There seems to be a bit of anxiety about our blonde visitor. This chapter won't give you the resolution you're looking for, so if you want to wait until the next chapter for the end to the angst, I won't be mad. To alleviate one fear that I got a few times, nothing will happen to the little one. I know I've written a few instances in my stories that might make you worry, but have no fear.

Thanks again to AnakinSmom, for her quick pen and comments. This is coming early because the next chapter is about to go off to be edited. Man of Omerta is coming, but Edward is being stubborn.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Eleven

BPOV

I continued to stare in disbelief as the pair made their way across the street. Jasper jumped down from my buggy and noticed our frozen state. Once he saw the object of our attention, he called out and broke the silence.

"Edward, there you are. I was beginning to wonder if we'd have to put you up for the night with how long you were at the mill."

"I would have been back sooner, but I ran into an old friend. Is Bella ready?"

"I am," I said.

"Perfect. Everyone, this is Irene Woods. She's Mrs. Cope's youngest niece," Edward said by way of introduction.

Irene beamed as she took in the trio of us. "Wonderful to meet you all. And look at this adorable buggy. I tried to tell my aunt and uncle to invest in something like this for a smoother ride to town, but they couldn't be bothered. Nice to see you've done the sensible thing. Should we head back to the ranch before it gets dark?"

"Mr. Masen, the buggy will be a little tight with the purchases and the three of us," I said.

Irene frowned in my direction. "Cook, you can ride back with the other hand. You can hardly expect me to ride with a cowboy."

Edward cleared his throat. "Actually, Irene, this is Mrs. Bella Masen."

"Mrs. Masen? I heard no mention of your marriage when Auntie Shelley wrote about Uncle Henry's passing," Irene squawked.

"We've been married just these past six weeks," Edward said.

"Oh, well congratulations, I guess," Irene responded.

Edward walked over to me and took my hand. "Do you think we can make room for you on the back bench? You're a little shorter in stature?"

"Whatever you think is best," I whispered.

Edward gave me a quick peck on the cheek and then led me to the buggy. It was a bit of a tight fit even for me, but after Edward helped Irene up onto the front bench, he joined us and began the ride back to the ranch.

Irene chattered nonstop about her fond memories of her last visit to the ranch. From my spot behind them, I noticed how Edward's ears pinked up at her talk of old times, but I wasn't exactly sure of the cause. Maybe her talk of foolish cowboys was directed partially at him, but she didn't bring up any specific instances.

When we finally arrived home, Garrett was quick to offer his assistance to Edward in unloading the purchases if I wanted to show Irene to Mrs. Cope's cabin.

I looked to him when he made the suggestion from behind Edward and Irene, shooting me a quick wink before returning his glare to the back of Irene's head.

"The cabin, why wouldn't I be staying in the main house?"

"Oh, you'll be much more comfortable with your own space, and it is closer to the outhouses. There's also the added bonus of it being your Aunt's favorite place on the ranch. After just learning of her passing, it will help you to feel closer to her."

Irene glared at me for a moment before storming off in the direction of the cabin, her long braid swinging around to her back with the force of her movement. I took the suitcases from Garrett and followed her down to the cabin. I was thankful it had been recently cleaned up so there wasn't much she could complain about. Once the door was opened, I moved to the hope chest and began taking out linen to make up the bed.

"Everything in here's been recently cleaned, so let me just get the bed made up and you'll have a bit of time to relax before supper."

"I'll see you up at the house," she called behind me.

I walked back to the house and found Edward walking out the front door. "Edward, when you all come in for supper, could you bring Ben back to the main house? I'm going to have Angela and him join us and Irene for the meal."

"Aren't you worried about overwhelming her?"

"I'm more worried about her feeling awkward if the conversation becomes stilted."

"Whatever you think is best." Edward kissed my forehead and walked off to get back to work.

I found Angela inside where I warned her about Irene's arrival and our plans for supper.

"That's fine, Missus. And we've moved most of the items you purchased into the pantry so you could sort them, if you wanted to manage that while I finish supper, I've got it nearly done."

"Thank you, Angela."

I tucked the sewing and knitting supplies under the bed and put away the rest of my purchases, with a piece of ginger candy in my mouth, I joined Angela as we plated up the food. I delivered the meal down to the bunkhouse with Jacob's help and I was surprised when Billy caught my elbow before I left.

