Hey people of FanFiction. Thank you to the few of you who reviewed, your kind words meant a lot. Well enough from me. Here's the first chapter. I hope you enjoy.

I still don't own Edward or Carlisle or Esme, however I do own Angel J

A robin chirps hesitantly, breaking the gentle silence of the dawn light. Angel's hooves clip softly against the clay, making the only other noise besides our slightly labored breathing. We didn't trek very far this morning, only about five miles on flat ground at a gentle canter.

I love this time of day, before the sun has fully risen and most people are still asleep. It's so peaceful and I'm alone with my horse and my thoughts. I sigh as we reach the trail head. The woods thin, revealing a beautiful valley filled with lush green grass and a dozen or so horses grazing and dozing in the yellow light of the sunrise.

The trail forks here. To the left sits a large white house, well it's more like a mansion, is nestled between several large trees. Three small green barns sit adjacent to the house. Large wooden posts have been arranged to construct several arenas. The whole place is the epitome of perfection.

If you look to the right you see a small decrepit farmhouse in desperate need of a paintjob. Twin corrals sit off to one side, both attached to a small barn also in need of paint. A white mare is in the larger of the two corrals, her ears alert to our presence. Athena's Light or 'Thena' is a 15.3 hand 13 year old light gray Morab mare. She came to live with us about five years ago and is rather hyperactive.

Julieta's Curse is in the corral with her, grazing without a care that we are near. Jule is an average looking 15 hand 14 year old bay Morab. She has no white on her other than her sclera, which she shows me quite often. She is a cold horse and a handful to ride, but she has a place in my heart.

My name is Edward Anthony Mason Cullen. I am an endurance rider. I know, I know. You're like, "how can you make any money riding horses?" I don't. I make a living working part time at the local vet's office, putting my doctorates to work.

But my true passion is horses, which is why I own and live on a small ranch, Autumn Trails. It's not much especially if you turn left at the trail's fork and look around that epitome of perfection also known as Sugar Mill. Also known as one of the most famous endurance Arabian breeding farms in North America. Also known as Carlisle and Esme Cullen's horse ranch. Also known as the place I grew up and called home until about six years ago.

I know, I know, it's not normal for a 23 year old bachelor to live next door to his parents. Well it's probably not normal to be 23 and never been kissed. Or to be 23 and to have never really had a human friend. So I guess I'm just incredibly abnormal.

Yeah you heard that right; I've never had a human friend. At least not one that I was close to. I mean I had associates that I talked to and sat with at lunch, but no one I would share secrets with. Instead I have Angel. Angel is the best friend anyone could ask for. She is a good listener but doesn't take BS from anyone, especially not me. Yeah, I know pathetic, but this is me and I don't plan on changing anytime soon.

I untack Angel and let her into the paddock with Thena and Jule then walk to the house to get some food. I open the door and jump, startled to see Mom standing there waiting to ambush me. "Hi mom."

"Hello son. Beautiful morning, Did you enjoy it during your ride?" She starts innocently.

"Yeah, it was beautiful. Angel was very frisky this morning."

"Mhhh, so are you ready for the ride this week?" She inquires, knowing full well that I am.

"Yeah, Jule's in top shape and it's not a very long ride, only 40 miles. It should be a breeze and only take a few hours." I'm truly not worried about the ride. It's short and on relatively tame trails.

"I'll leave with Jule on Saturday and probably get home late Saturday or early Sunday," I tell her. We have an unspoken agreement that she'll come over and feed Angel and Athena while I'm gone.

"Are you going to meet with any friends while you're there?" She asks quietly, "Anyone female?"

Esme always wanted a large home, filled with the laughter of seven children. But she had a hard time getting pregnant and she miscarried three times before me. It was a hard pregnancy and she had to have a surgery. The doctors told her that it would be next to impossible to conceive again. Yet when I was seven, she got pregnant with my sister. She carried her for four months but in the end she lost the baby.

She was so depressed for so long and for several years I thought she hated me, because I was the reason she couldn't have any more children. Hell, I hated myself. Until I got Angel. She was born in January and I spent every waking moment I was allowed in Wildfire's stall. On June 20th, my birthday, I walked into the barn and got a huge surprise. Angel was standing in the cross ties with a large red ribbon around her neck. Best Birthday ever.

Anyway, back on the former topic, Esme has always blamed herself for my social awkwardness, but I just don't get on well with people. Give me horses any day. But it doesn't stop Mom from trying.

