Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, Stephanie Meyers does. However, I do own this plot and storyline. I also own my own original characters.

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Chapter 11: Something New

EPOV

Saturday morning breakfast is made and waiting for everyone by six. I'm excited to get the stall ready, and for Bella's surprises. I think seeing Peter and Janice is going to be just as much of a surprise as the puppy.

"Damn, Edward." I hear from the doorway and turn to see Billy standing there. "You expect everyone to get up this early on a Saturday?"

"If they wanna eat while it's hot, they will," I answer with a smirk, "or they can reheat it."

As soon as we both have our plates made, Bella and Cassie make their way into the kitchen, fully dressed. I guess she is just as excited to get out of the house, too.

"Morning," she greets with a smile.

Bella's birthday isn't until Monday, but we're going to start celebrating it today. She just doesn't know it yet.

The others start showing up and making their own plates by the time Billy and I are done. When I rise to take my empty plate back to the kitchen, Bella calls out, "You better wait for me."

"Well, get a move on, woman," I call back, hearing the gasps as I walk away. "I ain't gonna wait all day," I drawl out in a dramatic, southern accent that, I have to say, puts Emmett's fake accent to shame.

After cleaning my plate, I go back into the dining room. Cassie is done, so I help her clean up and take her plate, "You gonna help me get ready for the horse, baby girl?"

"Yeah," she whispers, in a sleepy voice. "Orsy."

"Yes, ma'am," I cheer in excitement. "A new horse. And if momma doesn't hurry up, we're gonna leave her in here."

Bella just rolls her eyes at me as she gets up to take her plate to the kitchen, "Well, I'm just waiting on you slow pokes."

It takes over two hours for us to get everything ready. After laying down the stall mats and covering them in shavings, we hook up the automatic watering system and install the feeder, salt block holder, and hay rack. Next, we add a new feed bin to the feed room. Bella reviews the feed records Billy had given to her earlier and she gets the supplements ready. I add the correct type and amount of feed to the bin, marking it and the bucket with Mist's stall number. By the time we're done, I hear a vehicle and turn to see a truck hauling a trailer pulling up to the barn.

My stomach does flips at the anticipation of seeing my horse, but more importantly, for who Bella is about to see.

I walk out of the barn to greet Peter and Janice while Bella stands at the barn entrance with her mouth hanging open.

"Come give me a hug, sugar," Janice calls to her, and Bella rushes into her arms, sobbing. "Happy birthday, darling," Janice and Peter greet as he wraps his arms around them both. I leave them to have their private moment as I go get the lead rope hanging on Mist's stall.

"Edward," Billy calls, getting my attention. "Do you want to try unloading her or do you want me to do it?"

"If you talk me through it, I'd like to try," I answer with confidence. I know I need to be calm or the horse will feel my nerves.

I follow him to the front of the trailer, and he opens the door. "Just pet her and talk to her. Hook the lead rope to her halter, and I'll open the back doors. When you're both ready, just ease her back and she'll do the rest."

Entering the trailer, she's a little hyper, so I start rubbing her neck and whispering, "Hey there, girl. Let's get you outta here so the others can see what a beauty you are."

As soon as Billy has the back doors open, she starts backing up without any encouragement from me. She is a professional after all.

"Good girl," I praise her as I lead her around the truck to the front of the barn where the others are standing around talking with Janice and Peter.

"Oh, Edward," I hear Bella gasp, leaving Peter's embrace and walking toward me. "She's beautiful! Look at those colors. Wait a minute … is that … whoa … she's Miracle in the Mist. How in the hell did you get her?"

"Um." I hesitate, not knowing if Bella's upset or just in shock. "I saw her, and after riding her, we just kinda bonded." I shrug as if that is a good enough reason. "So, I bought her."

"Do you know what you have here?" Bella asks in awe. I relax a little knowing that she isn't upset with me.

"Yeah," I answer. "I mean, I know her history and I have her papers. Well, I will have her papers once I sign the buyer's agreement."

"Holy shit," Bella blurts out, reaching over to pet her. "Do you wanna breed her?"

Billy and Peter both laugh at her enthusiasm, both calling out a "told ya so" as I shrug my shoulders. "It wasn't my intention, but Peter told me I could if I wanted to."

"She would produce some pretty foals," she remarks quietly.

"She's been approved by the RPSI inspectors for breeding Knabstruppers due to her high marks for her movement and type," I state proudly.

Bella just shakes her head with a big smile on her face, walking into the barn. I guess she approves of my choice in horses. She comes back out with what looks like a tackle box.

"What are you gonna do?" I ask, a little leery. I know she wouldn't do anything to hurt an animal, but I want to learn how to take care of my own horse.

"We—" she emphasizes with a smirk, "—are gonna wrap her legs. It'll give her a little more support while she gets used to her new stall and paddock. Then, we are gonna braid her mane and tail," she lists, giving me a sideways smirk. My initial thought is she's taking over the grooming for my new purchase, but she continues explaining. "Horses swing their tails around to get used to a new area, and we don't want her to pull any of the hair out if it gets caught on the stall."

