I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
CH. 9 Emmett (EMPOV)
1933
Twack
I been wukkin' on de railroad
All de livelong day,
I been wukkin' on de railroad
Ter pass de time away.
Twack
Doan' yuh hyah de whistle blowin'?
Ris up, so uhly in de mawn;
Doan' yuh hyah de cap'n shouin',
"Dinah, blow yo' hawn?"
Twack
I paused to wipe my brow from the sweat I was building up. I took a swing from my flask letting the liquid burn down my throat. It was the good stuff that I filched from the neighbor's still.
I picked up my ax to take another swing at the oak. I wanted the tree down and cut up so I had time to get cleaned up for the lucky lady who I was taking out tonight, Sandra. Or was it Barbra. Wait, it might be Mary Sue. The hell with it, I will just call her doll.
"Is that a skunk? Why is he wearing a skunk on his head?" a girlish voice sounded appalled. I turned to see a small girl standing with two boys about my age. They had appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the woods. Strange.
"Look, little girl, stop your hollering about my hat. I ain't the one dressed all fancy like, traipsing through the woods." I placed my ax down by the tree.
"I will have you know that this is the latest style. Just wait until I get my hands on you. You need a bath and new clothes." She wrinkled her nose at me.
I tried to remain polite, as my Ma taught me to never argue with a lady but she was darn right insulting. This little girl seemed not to be taught the same.
"There ain't nothing wrong with me. Hasn't anyone told you to respect your elders?" I scolded her. One of the boys with her looked unhappy with me while the other appeared trying not to laugh.
"I apologize for my sister. She tends to speak her own mind without realizing that she is not being polite." One of the boys spoke up. He shot the girl a look and she opened her mouth but stopped when she glanced at the other boy with blonde hair. She huffed and shut her mouth.
"I suppose you don't recognize us do you?" the first boy spoke again. I shook my head. I knew just about everyone in town. These pretty boys would definitely stand out in my memory too. I made sure to pay attention to my competition with the ladies.
"Sorry, I can't say that I do." I answered.
"I am Edward Masen and this is my brother-in-law, Jasper Whitlock. This here is his wife, my sister, Alice." He explained pleasantly.
"Emmett McCarty. Ain't she a bit young to be marrying off?" I looked at the small girl again.
"Alice is older than she appears." Edward smirked slightly as the other two scowled at me.
"My apologies, I mean no harm by it." I nodded my head at the one called Jasper. He nodded stiffly.
"What are you folks doing out here in these woods?" I frowned. They didn't even have a rifle with them. Didn't they know these woods had bears?
"Well, we are looking for your help," Edward seemed to take over as spokesperson.
Perhaps they were in need of firewood or maybe they had just gotten themselves lost in these woods. Though, they looked like city folks, maybe they were in need for game. I wonder what would be a fair price to charge them. Maybe I could give the boys some lessons so they can do it themselves.
"What can I do you folks for?" I asked.
"What would say about meeting the prettiest girl you would ever meet?" Edward asked smiling pleasantly.
"Well, I am always open to showing a doll a good time." I smiled charmingly. "Where is the doll?" I looked around.
"She lives in Rochester, New York." Edward started to explain and I cut him off.
"That is a bit far from here." I frowned.
"It is, but, you see, you are perfect for her." Alice smiled sweetly at me. I felt as if I was missing something.
"What does she look like?" I questioned.
"Long blonde hair and dark blue eyes. About this height." Edward held his hand up to a fair height for a female. "I am sure you would find her to the most beautiful girl you have ever seen. Just like Helen of Troy."
"Why do I feel like you are leaving something out? She sounds like a peach and all, but we are a long way from New York, something seems wrong."
"Well, you might find this hard to believe, but I am a fortune teller." Alice spoke up.
"Like a gypsy with a crystal ball?" I questioned. She didn't seem like she belonged to a carnival. Edward chuckled lightly and I wondered what was so funny.
