Chapter Four

Jasper

I drove for several hours checking on Bella from time to time with a glance over my shoulder. She slept on and I began to worry. I didn't know much about pregnancy but I was pretty sure that the mom to be needed to eat and drink regularly so seeing a diner at the roadside I pulled in.

Bella sat up when the car slowed and looked around wide-eyed with apprehension.

I hurried to reassure her recognizing that her nerves must be stretched to breaking point after the last few hours.

"It's OK, Just a pit stop. I'll fill the tank and you should get something to eat. It must be been hours since you last ate."

Rubbing her eyes she smiled, "You know, I don't remember the last meal I had. I'm not sure I could eat though. Thank you."

She rummaged around in the pockets of her jacket looking for something and I retrieved an envelope Carlisle had thrust into my hand along with the note.

"Carlisle gave me this. I guess it was for travelling expenses, take whatever you need. I'll join you as soon as I fill the tank. Stay away from the window seats, find one close to an exit."

Alarm spread across her face and I shook my head, "Nothing to worry about. I'm just cautious by nature. I'd know if we'd been followed."

She nodded, taking some bills from the envelope and climbed out trying to straighten her rumpled clothing. It looked like we'd just had a passionate evening in the back of the car from the state of her. Next, I should probably buy her a few necessities and then get to Maggie's. It wasn't ideal having me shop for her but it was the lesser of two evils. Besides, the fewer people who saw her the better I liked it even if that did make me paranoid.

I leaned against the car and studied the road in both directions looking for anything suspicious as I gassed up but there was nothing. Satisfied we were alone I joined Bella at a booth close to the fire exit. She looked a little better and I knew she'd washed her face and hands and done her best with her hair. Actually, I thought she looked pretty damn good.

"I ordered for both of us. I'm starving now I can smell cooking."

I smiled, "Fine. What am I having?"

"Burger, rare, with salad and fries."

"And you?"

"Omelet, salad and fries followed by cherry pie and ice cream."

"And for seconds?"

She managed a wan smile and then sipped her coffee while we waited for our meals to arrive.

For a slip of a thing, she could sure eat a lot but then I guess she was eating for two!

After finishing her own I swapped plates and grinned to watch her demolish my burger.

Finally, she sat back groaning, "That was lovely. I never realized just how hungry I was."

She started on her third coffee then stopped and put the mug down on the table frowning thoughtfully, "Do you think it's OK to drink so much coffee? I'm sure that I read somewhere that caffeine isn't good for pregnant women."

I laughed at the incongruity of her question.

"You're asking me? I have no idea, but the way I see it, if you crave it then it must be good. Your body would soon tell you if it was a bad idea. That's my words of wisdom as a single guy with no experience of pregnancy or babies."

She laughed at that and for a second I saw the beautiful innocent young girl that Edward had fallen in love with. Or thought he had. How could any man turn his back on the love of his life who was carrying his child? I didn't understand it at all.

How could any man even contemplate murdering a child he had helped to create? If Bella had been my wife I would have wrapped her in cotton wool and cherished her and the child growing within her. I would consider myself the luckiest man on earth. Whoa, boy! No more of that.

"OK, We should probably get going. Are you ready?"

She nodded and got to her feet groaning and putting a hand on the small of her back. Alarmed, I was at her side immediately, "Are you OK? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I think I fell asleep at a strange angle. My neck is stiff and my back. I'll sit upfront with you if you don't mind."

"Not at all. The company would be most welcome."

I took her arm as we left the diner, it was dark and I didn't want her slipping on the uneven sidewalk and hurting herself or the baby.

She thanked me as I opened the car door for her and we hit the road again.

Driving through the night we talked a lot but mostly about nothing very important. I explained to her what Carlisle had told me about Maggie and the farm where she lived.

I grinned, "Every time I think I've worked Carlisle out he throws me a new curveball."

"I know what you mean. He really is a good man, isn't he? I'll never be able to thank him, or the others. I was shocked when I realized Rosalie was involved. I mean, I know what she's said to me before but it's hard to think she could turn so completely so fast. I guess if anyone was going to help me I would have thought of Emmett or Alice."

I smiled, "You've got Rose all wrong. As she said, she was jealous of the possibilities and choices that you had, and angry that you were willing to throw away those same choices denied to her. So, when she found out what Edward was trying to do I'm sure she jumped at the opportunity of helping you."

I nodded, "Yeah, I get that but even so, I never thought that she would betray Edward. I mean he's been her family for so long."

"Family yeah, but that doesn't mean she has to like him or the decisions he makes. Do you know that Carlisle turned her hoping she would be a mate for Edward?"

Bella laughed, "That didn't work out so well, did it? Carlisle's one mistake."

"Yeah, it's good to know that he isn't perfect. I find it interesting that you omitted my name from your list of helpers, Bella."