"Did I hear correctly? Is Irene back?"

"She is. Is there a problem?" I asked him.

"She's the problem, Missus. Keep an eye on her."

Walking back to the main house, I was confounded. That was the second person who seemed to have a less than favorable opinion of Irene since her arrival. It made me wonder about what happened the last time she visited the ranch.

I entered the house to see Irene sitting at the table like she was holding court. Edward and Ben were standing out of the way as Angela arranged last minute items.

With a look over to Angela, I sat directly beside Irene on her left and Angela did the same on her right. Our husbands joined us and Irene let out the smallest huff.

Angela opened her mouth to speak, but I beat her to it, not wanting her to bring up my visit to Carlisle since Edward was still unaware.

"I received some wonderful news from Alice this afternoon. It seems in December or January her and Jasper will be welcoming a new addition to their family."

Edward beamed from beside me. "Jasper must be over the moon. I know it has been a rough two years since they made the journey to join us. Now they'll be able to enjoy the fruit of that labor."

"That was your brother who owns the General Store?" Irene asked. "That must be helpful, knowing you can get whatever you need with their help."

"It is. And Alice is a sister to me in more than marriage it feels like."

"Isn't that sweet," Irene said.

From there, Irene dove into a conversation about the previous winter, which had been substantially worse up north where she was from in the Dakota territory. How people were selling up, worried the next few winters would be just as bad, if not worse.

Edward made an off-handed remark about how you had to be made of tough stuff to get into this business.

When the meal was done, Edward and Ben went to talk about a few projects they had coming up while Angela and I began to clean up. Irene popped up out of her chair and said she'd take some water for her wash stand and then left.

"I'll bring it to her, Missus. You finish up in here."

Angela took the three pitchers of water and prepared them a little hotter than needed so they could sit for a while and still be usable. She left with the two for the cabins and I finished setting things up for the morning and then went through my night time routine. Edward still wasn't around when I was ready to turn in.

I settled into bed and was nearly asleep when Edward joined me.

"Bella, are you still awake?"

"I am, did you need something?"

"Ben asked if you were feeling better after seeing Carlisle and I told him it wasn't anything serious. But I don't know if that's the truth, because you didn't tell me you were feeling poorly."

I felt his hand on my shoulder. "It felt silly to worry you over something so minor, but Angela was concerned. Truly, it isn't anything to fret over."

"You're okay?"

"Yes. I just need a few good night's rest and for my stomach to settle."

His arm wrapped around my waist. "Good. I can be gentlemanly enough to not impose on you until you feel better."

"It's not an imposition, but I agree it is better to wait until this passes."

I wanted to tell him about the baby, but not like this. This was something that should be celebrated, not whispered in the dark when we're both exhausted.

I got to work early the next morning, and Edward did the same. Irene was thankfully absent from the main house after breakfast, but just before dinner, Edward entered the house and turned to Angela.

"Angela, could you prepare the front left guest room for Miss Irene?"

"What is wrong with the cabin?" I asked.

"She said that she didn't feel safe alone with so many men around," Edward answered.

"Do you truly think so little of your own men? Not to mention the cabin can be locked."

"I'm just trying to do right by the Copes."

That statement took the wind out of my sails. Angela looked to me anxiously and I gestured for her to go on.

Once Angela had finished and the meal was delivered, Edward, Irene, and I sat down to eat. Now that the garden was cleared of summer vegetables, I told Edward tomorrow we would begin the fall vegetables. Irene was quiet as we discussed chores, but the minute Edward was gone and Angela returned to start the afternoon's work, Irene returned from the cabin with her things and began getting underfoot.

The rest of the afternoon was Irene coming up and down the stairs, asking if it was possible to get different furniture moved into her room from the other rooms as well as the lumber room. Angela looked at me at one point and rolled her eyes.

After Irene's fourth trip down to tell us how she wanted the room done up, I lost my temper.

"We don't have the help to redecorate a guest room. If a type of furniture is missing, you and I can manage the move. But if you don't like the furniture in that room, you can move to one that is more your style."

Irene stormed back upstairs and slammed the bedroom door, leaving us with a bit of peace until supper.

