BPOV-one week after arriving at the Cullen's home.
Ok, so Carlisle gave me this journal thing and told me to use it as a sort of non-critical friend of sorts. Basically I write things in it and no one reads it so I can write anything.
First, I'll talk about the Cullen Family, who, it turns out, live on a Mustang Ranch. They catch wild Mustangs on their land and tame them, breed them and sell them.
Anyway, there are Four Cullen's, Carlisle and Esme, the parents of the house, Alice, their youngest child and Edward, their oldest child and my mentor or babysitter as I think of him. There are three other's who live with the Cullen's too. Their names are Emmett McCarthy, Rosalie Hale and Jasper Whitlock Hale.
Jasper is dating Alice and Emmett and Rosalie are engaged. Jasper is Rosalie's adopted twin brother; they were born in two different places on the same day of the same year. Freaky? Very.
My time here so far has been very tiring. On my first day, I got here and slept for along time until the next morning, when I was woken at five am by a rooster named Ducky and then told to get up and ready for the day. The sun was barely up!
I spent Tuesday learning about everything on the farm and how it works. I'm scheduled to do everything with Edward apart from collecting eggs, which is my job, unfortunately seeing as I am scared of chickens.
All week was the same and today Carlisle and Edward are going to start teaching me how to ride a horse. Disastrous? Probably. Fun? Maybe. Pain free? Most likely not.
Esme got me some new boots yesterday. They are for my farm work and for riding, I haven't worn them yet but today's the day.
I better go get dressed before someone comes in and drags me out of bed, Ducky woke me up twenty minutes ago and I'm still in my PJ's.
I sighed and placed my Journal under the edge of my mattress before getting up and grabbing a pair of stone washed denim short shorts, a black singlet top and a red flannel top that Ricky picked out from Hot Topic for me to wear.
I got dressed quickly and tied my hair up on top of my head in a ponytail, the hair running down from the hair tie and touching about quarter way down my back.
"I really need to get a hair cut." I moaned as I walked out my bedroom. "Which one, I'll cut it for you." Emmett joked as he walked out of his room and yawned before stretching has arms as I glared at him.
"Comedian, really, like I haven't heard that one before. Oh wait, my dad said that. Oldest joke in the book, seriously." I said and Emmett looked at me like I had a third head before I pushed him out my way and walked to the kitchen where I greeted Esme with a polite smile before going to get some cereal out the cupboards.
"No time for that Bella, here." Esme said and handed me a granola bar before pointing to the kitchen door leading out towards the main stable.
"Carlisle is waiting for you so he can teach you how to tack a horse." Esme said and I raised one eyebrow at her.
"I thought I was learning how to ride a horse? What the Fuck is tack?" I asked and Esme tsked me.
"Don't swear and tacking a horse is what you have to do so you can ride it. Go." Esme ordered and I glared at her before placing the granola bar on the bench and walking out to the stable.
"Morning Carlisle." I sighed as I found him in the last stall patting one of the horses.
"Morning Bella. Now, before I teach you how to tack a horse, take out your tongue piercing and give it to me." Carlisle said and I shrugged before poking my tongue out and pulling my stud out.
"Here, why do you want it?" I asked and Carlisle took the stud before walking out the stall and walking over to the wheel barrel filled with horse dung.
"No one is allowed anything other than their ears pierced here." Carlisle said before dropping my stud into the horse dung and using the shovel to cover it up.
"If you want it back, by all means, get it but if I catch you with it in, I'll do worse than put it in horse manure." Carlisle said and I glared at him and crossed my arms over my chest.
"It's going to close up! You so owe me cause that costed me $35!" I snapped and Carlisle shrugged before leading me back to the stall.
"Well, I will happily reimburse you for any piercings that you let close over excluding ear piercings." Carlisle said and I raised one eyebrow at him before sighing and lifting my top, pulling out my bell button piercing.
"Here." I sighed and handed Carlisle the ring before pushing my top back down and crossing my arms over my chest.
"Thank you Bella. That is all I ask." Carlisle said and I shrugged before he started to teach me to 'tack' a horse.
