***THE AMAZING STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS TWILIGHT AND THANKFULLY LET'S US PLAY WITH EDWARD***
A/N: I'm so pleased with the response to this story. It seems you all like a little sexy Cowboyward! Who knew? Ha Ha….I am so glad I entered the Deep South Contest with this story and even more thrilled that it won some stuff! So without more wordy author's note, let's check in on our Cowboy and his Cowgirl!
EPOV
Watching Bella drive away from me in Calgary was hard. I thought leaving Houston was tough, but I was so wrong. Now there were so many more emotions involved. We loved each other. We told each other we loved each other. Commitments had been made. I had dealt with my past and that awful, evil Kate and in the end, Bella and I were closer than ever.
By the time we made it home to Lawton it was past midnight. When I turned my phone back on I had a couple texts from Bella. She told me she had made it home safely and hoped I had too. She said she missed me already and was going to have an early night so she could be at work bright and early. I texted her back to let her know I made it as well and that I loved and missed her. Two weeks. It's only two weeks until I get to see her again. I'll be ok. We'll be fine.
The next morning I woke up to a phone call from my Mama. She wanted to tell me that she was making waffles with scrambled eggs and bacon and wondered if I wanted to come join them for breakfast. My parents owned a ranch house that stood on one thousand acres of land. I had built my house on a fifty acre plot of land that they had given me for graduation. It was on the south side of their property with a long gravel road between us. The main livestock barn was at their house but I helped Dad take care of everything along with Emmett and Jasper. They each had homes nearby. The Triple E Ranch was famous in the area. Our family had been in Oklahoma for generations. When Dad inherited the ranch from Grandpa he decided to give it a different name. Being the sap that he is, he named it after the three most important people in his life, Esme, Emmett, and Edward. I chuckled to myself thinking that if I were to name my place it would be called Bella. That's it. Just Bella. Geez, who's the sap now?
When I arrived at Mom and Dad's house, I was surprised to see Jasper and Emmett making themselves at home. Fucking Emmett had a plate stacked with at least four waffles.
"Hey fucktard, save some of those for someone else." I popped him on the back of the head.
"Oh shut the hell up Edward. Just because you're getting laid now you don't have to be such a dick."
"Ok boys, that's enough. We don't need to talk about who is getting laid and who's not getting laid. Eat." Mom ruffled my hair like I was a damn six year old kid as she took her seat next to Dad as he winked at her.
"So Alice told me that we were going to all meet up in Dallas in a couple weeks?" Jasper asked with a mouthful of waffles.
"Yep. That's the plan. We should probably book some hotel rooms pretty soon come to think of it." I filled my plate with some extra bacon.
"I'll take care of that Ed-man." Emmett raised his hand like a damn child. At the same time both Jasper and I answered him with a very loud NO. See, the last time we let Emmett make hotel reservations for us, we all ended up in the same room, sharing a queen sized bed. I spent that night in the bathtub.
I spent the rest of the day doing things around my house, but my thoughts were never far from the brown haired beauty down in Texas that had my heart.
TWO WEEKS LATER – DALLAS, TX
BPOV
"Rosalie, this is our exit. Slow down!" Shit, I wasn't sure we would make it to our hotel with Rosalie Earnhardt Hale driving. Alice and I were bound to have zero fingernails left by the time we arrived.
"Oh calm down Swan, we've made it this far haven't we? Can I help it if I need to get to Emmett as fast as possible? Some of us didn't get to spend two full weeks with our men." She reached over and punched me in the arm, all the while still traveling at least ninety miles per hour.
"Rose, if you don't calm down, none of us are getting to see anyone but Saint Peter!" Alice shrieked from the back seat.
"Fine. Ok…I'll slow down. You two are absolute buzz kills. Just sayin'." She tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and thankfully slowed her SUV down to a modest seventy five.
Finally, after several more minutes, the white knuckled terror ride was over as we arrived at our hotel. Edward had sent me a text an hour earlier saying that they were running a bit behind because Jasper couldn't find a certain shirt that he HAD to bring with him because Alice said so. Pussy whipped fucker.
"I'm gonna go check us in and get our room keys. Ya'll wait here with our suitcases." I didn't give either of them a moment to protest because I needed to get my feet on solid ground to avoid seeing my breakfast again. I made a mental note to never let Rosalie drive me anywhere ever again.
