the poor tiny thing；〃 she sighed。 〃It broke my heart — that's why I
jumped off the cliff； you know；〃 she added matteroffactly。
〃Edward just said you ffell；〃 I stammered。
〃Always the gentleman。〃 She smiled。 〃Edward was the first of my new sons。
I've always thought of him that way； even though he's older than I； in
one way at least。〃 She smiled at me warmly。 〃That's why I'm so happy that
he's found you； dear。〃 The endearment sounded very natural on her lips。
〃He's been the odd man out for far too long； it's hurt me to see him
alone。〃
〃You don't mind； then？〃 I asked； hesitant again。 〃That I'm… all wrong for
him？〃
〃No。〃 She was thoughtful。 〃You're what he wants。 It will work out；
somehow；〃 she said； though her forehead creased with worry。 Another peal
of thunder began。
Esme stopped then； apparently； we'd reached the edge of the field。 It
looked as if they had formed teams。 Edward was far out in left field；
Carlisle stood between the first and second bases； and Alice held the
ball； positioned on the spot that must be the pitcher's mound。
Emmett was swinging an aluminum bat； it whistled almost untraceably
through the air。 I waited for him to approach home plate； but then I
realized； as he took his stance； that he was already there — farther from
the pitcher's mound than I would have thought possible。 Jasper stood
several feet behind him； catching for the other team。 Of course； none of
them had gloves。
〃All right；〃 Esme called in a clear voice； which I knew even Edward would
hear； as far out as he was。 〃Batter up。〃
Alice stood straight； deceptively motionless。 Her style seemed to be
stealth rather than an intimidating windup。 She held the ball in both
hands at her waist； and then； like the strike of a cobra； her right hand
flicked out and the ball smacked into Jasper's hand。
〃Was that a strike？〃 I whispered to Esme。
〃If they don't hit it； it's a strike；〃 she told me。
Jasper hurled the ball back to Alice's waiting hand。 She permitted
herself a brief grin。 And then her hand spun out again。
This time the bat somehow made it around in time to smash into the
invisible ball。 The crack of impact was shattering； thunderous； it echoed
off the mountains — I immediately understood the necessity of the
thunderstorm。
The ball shot like a meteor above the field； flying deep into the
surrounding forest。
〃Home run；〃 I murmured。
〃Wait；〃 Esme cautioned； listening intently； one hand raised。 Emmett was a
blur around the bases； Carlisle shadowing him。 I realized Edward was
missing。
〃Out！〃 Esme cried in a clear voice。 I stared in disbelief as Edward
sprang from the fringe of the trees； ball in his upraised hand； his wide
grin visible even to me。
〃Emmett hits the hardest；〃 Esme explained； 〃but Edward runs the fastest。〃
The inning continued before my incredulous eyes。 It was impossible to
keep up with the speed at which the ball flew； the rate at which their
bodies raced around the field。
I learned the other reason they waited for a thunderstorm to play when
Jasper； trying to avoid Edward's infallible fielding； hit a ground ball
toward Carlisle。 Carlisle ran into the ball； and then raced Jasper to
first base。 When they collided； the sound was like the crash of two
massive falling boulders。 I jumped up in concern； but they were somehow
unscathed。
〃Safe；〃 Esme called in a calm voice。
Emmett's team was up by one — Rosalie managed to flit around the bases
after tagging up on one of Emmett's long flies — when Edward caught the
third out。 He sprinted to my side； sparkling with excitement。
〃What do you think？〃 he asked。
〃One thing's for sure； I'll never be able to sit through dull old Major
League Baseball again。〃
〃And it sounds like you did so much of that before；〃 he laughed。
〃I am a little disappointed；〃 I teased。
〃Why？〃 he asked； puzzled。
〃Well； it would be nice if I could find just one thing you didn't do
better than everyone else on the pla。〃
He flashed his special crooked smile； leaving me breathless。
〃I'm up；〃 he said； heading for the plate。
He played intelligently； keeping the ball low； out of the reach of
Rosalie's alwaysready hand in the outfield； gaining two bases like
lightning before Emmett could get the ball back in play。 Carlisle knocked
one so far out of the field — with a boom that hurt my ears — that he and
Edward both made it in。 Alice slapped them dainty high fives。
The score constantly changed as the game continued； and they razzed each
