Racing Hearts

Chapter Fourteen "Protection Detail"

Monday, June 20th

I handed Lucky's reins to Chuck and was surprised to see Paul standing next to Andrew and Roger. "Paul? What are you doing here?"

He walked forward until I was in his arms. "I got your text and I had to make sure you were okay." Some of the worry I had been feeling since last night dissolved as Paul held me. His warmth felt a bit too warm in the early summer morning but I wanted to be in his arms.

I pulled back after a minute. "I, um, I have to ride another horse. Will you wait?"

"Of course. I'll be here." Paul kissed my forehead and I got up on Feisty. I was the main rider for her and Lucky. Their usual jockey still wasn't back so I still got to ride them both. Andrew assured me that even once the usual jockey was back, I would still be Lucky's rider and jockey and he'd make sure I'd have mounts.

I tried to hold back a yawn as I trotted Feisty. I hadn't slept much last night after I came over to the Cullen's and three thirty am just came way too early.

Her workout went without incident and I walked her back to the barn with Paul. I took off her tack and hooked her up to the walker, taking Lucky off. I put him into his stall and took his feed from Chuck.

I went into the stall and dumped his feed. I slid my hands down his smooth neck and leaned against him for a moment, just listening to him eating his food. I took a deep breath and then exited the stall. Paul grabbed my hand as we walked out towards the pastures. I still had some work to do but Andrew wouldn't mind me taking a small break.

"I just can't believe how things have changed so much." I said to Paul as we watched the young foals play in their pasture. I thought about how many changes I've had in the past three to four months. I moved to Forks, met Jeremiah, dated Jeremiah, who was a vampire, got imprinted on by Paul, a werewolf, broke up with Jeremiah, and now was dating Paul.

"Sometimes change is the best thing that can happen." Paul smiled and kissed my hand then he grew serious. "I know it's been difficult for you but it's going to all work out."

"Yeah, I just have a guy angry at me that could kill me with a flick of his wrist, a kind of royal family that wants to make me like them or kill me, and all the stupid crap with my parents." I smiled through my blurred vision. "I'm trying to be strong but it's really hard."

Paul took me into his arms and I let a few tears escape. "Annabelle!" We both turned and saw Andrew waving from the barn. "Break over?"

"I'll be right there!" I pulled out of Paul's embrace. "Will I see you tonight?"

Paul looked like he was blushing but I wasn't sure. "Well I'll actually be running around here. We don't want to take any chances."

I gave him a peck on the cheek. "Okay, well try to make sure you're not seen. That's all we need is huge wolf sightings."

Paul chuckled as he jogged away. "Sure thing!"

I met Andrew at the barn. "Sorry, I hope it was okay I took a small break."

Andrew threw his arm around me. "Of course it is. You're entitled to a break. I would have let you stay out there longer but I need to talk to you about a race I want to enter Lucky in. Registration ends tonight at midnight so I just need to know your answer soon."

That was different. Usually he consulted me after he entered Lucky in races. Andrew knew I didn't have an issue with riding in whatever race he wanted me to. "Well I'm sure I won't have a problem with it."

Andrew shrugged with a sheepish smile. "It's in Southern California."

I stopped and raised my eyebrows. "That's kind of far. I'd have to ask Charlie. How long would we be there?"

"The race is July 2nd but I want us down there by the 27th of June so he has time to get comfortable with the track. Plus, I may or may not be taking one of our fillies with us. I guess I'm going to talk it over with Roger and see what he thinks."

"Okay, well I'll talk to Charlie tonight and let you know. Um, maybe I should give him your number too. So he can talk to you." California. Wow. I really hoped Charlie would let me go.

"Yeah, of course, tell him I'll be expecting his call."

…

Later, I walked into Sue's house and smelled something delicious cooking. "Oh God that smells so good." I groaned as I plopped in a kitchen chair. All day all I had to eat was crackers and a beef jerky stick. Real food sounded wonderful.

Sue smiled at me and Charlie looked me over. "How are you holding up kid?"