By the time Carlisle was happy with the way I had tacked Carla, the horse we were working with, Edward walked out and smiled at me before smiling at his father.
"Shall I start to teach them now?" Edward asked and Carlisle smiled before nodding.
"Yea. Take it easy though. Bella isn't like you; she hasn't lived here all her life and it will be hard with the Mustang." Carlisle said and I looked between the two of them before Edward took my hand and led me out into the arena.
"Carlisle and I have been working on this Mustang for months now but we've only managed to get him to let us tack him. It's time he learnt to have people ride him. And seeing as you are learning, we thought you could learn together." Edward said and I gasped as I looked at the giant white horse.
"But, I'll die! I swear." I said and Edward laughed before leading me into the arena, closing the gate behind us before leading me towards the horse.
"He doesn't have a name yet, he's our only Wild Mustang stallion. If you can get up on him by the end of today, you can name him." Edward said and I swear my eyes lit up and I grinned before walking forward carefully.
"Put your hand out flat. He'll sniff it." Edward said and I placed my hand out, letting the stallion watch me before slowly walking forward a little faster than I was.
"He's going to bite me." I panicked as the Stallion stretched his neck out towards me before pull his head back quickly and snorting as he shook his head.
"He wont. He's not being aggressive." Edward reassured me from several metres away as the stallion walked forward the last few steps before nudging my hand with his nose.
I turned my hand over so my palm was down and I placed it on the Stallion's nose rubbing up his face lightly before walking forward a step more and putting my other hand on his large neck.
"Hey big boy." I whispered shakily and the horse put his nose to my hair and sniffed it slightly before leaning his head on my shoulder and sniffing my top.
"Hey lazy! I'm not a head rest." I giggled as the horse put all the weight of his head on my shoulder and I staggered slightly.
The horse snorted and made a little noise before nodding his head up and down a few times and pushing my shoulder with his nose.
"I don't get it." I called to Edward and he laughed as the Stallion moved forward so I was standing mostly under his large head with the top of my head barely at the same height as his shoulder.
I turned and looked at Edward with one hand on the Stallions neck and the other on its nose, patting it as Edward walked forward and smiled at me.
"He's decided you are worthy of something." Edward said and went to move closer but the horse snorted and moved around me whinnying loudly at Edward and stomping its front foot before snorting somewhat angrily at Edward.
"Ok, he's protective of you, weird but, ok I guess." Edward said and I smiled before placing my hand on the horse's side and walking around him, walking up to Edward and smiling.
"Ok, what's next?" I asked and Edward grinned before walking over to the horse with me. He helped me get into a padded Jacket and a helmet before smiling at me and walking to the front of the horse.
"Now, you learn how to get onto a horse." Edward said and held the horse's reins as I went to the side of the horse and placed my hands on either side of the saddle.
"Ok, what do I do?" I asked and Edward smiled before pointing to my front hand. "Put your left hand on the horn of the saddle and your right hand on the back. Make sure the saddle is secure by pulling slightly." Edward said and I did what he said, nodding once I was sure the saddle was secure.
"Ok, now place your left foot in the stirrup and tighten your grip on the saddle." Edward ordered and I tightened my grip before lifting my leg as high as I could get it and placing it in the stirrup. I looked at the horse and saw he was looking back at me slightly before I looked back at Edward.
"I want you to jump up into the saddle, using your right leg to push you up as hard as you can. Use all your strength to push yourself up and into the saddle." Edward ordered and I hesitated slightly before doing as he said, gasping and screaming as the horse suddenly moved and I fell back onto my but.
"Ow! That hurt!" I moaned as Edward calmed the stallion before helping me up while still holding onto the reins.
"You did well, Bella. Again. The horse was spooked by it because he hasn't had a person on his back before so don't be alarmed, he'll be readier for it this time." Edward said and I groaned before looking up at the horse and walking to his side again.
"Good Bella." Edward said as I got to where I was before I jumped before I looked up at the horse and looked into the eye watching me.
"It's ok big boy, I'm not going to hurt you." I said before pushing myself off the ground. "Swing your leg over him quickly!" Edward ordered and I did as he said before landing uncomfortably in the saddle and adjusting my position so I was sitting the way Carlisle had told me to sit when we were tacking his horse.