other like any street ballplayers as they took turns with the lead。
Occasionally Esme would call them to order。 The thunder rumbled on； but
we stayed dry； as Alice had predicted。
Carlisle was up to bat； Edward catching； when Alice suddenly gasped。 My
eyes were on Edward； as usual； and I saw his head snap up to look at her。
Their eyes met and something flowed between them in an instant。 He was at
my side before the others could ask Alice what was wrong。
〃Alice？〃 Esme's voice was tense。
〃I didn't see — I couldn't tell；〃 she whispered。
All the others were gathered by this time。
〃What is it； Alice？〃 Carlisle asked with the calm voice of authority。
〃They were traveling much quicker than I thought。 I can see I had the
perspective wrong before；〃 she murmured。
Jasper leaned over her； his posture protective。 〃What changed？〃 he asked。
〃They heard us playing； and it changed their path；〃 she said； contrite；
as if she felt responsible for whatever had frightened her。
Seven pairs of quick eyes flashed to my face and away。
〃How soon？〃 Carlisle said； turning toward Edward。
A look of intense concentration crossed his face。
〃Less than five minutes。 They're running — they want to play。〃 He scowled。
〃Can you make it？〃 Carlisle asked him； his eyes flicking toward me again。
〃No； not carrying —〃 He cut short。 〃Besides； the last thing we need is
for them to catch the scent and start hunting。〃
〃How many？〃 Emmett asked Alice。
〃Three；〃 she answered tersely。
〃Three！〃 he scoffed。 〃Let them e。〃 The steel bands of muscle flexed
along his massive arms。
For a split second that seemed much longer than it really was； Carlisle
deliberated。 Only Emmett seemed unperturbed； the rest stared at
Carlisle's face with anxious eyes。
〃Let's just continue the game；〃 Carlisle finally decided。 His voice was
cool and level。 〃Alice said they were simply curious。〃
All this was said in a flurry of words that lasted only a few seconds。 I
had listened carefully and caught most of it； though I couldn't hear what
Esme now asked Edward with a silent vibration of her lips。 I only saw the
slight shake of his head and the look of relief on her face。
〃You catch； Esme；〃 he said。 〃I'll call it now。〃 And he planted himself in
front of me。
The others returned to the field； warily sweeping the dark forest with
their sharp eyes。 Alice and Esme seemed to orient themselves around where
I stood。
〃Take your hair down；〃 Edward said in a low； even voice。
I obediently slid the rubber band out of my hair and shook it out around
me。
I stated the obvious。 〃The others are ing now。〃
〃Yes； stay very still； keep quiet； and don't move from my side； please。〃
He hid the stress in his voice well； but I could hear it。 He pulled my
long hair forward； around my face。
〃That won't help；〃 Alice said softly。 〃I could smell her across the
field。〃
〃I know。〃 A hint of frustration colored his tone。
Carlisle stood at the plate； and the others joined the game halfheartedly。
〃What did Esme ask you？〃 I whispered。
He hesitated for a second before he answered。 〃Whether they were
thirsty；〃 he muttered unwillingly。
The seconds ticked by； the game progressed with apathy now。 No one dared
to hit harder than a bunt； and Emmett； Rosalie； and Jasper hovered in the
infield。 Now and again； despite the fear that numbed my brain； I was
aware of Rosalie's eyes on me。 They were expressionless； but something
about the way she held her mouth made me think she was angry。
Edward paid no attention to the game at all； eyes and mind ranging the
forest。
〃I'm sorry； Bella；〃 he muttered fiercely。 〃It was stupid； irresponsible；
to expose you like this。 I'm so sorry。〃
I heard his breath stop； and his eyes zeroed in on right field。 He took a
half step； angling himself between me and what was ing。
Carlisle； Emmett； and the others turned in the same direction； hearing
sounds of passage much too faint for my ears。
===========================================================================
18。 THE HUNT
They emerged one by one from the forest edge； ranging a dozen meters
apart。 The first male into the clearing fell back immediately； allowing
the other male to take the front； orienting himself around the tall；
darkhaired man in a manner that clearly displayed who led the pack。 The
third was a woman； from this distance； all I could see of her was that
her hair was a startling shade of red。
They closed ranks before they continued cautiously toward Edward's
family； exhibiting the natural