I shrugged, looking at the ground. "I mean hey there's just a vampire who hates me running around, nothing to be concerned about right?" I tried to joke. Charlie's eyes narrowed and I let out a tired laugh. "I'm sorry Uncle Charlie, joking just helps me get through it." I shook my head. "I just cannot believe this is happening."

"Well it is and we want you to be safe." Charlie put his arm around Sue's waist. "Let the guys keep tabs on you or the Cullen's. Stay where they can see you, don't go somewhere without one of them."

The front door opened and I heard voices, one of them being Paul's. "You don't have to worry about that Uncle Charlie, Paul is definitely on it."

"Paul is on what?" He asked suspiciously as he entered the kitchen and kissed my forehead. My heart swelled at the affectionate gesture and the feeling of being cared about.

"Annabelle patrol duty." I told him as I saw Katie and Seth behind him. "You're safe!" I jumped up to hug my best friend. She squeezed me back tightly. I pulled back to look at her. "I was so worried about you!"

Katie squeezed my hand. "I'm more worried about you. You're the one he's angry with."

I shrugged. "I wouldn't put it past him to use someone I care about to get to me." Paul put his arm around me.

"Luckily you all have the best guards around. The La Push wolf pack." Paul grinned at us. "No angry bloodsucker is getting past us."

I grabbed his hand with my free one. "Don't underestimate him. I don't want any of you getting hurt."

"We're all taking this seriously, don't worry, Annabelle." Seth assured me, kissing Sue's cheek quickly. My phone vibrated and I pulled my hand out of Paul's to grab it. It was Andrew asking if I'd talked to Charlie yet. California. Crap.

I sat down with everyone as Sue placed a pan of lasagna on the table. I glanced over at Charlie and took a deep breath before starting. "So Andrew wants to enter Lucky in a new race at the beginning of July."

"Oh yeah?" Charlie raised his eyebrows. "Up at Port Angeles?"

"California actually." Everyone stared at me, stopping what they were doing. Silence took the room. I swallowed my remaining bit of nervousness and continued. "We'd probably have to leave around the 25th because he wants to be down there by the 27th and I'm sure he's driving because shipping a horse on a place costs a lot of money. The race is on the 2nd."

"You think that's smart with what's going on?" Sue asked as Charlie was still silent, hovering his fork over his lasagna. Yeah, I probably should have waited to ask.

"It's not a bad idea if you really think about it. It'd get me out of the state, away from him." I offered up.

"And he could follow you, where you have no protection, and kill you." Paul replied coldly and I winced. He had a point but getting away seemed like such a good idea…especially getting away in the sun. Which I never saw anymore.

"Well there's that but maybe Bella or someone could come with me. Nessie would love to watch the races. She'd be in heaven and I'd be protected." Seth was already shaking his head at my suggestion.

"None of the Cullen's can be in the sunlight—they sparkle, remember?"

I sighed. "I forgot." I forgot they were sparkling, animal-blood-drinking vampires they seemed so normal. I looked back at Uncle Charlie. "Please let me go. We can figure something out."

"I just don't want you getting hurt, Annabelle. With everything that's going on maybe it's best if—" Charlie broke off with a sigh. My hopes deflated. Lucky either wouldn't get to run the race or he'd run it without me riding him.

"What if Paul went with Annabelle?" Katie spoke up looking between us. "He'd be able to protect you wouldn't he? And I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

I stared at Paul, silently pleading him to agree to Katie's suggestion. I would be able to race, he could protect me, and we'd get time to ourselves together. What more could we ask for? Paul stared back at me and I knew he was fighting a battle inside with himself. The imprinted part of him wanted to agree anything that would make me happy but the protective wolf part of him wanted to make sure I was safe at all costs. He didn't want to see me hurt—or worse, killed.

"I mean that's not a bad idea, if you think you can properly protect her by yourself." Charlie hedged, not wanting to make Paul feel that he had to agree.

"I have to talk to Sam." Paul growled and left the house promptly. I exhaled softly and regret ran through me. Maybe I shouldn't have pushed the issue. Now Paul was upset with me.

"Don't worry about him, Annabelle. He'll be fine." Seth assured me, looking at the door. "He's got his temper but he'll calm down."

