Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the respected owners. No copy write intended.

Authors Note: Hi! Thank you to everyone who has been waiting patiently for me to finish this story along with my other story Elements! It means so much! The reason for this authors note before my story instead of after is to apologize to anyone I have offended with my story what so ever! I had a reader mention to me that I make some of Chance and his friends make Texas sound uneducated. I didn't mean it that way at all! I for one have never been to Texas myself. However I do have a friend that lived there for years and came back. I am basing there dialects off her picked up accent and the country accents of people I live around only. I just wanted to clear that up with everyone:) Thank you for bringing that to my attention! Again, I apologize to everyone I have offended with this story!

Chapter 12

Leah POV

I was woken up by the sound of a truck pulling in at the ranch house. Sitting up and stretching, I climb out of bed and pull on my silk power blue robe before making my way to the kitchen down stairs. Mercy is there sipping on coffee when I walk down the steps. Of course in my sleepy state, I slip in my socked feet on the last hardwood step. Grabbing the railing with both hands, I luckily save myself from actually falling. Jack chuckles,"I've done that a few times. You alright?"

Smiling, I walk over and pour myself a cup of coffee, adding cream and sugar. "I'm fine thanks. How are you this morning Mercy?"

"Awe I'm alright. Just grabbing a cup of joe before getting to work." He emphasizes by holding his coffee cup up a bit before taking another sip.

Opening the fridge, I grab eggs and bacon."Well how about you come back in from working in about an hour and have some breakfast. I'm in a cooking mood this morning."

He puts his now empty mug in the sink."Well thank you young lady. Jake and Daisy here? I saw their truck out front when I pulled in this morning."

"Yes sir. We got in late last night." I looked in a few cabinets, frowning.

"Pots and pans are in the storage closet in the back. Unless you want one of the ones hanging over the island there."

I turn with a blush. Sure enough, they kind of frying pan I was looking for hung next to me above the island.

Getting it down I turn back to the stove top. "How do you like you eggs and bacon Mercy?"

"Either sunny side up, fried, or scrambled with cheese. I like my bacon the only way it should be made. Crispy."

I smile over at the scrawny old man. He reminds me a bit of Charlie Swan back home. And Billy Black. They live off eggs and bacon. "I'll just make a bit of everything then. Pancakes?"

He cackles as he walks out the door, "What ever you want to cooks fine by me. See you in an hour."

I was left alone after that. Mercy was a sweet old guy. Kept to himself mostly and I could tell that he wasn't one of many words. He got to the point and got back to what needs to be done. I'm glad Chance has him running this place. You could tell that Mercy thought the world of this place. I wish I had someone back home to feel that way about an old cottage back in the woods. Away from prying eyes and civilization. Some place where you can be one with nature year round.

After becoming a protector of La Push, I never got to think much about my future. I mean what could I do really? I couldn't leave La Push, and I had patrol's anyway. Where did I have time to plan a stand still future. After retiring though, I've found my mind always wandering to what I want in my future. Classes I want to take, kind of man I want to marry, where I want to live, how many kids I want to have. Everything that would pop in my head. The one phrase that can scare anyone always floating in my mind. If only.

Chance POV

Sun light pours in my window, waking me up from my hard sleep. Groaning to myself, I flop over. Immediately regretting it. I have the king of all headaches. My body is sore and the room is too cold. I really hope I'm not coming down with something on top of a hangover. Jake pushes my door open and wheels himself in.

"How did you get up here?"

He leans his elbows on his knees,"Leah and Daisy helped me up here to get a shower and stuff in the big bathroom. Also, Leah made breakfast. The girls are down with Jack now waiting on us to get to the table. Leah wont let us eat until everyone is at the table. She's even got the workers sitting down."

I grin to myself. So she likes having a lot of people around. Jumping up, I walk into the bathroom connected to my bedroom to put on deodorant and brush my teeth. After doing that I walk back across my room towards the hall. "Well come on Skunk. Breakfast is getting cold."

"I'm coming Possum I'm coming."

I can faintly hear the roll of his tires on the hardwood floor following me. Once I reach the stairs I wait for him, helping him down so he doesn't hurt himself. We don't want him in this any more than he has to be. Which doesn't really matter if he's in it or not. He'll always be the Jake we know and love.

