Really not mine.

Chapter 31

Bella started to cautiously notice the men around town next time she went to market with Rosalie and her brother. She still had trouble believing the kind words of Mrs. Cope and Mrs. Esme but knew the ladies wouldn't lie to her.

Rosalie's brother harrumphed and cleared his throat for the entire journey to town. He was still put out that Rosalie had started courting Emmett. She hadn't spoken to him for days after his reaction to the news. Rosalie expected resistance from him but wanted her life for her own, so for the first time she stood up to him.

Courting Emmett was the most fun Rosalie had ever had. He took her for strolls around the farm, brought her posies of pretty flowers and even stole a kiss behind the barn. From one kiss Rosalie knew she wanted more. She hoped that Emmett wouldn't take to long to ask for her hand.

The clerk at the general store smiled shyly at Bella, the first time she noticed a man notice her. He had a nice smile but it did not stir anything in Bella's emotions.

As she pushed the specially designed baby carriage Dr. Cullen had made for the girls, she thought of what it is she might be looking for if she were to take a husband. The idea was so foreign to her, her thoughts were jumbled and confused.

There were only two weeks until Edward's next visit and Bella was apprehensive. He barely said a word to her the last time he was here. He was obviously regretful for proposing and Bella tried not to let the hurt show. Now that she had let herself consider the idea of marriage he seemed to have no use for her.

So Bella watched every couple she saw in town, trying to picture herself in a romantic situation. She watched beautiful girls in pretty dresses flirt with gentlemen who enjoyed the attention. She saw nervous young men try to impress their girls with feats of strength and daring. Well, as daring as on could get mid-afternoon in town.

She stopped for a while and surreptitiously watched a young couple on a front porch swing. He held out a small posy of wild flowers for his intended. She blushed and sniffed the flowers with her eyes downcast. He sat beside her and fidgeted. with his jacket. She looked over to him and then quickly looked at the front door of the house. She startled him by planting a kiss on his cheek and as fast as lightening, getting up and running into the house. The boy sat there with a dazed look on his face before slowly walking and tripping down the stairs. He looked back at the house before his face broke out into a wide grin of triumph.

Bella sighed to herself. Could she want that, should she want that? What would become of her if she found a romance of her own? What would become of the girls? She would have to leave them eventually. That was the thought that ended the entire world for her.

Bella walked on until she found a park bench and sat down. She looked at the sleeping girls together in the carriage, their bonnets covering their lovely curls. Both pink cheeked and soft in pale pastel coloured jackets.

There was no way she could even think of leaving them. To her it didn't matter who proposed to her, not even the King of England. No one could separate her from these treasures. She would see to them for as long as she was able.

Giving up her pursuit of the idea of romance she stood up and started to make her way back to the store to meet Rosalie.

Bella's supplies had been stored in the back of the wagon, carefully pile high to leave room for Bella and the baby carriage. Rosalie gently took Beth out of the carriage and held on to her tightly as she sat in the front seat waiting for her brother to finish his transactions.

Bella cradled Katie to her chest. She was pleased with her decision to wait for courting, after all, Rosalie was a spinster and she had found someone. Eventually there would be someone for Bella too. She was only seventeen, there was much time to spare.

Rosalie's brother came out of the bank with a cross look on his face. As he got into the wagon his throat clearing made way to coughing. Bella hoped that he wasn't going to infect everyone on the journey home.

AN: Thank you.