood suffers.

Another man I recognized from the show office stepped forward. "Lets move this outta the arena shall we. We still have the barrel event to finish." He gestured to Seth and Jasper, who were now holding onto a stony-faced Jake. "You boys bring him along. Seems like he's wrapped up pretty deep in this somehow."

Looking over at the vet, he gave me a sympathetic look. "I'll take him back to his stall and get him all cleaned up for ya. You concentrate on straightenin' this mess out."

I nodded. "Thank you. If you call up to Northwest Equine in Washington state and speak to a Dr. Jewell, you'll find out that Jacob Black has a history of animal abuse and is banned from owning animals in the state of Washington."

The vet looked alarmed. "I'll look into it."

As Edward and I walked out of the arena, he took my hand. "How do you know about the ban in Washington?"

Swallowing down my memories, I said, "How do you think I got Stanley? There's a reason he hates men." I looked up at Edward. "I was the one to present the evidence at Jake's trial."

"How the hell did he get his licences from the rodeo associations?" he asked in disbelief.

"None of it involved rodeo events. He used to be a farrier."

*CaA*

We were led to a paddock that was normally reserved for injured animals that needed to be tended to away from the chaos of the stands. A few police officers were already there taking notes as they interviewed people. Jake was sitting on the edge of a water trough as an officer kept an eye on him.

As we walked in, Seth hurried over and swept me into a careful hug. "Missed you, Bells."

My eyes filled with tears as I clung to him. Somehow he still smelled like home: fresh air, saltwater, and cedar. Memories of my dad crashed through my mind. "I missed you too, Seth."

Pulling back, I looked to Edward. "Edward, this is Seth Clearwater. Seth, this is my boyfriend Edward Masen." After making the introductions, I tried to explain my relationship to Seth. "Seth and I used to date in high school."

Seth snorted. "Yeah, until we found out we were siblings."

I punched his arm. "It wasn't like that and you know it!" I rolled my eyes and looked up to see a perplexed Edward.

"Seth's mom and my dad started dating just after we graduated and were engaged to be married when my dad got sick. Our relationship didn't last the distance college put between us. Not because of some weird incest thing!" I gave Seth an exasperated look as he laughed at me. "You have got to stop telling people that!"

"Oh come on! It's worth it to see the look on people's faces!" He threw up his hands as if begging me to understand.

I chuckled as I shook my head at his antics. "You haven't changed a bit." Looking up at him with a smile on my face, I asked, "What are you doing here? I thought you were still at school?"

He shrugged. "I threw out my shoulder. I won't be able to pitch anymore, so I finished out the year but lost my scholarship."

I turned to Edward to explain. "Seth got an athletic scholarship to University of Atlanta for baseball."

Edward looked impressed. "That's great, man. Sorry about your shoulder, though."

Seth smiled. "It's all good. I like ball but I love rodeo more. Now I can ride the circuit until I find a way to use my business degree."

Our conversation was interrupted when Jake started yelling. "Don't touch me! Get your hands off me!"

We watched as Jake struggled against the hold of the officers who were now restraining him. "Looks like he tried to run." Seth chuckled. "Still the same dumb bastard."

I nodded. "You missed all the fireworks after you left."

He looked over at me with an apology written all over his face. "I would have come home if I had known what was going on."

I shook my head and waved him off. "I knew what I was doing."

Edward looked between the two of us clearly confused. "Can someone fill me in?"

"It doesn't matter. Ancient history." I deflected.

Seth's face clouded with anger. "It's not ancient history. I can't believe you haven't told him, Bells!"

"Seth, don't—"

Typically, I was ignored and my stubborn ex-boyfriend just kept talking over me. "Jake used to be the big man around Forks. He won everything he entered. Then this sweet little thing moves into town. She not only beats him at everything but is humble and sweet about it, never expecting or wanting the spotlight. Daughter of the police chief, top of her class, Rodeo Queen–she could do no wrong in our town. Jake was bitter. Unfortunately, he was also pretty smart. He started praising her right along with everyone else."

"Seth, it doesn't matter." I murmured.

He glared at me. "It does matter!" He looked back at Edward. "She could have done anything! She had the grades and the acceptance to vet school! She wanted to stay close to her dad so she chose to be a farrier. Jake followed along behind her trying to keep up. Just when he was about to flunk out, he quit and started shoeing horses without the diploma. Bella started getting calls about lame horses, and she started to become quite the expert in corrective shoeing. Turned out she was cleaning up after Jake. She was called in to testify as an expert witness after eight horses had to be put down as a result of his work. When they looked into things a bit more, they found abused animals at his place. A horse, couple of dogs, and litter of puppies. Only the horse made it."

