Chapter Seventy Nine

Jasper.

Truth be told I was as nervous as Bella, if Peter had taken against Bella then I would lose my friend. He stopped to look at our clasped hands one eyebrow raised questioningly

"What's up? Couldn't you find any handcuffs strong enough for the bad ass Bella?"

"She doesn't need handcuffs Peter. Bella and I have sorted out our differences."

"Good for you, so why'd you bring her here? You need help burying the bitch? I've got just the spot in the meadow under a tree, that way the ashes wont blow away so much."

"Peter"

He turned at Charlotte's warning and his scowl deepened,

"Fuck, not you too. Why is it I'm the only one who remembers what a bitch she was?"

"You're right Peter I was and I apologise to both of you. Thank you for caring enough to find me"

"Don't thank me, I'd have left you to fuck up big time enough for the Volturi to come after you. I was overruled."

"Then I'm thankful you were and I'm still grateful"

He sighed and shook his head,

"Major please don't tell me this psycho is really your mate. I thought Maria was bad but she was a pussy cat compared to this vixen."

"Peter!"

Again a warning from Charlotte while Jasper just stood with me observing.

"What about the Cullens and Garrett? You kill any of them yet? What about any more mutts?"

"No, I've made my peace with the Cullens and I haven't seen Garrett."

"Now see I was just warming to you then you go say something like that and spoil everything."

"What did I say?"

"You said you'd made peace with the Cullens. You know I thought they'd finally met their match in you. I've heard a lot about the opinionated prick Carlisle Cullen and to be honest until I met him I thought it was all crap but I was wrong. He's an even bigger prick than I heard, you could have taken a few fingers, maybe a hand or two, but no you forgive him."

"I didn't say I forgave him, just that I'd made my peace with the Cullens. It doesn't mean if I meet them again I'm going to invite them to tea."

"Well that's a fucking relief, at least you see what hypocrites they are, all sweetness and light, lets go eat a bunny instead of a man or two and everything will be sunshine and rainbows."

I couldn't help laughing at that.

"Yeah I see what you mean."

"Good. Then you and I might, just might, be friends in time. Do you ride?"

"Sorry?"

The abrupt change of topic had confused me.

"Do you ride? Well I guess you do but I was thinking of a horse rather than The Major."

If I'd been human still I would have blushed scarlet but as it was I just smiled at him,

"No I don't"

"That's OK you'll soon learn. You gonna hang around with us there are certain things you should know,

1. I hate hypocrites.

2. We ride... a lot.

3. I don't suffer fools gladly

and number 4 the most important of all."

He walked up until he was looking deep into my eyes

4. If you ever, ever, hurt The Major you will answer to me."

He stepped back and smiled.

"Got those?"

I nodded

"Good, come in then and tell us what you've been up to, the X rated stuff first"

Jasper groaned but hand in hand we walked up the porch steps and into the Whitlock ranch as friends.

I learned to ride and thankfully as a vampire I had a good sense of balance, I hadn't told Peter that as a human I had fallen off the only pony I ever attempted to ride. He was right, they rode a lot but I found it exhilarating and Charlotte and I became close friends. Our days were busy with riding, building new paddock rails and looking after the horses and our nights were filled with passion and love and three months went by before I noticed.

"I think maybe you should speak to Charlie. He'll be wondering how you are doing"

I nodded Jasper was right of course and I rang the following morning while the others were at the barn.

"Dad its me, Bella"

"Bells? How are you doing?"

"Good dad, Were staying with Jasper's friends on their ranch."

"You sound happier."

"I am, very. How's the new job going?"

"OK I'm still getting used to the area but its good. Are you gonna visit your old man?"

"Yes we'd love to. Would next weekend be OK?"

"Sure I'll make sure I get the weekend off. Looking forward to seeing you again. By the way Garrett called in just before I left Forks. He wanted to know how you were doing. I told him the best thing he could do was to stay out of your way. I hope I did right"

"You did, I really don't want to see him"

"Well, see you soon Bells"

We drove to dads new place making a road trip of it, one interspersed by nights of passion at motels or in picnic areas if they were unoccupied. I loved Jasper so much I couldn't get enough of him and I knew he felt the same way. Just before we hit town he stopped the car and turned to me suddenly very serious.

"Bella I'd like to speak to your dad alone for a few minutes while we're there."

"Oh, why?"

He leaned over and kissed me,

"Because I love you and I would like to ask you to marry me but I'd like your dads blessing first. Its how things were done in my day."

I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't even move,

"Marry me?"

He looked worried now

"Yes, unless I've read things all wrong. I haven't have I?"

I shoo my head smiling broadly

"No, you haven't and I would love to marry you. How long have you been planing on asking me?"

"Oh I don't know, a few weeks maybe a few months."

I looked at him suspiciously,

"We've only been together a few months."

"I know but I can't remember a time I didn't want you to be mine for eternity and a wedding seems the best way to say that."

Our visit with Charlie went well after some initial awkwardness all round. He and Jasper got on well and when Jasper did ask for my hand he agreed albeit sadly knowing he'd lost his little girl for ever now.

"I'll keep in touch and you'll come to the wedding wont you?"

"Of course Bella, its my job to give you away, its just so final. I like Jasper though, he loves you very much I can see that and I know he'll look after you. How about we go for a celebratory drink? Oh wait a minute, sorry stupid idea."

"Oh I wouldn't say that Charlie my man"

I turned unable to believe my ears but there stood Peter large as life and grinning holding a bottle of champagne in one hand and a dark bottle in the other followed by Charlotte with a tray of glasses

"What are you doing here?"

"Hey, until you two are married I'm chaperone"

"You followed us? All the way?"

I groaned, all the stops we'd made, had Peter been watching from some hidden vantage point? He grinned

"My lips are sealed...for a price. Drink Charlie?"

He opened the champagne and poured a glass for Charlie then took three coloured glasses off the tray after poring something in them,

"Cheers. To the happy couple"

I looked at my glass to see blood in there and looked at him again

"Don't worry its bunny blood although this will cost you."

He took a sip and shuddered,

"Fuck! Tastes like shit. Charlie I think I'll join you with the champagne."

He poured another glass and sipped it nodded approvingly

"Beats the crap outta bunny juice. Good luck to both of you"