Chapter Sixty

Bella

When Jake rung from the airport I was here alone. Char had gone to town to do some shopping, the guys had gone hunting and I was supposed to be resting, I was still very tired after doing anything strenuous and Jazz and I had gone hiking this morning, well I guess it was strenuous walking but it was a hike to me. He wanted me to see a plot of land he planned on buying for us to build a house after the wedding. It was perfect, on the slope of a hill with woods all round and a stream bubbling along the side of the plot. Quiet and secluded but not too far from Peter and Charlotte it was the right place for us.

I left Char a note telling her I was going to pick Jake up and would be back in a few hours. If I drove there he could drive back while I slept. I wondered what he wanted, he was rather cagey but I got the impression he was here under orders of some kind. He told me Alice was away for a few days and it was nice to think we might get a chance to talk, just the two of us. The journey was longer than I thought and I was pretty shattered by the time I pulled up at the terminal to see him waiting, a huge smile on his face when he saw me. I slid over so he could take the driver's seat,

"Sorry you had to wait so long Jake but I was on my own so I had to drive out here to get you. If you'd rung and told me you were flying out we'd have made arrangements. You'll have to drive back though, I need to sleep".

"No prob's Bells but can we talk before we get back to the others?"

"Sure there's a Diner down the road about an hours drive. Wake me when we get there".

I leaned against his hot side, laying my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, falling asleep almost instantly.

Jake

She still looked pretty pale to me and I wondered if she were really OK, but she'd been pleased to see me and now she was asleep on my shoulder. I'd let her rest as long as I could but I really wanted to talk to her alone and this might be our only opportunity. When I reached the Diner she was stirring so I pulled in and shook her gently

"Time for dinner Bells. My treat."

She smiled up at me, looking less pale for her sleep.

"OK Jake but I'm starving so its going to cost you".

She took my arm and we walked into the Diner.

When we came back out it was dark and she was not holding my arm any longer, I think she'd have been happy to shake me warmly by the throat instead. She hadn't reacted well to the message from Billy at all, in fact I thought at one point she was going to walk out on me. Her fists bunched and she hissed angrily,

"I thought you at least would understand Jake, you and Alice being together."

"I'm only passing on their message, don't shoot the messenger."

"Just don't say any more. Lets go".

As we got to the car park she decided she needed the rest rooms and went back in while I got in the truck and started the engine. It was getting cold for Bella now and I thought she might appreciate the gesture, anything to make her less angry at me. I fiddled with the radio trying to find something other than Country music but in vain. When I looked up she was still nowhere in sight and I started to worry. It shouldn't have taken her this long surely. I hesitated a few more minutes then went back into the Diner. Not seeing her I asked one of the waitresses to check the rest room for me. She came back shaking her head, the rest room was empty. I described Bella and she said she'd gone through but she hadn't seen her come back out.

Back at the truck I heard a beeping and saw her cell phone was ringing. Picking it up I saw it was Jasper calling. I took a deep breath and answered,

"Where is Bella dog?"

That was a good start, but she was more important than our animosity,

"She picked me up from the airport and we stopped at a Diner."

"So why are you answering her phone?"

"She's disappeared, she went to the cloakroom when we came out and she never came back".

"You left her alone?"

"Well I couldn't go in with her could I?"

"Where are you?"

When I told him I heard a curse,

"Wait there and find her before I get there or else"

I understood how he felt, but it really wasn't my fault.

While I waited I rang Billy to tell him too and he didn't sound surprised.

"What's going on Dad? Where's Bella?"

"Safe Jake, I'm waiting to hear from Sam"

"You kidnapped Bella and used me to get her alone?"

"It was the only way son, I'm sorry"

"You do know that The Major is going to kill me for this?"

"He won't if he wants to speak to her again".

"Does Charlie know about this?"

"Of course, he's her father. I'll get back to you as soon as I hear from Sam".

As he disconnected I cursed and thumped a nearby wall hard enough to crack several of the bricks.

All I could do was wait for whoever found me first.

Billy

I rang Harry straight away with the news

"Jake just rang, the boys got Bella away safely".

"I haven't heard from them, yet"

"No me neither, but they must have got her and decided to get well away before ringing us".

"Well let me know when you hear. How did Jake take it?"

"How do you think!"

And we waited.

Jake

I stood by the truck so long someone from the Diner came out to see if everything was OK. I couldn't tell him about Bella so I made up a story about the truck breaking down.

"You want me to take a look? I do a bit of mechanical engineering here and there"

"No its OK I've got a friend on the way and he'd be real pissed if he came all this way and found me and the truck working fine but thanks anyway".

The waitress came over shortly after,

"You find your girlfriend?"

"Yeah she rang. We had a fight and she got a lift into town".

"Oh I thought you looked a bit stressed. Sorry to hear you had a row. If you want a coffee or anything..."

Her suggestive smile told me all I needed to know.

"Thanks but I'm still hoping to make it up with her"

"OK See you"

she walked back to the Diner, hips swinging and I had to shake my head to clear it,

I saw Jasper and Peter pull in, both faces furious and straightened up. He was in my face before the car stopped,

"Where is she Jake?"

"I don't know"

"But you know what happened"

"Not until after it happened. I didn't know they were using me to get to Bella"

"Who Jake?"

I was about to answer when my phone rang and I picked it up,

"This will be news I think"

I said with a wan smile.