Once we reach the dinning room, all the workers, Jack, and Daisy turn towards us. Jack moves his chair down a bit more, allowing Jake to sit to near the head of the table where I'll sit. He rolls over,"Thanks old man."

"Not to old to whop your tail yet boy." Jack chuckles.

He'd helped raise us when our parents weren't around. Showing us how to take care of the animals right and how to tie knots and ride. How to drive and helped with school work that he could. Mom was always with dad. The angel and the devil those two. Dad wasn't a bad man by heart or anything. He just couldn't stick with anything for to long.

Leah breezes in carrying plates piled with food. Her short hair is tied back on her head, her face free of make up. She styles a pair of faded jean's, her boots, and a black tank. After placing all the plates in the middle of the table, she catches sight of me and smiles,"Well good morning. Sleep well?"

"Fine. You know you didn't have to cook all this. Not that I'm complaining!" I take my seat after she sits herself in the chair to my left.

"Oh hush. I was up early and was in a cooking mood." She grins at the table at large,"Well sense everyone is here. Dig in!"

Everyone piled their plates high with food. She'd made everything. Bacon, eggs, sausage, french toast, waffles, biscuits, even pancakes! Everything was amazing too! Everyone ate their full and she even packed away left overs to send home with some of the men for their families. Jake, Daisy, and I offered to do clean up sense she cooked all morning. Leah argued, until Jack mentioned that he needed some help getting the pregnant mares bathed.

She finally agreed, wanting to be near the animals a bit more.

Before she walked out, sh turned to me at the door,"Chance I want to talk to you. Met me out here when you get done."

I nod and she walks out to start the day, while I gather dishes to be washed.

Leah POV

It wasn't long before everyone was pitching in with chores. Even Jake helped. There wasn't much time for talking which was fine by me, I just didn't get to talk to Chance much. By lunch time, I had muscles aching that I didn't even know I had! Jake and Chance picked on my for groaning when I started up the porch steps.

"Its not my fault! I haven't done anything like that in all my life! Who knew hay bales could be so heavy!"

A shinny yellow jeep barrels into the yard. No it didn't pull in, it barreled in. If her breaks where any worse they'd have rammed right into Jake and Daisy's truck. A tall blonde walks up to us. She was thin, but curvy. Not attractively but curvy. Kinda like she'd stuffed her jeans and bra. Her glasses showed us our reflections, her teeth so white they hurt to look at. Her skin a bit tan, but not by much. Nails done, designer cloths and boots that looked new. She smiles bigger when Chance turns around,"Chancy Pooh!"

She throws her arms around his neck and hugs him VERY close. I can feel the vein in my head start to snap. Who does she think she is? She is rubbing all over him!

"Uh...hi Stacie?" Chance finally gets her off him and steps up to my side. I put on a false smile and wrap and arm around his waist, which gets him to throw his own arm over my shoulders.

"Who's that Chancy Pooh?" She talks like a five year old. Does she really find that cute? Because I just find it annoying.

I hold a hand out for her,"Hi. I'm Leah Clearwater. Chance's girlfriend. It's nice to met you."

"Oh." She holds her hand out and takes mine after a minute,"I'm Stacie Blane. Chance and I went to school together for awhile."

Chance sighs,"What do you want Stacie? I'm tired and hungry and we still have work to do."

She glares for a millisecond then the smile is back on."Oh I herd you where back in town and wanted to see if you wanted to come over later for dinner or a long movie or something. Catch up like old times."

How often did he go see her? Because the way she's looking at him she doesn't mean they actually talked on his visits.

"Actually I'll pass. Thanks for the offer though. I'll be spending the night taking Leah out on the town." She jerks back at this, and glares at me. I just grin up at her as innocently as possible and try not to laugh. "I see. Well fine then. Call when you want to have a good time."

With that she walks off and climbs in her jeep. She throws gravel as she speeds down the driveway.

Chance POV

Jake is sitting across the table from me laughing his head off. "I can't believe I never knew you had a thing with Stacie! That's just hilarious!"

"I don't find it so hard to believe." Leah grumbles from next to me. I silently reach under the table and place my hand on her knee, feeling her relax instantly.