"Edward, I'm on a horse!" I gasped and gripped onto the horn of the saddle tightly as I looked down at the ground.
"Good girl Bella. That was great! Now, give your horse a pat to thank him for letting you up." Edward said and I smiled before patting the horse's neck happily.
"Good boy." I smile and Edward laughed before coming to the side of the horse. "Move back in the saddle a little bit and lie forward over his neck. This is how you rest when you are on a horse." Edward said and I grinned before doing as he said slowly, the horse shifting slightly and stretching his neck before pulling his head back and shaking it, making me wobble slightly.
I sat up and smiled at Edward before looking down at the ground. "What now?" I asked and Edward laughed before patting my leg lightly.
"Now we go to lunch, Bella. I'm sure you and your new horse want a break before we continue on." Edward said and I smiled before freezing.
"Wait? My new horse?" I asked and Edward nodded and chuckled. "My parents and your parents talked and when we are finished, seeing as you live right down the road from a stable, they decided you can take a horse home with you." Edward said and I grinned before pouting.
"How do I get down?" I asked and Edward grinned. "Lean back in the Saddle and swing your right leg up and over the horse's head. Keep your balance." Edward said and slowly I did as he said before sitting and looking down at him as he looped the horse's reins over the horn of the saddle and stood in front of me, reaching up and placing his hands on my hips.
"Place your hands on my shoulders and I'll lift you down." Edward said and I nodded before leaning forward. I didn't think about the distance and I gasped and squealed as I fell forward and took Edward down to the ground, landing on top of him.
"Oh I am so sorry!" I gasped and Edward laughed before looking up at me. "Its fine, Bella. Lot's of people fall of horses." Edward said and I pouted before slapping his chest lightly.
"Yea lots of people don't land on you." I said before placing hands on either side of Edward's head and pushing myself up, grabbing Edward's hand and trying to help him up before I was pulled down instead.
"Whoops." Edward said and I giggled as he rolled so I was lying beneath him. "That was no accident!" I giggled and Edward grinned before getting up, pulling me up with him.
I looked up into Edward's eyes as he held me close to him and I got lost for a moment before stepping away from Edward and turning to the horse, unclipping the reins before hanging them over a post on the gate.
"Let's go inside, I'm starving cause I missed breakfast." I moaned and Edward laughed before we ran into the house and devoured some food.
"Have a bit of a break and meet me out in the arena in twenty minutes." Edward said after we had eaten and I grinned before turning to Esme.
"May I please use the phone? I wana talk to my little brother." I said and Esme smiled before nodding.
"Of course but don't be too long." Esme said and I smiled before taking the portable phone and going into my room, closing the door and dialling home.
"Hello Renee Swan speaking." My mother answered and I sighed before looking out with window.
"Hey can I speak to Ricky?" I asked and Renee sighed loudly before calling for Ricky.
"Bella, I would be nice if you had called home to talk to me for once." Renee said before I heard Ricky's little voice.
"Hey Ricky, its Bella." I smiled and Ricky shouted my name. "Bella I miss you so much! I made you a picture in morning school yesterday and mummy hung it on your pin board so it won't get ruined till I come see you!" Ricky said and I giggled before biting my lip lightly.
"That's so cool Ricky, I can't wait to see it." I smiled and Ricky laughed. "Bella, what's it like there? Is it cool?" Ricky asked and I smiled.
"Yea it is. I bet you would love it here. They have a rooster named Ducky and the most amazing thing happened today." I said and Ricky laughed.
"Tell me! What happened? Please!" Ricky shouted into the phone and I laughed.
"I got up on a horse and best of all; I get to bring the horse home when I come." I said and Ricky laughed.
"That's so cool Bella! I can't wait to come. What's your horse's name?" Ricky asked and I smiled.
"He doesn't have one yet but I'm thinking about it. Why don't you think of names too?" I said and bit my lip.
"Yea! That would be awesome. Oh Bella, mummy said I have to go now." I could hear the pout Ricky made and I sighed before nodding to myself.
