Racing Hearts
Chapter 7 'Clover's Secret and Perfect Twilight'
Disclaimer: I don't own anything/anyone but the characters I make up!
A/N: I know it's a little early in the day for Clover to start going into labor but since it's her first, it could happen..lol. And Renesmee is going to be at least the size of a 10 year old. At least. lol
Still Monday March 16th Annabelle POV
Hours later(Like evening time) 5:30PM
I watched as Clover's baby tried to stand up on her wobbly legs. Alice, Jasper and Jeremiah were standing quietly on the outside of the stall. Clover and her baby kept blurring and I found it was because I kept tearing up, I figured it was because I was so happy about Clover's baby being born. "I need to find a vet to check them both over."
"I could ask Seth if he knows one if you want." Jasper suggested and I nodded. Jasper then went off to find Seth.
I looked at Alice and Jeremiah. "Do you want to come in Alice, Jeremiah? I don't think Clover will mind."
They both nodded and opened the stall door, walking in and sitting in the straw we had put down for her. Clover was showing the baby how to nurse right now. "She's so adorable." Alice spoke.
I beamed. "Yeah she is, a little on the small side. Her color is interesting too.."
"Why is that?" Alice asked, her head tilted to the side.
"She was born a gray. So it means she'll grow up to be black." I told Alice and Jeremiah nodded, making me remember he knew horses.
I heard footsteps and saw all the Cullens plus the "wolves" outside Clover's stall. "She had her baby!" Rosalie's eyes lit up. "Is she okay?"
I nodded. "Clover seems to be fine as far as I can tell. No problems with the birth..Seth did Jasper ask you?"
Seth nodded. "Well I don't really know a vet, but my mom is a vet tech, so I'm having her come over if that's alright with you."
I shrugged. "That's fine. A vet tech is good, plus if she thinks anything is wrong, I'm sure she knows a vet."
I saw Bella held a camera. "Can I take a picture of her?"
"Sure. I'd love to have her picture." Bella snapped a few pictures of the filly and then Sue Clearwater showed up and gave me a smile.
"Hey Annabelle." Sue greeted me, coming into the stall. "How was the birth? Did she have any problems?"
I shook my head. "She didn't have any problems, she was pacing a lot this morning and all day, but finally awhile ago she laid down and gave birth to the filly."
"That's sometimes normal, her first stage of labor could take up to 24 hours." Sue said, gently patting Clover's neck. "How long did it take the filly to stand up?"
"A few minutes. Maybe 5." Sue nodded and then gently ran her hands all over the filly.
Clover was acting weird, it wasn't because of Sue, but she was pacing around the stall. "What's wrong with her-"
Alice had barely asked the question when Clover went down with a groan.
"Clover!" I gasped and went to her side. I watched her have another what I think was a contraction. "Oh my God."
"She's having another one!" Sue said coming beside me. "Okay, I want everyone but Annabelle to leave the stall. Jeremiah I know you know horses so make you sure you stay close."
Clover groaned again and I was worried. Clover was delivering another one which meant she was going to have twins. I knew the bad statistics on the mare and foals surviving.
A few minutes later, Clover delivered a big, healthy(from what Sue said) black colt. "Seth!" Sue called and Seth showed up at the door.
"I want you to call Dr. South and have him come over, I want to make sure they're all healthy and going to be okay." Seth nodded and disappeared. Clover licked her black colt and stood above him. I watched as the filly walked over to Clover, and I was nervous.
Then Clover surprised me. She turned, ears pinned back, teeth bared, at the little gray filly. Oh no, she was rejecting her! I watched Clover cock her back leg at the filly. "No Clover!" I shouted at the mare, startling everyone.
"I think you should take the filly out of the stall." Sue said quietly. This time when everything blurred, it was sad tears. I nodded and walked to the filly, Jeremiah appeared beside me.
"Let me carry her. We could put her across from Flash." Jeremiah said and I let him. "I'll stay with her while you, Sue and the Vet check out Clover and the colt."
"Thank you." I whispered, knowing he could hear me perfectly. Jeremiah gave me a small smile. I sat down next to Sue and the colt, who was up and nursing. "So he's probably the healthier one if she's rejecting the filly and not him?"
"Most likely, she knows she can't really take care of both of them, so she's picking the healthy one." Sue watched the colt and Clover. "You're going to have to bottle feed the filly or get a mare who can nurse her."
I nodded. "Do you think I could get some milk out of Clover to feed the filly? I know the mare's milk is important for new foals."
Sue thought it over. "You probably should try. She was nursing a bit so she got some but she's going to need all the help she can get."
A little while later, Dr. South showed up and checked both of them. "They all seem to be healthy, even the little filly, but you'll need to watch both of them to make sure nothing happens. I've taken some blood samples from them to make sure everything is okay, and I should tell you that filly over there is going to be more prone to illnesses and other things. I highly suggest finding a mare who can nurse her."
Jeremiah had heard Dr. South's suggestion. "I'll get on that Annabelle so you only have to worry about making sure the foals are okay." Then he left.
"She passed the afterbirth right?" Dr. South asked and Sue nodded. "That's good thing. When a mare delivers foals, it can be dangerous for her. You're very lucky all three seem to be okay."
"I know, Dr. South and thank you both for checking out Clover and her babies." I said grateful.
They both smiled. "It's really no problem, Annabelle." Sue told me.
After awhile Dr. South left, but Sue stayed. "You know, school starts back up tomorrow." (They were having a school break so they haven't missed any school)
I felt shock. "I can't go to school and leave the filly alone!"
"Well...I have nothing to do tomorrow, I could stay with her." Sue offered. "Charlie will want you to attend school."