Once I got our room keys and returned to the girls, we decided to head to our rooms and freshen up before the guys arrived. I sent Edward a quick text to see where they were.
Hey Cowboy-just checking in to see where you guys are. We are all in our rooms now freshening up for our good looking boyfriends. Can't wait to see you xoxo –B
I put my phone on the nightstand and plugged it in to charge for a bit while I used the bathroom and unpacked a few toiletries. While I was washing my hands, I heard my phone chirp with a text.
Hi Sweetheart. We are just outside of Dallas. Should be there in about fifteen minutes. What's our room number? Love u –E
I quickly sent him the number and texted the girls to let them know. We had decided to spend some quality time with our guys before we all met up to hang out. I felt the butterflies beginning just knowing how close Edward was. I had missed him terribly. It had only been two weeks since I left him in Calgary but it felt like a lifetime. Work had slowed down and I fought to keep my mind off our separation. Naturally, my efforts failed in grand fashion. I hadn't truly had a good night's sleep since.
I went back to the bathroom to brush my teeth and spritz on some perfume. Just as I was brushing my hair, I heard the door to the room click open and I knew. He was here. My cowboy was here. Before I could even move, I saw him in the mirror. Our eyes locked and neither of us moved. It was as if all time stopped and the earth tilted on its axis.
"Hey Darlin'. Get into these arms." I rushed to him and threw myself against him. He caught me and crashed his lips to mine. We kissed deeply and with every ounce of longing and passion we could muster. Edward swept his tongue against my lower lip and I opened for him immediately. He tasted like cinnamon and pure, unadulterated Edward. I quickly got lost in his kiss. I didn't even realize I was being laid down on the bed until Cowboy Hotness hovered over me.
"I missed you Bella. I love you Bella. Never leave me again Bella." He stopped all movement and looked deeply into my eyes. His next words effectively made me speechless.
"Marry me. Right now, this weekend. Marry me Isabella." Do what now?
I couldn't find my voice. I knew I needed to say something to him but I couldn't figure out how to speak. Did he really ask me to marry him? Was he serious? More importantly, could I marry Edward? Now? Edward was still as a statue, holding himself up on his elbows as he ran his hands through my hair. He was patiently waiting for me to answer him. Somehow, I managed to find my voice.
"Edward, I…are you sure? We haven't been together that long, and you haven't even met my parents. Where will we live? What about my job? You really want to get married this weekend? I'm not sure we can do that." Yeah, great recovery there Bella.
He pushed himself up off me and stood up to his full height. The look on his face told me I had hurt him with my words. I needed to fix this.
"Edward look, I'm not saying I wouldn't love to marry you. I'm just shocked. I mean, you walked in here and proposed. What's really going on here?" I stood up in front of him and tried to take his hand, but he pulled back from me.
"So you don't want to marry me? Bella, is that what you are saying?" He put his hands on his hips and backed further away from me.
"No, Edward, I'm not saying I don't want to marry you. That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm just wondering what's wrong. Do you think I'm going somewhere?" He ran his fingers through his hair, leaving it standing on end.
"Fuck Bella, I don't fucking know what is wrong with me. I don't know why I just blurted that shit out. That's not how I planned to propose to you. Shit baby, I just cannot stand being away from you. I go fucking crazy, I don't sleep, I can't concentrate on a damn thing. I need you like I need air." God, how did he have the ability to render me speechless all the time?
"I know baby, I know that because I am the same way. There are so many things we need to talk about and figure out. Remember in Houston, before we left each other? We knew this distance was going to be hard to take. We knew it was going to be tough to make this work and we both decided we wanted it. Edward, I'm more in love with you than I have ever been and I do want to marry you one day. But you need to know that I am not going anywhere Edward. I am yours, you are mine and we are together. Forever." I reached for him and this time, thankfully, he pulled me into his arms.
"I'm sorry Sweetheart. I didn't mean to have our reunion like this. I let my insecurities get the best of me. I'm just scared somebody is going to swoop in and steal you when I'm not looking. You're everything to me Bella. Absolutely everything." He leaned down to kiss me and I wrapped myself around him, kissing him back with all I had.
Edward and I spent the next couple of hours relaxing after he made passionate love to me. He was always a fantastic, gentle lover but this time there was something different in the way he touched me and held me. It was as if he was showing me the depth of his feelings for me. A tear slipped down my cheek as he brought me to an earth shattering climax held tightly against his chest. The sound of our hearts beating loudly and in perfect synchronization was my undoing.