I remembered Paul telling me that he had a temper the night he imprinted on me. How he thought that because of his temper, he wouldn't be a good one to imprint. But he was absolutely wrong. He was a good imprint and the imprint, most of the time, helped him control his temper I thought.

….

Paul POV

I stalked angrily into Sam and Emily's house. "Hey Paul!" Emily greeted me with a warm smile which faded when she saw my face. "Something wrong?"

"Where's Sam?" I asked through gritted teeth. My face felt tight and hot and I just wanted to punch something. Or go for a run. But I could do neither. Emily pointed towards the living room and I rushed in. Sam looked up at my entrance and frowned at me.

"Something going on?" Sam asked, on alert at once. I shrugged not exactly sure if this counted as something "going on".

"Annabelle's boss wants her to go to Southern California in a week. Some race or something down there." I spat out. "And she doesn't see how dangerous it is to go. All she says is about how maybe it'd be good and he wouldn't follow her, she'd be away from him…but she'd have no protection. It'd be the perfect place for him to ambush her."

"And none of the Cullens can go because it's sunny." Sam said the unspoken words with a sigh. I nodded, feeling even more agitated.

"Then Katie has to speak up and say why don't I go with Annabelle…and I could see Charlie considering letting her go if I go." My chest tightened at the thought of the responsibility. My pack wouldn't be there. I would singlehandedly responsible for my imprint's life. It was as if the world was coming down on me.

"And you're acting like you're mad but you're really not, you're just afraid to have that kind of responsibility on your shoulders. Of not having us there to back you up." Sam again, spoke the unspoken. I sighed, knowing he understood and it relieved some of the pressure. "Someone could always go with you, any of the guys would be willing to go with you to California." Sam smiled. "Any of the non-imprinted guys of course."

"You think?" I'd really love to have Jared by my side but I couldn't—and wouldn't—ask him to leave Kim. Sam nodded.

"I'm sure they would. And if you feel like you need my permission or my blessing to go, go." Sam said. "Racing is important to her—but her safety is important to all of us first."

I looked down as I spoke, embarrassed to be feeling the way I was. "Thanks for understanding, Sam."

He put his hand on my shoulder. "We've all been in the position you are, worried for our imprints. We all understand."

I left their house feeling so much better and was going to tell Charlie, I'd be more than happy to escort Annabelle to California. If nothing happened, then it'd be a fun time spending time with my beautiful—girlfriend?—in a warm, sunny state. Maybe when she wasn't racing or training we could hit the beaches or some good Mexican food restaurants. I always heard Southern California had great Mexican food and I loved Mexican food.

I saw Annabelle sitting out on the porch when I got back and I felt slightly irritated that she was alone but then again she was on the reservation and Seth was right inside and someone was on patrol. I smiled sheepishly at her and sat down beside her on Sue's bench that Harry had made her years ago.

"I'm sorry—" We both said at the same time and we smiled at each other.

"I'm sorry I got so angry and walked out." I told her. She shook her head.

"Don't be, I should be sorry. I should have brought it up privately and talked with you about it before dinner or later on. And don't worry, I'm just going to tell Andrew I can't do the race." I heard the plain sadness in her voice when she said the last few words.

I gently put my fingers under her chin and pulled her face up to look at me. "No, you're going to tell him you want to do the race as long as Charlie agrees. I'll go with you. I'm going to ask one of the guys to come along too. That way we're not unprepared." I stared into her beautiful brown eyes and knew I had to explain why I was so angry. "I was angry but underneath the anger, was fear. I—I was, am, afraid to be solely responsible for your life. I mean I'm almost positive I could take him by myself but I don't want to gamble with your life in my hands. You mean more to me than anyone else ever has."

A radiant smile overtook her face. "Really?" I nodded silently and she put her hand on my cheek. I covered it quickly with mine. "You are one of the most important people in my life, Paul, and you don't know what you—what we, this—means to me."

"What is this?" I questioned softly, hoping we had the same answer. Just seeing her made my heart happy, she meant so much to me, and I knew with all my being, I'd love her forever.