I thought about Sue's offer. She was a vet tech so the filly would be safe with her and she would know what to do and who to call if something went wrong. "And we're all here too, Annabelle, to relieve Sue when she needs it. Sue and you can just show us what do to and we'll all pitch in." Edward spoke up.
"Alright." I gave in. "Thank you guys."
Alice poked her head in the stall. "So, thought of names?"
My mind went blank. "Names? Um, actually, no. I never thought she'd have two, we had so many ultrasounds and the other foal never showed up. Just the one. Thinking about it now, I think it was the colt always showing up."
"I know what you're going to name them, or what you were going to name the filly." Alice told me and I knew she was saying this because she wanted me to be happy.
"What?" I asked her, asking about the name.
"You were going to name her Secret Belle."
I nodded. "I still like that name." I smiled. "But I'm not sure if I want to name her that now."
"Can I suggest a name for the colt?" Nessie spoke up quietly.
"Sure Renesmee, you can name if you want." I told her, also remembering to call her Renesmee instead of Nessie around Bella. Even though at the moment I couldn't see Bella.
"I think his name should be Perfect Twilight. I mean he was born at the time of Twilight and he seems pretty perfect to me." Nessie said, looking at the colt adoringly.
"Then that's his name! Why don't you come in and watch him with Sue for me, while I check on the filly?" I suggested, watching her face light up. Jacob gave me a smile, knowing I had suggested it on purpose.
"I'd love to!" She walked in and her and Sue started talking about how adorable he was. I shook my head and left the stall walking to the filly's stall.
The filly was laying flat out in the stall, Bella, Esme and Rosalie sitting with her. They looked up as I walked in the stall and gave me a smile. "How's the filly doing?"
"She's doing great! She tried sucking on my fingers for awhile but then gave up. I hope Jeremiah finds her a nurse mommy soon." Esme said, running her fingers over the filly's body.
"I can help you with names if you want, for her." Rosalie offered.
I thought about what I had said about the ultrasound, about not seeing her. "She was a secret."
Rosalie, Esme and Bella looked at me questioningly. "The filly...she was almost like Clover's secret. Huh, I like that name, Clover's Secret."
"I like it too." Bella agreed.
"Me too, dear." Esme gave my hand a squeeze.
"Well I have to agree!" Rosalie grinned.
"And I can call her Secret for short."
"I heard Renesmee named the colt." Bella spoke.
I laughed a bit. "Yeah, I had no clue what to name him and she was looking at him adoringly so I had to let her."
"I appreciate that." Bella smiled.
I waved it off. "It's no big deal."
…...
Later-2 hours later(7:30)
Charlie stopped by around 7:30, and saw both of the foals. "She foaled two?"
I nodded, I was sitting in the aisle of the barn on a bale of straw. "She rejected Secret, the filly, and she's keeping Twilight, the colt." I told him.
"I know your horses are important Annabelle..but school is starting up again tomorrow and I can't have you missing school, I'm sure Bella or Edward could take care of Secret and Twilight." Charlie said hesitantly.
"I'm going tomorrow. Sue offered to take care of Secret and Twilight has his mother." I replied.
Charlie sighed in relief. "Sue will take care of them really good."
I nodded. "I know." I bit my lip. "Would you like to pet them?"
"Well...Sure." Charlie agreed, I took him to Twilight first. The black colt was so used to people coming and going already, he kept laying down when we entered the stall. "He's a cute little baby, I like the black on him."
"He is adorable. I love the little white snip on his nose." I ran my hands all over him. I wanted to imprint on both of these foals. In a couple of days or another week I would work with halter training them.
"I don't really under horse color genetics so how do you get a black out of two grays?" Charlie asked.
"Well Twilight will turn gray as he grows. Gray/white horses are born black, bay or chestnut, then they grow up gray." I explained.
"Oh, that kind of makes sense." Charlie shrugged. Clover leaned her head over Twilight and nudged me.
"I know you're probably wondering why I haven't been with you so much this evening girl, but I have to take care of your daughter since you won't." I rubbed her nose.
"Well let's see this filly of your mare's." Charlie suggested. I lead him over to Secret's stall where Jeremiah sat with her. "Evening, Jeremiah."
Jeremiah smiled at Charlie. "Evening, Charlie. Cute little baby isn't she?"
"Mighty pretty. So Annabelle, explain this one to me. The gray." Charlie said, sounding a bit confused.
"Well it's kind of opposite from Twilight, Secret was born gray and she'll grow up to be black." I told him.
Charlie shook his head. "That's so twisted around."
"I agree, it gets me sometimes but that's animals." I agreed with him. I opened the stall door and walked in, Charlie following.
Secret walked boldly right over to me and Charlie. "She's definitely doing good." Charlie commented.
"Yeah, we've been feeding her some of Clover's milk out of a bottle and Sue's gonna bring some foal formula tomorrow." I kissed Secret's little nose and I saw a flash. I turned to my right and saw Bella holding her camera.
"That was adorable! I had to take that picture!"
I laughed. "I probably would of done the same."
I watched as Secret walked to Charlie and Jeremiah. "I have to admit that Secret is my favorite out of the two. Maybe that's just because Clover can take care of Twilight and Secret will depend on us and because she's a filly."
"It's probably because you really feel for her, since Clover rejected her." Jeremiah agreed. "But then again she is a nice filly and she's already being affectionate towards you."
Secret was definitely a cute filly. She was a mousy gray with a blaze running down her face and with four white stockings. As we sat in the stall, I heard Jasper and Alice feeding Flash and it reminded me that I should feed Clover.
"I'll be right back, I should feed Clover." I exited the stall, thinking about what else to give her besides grain(that could help the babies). Then Alice appeared beside me with a bucket.
"Here's Clover's feed, with everything you were going to give her." Alice smiled.
I laughed. "Alice it is really nice being around you."