"Sort of," Alice grimaced, but quickly smiled.
"Well, I am sorry, but I don't have any money for a fortune." I shrugged.
"No need. I have already seen you. I know that you are the one to save our friend." Alice seemed exuberant.
"But didn't you just say that this Helen belongs to Troy. I am not the type of guy to go taking other guys' gals." I scratched my head in confusion.
"Helen of Troy was a comparison of Rosalie to the girl in the Trojan War." Edward informed me. Trojan…what?
"Forgive me, I forgot you had no formal education." Edward seemed apologetic at his slight. I shrugged. I had no need for schooling when I had to help my family out.
"Helen lived in a place called Troy. She was thought to be the most beautiful girl in the world, men fought a war over her."
"Well, as I said, I don't fight men to take a dame from them." I frowned.
"Rosalie is different though. You see the man she is engaged to, isn't a good man." Alice pouted at me and I found my will bending.
"I don't know if I should get involved." I hesitated.
"Even if we know that he and his friends are going to take advantage of her then leave her for dead." Jasper spoke up for the first time.
"That is horrible, but why me? Why don't you boys take care of it?" I felt for the girl, maybe they were just too cowardly to fight.
"We could, but Alice has seen that it should be you. She believes that Rose and you are the perfect match." Edward's lip was twitching. The way that he was looking at me I swear he could read my mind. Edward let out another chuckle. Something fishy was going on.
"Look, I'd like to help you, but I can't leave my family. They need my help. Things aren't going well for us." I apologized.
"We can help you. We can give you some money to help your family out." Alice started to pull a wad of money out of her skirt pocket. My eyes widened. Who carries that much money around with them? They could get taking advantage of, they are lucky my ma raised a good boy.
"I can't take your charity." I refused it. As much as it would help my family, I couldn't just take a hand out.
"It isn't charity. Look at it as a payment for helping us out." That girl knew how to beg better than a hound dog did looking for spare bone.
"How about we make a bet?" Jasper had a mischievous look in his eyes.
"What kind of bet?" I was instantly intrigued.
"One of us will arm wrestle you for it. You win, you can take the money and we will walk away. One of us wins you come with us and still accept the money as a thank you." Jasper held my eye. I was feeling lucky. What did I have to lose?
"Okay, you have yourselves a deal. Who am I wrestling?" I looked back and forth between the two guys.
"Me," Alice spoke up with a too innocent smile.
"I don't wrestle ladies," I refused. What did they take me for?
"Are you chicken?" her husband was smirking.
"No, my ma would tan my hide if she found out." These people were plum crazy.
"Alright, me then?" Edward offered.
"Now you are talking. We can use that stump over yonder." I pointed to a stump waist high about ten feet away.
"Sounds good." Edward took his jacket off and rolled up his sleeves as he headed over to the stump.
I followed behind him, wiping off my hands from the sweat and dirt. We positioned ourselves on either side with the little lady and Jasper standing between us.
"Hold on a second." I took off my skunk skin hat and plopped it on Alice's head. Her eyes looked huge and her nose crinkled. "The smell of that here skunk will keep the mosquitoes from marking that pretty face of yours." I smile widely.
"Mighty kind of you. Right, Alice," Jasper smiled down at his wife.
"Mighty kind." She spoke through clenched teeth. It did take getting use to wearing, skunk skin. It works much better than a coon.
I placed my elbow down on the stump and Edward mirrored me. I grabbed his hand and was surprised by the coldness.
"What did you do, run your hand in the creek before coming here." I scowled. It was a warm day out despite no sun.
"Sorry, poor blood circulation." I smirked inwardly thinking that might mean this boy was going to be easy to take down.
Jasper counted off and I pushed against Edward lightly at first, not wanting to hurt him by my brute strength. I couldn't budge his hand an inch. Frowning I tried harder, not gaining any success. I glanced at Edward and he was looked thoroughly amused. Scowling I tried harder, not caring if I hurt him.
