A/N: So since I have a lack of muse for one of my WIP's and I can't continue HEWG until I get my flash drive back (I swear, one day my forgetfulness is going to be the end of me), I'm editing/updating this fic much faster than originally planned. Enjoy this next chapter, guys.

"It's the most unhappy people who most fear change."

Mignon McLaughlin

Chapter Two

Bella stared, open-mouthed. There was no denying the fact that this boy, no, cowboy, was extremely attractive. In fact, she probably had never seen anybody so good-looking in her entire life. And where had she found him? Wyoming, the place she would have never gone to look.

She was completely incapable of speaking in front of him, this she knew for certain as she began losing herself in the endless depths of his stunning amber eyes. Did he expect her to say something? And if so, how could she when he was staring at her like some fascinating new species? She closed her eyes again and inhaled.

You can do this, Bella. You've talked to guys before. They're just like you except…well, that their male. Great, now I'm thinking like a stupid moron. Focus, Bella, focus!

"Sorry," she finally mumbled, grimacing at the weak tone of her voice, "I, um…didn't see you there."

Well of course she hadn't seen him; a freaking door had been in the way. Could she have sounded even more like an idiot?

Clenching her hands into fists, a common habit that occurred whenever she felt nervous, Bella blinked at the tall, wavy-haired cowboy standing in front of her and added quickly, "I'll just leave now."

Whipping around, she slammed her head straight into the barn door.

"Shit!" she exclaimed, cradling her nose with her hands and letting out a short groan. Kill me now, please. Just take me out of my misery!

A soft chuckle sounded from right behind her. Narrowing her eyes, Bella turned around and flashed the grinning cowboy an icy glare.

Backing off a step, he lifted both hands in surrender. "Whoa there…you must be Bella." Drawing the corner of his lips up in a slow, heart-dropping smile, he reached out his hand and introduced himself in what was probably the sexiest way imaginable.

"I'm Jasper…Jasper Hale."

Still nursing her throbbing nose with her hands, Bella ignored his waiting handshake and continued to glare at him as she recalled what Charlie had said to her after she was attacked by the monster puppy.

One of my cowhands, Jasper, is working with him but he hasn't showed no progress yet.

So he was Jasper, one of Charlie's loyal cowhands. Bella glanced down at his rough, manly hands and had no doubt that they were capable of handling a cow…and quite possibly other "things" as well.

Blushing subtly at the thought, Bella cleared her throat and forced herself to stare once more into his spine-chilling eyes, which were gazing expectantly at her for an answer.

"Yeah, I'm…I'm Bella. And I…I really have to go."

Turning around more slowly this time, Bella was just about to open the door and step out when Jasper's deep, indomitable voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Wait. Don't you want a look around?"

No, I don't want to look around, Bella thought immediately. I want to go back to Forks and have Phil disappear forever. I want Mom back, and my friends, and everything the way it once was. I don't want any of this!

Sensing her hesitation, Jasper nodded silently in understanding and turned around, sticking his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and strolling out of the barn through the opposite side. After he had gone, Bella dropped her hands from the door and took a step forward, relieved to be alone once more.

A loud nicker from one of the stalls made her jump. Walking up to the stall, Bella glanced down and gasped in awe at what she saw inside.

It was a tiny reddish brown colt with a black mane and tail. It looked very young, perhaps only a month old, maybe less. As Bella watched him he lifted his neck and tossed his head playfully in the air.

Smiling, Bella reached her hand into the stall and murmured, "Hey, little guy."

The colt let out a gentle snort and trotted up to her hand, nudging it with his muzzle. Grinning, Bella ran her hand down his neck in a light caress and added apologetically, "Sorry, don't have any treats for you. But I promise to bring you some next time."

Bobbing his head up and down as if in approval, the colt nickered softly and took another step forward; sticking his head out from inside the stall and beginning to nibble on her scarf.

Laughing, Bella landed a kiss on his nose. "I guess I'm forgiven," she said.

Suddenly losing interest in the newcomer, the colt swung his head back inside the stall and began munching on the pile of hay next to him.

"Good-bye," Bella whispered softly, gazing at the colt for a couple more moments before checking out the rest of the stalls, peeking curiously through each one.

By the time she had seen all of the horses it was late evening and the sun was nearing its lowest point. Stepping outside of the barn, Bella found herself gazing out at the wide green pastures that made up thirty acres of the ranch, memorizing the grand, beautiful landscape.

This will be my home for the next twelve months, she thought, might as well get used to it.

Her stomach growled, making her aware of how hungry she was. With a sigh, Bella headed back to the house, eager to get out of the cold and freezing wind. Why would people ever want to live here? With each blast of wind that hit her skin she was beginning to appreciate Forks, her real home, even more.

Bella hurried inside and let out a quick breath of relief as warmth flooded through her. Her relief was soon replaced by shock, however, when she saw who all was waiting for her inside.

Charlie, accompanied by all his cowhands, was seated at the table, and the moment she stepped in each and every head snapped up to stare at her.

Six, Bella counted, feeling like she was about to faint. Charlie has six cowhands…great. Just freaking fantastic.

"Bella!" Charlie exclaimed, flashing a grin from the opposite end of the table, "there you are. I was just about to have one of the boys go look for you. Go ahead and sit down, dinner's ready."

Bella glanced down at the table and nearly blanched when she saw what was there. Lasagna. The one meal her mother had known how to make without burning the whole house down. And it was right there, staring at her. Mocking her.

