Chapter Thirteen

Carlisle

I'd heard all about the Halloween party from Alice who as always was ready to give a blow by blow account of the proceedings. Rose wasn't happy and I soon found out why, it seemed Garrett had been flirting with one of the girls and not just any girl but Chief Swans daughter who was also visiting. Emmett told me he had been a perfect gentleman but of course Rose only saw the danger in getting too close to the humans. I pointed out to her that Bella Swan and Garrett were both leaving Forks soon which mollified her a little but it didn't help her relationship with the others. She had this knack of upsetting Edward and Alice with her, as they called it, paranoia and no matter how much I tried to explain her point of view they still regarded her as a nuisance, especially Alice who enjoyed interacting with the humans at school. It would be better for the family when Garrett left, his diet was another point of contention with Rose, but he seemed in no hurry to do so and I had to admit I enjoyed his company and wasn't about to push him out the door.

A week went by, Chief Swans daughter was gone and today Garrett announced he was leaving.

"Thank you for your hospitality Esme but I feel its time I moved on. I know my presence here upsets Rosalie and that was never my intention but I hope the invitation to visit again still stands."

Esme smiled brightly,

"Of course Garrett you are always welcome and I wouldn't take too much notice of Rose, she's just a little sensitive."

The others were at school when he left and I knew Rose would be in a better mood when she got back and found him gone.

"Well Esme, you have the house to yourself, I have to work"

She delayed me a while but I didn't mind, I loved her with all my heart and if she'd asked me to get her the moon I would have attempted to present it to her so being a little late for my rounds was an easy debt to pay.

My day unfortunately went down hill from there, I lost a patient, an elderly woman, to cancer and no matter how many deaths I encountered every one seemed a personal affront. I just wished I could do more but there were times when as a doctor I could only stand and watch as death snatched another victory from me. By lunchtime I would happily have got in my car and driven home to see Esme for a couple of hours but then I received a message, Chief Swan was asking if he could meet with me in the hospital cafeteria. That was odd, we'd spoken before but he'd never asked for a meeting and I couldn't imagine what it was he wanted but I was happy to agree. I liked the chief, he was an honest and hard-working man who did all in his power to keep Forks the safe place to live that it was.

I arrived in the cafeteria to see him sitting at a table away from the others as if chosen for its privacy, so this was to be a private talk? I was more intrigued and went over to join him, picking up a coffee as cover as I did so.

"Chief Swan"

"Dr Cullen"

He looked anxious and slightly unnerved so I waited my hands clasped around the coffee,

"This is really awkward Dr Cullen and not a little dangerous but I'm here to ask you a few questions."

Now I was on my guard, dangerous? Did he suspect me of some wrong doing or was this something far more worrying?

"Now I'm worried Chief but please go on."

"Billy Black and his friends came to see me, you know who they are I take it?"

"Yes I do although I have never met them personally."

"That's because they don't like you Dr Cullen, they don't like what you are"

So it seemed the Quileutes had been telling tales out of school! That was worrying.

"I'm sorry, I don't follow you Chief Swan"

"Oh I think you do but if you want me to spell it out for you I will. They told me what you are, a vampire, and about the treaty allowing you to live here."

"I see and what do you propose to do with this information?"

Chief Swan sat back taking a sip of his coffee and looking at me as if weighing me up,

"You don't seem particularly worried about me calling you a vampire."

"Well what do you want me to do? Deny it? Then you would know I was lying to you."

He closed his eyes sighing heavily then sat forward,

"Listen to me, as long as you keep to the treaty I don't have a problem with you living here. Not if it keeps other less scrupulous vampires away. I know they feed on humans, I know they kill humans. My father saw them in action."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I have no knowledge of the attack you speak of but I can assure you that my family do not hunt humans, not in Forks or anywhere else. We live on animal blood not human."

He thought about this for a few minutes looking around the room as if unsure this conversation was really taking place but then he looked straight at me,

"I want you to keep your visitors away from my daughter in future."

"I see. Well Garrett has left but I'll be sure to pass that on to any other guests we have. I understand why Chief Swan. Can I ask one question in return?"

"Sure, why not"

"Why haven't you told anyone about me, about my family?"

"Because I don't believe you are a threat to the people of this town, because you are a good doctor and I think maybe a good man. As long as there are no vampire attacks on my patch we can continue to live together but if I find one body, even one, drained of blood or ripped apart I'll come for you, you and all your family."

"There's no need for threats Chief Swan and thank you for your trust, it isn't misplaced."

"I certainly hope not. Well that's it I guess. Thank you for meeting me Dr Cullen"

He got up and hesitating a second held his hand out. I shook it with a smile,

"Don't worry Chief Swan, vampirism isn't contagious."

He smiled and grimaced,

"I guess not."

As he walked away I marvelled at the courage and integrity of the man. He had faced a vampire knowing full well what I could do to him and told me his rules for continuing to live in his town. Granted he'd chosen a public place for the confrontation but I could have followed him out and killed him, especially after he told me he hadn't passed on what he knew. The Quileutes had tried using him as a way of getting us to leave but their little plan had backfired. I was liking Charlie Swan more and more but now I had to decide what to do. Edward would read my encounter in my mind so I could hardly keep it to myself. Rose would go mad knowing the Chief knew our secret and demand we move. As for the others, well I'd just have to wait and see. I would call a family meeting this evening but I'd fill Esme in first and see what she thought.