"I'm glad you said that. I'll be over at Charlie's tomorrow before you go to school to help you dress."
I groaned. "Alice, I can dress myself just fine."
"Oh come on, it's your first day of Forks High School tomorrow! Just tomorrow, I promise!" I rolled my eyes and walked towards Clover's stall. "Is that an okay?"
"I give up!" I called to her. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."
"Thanks Annabelle!" Alice was suddenly beside me, giving me a hug. "Have a good night's sleep!"
"'Night Annabelle." Jasper waved as he left the barn. I fed Clover—checking her and Twilight over once more—before leaving the stall.
Jeremiah and Charlie were talking outside Flash's stall so I went in Secret's stall to say a short goodbye to the filly. "Bye sweetheart, I'll be back tomorrow after school, I promise. And we're going to find you a mommy who will teach you all these horsey things." I gave her another kiss then walked up to Charlie and Jeremiah.
Jeremiah turned to me. "I've found a prospective mare over in Port Angeles, I was thinking we could go see her after school tomorrow."
I looked at Charlie. "Is that okay?"
Charlie nodded. "Jeremiah already asked, you can go." Charlie looked at his watch. "We better get home Annabelle, it's getting to be pretty late."
"Okay, I'll meet you at the car, Uncle Charlie." Charlie nodded, said his goodbye to Jeremiah and left the barn after a little peek at Secret.
I threw my arms around Jeremiah as soon as Charlie was gone. "Thank you for everything you've done for me today."
Jeremiah wrapped his arms around my waist. "It's no problem, I like being involved in all the horses again. My parents used to run a breeding farm so I like being with the foals, and the mares."
"I'll see you tomorrow afternoon then?" I asked, I was going to miss him.
"You'll see me tomorrow morning. I'll be picking you up for school—cleared that with Charlie too." Jeremiah grinned.
"You're taking me to school?"
"No, well yes, but I'm going to school with you." Jeremiah said.
"But I thought...you already graduated from your own high school didn't you?" Jeremiah shook his head at my question.
"No, I hadn't finished yet. I got my school to send my records here."
"Do your parents know about...?" I trailed off.
"They know I was shot and I told them I wanted to live with Dr. Cullen while I was getting better from my injuries. I've seen them once."
"Oh..." Then I smiled. "Well I'm glad I'll have someone there!"
"You better go, Charlie's waiting for you." I looked at the stalls again. What would happen to them overnight?
"Don't worry, Jasper, Alice and I will be out here with Secret and Twilight tonight. We don't have to sleep so we might as well make ourselves useful." Jeremiah winked at me.
"I'll see you tomorrow." I said again. "Have a good night, and I'll text you when I get home."
Jeremiah's face changed. His expression was affectionate. "Miss you. Have sweet dreams tonight." Then he leaned in and kissed me.
After a moment he pulled back and I left before we kissed again. The car ride home was filled with conversation about the horses.
When we got home, I made Charlie and I grilled cheeses. As we ate at the table, I thought about something Jeremiah had said. "Charlie, I was thinking, you know since you go to work before I go to school and there's not really a bus around here..Would you co-sign on a car for me?"
Charlie looked up shocked. "A car? Do you really have enough money to buy a car?"
"Well..I have four thousand dollars in my bank account, enough for a down payment and Seth says he has a friend up in Port Angeles that has a racing stable and he could get me a job there so I could make the payments. I just need a co-signer."
Charlie looked to be considering it. "Okay Annabelle, you seem really responsible and you're right, you're going to need your own car..if Bella's truck hadn't died I would of gave that to you. But make sure you can get that job up in Port Angeles before we go to get your car."
"Thanks Uncle Charlie!" I said, getting up from my chair to hug him.
Charlie looked embarrassed when I sat down and I remembered Bella had said Charlie wasn't big on showing emotions. "It's no problem. There's a Ford dealership up in Seattle if that's alright."
"Yeah, Ford's great!" The rest of the meal we talked about potential cars and I could tell Charlie was excited to be helping me buy my first car.
After dinner, Charlie went in the living room to watch a little TV and I went upstairs to get a shower. After I got out, I put on the pj's Alice had bought me and went to my room.
I grabbed my cellphone on my nightstand and called Jack. It was about 6PM in North Carolina so evening feed should be over and he should be in the office.
It rang three times and then I heard Jack's voice. "Rushing Water Stables." Jack said, in his business voice.
"Hey Jack." I smiled.
"Annabelle! Wow, I haven't heard from you since you left!" Jack sounded relieved and happy.
"I know, I'm sorry about that, I've had a few rough days."
"It's fine. How's Clover, did she have her baby yet?"
"That's actually what I was calling for. She gave birth today."
"That's great Annabelle! Colt or Filly? What color? Are they okay?" I heard a smile in Jack's voice and I knew it was partly because Silver Moonlight was one of his stallions so of course he would wonder how the baby turned out.
I hesitated for a moment. "A colt and a filly."
"She had twins?" It was silent for a minute.
"Yes, they both seem to be fine. Except she rejected the filly."
"Oh Annabelle, I bet that was a shock to you. Man, the first time your mare delivers and she gives you twins." I could just imagine Jack shaking his head.
"The filly is alright though. We're going to find a mare who can nurse her tomorrow."
"That's the best idea, that way she'll get some mare's milk. So what do they look like? Did you name them yet?"
"The colt, who my cousin Renesmee named Perfect Twilight because he was born at Twilight and she called him perfect, he's fully black except for a white snip on his nose. And the filly, who I named Clover's Secret, is a gray filly with a blaze and four white stockings."
I could also imagine Jack nodding his head in approval. "He's probably going to go gray like Clover and Moonlight, she'll to probably our both surprise a black filly."
