Chapter Eighty Four

Jasper

Seeing Darius as we drove up the mountain to find good hunting opportunities I knew Charlotte had contacted him with the good news so Sara would probably be with the girls. I wondered what Bella would make of the newcomers, she seemed quite shy around strangers but I put that down to the fact she had such terrible experiences with most of the vampires she had met so far.

"So Major, you finally got caught, this Bella must be something else"

"She is Darius"

"Yeah she socked him on the jaw the first time he tried to talk to her. Great punch, you should have seen it Darius. Tell you what I'll ask her to do a replay ,for you."

"No you wont Peter. The next time I see Bella I'll be about to marry her and if you foul this up for me I swear I will never forgive you"

"Oh come on Major, never is a long time. How about a year? Ten years?"

I shook my head and ran on without them but they soon caught up and the next hour was spent tracking a mountain lion.

"Why you can't eat people like the rest of us I don't know. I think you do it to be fucking awkward."

"You forget Peter. I did the people thing but it didn't work out for me in the long run."

"Yeah well if you will go round soaking up everyone's pain and terror what do you expect. Turn it off while you dine"

"Peter, I don't think it's quite as easy as that"

"Oh and exactly what makes you the fucking expert Darius? Done a home schooling course on empaths have you? Got a fucking degree?"

"I see you haven't become any more pleasant Peter. Maybe I'll buy you a home schooling course on the art of being less of a dickhead"

"Look you two, if you must fight get it over with now because if either of you says a word out of place tomorrow I swear I'll kill the pair of you."

Peter and Darius looked at each other pulling dubious looks and shaking their heads,.

"I don't think so Major"

"I agree Darius, he's gonna be far too busy screwing the pants off that pretty little bride of his to be worrying about chasing us. Unless of course...you know I often wondered...him being..."

I scowled as Darius got the thread,

"Right...I know what you mean Peter. Its gonna be hard for the poor girl...well not hard but you know what I mean"

"Got your drift Darius. Maybe one of us could keep her occupied while the other...well you know...you want to toss for it?"

Darius burst out laughing and I just groaned trying to ignore them but they rode me hard all night and by daybreak I was relieved to see the cabin. There was a strange car parked outside so either Charlie had arrived at last or we had a visitor, maybe the minister arrived earlier than planned..

I was wrong on both counts, Charlotte was nowhere to be found, nor was Bella but Sara was and as she walked onto the porch I could see she wasn't happy.

"What's the matter Sara?"

"You have an unwelcome visitor. Charlotte took Bella away to cool off but I think you'd better see for yourself."

We ran into the house to find Garrett laying on the couch in much the same condition he had been when he last mixed it up with Bella. I felt my anger rise and a snarl erupted from my chest before I could stop it but Darius grabbed my arm,

"I don't know what happened to him but I think he's probably suffered enough. Would someone care to fill me in"

Peter told him what had happened while Sara stood with me,

"Really Major you need to calm down. He came to wish you both the best or at least that's what he said when he got here but then he started on about how wrong he'd treated her, apologising and begging her not to marry you. She was very calm for a newborn until he started bad mouthing you, that was his big mistake. She just lost it, I didn't know what was happening at first but he just started to look like he was being compressed, it was freaky. Charlotte grabbed her and yanked her out and I said I'd stay till you got back."

"Hey what do you want us to do with this piece of trash?"

Peter and Darius had Garrett by his arms holding him upright his legs too mangled to enable him to stand unaided.

"Just get him out of my sight before I rip his fucking head off"

"We could do it for you Major, be a pleasure"

I was very tempted but a murder on my wedding day wasn't a good thing so I shook my head reluctantly and they dragged him outside. Where they planned on taking him and what they planned on doing when they got there I didn't care, I just wanted to see Bella, make sure she was OK but Sara said she and Charlotte were going to be away for a while.

"We can't have the bride committing murder either now can we? You calm down, I think a car just pulled up and if I'm not mistaken that's Bella's father so pull yourself together and go greet him while I clean up the mess on the floor. I glanced down at the pool of venom that had leaked from Garrets crushed body and smiled

"She got him good didn't she?"

"Oh yeah"

Charlie was all apologies for missing my bucks night but he'd been delayed by work. I explained we'd had a visit from Garrett and to my amazement Charlie offered to shoot him for us.

"It won't kill him but it'll sting that's for sure."

"It's OK Charlie, he's been dealt with."

I didn't go into any details and he didn't ask but when Peter and Darius came back a few minutes later I could see he thought they had been the ones responsible for dealing with Garrett. I introduced him to Darius and as with Peter Charlie showed no fear he just held out his hand and shook with a slightly startled Darius. Sara came through with coffee for our guest and he sat talking to Peter about a new rifle he'd bought.

"It can kill a deer from a much greater range."

"Yeah but where's the fun in that Charlie? You need to get hands on experience"

"Peter hands on experience would be pretty tough remember I'm not a vampire, I don't have your speed and strength."

"Or his annoying habit of being a complete ass hole Charlie so you see there is a rainbow at the end."

Peters reply was unrepeatable but cut short as the girls got back, Bella looking calm and serene once she knew Garrett was gone.

I introduced her to Darius and she greeted him warmly but a few minutes later I saw her grab Peter by the arm and pull him outside so I followed,

"Where's Garrett?"

"Gone"

"You took him?"

"Yeah, Darius and I took him for a short walk."

"Where?"

"Bella you are not going after him. Not today"

"She's not going after him any day are you Bella?"

She looked at me and sighed then turned back to Peter.

"Tell me you ripped a few limbs off, just to make me feel better"

"Actually I was all for lighting him up like a Roman candle but as Darius quite rightly pointed out, he isn't Roman so we compromised."

"What did you do? Tell me it was something really painful"

"Let's just say the term "dick head" has a whole new meaning now"

Bella burst out laughing while I couldn't help a grimace, it sounded extremely painful to me but he deserved it. Now everything was ready, we just needed the minister.