Once we were showered and dressed we met the rest of the group in the lobby and headed out for dinner. We all decided to head to a club for some Texas Two Stepping and a few drinks afterwards. When we arrived, the guys went to secure a table and drinks while we all went to the bathroom to freshen up a bit.
"Come on ladies, we don't want to keep those cowboys waiting, and we definitely don't need to leave them alone too long." Alice said as she applied the finishing touches to her lip gloss. Agreeing whole heartedly we made our way back to the guys. Edward reached for me and pulled me onto his lap.
"You know Cowboy, there are more chairs. I don't have to use you as one." I smirked at him as he took a swig of his beer.
"Well you see Miss Bella, this here knee is way more comfortable than any old chair. And let's face it ma'am, we can't have that outstanding ass of yours sitting on just anything."
"If I didn't know any better I'd think you were trying to get laid tonight Cowboy."
"Oh I won't have to try, it'll just happen. I have a secret weapon." He winked at me as he tapped me on the ass wanting me to stand up. When I did he pulled me close to him and whispered in my ear. "Would you like to see my weapon Darlin'?"
"I've seen it Edward. It's magnificent." I winked at him as he pulled me to the dance floor.
After a few dances, the girls and I went up to the bar to get refills. The guys had gone to play a game of darts. As we waited for our drinks, my attention was drawn to a couple of women seated beside where I was standing. One was talking rather loudly while the other listened. I didn't really think too much about them, other than the fact that the loud one was getting on my damn nerves until I heard her say a name. Edward Cullen. She now had my full attention. Rose and Alice were on my other side in conversation with each other so they hadn't heard the woman. Tilting my ear toward them, I listened closer.
"I'm telling you that's him. I'd know that ass anywhere. Edward and I dated when I was 18. He's a bull rider and I used to barrel race." Oh God. Please tell me I am wrong.
Surely this wasn't Kate. No fucking way would that happen. How on earth could she be here, in the same place as us at the same time? I felt my hands ball into fists as I continued to listen. Rosalie noticed and leaned in to ask what was wrong. I shushed her quickly as the bitch next to me continued.
"Edward and I have a history for sure. But we were good once. That man can fuck like no other and his dick…..damn, I've never had another that was better. So thick, and long, and even at 18 years old he knew what to do with it." Her friend started laughing and Kate kept running her fucking mouth. I was nearly at my capacity. I turned to Rose and Alice and filled them in on who this was. Immediately Rosalie wanted to beat her ass. I however, had other ideas. After several calming breaths, our drinks arrived and we turned to go back to the table. I wanted to get to Edward to warn him that she was here, but you know that little voice in your head? The one that says 'Hey Bella, you know you want to, so go ahead'? Yeah, so that one was really screaming at me and at that moment, I couldn't ignore it. I handed my drinks to Rose and Alice and told them to go back to the guys. Rose refused. Fine. She can stay. Squaring my shoulders, I turned and sashayed back to the cunt sitting at the bar. When I got in front of Kate and her friend they weren't immediately looking my way so I just waited. Finally she turned back around and saw me.
"Is there something I can do for you?" she snarked. Oh she really should watch her fucking attitude.
"Actually I wanted to meet you. You're Kate right?" She looked momentarily confused but recovered quickly.
"Yeah, I am. Who are you?"
"You know, it's not really important for you to know my name. I just had to meet the woman who would intentionally kill her own fucking baby by throwing herself off a horse just because she was too selfish for her own good. You fucking disgust me."
"I don't know who the fuck you are but you don't know what you're fucking talking about. Who the hell are you to judge me bitch?" She stood up and stepped toward me but I wasn't about to back down from her. She was slightly taller than me but that didn't make a shit to me. Rose stepped up beside me and put her hand on Kate's shoulder.
"I'd sit the fuck down if I were you and listen to what else she has to say." Rose warned.
"Oh yeah blondie, and who are you her Mommy?" I put my hand up in front of Rose letting her know I would handle this my way. At the same time, I felt two familiar arms come around my waist and pull me away from Kate. Apparently Alice had alerted the guys to what was going on because as I looked around I noticed them all standing behind their respective girlfriends.