"Yeah, I found it pretty amazing that she'll most likely turn black. But I like it, although I'm wondering if Secret will ever make it to the racing world or not." I sighed, I had always imagined if Clover had a filly that I could be her jockey and we would race together.
"Maybe she will, Clover was born a small filly and she made it." Jack said, trying to reassure me. "By the way, is this your Uncle Charlie's number?"
"Uh, no. This is my cell phone number." I said, blushing.
"You got a cell phone?"
"It was more of a gift."
"Oh. From Charlie?"
"No, from a friend."
"You're already making friends? That's great!"
I blushed again, as for why, I have no clue! "Yeah, well tell Luke about Clover will you? And give him my number and tell him to give me a call."
"I will do."
"Thanks Jack, I'll call you again soon."
"Talk to you soon, Annabelle. Bye." After saying goodbye, I hung up. Then I decided to call my parents.
There was no answer and I left a message for them, giving them my number and asking them to call me. I turned my light off and pulled the covers over me, deciding it was time to go to sleep.
It started drizzling outside and I let the sound of the rain, put to me to sleep.
…...
Next Day, Tuesday March 17th, 6:30AM
I stretched and my hand hit something hard. I sat up quickly and realized it was just Alice. "Morning Alice." I said, yawning.
"Morning Annabelle! Time to rise and shine so I can work on you."
I raised my eyebrows but kicked the covers off me all the same. "I thought you just wanted to dress me."
"I want to put some makeup on you too. Nothing much, I promise, just some eyeliner, eyeshadow, lip gloss.."
I shrugged. "Alright well let's get to work on me then."
After Alice had done my makeup and started on my hair, I check my phone. I had a missed call from my parents and Luke, two voice mails(I'm assuming from them), and 2 text messages from Jeremiah. I wondered what that was about.
The first one read: "I'm assuming you're asleep but I thought I would give you an UD on the babies and Clover. Clover and Twilight are doing great, Twilight has been sleeping most of the night. Secret is a energized little filly, has been walking the stall for a half hour, likes to lay her head in my lap. So cute. See you soon."
The second one said "Secret has taken all her bottles. Definitely GOOD sign! I know Alice left a couple minutes ago so I know you'll be getting this soon. Pick you up at 7:20."
I glanced at the clock on my phone. It read 7am. 20 more minutes. Alice was curling my hair and I had to admit, it looked amazing.
"Done!" Alice sat down the curling iron. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks Alice, you always work miracles."
"I just help bring out your beauty, all of this" Alice waved her hand over my face. "That's your natural beauty."
I blushed. "It's the truth, Annabelle." Alice said, serious for a moment then she was back to her hyper self. "Go eat some breakfast then get to school, I left your backpack downstairs by the front door."
I looked down to what I was wearing, blue skinny jeans, a black long sleeved shirt with my sea blue converses. Thank goodness Alice had dressed me in sensible clothes.
…...
20 minutes later
I heard a knock at the door and went to answer it. Charlie had already left for work so it was just me home. I opened the door and there stood Jeremiah in dark blue jeans, a navy t-shirt with a gray jacket on and black sneakers.
"Did Alice dress you?" I asked, smiling.
"Yes. She set my clothes out for me like I was 5 years old." Jeremiah rolled his eyes. I grabbed my blue backpack off the floor and threw it on my shoulder. Then I walked out the door, locking it up when I was outside.
"Don't worry, she dressed me too." I said, keeping my laughter in. Jeremiah glanced over my clothes.
"I approve of her choices. You look very beautiful this morning." Jeremiah opened his truck door for me. I realized this was the first time I had seen it. It was a 2000 gray Chevy Silverado.
Jeremiah walked around to his side, very fast, and got in the truck, starting it immediately and backing out of Charlie's driveway.
"I talked to Charlie last night about buying a car." I blurted out in the silence. Jeremiah glanced over.
"Really? What did he say?" I told Jeremiah everything Charlie had said and he made a face. "You want a Ford?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I want a Ford!"
Jeremiah snorted. "It'll break down in a year."
I kept my mouth shut for a moment then decided to change the subject. "So how was Secret and Twilight before you left?"
Jeremiah grinned. "Great. Sue's over there now, cooing to Secret about how cute she is. Esme is staying down at the barn with Sue to keep her company."
I laughed. "Secret is going to have everybody wrapped around her little finger...well except she doesn't have any fingers but you get what I mean."
Jeremiah nodded. "Yeah, but she's a cute filly. She's even got Emmett in love with her."
"I'm so glad I have all of you guys. I would have some problems if I didn't." I said, truly grateful.
"I think everyone is having fun with them. Especially Renesmee."
"I'm sure she'll be down at the barn with Twilight as soon as she wakes up." I agreed. He pulled into a parking lot and I saw the sign for Forks High School.
Jeremiah found a parking spot and pulled in. I took a deep breath. "Don't be nervous." He whispered to me, his face so close to mine. His face was amazing, dazzling was the word that popped up in my head. "I'll be here for you."
I nodded and tried to get the breath back that he had taken away. In a flash, Jeremiah was at my door, opening it for me. "Shouldn't you be careful about doing that?" I asked, worried.
He grinned. "No one could of seen me."
I shrugged and got out, walking with him towards the school building. "Let me walk with you to the office to get your schedule." Jeremiah said, guiding me towards the office.
I saw a woman—her name plate saying Ms. Comp-look up as we walked in. "How may I help you?" She asked brightly with a genuine smile.
"Hi, I'm Annabelle Foster, I just transferred here from North Carolina, Charlie, my uncle, said I could get my schedule here."
Her eyes lit up. "Oh of course dear!" I watched her shuffle papers and then she handed me 3 papers. "One is your schedule, the other a map and another for all your teachers to sign."
