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The amount of knowledge I now have on not only the amount of acreage needed to raise cattle and growing wheat for supplemental feed and income is substantial. But that's what I love, the research!

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Chapter Nine

BPOV

Edward and I returned to the ranch and were immediately back to the daily routine. He would be keeping up with the herd and the wheat harvest, which had begun while we were gone. It was a drastic change to our landscape to see the fields gone, but the extra men working seemed to be knowledgeable.

"How long will these harvesters be here?" I asked.

"With the acreage we have set aside for the wheat it takes them just under a week using our equipment, and then they'll be back in about three weeks to thresh the wheat. From there the stalks are baled for the cattle and the wheat we'll keep is milled for your use. The rest is either sold as is, or milled and sold off for profit. Some of it we sell directly to Jasper and we're able to keep a balance at the store for our needs. We've been doing this the past two years and it has worked out well for the ranch."

"Do these harvesters work for you every year?" I wondered.

"They've been the same team from the beginning. They're farmers who have no land of their own, so they move around the area harvesting what is needed at the proper times. They're paid well for it and from what their foreman has said, we house and feed them better."

"Well, I'll have to be sure to keep up our reputation for hospitality when they return," I stated.

We arrived at the house to find Mrs. Cope packaging up some food.

"Welcome home to the happy couple," she rushed over to my side. "I'm just packing up some sandwiches for our farm hands to take with them as they move along. Edward, if you wish to speak to Cameron, he should be down at the barn."

"I'll do that, Mrs. Cope. And thank you for the warm welcome home."

As Edward left, Mrs. Cope led me over to the table. "We hadn't spoken much about the farmers, but they mostly only bother us at meal times, and then laundering when they leave. The sheets and toweling they use is out on the side of the porch."

"Well, I can tend to that along with mine and Mr. Masen's washing if you want to continue on with the dinner preparations."

"That's sweet of you, Dear. My back isn't made for that much scrubbing. Jacob will be able to help you with getting the tubs ready and then he can return to the animals."

Mrs. Cope and I parted and I went to get our suitcases and other purchases on the porch. I carried them inside and unpacked, taking the dirty laundry outside so I could begin the chore. As always, Jacob was right there to aid with heating the water, making small talk about what I'd missed while away. Angela joined me briefly, asking for direction before I sent her on to help Mrs. Cope. I'd managed with weekly laundering to this point, and with Edward's items being added to it, I would need to keep up that schedule. I'd have to speak to Angela about making our personal chores work around the ranch chores.

I got to work and by the time dinner was being plated the laundry was on the lines strung up behind the house. Edward came up to the house and we sat down to dinner. I liked that he made the time to visit with me. If he'd wanted to eat with the men, I would have happily joined them, but the stolen moments meant so much in the middle of our busy day.

We parted for the afternoon and I was looking at what needed to be done. Mrs. Cope came in and turned to me. "It is canning season, my dear. Have you ever had to can vegetables?"

"No, but I'm excited to turn some of these surplus vegetables into food for the winter."

With my notebook laid out on the table, Mrs. Cope gave me careful expert instructions and even showed me the vegetables they'd started on last week. It was my first time going into my new pantry and storage room and I was so happy with how it had turned out. Jacob and Billy had given me so much space, they even added twine that I could hang herbs from to dry. There was a step stool to reach the taller shelves, but nothing so high as to worry Edward. It was perfect.

Angela came in not long after we'd begun and asked me for instruction. I waited for Mrs. Cope to say something when I realized she was coming to me. I was flustered and asked her to help me with the canning and then we would discuss it more after supper.

We worked hard through the afternoon and early evening, and after supper, Angela returned and we sat outside on the porch.

"I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact that I'm in charge of the running of this homestead, so there may be a little bit of adjusting. Is there a particular chore that you enjoy doing?"

Angela smiled. "I'm actually enjoying the farm aspects, since I grew up in the city this is all new to me too."

"Then how about we learn together. For now, why don't we split up the care for the animals. I'm going to ask you to deal with the chickens because we know my history with the rooster. I'll milk the cows and we'll have Jacob take care of the pigs. Then we can focus on breakfast and from there get the garden squared away before it gets too hot."

"That sounds fair, Missus." Angela looked off towards the cabins and turned back. "Have you noticed that Mrs. Cope is having a harder time than she was last month?"

"I have. We should keep an eye on her whenever we're able to. I don't want her over-exerting herself."

"I agree. And thank you for being so welcoming to me. I was nervous since I didn't really know you too well," Angela admitted.

"I think we'll get along just fine. One thing I will say, we may want to stagger our laundry throughout the week."

"Smart thinking, Missus. Well, if you don't need anything else, I should get down to Ben."

I smiled at the blush that colored her cheeks. "No, please. And I will see you in the morning."

I entered the house to find Edward closing the shutters. "I was just about to come and check on you ladies. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, just dividing up some of the daily chores so we can get to work first thing. We're both a bit green to this, so the fact that she's so agreeable makes it easy for both of us."