Edward looked down at me. "Stanley."

Seth looked surprised. "You still got that big black devil?"

I nodded with tears in my eyes, remembering the shape he had been in when I saw him. "He's here."

"Bella rides pickup on him and working cow horse when she can," Edward explained.

Seth let out an appreciative whistle. "Anyway, after Jake was convicted he was banned from working as a farrier and owning animals in the state of Washington."

Since it was all coming out anyway, I decided to finish the story. "The only real way he had left to make money was the rodeo circuit. He started spreading rumours that I was on drugs. I looked terrible most of the time because Charlie had been diagnosed with cancer and I was so stressed and sleep deprived. By the time the cancer took him, I had lost everything. Charlie's medical didn't cover some of the experimental treatments they tried, and the life insurance wasn't enough to cover the shortfall. Charlie signed his truck over to me before the bank could take it. I lost the house, and when I tried to go back to work shoeing horses, Jake had destroyed my reputation so effectively that I had lost all my clients."

Edward looked at me incredulously. "But how could everyone have believed it? I mean your daddy was dyin'."

Seth snorted. "Rumour was she was taking Charlie's pain pills. The guy was in such pain no one could believe he was eating them like candy and they weren't even touching the pain he was in. She had to have been pilfering them. Assholes turned on her. She had only been living in Forks a couple of years. Whispers of a drug problem when she was living with her mom started circulating. Apparently, it was the reason she was sent to live with her dad."

"Her mom died!" Edward exclaimed.

Seth held up his hands in admittance. "I know it!"

Edward turned to me. "What about the rodeo circuit? The graffiti and sleeping with Stanley."

"That's when word started to trickle back to me. My sister Leah hates Bella for some reason and was delighted to tell me all about how my first love had turned to hooking out of her trailer to support her drug habit." Seth spat out the lies like they tasted terrible in his mouth. "Bella and I had lost contact right after Charlie died, and I had never really kept in touch with anyone back home. I started making some phone calls and was pissed at what I heard."

He looked at me with sadness on his face. "Trying to track her down was like trying to track the wind."

I shrugged and leaned into Edward's side, feeling better when he hugged me to him. "The creditors were after me for Charlie's medical bills. It took me two years to pay it all off. They would have taken what little I had left to sell off. I couldn't lose my boys. My truck and trailer were the only thing I had to call home."

Edward crushed me to him. "Never again, sweetness."

Seth's voice was sad. "You should have called me, Bells."

I shifted my head against Edward's chest so I could see him. "I'm coming to realize I should have called a few people." I looked over to see Esme glaring at a cringing Chief of Police who had obviously been called in to deal with the situation. She pointed at Jake in some kind of demand and more words were exchanged. Then she pulled out her cell phone and "We'll just see about that!" made it to my ears.

"Awww, hell." Edward swore under his breath and released me.

"What?"

He kissed my forehead and shifted me to stand with Seth. "She's callin' Carlisle. They must'a ticked her off but good. I'll be right back." He looked over my head at Seth. "Stay with her?"

Seth nodded with a serious look on his face. Some kind of manly agreement exchanged between them. "You bet."

Seth and I watched as Edward seemed to calm the situation and talked Esme out of the phone. He spoke to, who I assumed was Carlisle on the phone, before handing it to the Chief of Police.

Things started happening pretty quickly after that. Jake was forcibly searched and was found to be carrying more of the metal spikes and a tube of crazy glue. Busted.

He was cuffed and hauled away, hopefully never to be seen or heard from again.

An hour later, after endless questions and paperwork as we gave our statements to the police, I stood with Edward and a small crowd of people outside Rocket's stall. I had to close the curtains on Stanley's stall as he was furious at all the people crowding around him. Seth had simply chuckled at the big horse's antics saying it was a miracle he was able to be around people at all after what Jake had put him through.

The vet stepped out of Rocket's stall with a bucket of water that was red with my baby's blood. "Well, the good news is that there is no permanent damage. I've given him a sedative and a heavy dose of antibiotics. He's gonna need some serious rest though, and you'll want to go slow with him when you start trying to get on him again. He's probably going to be pretty scared to begin with."

I chewed on my lip as I thought. "What kind of rest? We're leaving for Reno tomorrow and our schedule is really full."

The doctor's eyes went a little wide. "This horse can't travel for at least a week, and then he should be stabled with only light walking for at least another two. As for rest, well I wouldn't recommend anything more than being lunged for twelve weeks."

I started to feel light headed. There was no way I could afford to keep him here for two to three weeks. Without the income we got from making money traveling with the rodeo I was sunk. I couldn't leave him here, and I couldn't take him with me. I was staring down the barrel of a gun pointed right at Rocket's head. I stumbled and would have fallen to my knees if Edward hadn't caught me.