What happened next happened so fast I didn't see it coming. Edward had my hand pinned as it was nothing but a sapling branch.
"How did you do that?" I thundered. They took advantage of me.
"I will tell you someday. But now, you are coming with us. Alice will deliver the money to your parents and catch up with us." Edward shrugged on his jacket.
"Wait now. I have a date tonight, plus I can't leave that tree like that." I pointed to the tree I half cut down.
"We will help you finish the tree. As for the date I am sure once you see Rosalie you will not be sorry for missing out on Rebecca." Edward answered. He looked at Jasper who went up to the tree.
"Rebecca… that's her name. Wait, how did you know?" I glanced at him sharply. Jasper simply shoved the tree over and it crashed to the ground. "How did he do that? Who are you people?"
"Another story and another day. Don't worry, we will not harm you, we really need your help." Alice smiled at me as she placed my hat on my head.
As much as these guys were strange, I did feel at easy with them, like I somehow knew them for years and could trust them. Edward was watching me thoughtfully with a smile on his face.
"Well, then, I suppose I have a pretty lady to save." I grinned at them. I took out my flask and took a celebratory swig. "Drink?" I offered the others.
"Ew," Alice muttered while the others just shook their heads. Their loss. I downed the rest of it.
BS&EC
I awoke with a start. I glanced around the room that I arrived in two days ago. It was like something all of the sudden clicked. I climbed out of bed, but before I took two steps the door opened and I was hit by a crushing force around my waist.
"Oaf, easy there, pixie, you're going to snap me in two." I wheezed. She had taken the breath right out of me. Alice stepped back and giggled.
"You remember me. I knew you would get your memory back soon." She skipped back towards the door, where the others just entered.
I blushed when I saw Esme, completely embarrassed by the comment I made when I saw her the other day.
"Esme, I am so sorry," I apologized, glancing sheepishly at Carlisle too. Good thing he was an understanding guy.
"That's alright, Emmett," she shook her head amused at me.
"How the hell…" I winced when Esme glared at me. "Sorry, but how am I human and where is my Rosie? Why didn't I know before and why didn't you tell me?" I spurted out question after question.
"We are not sure how we all got sent back in time. Our vampire memories came back at various times. Some of us had them longer than others, but at least all before our change. Would you have believed us if we told you, you used to be a vampire?" Carlisle explained to me.
"I don't know, maybe. If you got me all liquored I probably would've believed anything." I shrugged. I heard Edward and Jasper chuckle.
"Hey, wait a minute, you cheated. There was no way I was going to win the wrestling match." I accused Edward. He rolled his eyes and smirked at me.
"Didn't you really win in the end? Your family will be taken care of and you get Rose." Edward quirked an eyebrow at me. I guess he had a point. I didn't really lose after all, but I was tricked.
"You didn't answer me before, where is Rosie?" I looked at Edward then Alice. They would be the best for the information.
"She is still human. We don't think she has her memory back yet." Edward told me.
"Why did you come to me first? She was changed before I was. You left her at the hands of that ass." I snarled glaring at them.
"Calm down, Em, she is fine. Royce has not done anything yet, Alice has been watching closely. We thought, given the chance, you might want to be the one to rescue her." Jasper gave me a tight smile. I smiled back evilly.
"It would be a pleasure." It would be a pleasure to rip that guy's head off and take him limb for limb. "When do you change me?"
"There is no time for that. Rose will be attacked tonight." Edward explained.
Right, no time. Doesn't matter. I can still take Royce, the coward, on. His buddies too.
"Jasper and I will help you." Edward said softly. Excellent.
"Em, you do want to be changed don't you?" Alice spoke up coming up to me and hugging my waist. I looked down to her puppy dog eyes. Why was she looking at me like that?
"Of course, I love being a vampire. There are bears out there with my name on them. Just think, it will be twice the amount of bears on my tally, starting with the one that got me the first time." I patted her head.
