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Chapter 14 – Goated

EDWARD

I couldn't believe I'd told her I could read minds. I wasn't surprised by the way she reacted; it was completely normal for someone to freak out. But then she found me that night, and we talked for a really long time. I think she was really trying to see if I was normal. I did my best to answer all her questions and sound as sane as possible. I avoided any more conversation about my family or my profession and talked mostly about hanging out with Alice. I had yet to tell her where Alice and I would hang out, for fear that she'd freak out again.

Then she woke me up with the idea of using Jacob as a telephone. It really was quite brilliant, as I would be able to prove that I could actually read minds and keep a closer eye on her. She was a little shocked at first when she realized I could watch her when Jacob was in her presence, but she quickly settled down and we came up with a plan to communicate over the distance.

We split up this morning, and I went to work, practicing my shooting and tending to the plants that had started growing. I was amazed at how well the corn was doing. It was growing fast, but I guess that was normal for corn. Little bean sprouts had started up the stalks, just like Alice had predicted.

I was headed to the field I had cleared, when I heard the clang.

I focused on Jacob and saw Bella looking out the door of our hut. I pulled out my whistle and answered her back.

I watched as she turned to Jacob and smiled at him playfully. "Hey, handsome boy, I'm going to talk to you for a while and see if Daddy can hear me," she cooed to him. He smiled and she talked a bit more to him, making him giggle.

"Edward, if you're really listening, I was thinking, if we're going to be here for a while longer, could we maybe see about making a real bathroom?" she said timidly.

I started laughing. Of all the shit she could ask me about, she wanted a shitter. I answered her back on my recorder with a yes. If she really wanted a bathroom of some sort, I didn't see a problem with it.

"I was also thinking that maybe we should take Sam and see if he could help us find the goats. We could really use the milk."

Find the goats? Did she think they would just follow her back? I rubbed my face in frustration. Of course she did, because that was what happened with the chickens and the dog. She didn't understand that wasn't the way it worked with goats.

I knew this trying to communicate through Jake would be a problem. This was not a yes or no question. Great, now she was going to think I was a fraud.

I headed back to the hut, so we could discuss the issue of the goats. I mean sure, I would love something other than boiled water and coconut milk, but that was not happening until the goats saw fit.

I kept an eye on Bella through Jake. I saw her let out a sigh and shake her head.

"I'm nuts, Jake, aren't I? Of course he can't read your mind, what kind of fool am I to actually believe he could do this. I probably just made it worse by feeding his delusion. God, Jacob, what are we going to do? I don't think he's dangerous. I mean, he's good to us. He takes care of us." She slumped down on the bed and pulled her hair back up again. "I guess I'll just do my best to return the favor and take care of him as well. We all need each other, don't we? We need to work together. When and if we ever get back, I'll make sure he's taken care of. He's done too much for us to turn our backs on him." She leaned down and kissed Jacob on the head.

"I wonder what he thought I asked?" she asked him just as I stepped up.

"Well, wanting to go hunt down the goats is not a yes or no question!" I answered her; frustrated that she'd given up on me so quickly. "You can't go after the goats, those fuckers have horns!" I nearly shouted at her.

I realized she was staring at me in shock, but she suddenly smiled widely. Before I realized what was happening, she threw herself into my arms and kissed my cheek, squeezing me tightly.

"Oh, thank god," she said and started laughing and kissed my cheek again.

I peeled her off of me and held her out at arm's length. "What's your problem? Why are you acting so weird?" I asked her.

"It's true! You're not nuts!" she squealed.

I rolled my eyes at her. "No, I told you, I'm not insane."

"I know, and I really wanted you to be sane, but then you didn't answer me back."

"It wasn't a yes or no question. We discussed this. If it isn't a yes or no question, I can't answer the question," I said frustrated.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I just thought maybe if we went looking for the goats..."

I cut her off. "The goats are not going to follow us home. They're territorial and will defend their families."

I realized now she was packing up Jake and loading up the duffle bag.

"Well, we'll just have to become part of their family now, wont we," she said and started out the door.

I had never met a woman so frustratingly stubborn. Last thing I wanted to do was get rammed by a ram.

"Hey!" I shouted after her as she hurried off into the jungle. "Where do you think you're going? Alice didn't say anything about getting the goats. She said they'd come to us once the field is ready."

"Well, the field is ready, and I'm tired of waiting."

"They'll come when they're ready."

"Well, I'm ready now, and Jake needs milk, so we're going to go help them be ready. They'd be in the mountains, wouldn't they?"

"Yes, with the mountain lions," I said trying to scare her.

"Good, we're almost out of meat," she stated, as if it was as easy as catching a kitten.

God, that woman was impossible!

A/N: Thanks for reading and please review!