As she shows me how to wrap Mist's legs, I bump her arm to get her attention. "I really appreciate you helping me and showing me how to care for her."

"No problem," she replies with a smile. "It's how we learn; if no one shows us, then how are we supposed to do it right? My daddy always said, 'Mistakes are only mistakes if you don't learn from them'."

"Will you sit with me when we go over the buyer's contract and her papers?" I ask, wanting for her to be a part of this with me.

"Of course," she answers with a huge smile. "I wanna get my hands on her pedigree lineage, anyway," she laughs out. "I need to figure out a way to convince you to breed her."

"I'll think about it. But I'm worried that I won't want to sell the foal." I laugh at her smirk. "I'm too much of a softy."

"There's nothing wrong with having another horse," she rebuts. "You could raise and train the foal. I just think that she could make a name for you in the horse world, if that's something you want. You could be the owner and have someone else show the foul for you once it's trained."

After we have Mist's legs wrapped and her tail and mane braided—I'll admit, I'm shitty at braiding—I get her settled in the stall and head into the office to go over the papers.

"Let me see the buyer's agreement," Bella commands gently, holding her hand out expectantly to Peter, who is smirking at her.

"It ain't your horse, doll," Peter remarks, handing me the folder with all the papers. "Let the man have a look first, missy."

"Whatever," she snarks out, pouting. "How'd ya both get away from the ranch anyway?"

"We've decided to retire, so most of our stock has been sold off. We have our personal horses and a few more we're tryin' to sell," he tells her after taking a deep breath. You can hear the sorrow in his voice. "We're thinking of selling the place and traveling, buying an RV."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Bella states, frowning. "You could always leave your horses here, and there're RV hookups by the utility building. Travel 'til your heart's content, and then come home for a little while."

"That actually sounds like a good idea." Peter smiles at her. "I'll let you know once we make a firm decision."

I read over the papers and point out a few things I don't understand to Bella, who dumbs it down for me. I sign the agreement and hand over the cashier's check. I'm the official owner of Miracle in the Mist as long as the health check I'm required to complete within the next ten days comes back good.

Peter, Bella, and I take an XUV back to the main house so she isn't in the sun. When we walk in, Sarah and Janice are making lunch as everyone else sits around the living room talking.

"Where's Cassie?" Bella asks to no one in particular.

"Um," Billy hesitates. "Rose and Jessica are giving her a bath."

"And why does my daughter need a bath in the middle of the day?" she demands in confusion.

"'Cause we let Emmett watch her. We turn to see Jessica and a clean Cassie standing in the doorway. "They made a mud pit in the backyard playing in the water."

"How'd they make a mud pit in my yard?" she growls out with one eyebrow raised.

"You know that pile of dirt that's still sitting in the corner of the yard left over from the pool installation?" Jake laughs at her wide eyes. "Yeah, they dug a hole in the middle of it and filled it with water. Now, you have two pools." A collection of chuckles and giggles is heard from around the room at Jake's explanation.

"Baby girl," she calls, holding her arms out for her daughter, who runs into her mother's embrace. "Did Emmett get you all muddy?"

"Pay," Cassie whispers. "I dirty."

Before Bella can respond, Sarah is calling us to eat. We fill the dining room with chatter and laughter. Bella and Emmett playfully banter about him destroying her yard.

"After lunch, I head to the kitchen to start on the cake—carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Since I was told Bella's favorite food is TexMex, tonight's menus consists of: avocado salsa, chicken and black bean tostadas, beef enchiladas, cilantro-lime rice, and frijoles." All gluten-free, of course. Oh, let's not forget the raspberry-mango sangria. Yes, we're having a TexMex feast, so it will take a little while to get everything prepared and cooked.

Jessica and Alice have already snuck the puppy over to Seth and Jessica's house since it's closer. They even wrapped a box and punched some holes in the top to present him in. My excitement starts to peek as dinnertime gets closer.

A few of the guys move the patio tables off to the side of the house and replace them with two long tables. Sarah and my mother quickly decorate while Janice keeps Bella occupied.

I'm setting up the food table and cake when everyone, except Bella and Jessica, gather outside, circling the patio.

Just as I finish the final touches, Jessica leads Bella out the back door as we all yell. "SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

"Oh my," she chokes out, wiping tears away as they form in her beautiful eyes. "I have no words. I love y'all. Thank you."

She gives hugs to everyone as she walks around the patio. She stops and looks at all the decorations and food. When she hugs me, my breath catches at how perfect she fits in my embrace. It's like she was made just for me. "Thanks for making all the food, Edward," she whispers.

We take our seats after making a plate. I receive many praises for the food, and a few 'I can't believe it's all gluten-free' comments. Rose makes sure to inspect her enchilada before taking a bite, then humming in approval.

I just smirk at her. "No goats were harmed in the making of this dinner." Everyone laughs as she flips me off.