She blushed and put a hand out to touch my leg, swiftly removing it again when she realized what she had done.

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that you and I never really got to know each other."

"Edward made sure of that. He never trusted me and the debacle at your birthday party didn't help. You should know however that I would never hurt you. I never had any intention of attacking you that night."

"I know that. I told Edward so. I don't think he liked that. I pointed out how you'd always been there to protect me. In Phoenix…"

She glanced at me and smiled, "I know it didn't work out but that was hardly your fault. Then again when Victoria sent her army after me. You showed everyone how to fight to protect me. Why did you put yourself in that position? We weren't exactly friends. Was it for Alice?"

"No. I make my own decisions, Bella. Some people are just worth fighting for. I like your honesty and I admire your strength."

She snorted, "Strength? Have you forgotten how I fell apart a little while ago when you showed me some kindness?"

I glanced over at her, "You're probably the strongest woman I ever met, except for my momma. You remind me of her. She wouldn't have given up either. If anyone can do this then you can, Bella."

She smiled again and I realized just how alone and fragile she was. "Thank you. Keep telling me that will you? Especially the next time I fall apart."

"Sure thing."

The silence in the car after this conversation was comfortable and left us with our thoughts.

A little while later she cleared her throat, "Sorry, Jasper. I think I need the restroom. Too much coffee I guess."

I smiled at her blushes and pulled up at the next truck stop.

While she used the restroom I went into the store and bought some soft drinks and bars of candy then supplemented them with a couple of subs before heading for a hairbrush, soap, deodorant, shampoo and a sweatsuit off a sale rack. It wasn't pretty but Bella might be glad to get out of her rumpled clothes considering she had nothing else with her.

Stowing my purchases in the trunk I rejoined her and we set off once more.

"Is it much further?"

I shook my head, "Nope. Only a couple more hours. How are you holding up?"

"I'm OK but I'll be glad to stretch my legs and have a shower. I must smell awful."

I thought she smelled pretty good but decided now was probably not the best time to tell her so.

"I'll survive and if it gets too pungent I can always open a window."

She glanced over and saw my grin, "Very funny, Jasper. I'll remember that."

I grimaced, "Payback's a bitch. I'd better be on my best behaviour from now on.

We both laughed, it was good to see her relax a little and then she closed her eyes and I checked that her seatbelt was securely fastened. Within minutes she was asleep again, worn out by the tension of the last few days and, I guessed, the pregnancy. I would do some research once we arrived. It might be handy to know a few things about pregnancy and childbirth, just in case. Whenever my mother produced a new sibling for us we boys were shooed out of the house and made ourselves scarce.

A thought hit me and I chuckled. If Peter could only see me now. He'd have a field day with this situation. I could hear his raucous laughter and knew he would have a few words of wisdom ready to toss in my direction.

Thinking of Peter reminded me of Charlotte. If there were problems down the line she might be a port in the storm. I remembered her telling me about the time she helped her mother deliver her baby sister. That was way more experience than I ever had and might come in useful in case of emergency.

As we approached the farm I slowed down a little. I wanted to check out the approaches to make sure I wasn't driving into a trap. I didn't think Edward had a chance in hell of tracking Bella this quickly and once we were on the farm and within Maggie's sphere of influence Bella would theoretically disappear. However, if Edward had contacted the Volturi at once and they had people already in the States then there was always the possibility that they could have discovered where we were headed. Not very likely but I was going to be thorough. Bella's life depended on it, on me!

All seemed quiet and peaceful and Bella opened her eyes as I drove up the unkempt track towards a distant farmhouse. It reminded me of the place where I had grown up, a little shabby and in dire need of some maintenance but cherished nevertheless.

"Are we here?"

"Yep, and it looks like someone is waiting for us. That must be Maggie."

I pulled up in front of the farmhouse and walked around to open Bella's door for her making sure she was steady on her feet before releasing her arm. She yawned and then waited nervously as the woman we assumed was Maggie came down the steps to greet her.

Maggie was a white-haired lady of indeterminate age, tall and whipcord thin but looked like she could have taken down a buffalo up to a few years ago. Her face was weather-beaten and her eyes were a piercing blue. She eyed me with a suspicious cold stare. I understood, she was no fan of vampires and I assumed that I was here under sufferance at Carlisle's request. It wasn't ideal but I'd had worse welcomes!

With relief, I saw that Maggie's lined face broke into a smile as she reached Bella and held out her hands in greeting, "You must be Bella. Welcome my dear. Come inside, you look about ready to drop. It's a cold evening and I'm sure a fire and a hot meal will do you good."

As they walked up the steps together Maggie looked over her shoulder at me, "You can put the car in the barn. The bunkhouse is next door, that's where you'll be based. I don't allow anyone into my home unless personally invited. We'll talk later, Jasper Whitlock."

