I tried not to take too long writing this... sorry about the cliff hanger!!

REVIEW!!!!! I gave MYSELF a review I was so desperate! Please... I will stop putting new stuff up if you don't!

Ch.3

BPOV

As soon as Rachel got control of her horse I looked to see what had scared it.

There, in the middle of the trail, was a mountain lion, Edward's favourite meal.

"Edward, are you okay?" I asked. Edward was clenching his teeth, and holding so tight on the reins that Stan was backing up and shaking his head.

"Bella, go back to the barn, and make sure Rachel goes too. I'm going ahead. Don't go anywhere near the cat." Edward said, and turned Stan away from the mountain lion. He kicked the horse and galloped off back where we came from.

It amazed me how still he sat on the huge animal that was currently rocketing down the trail. He didn't move a millimetre from where he sat.

Did he have to be good at everything?

"Rachel, I think we should head back," I said, turning to face Rachel. She was sitting on Duke's back looking thoroughly dazed.

"Y-yeah, sure." She said shakily. We started walking (well, the horses walked) back to the barn.

"Is Edward afraid of animals?" Rachel asked after a while. I started laughing, but then realized that was probably the best excuse I could come up with.

"Yeah, especially mountain lions, but I think he got over his fear of horses!" I said, remembering his amazing gallop back up the trail.

"Would you like to go faster?" Rachel asked me.

I thought about what Edward would say if he were here. He probably would think it was too dangerous. I glanced up the trail, and I couldn't see him.

"Hmmmm..." I said to Rachel. "Let me call someone first." I took out my phone and called Alice. I had made up my mind to try it, so she would have seen if I would fall.

"Hello, Bella," Alice said halfway through the first ring.

"Alice, have you seen anything good at the movies lately?" I asked her, knowing that Rachel would hear my side of the conversation.

"Bella, where's Edward? Shouldn't he be there with you?" Alice asked me.

"There was a mountain lion incident. You know how scared he is of them. Anyway, what did you see?" I asked again, smiling to myself thinking about Edward's mountain lion fear.

"You'll be fine." Alice answered. "Edward will come back in 3, 2, 1..." Just then, Edward came around the corner riding Stan.

"Edward, are you okay? Bella told me about your fear of mountain lions. It's okay; we'll stay away from it." Rachel said to Edward.

"Yeah, they're pretty big," Edward said, going along with my lie perfectly. He even glanced around like he was nervous.

"So, Edward, Bella was just trying to decide if she wanted to go faster. Bella?" she asked. Edward gave me a worried glance.

"Yeah, I think I'd like to," I told Rachel. "Hey, guess what Edward? Alice saw a movie about horseback riding, and no one fell off." I said to Edward. Rachel probably thought I was pretty weird to bring up a movie, but Edward knew what I really meant.

"Okay, Bella, if you really want to go, you should. I'll try to stay calm." Edward said, and then he leaned over to grab my hand and kiss it. "Be safe," he added before letting go of my hand.

"So, which way are we going now?" I asked Rachel.

"We'll take a different trail completely. We're going to go back up this one where we came from, then head down another one. A shorter and safer" she looked at Edward while she said this "trail. Kick your horses if you want them to go faster, but no galloping!" she added.

We headed back up the trail at a walk, but soon Edward sighed.

"What, am I too slow for you?" I asked him. "Let's race!" I decided, and kicked Diamond in the sides. She took to fast steps, and then slowed back down.

"Well, then." I muttered. I tried kicking her again without much luck. I gave one last attempt by kicking her four times in a row, and it worked. Diamond took off in a bouncing, rocking gait.

"Ed –bounce- ward –bounce- are –bounce- you –bounce- com-bounce-ing?" I asked between bounces.

"Yes, Bella, I'm right here," Edward said from behind me. The close proximity of his voice made me jump, causing me to slide to one side out of the saddle. I regained my balance, but not before Edward noticed my near fall.

"Bella, -I didn't miss how he never bounced- maybe you should slow down some. We don't want an accident." Edward suggested.

I pulled back on Diamond's reins and she immediately stopped. The sudden cease in movement caused me to fall forward onto her neck. I heard Edward chuckling quietly behind me. I straitened myself up and turned in the saddle to face him.

"You, know, we can't all be pro riders like you." I quipped.

"Sorry love, but really, you should have expected her to stop. It is what you told her to do." Edward said, still smiling.

"Yeah, but I'm used to people ignoring what I tell them to do." I answered, and turned around to keep walking.

Edward was quicker. He kicked Stan and in less time than I thought possible (for the horse) was by my side again. He reached out and took my hand once more.

Bliss.

While I was writing this chapter, I listened to:

I hate this part by Pussycat Dolls

Gotta be somebody by Nickelback

Poker face by Lady Gaga

Just dance by Lady Gaga

Love story by Taylor Swift

Never too late by Hedley

On my horse-hair covered iPod. No joke! I just got back from the barn and took it with me. It`s shedding season...