After dinner, Jessica and Seth sneak off to their house to get the puppy as Billy turns toward Bella with a small smile.

"Everyone here decided to get you one gift, well two, but they go together so no fussin'," he tells her, handing her the card from all of us.

When she opens it, the gift card from the pet store falls out and she catches it with a confused look. As she's reading the card, Seth walks up and sets the box down at her feet. She reaches down and pulls the ribbon, untying the bow. Before she can take the lid off though, the puppy pops its head up and the lid falls off. Bella just stares at the little guy, who's trying to climb out of the box, with tears running down her face.

She doesn't move to pick him up, and I think that everyone is holding their breath at her reaction, or at least I know I am. When the pup starts whining, she finally reaches in the box and lifts him up to her face.

Cassie breaks the silence as she climbs out of her chair and walks over to her mother. "Pup, Momma."

"I see that." Bella chokes out a sob. "You got me a puppy."

"Yeah," Cassie whispers. "Be."

"Oh, yeah," Bella giggles as the puppy is happily licking her cheeks and chin. "He's a baby all right. Thank you all so much." She is just hugging the puppy to her chest while taking deep breaths, trying to calm down.

"We know you always wanted one, and it just so happens that when Edward found a breeder of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, it was Peter and Janice he called," Billy explains.

"We didn't know who he was until Billy called," Peter finishes. "He's registered, and Edward has all his papers."

"A little boy," she whispers. "What is your name, little guy?"

"That's up to you," I cut in. "He's yours so you're gonna have to name him."

"Mac," she whispers without hesitation, as more tears pour down her cheeks. "Oh, God, it's perfect."

Billy grabs her hand and chokes on his words, "It is perfect. He would've loved that."

"Why Mac?" Jasper inquires.

"My dad called everyone Mac," Bella explains with a small smile. "It means 'son'. He never met a stranger so everyone was Mac until he got to know them by name."

"Well, I think it's perfect, sweetheart," my father states, also a little emotional by the sound of his voice. "And that gift card is for you to spoil him. Sarah and Edward only bought him food and a collar to get you started."

Once the cake was cut and enjoyed, I started to clean up until Sarah stops me, "You cooked everything by yourself, Edward. Take a break and let us clean up."

As Sarah opens the back door, Lleu immediately darts out of the house and starts playing with Mac. I sit in one of the lounge chairs and watch them run around the yard.

Bella comes over and sits in the chair next to me with a sigh, "Thank you, Edward. For everything. It doesn't seem like words are enough, but that's all I have for right now."

"No thanks needed," I reply softly. "You've opened your home to us, taken care of everything to get us here. I should be thanking you."

We sit in comfortable silence just watching the pups run around and play. Jake and Emmett light the fire pit, the smoky scent filling the air. The evening sky is clear, and the darkness of the new moon allows the bright stars to be seen. I decide this is the perfect time to tell her how I feel and ask her out, nerves be damned.

"When I was going through all the shit with Tanya, I swore off women. I thought they were out to ruin me and my family. I just didn't trust my judgment," I start softly, knowing there are still a few people outside, and I don't want them to overhear me.

"Everyone makes mistakes, Edward," Bella cuts me off. "As long as we learn from them so we don't make them again then they help us become better people. You have to let what Tanya did to you and your family go; move on with your life."

"Since being here, I have let it go," I reply honestly. "And the reason is you."

"Me?" she squeaks out.

"Yes. You," I state, turning to look at her. She's so beautiful that it takes my breath away. "You made me realize not everyone is evil; there are still good people in this world.

"When we left after visiting in January, I kept feeling like something was missing. The only time I felt complete was when I would hear your voice. I felt as if I couldn't get back here fast enough, and it was because of you.

"Bella, you are a beautiful person on the outside, but on the inside, you're so much more. I know we've both been through traumatic events that require healing. But, I would like to do that healing … together."

"Edward," she whispers.

"I have feelings for you, and I can't ignore them anymore. They're strong, too strong to push aside. All I'm asking is you give me a chance; just go out on a date with me. We'll take it slow and just see where it leads us. If nothing else, you're my friend, and I don't want to lose your friendship. If we build a relationship on friendship then we can't go wrong."

"I'll admit that I have feelings for you, too, and they confuse me at times," she answers honestly. "Let me think about it; gimme a little time, please?"

"You take all the time you need," I answer easily because she didn't say no. "No pressure; I would never pressure you."

"Thanks," she whispers as she gets up from the chair. She leans over and kisses my cheek, softly whispering, "Goodnight, Edward." Then she scoops up Mac and walks inside.

I continue to sit outside a little longer, just thinking about everything running through my mind. I'm scared to admit it to myself, but my feelings for her are much deeper than I can tell her right now. I don't want to scare her off before I have a chance at a relationship. Patience. I just need to find all the patience I can to get me through this.

Lleu wanders over so I pick him up, heading into the silent house and up the stairs.

You can do this, Edward. Just give her some time.

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