Chapter Fifty

Jasper

Once Bella had entered the restaurant I drove off, not stranding her but I was aware that once we crossed the border we would be in a wilderness which had no facilities for humans, everything had to be carried with you which meant a change of vehicle and some supplies. I found a camping and hiking shop and went inside coming out half an hour later with everything I could think of for Bella's comfort and safety and leaving a very happy shop assistant. From there I went to a used car lot and found a suitable vehicle that sounded in good condition although the outside was a little battered. I bartered with the sales guy but only because he expected it. I would have been willing to pay him the sticker price but I got it a little cheaper then went to a garage to give it a once over and gas it up. Transferring the gear from the car to the new vehicle I then paid for extended storage for the car, I would want it when I returned, if I returned, or it would get Bella back to civilisation when she finally cracked as I was sure she would. Deciding it would be better to cross the border at night I also booked a hotel room for one night then went back for Bella, waiting for her outside the store and taking her bags from her.

"Did you have enough money?"

"Yes thank you. Where's the car?"

"I reserved us a hotel room for the night, we'll be crossing in the early hours and I thought you might appreciate a soft bed and a shower before hand because you wont get them later."

"That's OK. But thank you for the thought"

"Don't thank me, I just don't want you bitching about waiting in the cold until two or three in the morning."

"That's when were going across?"

"Yes, into the Cathedral Provincial Park. I'll set you up in there for a few hours and come back for transport and our things."

"Set me up?"

"Yes, the only place I can get you across illegally is into the park and I can't take a vehicle. So I'll set you up a camp for twenty four hours while I go back and cross legally into Canada. Once I'm across I'll come and pick you up and we'll set off again."

"Oh right. On my own over night in a park?"

"Bella with your attitude the animals are going to steer clear of you, trust me. Besides you don't have a passport and you wont go home so that's your only option but feel free to turn back"

She smiled at me and shook her head,

"Good try Jasper but no deal. I'll manage."

Bella

We walked around the town for a while stretching our legs after all the time we'd spent in the car and Jasper seemed a little more relaxed.

"I'm going to ring my mum, just to set her mind at rest, dad too."

He shrugged,

"Do what you want."

I went into a phone booth and dialled Charlie, I had some change but I didn't know how long it would last, at least I could be sure he would tell Renee I was OK if I ran out before I could talk to her. As I expected he was angry with me and even more so when I refused to tell him where I was or who I was with.

"Is this another of your crazy jaunts Bella? You promised me no more, your mother is worried sick"

What he meant was he was worried, I doubted Renee would bother once she'd heard from me.

"I'm fine dad, I just had something I needed to do but please don't worry, I'm OK and I'm not alone."

"Yeah well I guessed that much. Who is it? Another of the Cullens? Whenever they come round its always trouble."

"No not really, look I'm running out of money. Can you ring mum and tell her you spoke to me please."

"You want me to ring Renee for you?... That's gonna cost you Bella"

"Thanks dad and please don't worry about me"

When I came out I quite expected to find myself alone but there he was waiting for me and I couldn't help a smile of gratitude.

"Ready to go back now? You should get some sleep before we leave and a proper meal."

"I had a meal earlier."

"Scrambled eggs on toast? That's hardly a meal Bella"

So he'd been watching me order, I hadn't wanted to use too much of his money but he was right, I was still hungry.

The hotel room was warm and comfortable and when I came out of the shower there was a hot meal waiting for me.

"I thought you might want to eat now. I picked out something I thought you'd eat."

I lifted the covers to find a vegetable lasagne with warm garlic bread and a salad. It made my mouth water and I turned to thank him but he had gone into the bathroom, he just wasn't going to let me acknowledge any sign of kindness or caring on his behalf. If I didn't say thank you he could pretend he hadn't done it but I was too hungry to go find him and argue so I sat down and started eating. I heard the sound of the shower and wondered what he'd say if I opened the door to thank him. The thought of Jasper naked in the shower did strange things to my body so I tried to shut the thought out but it was most reluctant to go!

By the time he came out I'd finished eating and put the trolley back outside the door holding on to the coffee pot for now and was sitting looking out the window at the slowly forming frost.

"Will this make any difference to our plans?"

He looked out,

"Its only a light dusting and it will probably be gone by morning but if you'd rather stay here that's fine."

I glared at him, refilled my cup and took it over to the bed,

"I'm going to try sleeping for a while, especially as I don't suppose I'll get much in the forest on my own"

"More reason to stay here Bella. Why don't you admit it, you'd rather be here in the warm and comfort of a secure hotel than out in a forest, cold and alone."

I smiled mischievously,

"You'll have to do better than that Jazz but ten out of ten for trying"

I just hoped I sounded more confident than I felt. Of course he could have just gone and left me, he didn't have to make the illegal crossing then come back and cross again. Which posed the question why was he going to so much trouble if he didn't give a dam about me or anyone else? I decided not to point that out to him as he was playing nicely... for now. I closed my eyes and thought about the past, Edward and Alice, meeting the Cullens for the first time and everything that had happened since, everything that had led here to this evening in this hotel room with Jasper. If anyone had told me this would happen even a few weeks before I would have laughed in their face, yet here I was and I had no wish to be anywhere else.