Jasper was sitting in the jailhouse, his boots propped up on the desk in front of him as he leaned back in his chair. In his hand was a small handkerchief embroidered with red flowers. It was the same handkerchief that Alice had dropped in the jail cell when he'd first met her. He'd kept it in his pocket ever since then and every now and then he found himself just taking it out and looking at it as he thought about her.

After he'd dropped her at the Big E—and gotten thoroughly drunk in the process—he figured it wouldn't be long before he had her out of his system. Each time he'd run into her it'd get easier and easier till he just saw her like any of the other lady's that lived in town, but after having run into her this morning and having lunch with her, Emmett, and Bella, well, he was starting to see that that just wasn't the case. She was beautiful, feisty, kind, sweet…basically everything and anything he could ever want.

Sighing he ran his hand over his face in a tired manner even as he stuck the scrap of embroidered fabric back in his pocket. This was just no good.

Just then he heard a pair of footsteps on the wooden sidewalk leading up the jailhouse and he moved his feet off the desk and waited to see who it was. As the door opened and he saw Emmett walk in he felt a sense of shame at where his thoughts had been only moments before. He saw Edward follow Emmett in and stood up. "What's going on, fellas?"

Emmett sighed and pulled a seat up; Edward just leaned against the wall and was the one to answer Jasper, "Don't know. Emmett asked me to come with him. Says he needs to talk to us about something."

Jasper looked to Emmett and frowned. "This have to do with your meeting with the Volturi brothers and Mallory."

Edward frowned. "Mallory was at your meeting?"

Emmett nodded. "Yes. They wanted to talk about the possibility of bringing the railroad to Spoons Valley. Apparently the railroad companies won't consider coming out here unless they have my and Mallory's backing to use them for transporting cattle."

"What'd you say?" asked Jasper.

"I said no," sighed Emmett. "I said no and you both know the Volturi brothers don't like to hear no."

Edward frowned. "No. They don't."

"What tack do you think they're going to take?" Jasper asked.

Emmett just shook his head. He didn't know.

"They're not likely to leave it alone though," Edward added.

"No, they're not," Emmett agreed.

They all stayed quiet for a while. It was Jasper that finally broke the silence. "I'll keep an eye on things here in town. I'll let you both know if I see or hear anything."

"I'll tell my uncle to keep an ear out as well," Edward said.

"Guess that's all we can do for now." Emmett shook his head. "I don't like this. Mallory was too quiet at his meeting and that always makes me uncomfortable. He's planning something. I know it. I just have no idea what. Now I have to watch out for both the Volturi brothers and Mallory. I'm being attacked on different fronts and I don't like it."

"We got your back, Em," Edward said quietly.

Jasper just nodded in agreement.

Emmett had been quiet on the ride home and was quiet after dinner. Alice didn't seem to notice as she chattered on about their visit to town, church, and her plans for making dresses for Bella and herself. Bella was worried about Emmett, sensing that something was wrong, but she didn't want to ask what was up and just made a comment now and then so Alice wouldn't think that she was talking to herself.

After dinner Alice made her way to the parlor where she was beginning to cut the fabric for Bella's new clothes and Bella watched as Emmett made her way tiredly upstairs after saying goodnight to both of them.

Making her way out onto the front porch Bella sat down on the front steps to the porch, looking at the stars. They were so clear here compared to Chicago. After sitting there a while she heard someone clear their throat and she looked over to see Edward walking up to where she was sitting on the front steps.

"Evening, Bella."

"Hello, Edward."

"Mind if I join you?" he asked and waited till she nodded and moved over a bit before he sat next to her. "I, uh, found something for you."

She turned and looked at him curiously and it was then that she noticed that he was carrying the small kitten she had seen in the barn that first day they met wiggling in his hands.

"Oh!" She leaned towards him to peer closer at the tiny black kitten with green eyes that was peering up at her. Edward carefully handed the kitten over. "I think he's the same little fella you saw the other day."

Taking the kitten she held it close and smiled as it snuggled up against her and started to purr. Grinning brightly at Edward she whispered, "Thank you, Edward."

"You're welcome, Bella. He seems to like you. What you going to name him?"

"Twilight. I think that's a good name for a black cat."

Edward chuckled and leaning over he scratched the top of the kitten's head. "I think it suits him."They were sitting so close that they could feel each other's body heat. Bella was glad for the darkness since it hid her blush. Looking up at the stars again, she whispered softly, "It's so beautiful out here."

Edward was looking directly at her and whispered back, "Yes, beautiful." He turned away before she could catch him looking and moved his green eyes to gaze at the stars. "You settling in all right, Bella? I know that this all must be very new to you. I don't know what your life in Chicago must have been like, but I'm sure it was very different."

Bella smiled at that and nodded. "Very different." She was quiet a moment before continuing, "I like it here. Carmen is wonderful, so is Alice…" So was he, but of course she didn't say that out loud. "I'm a little worried about Emmett, though."

"Worried?"

"Yes," she sighed. "I know I haven't been around him for such a long time, but sometimes he just seems so sad and I don't know what it is. Then tonight he just seemed sad and worried. I wish he'd open up to me, but I know he probably doesn't want me to worry."

Edward sat there quietly for a moment. "Emmet's going to be all right, Bella. He has friends to make sure of that."

She turned to him and smiled then and he gave her a crooked smile back.

"He's lucky to have a friend like you, Edward."

He chuckled. "Well, I think we're both lucky. We'd have killed each other by now if we weren't friends."

Bella laughed softly.

After that they sat there in comfortable silence for a while as she continued to cuddle her new kitten. It was some time before Edward broke the silence and even then his voice was barely above a whisper, "Bella?"

She turned to look at him without saying anything.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go out for a ride tomorrow. I know Emmet's been busy and all, but I thought you might want to see a bit more of the ranch." He wondered if he sounded as nervous as he felt.

Bella smiled and responded in a soft voice, "I'd like that very much. Thank you, Edward."

He gave her another crooked grin. "See you after breakfast then? Carmen can probably pack us a good lunch since there's so much to see."