Over the next several days things were busy at the ranch. Emmett was always off somewhere and Bella and Alice were lucky if they managed to see him at breakfast or dinner. Bella and Alice both tried to help Carmen out as much as possible with her duties and since there were three people to do the work now instead of just one that left time for other things. Bella was picking things up quickly around the ranch and had already learned a lot more than she expected.

Alice filled up Bella's time with making dresses and embroidery. She came to realize that Alice was better than most of the dressmakers she'd encountered in Chicago and Alice was tickled pink when Bella told her.

Bella had seen Edward from a distance now and again when she was helping out around the homestead, but he'd always either been riding off or looked hesitant to approach her.

On Saturday afternoon she was out near the chicken coop by the barn scattering some feed for the hens when she heard someone walking up behind her. Turning she was a bit surprised to see Edward and she gave him a hesitant smile before she went back to her task, figuring he was just passing by.

"I see you're getting the hang of things around here," he said as he came up beside her.

Bella smiled at him a bit and shrugged, "Trying to anyway."

They went silent a moment and then both of them spoke at the same time. "Edward, I…" "Look, Bella…"

"Go on," he said with a bit of a smile.

"Well," Bella said, "I'd…I'd like to apologize."

Edward looked confused. "Apologize for what?"

She sighed and looking away she continued to scatter the last of the feed for the chickens. "I was prying where I shouldn't have."

He shook his head. "No, Bella, I should be the one apologizing. There are just some things, well, that I'm not comfortable talking to you about yet. I'd…um, like to share those things with you eventually. It's just I'd appreciate it if you could give me some time is all."

Bella smiled at him and nodded. "I can do that."

He gave her a crooked smile in response. "I was wondering if...," but before he could finish what he was saying, Alice was coming up to them.

"Hello, Edward. How are you doing this afternoon?" Alice asked with a bright smile.

Edward smiled in response. "Hello, Alice. I'm doing just fine, thank you. Yourself?"

"Oh, I'm just fine, thank you. I wanted to come over to see if you were going to come to church with us tomorrow."

Unlike Emmett, Edward didn't look horrified by the idea, but he did smile and shake his head. "No, I'm sorry, Alice, but I usually help my aunt and uncle with some things around their house on Sunday mornings. Though, I was just about to ask Bella if you all would like to come to my aunt's for lunch after the service. She asked that I extend the invitation, but I haven't had the chance to ask till now."

"Oh," Alice said with a smile. "We'd love to come. That'll be lovely, won't it, Bella?"

Bella smiled and nodded.

"Good. I'll let her know in the morning. If you'll excuse me ladies I have some things to take care of." He grinned and walked off.

Bella smiled as she watched him walk away and Alice just chuckled to herself as she took in Bella's smile.

"So I take it things are better between the two of you now?" Alice asked.

Bella smiled and blushed. "It's getting there."

"Good," Alice responded.

"Does Emmett know we're going to church tomorrow, Alice?"

Alice grinned brightly. "Sure does. Just so happens he has some business to take care of at in town and I made sure he put it off till Sunday."

Bella and Alice both laughed.

"I can't say what you did in church, Emmett! We're eating in polite company!" Alice exclaimed at lunch the next day. "It was completely mortifying though!"

Carlisle, Esme, Edward, and Bella just looked amused by the exchange as they sat eating lunch at the Cullen's.

"Well, it ain't as if I did it on purpose, Alice!" Emmett replied.

Bella was trying so hard not to laugh and just concentrated on the food on her plate. When Edward leaned over and whispered, "What'd he do?" Bella could only bite her lips together and shake her head to keep from laughing.

Curiosity wasn't only eating away at Edward, it seemed the Esme and Carlisle also wanted to know what was going on.

"You don't have to be polite on my account, Alice," Esme said. "I'm a doctor's wife. Trust me when I say that all sorts of things have come up in conversation at the dinner table."

Carlisle nodded. "It's true."

Alice took a deep breath and said, "Reverend Newton was in a dramatic pause in the middle of his sermon, well, perhaps not a dramatic pause, but a pause none the less. I didn't realize Emmett had fallen asleep next to me and…he…had a little issue."

Bella had lifted her napkin to her lips and her shoulders shook as she tried to hold in her laughter.

"Issue?" Edward pressed.

"I farted," Emmett stated plainly with a frown.

Alice just frowned and nodded next to him.

Bella was still hiding behind her napkin and shaking with unreleased laughter. Edward's eyes widened. Esme's lips twitched.

Carlisle just looked at Emmett as if he hadn't heard correctly and then he was finally the one that broke the silence. Clearing his throat he said, "Well, I have a tonic that just might be able to help with that."

Edward let out the tiniest of laughs and that was enough to set Bella off and they both started laughing loudly together. They were immediately joined by Esme and Carlisle was suspiciously coughing into his hand. The only ones that didn't seem in the least bit amused were Alice and Emmett.

"I told you I shouldn't be allowed in a church, Alice," Emmett muttered.

Alice sighed and shook her head. He wasn't getting out of it gas or no gas.

"It's all right, Emmet." Alice said as she patted Emmett's hand. "We'll just have to make sure that Carmen doesn't serve you any beans for dinner on Saturdays."

They all started laughing after that and they had a good time during the rest of the meal.

After dinner Carlisle excused himself since he had a patient to check on and Emmett asked Edward to go with him to take care of whatever business matter he had needed to come to town for.

Bella and Alice helped Esme clear the table and do the dishes. Esme had protest of course, but as usual, Alice was a force to be reckoned with. When they were done cleaning up Esme suggested that they go to the general store since both she and Alice needed some sewing needles and thread. Bella had no interest in going, but she accompanied them nonetheless, not wanting them to feel obligated to change their plans on her account.

While at the large store Bella wandered about just looking at random things. While looking at the small selection of books behind the counter near the front entrance to the store, she felt as if she was being watched and she looked up and around till her eyes fell on a man staring at her from across the street. It took her a moment to place him, but she realized it was the same man that she'd seen talking to Mr. Mallory the same day as her arrival. What had Jasper called him? Her brows drew together as she tried to remember his name. James. Yes, that was it. His name was James.

She realized he was still watching her in a way that made her feel uncomfortable and she moved back, further inside of the store to stand next to Esme and Alice.