Disclaimer: All materials belong to their respectful owners.
A/N: As promised, longer chapter. Enjoy!
Swan Ranch laid a good fifteen minute drive from Cullen Ranch and had been in the Swan Family for four generations. It was boasted over twenty-one thousand acres of rich Texas land, decent mount of cowhands and large number of Angus cattle. Edward was well aware of how well the Swans had done for themselves, with having been Jasper and Emmett's best friend while growing up.
The land was gently rolling and open, more mesquites than he remembered being here. It was odd that the one place he'd found solace, however temporary, was here, where the peace of the land seemed to permeate his soul.
And then it would all go to hell. Like now. He saw Bella leaning against the back door. Edward almost hadn't realized it was Bella. All grown-up, taller than he remembered, and a lot curvier, too. However, the rich brown with red highlights gave her away. She'd straightened it, though, at least it still fell to the middle of her back. Too, bad. He'd always liked it wavy and somewhat unmanageable. She looked delightfully sweet. Almost pure innocent. She was more beautiful than he remembered. She was wearing a pair of tan khaki Capris with a short white sleeve blouse on top. As he settled in on the house, he knew she'd spotted him and he reversed his decision to head into the crowd. Instead, he sauntered over toward her and noticed how she suddenly stood rod strait, her stance almost self-protective. That he didn't understand. Maybe she didn't recognize him. No one knew he was coming. He himself didn't until yesterday morning.
The fireworks displays were almost over. He'd seen enough of the Swan's July Fourth festive gatherings over the years to know that the big finish was coming any minute. This made him wonder why Bella was standing off by herself.
Bella stood in the open doorway, gripping the jamb. She moved away from the door and down to the bottom step, checking out the swell of muscles as she went. Never taking her eyes off. Her gaze drifted down to his jeans. No belt buckle.
"Edward. Is that you?" Her mouth gaped open. Staring at him, silently. With wide, shocked eyes.
He gasped and his heart began to hammer the way it always did in reaction to her. Those eyes. God, they were more vigorous than ever.
"Hello. Little darling." He winked at her, took off his hat and tapped it against his thigh.
She frowned slightly. Okay, so Edward didn't expect a welcome party and Bella didn't seem all that excited to see him. His fault. He knew it. He ran his hand through his hair, combing it back from his forehead.
Two days before he left town, at the age of twenty-two. Bella had waylaid him behind the barn. In the midst of the hot, wet kiss, he'd remembered she was sixteen, and all the lust in the world wouldn't change that. He'd left the area in a hurry. Not willing to look back and see if she was heartbroken, maybe angry or both. He hadn't been particularly sensitive about ending the embrace.
"Does anyone know your back in town?" She asked. Edward's eyelids lowered for a moment. When they lifted, all excitement had vanished, as if a shutter had been drawn over his thoughts.
"It was a last-minute decision." He opened his arms to her. "Don't I get a hug? I'm starting to think no one missed me." Hoping to lighten the mood.
Her lips parted, uncertainty wavering in her face, and then she smiled and moved toward him. "It's good to see you," she said, heisting a moment before awkwardly embracing him…breathing in the scent of something tangy. His soap? Seemed likely. It sure wasn't cologne.
He slid his arms around her and lifted her off the ground, swinging her in a half circle. It was a mistake. He knew it the moment their bodies touched. Little Bella had breasts now. Nice, firm round breasts that felt too damn good pressed against his chest. When the hell had that happened?
He quickly put her down. Too quickly, judging up by her baffled look. Then, he really screwed things up by running his hands down her back until his palms molded to the top of her backside. Careful not to make another sudden move, he drew his hands to either side of her slim waist, set her back to look aloofly at her, and then gave her a brotherly smile.
She smiled back, trying to appear calm when her whole body tingled from the contact with his, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You look good, all grown-up I see. He drawled with twinkling eyes. "And gorgeous, too." He commented, casually lowering his arms, mentally kicking himself. She wrinkled her nose at him.
"Thanks. You're not so bad looking yourself." Edward tried not to look smug. He couldn't quite manage it. "And you can drop the smug expression. Your ego is already huge enough." Bella added with a mock glare.
Edward chuckled,
Glancing around at the crowd who would soon begin leaving as the conclusion of fireworks was over and done with, having had their fill of barbecue and ice tea.
She could hardly believe what he was saying and what she said in return. But he actually seemed to be serious.
"I swear you're taller than when I last saw you." He said, surveying the large crowd. Edward turned back, looking at her intently.
