Chapter Thirty Eight

Peter

It was like trying to move a fuckin' mountain getting The Major to agree to find Bella and Becca and persuading them to let us help them out by offering them a place to live, or asking Bella to let me at least have contact with Becca, it was driving me crazy being so far from her and not even being able to chat to her on the phone. He didn't realize how much it was affecting him too, he'd never been the life and soul of the party but these days he was downright fuckin' depressed!

I decided to take action anyway and contacted Darius if anyone could sniff them out he could and I didn't want to use the pull as it would be too much like following a mate and even I didn't want to think about Becca like that yet. I knew Carlisle had waited to hear back but Darius knew better than to keep me waiting, I would only bitch and bitch until he did.

"What do you want Whitlock? I'm busy."

"Not too busy for a friend though big D."

"The words friend and Whitlock are never connected and the name is Darius unless you want me to hang up on you?"

"Touchy! Who got your balls in a twist? Never mind, I need to trace two people, humans that is."

"I am not the fucking lost and found office, get off your ass and use your limited skills to find them yourself, Peter."

"The Major needs to know too."

There was a pause, then

"Give me the details"

I smiled, I knew he wouldn't refuse help to The Major so I gave him all the details.

"Can you do it?"

"Do bears shit in the woods?"

"No idea, hate the fucking things, woods I mean."

I knew he'd make me drag my heels but that was OK, it gave me time to work on The Major and the longer we were stuck here with the memories of Becca and Bella the more it wore him down and the easier my task became.

"Peter, even if we do find them what do you propose doing? Bella has every right to tell us both to go to hell."

"But she won't, it's my guess she and Becca are no more settled than we are."

"You can't know that for sure."

"Trust me, Major, Bella is missing you as much as Becca misses me."

He shook his head, stubborn to the very end as always,

"Bella has no reason to want me, Peter. Our desertion led to all those deaths, even her husband, the father of her child. Why would she want me? I never felt for her when she was with Edward so why have things changed?"

"Because you got free of the poisoned dwarf and she is free of Edward's animal magnetism. You can both see clearly now and don't give me any of that I'm not worthy shit either. You just want to wallow in your misery."

I was relieved when Darius did get back to me because The Major had almost convinced himself he was a three-headed monster dripping the blood of virgin sacrifices by this time.

"OK, I found them."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Where the fuck are they?"

"Oh right, remember you owe me."

"Yeah, yeah, whenever you want unwelcome guests scared off give me a call. Now where are they damn it?"

He gave me an address and I went to find The Major who was cleaning out Star's stall although he'd only done it that morning!

"Fancy a road trip or are you gonna sacrifice more virgins today?"

He scowled,

"You found out where they are?"

"Sure did and I'm off to persuade them that I can't live without them, you coming or not?"

For one horrible minute, I thought he was going to say no but then he threw the pitchfork down and grabbed his jacket,

"Yeah, I'm coming."

I grinned, success was now guaranteed!

We took my truck for the road trip and I turned the radio up really loud once I had tuned it into a country station and sang along while he closed his eyes and tried to ignore me. Now we both knew that wasn't possible for long and eventually he reached out and turned the radio down so I scowled and leaned forward to increase the volume once more.

"Do it and I'll break all your fingers."

"Hey, I like Garth Brooks and it's my truck."

He opened one eye to look at me and I pulled my hand back rapidly,

"What's got stuck up your ass?"

The baleful eye closed once more and he said nothing but I thought I knew, he was nervous about seeing Bella again and afraid she might shut the door in his face but I knew better, I had more experience with females and I had seen the way those two looked at each other, Bella was his mate even if he didn't understand the feeling of ants crawling all over him.

"Relax and enjoy the trip Major."

Again there was silence from my companion but I could live with that and it was better than him deciding to bail before we got there.

The closer we came the more I sensed something was wrong, I should be feeling better, more relaxed but instead, I just felt more antsy and from the way, my friend was fidgeting in his seat he felt the same.

"Are you sure about this Peter?"

"I was, do you think Darius fed me a line?"

"I doubt it but I don't think they're there. Maybe they moved since he got the address for you. We should turn around and go back."

"Back? Not until I know for sure."

It didn't take long to discover he was right, the house smelled of the girls but it was deserted and had been for a couple of days at least. As I walked down the path back to the truck shaking my head a little boy peered over the fence.

"Becca's gone."

I turned then walked over to speak to him.

"Do you know where?"

He shook his head,

"No, her mom just asked mine to watch the place until they got back."

"Did you hear her say how long they'd be away?"

"Nope but my mom told my dad that she thought they might be moving on. She said Becca didn't like it here, and she doesn't. I think she wants to go away because I teased her about her imaginary friend. She's always going on about him, she says he sparkles in the sun and he can run faster than Superman, I think she made it up, it's stupid, no one can do that.."

Becca had been talking about me! I didn't like the way this kid dismissed her so as I walked away I lifted a hand into the shaft of sunlight that appeared through the clouds and heard him gasp before running inside to tell his mom. Of course, I made sure we were gone by the time he could get her to see for herself. Let him talk his way out of that, cocky little fucker!

"Was that really necessary, Peter?"

"Yeah, it was. Little fucker was making out Becca was a moron. Well, what now?"

Even as I asked I knew what he would say.

"Back to the ranch, I said this was a stupid idea Peter, I should never have let you talk me into it in the first place."

I didn't bother pointing out he hadn't taken that much persuading mainly because it would have been a flagrant lie but I knew I was right, he and Bella belonged together as much as Becca and I. For all he knew they could be on their way to the Cullen house right now, or even be there, disappointed we had left.

"How about we call at Carlisle's?"

I tried to sound nonchalant but he threw me a baleful glare,

"The ranch, Peter."

It was the tone of voice that didn't brook any argument so I shut up and concentrated on driving but inside I was scheming, I wasn't beaten yet.