Chapter 12: The Fallen

After a quick breakfast and a lousy singing of Happy Birthday to Seth, we were all on our way back towards home. I noticed Jules give him something in a small bag, and Garrett and Jasper gave him a slingshot. Seth had never been so exited for something that didn't have anything to do with technology. He tucked it away on his hip. Then, tears formed in my eyes when Edward gave Seth his first cowboy hat. I could see that it was well made and a pale brown color. My son quickly placed his new hat atop his head and smiled an infectious smile. Afterwards, he hugged Edward. It was an epic sight to see, and Edward smacked his back teasingly. He was beaming.

Technically, the cattle hadn't been as far out as we thought, so the trip home wouldn't take very long. We kept a close ride next to the cows, but they were quite obedient. My eyes couldn't leave Seth up ahead of me in his new hat, next to Garrett.

He had learned how to ride a horse, and ride one well, but I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach. It diminished greatly when Edward had fallen to the back of the herd to ride along next to me. Our legs brushed against one another once. I giggled and wouldn't look over to him.

"What?" He asked. I shook my head and stared out in front of me.

"It's just, I feel like we're in high school," I laughed. Edward leaned over towards me on his horse.

"Are you flirting with me, Ms. Swan?" I only laughed harder. Seth looked back to us with raised eyebrows and smiled before turning back around. I lowered my laughs.

"I'm terrible at all this," Edward finally said. I looked over to him and winked. His shoulders moved with each slow step that his horse took. It was warm enough now, that he was in just his black v-neck; chest hair showed proudly. Edward cleared his throat, obviously catching my eyes, making me blush as he smiled.

"The cowboy hat," I said quietly. "Thank you."

"I knew he'd love it."

"He looks up to you," I said. Edward smiled his crooked grin.

"You raised a good boy, Bella." Before I could respond, that queasy feeling in my stomach spread throughout me.

A gunshot fired not far from where we were riding. The cows and horses spooked, and then I heard Garrett yell Seth's name. His paint horse reared up from the shot, afraid and whinnying, throwing Seth off his saddle.

"Seth!" I cried. Everything was so loud; the sound magnified by the screaming cows, as everyone was trying to keep them from running off.

My heels dug into Cleary and she shot forward. Cows ran in every direction, including towards my son, who was still on the ground. Garrett reared his horse around and circled Seth to keep the cows off.

"Edward!" I screamed. Suddenly, he was up ahead of me, making it to Seth first. I steered my reins around the broken herd, and finally saw Seth on the ground. He held his knees to his chest and Blue was at his side.

I dismounted before Cleary even stopped, and ran up to Edward hovering over Seth.

"Baby," I cooed. Seth coughed.

"My ribs," He said, as I knelt down.

"Alice," Edward called. His sister finished getting a cow back in line and shot towards us, dismounting quickly and coming to kneel in front of Seth.

"Let me take a look," She said. Edward moved to stand up. I noticed rocks beneath Seth and squeezed my eyes shut, forcing my tears away.

Alice raised Seth's shirt and placed a small hand over his ribcage, and I could see him wince.

"They're not broken," She said. I sighed a breath of relief. "But they're bruised from the fall on these rocks, so it's going to hurt for a while."

"What can we do?" I asked.

"Nothing," Edward said. I frowned and gazed up to him.

"Edward is right," Alice agreed, removing her hand from Seth. "He could have a small fracture, but I don't feel anything. All a doctor could do is wrap him and hand out pain meds. With ribs, you just have to let them heal." Then, Edward raised his arms and pulled his black t-shirt over his head.

His torso was bare; dark chest hair and toned muscles glistened. I couldn't look, so I looked away. He ripped his shirt open with his hands and knelt down to Seth.

"Pull him up," He said softly. Alice and I got behind Seth and pulled on his shoulder.

"Ouch!" Seth said. He was sitting up and tried to repress a cough.

"Sit up as straight as you can," Edward told him. Seth nodded and bent straight. I held his hand, and he didn't rip away from me.

Edward slowly wrapped his tattered shirt around Seth's midsection. It was tight, and he tucked the loose end underneath it all to finish.

"That feels better," Seth said. Edward ruffled his hair and stood up, as I smiled and let go of his hand to stand up. Blue licked Seth's face, causing him to giggle.

"Down, boy," Seth said. "I'm okay."

The cattle had quieted and Jules now galloped over to us. She hopped down from her horse and was at Seth's side, nearly knocking her aunt out of the way. The redheaded girl took a firm hold of my son's hands, as he squeezed back and looked to her. My eyes met with Edward's briefly.

"Does it hurt?" Jules asked. Seth shook his head.

"Not now," He replied. I smirked.

"Hold on tighter next time," She scorned. "You have to anticipate such things."

"I'm sorry," He told her softly. "I will." My heart began to ache for my son and what was truly becoming his first love.

"Can he ride?" I asked Edward.

"I don't know. Can you?" He asked, looking down to Seth. Jules and Alice helped him stand, up and I watched as he clutched his left side.

"I think so," He replied. "If I can get on her first."

"We do need to get him back home and ice the swelling," Alice said. I nodded.

Jasper sauntered over to us with Seth's horse.

"Nice fall," He told Seth with a smile.

"Thanks," Seth replied shyly. "Where did that gunshot come from?"

"Hunters line these mountains," Jasper said with a shrug.

"It sounded awfully close," Alice noted.

"Dude, here's your hat," Garrett said, coming up behind us. I realized that my son had taught Garrett a few city words, which caused Alice to smile. Seth placed his hat back over his head and hobbled over to his horse, still clutching Jules's hand.

It took Jasper and Edward to help Seth get back on his horse. I wanted to protest him riding, but we still had at least an hour before getting home, so he couldn't walk. He held his reins with one hand, while the other held his side every so often. Jules and Garrett didn't leave his side, and I rode behind them for a while, but I could tell that it only embarrassed Seth, so I sauntered off towards the back with Alice. Jasper and Edward held the middle. Every so often, Edward would look back to me.

"He'll be fine," Alice said, noticing my tension. Was I that easy to read? I sighed.

"I know."

"He and Jules," She said quietly.

"I know."

"What are you going to do?" I raised my eyebrows confused.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Alice leaned in closer.

"About you and Edward." My cheeks went red automatically, and I glanced to the people up ahead, to be sure they couldn't hear us.

"Is it that obvious?" Alice laughed softly and gave me a knowing look. I didn't know what to say now, so I shrugged sadly.

"That man has seen it all," Alice said, looking up to her brother. "Jules, too. He doesn't need someone that's confused, Bella. You're a good woman, and you could be good for him, but you need to sort some things out first."

"I mean, you're going home to California after all. Maybe cut things now before someone gets hurt." My heart clenched and I nodded my head slowly.

It was all I could do.

If I didn't know Alice, my first reaction to her statement would be anger. But I did know Alice. She was only looking out for her family; and she was right, wasn't she? Seth and I had to leave. He would start school in another month, and I would need to start working again.

Suddenly, I felt the severity of everything on top of me. The ranch would be sold, Seth and I would leave, and so would Edward. Was there a way to change that? My mind flew back to Edward's intention on turning the ranch around; was that really possible? Could Seth and I stay? Seth might actually want to, but more importantly, would Jacob allow it?

I had fallen for Edward harder than I ever knew was possible. Seth had fallen for Jules. Maybe those strong feelings were enough to keep us all together.

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