Chapter 3: Cry

Early morning on the ranch was when she was at her finest. It was a little cold, but I had brought a throw blanket along with my coffee and morning cigarette to the porch. The birds were just waking up, fluttering slowly about from tree to tree.

Seth would sleep in until eleven at least, which gave me time to start on the house. Charlie wasn't ever a very neat man, but the place was immaculate. I assumed the woman I met yesterday or Jules had something to do with that.

Just then, I heard Edward's door open from across the way. I hunkered down into my rocker and lowered my cigarette. He would see the glowing ember otherwise. He was in flannel again, light jeans, his old ratty boots, and that damn cowboy hat.

How could such a good looking man be so rude and stubborn? Maybe as kids, I thought he was so perfect because we were young and innocent. Refusing to leave the property was one thing, but to say that I owed him for something I had nothing I do with? I needed to make a run into town and call Rosalie. She had my father's paperwork. Until then, I would just keep to myself.

It would be hard to find something to do to keep me busy that wasn't ranch work: Work I did everyday for eighteen years. Since Charlie's cabin was clean, that meant I had to go through his things. I didn't want anything, though. I didn't look around last night either. It was too painful. I slept in my old bed. Seth played video games in Charlie's room until early morning.

Edward stretched his long limbs on the bottom step of his porch. I smiled slightly. The boy I used to catch frogs with couldn't be entirely gone, right? I wondered about his wife. She had to of died. People around here that live this life don't get a divorce. No matter how tough things got, no matter how much you hated your spouse, you stayed married. It was the western way.

Mr. Masen started his walk over to the barn. Lights flipped on as he went deeper into the building. Horses called out excitedly to him. Horses that loved him, and were trained by him to be hard workers. A good ranching man knew how to speak with the large animals. Charlie did. Carlisle did. I'm sure Edward learned, too. Then, across the old rickety wooden bridge, that fellow Jasper went to the barn, as well.

I laughed out loud to myself. Two men were supposed to turn this ranch around into being prosperous again? Then, a younger boy, a couple years behind Seth maybe, crossed the bridge followed by the small woman with a purple bandana in her hair. I frowned. Jules came out of the cabin and soon went to. They were family, so they worked together. It was sweet, but I held little hope for them.

Once the five of them were out of sight, I gathered my things and went back into the house. I would do my best to stay out of their way. After all, I didn't know how to do their work anymore. It had been too long ago. It was work I never wanted to do again. Charlie ruined it for me.

Just after noon, Seth and I had come to Telluride for groceries and cell service. We stocked up on good meat, fresh vegetables, and a cake mix or two. We would eat good. A couple of people that we came across thought that maybe they recognized me. As they stared, I smiled. I didn't tell them my name, which would surely give me away. We made it back to the Land Rover, loaded the groceries, and Seth hopped inside to call his dad.

My long auburn hair was blowing in the wind outside the driver door, whipping my mouth. I pulled it into a ponytail and took out my phone. I dialed Rosalie's number and waited for her to pick up as I stared out at the Rocky Mountains. Their lush summer colors were coming in more and more each day.

"Bella, thank God," She breathed. I smiled.

"It's good to talk to you, too, Rosie."

"Has Jacob called you?" She sure did know how to make my stomach drop.

"He doesn't have my new number, so, no."

"Well he has called my office a dozen times since yesterday."

"Seth is on the phone with him but-"

"Now? He knows not to release your whereabouts, right?"

"Yes, of course. He doesn't even know the name of the state we're in." I replied sarcastically. "He never cared to ask, and he slept or played video games the whole way here."

"Okay, good. After that death threat, we can't take any chances." I shivered. I glanced back to Seth who was laughing animatedly on the phone.

"Rose, I need you to go through my father's paperwork and find a contract between him and one Edward Masen."

"Got it right here. I was going through everything last night, and wondered when you'd be calling."

I groaned. "So is there nothing I can do?"

"Take his ass to court," She said. "But after you signed to be Charlie's power of attorney, that forced things into your name as well. Almost like a co-signer."

"I just didn't think he would have done something so stupid. I only became power if attorney because Jacob thought it was a noble thing to do for the man that raised me." I scoffed.

"Charlie must have been hurtin' for money."

"The ranch is nothing now, Rosalie. It's a fucking wasteland, and Edward thinks he can turn that around."

Rose chuckled, "Edward, huh?" I rolled my eyes.

"Rose," I whined.

"All right, look. Let him work the land. Maybe this cowboy can make some money. Not that you need anymore, but still. I know all this shit is annoying, but you still need to stay away from Los Angeles until I say it's safe."

"You're right," I replied defeated. "I guess I just need to take up a hobby or something."

"You could try writing again," She hedged slowly. I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Maybe one best seller was all I was going to get," I told her. I hadn't been able to write anything in a year. Sadly, I had even stopped thinking about it.

"I've got to run, babe. I have court in fifteen minutes. Try and write. Call me soon?"

"I will. Thanks. Love you, Rose."

"Love you," She replied. We ended our call and I suddenly felt lonely. I missed my best friend.

Seth ended his phone call as soon as I opened the driver door and got inside. He was still smiling.

"Good call?" I asked while starting the ignition.

"Yup." Again, I desperately wanted to ask what they talked about, but I wouldn't.

"Good," I replied flatly.

"Dad wants to know where we are," Seth finally said after leaving the city limits.

"And you didn't tell him, right?" My grip over the steering wheel made my knuckles white.

"I told him I didn't really know."

"Good."

"But why can't he know?" I ran through a dozen different answers in my head.

"Seth, I know your dad and I fucked things up in our marriage. I'm sorry for putting you through it all. But right now, being away is for our own safety."

"You mean yours," He mumbled, looking out the window. "Dad would never hurt me."

I sighed. "I know. I got custody, though. Your father missed two court dates. What does that tell you?"

"It doesn't tell me what you want it to."

"Which is?" I asked.

"You want me to think that he didn't want me. When really, he didn't show up because he can't stand you." Words had never hurt me so badly before. No harsh words from Charlie, nor from Jacob had ever pierced me like Seth's. Tears spilled out of my eyes. I couldn't keep them in. I slammed on the breaks.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Seth yelled. We were in the middle of the road. No one was behind or in front of us, though, so I didn't care. I cried. I cried hard. Seth sat in silence next to me.

"You're going to have to trust me, Seth. I don't care if you think I'm lying anymore. Your father threatened me and my life, so we had to leave," I choked. "And I wouldn't leave without you."

"He wouldn't ever really do anything," Seth groaned. Visions of cracked ribs and black bruises flooded through my mind. I cried them away. I couldn't tell my son those things.

"I'm your mother, goddammit! Start treating me with respect," I begged. Seth sighed. I cried more.

"Please," I whispered. "I love you, and I'm sick of us always on eggshells with each other."

"Fine," He snapped. "Just give me some time." I wiped my face. I was too weak to give anything else, but I could give him time. It must be hard for him. He never saw the Jacob I knew. I let off the brakes and we drove back to Stone Meadow in silence.

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Seth is a little douche bag, huh?