"That's good to hear, Mrs. Masen. It makes me happy to see you running my ranch."

"I wouldn't say all that," I responded.

"I would. This ranch doesn't run without the ranch house being in top shape. The men wouldn't get fed, the animals would suffer. Besides, the thought of coming home to you makes we work harder."

"Edward, were you finished closing up the house?" I asked.

"Yes, why?"

"Because I'm ready to go to bed."

Edward's face fell slightly. "It's been a long day."

"Dear, I'm ready to go to bed, not to sleep," I murmured.

Edward practically carried me back to our bedroom.

With things sorted between Angela and I, we were able to manage things with little issue. Jacob would help us when needed, but he was able to do other chores now that he wasn't helping me share the load.

Mrs. Cope was complaining of aches and pains, but swore it was her arthritis and nothing more. She was happy to help with meals, but I worried about her. It was a week after returning from our honeymoon when Angela came into the kitchen just as I started breakfast.

"Missus, is Mrs. Cope here already?"

"No, did she not answer when you knocked?" I was worried.

"No."

"Can you continue with breakfast, I'm going to check on her."

I walked out the side door and checked the outhouses, but they were latched from the outside, so I knew she couldn't be in there. Continuing onto the Cope cabin, I knocked several times. Jacob saw me and came over.

"Missus, is everything all right?"

"Mrs. Cope isn't answering. I'm about to go in and see if she's okay. Stay close in case we need some help."

"Yes, ma'am."

I opened the door and was immediately hit with a foul odor. I untied my kerchief from around my neck and held it over my nose and mouth. I approached Mrs. Cope where she lay in her bed, and as I got close, I knew she was gone. I moved to her dresser and covered the mirror with her shawl and then stopped the small clock that sat on the mantle.

I exited the building quickly and closed the door behind me. "Jacob, go fetch Mr. Masen for me."

"She's passed, hasn't she." Jacob said, solemnly.

"I'm afraid so."

Jacob moved quickly to the barn where Edward would be taking care of Twilight before breakfast. I tried to keep my composure as I thought about my mentor and friend who I'd not had enough time with. I still had so many questions to ask her about this life that she'd lived for so long and now I would never have the chance.

It wasn't long before I heard the fast pace of Edward's boots on the dirt as he ran to the front of the cabin.

"Bella?"

"She's gone, Edward." I let out a stuttering breath as I said the words.

"You're sure?"

"I remember it from when Mama died. But we'll have to get someone out here to be sure."

"I'll send one of the boys out to town to get Carlisle."

"I'll do it," Jacob piped up.

"Thank you, Jacob. Tell Reverend Weber as well. We'll need his services come Monday," Edward said.

"Anything else, Boss?"

"No, Jacob, that's all."

Jacob took off towards his father's cabin and then off to the barn, while Edward wrapped his arm around me. "Come on, Bella. Let's head back up to the house."

"Someone needs to stay with her, Edward."

"I'll sit out here until Jacob returns with Doc Cullen," Billy hobbled up the steps to the small porch.

"Are you all right, Billy?" I asked, worried for him as well.

"I'm fine, Missus. Just haven't moved around enough this morning to work the stiffness out of this leg."

"Well, you sit down and I'll bring your breakfast down to you," I promised.

Edward followed me as I went to the house and Angela turned to us as soon as the door opened.

"It's bad, isn't it."

"Mrs. Cope has passed on, I'm afraid. Jacob is riding into town to get Carlisle."

"I'll wrap up a few of the biscuits for him so he has something in his stomach for the ride to town." Angela said as she moved around the kitchen. Edward took the two large coffee pots in his hands while I loaded the fried ham, biscuits and butter into the basket. We walked solemnly down to the bunkhouse to feed the men and give them the bad news.

I stood back after unloading the food as Edward called for his men's attention. Angela came in just as Edward began to speak.

"Boys, it's with a real heavy heart that I've got to tell you that Mrs. Cope passed away last night. Carlisle is being fetched as I speak and we'll have the reverend say something at the church services tomorrow so those in town know. Ben, I'm gonna ask you to oversee things in the field for me today, but if any of you men want to help me out at the family plot, it would be appreciated."

"I'll help you, Boss," Garrett said. "I've worked for the Cope's as long as you have and I'd like to do the honors."

"That sounds fitting, Garrett. Thank you."

I made a plate and took it up to Billy with a mug of coffee. "Can I get you anything else, Billy?"

"No, ma'am. I'm just thinking on some things. But thank you for this."

"You're welcome, Billy."

I returned to the bunkhouse and ate a bit before the men stood and went to go about their morning. Angela and I cleaned up the breakfast plates and made our way back to the house. Angela and I got about our day, stewing up all the tomatoes we could for canning and for dinner that day. We worked quietly, our somber mood keeping us from chatting like we usually would.

Edward used the pump house to clean up before dinner and once again we ate with the men. We were just returning to the house when Carlisle and Jacob rode up to the house. It was clear that Jacob had ridden to town hard for them to be back.