I grabbed them, thanking her and then left with Jeremiah. I was a sophomore and he was a senior so there was no way we were going to have any classes together. Jeremiah grabbed my schedule and looked it over then handed it back.
"We have the same lunch and gym period." Jeremiah told me. I felt myself perk up bit.
"Really? How is that possible?" I looked over my schedule and then he handed me his. We did have gym together, at the same time anyways.
"Your first class, is down the hall the 3rd door to your right." Jeremiah pointed it out. "You're taking French?"
I nodded as we stopped at my classroom door(French class!). "You better get to your class."
"Alright, well I'll meet up with you at lunch. I'll save a table for you."
"Au revoir(Goodbye)!" I waved to him as he left, laughing as he looked confused for a moment then realized what it meant.
I walked into the classroom and saw most people were seated, so I went ahead up to the teacher. She looked up and smiled at me. "Are you Annabelle?"
"Yes, Madame(Mrs.) Meyer?" At her nod, I handed her the paper she was supposed to sign. "I'm supposed to have you sign this."
She signed and handed it back to me as the final bell rang, everyone was in their seats. "Well let's introduce you the class." Then she turned to face everyone. "Je te présente Mademoiselle Annabelle."(I'd like to introduce Miss Annabelle)
"Bonjour(Hello)." I heard the whole class say to me. I repeated it back to them and Madame Meyer showed me to my seat, I sat down and sat my backpack down next to my feet.
The girl next to me leaned over towards my desk. "Hi, my name's Katie Fisher, I'm kind of new here too, so if you need any help or want a friend, I'm here." This girl sounded genuine.
"Thanks, I could definitely use a friend." I smiled at her.
She smiled back. "That's good because I have no other friends." She laughed.
Before I could respond we had to turn our attention to the front of the class. After the bell rang, I grabbed my backpack and headed towards the door. I met Katie at the door. "So, what class do you have next?"
"I have health." I said, I had already memorized my schedule.
"Me too!" The girl smiled. "Let me admit, I'm so glad there's someone else besides me that's new."
I smiled back. "This is my first time starting out at a new school so I can agree."
"Well my dad is in the Army, so we're always moving around but my dad finally decided to stay in one place and that was Forks. My dad grew up here so I think that's why he picked it." Katie told me as we walked towards the lockers. I had looked to see which number locker I had and it was 112, Katie's, I saw was 113.
"My parents live back in Beaufort, North Carolina. They're getting divorced so I was sent here to live with my Uncle Charlie while they settle it out." I said, shoving all my books but one notebook in my locker.
Katie's face showed sympathy. "My parents divorced when I was 8 years old. It's definitely not the greatest thing to witness."
We continued to walk to health class. "I'd just never thought my parents would divorce. I knew they fought but a divorce? Never."
"Most kids don't see it coming. I really didn't." Katie sympathized. We entered the room and I told Katie to save me a seat if she could.
I walked up to the teachers desk. The name plate said : Mr. Meyer. Hmm, I wonder if he was married to Madame Meyer?
Mr. Meyer looked up as I stopped at his desk. "Ah, are you Miss Foster?"
I nodded, surprised. "My wife, your French teacher, came by and said we had a new student." Mr. Meyer smiled. Well my thoughts were answered.
"I'm supposed to have you sign this paper." I handed him the paper.
"Alright well I'll hand this back at the end of class." Mr. Meyer looked towards Katie. "I saw you walk in with Ms. Fisher who is relatively new but was here when health started so maybe you can get all the notes from her?"
I nodded. "I can do that."
"Great, I'll put you next to her." I walked back to where Katie was sitting and slid in the seat next to her.
"I'm supposed to get the notes from you." I told her.
"Okay, here's my notebook, go ahead and get the latest notes out first so you know what we're doing."
I read and copied them down quickly. It seems they were on reproduction. By the time Mr. Meyer stopped talking, I had copied all of Katie's note.
"A reminder class and news for our new student, next week you'll have your own baby for a week. They're not real but they cry, eat, go to the bathroom, sleep and do everything a real baby does. This will count for 50% of your grade so I suggest you treat your baby very good!" Mr. Meyer handed 2 papers out. "One of those is for your parent or guardian to sign and one is telling you everything about your assignment."
The bell rang and we left the classroom. "What next?" Katie asked, when we stopped by our lockers.
"English." I told her and Katie's eyes lit up.
"Me too!"
I grinned. "I think this day and the rest will be good."
"Me too." Katie agreed, grabbing her English book. I grabbed another notebook Alice had gotten me and followed Katie to the English classroom, feeling more confident about school.
…...
By the time gym rolled around(which was my last period), I was anxious to get home. The coach informed me I wouldn't have to change for gym today but I was welcome to participate. Jeremiah jogged over to where Katie and I stood.
Katie's jaw dropped open and she closed it quickly. "Hey Annabelle." Jeremiah greeted me with a hug and Katie's eyes widened.
I hid my smile. "Jeremiah, I want you to meet Katie Fisher. Katie, meet Jeremiah Cullen."
Jeremiah politely held his hand out to Katie. Katie shook it and gave him a smile. "Nice to meet you Katie."
"Nice to meet you too, Jeremiah." After that the coach called the class to the middle of the floor where he explained we would do a couple of laps around the gym and then play some basketball.
Katie, Jeremiah and I jogged together talking about school. I could see us all being friends together. Jeremiah showed off a little about how he could go faster than us but not too much after my glare.
Jeremiah gave me a quick peck on the cheek—so quick I barely felt it and knew it happened! Then joined the boys on their side of the court.
Katie and I played some one-on-one basketball together and talked some more. I told her about Clover and the babies and she told me about her dogs.
