~~Chapter Five~~

When Bella woke early the next morning, her whole right side ached and there was a consistent throb in her hand. Thankfully she made sure to ice it and wrap it before going to bed, plus she could make a fist and move her fingers without the familiar ache of a break, so Bella was happy.

With a hum she got ready for the day, throwing on a pair of shorts and a tee before grabbing her camera and stepping out onto the small deck, the sun was just beginning to rise and cast its warm glow over the canopy of the trees.

A soft smile pulled at her lips as she turned around and slipped on her shoes as she made her way out the door. She needed to capture everything and though it was a rough start to the trip, so far, she was enjoying herself being surrounded by nature once more. It reminded her of Forks but somehow this forest held more warmth, nor did it hold any bad memories, something about it just screamed life.

The trill of a bird had her turning, her eyes widening in pleasant desire as she caught sight of the bright red of a woodpecker's feathers.

"Stop!" A deep booming voice called out as she stepped over a log. "Don't move!"

Craning her head, she caught sight of who was talking and cursed slightly under her breath. "It's you."

Emmett raised his brows as the woman from last night turned and proceeded to sit on the log she was stepping over, thankfully not moving forward another inch. He walked carefully along the well-worn path he made ages ago over to where the woman was sitting. He was curious as to how she was here on his family property and workplace but that was a question that could wait for now.

"So, am I in trouble?" Bella asked with a raised brow as the man came closer. "Am I trespassing?"

"If you're a guest of TA then no, but I am wondering how you got this far without walking into a bear trap," Emmett replied as he made it to her side, gesturing down to the freshly laid trap he set yesterday and then to the sign a few paces back.

WARNING
BEAR TRAPS BEYOND THIS POINT!

FOLLOW MARKED PATHS

Seeing the sign caused heat to burn across Bella's cheeks in a familiar tell-tale sign that she was blushing. She's normally more observant than that but if this strange man hadn't have stopped her then she would have walked directly into a trap.

"I guess I owe you thanks. My brother and friends tell me I need to be more observant but when I see something I wish to photograph I tend to have tunnel vision." She explained somewhat reluctantly to the stranger. "I'm also sorry for last night, it was a long day… no, a long few months."

Emmett chuckled and gave the woman a grin, recalling what Jasper told him last night at the last moment as she stood up and nearly stumbled. "That's alright, lucky I saw you though, I'd hate to be on Jazzy's shit list this early in the morning for letting you get hurt."

"Ah, so he told you who I was then?" Bella laughed a bit embarrassed. "And Jazzy?"

"Yeah, he did before he left last night, took my hungover brain to catch up. I'm Emmett." He explained while holding out his hand for her to shake. "And that, is a long story, one I will gladly share for one in return. Can never have enough blackmail material on him."

"Well I would but the man knows too much about me too," Bella replied with a laugh.

Something warm bloomed in Emmett's chest as he watched her laugh, the way the sun haloed her and cast her in a warm glow that brought out the colour in her hair and the sparkle in her eyes, she was stunning. He shook his head of those thoughts and gestured for her to lead along the path before him.

"That's fair," Emmett replied with a grin and a chuckle. "I take it you are one of the occupants in the Glamping Tents?"

"Yes, and since you know Jasper and are here early… I take it you work here too?" Bella asked.

"Well you could say that this whole place is mine actually, it's been in the family for several generations," he proclaimed cheekily.

Bella opened her mouth to reply, only to snap it shut with a click as her name being called rent the air. "That sounds like my brother."

"If you head up this path, you'll get back to the Glamping Tents, I better head home and get ready myself. I think your group is the first tour of the day doing white water rafting." Emmett explained and watched as the woman seemed to pale several shades and turn green at the same time. "Take it you're not a fan?"

"Never been but I'm not really… a sports outdoor or otherwise person…" She informed him with a grimace, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly and sighed exasperatedly as Peter's and Paul's voice joined in with her brothers. "Better get going before they actually send a search party again."

Emmett listened with an amused grin as she muttered under her breath about camping in the woods for two days to get a certain shot as she marched back to the Glamping Tents before making his own way home. His house was far enough away from the main part of the camp areas but close enough for people to find him or if he was needed in a hurry. The main part was an old log cabin that was built by his great something grandfather for his wife and family and had been passed down to every generation since.

It was his Grandmother who started Tennessee Adventures and built the add on extra to the house for her family, a cottage for four was no place for a family of eight but in the end it became too large for her after the War. His father took over when he was of age and though Emmett originally didn't wish to take over once his parents were too old to look after it, he hated this place as a passion.

Except that all changed when he was in his first year of college, he was driving back home late and a drunk driver t-boned his car, shattering his hip and leg that he was no longer able to play football without the risk of becoming permanently crippled.

He came to enjoy working at Tennessee Adventures, while he was recovering he was able to modernize TA, expand it by adding a few more new activities and buying out one of the old white-water rafting companies, plus hiring those he works with now and making all new friends.

Truthfully, he couldn't be more pleased with how things turned out.

"Yo Em!" Randall's voice called out, pulling Emmett away from his thoughts.

"Randall, my man what's up?" He called as he pulled on his work shirt.

Randall raised his brows at him and grinned. "Jasper said that Tyler called in sick and needed another man for the Rapids. Lucy kicked me out of the house while she and Nettie catch up with Maria. Apparently, they're planning a lunch while everyone is together."

"That's three times this week alone that Tyler has called in sick!" Emmett exclaimed with a scowl. "Normally I wouldn't care but he never gives a good enough reason when asked."

"Look, I know you only hired him because Lauren asked but I think it's time to cut him loose, I'm sure she would understand," Randall replied as they both made their way out to the car. It was about half an hour to where they needed to go, and Emmett thanked the skies that Randall came when he did, or Jasper and his friends would be waiting for an hour.

Sighing Emmett couldn't help but agree with him. "Alright, let us get today over and done with. We got Jasper's group this morning and then another this afternoon, but I have to go over and see Alistair about the animals, apparently, there's been a bear sighting."

"Don't envy you brother, but I'm sure you'll have a good day nevertheless," Randall replied with a cheeky grin, after all, he had strict instructions from his wife and sister-in-law that involved a certain lug of a best friend and a fiery brunette.

Author Note: Details, so many details and scheming….