Since she can't have more kids, she has always hoped for grandkids. This would require me to be with a woman, intimately. I hate the answer I'm going to give her because it crushes her, but I won't, can't, lie to her. "No mom. No girls. I might go out to eat with Emmett or Alice though." She nods sullenly and after kissing my cheek she heads home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Off to the Races~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RING! RING! RING! My alarm clock blares at 4am and once again I am awake before dawn. I'm rather forgetful in the morning so I set out my clothes last night and made myself a list. I generally wear pants made of a skin tight cotton-spandex material under my blue jeans and brown half chaps over. I layer a cotton t-shirt with a heavy waterproof jacket over a light raincoat. After sleepily throwing on clothing, I scramble to the barn.

The contrast between cold and warm causes me to break out in goose bumps and the dim lights seem incredibly bright. I give the girls some food, all having predictable reactions that are very different from each other. Thena pushes me out of her way, stumbling like a blind cat to get to her food, which she wolfs down. Jule snaps at the air and turns so her butt is pointing at me, completely ignoring her food. Angel gently nudges my arm and licks my cheek before chowing down.

My girls and the barn always wake me up and I move at a much more rapid pace back to the house. Feeling a little more alive, I open my fridge and pull out some eggs to fry.

An hour later I am freshly washed and just need to load Jule before I am ready to set off. I wrap Jule's legs and she loads in the trailer with much trepidation. Now, thanks to Jule's horrid manners, we are half an hour behind schedule. Jumping in the cab of my truck, I inhale deeply. It has lost all traces of new car smell and now smells like hay and leather. I love it. I put on a radio station the plays a little of everything: country, rock, classic, blues, pop, alternative. It plays it all and makes the 3 hour drive seem relatively short.

We arrive with less than two hours to go before the race, which is very unlike me. I scramble to unload my insane mare and rush to get signed in. An hour of paper work and one thorough vet check later, I am all set for the ride. Now I just have to kill an hour and hope Jule doesn't do anything stupid.

As I finish brushing Jule, a hulking shadow blocks out the sunlight. I don't have to turn around to know that Emmett McCarty is standing behind me. Emmett is like 6' 6" with massive muscles and a charming, boyish smile. He looks terrifying but is really a big softy.

Mom's second cousin's husband's sister is married to one of Emmett's aunts, so we see him at all our big family reunions. And he is probably the closest thing I have to friend. "Hey Emmett," I say.

"Dang it Eddie! How do you always know it's me? You never even have to look," I turn to see a large pout on his large face.

"Probably because only you and Godzilla can block out the sun like that, and since I don't hear any women or small men screaming, you are the safer bet to go with," a high pitched voice calls from the opposite direction.

I turn toward the voice to see Alice Brandon striding toward us, all 4' 11" of her. Alice is also one of Mom's many relatives, but we see a lot more of her than we do Emmett. "Now quit your jabbering and put your asses in your saddles."

One glance tells me that she's right and I carefully tack up Jule, double checking to make sure nothing rubs. Alice and Emmett ride over and I can't help but laugh. Alice's brown Rocky Mountain Horse gelding, Jack is maybe 14 hands and is dwarfed by Emmett and Scooby. Scooby is a dark bay Trakehner and is easily 17 hands, which is perfect for Emmett's massive bulk.

We take our positions at the starting line and wait for the gong. Most people ride in pairs or groups and some days I ride with Alice or Em, but I'm just not feeling the whole social thing today. The gong sounds and I nod at my crazy relatives before angling away from them. I start Jule at a brisk trot, but soon cluck her into a gentle canter, because let's face it. Even a horse with a non-jarring trot is uncomfortable after a while. And Jule is most definitely not a horse with a non-jarring trot.

We continue that pace until we are just behind the leaders and way ahead of the stragglers at the back. This is my element; just me and my horse and the woods. I can't imagine sharing this with anyone or anyone ever being able to understand how important this is to me.

This continues for about 10 miles until we come to the first vet check. We pass with flying colors and are cleared to continue several minutes later. This stretch of the ride has large slopes with less than gentle inclines and I let Jule pick her own pace.

The second vet check comes into view and other than Jule's slightly labored breathing, we are perfectly fine. As we prepare to depart for the second half of the ride, Emmett and Alice come into view. They both give me a smile before I ride out.

The third leg of the ride is just as uneventful as the first two. The fourth and final however is a different story. Jule has a large fear of water. Well it's not a fear; she just doesn't like getting her feet wet. She's such a diva.

The river is wide but very shallow, not even coming up to her pastern and moving at a slow trickle. But Little Miss I'm a Diva prances and snorts and even crow hops at one point. What a pansy. Good God, its just water.

We finally get out of the river and on the opposite bank all I can see is wide open, flat meadow. Little Miss Diva's ears prick forward and she starts biting on her bit. "Alright, alright; I guess a little run won't hurt." I click and flex my legs, nudging her with my heels.

