Chapter Thirty Nine

Charlie

Bella came back without Jake and she didn't look very happy but soon after that Sam Uley and his fiancee Emily arrived and she and Bella got to talking. Jake appeared not long after them and he and Sam went off talking rapidly, neither looking very happy and casting furtive looks at my daughter. Billy didn't seem to notice, he was busy telling me of the plans for a new council building, they'd received a government grant and the young men of the tribe were ready to begin as soon as the building supplies arrived.

"I'll give you a hand if you like Billy."

"You with a hammer and saw Charlie?"

"Hey I'm learning. I've had help and the shed looks like it might survive a few more winters now."

He didn't comment on this and I realized it was because he knew who'd been helping me.

"Still not the Cullens greatest fan Billy?"

"The Cullens are not discussed here Charlie."

I was going to tackle him about the subject once more when Sue called to say dinner was ready and instead we made our way over to their place where a huge trestle table had been set up and the young guys were already seated talking animatedly until we arrived when a quiet crept over the group.

Bella

I was angry with Jacob and relieved when another of the younger guys appeared with his fiancee Emily. She was slim and had beautiful glossy black hair but one side of her pretty face was scarred by what looked like claw marks and I vaguely remembered dad telling me about one of the girls from the res being attacked by a bear and saved by Sam Uley so this must be them. She was friendly enough and we chatted about how I liked Forks and then found we had an interest in the same kind of books. I hadn't realized Jacob was back until we were called for dinner and I saw him at Sam's side and knew they were discussing me. What now?

I was seated between a girl called Leah who looked like she'd rather be anywhere else and Jacob which left me feeling very uncomfortable. At first we ate in silence while the others continued their discussion in muted tones but all eyes darted to me at one point or another. Had he told the others what I'd said? If so, from their reaction it was clear they already knew about the Cullens which was very strange. Was that why they didn't like Dr Cullen and his family?

After the meal I helped the other women clear the table and carrying in a heap of plates I almost crashed into Leah Clearwater who scowled at me,

"Watch where you're going leech lover."

I stopped looking at her back as she strode angrily on, what had she called me? Leech lover? So she too knew that the Cullens were vampires! I'd been correct. As dad and his cronies sat down once more to talk Sam Uley came up to me,

"I think we need to talk Bella."

I could have refused but I was curious how much he and the others knew and why they kept it from my dad.

"OK, where?"

"Come with me to Jake's, we'll not be overheard there."

I followed him over to find a group of young men sitting around along with Leah, the group who had been talking quietly over dinner and they scowled as I entered taking a seat beside a young boy I didn't know and looking round for Emily but she was nowhere to be seen.

"What did you want to talk about Sam?"

He looked grave as he started speaking,

"Jacob tells me you know what the Cullens are."

What not who!

"So?"

"So? They're vampires Bella, doesn't that worry you?"

I glanced at Leah who looked like she'd just sucked on a lemon.

"No it doesn't as a matter of fact because if you know they're vampires then you also know that they live on animal blood not human."

"That's not the point Bella."

"Yes it is the point Jacob. I'm in no danger from them, in fact they have been kindness itself to me."

"Kindness? Yeah well from what we hear you haven't had much of that so I understand, but they are still dangerous predators Bella and you should keep your distance."

I stood up facing Sam angrily,

"You have no right to tell me what to do Sam and answer me this, if they are so dangerous then why haven't you told my father about them? Are you scared?"

There was an angry muttering that ran around the small room until Sam put a hand up to silence the group then he looked back at me.

"No, we do not fear the Cullens or any other vampires. We can protect ourselves. The reason we have not told your father about them is because our ancestors made a treaty with Dr Cullen. If his family hunted only animals we would leave them in peace and keep their secret from the pale faces."

"How do you do that?"

"What?"

"Protect yourselves from vampires? I didn't think humans stood a chance against vampires, they're stronger and faster than any of you."

There was a laugh of amusement from several of the guys and the one seated beside me sneered,

"They may be fast and strong but we're faster and stronger."

I narrowed my eyes, did they have a secret of their own perhaps?

"What are you then?"

"Men."

"When you aren't human, what are you? Monsters of some kind?"

"The Cullens are the monsters Bella not us. We only turn to protect ourselves, we do not harm humans."

Sam shot the guy next to me a strange look and I remembered the scars on Emily's face, could it be Sam had done that to her?

"Do you become bears?"

There was a stunned silence then Jacob spoke,

"Why would you say that?"

"Well, Emily was said to have been attacked by a bear, the scars on her face are like bear claws but the way Sam looked at him..."

I pointed to my neighbor,

"I think maybe it wasn't as simple as that so do you? Turn into bears or something?"

"No, not bears."

"But you do turn don't you? It was one of you that scarred Emily wasn't it? You have your own secret you want to keep, that's why you haven't told my dad about the Cullens isn't it?"

The silence lingered for a long time and I walked to the door,

"I see. Well you keep your secret and theirs and so will I."

"You will get hurt if you stay with them you know that Bella. They are killers whatever they promise."

"We all have the ability to kill Sam and I know Jasper won't hurt me or allow anyone else to do so either."

"You know nothing about his past, it would have you running scared for our protection."

"Actually I do. I know all about The Major so you see I don't scare easily. Now if you've finished I'm going back to my dad."

I started walking back furious at their arrogance when I heard padding behind me and turned to find a huge wolf only a few feet behind me. It stopped as I turned and watched me with intelligent eyes. There was something not quite right about the animal though. It was too big, too calm, and the look it gave me was too knowing. If the guys didn't turn in to bears could it be they turned into wolves? The claw marks on Emily's face could be those of a wolf just as easily as a bear. I walked slowly forward to face it hoping I wasn't making the biggest mistake of my short life and looked into its face.

"See, I really don't scare easily but thank you for showing me your true form."

Then I turned and continued on my way back to Harry's place and my dad shaking slightly but trying to hide it.