Chapter Thirteen

Charlie

When Harry left I rethought my idea of a barbecue to introduce Bella to my friend's from the reservation. He had left me in no doubt that if the Cullens were to attend then the Quileutes would not, although he still refused to explain the problem and to be perfectly honest I was getting a little sick of this infantile and seemingly ridiculous attitude the Quileutes had to a perfectly ordinary and friendly family. It was sad because I wanted my friends to share my joy in finding I had some family after all, but if it came to a choice between the two then family would win hands down. Bella and Caden meant too much to me to risk losing them to keep my friends happy.

I took Caden fishing on Wednesday, having arranged to swap shifts with one of my deputies, choosing a spot I knew we would catch something. Jasper had bought his son a junior rod and accessories and waved us off with a picnic provided by Esme. It was nice sitting on the river bank with my nephew, I'd dropped the grand as too awkward. He was a bright kid and we talked about a lot of things. Like I had been as a child he had a thirst for knowledge.

When he got his first bite he was so excited he let it get away but he didn't become upset or disheartened, just listened to my advice, tried again, and next time he reeled it in. A small fish, too small to cook and eat, I'd promised him we would cook anything we caught over a camp-fire after cleaning and gutting it. I saw his look as he stared at the little fish wriggling on the end of his rod and freed it to swim away.

"Does this mean we have to eat grandma's picnic Uncle Charlie?"

I shook my head,

"Let's see if I can catch something and we can eat it with grandma's picnic."

That cheered him up and luckily I caught two reasonably sized fish that would do fine. He watched closely as I cleaned and gutted the first one then asked if he could try. I was a little apprehensive, my knife was very sharp but with some guidance he managed well enough and didn't lose a single finger! I let him wrap them in foil and then put them in the hot ashes of the camp fire we had built from wood he had collected eagerly and waited, starting on the picnic as we did so. Caden enjoyed his baked fish and was loathe to leave as the afternoon dragged towards evening. In the end I had to promise we would come again real soon.

Bella

Jasper picked Caden up and we heard every moment of their adventure, Charlie had even taken a couple of photographs of Caden fishing and the baked fish they had for lunch. Of course Charity insisted she was going next time but I thought her parents might veto that. They trusted Charlie to look after her but water plus baked fish and sharp knives might be too much for Rosalie's nerves. She was very protective of her daughter and I understood completely, besides Charity was the most vulnerable of the two, being entirely human.

In the end Charlie placated her by having a barbecue at his place for the two children where they ate hot dogs, toasted marshmallows, grilled pineapple and bananas cooked in their skins with chocolate pushed inside. Not the most nutritious of meals but they loved it.

Sam

We had seen enough of the children to know they didn't belong with the leeches. Even the boy was more human than vampire and we had to do something about the situation. I had spoken to the elders in the end but they were cowards, hiding behind the treaty. So long as the leeches didn't break that treaty they wouldn't either.

"We are at peace Sam. You have no idea what it was like when the nomadic vampires used to come through this area. There was no pack to protect us, that only appeared once the Cullens settled in Forks. The pack keeps us safe from the Cullens and the Cullens keep other vampires from hunting in their territory which also keeps the village safe. Would you ruin that?"

"But what about the children? They are human. Don't we have a responsibility to them?"

Old Quil looked at the others then returned his gaze to me,

"Are these children Quileute?"

"No."

"Are they Native American?"

"No, you know they aren't."

"Then Sam, they have nothing to do with us or you. The guardian packs are only created to protect our peoples. You know that as the Alpha. The discussion is over, this meeting at an end."

I glanced around hoping to see at least one ally among the faces but there was nothing, the elders had spoken and the matter closed. I walked out feeling frustrated and annoyed, how could they turn their backs on two innocent children, whether they were of our race or not? I couldn't accept such a decision, I would not, and as the elders had not ordered me to forget about the children I was still free to act. I had called a meeting of the pack to decide how to proceed, something that had certainly pleased Paul.

I was surprised when Billy appeared at Emily's along with Jake and Embry, didn't they know we had serious business today? Business that the elders couldn't know about? Billy wheeled himself over to me and looked up,

"Jacob told me what this was about and I asked him to bring me along. I heard from Harry what happened when you spoke to the elders and I agree it was the wrong decision. As Alpha it is down to you to act."

I was wary, he could be here to spy on the pack although I doubted Jake would have agreed to bring him if he had any suspicions that was the case.

"How would you like to see the pack act, Billy?"

"I think you should ensure the safety of the innocent children whether they are of our race or not. We are quick to point the finger of blame at those who look down on us as being different, aren't the elders doing just that by ignoring the threat?"

I nodded, he was right, that's just what I thought.

The pack came to order and we discussed what the elders had said and what I proposed to do.

"Isn't this going against the wishes of the elders Sam?"

"It may be Leah but they did not tell me the pack could not act so we are free to choose what we do...for now."

She glared, her father would be under suspicion if we acted and the elders found out, which of course they would.

"If you wish to be excused from this you may go."

She hissed in anger and I saw her body begin to shake but Jake grabbed her arm and told her to cool down,

"Leah was only asking a question Sam, there was no need to say that to her."

Jake was right, I couldn't get it right with Leah whatever I said, but I apologized and we set to discussing what we could do.

Our biggest problem would be getting our hands on the children because we could not go to the Cullen house, that had been forbidden by the elders, besides the chances were that the children might be hurt or even killed if it came to a fight between the pack and the leeches. We needed to get our hands on them while they were out, with fewer leeches around them.

"Leah told me the children are often at Charlie's house, that would be a better place to snatch them and there are fewer leeches around. I think only Jasper Hale although he is probably your greatest threat."

"I'm not afraid of him, he's only one leech."

Billy wheeled around rapidly,

"Then you are a fool Paul, he is the most dangerous vampire in their world and you'd do well to remember that. If you can find a time when only the girl Bella is with them, that would be best. There would be no need for any bloodshed."

"Billy's right. We don't want to start a war, just get the children away from them before something happens to them."

"But how will we know when the kids are there alone with Bella?"

I turned to Billy to answer Quil's question as I had no idea.

"I'll go see Charlie and find out if I can. Who knows, I may strike it lucky and find the kids and Bella there."

"Then take this."

I nodded to Emily who took a small bottle from the cupboard and handed it to me. I passed it over to Billy who stared at it suspiciously then looked questioningly at me.

"It's only a knock out potion, it won't do Charlie any lasting harm, a headache maybe, that's all. If Bella is alone you can dose her too, she's human so it will have the same effect."

"How's Billy supposed to dose their drinks?"

Billy turned to Paul,

"I often take drinks over when I visit. Why should he be suspicious? After all he trusts me, I'm his friend"

The last was said with a hint of sarcasm, Billy maybe Charlie's friend but he was a Quileute first and last.