He guided me to an up ended bucket and sat me down. Kneeling in front of me, he smoothed my hair back. "What is it, Bella? What's wrong?"

"I have to put him down. I'm gonna lose my baby," I whispered before I broke down into tears.

"Whaaat?" He pulled me into a hug. "Naw, sweetness. He's gonna be just fine. You heard the doc. He just needs some rest is all."

"I…I c-can't afford…I can't stay…" I was crying so hard I couldn't explain.

Edward grasped the situation pretty quickly. He pulled back and held my hands, looking at me with concerned green eyes. "Do you really think I am gonna to let that happen? Do think your family is going to let that happen?" He nodded his head over his shoulder to where Esme, Alice, and Jasper were conferring with the vet.

"But I have nowhere for him to stay…" I was dangerously close to feeling hope. For the past four years hope had become the enemy. It was the teasing glimpse you got right before the bottom fell out. Nothing good had ever come from hope.

Seth snorted out a laugh. "I think if you listen carefully, you'll hear the sounds of an argument over who gets to keep your horse for you."

Sure enough Jasper and Esme were almost toe-to-toe, each claiming they were better equipped to look after Rocket.

"Because I am Esme Cullen! That is my little girl and that horse is coming back to the Lucky Strike with me! End of discussion!" Esme crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Jasper with fire in her eyes.

We all laughed when Jasper took a step back and seemed to shrink a little.

"Looks like Mrs. Esme won." Edward grinned.

Esme marched over to me looking concerned when she saw the tears on my face. "Oh, my girl. Don't worry. I'll look after him like he was my own. Old Liam is still living on the ranch; he'll know just what to do."

"What are you talking about? I'll look after him myself." I gaped.

Her eyes went from me to Edward and back again, clearly confused. "But you can't. You'll be on the circuit."

I stood. "I can't be on the road with him like that. I'll have to come back to the ranch with you. Besides with no barrel horse to ride I'll just be shoeing. I can set up a business out of my truck back in Texas."

Esme cocked an eyebrow at me. "Oh no you won't. You are not giving up all the points you've earned so far to come home now."

"But—"

"No buts, my girl! You've worked too hard. You and Edward will continue on without me. You take Riona and Stanley with you. I will take Rocket and sweet Marie back with me just as soon as Rocket is able to travel comfortably." She put her hands on her hips, and I felt like I was fourteen again and had done something stupid.

"Momma, I can't ride Riona. I don't own her." I pointed out.

Esme looked thoughtful. "Well she wasn't the horse I had in mind for you, and she isn't quite as fast as Rocket, but she's already here. I'll just sign her over to you. By the time you get to Reno the paperwork will be filed with the AQHA and barrel racing association. We can rearrange the ownership when your season is over in December."

I blinked. "What do you mean, horse you had in mind for me?"

Alice piped up looking awfully giddy. "Momma gave me my barrel horse, and she has one for you too. Cullen daughters always ride Cullen horses."

"But I'm not—" I didn't finish that thought when I saw the challenge in Esme's eyes.

"Mazel-tov! It's a girl!" Jasper said with a huge grin.

Apparently I was adopted.

I looked up at Edward, who looked like he had just won the lottery. "Have you got nothing to say about this?"

He shrugged and tipped his hat back on his head. "Need help packing up your stuff?"

Everyone burst out laughing.

*CaA*

Three days later, Edward and I were pulling out of Marysville, California, with the four-horse trailer packed to the rafters with prime horse-flesh. I waved at a very relaxed Esme, who was sunning herself out front of her motorcoach that was now parked closer to the near empty stables. Rocket and sweet Marie were stabled side by side and had a veterinary apprentice giving them round-the-clock care. Nothing but the best would do for Esme. They would be leaving in about a week to take the slow trip back to Texas, making sure the horses stayed sound and comfortable.

I looked over to see a stupid grin on Edward's face. "What are you so smiley about?"

He let out a sound that was suspiciously close to a giggle. "I finally have you all to myself."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head, but inside I was doing my own little happy dance.

We had plenty of time to get to Reno, not needing to be there until June 12th at the earliest, and it was only the 30th of May. Edward's huge truck had no issue pulling all the weight we were hauling and we were making good time.

We stopped for the night, having made it halfway there. I made dinner while Edward stabled the horses at the mare motel we had found for the night. Most people had no idea how many places there were around the states that allowed traveling horse people to stay the night so their horses could rest in comfortable stalls or paddocks.

