Chapter 101

Darius

At first I couldn't believe what I was hearing, Bella was going to spend a year on top of a fucking remote mountain with The Major? They were all crazy, he should change her not spend a year struggling to help her survive human! Still they wanted me to get supplies up there for her, what was I? The red cross suddenly? Of course, I agreed, what else could I do but I had to hunt around to find the best gear first.

I had nothing to work from personally, but humans needed food, fresh water, heating, and clothing. So I searched the internet and found what I could then organized a helicopter for the drop. It would be fun, I hadn't flown a helicopter in years although I kept up my license with a few adjustments to the civil aviation records. My flight plan could be altered too, we didn't need any nosy humans wondering what was going on in the depths of the Wind River Range. The jobs I got for Carlisle, anyone would think I was a miracle worker, hell maybe I was, after all I had to keep an eye out for Edward Cullen too.

Bella

I was angry my dad had forced this stupid year long test on Jasper, but he was determined to prove to my father that he could be worthy of me. As far as I was concerned he already was but nothing I said made any difference to either of them. I spent the next few hours writing a list of things I would need and wandering around my small home for the next twelve months. Thinking about it, the idea of being alone with Jasper for twelve months was very appealing, if not for the fact that it became extremely cold over the winter and as I was being forced to remain human it would be a constant fight to keep warm.

Unfortunately that meant being very careful sleeping with Jasper as his body temperature would make me cold far too quickly, maybe my dad thought I would give up and leave, if so he had me all wrong, Jasper was my mate, I loved him and I would go through hell to stay at his side.

That first night alone the temperature wasn't too low and Jasper banked up the log fire so we could sleep together on the old rug beside the hearth but he refused to allow me to undress and certainly wouldn't even hear of making love.

"I almost lost you once through my stupidity, I won't make the same mistake twice. We have plenty of time now stop pouting and kiss me."

I did, I even worked my hands up under his shirt to caress his stone cold body but that was as far as he permitted things to go and I thought I would never be able to sleep, my whole body ached for him but I found my eyes slowly drooping and realized he was helping me along.

"Not fair."

He just smiled and kissed me again before I finally drifted off.

The next day when I woke up he had collected water from the stream and boiled it so I had hot water to wash and some already cooled to drink washing down the last of the snacks I had brought with me. The sun was shining and though the air was cold it was crisp and bright and we went for a walk, Jasper pointing out animal tracks to me.

"Those are elk and deer mainly, they come to drink at the stream."

"I guess they aren't the only ones, though. I thought I heard a wolf howling last night before I fell asleep."

"There are wolves here, but I haven't seen any wolf tracks. We do have a black bear nearby and a mountain lion visits from time to time."

Now that made me nervous, elk and deer were fine, wolves, well I could cope with the idea of that, they rarely attacked humans, especially with other easier prey close by but bears and lions? The idea of sharing my home with those two wasn't quite so relaxing.

"Don't worry Bella, you're safe with me."

I nodded, I knew he was right, it was just coming to terms with the fact I was in love with probably the most dangerous predator on the mountain.

Darius rang to tell us he would be dropping in with supplies the next morning so we slept once more in front of the log fire but I knew if Jasper didn't make love to me soon I was going to explode. Having him fully dressed and lying beside me was driving me crazy.

"I hope he remembers space heaters because I am going to jump your bones one way or another soon Jasper."

He looked slightly startled by my pronouncement and it occurred to me that he had never been spoken to like that before. Well, it was his own fault for being so damn sexy. Charlie rang too although cell reception was extremely poor up here, just to check on me and I was sure I heard a slight twinge of disappointment in his tone when I told him I was fine.

We stood watching for the helicopter the next morning, the sky as blue and the sun shining as brightly as the day before but I knew that could change in an instant and we were headed into late autumn and cold and snow very soon. As it came into view Jasper sheltered me behind him as he stood against the wash from the rotors ready to help unload as soon as Darius was down. I couldn't believe the number of boxes and crates that came from the interior of the helicopter, most too heavy for me to lift although I tried to help as much as possible. Along with the supplies was a letter from my dad and another from Charlotte and Peter which I put in my pocket to read later. Before he left Darius came over and gave me a hug slipping something in my pocket as he did so with a shush in my ear.

"Hope everything goes OK for you Major, Bella. There's a storm front coming in and you're going to be out of contact for a while so take care of her."

"I will, I know everyone is worried for Bella's safety but you all know I could never hurt her."

"I know you wouldn't deliberately, but shit happens Major. Just make sure if you don't think you can cope you get the hell away from her, or you'll have me as well as Charlie looking for you."

We watched together as he took off again, the helicopter buffeted by the strengthening winds then went inside to start unpacking the boxes. The biggest crate contained a generator and the next smallest a supply of fuel for it.

"Charlie thought you might need extra heat when it snows and it means you can use electrical goods although what they have packed I have no idea."

It felt like Christmas come early as I discovered an electronic book reader full of all my favorite authors, an iPod full of my favorite music and a portable DVD player complete with a box of memory sticks presumably full of movies. I was being spoiled although I couldn't see me spending much time away from Jasper. Of course when he went to hunt I would be alone and Charlie or Darius must have considered that for me.

There were plenty of warm clothing, boots, gloves and coats, blankets, quilts, pillows and boxes of food, mainly dried and canned or packet plus water purification tablets and a comprehensive first aid kit which knowing my history of accidents was probably a really good idea. It looked like they had thought of everything, even toilet rolls and a portable toilet which Jasper set up for me in the outhouse for now but would be brought indoors when it started to snow. I went in to try it out wanting to see what Darius had slipped into my pocket. I pulled out a small silver box with a single switch protruding out from it and wrapped around it was a note,

"In case of emergency turn this on, I will be monitoring the wavelength and come immediately. Darius."