Chapter Four

Jasper

That evening Peter suggested we ride the next day and Charlotte was excited until Alice flatly refused,
"Horses are fine in a field but I'm not riding one. Don't you have a buggy or something?"
I saw the mischief on Peters face and knew there would be trouble.
"Sure thing Alice, leave it to me."
She smiled at that and I wondered how long it would take Peter to wipe it off her face. We sat talking about old friends and places we'd been until Alice stood up and yawned ostentatiously.
"Well exciting as this is I'd like to go hunting, Jazz"
She held out her hand to me,
"We hunted before we got here"
"Well I need to go again, all the excitement has made me thirsty, come on"
Embarrassed by her rudeness I apologized before going after her.

"Alice how could you embarrass me like that?"
She laughed scornfully,
"I doubt they even noticed Jazz. They are so boring, the house is little more than a shack and the place is in the middle of nowhere. And why do they insist on calling you Major? It's so stupid. I told you it was a mistake coming. I'm doing my best but cut me some slack and you stink of horses."

She pulled away from me and ran into the wilderness beyond the meadow. I could see trouble ahead, while Char would do her best for me Peter was a whole other ball game. If he thought she was looking down on him he would either play up to it or get mad. Being mad was bad enough but if he decided to play up to her it would be infinitely worse.

Charlotte

When they'd gone I looked at Peter inquiringly,
"A real piece of work isn't she. Looking down her nose at us as if she's Lady Muck, snotty bitch."
"Peter please, try to ignore her for Jasper's sake."
"If he had any balls he'd smack her one himself for her rudeness."
"Don't forget what he's been through."
"Yeah well he should be in charge but she's the one wearing the pants and he just lets her. I don't understand him Char."
I tried to calm him down but I had a bad feeling about this visit. We loved Jasper but his wife was a real One Hundred Per Cent Pure Bitch. I decided to take Peter hunting, he was usually in a better temper when he wasn't thirsty. We left a note for the others and went out, hoping things would be better the next day.

When we got back we walked into the middle of a flaming row. The Major was livid about something and I saw Peter grin as he laid in to his wife. It was then I saw the new Laptop and Bedding which was laying on the floor in the middle of the room.
"Well its obvious they can't afford decent things so I thought I'd help out. Its only some bedding and a decent computer for heaven's sake."
"It's an insult Alice. You can't just present them with these things because you don't like the way their house looks"
"Rubbish, I'm sure they'll accept them in the spirit they are offered."
Peter walked over to the things and knelt stroking the new bedding through the packaging.
"Wow, new things Char, we can stop rummaging in Goodwill shops now"
Alice smiled and looked at Jasper and I groaned as he went on,
"And one of those all in one computers! I've seen these on TV but I never thought we'd get one. Thanks Alice I don't know what to say they're wonderful."

He picked up the bedding and held it close to his chest. The Major looked from Alice to Peter and he and I both knew the shit was about to hit the fan.

Peter

The fucking bitch thought we needed her charity did she? The Major was embarrassed, so was Charlotte, but I was just livid. I walked over to stand toe to toe with Alice.

"Ready for the outing honey?"
She smiled sweetly thinking I was happy with the gifts.
"Of course. Did you manage to get me a buggy?"
"Oh yes, one especially for you."
"I hope it didn't stretch you too much but I don't ride, horses are such smelly things."
I took her arm and led her out back where her transport sat waiting. Not the Dune Buggy she'd been expecting but a shabby old carriage that had mouldered in the barn for years. I'd painted it bright colors and put a cushion in it for her.
"What's that?"
"Your buggy Alice as promised. I worked hard on it especially for you"

She made a face but what could she do. Looking at Jasper she stepped in helped by me of course and the three of us mounted our horses. I took the reins of the horse in the traces and started him moving. It was a lovely day and normally we'd have ridden to the river for a swim but this wasn't a normal day, far from it! We went miles over the roughest ground I could find and by the end of the day even her teeth were loose from the jolting. When I helped her down with an angelic smile she glared before turning to Jasper.

"I'd like to go now."

"Go? But we only just got here"

"Oh Alice you aren't going, surely? I had another trip out organised for tomorrow"

I tried to look innocent but I'm not sure it came off."

"If you think I'm spending another hour in this hell hole you are mistaken. Friends? They're animals"

Charlotte

Peter growled low in his chest,
"You listen to me you stuck up bitch. The only reason I haven't slapped that snooty look off your face is my friendship with your husband but how he puts up with you and your rudeness I can't imagine. You have the manners of an alley cat and a character to match"
His voice was getting louder as Jasper stepped between them. Alice was hissing ready to attack but in going for Peter she caught Jasper instead and knocked him backwards.
"You should be protecting me not him, the ill-mannered, filthy, stinking..."
She never got a chance to go on, Peter went for her and I intervened grabbing his arm.
"No Peter, don't lower yourself. I think you'd better take your wife and leave Jasper. Insulting me is one thing but insulting my husband and my home quite another. I don't think its worth your coming here again. We're obviously too lowly for you now."

"Take that bitch away from me before I throw a match on her, and don't bother coming back, she's turned you into a fucking puppet. Get yourself a new pair of balls Major"

I pulled Peter into the house and slammed the door as I heard Jasper start on Alice again. By the time I'd calmed Peter down they were gone and I fervently hoped I'd never see her again.

Alice

Jasper stood up for his friends against me. My husband said it was all my fault. Me! He'd dragged me there against my will to that backwater with the Hill Billies and then stood aside while they ridiculed me and were downright insulting.
"How could you? You left me to stand on my own"
"Alice you started it"
"I did not. They are so low I'm surprised they stand on two feet. I've never been so disgusted in my life and when I try to help by giving them a few nice things they are thrown back in my face and you sided with them. Well now I know where I stand Jazz. Take me home and on the drive you need to think seriously about your priorities. I come first at all times."

I was almost screaming I was so angry. He looked at me coldly but never said a word all the way home. We could have been strangers, he never even tried to console me or apologise, my own husband.