And not only that, but her father was actually smiling. She glanced over to see Jasper looking at her from beside Charlie, gazing at her in what she recognized to be pity. But why? How could he possibly know?

In that moment nausea hit her hard. Wrapping her arms around her stomach, Bella whispered faintly, "I think I'm going to be sick."

Not looking to see the reaction on Charlie's face, Bella spun around and ran to her room. Once inside, she slammed the door and flung herself on top of the bed.

And there, she began to weep. For several hours she cried, until finally exhaustion took over and she slipped into a deep, peaceful slumber.

But even when she was asleep she couldn't escape her mother's face and the last words she had whispered to her before taking her last, dying breath.

I love you…stay strong.

She woke up to a ray of sunlight hitting her face. Squinting, Bella opened her eyes and suddenly couldn't remember where she was.

And then it all came rushing back. Meeting Jasper, the horse, almost throwing up at dinner…it had all happened. There was absolutely no denying the fact that she was miserable.

Here, all alone in her room, she could almost feel the depression seeping through her veins, reminding her that happiness was far out of reach. She would have to work for it.

But how, exactly?

She didn't feel like giving this place a chance. No, not when she was planning on leaving right after she graduated high school. She didn't want to risk falling in love with this place, or rather, the people in it. If she did then she'd be trapped and the desire to follow her dream would surely be lost.

Her dream? To become someone different. Someone new.

Bella remembered her mother telling her once that all dreams were worth chasing, no matter how crazy you or anyone else considered them to be. Dreams to her were like better outcomes simply waiting to occur. Once you had the opportunity to fulfill them, you were home free.

Will I ever be home free? Bella thought miserably, before quickly reassuring herself, of course I will. Once I get out of this place I'll be able to go anywhere I want. Nobody will be able to stop me.

A new found strength surged through her, and with that in mind she got out of bed, took a shower, and changed into some of her clean clothes. Leaving her hair down to frame her face, Bella stepped out of her room and headed to the front door of the house.

"Bella!"

Freezing in mid-stride, Bella turned around and glanced over at Charlie who was sitting at the table, reading the newspaper and drinking his early morning coffee.

"Yeah?" Bella questioned, praying that he wouldn't ask her if she was okay. She was not "okay" and she was never going to be "okay" until she was out of here, permanently.

Charlie blinked and said, "Er, good morning. Sometime today or tomorrow we need to go into town and enroll you in school. You'll be a senior, right?"

Bella nodded and replied, "Yeah, I'll be a senior."

"Okay. Well, uh, whenever you want we'll go down there," he stated, before glancing back down at his newspaper.

Taking this as a sign that she could leave, Bella slipped out the door and headed towards the barn, eager to see the little colt again after their friendly encounter the other night.

Once she was inside the barn and out of the cold, Bella took out an apple from her coat pocket that she had stolen from the kitchen and glanced down the row of stalls. As if sensing her presence, the little colt let out a soft nicker of welcome. Bella headed straight towards his stall and placed her hand on the lock, opening it at the same moment a head popped up to stare at her in surprise.

It was Jasper.

And he was staring at her with that same sexy grin again.

All color drained from her face and she frowned in disappointment, having hoped that she would be alone. She should have known that with six cowhands working at the ranch it would be nearly impossible.

Stepping away, Bella stammered, "Um, I was just-"

"So you've met Lucky, huh?"

"Lucky?" Bella repeated, glancing down at the colt that had already caught sight of the apple in her hand. He began to wildly bob his head up and down, neighing eagerly.

"Yup, this here is Lucky. I think he likes you." Smiling, Jasper glanced down at the apple. "You might want to give him that before his head falls off."

Bella reached out and thrusted the apple at Lucky's face. Before the colt could grab it, however, Jasper took the apple from her hand and said softly, "If you give it to him like that you might as well say good-bye to your fingers. Here, let me show you the right way."

Without any warning he grasped her fingers, sending a bolt of electricity to travel down her spine. Gulping nervously, Bella watched as he placed the apple in the palm of her hand and then moved her hand so that it was hovering right below Lucky's muzzle.

Snorting softly, Lucky swallowed the apple in three bites, and in return left drops of juicy saliva to slip through her fingers.

Laughing, Jasper let go of Bella's hand and flashed her a friendly smile. "Isn't he great?"

"Yeah…he's amazing," Bella murmured.

"So, how about a tour?" he asked unexpectedly, giving Lucky a final pat on the neck. "There's a ton to see around here. Do you know how to ride?"

"Um…no, actually."

"Oh. Well, I'd be happy to teach you. It's a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. We could-"

"No," Bella snapped, surprising him as well as her with her angry retort,"I don't want a tour. I don't want to learn how to ride a horse. All I want is to finish high school here and get the hell out. And you know what? I don't expect anyone to understand."

She backed away with fists clenched and added, "Not you, not Charlie, not any of the other five freaking cowhands that work here. Not anyone. So just do us both a favor and leave me alone, okay?"

Not caring to see his face and if he was hurt or merely shocked by her sudden outburst, Bella ran out of the barn and hoped he wouldn't follow. She didn't want to become his friend because whether or not she was pleased by it, she couldn't afford to become attached to anyone. It was only for the best.

For the best, Bella concluded with a tired sigh, and then wondered why such a thought would leave an incredibly deep, hollow feeling inside.

Leave me your thoughts, if you have any, I'm curious to know what you think!