Jake shoots her a small smile,"Sorry Leah. I just meant..Stacie has a reputation around here. I didn't think Chance would mess with someone like that. Guess I don't know him as well as I thought huh?"

he chuckles, and Leah smiles over at him. But her eyes...the smile just doesn't seem real. She looks haunted. "Leah?"

She pushes my hand away, standing,"I think I'm going to go for a ride on Mist if that's okay? I'll stay in the fence."

I just nod. If she had trouble finding the stuff for Mist she'd ask. Daisy offered to ride with her but Leah declined, saying she just needed some time to herself.

After she'd left, Daisy and Jake look over at me. Both of them looked worried. I sigh,"She'll be fine. Just wants a bit of privacy."

"Alright Possum you and I both know something is up. Jack taught us early on how to read expressions and situations. That wasn't just wanting alone time. Something is bothering your girl."

"Look Skunk I don't know whats wrong with her alright? Maybe she's just homesick?"

Daisy smiles softly,"When are you two going ho...going back?"

I didn't miss her catch in her sentence. She still considers this to be my home, even if I'm moving to La Push. "I don't know. All I had to do really was pick up the rest of my cloths and stuff and ship it up to Sam's. I packed it up yesterday. Was going to ship it and check in at Sam's tomorrow. I was thinking about staying for a week. I don't think that's such a good idea now."

"How about another lake day? Just us and Leah?" I nod at Jake and immediately stand. Jake is pushing up on the arms of his wheelchair trying to get up. "Skunk?"

He chuckles,"I been holding out on my sister and mom. They started letting me walk around three days ago. I just wanted to be able to walk steadily before showing them. Well sense we are just riding down to the lake and swimming I think I'll be alright without this thing."

He stood up alright. A little shaky on thin legs, but standing none the less. Daisy had tears in her eyes as we walked,slowly but walked, to the barn. Jack smiles at Jake like a father would a son after he caught his first fish. Jake smiles up at the old man, who slapped Jake's shoulder. Jake slips an arm around his little sister and laughs through her tears and her brother ruffles her hair. Jake may have been down for awhile, but now he's back.

Leah POV

I had to smile at the sight before me. I'd done a lot of thinking on my ride. Chance seems so happy here. This is his home. Where his friends and family are. Where he fits. He belongs. When I reached the top of the hill near the barn I wanted to cry. I am crying, with a smile across my face. Jake is walking across the yard towards the barn. Daisy and Chance smiling like goofs next to him. I can't see Mercy's back, but I know he's smiling too.

Mist jerks under me, causing me to almost lose my balance. I get settled back in the seat of the saddle and wait a second. She seems calmed down so I relax, looking back to the barn. Everyone is watching me. I smile about to nudge Mist to walk towards them, but before I can touch her she jerks. Raring back and taking off down the field towards the fence. I close my eyes, grasping hand fulls of her mane as I feel her muscles bunch up under me as she jumps the railing. I feel her front feet hit the ground, and the rest of her follows as I'm thrown from her back over her head. I turn over and open my eyes, quickly throwing my arms over my face and a hoof meet's my elbow and the side of my head. Then everything goes black.

Chance POV

"Leah!" I rush towards the fallen girls side. She's laying on her side, arms over her head still. I can see her body move as she breaths shallowly, but shes breathing. Blood is oozing out of the side of her head where Mist's hoof hit it. "Leah? Baby can you hear me?"

She groans, but keeps her eyes closed. Jake and Daisy head inside for the first aid kit and to call an ambulance. A scratch on the head is one thing. A horse related injury to the head is another. I can feel tears burn my eyes lids. My vision going red. How could I be so stupid as to let her ride that mare by herself. No one's been able to hardly touch that horse but Leah.

I feel a hand clamp down on my shoulder, hard, stopping my body from shaking. I'd neglected to notice the body tremors before now. A gruff voice enters the cloud around my mind,"Son get control of yourself before you hurt her."

I growl. "I'll never hurt her."

"You keep down the road your traveling right now you will. We both know what happens when you shake because of emotion. Get a hold of your self or start running until you calm down."

I can hear the sirens of an ambulance as they head towards the house. I take a deep breath and swallow a growl. "Stick around pop. I need to talk to you before you leave."

I look at my father,Joshua Uley, long enough to see his nod and shake his hand before turning back to Leah as the medics come running over.

Authors Note: Thanks for reading! Review!