When the bell rang, we ran to the locker rooms to change. While we were walking back out, Katie was saying about how she was going to walk home. "I could take you home." I said to her.
"What? Oh no, it's really not that far, just a couple of blocks." But when we got outside, it was pouring! "Okay, maybe I should take you up on your offer."
"Jeremiah, we can give Katie a ride home right?" I called to him as he waited by his truck.
"Sure, that's no problem." Jeremiah called back. So Katie and I got in the truck and Katie gave us directions to her house. It turned out she was a few houses down from Charlie. I pointed out Charlie's house.
"Wow, that's my dad's best friend's house...do you mean Charlie Swan? Chief Swan?" She asked as we sat in front of her house.
"Yeah, he's my uncle." I said, shocked.
"I didn't make the connection although I should of! Well thanks for the ride you guys and I'll see you at school tomorrow Annabelle, Jeremiah." I waved at her as she ran into her house.
"She's nice." Jeremiah commented.
I nodded. "Yeah, she is. I think we're gonna be good friends."
Jeremiah glanced over with a smile. "I think so too." Jeremiah pulled up in front of Charlie's house. "I figured you'd want to change out of your school clothes and shoes."
"Smart idea, do you want to come in?" I asked, opening the truck door.
"Sure." Jeremiah turned off the truck and we ran up to the house. I opened the door with my key and threw my shoes off at the door.
"I won't be long." I promised then ran up to the stairs, I opened my bedroom door and went straight to my dresser, I grabbed my jeans I usually wore around the horses-a faded old pair of jeans with slight tears in the knees and pockets, deciding I would wear my shirt. I quickly changed into the jeans, brushed through my wet hair and left my bedroom.
Jeremiah met me at the bottom of the stairs with my boots. "Thanks." This time, when we went to the truck, I had an umbrella. "Are we leaving now to go see the mare or later?"
"We're going to pick Esme up, as our 'adult' and hook up a trailer just in case we do want this mare." Jeremiah said and a few, quick, minutes later we pulled up at the Cullen's. I got out and I went straight to the barn with Jeremiah. I saw Sue, Esme, Renesmee and Bella in the barn.
"Hey! You're home!" Bella called to me. I smiled.
"Yeah, I made it through my first day at Forks High School!" I said as I got closer to them. First I poked my head in to look at Clover and Twilight. Clover nickered at me and walked over, I patted her neck and Twilight nosed my arm. "Hey cutie, getting brave?"
Nessie came up beside me. "He is getting more brave. When I came down this morning, Clover and him both neighed at me." Nessie said, sounding pleased.
"That's good. You know Nessie, I'm going to need some help halter breaking him in a few days and I was wondering if you would want to help with him."
Nessie's face lit up. "Of course I would!"
"Good, because I'm not going to be able to do them both alone. I'll show you how to and maybe Sue could help but I'll let you be the main one for him. Sound good?"
"Sounds great!" Nessie replied.
"And, even though this is a far time away, maybe you could help with with his training and riding."
"I'd love to." Nessie smiled.
"Good. Now I'm going to go check on Secret, before we leave." When Secret saw me enter the stall, she walked right up to me. I was so happy and surprised! "Aww, hey babygirl, did you have a good night and day?"
Sue and the others entered the stall with me. "She took all her bottles and she slept mostly after and between her feedings."
I nodded. "She seems to be doing great."
"She is, but I still agree with getting a mare for her."
"Me too, I'm starting to think she needs a blanket, what do you think?" I asked Sue.
"A blanket would be a good idea for both of them. Forks doesn't have much warm weather and it's damp a lot so yes, a blanket would be good."
"Is there a horse supply store around here where I could pick one up?"
"I know there's one in Port Angeles and one in Seattle." Sue told me.
"Okay, well I'll look them up this evening. Do you know where Seth is?" I asked, looking around.
"He's up in the house, eating a snack." Esme answered.
"Oh, okay, because I have to talk to him about that friend he has, that has a racing stable. I talked to Charlie last night about getting a car and if I get a car, I'm going to have to have a job to make the payments." I said to them as I walked out of Secret's stall and closed the door.
"Let me buy you a car!" Alice, who I saw was in Flash's stall, shouted.
I shook my head. "No Alice, you and Esme have already spent too much money on my room-which btw the way Esme and Alice I loved it!" Then I smiled. "And I kind of want to buy it myself."
Esme gave me a hug. "Oh I'm glad you love it. We were hoping you would and I can understand you wanting to buy yourself your first car."
"Thank you. I already have enough for a down payment but not enough to keep up the payments or car insurance plus I could really use a job to support these 3 and for me to have my own spending money."
So Esme took me up to the house where Seth was eating a ham and cheese sandwich. "Hey Annabelle!" Seth greeted me with his mouth full.
"Hey Seth." I grinned.
"No talking with your mouth full!" Sue and Esme scolded Seth at the same time.
"Sorry." Said Seth, who was grinning back at me.
"So, Seth I was wondering if you could ask your friend about a job up at that stable..." I said to him as he finished his sandwich.
"Sure, I'll call him right now and see if I can set you up with him. Sometime within this week okay?" Seth asked, taking a drink of water.
"That's fine. Great actually, the faster I get a job, the faster I can get a car." Seth raised his eyebrows.
I repeated what I had told Esme, Bella, Jeremiah, Sue and Alice. "Yeah, it kind of sucks when you don't have your own car to get around...then again I can just run everywhere." Seth grinned at me.
"Yeah, well I'm just a plain human. I can't just run around." I laughed.
Jeremiah, I could see was enjoying watching us two. "Okay, well we better head out if we're going to see this mare we better go ahead and go now."
Esme, Jeremiah and I said goodbye to everyone and left to go see the mare. 30 minutes later we pulled into a small farm with 2 barns and a couple pastures. I could see some horses in the pasture along the driveway. "What breed is this mare?" I asked Jeremiah.
