With determination, I wrapped Alice in the coziest blanket I could find, careful not to disturb her peaceful sleep. She stirred slightly but remained nestled in the warmth. Knowing that she needed to see Carlisle, I decided to take her home as soon as possible.
Cradling her gently in my arms, I navigated the stairs with careful steps, ensuring her safety. The quietness of the house seemed to respect the tranquility of Alice's slumber. As we descended, the afternoon light spilled through the windows, casting a soft glow on the stairs.
Once downstairs, I was relieved to find Charlie sitting on the old leather chair. He raised a brow at me, "Is she all right?" He whispered.
"I-I'm not sure." I whispered back in a trembling voice.
He stood and then winced but made his way towards me. "You're taking her home then? Let me take you, I can help."
"No, Dad." I shook my head determinedly, trying not to watch his hunched frame suspiciously. He must have overdone himself today. "I'll take her, she isn't very heavy. There is still plenty of daylight left, so no need to worry about bandits."
"Bells—" Charlie started, but I was already walking towards the door, not wanting to leave room for argument.
With great care, I gently laid her in the wagon, making sure she was well-supported by pillows and the blanket. Firerain poked his head into the wagon and sniffed at her, confused as to why she was just lying there and not showering him with attention.
"Shhh." I pushed his head away, afraid the snuffling sound would rouse her.
"Let's get her home, Firerain. You know where to go."
Firerain trotted down the pathway on the farm. The rhythmic creaking of the wagon wheels became a soothing lullaby as we carefully maneuvered through the farmyard.
The cool breeze kissed my face as the wagon moved, and the gentle sway seemed to lull Alice into a deeper sleep. The sights and sounds of the farm stirred a sense of tranquility, but I felt the turmoil stirring within. What if Carlisle couldn't help her this time?
Upon reaching the peaceful waters of Heaven's Tear Lake, Firerain slowed his trot. The beauty of the surroundings seemed bleak to me at this moment.
"Why are you slowing down?" I asked the mule.
He teetered on his hooves and gave a nervous blow.
"What's wrong, buddy?"
I tried to pull on his reins to depart Heaven Tear's Lake, but he resisted.
The tranquility of the surroundings was suddenly shattered by the appearance of a scruffy man on the trail. His unkempt appearance, tattered clothes, and the glint of a knife in his hands hinted at trouble.
Bandits had chosen this isolated path for their ambush.
Tension hung in the air as the man stepped forward, a sneer on his face. Firerain neighed loudly and stomped his hooves in a threatening manner. The rustling of leaves and the distant call of birds became ominous background noise. I tightened my grip on the reins and Alice.
"Hand over ye valuables, and ye won't get hurt," the scruffy man snarled, his intentions clear.
I weighed my options, mindful of the knife in his hands. The isolation of the trail and the limited visibility heightened my sense of defenselessness. Scooting back to cover Alice, I maintained a cautious distance, ready to react if needed.
"I don't have any valuables, thief."
"Don't ye lie, what zit you covering over there?" The scruffy man stepped forward to peer into the wagon, but Firerain made an angry sound and nipped at him.
"Get off me ye stupid animal!" The bandit swung his knife at Firerain, and he jumped back, jerking the wagon.
"No!" I yelled at the man, "Stop! There's nothing here, just my friend. She's sick."
The scruffy man stopped and eyed the wagon again, his eyes settling over Alice, who was bundled up and still asleep.
"I think I should check'n see fer myself." He spat and approached the wagon again.
"Why are you even here? Don't you folks use the cover of darkness? You won't get away with this." I said in desperation, trying to distract him.
The scruffy bandit, still holding the knife, offered a wry smile in response. "Ye wolf sightings about here at night make it too risky, ye see. Safer to do er business in the daylight, even if it's wee bit risky. Doubt two girls and a runt of a donkey will be much trouble." He snorted.
Just as he descended onto the wagon, a sudden rustle in the bushes caught the attention of both the scruffy man and me. Another figure emerged. A large and muscular man with rich reddish-brown skin, tousled black hair, and clad in only cutt-off denim shorts leaped onto the trail between us. I thought he might look familiar, but I couldn't get my brain to work well in the escalating situation.
"Looks like you picked the wrong travelers today," the newcomer remarked, a confident smile playing on his lips. It was apparent that this wasn't his first encounter with bandits.