Jule needs no more encouragement and takes off at a full out gallop. I don't know how she can possible want to run, she just hiked 40 miles uphill, but since it won't hurt her, I'm not going to argue.

Have you ever felt like you are flying? Or that you are completely free and nothing could possible hurt you? That's how I feel when I ride a galloping horse. So wholly unrestricted and unburdened. It's like my high. Some people do drugs, some go skydiving or bungee jumping, but not me. I just jump on a horse and let the run. Helen Thomson was one smart lady, let me tell you, because her words are the truth.

We do borrow freedom when we ride.

All too soon we reach the meadows edge and I bring Jule back down to a slow walk as we enter the trees. She asks for more head room and I let her have it. As soon as I relax the reins she lowers her head, her rapid panting slowing.

Jule may be a brat and a diva but she is one hell of an athlete and not three minutes later she is dancing sideways and throwing her head. "Knock it off Jule's, we're almost done." And we are. I get her to settle into a nice, rapid paced canter as we crest the last hill. Looking down I can see finish line and a crowd of people. What I don't see, however, are many other horses. An older man on a dancing young mare and his son and his calm horse are just finishing and I cross the line just behind them.

The little boy gives me a large toothy grin and I can't help but smile in return. He's so adorable with his dirty blonde curls and large hazel eyes.

We finished ahead of the main group and only about seven people have finished at this point. I didn't place or finish inside of a record time so there's no need for me to stay. As soon as Jule is cool we can be off.

I take all of her tack off, starting with her bridle. I use trail-halter bridles for all my riding because they are comfortable for the horse and don't require me to pack a halter; all I have to do is unclip the bit. Jule's is a hot pink with violet overlay that I think look quite nice against her brown coat. I take off the bit and start on the saddlebags. I carry at least a three sectioned cantle bag and a pommel bottle holder an ever ride. I unclip those and toss them in the truck with my helmet before starting on the rest. I unhook the black sheepskin padded, hot pink and violet breast collar and her hot pink crupper. Her saddle, a black Freeform Classic DKR Cutback Treeless Saddle, and her black Skito pad come off next.

Untacking is a methodical routine for me and I'm done in about three minutes. I lead Jule to the faucet and spray her with the hose, scraping off the excess water when I'm done. She stands completely still and I can't help but chuckle, "Sure, now you like water. Come on diva." I walk Jule around the parked trailers, allowing her muscles to relax and her temperature to drop.

When I am satisfied that she is completely cool, we meander back to our trailer. A small pixie is walking her brown pony around, waiting for us to fall into her trap. "Hi Edward. How'd you do? Good? That's good. How'd Jule act? Psychotic? You're coming to dinner. Is Jule cool?"

All in one inhale. I have never understood her ability to not breathe; it can't be natural. Let's see if I can answer all that. "Good, yeah, yup, divaish, definitely, ye – wait a second. No Alice, I need to get home ASAP. I can't do dinner tonight." At her childish pout I add, "I can't Alice, I can't. I'm sorry."

"One of these days, you'll say yes. I can feel it," she states, 100% serious.

"Eddie, now ya got her feeling things! What'd I tell ya 'bout makin' her feel things?" Emmett laughs boomingly, hysterical at his own horribly fake southern drawl.

"Sorry Emmy Bear, I just can't help it," I have to laugh at the face he makes in response to his nickname. He sticks his tongue out at me as I grab Jule's blanket and leg wraps. Still chuckling, I organize Jule for the journey home. I load her without too much fuss and close the door.

After a death squeeze from pixie and a bear hug from Godzilla's twin and a promise to get food next ride, I start the truck and begin the relatively short, but seemingly long trip home.

The truck pulls into the drive 10 and I am bushed. With half functioning limbs I rouse Jule and lead her into the barn. Thena and Angel are waiting with their heads over their stall doors. I peel off Jule's travel gear and let her loose in her stall, where she promptly stalks to the rear corner, pointing her butt towards me.

"Women," I sigh softly, before looking at the dry erase board hanging on my office door.

Everything is good here. Hope you had a fun ride. Dinner in the kitchen, breakfast at home tomorrow

Sleep tight, love ya

~ love Mom

Got to love moms, all of them. I give The and Angel kisses and mints before going inside. As promised, a plate of spaghetti is sitting in the microwave. I heat it up and gulp it down before going to my bedroom. I take off my boots and strip down to my boxers before falling onto the bed and asleep instantly.

Welllll…. What'ch'a think? Leave a comment or don't? But if you do, please be nice :)

Yes I am aware that not everything mentioned here is 100% true, I don't ride endurance competitively, so I might not have any clue what I'm talking about on some subjects, but this is fiction, so please just go with it.