"Well well well, now this makes sense. Hi Edward. You're looking good baby, all grown up and hot as fuck….still." Was this bitch a complete idiot? Before Edward had a chance to answer her I was out of his grip and back in her face.
"Let me tell you something you fucking bitch, don't you ever speak his name again. You don't deserve to breathe the same air as him and you certainly don't deserve the privilege of speaking to him. Am I clear? Because if not, I'd be happy to beat the holy shit out of you right here, right now." I was vaguely aware of Edward pulling me away from her and lifting me off the ground. I was wiggling around trying to get away from him because I wasn't done with her yet.
"God dammit Bella calm down. Stop fighting me. She's not worth it."
"Let me go Edward. She needs her ass whipped and I'm in the fucking mood to do it." I saw Emmett smile and shake his head.
"Baby, she's not worth it. I promise. She's a useless piece of trash that I wish I had never had the misfortune to know. Fuck her" he spat loud enough for Kate to hear. Naturally she didn't have a clue when to shut up.
"Oh you used to fuck me all the time Edward, or don't you remember? Tell me, does that little whore swallow? I know you loved that." Before I could get away from Edward, Rosalie had apparently heard enough. She took the drink that was in Alice's hand and lovingly deposited it in Kate's face. The screech that came out of Kate was a cross between fingernails on a chalkboard and Rosanne Barr's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. She lunged off the chair toward Rose but Emmett stepped in front of her and Kate slammed into his large frame causing her to fall flat on her ass. Emmett never touched her. We had now caught the attention of club security and several men made their way to us, asking if there was a problem.
We all explained what had gone down and Kate and her friend were asked to leave. When we walked back to our table, the mood was definitely different. None of us were really in a mood to party anymore so we all called it a night and headed back to the hotel. Edward had been quiet. Too quiet. When we got back to our room, he immediately went into the bathroom and closed the door. Moments later I heard the shower turn on. I didn't know what to do, so I just left him alone for the time being. I hated that bitch even more for apparently ruining our weekend together.
EPOV
Alice came running over to us talking so fast I couldn't make out what she was saying. When I finally got it out of her I looked up at the bar and that's when I fucking saw her. Kate. The one fucking person I wished to never EVER see again was right here in the same place as I was, and it appeared that Bella was standing in front of her looking like she was ready to whip her ass.
Standing in the shower under the hot spray, I was trying my best not to let Kate's reappearance ruin our weekend together. The feelings that had been churned up in my belly again after all this time only showed me one thing. I was going to have to deal with all of this if I ever expected to move forward with Bella. It wasn't that I still had feelings for Kate, I despised the bitch. The problem was that I still allowed her to make me feel like I was feeling now. What she did was beyond awful. It was unforgivable. Part of me wonders if the baby was even mine, especially after she told me as much. The relationship between Garrett and I was never the same after that. Though he never came out and said it, I knew he and Kate had an ongoing thing. What can I say? I was a kid and I was naïve. Bella deserved so much better than me. I couldn't give her the life that she deserved because let's face it, I was a bull rider. She deserves a man that wears a suit to work every day and drives a BMW. She should be on the arm of an important corporate businessman instead of a fucking rodeo cowboy. Fuck, and I even blurted out a proposal earlier tonight. I can only imagine what she must think of me.
Turning off the shower and drying off, I knew what I needed to do. My heart broke into a million pieces at even the thought. But I loved Bella enough to let her go. Until I got my shit together, I couldn't ask her to be mine. It wasn't fair of me to hold her back until I got my head on straight. After brushing my teeth and pulling on my sleep pants I walked out of the bathroom to find Bella curled up in the bed on her side. She must have sensed my presence because she rolled onto her back and looked at me.
"Hey Cowboy. You ok?" She reached up to pull me down to her but I pulled back as I took her hands in mine.
"Bella, we need to talk."
A/N: **Hides behind laptop and ducks down** I know, I know! Don't be mad at me….trust me ok? Anyone that has read any of my stories knows there is ALWAYS a HEA…so have faith. This is necessary to progress the story. Our Cowboyward is feeling really down in the mouth and that viper Kate showing up only pushed him deeper into despair. All along, Edward has said that he doesn't feel worthy of Bella and even though Bella has assured him he is, well, his self-esteem took a huge hit in the past. He's got some work to do on his own before he can move on. Remember, I'll never let you down! Trust! Love and hugs! Shannon
