Chapter Forty Nine

Bella

I must have dozed off because Ben's barking woke me up with a start, he never barked unless there was danger and I shot to my feet looking around. Standing the other side of the creek was a figure and with a start I realized I recognized it.

"Jake?"

He looked from the water to me and nodded then stepped back and jumped across to stand my side of the creek.

"I was right. I knew you weren't dead but they wouldn't believe me and here you are."

Ben was still barking as he trod water beside Sky who was looking at Jake warily. I beckoned her out of the water and wrapped a towel around her as I helped her out followed by Ben who stood shaking water all over Jake's shorts. Putting her on the blanket with paper and a pen and a sandwich I turned back to him.

"Hello Jake."

"Who's that?"

He nodded at Sky who was drawing intently,

"My daughter Sky."

"Who's the father? You're still human. I didn't expect that. For a corpse you look surprisingly healthy Bella."

He sounded bitter.

"Jasper Whitlock and yes I'm still human as you can see"

"Jasper? You mean Edward's brother? Well at least you kept it in the family! I wonder what your dad would say to now you were playing happy families while he was drinking his sorrow away?"

"That's not how it was Jake but I'm not explaining to you. Is Charlie OK?"

"Yeah no thanks to you."

He stepped forward and Ben got to his feet growling and baring his teeth.

"Shut up mutt."

"Don't talk to him like that. He looks after Sky and he's feeling your aggression so back off Jake."

"What do you mean looks after her? She looks fine to me. Hey Sky, what are you drawing?"

She didn't hear him and carried on,

"Manners need improving but then I guess with a leech for a father... Hey kid"

He took two steps towards her and Ben attacked biting Jake's leg before backing off,. Swerving to miss a kick aimed at him. Blood ran down Jake's leg but I just stood,

"That was your own fault, now back off Jake."

Sky had seen Ben attack and cried out pulling herself over to me and climbing up my leg until I picked her up and cuddled her, looking into her face and smiling so she knew there was nothing to worry about.

"What happened to her?"

"She was born too soon, she's deaf and she can't walk, that's why she has Ben so please Jake don 't threaten her."

He nodded and I saw him look at Sky with a much softer expression,

"So vampire blood didn't stop her from having problems?"

"No."

"Will she learn eventually or is she always going to be like this?"

"She'll learn. Why are you here?"

"I've been looking for you, a private quest you could say."

"Why?"

"I never believed Victoria killed you. No body, no trace, no death. Why did you leave?"

"I didn't, not willingly but its a long story."

"Did he take you by force, Jasper?"

"No, it wasn't him."

"You mean there are more leeches lining up to get a piece of you? You almost destroyed your father. Why didn't you contact him? Let him know you were alive?"

"I couldn't and now I can't go back, I can't be Bella Swan any more. There are people who would like to find me Jake, people who would take me and hurt Sky."

"You mean vampires? The Volturi?"

"Yes. How did you find me?"

"I have a keen nose."

Would you like to join us for a picnic?"

He looked down at his leg and I noticed the bite was almost healed.

"How did you do that?"

He ignored my second question but walked slowly to the rug and sat down beside Sky watching her as she drew him.

"She's good"

"Yes she is. Here."

I handed him a sandwich, gave another to Sky and shook some kibble into a bowl for Ben who was still watching Jake warily, his hackles raised.

"Its OK boy, I'm not going to hurt you or your friend."

Ben seemed to understand Jake's words because he relaxed and fell on his bowl as if he hadn't seen food for a week which was quite usual for him.

"So you live here?"

"Yes."

"With Sky and Jasper?"

"Yes"

"Very cosy. Will Charlie ever see his grand-daughter?"

"No it's not safe, I told you."

"Yeah so you said. The baddies with fangs are watching for you, sounds scary"

"Jake you don't understand. You mustn't tell anyone where I am"

"Not even Charlie and Renee?"

"No, no one"

He sat chewing his sandwich then Sky handed him her drawing shyly,

He looked at it and grinned,

"She sees a lot more than you think. Thank you"

She smiled at him and took another piece of paper and her pencil and started drawing again.

"She's good, very perceptive."

He handed me the paper and I looked at the drawing confused at first. One side of Jake's face was a good likeness but the other side was a wolf's face with a grin.

"How did she see that?"

He shrugged,

"I take it you know what I am then?"

"Yes Jasper told me, you're a guardian wolf."

"Yeah, well I didn't guard you too well did I?"

"I'm not your responsibility, I never was Jake."

We sat there till the sun started to set and Sky fell asleep, her head on Ben's side.

"I have to take her home but thank you for telling me about Charlie and Renee, I'm glad they got back together, they sound happy enough."

"Yeah but the candle still burns every night in your bedroom window. They hope it will guide you back one day."

"I can't go back Jake, I've explained to you so please don't keep on."

"I'll walk you back unless you don't want me to."

"I don't mind. Can you carry the panniers? I think Ben's tired too."

He nodded and folded the blanket as I picked Sky up gently so as not to wake her. As I straightened up I felt a pain in my back, great! That was all I needed. We walked back slowly over the rough ground and we had just come in sight of the house when I tripped and Jake dropped the picnic things and snatched Sky from my arms as I hit the ground. As soon as I landed I knew something was wrong, the pain in my back was worse and there was a sharp pain in my stomach.

"Jake take Sky and Ben back to the house and lay her on her bed please then come back for me."

He looked at me inquiringly,

"Please Jake go."

As soon as he was out of sight I attempted to get up but the pain in my stomach cut through me like a knife and I felt a growing ache. Oh God no!

I gritted my teeth and staggered to my feet holding my stomach and walking unsteadily towards the house then I saw Jake speeding back. He lifted me up ignoring my complaints and ran back with me. Inside he took me straight upstairs and put me on the bed pulling a blanket over me then knelt by the side,

"Tell me what to do Bella."

I shook my head, the tears coming hot now,

"Nothing Jake. I think I'm pregnant again but I think I'm going to lose it."

"I'll be back."

He ran down the stairs as I lay back, my eyes closed and the tears flowing faster.

"Here"

He handed me a drink of something that smelled foul,

"What is it?"

"Something I heard about on the res. I noticed you have some growing wild. They use it when women were miscarrying, it's supposed to stop it. I don't know if it will work but its worth a try."

I nodded and gulped the hot liquid down, it tasted like a mixture of cough linctus and wood shavings and I all but gagged but forced it all down.

"Now you sleep. I'll go find Jasper."

I shook my head,

"Don't leave Sky Jake please. She can't manage alone."

"OK, does he have a cell phone with him?"

I nodded,

"The number's in mine"

I felt myself drifting off as he left the room. Whatever he'd given me was working, I felt numb all over and my head swum. Maybe he's poisoned me I thought as darkness descended.