She blinked, and arched her shoulders "I had a surprised growth spurt. It happens to the best of us."
Rather than hide her breasts, the action drew his attention because the blue shirt gaped slightly. He hastily lifted his gaze. 'Get a grip. This is little Bella, Emmet and Jasper's baby sister.' "What has it been, little Bella, six, seven years?"
"Eight." She said with faint irritation. Was he that clueless? Why were guys so bad about remembering things like that, Bella wondered. "And no one calls me little Bella anymore."
His expression softened. "Ah…no more little. I understand." His crooked smile broadened at the defiant lift of her chin, an old habit he'd found comical because she'd always been on the bashful side. "I promise I'll try to remember."
She drew in her lower lip, studying him for a second, before her gaze drifted toward the crowd, "Your parents aren't here, are they?"
"Still in Little Rock with my sister Annie, her husband and two kids." He replied.
She sighed. "I'm so sorry about what happened to their cattle. Rustlers hit Michael Newton and the Webbers, too. The Triple R is still in business, but they're hurting. Dad's worried they'll hit us next. Sheriff seems to think they've left, but I'm not completely convinced." He nodded. Hard to hear even though he already knew the facts. The ranchers in the area had been here for generations so he knew every one of them.
Her lips twisted in a wry smile "So why are you here?"
"To handle some ranch business for the folks," he said, the grim reminder of the reason for his return taking some of the pleasure out of seeing Bella.
Ranch. What a joke. Only a vacant house remained, and land that had been in the Cullen family for well over a hundred years. The small herd of cattle that had once sustained the place was gone. In addition, it seemed as if the authorities didn't give a damn.
"So, how long are you here for?"
"Not sure."
"I miss this place, the land, my mom." She said. "Even though I only spend summers and holidays here anymore. I don't think I could feel as at home anywhere else as I do here." Bella said with certainty. "I plan someday to move back here, permanently."
"Not sure I do. I mean there are things I miss, but there are also things I wish to forget." Edward shook his head, changing the subject. "You teach, right?"
She nodded. "In White Sulphur Springs. I keep a small apartment there because a round-trip takes two and half-hours out of my day. And besides gas is just excessively high these days."
"High school?"
"Heavens no. Elementary school is hard enough. I teach fourth grade. Most kids these days would rather have recess and play video games all day than learn something useful."
"I bet" He willed himself not to look at her breasts. Bad enough his chest was still imprinted with the memory of them. Her eyes looked browner, brighter, or maybe it was the light coming from the porch. "How many of your students have crushes on you?"
"Oh, please." Her cheeks turned pink, and making the sound of annoyance, she slipped a fallen lock of hair behind her ear.
His gaze went to her left hand, something sparkled reflecting light. Startled, he stared at the diamond ring on her finger. "I see that congratulations are in order."
"What?" She blinked stupidly for a split second, giving the ring a cursory glance before hiding her hand behind her back. "Oh, right"
"When's the wedding? I hope you send me an invitation."
Bella hesitated. "The end of November and of course I'll invite you." Bella laughed awkwardly. "Look, I don't mean to be rude, but I don't know where Emmet is. Jasper's upstairs, but I think he's kind of busy. Dad is off helping with the launching and supervising of the fireworks." She looked up at the dark sky and then toward the crowd "I really should get out there. There are things left to be done and I should say goodbye to all these people."
"Of course" He waved her on "I didn't mean to hold you up"
"No, I'm glad to see you. Really." She moistened her lips and took a step back. "I'm looking forward to talking to you more," she said as she kept backing away. "If I see Emmet, or dad, I'll tell them you're here. I'll probably won't see Jasper until in the morning." taking another step back. "Well, see you later. "He held her gaze for what couldn't have been more than a second, although it felt like an eternity, then she left.
"Yea, see ya." Edward muttered, watching her hustle toward the tent and stage area. Bella was getting married? Now why was he so taken aback by that? She was six years younger than he was, which made her about twenty-four. As kids, she'd been on the gangly side, showing more interest in trying to keep up with her brothers and reading books than in fashion or makeup. Nevertheless, she'd grown up to be quite a looker, always had been bright and dependable, too. She'd make a great ranch wife.
He hoped her fiancé was aware of how lucky he was.
Nope, there was no trace of the tomboy now, he thought as he watched the gentle sway of her hips. He'd started getting too engrossed in her shapely rear end and had to sternly remind himself that this was Bella. Besides the fact she was an engaged woman, he didn't need Jasper or Emmett kicking his ass.
And he hoped her fiancé was aware of how lucky he was. She sure was one special lady.