"Thoroughbred. I thought it would be better just to go ahead and get a thoroughbred mare." Jeremiah answered as he stopped the truck and turned it off in front of the house.
We all got out just as a woman and man came out of the first barn. Jeremiah told me that was Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart. "You must be Jeremiah!" Mr. Lockhart called to Jeremiah.
"Yes, thanks for letting us come so quickly." Jeremiah said as the man shook his hand.
"It's not problem, Princess seems so lost without her baby so I figured it would be best to see if she would accept another baby and your situation sounds perfect for Princess."
Jeremiah introduced Esme as his mother and me as his girlfriend. "Annabelle is actually the mares owner so the baby is hers."
Mrs. Lockhart smiled at me. "We've had a mare deliver twins before, and we know how stressful it is when she rejects one of them."
"Yeah, this is Clover's first time being a mother so I imagine it's stressful for her too. I'm just really worried about Secret-that's her filly she rejected-not being okay. She's been taking her bottle but I'd really like her to have a horse mother who can teach her everything a mother teaches her baby."
Mrs. Lockhart nodded. "I agree, it is nice to have the mother around to teach them how to act and everything else."
Mr. Lockhart turned to Jeremiah. "You said on the phone yesterday, that you were interested in buying her if we were interested in selling?"
I felt shocked. Jeremiah hadn't mentioned buying her! "Yes, I used to have a horse but unfortunately I lost him and I'm eager to get another horse, so I figure if I can why not buy the mare? Secret gets a mother and I get a horse, and Princess will have a great home just like this." Jeremiah replied. Well that did make sense.
"Well we are right now trying to down size and even though I would be terribly sad to see Princess go, she was one of the mares on the list for sale." Mr. Lockhart told him and Jeremiah starting asking about Princess. So while those two were talking, Mrs. Lockhart motioned for Esme and I to follow her.
"Since those two are talking, I might as well show you Princess. She's right down this aisle." We followed her all the way to the end of the barn and I sighed at the mare. She was a beautiful chestnut mare with a stripe down her face and 2 white stockings on her front legs.
"She's beautiful." Esme told Mrs. Lockhart.
"I agree and if Jeremiah ever wanted to breed her, she's makes beautiful babies. This last was of hers, was so beautiful a little bay colt..." Mrs. Lockhart trailed off.
"What happened, if you don't mind me asking?" I hesitantly asked.
Mrs. Lockhart's eyes filled with tears. "Oh you don't have to tell me! I'm sorry!" I regretted asking.
Mrs. Lockhart waved it off. "No, no it's fine. You should know since she'll probably be your boyfriend's." Mrs. Lockhart took a deep breath then continued. "Last week, Mark my husband, spotted a mountain lion on the edge of our property, he ran him off and we didn't see him that night or the next day...Then I came home late one evening, Mark was over at a friends and I heard Princess neighing and making a lot of noise in the pasture her and her baby were in..."
Mrs. Lockhart closed her eyes. "When I got to the field, I could see the lion, so I ran to get the shotgun Mark and I keep in the barn, I saw the cat attack the foal right before I shot him. The cat was dead so I called our vet to come check the baby who was still alive. The colt was bleeding something awful and I worried, by the time our vet got here, he was in very bad condition so I decided to let her go ahead and put him down."
Esme looked like she wanted to cry and I felt my eyes tearing up. "I'm so sorry, that must have been terrible for you."
Mrs. Lockhart nodded. "It was, I cried for hours after that with Princess. Princess was neighing a storm that night, after we took the baby and buried him, she didn't stop until a few days later. Ever since she hasn't been happy at all and when we put her outside, she just stands at the gate until we bring her back in. She's slightly off her feed but still eating a bit and she's drinking fine but when your boyfriend and your son called me last night telling me a friend he knew had told him to call me about your situation, I knew it would be perfect for Princess so I told him if he wanted he could come and check her out today if he wanted."
My heart ached at her story about Princess's colt and I reached into Princess's stall. Princess looked at my hand and gave it a little nudge. "You poor girl." I murmured.
"Princess has been a mother for another foal before so that's why I told him to come see her. She most likely will accept your filly right away...actually her baby was a gray colt and I think he mentioned something about your filly being a gray?"
I nodded. "She's definitely gray. Maybe that will help." I bit my lip. "I've never had to do this before so I don't know too much how to do this."
Mrs. Lockhart smiled gently. "Well have someone take Princess into your filly's stall and hold her and slowly you or someone else help the filly over to Princess and see if Princess will accept her. I'd keep Princess's halter on for awhile in case you need to pull her out. But you'll know when she accepts her. She'll let your filly nurse and treat her just like her own."
We heard footsteps and Mr. Lockhart came to stand beside us with Jeremiah. "Jeremiah and I have worked out a deal, if it's alright with you hun." Mr. Lockhart said to Mrs. Lockhart. "Jeremiah offered to pay 1000 dollars for her and told me we can come see her anytime we'd like and he'll notify us if he's going to breed her again."
"Also, if you want the next foal she gives birth to, I'll agree to that too." Jeremiah told them.
They both smiled. "I think we'd like that." So Jeremiah and the Lockhart's signed papers for a sale and the Lockhart's told Jeremiah they would contact the Jockey Club to tell them the change in the ownership and he should expect a call from the Jockey Club so they can have all his information. "Any full Thoroughbred baby of hers can be registered with the Jockey Club and her pedigree is pretty good, we can get you her papers and mail them to you."
"That'd be great." 20 minutes later Jeremiah owned a Thoroughbred mare named Cloud's Princess. Princess loaded easy, after the Lockhart's had said goodbye to her.