Bella hesitated at her words and glanced at me as if suddenly unsure of this woman but I just smiled and nodded and the two women disappeared into the house.

Had Carlisle given her my real name? I went by Hale in the family. I hadn't been called Whitlock for decades and it sounded strange to my ears. If not, then how did she know? More to the point, what exactly had she heard about me? No doubt I would discover the answer to these questions when we talked again.

Driving the car into the barn I shut the doors and went to explore the bunkhouse. There were bunks for four although I doubted they had ever all been full at the same time. The place was dusty but the oil lamps were full and a small fire had been lit in the stove. I guess that was the warmest welcome I was going to get on the farm and was more than I had expected.

Deciding to check on the supposed gift that Carlisle was relying on to keep Bella and her baby safe I ran across the fields until I was a good way from the farm's boundary then stopped.

It was uncanny, I knew the farm was there, I'd seen the animals, chickens, pigs, a cow and a horse and could detect all of that. I'd seen Bella accompany Maggie into the house yet I could only hear one human heartbeat. It appeared Carlisle had been right, Maggie was able to protect Bella. No vampire would hear a second heartbeat even if they discovered Maggie's farm and I thought that highly unlikely. I couldn't imagine any threat the Volturi might wield that would cause Carlisle to divulge his friend or her secret. The only gift Aro might well use was his own and from what Carlisle had told me the Volturi had strict protocols about its use. If Carlisle refused an offer of Aro's hand there was nothing he could do about it, or should I say nothing he should do. Carlisle would be playing for time. Trying to stay a step ahead of the Volturi until it was too late to harm Bella or her baby.

Edward was the other threat. A more unlikely one as finding her would be almost impossible but if he did? Would he show more interest if mother and baby both survived? Somehow I couldn't see Bella ever trusting Edward again. Not after his recent behavior. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe if he turned up and saw her standing there with his baby in her arms he would understand what he had done and beg her forgiveness.

Would she forgive him? Would it be better for the child if she did? It wasn't for me to say. Personally, I thought he had lost any chance and most certainly should have when he wanted to force her to kill the child, but what did I know? I'd never been in such a position. I couldn't say with any certainty how I would have reacted but I liked to think I had more backbone and less self-absorption than Edward Cullen.

When I returned to the bunkhouse I found Maggie waiting for me, sitting beside the fire.

She looked up and regarded me coldly.

"Let me be frank with you, Jasper Whitlock. I like to be clear on how I stand. I didn't want you here. We don't need you, but Carlisle was quite insistent and I owe him. I take it he told you something of me?"

"He did. He's a very careful man. I think he just wanted to be sure Bella was safe. Let's say I'm just added security."

Her blue eyes bored into me, "Be that as it may I do have certain rules which you must agree to follow if you are to remain here."

"I'm listening."

"My house is out of bounds to you, as is the cabin I have in the woods. The cabin which will be Bella's home while she is here. If you need to talk to her you can do so elsewhere. Carlisle told me that you would be helpful while you're here so I'll expect you to pull your weight. As you have probably seen there's a lot of work to be done and I'm no longer able to do as much as I once could. I don't have a lot of money but whatever you can do cheaply then please do. You come from farming stock so you know your way around one."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll do what I can. There is one question I'd like answered though. How do you know my name? Did Carlisle tell you?"

She shook her head, "No, he didn't. He just called you Jasper, but I hear things. I've heard a lot about vampires over the years and Carlisle and I talk from time to time. I put two and two together. I'm right though, aren't I?"

"And is that why you dislike me so much?"

She shook her head, "Don't take it personally. I've no reason to like vampires. Carlisle was the exception. Just keep to the rules and we won't have any problems. Break them and you leave. Have I made myself clear?"

"You have and I'm happy to abide by your rules with one caveat. If Bella needs my help. If she calls for me then to hell with your rules. Have I made myself clear?"

I thought for a moment she was going to tell me to leave which would have been interesting, but instead, she merely nodded, turned, and left the bunkhouse. I took that as agreement. Now we knew exactly where each other stood. The next few months could prove to be even more interesting than I had imagined.

For now, though I would step up to the challenge of making the farm more presentable. Maggie was an interesting person. I would like to have spoken to her longer but I knew she wouldn't be interested in telling me her life story. Maybe, if I kept my nose clean she would soften her attitude a little. She reminded me of my mother. She had the same weather-beaten complexion and worldly-wise eyes.

I felt better about leaving Bella in her care. She may hate me but she struck me as the kind of woman who would make a guest feel comfortable, especially one in need. Maybe she saw Bella's situation as similar to her own. I would have liked to reassure Carlisle that Bella was safe but it was too dangerous. I just hoped he would trust that she was.