Chapter 29
BPOV
When I returned, he pulled me back in under the covers and asked, "Bella, you know how stupid that was, don't you? Running away wasn't going to solve your problems with your brothers."
"Edward, you're wrong; the only part that was stupid was the snow. I just wanted to be with the land; the cold doesn't bother me. I was thinking about what I might do"
"That is why we wanted you back so bad. Otherwise, we may have let you stay out there. Bella, you tell stories up here beautifully. You should try and write them down. If you have problems writing them down, we can hire someone to take your stories to paper for you. They can hear you tell the stories and they can write them for you."
I just remained silent. I wasn't sure what to think of the idea. Then there was a quiet knock at the door and the door slowly opened. Sarah said, "I thought I heard voices in here. You both need to get up and get some food in you. Please come downstairs."
"Fine Sarah, I'll be down once it put on clean clothes."
Sarah said, "There are clean ones in the closet for you two. Now move it."
We were downstairs in 10 minutes and I asked, "Sarah, what's the hurry?"
"A- you need food and drink and B- look outside."
When I did, I saw the snow was up to the porch. The snow had drifted so much, you couldn't even recognize the steps. I turned around and said, "Before I runaway next time, I will check the weather."
Billy came up and hugged me saying, "Yes please do. Now let's go eat."
Sarah had made pot pies and apple pie. With my meal, they brought me a pitcher of water and Sarah said, "Get drinking. Part of why you fainted yesterday was dehydration on top of sleep exhaustion."
While we ate, I asked, "Whose idea was it to send two parties about an hour apart?"
Billy said, "That was Rose and Edward's idea."
"You got me. I was expecting one search party. So once they were gone, I thought I would be safe."
Edward then asked, "Then why didn't you start a fire, if you thought you were safe."
"I was going to in the morning. Did you notice the fireplace?"
"Yes, you were ready to start it."
"I had enough clothes to keep me warm. If you'll excuse me," I said as I got up to leave the room.
Edward grabbed my hand and asked, "Where are you going?"
I turned and smiled saying, "Just to the bathroom, where do you think I would go? There is a blizzard outside. I'm not that stupid."
"Yes, but remember you're grounded."
"What I can't even go to the bathroom? By the way, I think," I say with an even larger smile, "we're all grounded right now."
Everyone laughed. When I came out of the bathroom, my brothers, Rose and Edward were all standing there waiting for me. "What did I do now?"
Adam said, "Nothing. Can we all go somewhere and talk? I think we need to straighten some things out."
We went to the front sitting room. My brothers all started by apologizing again. Christian said, "We never thought about what this decision would do to you emotionally. Though we did think, it might help you heal faster if you didn't have the constant reminder of the company and the house. That was our motivating factor and the money we were offered. So now the question is, what can we do to make it up to you?"
"First, don't ever make a decision like this again without my input. I am the oldest, you remember."
"Yes, we know," Brian said.
"Sparing me the pain isn't always the best way because you may create other pains that you don't realize."
Adam said, "Next time, would you please get mad and hurt one of us before you run away? Please that was one of the longest days of our lives. I'm glad they found you and that Rose and Edward know you so well. We're going to ask more questions and maybe we should start with your intentions here with Edward."
Edward took my hand looking at me. Then he held my hand and looked squarely at all my brothers and said, "I love her completely and I understand what she's gone through. I'm willing to accept whatever she gives me right now. I'll always go at her pace."
I look at him and whispered, "Thank you."
Rose pipes in, "Since Edward caused her unexpected accident, he has done nothing, but made sure she was well taken care of. He loves her and has taken amazing care of her. He has kept her well protected even from herself as she was healing."
Then to my brothers, I said, "Right now, I care a lot about him and I was not surprised to see his face as I was awoken in the cabin. I know he loves me and one day, I'll completely love him back. Right now, I still need time and may need even more because my family hurt me again. Now will you all excuse Edward and I for few minutes on our own?"
"Of course big sister, but please next time punch Christian instead," Adam said. I punched Adam, we all laughed together and they all left.
"Edward, do you love it here in Colorado as much as I do?"
"Yes."
"Would you consider spending your off time up here even in the middle of the winter?"
"Yes."
"So maybe I could buy a small piece of land from Billy. Then build a cabin that we could share while we enjoy the ranch."
"That is a great idea; but you're still going to have to leave for right now."
Billy stepped in and said, "I'm sorry for eavesdropping; but if she doesn't want to leave, Sarah and I would be happy to have her stay here with us."
I said with tears in my eyes, "That is very kind of you to offer, Billy. But when we can get out, I'm planning to go to Salt Lake City to say goodbye to my parents, the house and the company. Then I'm going to California, I think it's Santa Monica if I remember correctly."
Edward said, "You're correct. Thank you and I can't wait to share my home with you. Please stay through Christmas and New Year's," and he was spinning me around in the air.
"Not a problem," then I looked at Billy and said, "I'm going to make you proud; I'm going to write a book about this place. I hope I can do it justice."
"Bella, I know you can."
Billy left after hugging m and giving me a kiss. Edward got up and locked the door. He came back to me and said, "You just made me the happiest man on earth." He pulled me into his arms and started kissing me. The kiss quickly opened into a full kiss. Unfortunately, Edward started to end the kiss and he asked, "Did you even know that you and I slept cuddled together last night until you woke up?"
"No, I didn't; but why did we?"
"Because you were so cold. After you fainted and Rose and I got most of your clothes off of you, I decided to add a lot of body heat to you as well."
"You did that very well. Now, tell me how you found out?"
"Rose was running down the hill to the barn with your cell phone and called me to see if I had talked to you. Of course, I answered the phone, 'Hello Beautiful.' That was before I knew it wasn't you."
"That's okay, I'll forgive you. Who are the two extra people that came with you? One of them appears to be attached to Rose.
A few stuntmen from my "Forever Young" movie that love horses and own ranches. Emmet's ranch keeps my horses for me. Emmett is the one attached to Rose and the other is Jasper and his wife's name is Alice. We all met one hour after Rose called. We met at the private jet and flew to Denver. Two hours later after sharing our story and assuring them I was doing this for all the right reasons, we took a helicopter to the ranch and were on horses within ninety minutes to help search for you."
"Thank you for coming to my rescue."
"That's what I do for the woman I love. I don't pick on her assets as we ride to the lake."
I punched him, I giggled, and shared one more kiss with him and we returned to the rest of the group snow bound in the main house. By late afternoon, Jacob and Billy came into the living room with snow shoes. I smiled and asked, "Can we?"
Jacob said with a smile on his face, "Yes we have enough for everyone; Edward just needs to keep his hands on you, so that you don't try to escape."
We all quickly changed into warmer clothes, I grabbed a bag of apples from the refrigerator to take as a treat to the horses. We all snow shoed down to the barn to check on the horses. I brought Flame a special treat; she was fine. She nuzzled up against me returning my affection; then we snow shoed our way back up to the main house.
A/N - Happy New Year. Thanks for the reviews last chapter. Keep it up that sounds like the perfect new years resolution.