We were both pretty tired after the drama of the past few days; the crap with Jake, injured horses, making arrangements, packing and then traveling having really taken its toll. Edward took a shower while I finished making the salad.

Dinner was a simple meal of roasted chicken and potatoes. I loved having the chance to finally cook a real meal after years of living on scraps and take-out. Edward's trailer had a spacious kitchen even compared to the one Charlie and I had in our small house in Forks. I was looking forward to getting to cook on a regular basis, and Edward seemed to appreciate my efforts if the sounds he was making were any indication.

Edward insisted on doing the dishes, so I wandered out to check on the horses. By the time I got back he was already drying.

"Do you mind if I take a shower? I feel grubby," I asked.

He set down the pan he was drying and wrapped his arms around my waist. "This is your home now, sweetness. You don't have to ask." He leaned closer and kissed me sweetly before pulling back and swatting me on the ass. "Besides, you smell like horse."

He laughed at my outrage and dodged the wet cloth I threw at him.

When I got out, Edward was already in the overhead bed watching a movie on the small TV up there. He smiled and waved me up. While we had spent some time in his trailer over the past few months, I had never dared to venture anywhere near the bed. Now as I crawled on it, I revelled in how comfortable it was. My days of sleeping on a worn out single mattress were over. No more cold nights spent shivering in a sleeping bag wearing clothes for extra warmth. Best of all were the strong arms that pulled me down into the cradle of his chest.

Edward hummed as he pressed a kiss to my temple. "I've dreamed of havin' you right here, just like this."

My lips twitched into a smirk. "Just like this?"

I felt his smile move my hair. "Well, no. You were usually naked in my dreams."

Feeling bold, I turned in his arms and smiled before I kissed him. "Maybe I can help you out with that."

"Mmmm…" he moaned. "Really?" he asked against my mouth.

I started to undo the buttons on his shirt as I hummed my answer into his lips.

"I thought you were the one that was naked in my dreams?" he asked, feeling the sides of his shirt fall away and my hands on his bare chest.

I smiled and bit my lip. "Don't you wanna do that part?"

He grinned and rolled me under him. "Yes, ma'am!"

My laughter rang through the trailer. We spent a sleepless night catching up on all the things we had been denying ourselves for months.

In his arms I was home.

*CaA*

Lord I was tired. Although the past few months living with Bella had been some of the best in my life, I was looking forward to getting some rest.

Nevada to Wyoming, Wyoming to Colorado, then Kansas and Oklahoma, before finally making our way back to Texas. It was the end of October now and the nights were getting colder. It was our last weekend on the road before we made the trek from Liberty back home to Whitesboro.

As I watched my girl fly around the barrels on the spunky palomino Esme had given her, if only temporarily, I thought back through the past few months.

While Riona was definitely a great horse, she and Bella just didn't have the connection that Bella had had with Rocket. They had qualified for NFR in Vegas in December but likely wouldn't see any of the big money. Jasper and I on the other hand were expected to be in the top half of the pack for team-roping, provided we had a few good runs. Our timing was dead perfect, and we rarely missed when we threw our ropes.

But while I was among the favorites for the bull riding, Jasper had decided to forgo the rest of the season after a nasty fall in Cheyenne back in July. Both he and Alice agreed it just wasn't worth it. I knew Bella was worried about me as well. I was feeling pretty banged up myself, but I was determined to finish out the year. It would be my last go-round riding the bulls. It was a young man's game, and I wasn't getting any younger. Besides, I had a future to think of now.

Bella and Riona blasted past me as they ran down the chute to finish out their run. It was a respectable time but wouldn't put them in the top spot. These days Bella was happy if she won enough to cover her entry fees. Riona was Esme's horse. Sometimes there was nothing more to it than that.

I went off to get ready for the Team-roping. If Jasper and I had a good run, there would be a big finish waiting for us at the end.

As I tightened the cinch on Trey, I heard a voice from behind me. "Did you see 'em?"

I smiled over my shoulder nodding my head. "Yup, they all made it. You gonna help me out with this pard'?"

He clapped me on the back. "Looking forward to it. Ready?"

"Let's get it done!"

We lined up in the chutes, Trey dancing under me as my heart pounded in my chest. This was it. This one would win me everything I had never known I wanted. The cow was released and we were off. The crowd cheered as we swung our ropes. Jasper settled his loop perfectly over the steer's horns. When my fingers released I knew we had it in the bag. My rope settled perfectly around the heels of the cow and he was caught. I looked up at the score board and let out a yell. We had done it! Winning time!