Edward arrived just before I plated our supper and as if she'd been waiting at the window, Irene came floating down the stairs looking well put together. Which was a great contrast to my wilted appearance after all day in the kitchen.

"It is so hot in here, couldn't the meals be prepared on the fire pit?" Irene asked with annoyance clear in her voice.

Thankfully, Edward spoke before I could. "Unfortunately, it is rather dry and a wayward ember could burn the whole ranch down. The only fire outside of this oven is the one used in the smokehouse."

With a heavy sigh, Irene sat down. Edward sat in his usual seat and continued the conversation while we finished up.

"How long were you planning to visit for, Irene?"

"A month at least. Probably closer to two," she replied.

I dropped the spoon I was using and Angela reached out for my hand. Our eyes met and she was just as infuriated by the news as I was.

"Have you been down to visit your aunt and uncle?" I asked.

"I'm working up the courage to. It is such a sad thing to think of them in a little plot and not as the vibrant people I've always known. My Aunt Shelley would have had flowers around the house to make it colorful."

"The heat has made it difficult for the flowers this year. Not even Mrs. Cope was able to keep up that tradition this year. As it was, I had to go into the woods to find the flowers for her when she was buried," I snapped.

The final plate of food hit the table with more force than necessary and Angela excused herself, saying she'd be back later.

Edward reached for my hand to rub gentle circles after I'd sat down.

The meal was mostly silent, and once it was done I went directly out to milk the cows for the night. Edward was waiting to take the pails of milk from me when I exited the barn.

"Irene said she was sorry for upsetting you, but she's missing Mrs. Cope."

"Edward, if she's here for a month, one of us won't survive it."

Edward laughed at my statement. "Never fear, Bella. I doubt she'll be here that long. There isn't enough to hold her attention and last time she visited the length of her stay was determined by her mother."

I went into the root cellar and took care of the milk, rinsing the pails and hanging them for the morning.

Edward told me to hurry with my clean up and we'd talk a bit before bed. I was excited for a quiet moment with him, maybe I'd grab some of the yarn and ask his opinion of it as a way to tell him we were expecting. But by the time I'd closed up the house, Edward was fast asleep in bed.

The following day, I bit my tongue and avoided Irene, which made for an easier day for all concerned. Angela and I made some much needed progress on our fall garden, something we could complete in the morning before it got too hot out.

Wednesday, Edward pulled Jacob to help him slaughter the steer. Angela and I planted the last few rows early and then moved onto our separate chores. As it was Wednesday, it was my day for laundry. But with us not using the fire pit to heat the water, we were boiling water inside which would take quite a bit longer.

Dinner was a relatively simple meal, something that wouldn't be too heavy with this week being so hot. We left the water to boil while we ate, and once the meal was done, Angela helped me to fill the wash tubs and then went on to manage her own work.

"Jacob is doing well with the butchering, we should have the cuts done for you to smoke and salt through the afternoon and evening."

"That'll be a big help, Angela and I will have variety again in our cooking. Did you need anything at the moment?"

"No, Jacob will be up to get the smokehouse fire stoked and then join me."

"All right."

Irene walked past where I was situated just off the porch in another fancy dress. I lost sight of her as I began washing Edward unmentionables.

A prattling voice followed by a giggle drew my attention over to the smokehouse, where Irene was clinging to Jacob. I was irritated by her behavior and called Jacob over to get him away from her.

He jogged to my side with a smile on his face. "Your smokehouse is all set, Missus. Did you need anything before I join Boss behind the house?"

"No, but a word of warning, keep away from Irene."

"Don't worry, Missus, my pop already warned me all about the trouble she got into with Boss."

I gasped and Jacob looked at me. "What does that mean?"

"I probably shouldn't have said anything, I don't want to get my father in trouble."

"You haven't, not with me. You can get on with your work with Boss," I told him.

Not long after Jacob left, Irene came out with an armload of laundry. "Where should I leave this washing?"

"There won't be much time for you to get started, but if you want to do your laundering on Friday, I can get you set up."

Irene looked horrified at me. "Me, do the laundering? That's yours and the maid's job."

Standing to face her, I yelled. "My job is running this house and keeping the men who work on this ranch fed. And for your information, Angela is a wife and worker, not a maid. Laundry falls to the individual and you're quite old enough to know the job."

