Dear Momma,

I'm sorry that I haven't written in a while. I know that there's no excuse, but do know that thoughts of you, Bella, and even dad cross my mind all the time. I really do miss you all very, very much.

Thank you for your last letter and package. Getting books out here is a bit difficult and I probably have the best library in the west due to all the books you've sent me over the years. I remember your reading from the book when Bella and I were just kids. Hopefully I'll be able to read it to my kids someday.

I know what you're thinking when you read that. You're wondering when that's going to happen. Well, I'm working on it, though in my usual fashion I've made a complete mess of things.

You see, there's the woman that I have fallen head over heels for. I've actually loved her from the first moment I saw her when I first arrived here in Spoons Valley. I know you're wondering why I've never mentioned her in my letters before, but it's a bit complicated. People here don't think she's suitable, but if they only got to know her they'd perhaps see her differently. I know that you wouldn't judge her that way because of the way I feel about her. You did always say that you just wanted me to be happy and I remember how you were the only one in our social set that didn't bat an eyelash when Mr. Angeles married that woman who used to be his housekeeper. It was a scandal at the time, but you just smiled and mentioned how happy they looked together.

The girl I'm in love with makes me happy, momma, but the problem is that she doesn't want me. I've asked me to marry me several times and she's turned me down each one. Maybe she doesn't love me? I don't know. Sometimes I look in her eyes and I swear that she does, but why would she continue to refuse me?

Now, on to the stupid thing I've done. Thinking that the girl I love would never agree to marry me, I sent off for a mail order bride. I know that you're probably shaking your head at me right now, but I just don't want to be alone here at the ranch anymore. I want a wife and a family. Is that so wrong? Am I a bad person for wanting these things even if they can't be with the person I'm in love with?

I wish you were here to give me guidance, momma. I miss you and Bells so much and every year it gets lonelier and lonelier despite the fact that I've made good friends here. I would give anything to have you hear to talk to, though I know right now you'd be giving me the evil eye as Carmen calls it because of what I've done. Please, don't tell Bella any of this. I don't want her to think badly of me.

I also wanted to write and let you know that I'll make good on my promise this year and come and visit for the holidays. I mean it this time, but don't be surprised if I bring a bride with me.

I love you, momma.

Your boy,

Emmett

Bella noticed that the letter was dated a few days before her arrival. He'd probably never had the chance to send it off.

She wiped away her tears and folded the letter back up, sticking it back between the pages of the book. Though she figured a lot of people wouldn't see it, she could tell how much Emmett was hurting over Rosie by reading the letter. At that moment she also wished that their momma was there to give them both some advice.

Later that evening, Emmett came up to her room, carrying her supper tray.

He looked so lost as he stood sheepishly by the door and asked in a hesitant tone, "Can I come in?"

When she nodded he made his way in and set the tray on the bedside table. "How you feeling, Bells?"

"I'm still a bit sore and the whole right side of my body is stiff, but I'm all right," she responded. "How are you doing, Emmett?"

He shrugged and shifted around nervously on his feet. "I'm all right I guess."

She nodded and watched him. It was obvious that he didn't know if he should go or stay.

"Wanna sit?" she asked.

He nodded and sat down, after a while he finally broke the silence. "Listen, Bells. About what happened, all this stuff with Rosie, I just…" He sighed and looked to the floor, his shoulders hunched and he whispered, "I love her. I really do, Bells, and I know, I know I've done wrong by Alice and I'll make it right anyway that I can, but…I can't marry her. I can't marry her because I know that I'll never be able to give Rosie up."

Bella sat there in silence and she whispered, "Do you remember what momma used to say when we found ourselves facing a dilemma that we thought we couldn't fix?"

He looked at her and waited for her to continue.

"She used to say that everything happens for a reason and that if we just followed our hearts in the end everything would turn out the way that it should and we would be all right. She told you that when you made the decision to come out here."

Emmett frowned a bit. "She told you about that?"

Bella nodded. "It was her way of explaining to me why you left. Though I didn't understand it as a twelve year old, I get it now. I was faced with a similar dilemma before I came out here. I didn't have to come, you know?"

"Bella, you know you're welcome here…" he started.

She held up a hand and interrupted. "I know, Emmett, but the point is I didn't have to. I had a choice. I could have stayed and built a life in Chicago, but I followed my heart and came out here and so far, well, I think that things are turning out all right and I'll be all right in the end. I mean, I'm a little hurt that you didn't tell me about Rosie in the first place and that I found out about her the way I did…"

They both blushed beet red at that point.

"Uh, yeah, I'm really sorry about that," Emmett said, his tone clearly showing his embarrassment.

So am I, she thought.

"Well, at least it was me and not Alice. If it had been her, well, she might have been either devastated or have dragged you off to church to confess your sins or something, though I can't image what Reverend Newton's face would look like if you had to talk to him about that."

Emmett couldn't help but let out a startled laugh as she joked with him about it.

"You have to tell Alice though, Bear. You can't keep stringing her along."

With a sigh, Emmett nodded. "I know."

"I think she'll be all right though," Bella said with a bit of a smile.

"Oh?" Emmett asked with a tilt of his head.

"This is Alice we're talking about Emmett. Or did you forget how slick she is at handling things?"

They both laughed at that.

Jasper was behind his desk. He'd avoided work since yesterday when Alice had gotten hurt and he would have taken another day to keep her company if he didn't feel that it would be unfair to Ben and Eric. Sighing he thought of Alice, up in Doc Cullen's house, sleeping in the guest room. He'd been there since they took her there from the scene of the accident and hadn't left till this morning. Of course she'd been out the whole time due to the laudanum, but he didn't mind. He enjoyed sitting there, just watching her sleep.

He'd also been intrigued when she'd started talking in her sleep. She kept talking about different nuns, Sister Agnes, Sister Mary, and some others, and the little dear even said parts of prayers in her sleep. At other times, she cussed like a sailor and he'd been surprised by the types of words that had passed her delicate, little cupid bow lips.

The girl certainly was a mystery. And, with each passing moment he was falling deeper and deeper in love with her even though he knew she would never be his.

He tried to distract himself from these dreary thoughts by looking through the papers on his desk. Ben had left the latest papers to come from some of the nearby towns for him to look over and he frowned when he noticed that the violence and crime was increasing. Stores and banks were being robbed and people were being killed. He didn't know why the violence hadn't touched his small town, but he was grateful.