WARNING: If anyone has any issues with abuse, I suggest not reading this story as it pertains to such things at times.

Also, I claim NOTHING Twilight. Just this little story.

Chapter 4: Invitation

Day two at Stone Meadow came and half the day had passed without my knowing. I stayed inside mostly, going through old clothes and books that Charlie had. I was saving under his bed for last. That's where he kept his prized possessions.

The house had not changed much since I lived here. Old pictures of me sat along the banister with one from my wedding, and one of Seth as a baby. I stopped updating him years ago, and I never wanted to, but Jacob said I should. I removed the wedding picture our first night here. I tucked it away under my bed. I didn't want to see my ex-husbands face every time I walked into the living room.

Seth kept to himself. We had a great dinner of steak and potato's, but he retreated back to Charlie's room quickly. I hated those video games he played. I hated how much they consumed him, how much Jacob allowed it to. But what else was there to do here? Part of me wanted to turn him over to Edward so that he could put him to work.

Every so often, I caught Seth peeking out the window to find Jules. I knew he was waiting for her to return. The Masen's were gone when we came home from Telluride, no doubt on a cattle run. I remembered the work, so I knew that they would be back sometimes this afternoon. With Seth back in his room yelling at the television screen, I sneaked outside with a cigarette and fresh coffee.

It was the warmest day we had experienced yet since coming to Colorado. May would be over soon, bringing the warmer months into play. A summer storm loomed off in the distance. The air smelled like rain. I relished in the weather and took a seat on my rocking chair.

When I looked over to the barn, I could see that Edward and his family had returned. I mentally admitted my feeling of ease with them around again. I was so used to people, people everywhere. When you live here, without people, it can make you feel so closed off from the world. Even if we didn't speak, it still felt better with them around.

I watched Edward's family cross the rickety wooden bridge over to their home. Jules left the barn and went to her house. I stayed still, not wanting anyone to notice me. Then, a large horse trotted up the driveway and came into my view. I frowned. It must be for Edward. I didn't rise from my seat. The man atop the giant horse was measly. He looked like a snake. My stomach grew queasy. His scary face turned to me and locked eyes with mine as he passed in front of my porch. He had dark skin and long hair pulled back into a ponytail. I didn't move. His clothing was expensive leather.

He smiled a wicked smile then looked back to the barn where Edward was at the entrance. I watched carefully as Edward stood firm as a post and the stranger jumped down from his horse. They didn't appear to be very friendly. I wished I could hear them. Edward looked angry. I could see the stranger laugh. They began yelling obscenities at one another. It only frightened me further. I stood up from my seat and put my cigarette out.

As I started to step off the porch, I stopped when the snake of a man mounted his horse. He whipped the animal's backside and yelled. The horse took off into a gallop. The ugly man winked at me as he passed. Tremors trickled up my spine. I looked back to Edward. He had disappeared into the barn. I stepped off the porch and jogged over the rugged building.

Just before stepping inside, I glanced to my right and saw Jasper on his porch with his shotgun. I peered in through the breezeway of the barn.

"Mr. Masen?" I called. I waited for an answer. It never came. Walking ahead, I glanced at the horses I passed along the way. They were beautiful and quiet as they ate from their troughs.

Then, Edward appeared before me. I jumped in surprise and clutched my chest.

"Jesus," I gasped.

"Sorry," He muttered. I stood upright and looked into his green eyes. They burned with anger and something else. Fear? Guilt? Worry? I didn't know. He stalked past me and went to a horse's stall, sliding the door open and stepping inside. He had a hammer tool in his hands. I frowned and walked over to the stall.

"Who was that man?" I asked. Edward didn't reply. He made a clicking noise while tapping on the horse's leg. She obeyed his command and gave Edward her hoof. He started cleaning out the dirt from her foot.

"Where did he come from?" I hedged.

"Hell," Edward grumbled. I smirked.

He was able to get me angry so easily with his rude behavior. He sighed.

"That was Paul Smith."

"And who is that?"

"He owns the land next to us." I tried to remember Paul as a child. I knew we had neighbors even though it was distant and we were spaced so far apart. Although, I could vaguely recall my father having issues with some other rancher around the area.