Carlisle was all business as he moved to the Cope's cabin. He wasn't in there long, but when he came out. "She'll need to be tended to. And I spoke to the Reverend, he'll eulogize her tomorrow during his service"

I nodded at Carlisle's words and went to get Angela. We worked together to prepare Mrs. Cope for her final resting place, dressing her in the gown she'd worn just over a week ago at Angela's wedding to Ben. Once we were done, she left to get Edward and he placed her into the coffin that Carlisle had brought with him. Two sawhorses were brought in and the coffin was placed on top of it.

"Ladies, the men have spoken and they're going to take turns sitting with her after dinner. Garrett has offered to stay with her to give Billy a break tonight, and then we'll lay her to rest in the morning."

"Do you need anything else from us until morning?" I asked.

"No, you ladies have done your duty by Mrs. Cope."

The rest of the day moved in a haze. It was hard to imagine the ranch without her. I prepared a bath for Edward to wash off the filth from digging the grave and left him to his business.

We didn't say much as we climbed into bed that night, but Edward did kiss me a little longer and hold me a little tighter as we drifted off to sleep.

The next morning I was up early. I milked the cows and grabbed the items I would need to make breakfast as Angela walked into the root cellar to put away the eggs.

"How are you doing today, Missus?"

"Angela, when we're working together, you can call me Bella. I'm not feeling up to the mantle of Missus today."

"Okay, Bella. Do you want me to start on the potatoes?"

"Yes, please."

Angela and I worked together to make a hearty breakfast for the men and served it with little discussion. I moved in a haze, completing tasks that needed to be done without thought. It wasn't until dinner was taken off the stove and I didn't have work to distract me that my thoughts went dark.

Edward's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "Bella, the men are going to come in from the field early so we can bury Mrs. Cope. If there are any preparations you wish to make, you have the afternoon to do so."

I nodded and served up the food to bring down to the bunkhouse. It was another quiet meal and once it was done, I turned to Angela. "Can you manage the canning this afternoon? We're almost done with the growing season for some of these vegetables, but I don't want anything to go to waste."

"Sure, Bella, go do what you need to."

I grabbed my hat and one of the larger baskets and moved behind the house out into the trees where the wildflowers grew in abundance. I plucked the flowers from the ground and arranged them by color so it would be easier to work on the bouquet later. When I had enough flowers, I began to walk back and found a few broken branches on the douglas fir and blue spruce trees that bordered the homestead. I took them with me, moving to the porch to get to work out of the sun.

I took the branches and began to weave them together, adding the flowers to bring color to the greenish-blue blanket I'd created. I saw the men starting to come in from the fields, making their way to the barn. Angela joined me out on the porch, and looked down at what I'd made.

"What's that, Bella?"

"It's a blanket. We used to visit my mother's grave after Thanksgiving and lay one by the headstone, to keep her warm through the winter. I thought I'd lay this on top of Mrs. Cope before she's lowered into the ground."

"That sounds lovely, Missus."

I looked up at her and saw she wasn't looking at me anymore; now she was watching the men. We moved to the grave and watched as Edward, Ben, Garrett and Jacob each took a corner and carried her towards where the rest of us were standing. Once there, Austin, Collin, Brady, and Billy each took up an end of the two ropes laid out to lower her down. She was carefully placed on the ropes and I took the moment to put the blanket onto the coffin and stood back as they slowly lifted and moved her over the grave. With precision that may have been gained when laying Henry Cope to rest, they respectfully lowered his widow to her place beside him.

Once the ropes were freed from below her, each man took turns shoveling dirt on top of her until she was laid to rest. A wooden cross was nailed in place until a stone could be placed and we took a few moments to pray for the mother figure of the ranch.

Slowly, the men parted to clean up for supper and we ate all together, sharing stories about Mrs. Cope and remembering happier times. Angela and I walked the dishes up to soak and she asked Jacob to help her by milking the cows, sensing that I was worn out.

Edward found me scrubbing the dishes that could wait until morning and pulled the one I was currently clutching from my hand. He put it back in the basin and the scrub brush on the ledge of the sink and began to wipe my hands clean.

"You're exhausted, darling. Let's go to bed."

"Mrs. Cope was the glue that held this ranch together, Edward. How can I ever hope to take her place?"

Edward tilted my chin up so I was looking directly into his eyes. "Bella, you kept working through your own grief, taking charge when needed and stepping aside to allow my men to do their duty to their former Missus. You showed strength and vulnerability and that blanket, as you called it, the men said they'd never seen a more devoted labor of love done. Mrs. Cope trusted you to carry on when she was gone and she would have been proud these past few days. You looked after everything she held dear, but now it is time to take care of yourself."

I nodded, knowing there would be more work to be done in the coming days down at Mrs. Cope's cabin. But I couldn't focus on that tonight. Tonight, I let Edward love me and remind me what it felt to be alive.