Chapter 25 Edward to Bella and Back
~~ Edward to Bella~~
July 23, 1859
My dearest Bella,
I sit here at my desk in my quarters on the ship. I just got here. How can I leave you? This is excruciating. I feel as if I was being drawn and quartered, only in two directions and not four. All of my life I have been taught what is expected of my family, especially as the heir. Now I can't think of any of that, wanting to be out in the fields watching the sheep and goats mow down the plants while we sit and dream or read. Nevertheless, it is my duty and I will do my duty to my country if for no other reason than to pass the time more quickly before I see you again. I will do research on steel, trolleys and railroads to catch up with you. I will find how they impact agriculture so that I can pretend that there is a valid reason for me to do so. Therefore I will also involve the other ministers, so that it will involve the country, for your little curious thoughts might make our entire country better.
The ship is setting sail, I can feel it. The current is catching us as we begin our trip home. But my home is with you because my heart is with you. I am going to work. I work for you, sleep for you, dream of you, do my job for you, live for you. I live for the day when we will begin our lives together on October 1. I love you.
I love you! I love you!
Yours truly,
Sir Edward Cullen
Minister of Agriculture
~~ Bella to Edward~~
July 25, 1859
Sir Edward Cullen,
I know we must be apart for these two months, but it is killing me. Jasper stayed with me in the field and let me bawl my eyes out all over his shirt instead of yours. The very earth shook as you left. Did you feel it? Jasper helped me play the 'Let's Go Home' song on the flute and helped me get the animals home. He milked the nannys for me and sent me in to the house.
Mom saw what a mess I was and told me to go wash my face and hands. She then put me right to work scalding the fruit so that the peels would come off easily. Soon my hands were as purple as the plums. We made jam out of all of the ripe fruit and the fruit that the earthquakes shook out of the trees. Tomorrow Rose will take the animals out and I will stay and do fruit. Mom said that we should alternate because we can't let one lay around the fields watching the animals eat the grass, while the other is up to her elbows in peach jam. I think that Jasper is right in saying that we need to be busy, physically and mentally. Therefore I will do my duty and be a good daughter and help all that I can.
Rose is a great sister to me. She listens to me when I tell her all about you and the things we did together, and even the things we did separately. I have shared with her bits and pieces of The House of the Seven Gables and she would like to read it, too. I tried not to give too much of the story away to her.
It is so grand having Alice only across the street from us. She has been over every day, learning how to make jams, jellies, preserves, and canned fruit. We'll work on the dried fruit when the sheer volume of fruit lessens. My favorite dried fruit is pears, with a second favorite of apple. I like the strawberry leather, too. Applesauce is hard. It takes lots and lots of apples to cook down to applesauce. I prefer to bottle sliced apples. This year I am going to try to can some with a touch of the cinnamon that cook sent us, so that we can have some all year. Apple cider and apple juice are good, too. Apples are very versatile.
Jasper and dad are going into town next week to go with Alice's dad to get the other five horses for their ranch. Two will be to keep, the others will be to build up the stock. Jasper says he wants to only have a kind called quarter horses. He says they are good at races, but also very good with cattle. Except for size and color, all horses look the same to me. I guess that shows because I couldn't tell a unicorn from a goat. In my defense, though, it was dark, and I could only see the hind end, with baby legs sticking out. Looking at the head wasn't my first priority.
Alice and Jasper say 'hello,' by the way. They love the cabin. It is just right for them for now. It is so pretty inside, and we'll have time to work on preparing the garden and the yard outside, once harvest is over.
I must close now, I love you! I miss you!
Yours truly,
Bella Swan