The issue of entering the reservation was not a problem for young Jacob; his father was the tribe’s chief, so what could be wrong with taking his crush to see and stroll around the reservation?
It was a non-issue. Who in the tribe would dare oppose it? They’d be torn apart!
However, before leaving, he still glanced at his father.
Compared to his naive son, Billy Black, sitting in his wheelchair, was much more insightful. Over the years, as the chief of the Native American tribe, he had made a point of befriending Charlie, the local sheriff, to ensure the safety of his people.
Due to physical limitations, he hadn’t inherited the extraordinary abilities of his tribe. Still, as the legitimate son of the previous chief, his insight far exceeded that of the average tribesperson.
He could sense something slightly off about Bella, and allowing her to visit the tribe at this time was not ideal.
Yet, he had no valid reason to oppose it publicly or privately.
Faced with Jacob’s somewhat puzzled look, he could only smile and nod in agreement.
“Come on! Get in the car!”
Young Jacob drove up in a faded Chevrolet pickup, which could barely be called red. This truck was something they had half-sold and half-given away, intended as a gift for Bella.
It would have meant Bella driving with him sitting beside her if he had given it away now. If not immediately given, it meant him driving with Bella beside him. Eager to show his good side, Jacob chose the latter, deciding to drive himself.
Bella sat in the passenger seat, and Jacob excitedly reversed the truck. After bidding farewell to the two middle-aged men, the pickup headed north through the woods toward the reservation.
Bella started having sporadic conversations with Jacob.
She wasn’t particularly fond of the pickup but didn’t hate it either.
A pickup is still a truck, and she couldn’t get comfortable with the open cargo bed. “Who drives a truck, anyway? You use this for hauling stuff, right? It even smells a bit like potatoes!”
Bella wasn’t interested in the handsome vampire or the overly eager Jacob. She didn’t care about the tragic past of the handsome vampire, nor was she concerned whether Jacob could turn into a werewolf. Forks Town was merely a starting point for her, not the destination.
There was no point in comparing the two men; it was meaningless.
But it must be said the handsome vampire had been around for over a hundred years and knew how to handle things.
Jacob could only offer a goddess a truck with peeling paint and large mudguards that, while sturdy—sure to survive a collision—wasn’t aesthetically pleasing. Even if Bella wasn’t knowledgeable about cars, she could tell this truck was probably older than Charlie and was still only half-given away!
On the other hand, the handsome vampire had presented a Mercedes at engagement and a Ferrari after marriage.
From this perspective, Jacob was utterly outclassed.
But she also knew that as Native Americans, they were ‘protected’ and faced many restrictions. It wasn’t that Jacob didn’t want to get a nice car; he simply couldn’t afford it!
At that moment, she deliberately changed the subject from finding water sources to identifying poisonous mushrooms, turning what she had learned from the internet in her previous life into practical knowledge.
Jacob was always forthcoming and exhaustive in conversation, even though discussing outdoor survival tips with his goddess in such a setting seemed a bit out of place. It didn’t spoil the atmosphere.
Marvel Survival Rule Number Two: Never offend those handsome men who can fix motorcycles.
If those in wheelchairs are seen as spiritual leaders, then those who can fix motorcycles are often the practical leaders, like Cyclops, Captain America, or Tony Stark! These folks are prominent in their fields, and it’s wise for Bella to befriend Jacob, the chief’s son, who seems to have inherited some impressive lineage.
Bella spent an afternoon in Jacob’s tribe, finding the Native Americans genuine. Initially, there was some resistance to her, but they warmed up after getting to know her better.
Jacob pulled out all the stops, showed Bella around his workshop, shared his extensive collection, and explained his experiences with modifying motorcycles in detail. He would have loved to give a live demonstration if time had allowed.
In her past life, Bella had only ridden pedal motorcycles and had a fundamental understanding of mechanics, often asking naive questions. Jacob was patient and answered all her inquiries, elaborating extensively.
When Bella finally said, “Jacob, you’re a good man,” he thought he had made a significant advance on the path to success.
Ultimately, Bella does not accept the motorcycle or the truck and instead buys a bicycle from Jacob.
She lived in town, and her school was nearby; there was no need for a car. If it had been a nice car, maybe, but a truck? Better keep it for hauling groceries!
A bicycle was perfect for her, a great way to stay fit!
The school, aware of Bella’s involvement in the Flight 180 incident, had given her a month off, providing her some rare free time.
Upon learning of her fitness intentions, Jacob ditched his motorcycle and began cycling to meet her daily.
As they grew more familiar, Jacob often pulled Bella to the Native American reservation for outings.
Once or twice was fine, but after numerous visits, the wheelchair-bound Chief Billy began to worry about his naive son and the tribe.
But with Bella being brought to the tribe by his naive son, he couldn’t just send her away, not from the perspective of his old friend Charlie, nor from that of his naive son.
The middle-aged chief sighed deeply in the shadows, and after much contemplation, he decided to speak directly with Bella.
With the characteristic gentle smile of someone in a wheelchair, he asked Bella, “It seems you have overcome the gloom, which is truly wonderful. Adversity won’t knock us down; it only makes us stronger.”
His opening was universally applicable and fitting for most people.
The reservation was almost like an ancient forest, with many in the Native American tribe having werewolf lineage, each as robust as a little furnace, baring their chests without fear of the cold.
But Bella was different; the forest’s temperature dropped significantly after the rain.
Today, she wore a light yellow parka paired with her ever-present jeans and sneakers, looking quite sunny.
“Jacob is a good friend; he always brings warmth.”
It was a universal reply. Praising someone’s child could hardly go wrong.
The middle-aged chief didn’t care about the Flight 180 incident. His knowledge of it was superficial. After all, the dead were Americans; what did it have to do with his people? He hadn’t lit a celebratory bonfire, which was considerate enough!
But at that moment, he couldn’t say he didn’t care and, curious, asked in detail about the incident.
Bella had repeatedly recounted the incident and shared the sequence of events, neither understating her role nor exaggerating the severity.
“Come take a walk with me outside,” the middle-aged chief suggested.
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