FAGEtastic Four

Title: Rodeo Drive

Written for: Aunt Bell

Written By: Cullen Cousin

Rating: T

Summary/Prompt used: Her cross-country roadtrip leads to meeting "the one" at a Rodeo, but will they ever meet again? C/B, AH

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Disclaimer: As usual, all Twilight characters before to SM...But the story belongs to me!

Rodeo Drive

Chapter One - On the Road

On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way and our way

Is on the road again
I just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again

-On The Road Again by Willie Nelson

Bella had just put her last box in the back of her new truck, a graduation present from her dad, mom and stepfather. The truck was a beauty, a Chevy Silverado Texas Edition, cherry red and fully loaded. Even though she missed her old truck, she couldn't have been more happier with the new one. Her parents got it for her for earning a full four-year scholarship to the University of Texas to study journalism.

Her longtime friend Alice Brandon was going to go to UT also to study business management. , so the girls had come up with a plan. After a lot of talking, persuading and not to mention begging, they finally got the parents to agree to it... a cross-country road trip! Their plan was for Bella to drive to Wyoming and stay for a couple of weeks visiting with her and the family before heading south to Texas.

Even though Bella was more like her father, every once in a while she would get a wild notion like her free-spirited mother and want to do something crazy. And as far as Charlie was concerned, this was most definitely a crazy idea. But what could he do, she was legally an adult and he couldn't stop her. Try as he might, he just could not talk her out of it. She kept telling him that it was a right of passage, for people her age to take a trip after they graduate from their senior year of high school. At least she was not going alone at least for part of it, but he would have preferred her to forget this hair-brained scheme.

Bella was her father's child when it came to being single-minded When her mind was made up, there was no changing it. If there was one trait that Charlie wished she would never have inherited from him that would be his stubbornness.

"You know Bells, it's not to late for you to change your mind about this," Charlie stated as he finished tying down the tarp in the bed of the truck.

"Dad..." came Bella's exasperated reply. "We have been through this already. I will be safe. The truck is new and running good, I won't drive at night and I promise that I will call you when I stop for the night and and when I get back on the road in the morning."

"Sorry baby, I just worries me, the thought of a young girl driving alone on a 2500 mile road trip half way across the country," He moves over to her and pulls her into a hug.

"I know, Dad," She sighs, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I know you are worried about this, but I will be fine."

As he releases his daughter, he reaches into his pants pocket to pull out two cylinders and hands them to her.

"Pepper spray?" Bella asks as she examines the law enforcement label on it. "I don't know..."

"Please Bella, for your old man's peace of mind," he asks.

"Okay Dad, if it makes you feel better," she relents and puts them in her coat pocket.

"Thanks, kiddo." Charlie pulls her into another hug and kisses the top of her head.

"I really should be getting on the road", Bella says as she opens the driver's door.

Charlie could feel tears welling up in his eyes as pulled his only daughter into a final hug. He could tell this was not easy on her either. "Just promise me you will be safe," he whispered softly.

"I promise dad." She hugged him once more before she allowed him to help her up into the cab.

With a final reminder to be safe and lots of tears and waves, Bella was off on the adventure of a lifetime.

There being really no need to rush, Bella took her time driving east to Wyoming; stopping several times along the way to see the sights. The 1300 miles it took to get there didn't seem to take all that long, especially when you are enjoying yourself. She had to admit though, that she was a bit relieved to see the turn off to the ranch.

Just outside of Laramie, sits the 8000 acre Saddle Ridge Ranch. A working cattle ranch owned by Alice's parents that offers city slickers the chance to play cowboy. Bella first started coming here with her mom when she was nine. As she got older, she would spend part of her summer vacation with her father then spend the rest of it here on the ranch with Alice. Through the years, they became real close friends, so close, that Alice's parents considered her a daughter and would send for her to come during her spring breaks here, too.

Driving down that long dusty cattle trail that passes for a road, the ranch house seemed to take forever to come into view. Finally, right at noontime, she reach the house. Alice could be seen bouncing up and down on the porch, in anticipation of her arrival. Bella hardly had a chance to shut down the engine and pull the keys out of the ignition, before being pulled out of the cab of the truck by her best friend.

"Oh, Bella! You made it!" squealed Alice.

Bella could do nothing but laugh at her friends exuberance. Hugging her friend back, "Did you think I wasn't going to make it?"