"Promise me," Alice batted her eyelashes at me.
"Ah, okay," I shrugged. Alice beamed and jumped up to kiss my cheek. I was still a bit confused. I glanced at Jasper just to make sure he wasn't upset with the attention I was getting from Alice. He and Edward were exchanging an unhappy look. I took a step back away from Alice and received a hug from Esme. She looked a bit sad as she stepped back from me.
"Why do I feel like I am still missing something?" I asked.
"It's nothing. We just missed you, Emmett. Things have been a bit different then the first time," Edward came over and slapped me on the back. I tried not to wince.
"Tell me about it. One minute I am chopping wood for a fire, the next you three are standing there in the woods, with the pixie flipping out about my hat." I chuckled.
Edward froze, the smile dropped from his face.
"What is it?" Jasper asked on high alert.
"We have had it all wrong. It makes sense now, but could they have done it? If they have, we have underestimated them." Edward mumbled.
"Edward, please elaborate." Carlisle asked.
"The wood from the fire, the wood Emmett found in the woods. Jasper and I were suspicious of why the Quileutes left it. I think that some how that the wood had magical properties that sent us back in time when it was burnt." Edward explained.
"How though," Jasper seemed skeptical.
"How do they change into wolves? They are different from werewolves, almost more like shapeshifters. It is very possible that tribes have some magical capabilities." Carlisle looked off into the distance in deep thought. "But then, there is why they did it too?"
"So this is my fault." I frowned. I was the reason my family got separated and sent back in time.
"You didn't know this could happen." Esme told me gently. I glanced around. Most seemed to agree with her. My eyes stopped on Edward.
"What happened to Bells? Did she get sent back in time too?" I asked.
"We don't know yet. Alice can't see her." Edward frowned.
"She could've been sent back, or she could still be where we left her." Carlisle said grimly. By herself? She was going to be upset if she woke up without Edward there. Plus she was in danger. This was all my fault.
"Esme is right, this is not your fault." Edward gave me a sad smile. I could see the pain in his eyes from missing her.
"So, first we take care of Royce, then change Rosie and me, then go after James and Victoria. Then we figured out what to do about the Quileutes" I announced a plan.
"One step ahead of you. James and Victoria are already gone. We got them when they went after Alice." Edward looked pointedly at Alice.
"I said I was sorry. When are you going to let that go?" Alice huffed. I had to wonder what happened there.
"Later," Edward promised. "First we should get ready for tonight.
BS&EC
Darkness had falling and I was waiting down the street with Edward and Jasper. We were watching Rosie's friend's house for her to come out. Edward was able to locate the house and Rosie with his mindreading.
Once she came out we would follow her and jump in before Royce could hurt her.
Edward let out a small growl.
"What's wrong?" I snapped my attention to him. He was glaring at a man coming to the gate to the house Rosie was in.
"That would be Royce King," he hissed.
A/N:
I've Been Working on the Railroad with the original lyrics from 1894. The lyrics we are used to today was updated in the 50's.
I had fun with doing Emmett's POV. The official guide said he was a womanizer and bit of a partier. They were purposely slipping in front of him to try and jog his memory. I also thought Emmett would want to save Rose if he could.
So up until now they thought it was a vampire and underestimated the wolves.
Why would the Wolves send them back? And why is Royce there?
I will update with Rose POV soon, probably Tues. this week.
Thank You For All Reviews!
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Preview:
"You are hurting her; I suggest you let her go." Edward glared. "There are three of us and only one of you." Royce glared at Edward for a moment. He let me go and Edward let go of him pushing him back a few steps.
"Thank you," I said to the guys. I took a half step towards them.
"Are you whoring around on me, Rosalie? You seem to have these men in your pocket. Don't you think you owe me some of that?" Royce snarled behind me and grasped at my skirt tearing it a bit.
"That is it," Emmett shrugged out Jasper's grip and tackled Royce to the ground.