"Oh. Well, what did he want?" I asked. Edward went from plucking the dirt out of the horse's hoof, to hitting the nails deeper into the horseshoe. His cowboy hat hid his face.

"He came to threaten me again," Edward replied easily.

"Why?" I asked exasperated.

"Because your father owes him cattle head." That didn't surprise me. The older Charlie got, the more greedy he became. Apparently he'd give whatever he had in order to keep this wasteland.

"Why don't you give them to him then?" I countered. Edward stopped his task to look up. He stared at me like I was an idiot. I frowned.

"Because I need them, that's why. How do you think this place makes any money?" He asked. My frown deepened. I didn't rightly know. All I did were the chores as a kid. Charlie and Carlisle were the ones who ran the business.

"How many do we owe?" I asked. I felt like a small child in this conversation. I was uneducated in the business, I'd admit it, but Edward was demeaning in a harsh way.

"Fifty. Fifty cows." He looked back to the horse, switching to her other front leg. I watched as he held the hoof between his knees tightly.

"And how many do you have?"

"We lost a good bit over the winter. After the run we just did, we have about two hundred and fifty."

"That's a lot," I breathed.

"I'm almost three hundred heads short, actually," He said evenly. His chiseled jaw clenched. My shoulders fell. I kept sticking myself in deeper stupidity. But really, how was I to know? I bit my lip.

"What are you going to do?" I asked finally.

"Keep trying to stall him for more time and hope my loan goes through soon."

"You're taking out a loan on this place?"

"No, a personal loan," He corrected. His voice was quieter now. I knew he must feel embarrassed.

I sighed and noticed an empty bucket at my feet. I flipped it over and sat down. Edward went around to the horse's back leg.

"How many cows do you need to make this place prosperous again?"

"No less than five hundred if we want to profit."

"Shit, that's a lot of beef," I scoffed. I couldn't see it, but I swear I could hear him smile. "Okay, and how much are cows?"

"More than I've got."

He finished with the horse and came out of the stall. He replaced his hammer then took a seat on a hay bail across from me on the opposite end of the aisle. I was glad to see his eyes. He folded his hands as he rested his arms on his thighs. I crossed my legs. He made me uneasy.

"You buy cattle, raise it up, sell it, start again," Edward explained.

"That's it?"

He nodded, "That's it."

"That seems simple enough."

"Sure, hoping they don't fall ill, get stolen by the likes of people like Paul, and have enough help to herd them." Edward dropped his head in his hands. Ideas began to race in my mind. Thunder sounded from above us. I stood up abruptly.

"Let me think on some things. Can I get back to you?" He shrugged. I left the barn without another word.

As I came up to Charlie's place, voices broke me from my thoughts. I looked up from the dirt to see Seth and Jules sitting on the porch. I smiled.

"Hi, Ms. Swan," Jules said kindly.

"Hi, Jules. Seth being nice?" I asked. She giggled and nodded. Seth rolled his eyes.

"I just came by to invite ya'll to dinner tonight."

"Oh, that's awfully sweet, but your dad-"

"He suggested it," Jules cut in. I raised my eyebrows in disbelief. Seth stared at me with begging eyes. I glanced to the barn, then back to Edward's daughter.

"That would be great. Thank you." Seth and Jules beamed to one another.

"Is there anything I can bring?" I asked, interrupting their heated stare.

"Just yourselves." She hopped up from the rocker. "In two hours."

"Bye," Seth told her dreamily. Jules smiled and left.

"You have it bad," I droned.

"Maybe this place won't be so bad, now. For a couple weeks anyway," Seth replied nonchalantly. I walked up to him.

"Oh, I suppose not, now that you have Jules!" I teased and over emphasized the girl's name. I poked Seth's side. He laughed. My son laughed at me, and it was amazing. He could be right about this place.

Monday updates are my favorite! Sorry I was MIA for a couple days. I was getting over the awful stomach flu, but I'm back!

Keep the AMAZING reviews coming! I love your thoughts and opinions so much. I wonder if this story's popularity will surpass Imperfectly Matched... ;]

So, evil yucky Paul Smith. What can we expect from him? Btw, Seth and Jules are just too cute! Did you see the banner for this story?!

More soon.

xx

Greye