Jasper and I laughed and yelled. I jerked my rope loose and coiled it up, ready for the next throw. I looked over to see Bella cheering me on from the gate. I reined Trey over in her direction and started swinging my loop again. My girl wasn't paying attention; she was too busy laughing and nodding at Alice as they celebrated. She looked up at me just in time to put her hands over her head trying to duck my loop. Like the champ I was, it settled perfectly around her waist. Her face was a shocked mask as I reeled her in slowly to where I stood in the middle of the arena, all eyes were on us. I couldn't help but grin at her embarrassed look.

"Edward! What the hell are you doing?" She gasped.

When she stood below me I leaned down and kissed her, reaching into my shirt pocket as I did. I pulled back and opened the small velvet box. Trey and I had been working on a new trick, and I signalled him to bow.

That smart ol' quarter horse did exactly as I asked and got down on one knee. "Bella Swan, you are the smartest, bravest, most beautiful girl in the world. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Tears flooded her big brown eyes. Her hands flew to her mouth and she laughed. Nodding her head furiously she gasped, "Yes. Yes!"

In a flash, I had swung down off my horse and swept her up in my arms. I kissed her deeply before letting go. I put her back on her feet and yelled, "She said YES!" throwing my hat in the air in celebration.

The crowd went wild, and I saw our family and friends in the stands celebrating with us. Tomorrow, I would take her back to Masen Ranch as my bride.

I put the ring, that had been in our family for generations, on her finger making her mine. Looking down into her happy face, I knew life just didn't get any better than this.

A/N:

Well my friends it took way longer than I thought to finish this, but I did it! Of course it ended up being one chapter longer than I planned for in the beginning so that's probably why.

I'm actually really glad Cris black mailed me into writing this. She has been keeping her word and I haven't been plagued with spider tweets since I started it so I hope she liked the last chapter.

Sometimes Karma bites you when you don't expect it. For those of you following my blog and website or watching the shenanigans on Twitter, you know I have just published my first book.

As a part of the editing process my editor Max wanted me to expand on a certain character. I could have killed her. The peripheral character is a giant arachne-centaur. Yup half man, half giant tarantula. Expanding on him meant research, which meant…you got it! Spider Pictures! I hate Karma.

That being said I am announcing my intention to wind down my fan fiction career. There may be a surprise or two in the near future, but all things must come to an end. I have LOVED my time in the fandom. I've made some incredible friends that I will take with me on my new adventures. I've learned a semi-truck load of stuff about writing, grammar, punctuation, promotions and story pacing. Nothing could ever replace the immediate constructive criticism and support that I have received from the fan fiction community and I love you all for it.

Any completed stories I have up on my profile will forever remain there for everyone's enjoyment. I have not and will not pull a story to publish it. I have nothing against it, it's just not for me.

I have been convinced to clear out my laptop, so several new stories will be posted over the next few months. Not all of them are Twilight fandoms so I hope you all will be up to exploring new fandoms with me.

Also if you are a fan of Insecurities I have a short sequel that will be posting shortly. A teaser can be found in the last chapter of the completed story. Insurrection is something that has been brewing for a while and hopefully everyone will like it as much as Insecurities.

If you would like to read my first published novel, it can be found on Amazon and Smashwords. It is titled Andromeda Rising and is the first in a series of urban paranormal/fantasy books. The series is called the Celestial Series.

Interested? Here's the summary.

I should have been paying attention. Growing up on the run from religious fanatics gave me more than a few good reasons to be careful, but I was just too tired to be as vigilant as I should have been. My mind was occupied with my latest case—a missing nine year old girl. I was usually good at my job, but sometimes I needed a little extra help from magick. I always managed to track down a cheating spouse or the occasional runaway, but now it seemed more children were missing from the streets of Seattle and nothing I did worked.

A cat jumped on my shoulder and jerked me from my exhaustion induced stupor. I spun into a defensive crouch only to see the cat had landed on the sidewalk behind me.

Time seemed to stop for a moment when the cat spoke.

"RUN!"

My name is Jocelyn Matthews and if I live through tonight, I'll tell you all about my life as a witch.

For the past ten years, Jocelyn has been living as a closet witch in Seattle. When the Inquisitors that have been after her from the time she was nine finally manage to find her, Jocelyn is thrust into a world she never guessed existed. From talking cats to Dark Elves, she'll have to do something she's never done before: trust someone other than herself. If she wants to find the children that have been going missing all over the city, she'll have to open her eyes to the bigger picture and find her place, not only for her safety but for the city as well.

I hope you'll join me on this new adventure. It took me three years of plotting, planning and exhaustive research to make this the most original idea I could come up with. After writing fan fiction for so long, now it's time to tell my own story with my own characters.

Find me online at james-ramsey com

I look forward to meeting you all on the other side.