With a huff, she returned to her room. I got through my washing and walked out to the line. I could see Edward and Jacob working on the other side of the house from my clothesline. Once the clothes were hung, I went to check on Angela. She had a few roast and several steaks ready to go in the salt.

"I've got one of the short loins wrapped in some wax paper in the root cellar, I thought we could cook that in the next day or so, then the other side we could salt also. Some of the portions they're working on now I thought would be better for smoking."

"That all sounds wonderful. I have to speak to Billy about something, but I'm going to be back before anything needs to go into the smokehouse. I'll manage those while you continue in here."

"All right, Missus."

I walked out of the house and over to Billy's cabin and workspace. He was whittling something, but put the work down when he saw my approach.

"Missus, do you need my help with something?" Billy asked.

"I do, but it isn't what you'd expect. You said something to Jacob and I'd like you to elaborate on it. You seem to have a dislike for Irene and have from the moment you saw her step foot on this ranch. Why is that?"

"It isn't my place to say, Missus. You should be speaking to the Boss."

"Well Mr. Masen hasn't seen fit to tell me, so it appears I need to go digging for the story there. Please, Billy? I need to know what I'm facing."

With a sigh, he looked me in the eye. "Last time that little miss was out here was five years ago. Her parents had sent her out here to visit the Copes and maybe find a husband. She was a self-important thing, who was rude to anyone she thought was beneath her, which included my wife, Sarah. She carried on with Mr. Masen for a while, and after they had a scare, Boss tried to make an honest woman out of her, but she refused to be a cowboy's wife. Soon after, she was sent back home. Took Mr. Masen a while to get over it. There's one thing I can tell you, Missus, there's no good reason for her to come back after five years."

Shocked by what he was saying, I nodded and turned back towards the homestead. Billy had been quite informative, much more than my husband had been, but he was wrong about one thing. There was a good reason to come back after five years, and that was to claim the prize she'd left behind. I was almost positive of Irene's motives, but what I couldn't understand was Edward's. I knew he was knowledgeable when he'd taken my virtue. He was too skilled at it not to be. But keeping it a secret now, when I could find out a number of ways, including the woman herself, confounded me.

I went through the motions the rest of the evening, but when I was hanging the last of the meat in the smokehouse, I inhaled a bit too much smoke and became dizzy. Jacob found me leaning against the doorframe and called for Edward, who brought me into the house. Angela thankfully took down my wash and folded it for me, but Edward was adamant that I remain in bed.

"It is slothful," I argued.

"You're still not fully recovered from whatever it was that had you visiting Carlisle. Please. Irene and I can eat in the bunkhouse to give you some peace and tomorrow you'll feel much better."

"Edward, there's something-" I began to say, wanting to tell him what the visit had been about, but Edward silenced me with a kiss to the forehead.

"Whatever it is, can keep until morning."

Angela came in with a cup of tea and some of the last of the stew and bread. "I hope you don't mind me putting away your laundry."

"Not at all."

"Rest up, Missus. Dawn will be here soon enough."

Left alone in my room, I was shocked after I'd finished eating to hear a noise outside the open window. The adventurous kitten from the barn weeks back had finally escaped his mother's watchful eye.

I called the little guy and he hopped off the windowsill and into the room. He confidently bounded over and jumped up onto the bed, letting me pet him for a moment before running back across the floor and leaping out the window again.

Smiling at my new little friend, I settled into bed and went to sleep.

Thursday brought with it some news from the far pasture. Someone had cut part of the barbed wire fence so they could cut their herd across our property, so the men would be busy out there repairing the fencing. Edward had sent some of the men in to get supplies and they told us Boss wanted food sent out so they could keep working.

Angela and I switched our meal plans for the day and made hearty sandwiches that would easily travel out to the men with some coffee. It was odd to have so few people on the ranch, much like it would be once the cattle drive happened.

We kept busy with work and Irene was thankfully missing, spending her time around the cabin and her aunt and uncle's graves. Perhaps she was finally realizing just how much had changed in the past five years.

Still as I milked the cows for the evening, most of the men were riding in, Ben tipping his hat as I walked out of the barn. I finished the last of my work and was hoping to wait up for Edward, but I wasn't going to make it. I fell asleep hoping to wake in my husband's warm embrace, but when I opened my eyes the following morning, it was clear Edward hadn't come home.