"Ok Ricky. I love you babe and I promise I'll talk to you soon. I miss you. Bye" I said and listened to his reply before hanging up and looking at my clock to see twenty minutes had gone by.
I bolted from my room, placing the phone back where it belonged before running out to the arena and meeting Edward just as he was about to walk into the Arena.
"Hey." I gasped and Edward opened the gate as he smiled at me. "Hey, I heard you talking to your boyfriend so I left you up stairs." Edward said and I gasped before giggling.
"Edward, if Ricky is my boyfriend, that is incest and I'm a major cougar." I said and Edward raised on eyebrow at me as we walked over to where I had left the reins.
"But you said I love you babe?" Edward said and I giggled before placing one hand on his cheek and looking into his eyes.
"I always say that to my brother. He's only five and he misses me…and I miss him too. He's the only person I can talk to who won't judge me, even though he sometimes doesn't understand." I said and Edward nodded before giving me a small hug.
"You can talk to me if you want." Edward said and I smiled before looking behind me to see the horse walking closer.
"Let's get going." I said and turned and walked up to the horse, clipping his reins on and patting his nose before looking at Edward.
"Put his reins over the horn of the saddle and hold them there as you get up." Edward said and I nodded before slowly doing as he said, stopping when I had my foot in the stirrup.
"Are you sure this is safe?" I asked and Edward laughed. "I was just about to stop you because you forgot the most important things." Edward said and held up my padded vest and helmet.
I groaned before walking over with the horse following and took them, putting them on before walking back a bit and getting into the right position.
"Go on Bella. I know you can do it." Edward said and I glared at him before pushing myself up and swinging my leg over, shoving my right foot in the other stirrup.
"Good boy." I whispered and gave the horses neck a sloppy pat as he stood completely still.
"Now hold the reins like this." Edward said and moved my hands so they were right before moving to adjust my stirrups to the right level.
"Good Bella. Now to make the horse move forward give him a light kick in the side with your heel." Edward said and I did as he said gasping as the horse bolted forward a few steps before slowing down to a walking pace.
"Good, now to turn, pull to the side you want to go." Edward said and I rode to the end of the arena. I pulled lightly to the left and the horse snorted and ripped the reins out my hands as he pulled his head forward, sharply turning right.
I gasped and screamed as I fell down from the horse because of his sharp movements. I hit the ground with I hard blow that left me breathless and gasping as I lay there.
"Bella! Are you alright?" Edward shouted as he ran over and knelt down beside me. "Ow!" I moaned as I moved slightly and Edward smiled.
"I feel like I've broken everything." I pouted and Edward laughed before standing up and taking one of my hands, pulling me up slowly and hugging me with one arm as he dusted with sawdust off of my back and but.
"You'll be fine. Now, are we ready to get back up there?" Edward asked and I pouted but nodded and slowly walked over to where the horse was standing.
"You are a bloody pain in my but. You remind me of my old Chevy Truck, only that had Lightening streaks and a poem painted into the side." I said and then a thought came to me.
"Cold, fire, lightening, blue, red, flames, magic, mystical…hm. What about Mystic?" I said as I pushed myself up into the saddle and gathered the reins how Edward had showed me.
"Edward, what do you think about Mystic? For the horses name I mean." I said and Edward shrugged.
"Sounds good. Now try again." Edward said and pointed towards the end of the arena.
"Ok, come on Mystic." I said and the horse's ears turned back like he was listening to me. "Yea. Mystic, that's your name now. Do you like it?" I asked and the horse nodded its head, making me giggled as I got to the end of the arena.
Without thinking I pulled the reins lightly to the left and smiled as Mystic followed my orders before I bit my lip and pulled back slightly to stop him once we were facing Edward.
"Let's go a little faster." I said and gave Mystic a light kick before following it through with another kick to get him to jog.
I grinned as I sat in the saddle and once at the end of the arena I turned Mystic to the right and I made a circle around Edward before stopping.
"This is fun." I smiled and Edward laughed. "Not everyone from the city can come in and be trotting their horse without instruction on the first day." Edward said and I grinned before patting Mystic on the neck.
"Can I learn more now? I want to be out here as long as possible." I said and Edward grinned before continuing to teach me.