"I knew you would, I just hated waiting for you to get here," Alice answered, leading her into the house. "Mom! Bella's here!"

Her mom came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel tucked in her apron. "Bella, it so good to see you. Did you have a good drive, dear?" Giving her a hug.

"It was fun and I just took my time. I have to admit though, it was a relief when I finally saw the house!" she laughed.

"Well, you made it just in time for lunch, just have a seat. Alice, call the boys in to eat," She instructed her daughter.

Alice just pulled out her cell phone and called her dad to let them know.

"So," Bella said looking at Alice, "When do I get to meet this guy you keep going on about, uh...what's his name again... Jason...Jackson..."

"It's Jasper," she answered with a roll of the eyes.

"Alright, where is this 'Jasper' you keep telling me about?" Bella asked taking a sip of her iced tea. He was all she ever talked about lately.

"Out with Dad working on the fence line. They should be here in a few minutes, they were just heading back when I called. Oh Bella! I can't wait for you to meet him, your gonna love him! He is so..." She suddenly jumps up, "He's here!"

Two men made their way into the house. The young man hardly had a chance to walk in the room before Alice was jumping into his arms. "Hey there, darlin'." he said with a drawl and a kiss to the forehead.

"I want you to meet someone," she told him as she took his hand and led him to where Bella sat. "Bella Swan, this is Jasper Whitlock... ranch hand and boyfriend extraordinaire."

Bella stuck her hand out to greet him, "Ah, the infamous Jasper. I've heard a lot about you."

"Bella..." Jasper, being the southern gentleman that he is, take her hand and kisses it. "I hope ya didn't believe everythin' ya heard," he laughs, releasing her hand. "Besides, I feel like I already know you. Ally-cat here, talks about you all the time."

"I do not!" Alice replies indignantly.

"Do, too!" They both respond in unison.

They made their way to the table as they talked, Alice's dad came in and gave Bella a warm hug and kiss. As far as he was concerned, she was another daughter to him.

While they ate, Jasper regaled the girls with his day's adventures. Bella loved listening to Jasper talk. There were three accents that always make her insides turn to mush; a slow southern drawl like Jasper and a British or Australian accent. There was just something about the last two that really drew her attention.

After lunch, Alice tried to get Bella and Jasper to go out for a trail ride, but Jasper and Bella had shot it down.

"Sorry sweetheart, your Dad and I still have to work on the fence line," Jasper said, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"Besides, Alice," Bella added. "I 'm a bit tired and still need to unpack the truck. I don't want to drive around for the next couple of week with everything in the bed of the truck."

Turing towards Bella, "I'll tell you what Darlin', if you two hold off the unloadin', I'll help y'all after I finish my work. Okay?" Jasper offered.

"Thank you, Jazzy!" Alice squealed.

Bella just shook her head, "You really don't have to that Jasper, I don't want to trouble you with that. I can do it myself."

"Hogwash, it'll be no trouble at all. My momma raised be better than that, she would kill me, if I let you unload that truck."

"Okay, Okay...you win. I don't think I could live with your death on my conscious." Bella answers dryly.

"That's the spirit!" Jasper laughs while kissing Alice one last time before heading out the door with her dad.

After the men went back to work, Alice's mom finally convinced her to let Bella rest for the day. And the only way she could accomplish that was to sent her to the store.

Later that evening, Jasper kept his word to unload Bella's truck. After a wonderful home-cooked meal, the youngsters retired to the porch to get further acquainted.

In talking to Jasper, she found out that he was originally from Houston, Texas and he is here in Wyoming to train as a bull rider at the Volturi Brothers Ranch. They are one of the top ranches that proved the livestock for rodeos around the US and in training up and coming riders. On their ranch, you can learn to ride bulls, bare back and saddle broncs, as well as steer wrestling, team and calf roping. Students come from all over the world to learn to ride by the best.

The night finally seemed to catch up on her and Bella quietly excused herself from the two lovebirds on the porch swing. Finishing her nightly rituals, she curled up in the large bed she always slept in when she visited. Looking out the window as she watched the stars shine from above she had the feeling that this was going to be one great summer.

A/N: I do apologize for any errors, they are my own and not my Beta's. I have a habit of changing things after I get it back from her! Thought I would do something a bit different this go around and make it a multi chapter story. I'm thinking around 3 or 4, just have to see how it works out. Don't forget to click that little button below and leave a bit of love! CC