rf。　We're　not　allowed　to　attack　any　of　them；　the

Cullens；　at　least；　off　our

land—unless　they　break　the　treaty　first。　We　didn't　know　if　the　black…haired

one　was　a　relative　of　theirs　or

something。　Looked　like　you　knew　him。〃

〃How　would　they　go　about　breaking　the　treaty？〃

〃If　they　bite　a　human。　Jake　wasn't　so　keen　on　the　idea　of　letting　it　go　that

far。〃

〃Oh。　Um；　thanks。　I'm　glad　you　didn't　wait。〃

〃Our　pleasure。〃　He　sounded　like　he　meant　that　in　a　literal　sense。

Embry　drove　past　the　easternmost　house　on　the　highway　before　turning　off　onto

a　narrow　dirt　road。

〃Your　truck　is　slow；〃　he　noted。

〃Sorry。〃

At　the　end　of　the　lane　was　a　tiny　house　that　had　once　been　gray。　There　was

only　one　narrow　window

beside　the　weathered　blue　door；　but　the　window　box　under　it　was　filled　with

bright　orange　and　yellow

marigolds；　giving　the　whole　place　a　cheerful　look。

Embry　opened　the　truck　door　and　inhaled。　〃Mmm；　Emily's　cooking。〃

Jared　jumped　out　of　the　back　of　the　truck　and　headed　for　the　door；　but　Embry

stopped　him　with　one

hand　on　his　chest。　He　looked　at　me　meaningfully；　and　cleared　his　throat。

〃I　don't　have　my　wallet　on　me；〃　Jared　said。

〃That's　okay。　I　won't　forget。〃

They　climbed　up　the　one　step　and　entered　the　house　without　knocking。　I

followed　timidly　after　them。

The　front　room；　like　Billy's　house；　was　mostly　kitchen。　A　young　woman　with

satiny　copper　skin　and　long；

straight；　crow…black　hair　was　standing　at　the　counter　by　the　sink；　popping　big

muffins　out　of　a　tin　and

placing　them　on　a　paper　plate。　For　one　second；　I　thought　the