"I'm not sure but I know what I hope it will be." She whispered. I felt my heartbeat pick up at her words. "I'd like to be your girlfriend, Paul. I want to be more than just Bella's cousin or more than just your untaken imprint. I really like you."

I love you. I thought to myself but I didn't want to say the words just yet. We had only known each other a month even if it felt like an eternity. "I really like you too and I'd love for you to be my girlfriend."

She leaned forward and kissed me. I held her to me tightly and only pulled back when she did. She grinned at me. "It's settled then. You're stuck with me."

I chuckled. "There's no one else I'd rather be stuck with."

…

Annabelle POV, June 24th Friday

I smiled as I booked Paul, Embry, and I's flight to Southern California on Sunday. Charlie had sat us both down and very sternly went over how the trip was going to go. He had a long talk with Andrew over the curfew that I had and insisted that Andrew check to make sure Paul was in his room and I was in mine. I thought it was incredibly embarrassing to have my boss be my babysitter but Andrew just laughed and said he understood Charlie's worry. I was paying for Paul and I's hotel rooms very much against Paul's protests but since he and Embry were coming to protect me I thought it was only fair that I paid. Embry and Paul would share while I had my room to myself.

Charlie was very worried and had a very embarrassing and stuttered filled "sex" talk with me the other night. I shuddered just thinking about it. I had assured him many, many times that Paul and I were not going to be having sex, that we just started officially dating and that wasn't going to happen.

Emmett had laughed his head off when I told Bella about the talk, since he overheard me telling her, and had started to laugh whenever he saw me. Edward got a kick out of seeing the talk through my thoughts and Bella had "shown" him when Charlie had talked to her about her and Edward too. I was definitely glad to know I wasn't alone in the embarrassment.

I glanced down at the printed list I had for Alice, Jasper, and Nessie, who would be caring for Clover, Secret, and Twilight while I was gone. I made sure to get everything down to the last detail, worrying endlessly about leaving them for so long. I kept telling myself that Alice and everyone would be fine taking care of them. All they had to do was insure the horses were fed, exercised, and the stalls were cleaned. Jasper and Nessie were assigned to that chore per Alice. I laughed out loud at the thought of pixie-like girly girl Alice mucking manure.

After I got the flights booked, I sent texts to both Paul and Embry telling them the time we had to be at the airport and to remind them to pack sometime tonight or early tomorrow. Andrew and Roger were driving down Lucky and Sparrow, a young maiden filly that they were racing while we were there.

I couldn't wait for the trip. It was supposedly to warm and sunny every day. The sun! Oh how I missed the sun. I thought about how I needed to make a trip back to North Carolina to visit. Jack and Luke kept saying how they were coming—just like my parents—but everything had been so busy neither of us had been able to make a visit. I couldn't wait til they came so I could show them my wonderful life here in Forks. My parents too. I was still mad they sent me away but how could I complain when I had met Paul?

With a smile and thinking of Paul, I started to pack.

….

Jeremiah POV

I smiled at the couple standing in front of me. Rick and Melanie Foster were hard people to find but I had done it, finally finding them outside the Beaufort Courthouse. "I'm sorry, do we know you?" Rick asked, putting his hand gently on his wife's—or ex-wife's I guess—waist.

"I'm Jeremiah, a friend of Annabelle's from Washington." I started then pretended to get serious. "She would hate me for coming but I just couldn't stand by and watch."

"Stand by and watch what?" Mrs. Foster questioned warily. I went into a story of how the new guy she was dating had a reputation of being a womanizer and he also had quite a record and a temper…..about how I was just so worried that Annabelle would get hurt by being with him. I watched as her father's face got redder and redder as I talked and knew my plan was working. As he went to call her, I turned the other way and smiled wickedly.

…

AN: Hey readers! Sorry I've been MIA! Busy, busy life! School and parenting have taken over! But it is summer and while I have two summer classes (each 5 weeks) I can hopefully write a bit more I want to try to get this story and Rescuing Me finished by sometime early next year if not sooner.

I hope you're still reading and I would love to see some reviews on how you felt about the chapter! I will try to update soon but I want to get some other chapters done for other stories but I'll try I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Thanks, always, for reading! -Quinnandseth'sgirl15