The scruffy man hesitated, assessing the odds. The newcomer's presence had shifted the balance. The newcomer had a large and powerful frame, and he towered over the small, scruffy man. It wasn't just his size that was threatening. The power and grace in which he had moved when he jumped from the bushes was nearly inhuman. This man, whoever it was, was not someone who could be easily defeated.
With a resentful glare, he retreated into the shadows of the trail, disappearing as swiftly as he had arrived.
The newcomer turned to me, his gaze firm but reassuring. "Are you alright, Bella?"
Grateful for the timely intervention, I nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate your help—wait—you know who I am?"
"Well, of course I do." The corner of his lips turned into a smile as if the danger they were fighting moments ago was child's play.
As I studied the newcomer who had saved us from the bandit, a realization dawned on me. It suddenly clicked—this rugged and more mature figure was none other than Embry Call, one of Jacob's best friends.
"Embry!" I gasped.
He must have thought my expression to be amusing as his grin widened. "The one and only!"
"I'm sorry, you've grown so much since I've last seen you." I stammered quickly. And it was true. I had seen him just a month ago. How was it possible for him to have grown so much in such a short amount of time?
"Yeah." He scratched his head absently, looking away.
The acknowledgment of Embry's identity lingered in the air, creating an awkward silence. The unexpected reunion had momentarily left us at a loss for words.
"Um, thank you, for saving us." I stammered, my mind still reeling from the chaos of events.
"Not a problem," Embry's grin still on his face, "Those scum have been hiding on the trails here and up north a bit farther that way." He gestured to the other trail going north, "Steer clear of it if you can help it. We're doing the best we can, but some slip past us."
"Who's we?" I asked, my brow furrowed in confusion. "I am very grateful you were here, Embry, but wouldn't it be best to alert the sheriffs? This is dangerous, aren't you only fifteen?" I eyed his build. He was built more like a twenty-five-year-old rather than a teen.
Embry laughed. "The sheriffs won't do a thing, Bella. They barely lifted a finger when Billy—" He seemed to choke on the words. "Well, you know. And besides, these are our woods. We know them best." He said proudly.
"Who else is watching the forest?" I prompted again, unable to resist the curiosity about Jacob.
Embry thought about it for a moment. "Just some of the boys from the reservation, you know, Sam, Jake, Jarod, and Paul."
"I see..." I trailed, "Any news from Jacob?"
Embry's expression shifted, a knowing glint in his eyes, and I got the feeling that he was aware of our recent fight. "Ah, Jake. You know how he is, always finding his own path."
I couldn't help but chuckle at the vague response. "True, he does have a way of doing that."
Embry's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Er... Yeah. But he's been around, dealing with his own set of challenges."
As the conversation danced around the unspoken, it became clear that cryptic responses were meant to hide something, leaving me to wonder about Jacob's state.
"Y-yeah." I said awkwardly.
"Where are you headed?" Embry seemed eager to change the subject. "I can escort you."
"I am taking my friend home, she's sick."
"Ah," Embry eyes shifted to the wagon for the first time, "Poor little kid. Where does she live?"
"Actually, she's not a kid. She's older than the both of us." I corrected him with a huff. "And she lives up the hill, the Cullen residence."
I watched his face as it grew into a scowl at the mention of the Cullen residence, confirming the undercurrent of prejudice among the Quileutes that I suspected, leaving me with a gnawing sense of unease. The Quileutes' apparent disdain for the Cullens was unfair and undeserved. Questions swirled in my mind. Why did the Quileutes harbor such intense prejudice against the Cullens?
"Is she a servant of theirs?" He asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion and flickering between the girl wrapped in the blanket and the prominent mansion on top of the hill.
"No, of course not." I said, indignant. "She's the doctor's daughter."
"But..." Embry seemed confused by this. "She's human."
I found myself perplexed by Embry's unusual remark, "What? Of course, she's human. Embry, what are you talking about?"
Caught off guard, a flicker of embarrassment suddenly crossed his face. He backtracked, his tone softening, "Sorry about that, Bella. It's just... It's nothing." he said.
"It's not nothing. What do you all have against the Cullens?" I stood my ground, frustrated.
His reluctance to delve further into the subject was evident, and an awkward silence lingered in the air. As I began to repeat myself, Embry continued, "I, uh, can't accompany you to the house. It's better if I steer clear of that place." He changed the subject and began to walk away.
"Wait!" I called after him, but he dived back into the forest, and by the time I clambered out of the wagon, there was no trace of Embry.