Mrs. Lockhart handed me a small piece of paper. "Here's my e-mail and our phone number. Call or e-mail us to tell us how it went with Princess and your filly."
I smiled at her. "I will do that. I'll call you tonight after we get them settled."
Esme, Jeremiah and I got in the truck and left with Princess. "I think it was a good choice." I spoke up a few minutes later.
Jeremiah smiled back at me. "Thanks. I hope she'll get along fine with Secret."
"I'm sure she will." Esme smiled at Jeremiah.
"I can't believe I have a horse again!" Jeremiah was smiling like a kid on Christmas morning.
I laughed. "It's a good feeling isn't it?"
Jeremiah nodded and I laid back on the seat, relieved that we had a mare for Secret, now she just had to accept Secret.
An half hour later, we walked Princess off the trailer. Everyone had come outside to see the newest addition. They all spoke at once.
"She's beautiful!" Came from Bella.
"Gorgeous Mare!" Sue said and the rest of the Cullens complemented Jeremiah on his mare.
Now the hard part. Introducing mother to baby. I walked ahead of Jeremiah into Secret's stall, Sue following and put my arms around Secret's little body. "Hey pretty girl, we think we've got a mommy for you okay? So just be good and stay here while we bring her in."
Jeremiah brought Princess into the stall slowly. Once Princess saw secret, she let out a nicker. With Jeremiah holding the mare tightly, I walked Secret over to her with Sue.
Princess sniffed Secret loudly and after a minute of silence, Princess nudged her. Then we turned Secret to Princess to nurse and Princess let her.
Jeremiah and I watched them for an hour outside the stall, close enough to get in there if Princess tried to hurt Secret. "It seems she accepted her." I whispered, watching the pair together.
Princess was standing protectively over Secret now eating hay, as Secret slept. "She did. Didn't try to go after her once." Jeremiah agreed.
I smiled widely at him and sighed in happy relief. "I'm so glad. I would of probably cried if she didn't."
"We would of looked until we found a mare for her." Jeremiah replied softly, pulling me into his arms.
I gently pushed him away and opened the stall door. I had to see if Princess would let me get near Secret. Princess looked at me then deciding I wasn't a threat, went back to eating her hay. "Good girl." I said pulling a treat out of my pocket for her.
Princess lipped up the treat eagerly and I crouched beside Secret, slowly running my hands over her sleeping body. I gave her a kiss on her cheek and after giving Princess a pat on her neck, joined Jeremiah outside the stall.
"I definitely like Princess." I commented to Jeremiah.
"Me too. Nice mare, not one of those mothers who go after people around her baby and seems pretty calm for a thoroughbred." Jeremiah replied.
"I think I'm going to go give Clover and Twilight some attention."
"Okay. Well I'm going to stay here and watch them." Jeremiah said. I kissed his cheek and grabbed a grooming box. Clover had probably wondered why I wasn't paying attention to her.
Well now that Secret had a mother and it looked like she was going to be okay, I planned to give Clover more attention.
…...
I relaxed as I groomed Clover. She wasn't that dirty but she seemed to be enjoying it. Twilight was kind of scared of the brushes though and I thought that was kind of amusing. He would definitely have to get over that!
I sat down on the ground, holding a soft brush in my hand. "Come here Twilight, this brush isn't going to hurt you." I cooed to him. Nessie, who had been helping me groom Clover, was watching Twilight and me.
"I don't think he believes you." Nessie said. I smiled at her.
"He probably won't stop being scared of it until he sees it more often." I replied, watching her comb out Clover's tail.
6 more months until Nessie's birthday. Around the same time, I would wean Twilight. It worked out perfectly, he would be so distressed about being away from his mother and Nessie could comfort him as I would comfort Secret.
I was definitely going to give Twilight to her for her Birthday. It just seemed right, the way Nessie was around him and you could see that Twilight loved her already too. I stood up. "Well Nessie, it's been fun, but I have to go home to fix your Grandpa Charlie and I, something to eat for dinner. I'll probably be back after dinner though okay?"
"Okay!" Nessie came over and gave me a hug, surprising me. I hugged her back.
"If you're going to stay in here with Clover and Twilight, be careful about where you're standing. Clover might not intentionally kick but it could happen." I warned Nessie.
Nessie nodded. "I'll be careful."
I called goodbye to Jeremiah and waved as I left the barn. I had to go up to the house to ask Bella or someone else for a ride home. I definitely needed a car.
I took my boots off on the porch and after knocking, I walked in the door. I was greeted by a smiling Bella, Edward and Alice.
"It's a great idea!" Alice squealed at me as I walked in.
"What?" I asked confused. Alice rolled her eyes.
"What you plan to do for Nessie's birthday!" Alice whispered to me.
"Oh. That. It just seems right, they both are already in love with each other and I probably can't take care of three horses alone so if that's alright with you, Edward, Bella, I'd like to do that for Nessie." I said, knowing they knew what I meant.
"Of course it is!" Bella told me with a smile.
"I agree with you, 100 percent." Edward nodded. Edward threw me some keys, it had a Volvo logo on them. "I knew you were coming up for a ride home so I figured you could just use one of our cars since you're coming back anyways."
I was speechless. Thanks. I thought in my head, knowing Edward heard me. "No problem."
So after that, I walked to the garage and after getting in the car, drove to Charlie's house to make dinner. Already thinking of what I would do when I got back to the Cullens.
…...
A/N: Hi readers! Thanks for your reviews! I hope you got my replies to your questions. I worked hard on this chapter, it's the longest chapter I've EVER wrote! It's almost ten thousand words(the actually story with the AN) and 19 pages! So I really hope you like it and I hope you liked the names I picked out for Clover's babies.
Please, please review :)
Thanks!
QuinnandSeth'sgirl15