I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR THE CHARACTERS
A little background on why I wrote this...
I was listening to the Eclipse soundtrack and A Million Miles An Hour kept making me think of Jasper, as a cowboy, riding off into the sunset. So, I kept thinking of cowboy Jasper in a gun fight and well, it was kinda hot. This was originally going to be just a one-shot and only in Jasper's POV but it just didn't flow the way I wanted it to, so it is now going to be two chapters and this first one is Alice's POV. I hope you enjoy and I can't believe I actually wrote an Alice/Jasper fic.
Alice's POV
"Rosalie, be a doll and tie me up," I said and turned to face the long oval mirror before me.
We all had been given new corsets, well, not given per-say but earned the only way a woman can in a place like this. I sucked in a breath as Rosalie yanked and yanked on the strings of the black lace fabric. It is really beautiful with the few embroidered white roses along the middle bodice. When I could no longer breathe properly, I smooth down my black skirt and checked my hair once more.
It's another day of work, serving the men their whiskey after they've had a long day working the railroad. I thought that once the railroad had been completely finished, I'd have the chance to get the hell out of dodge and find myself a nice man to care for. Hell, I would have settled for a man to sweep me off my feet and stay right here in this dust town. It's been nearly seven years since the first train left the station and I have yet to find a good man.
The town's a buzzing this evening as word spreads about Sam Bass coming our way; he had already upstaged four train robberies and The Katy could be the next. The townsmen were preparing by drinking themselves dumb and just raging for a fight. Of course, that also meant that I was busy not only pouring shots, but servicing the men…sexually. Yes, I work in a brothel. There is no other way of life for me. I'm just thankful I have a fairly nice Madame and am looked after.
"Sugar, you ready for me?" Riley, one of my regulars, asked.
"For you, always." I gave him my devilish smile.
"That's my sugar." He stood and I led him to my upstairs room.
"What's it going to be this fine night, Riley?" I asked as he sat at the edge of my bed. I freshen my lipstick and turn back to him.
"I want your mouth on me," he said and I kneeled down before him.
As Riley and I made our way back down to the saloon, we heard commotion outside and a booming voice state, "The new Chief is in town." The doors whipped open and there stood five strapping men. Not just men but Texas Rangers.
Everyone watched as they made their way in and sat at a back corner table. Being the veteran of all the women that worked here, I was undoubtedly given the duty to serve these fine men. I grabbed the bottle of whiskey that Rosalie handed to me and shot glasses. I sauntered my way to the table, grinning in the sexiest way.
"Good evening, gentlemen. To what do we owe this pleasure?" I asked and set the glasses down.
"Ma'am, we'll be staying for a few days. Does this establishment have rooms for us to stay?" An older gentleman asked.
"Why, yes we do, but it will cost a little more for you to stay overnight. Just choose your woman and they will be more than accommodating for ya'll."
"Oh, no. That's not what he meant. Do you have rooms for us to stay without the accompanying of a lady?" Another older gentleman asked.
"Speak for yourself, Carlisle. I'm staying here for our duration." A large man said with a grin a mile wide.
"Emmett, please don't cause trouble. We are here to take care of business and be on our way." The one I assumed to be Carlisle said.
"I will be taking care of business, big business." Emmett replied and was looking around the saloon.
"Forgive us, ma'am. Let me introduce everyone as we will be in town for a while. My name is Charles. That is Emmett," he pointed to the large man. "Carlisle," he thumbed his way towards the man sitting next to him. "Edward," he looked towards the man that had a unique color of scruff along his jaw. "And Jasper."
I looked at the last man, sitting in the corner, and he looked at me with what looked like concern but I couldn't be sure. He was unlike any man I ever have seen. The depth of his blue eyes caught me off guard and I couldn't turn away. I heard a throat clearing and snapped my eyes towards the sound.
"It's nice to meet ya'll, my name is Alice. We do indeed have rooms, but I'm afraid there are only four," I said and held up the bottle. "Whiskey?"
"Yes, please," Edward said and was averting his eyes to the new woman that had just moved in.
I poured everyone a drink and set the bottle down on the table.
"So, do you want those rooms? There is a small hotel across the way, but I'm not sure what they have available."
"The four rooms are fine because I'm going to be taking care of that lady over there." Emmett pointed to Rosalie, who was standing behind the bar pouring liquor. I dare not say a thing, but Emmett is going to have fun with Rosalie. She is a real ball-buster and never lets a man stay with her for any extended period of time.
"Yes, we will take the rooms," Charles said. "What are the chances of getting one of you ladies to draw baths for us, once we are finished here?"
"Very good chances, Sir," I said. "I'll have your rooms ready in a moment, and then your baths whenever the time is convenient for you."
"Very well." Charles nodded and went back to his drink.
I walked over to Rosalie and Bella, telling them to ready the rooms and gave a fair warning to Rosalie about Emmett's intentions. Of course, she laughed it off and continued with her tasks. The men ate dinner and the night was coming to an end.
"Miss Alice, I am ready to retire to my room. Can that bath can be drawn, please?" Charles asked as he stood from the table. I nodded and led him to his room with a bucket of hot water, since there had yet to be warm water plumbing put indoors.
After filling the tub, I placed a towel along the edge of the tub as well as a bar of soap. "Do you need me to stay, Charles?" I wasn't sure if he would need any assistance with bathing, or possibly changed his mind for my other services.
"No, Miss Alice, I'm fine. I'm sure the rest of the boys need their baths filled, as well. Have a good night." He nodded towards the door and I let him be. I shut the door behind me and took a step but ran into a hard body.
"Excuse me, Miss. I wasn't minding my way to the room." Jasper's hand was resting on my arm, and he quickly dropped it when took notice. He must have thought that I didn't like the touch but it was quite the contrary. It felt nice; comforting. "I'll just be on my way, good night, Miss."
"Oh, would like for me to run your bath?" I asked when he moved away from me.
"I think I would like that. Thank you." I smiled and made my way to the fire that held a new pot of hot water. Taking the pot holders and placing them on the scolding metal handle, I removed the pot from the fire and carefully walked back up the stairs to Jasper's quarters. I knocked, softly, and waited for him to answer the door.
"It's open, Miss." I heard coming from the other side of the door. I entered and walked to the porcelain tub, pouring the hot water, and running the cool water from the fittings. I didn't notice that Jasper was staring at me, as I readied the bath, without his shirt. I have seen many men without their clothing, but looking at him felt so different, so I looked away from and took a towel from the wardrobe.
"Miss?" I looked up and he was wrestling to take off his boots. I giggled, turning the water off and made my way to where he was sitting in a lone chair in the corner of the room. "They are fairly new and I'm having a bit of trouble taking them off."
"Let me help you then. I'm sure all the whiskey you've had tonight isn't helping with the boot situation." I kneeled down and tugged on the boot, easily slipping it off, followed by the other. "Are you in need of help bathing, Jasper?" I smiled, in hopes this man would say yes.
"I couldn't take off my boots, Miss. Do you think it's wise I sit in a bath in my state with the possibility of drowning?" He grinned at me.
"I suppose not. Let me help you out of the rest of your clothing?" I looked to his bottoms.
"And have you see me in the nude, Miss? I don't think so. Turn away and I will take settle in the tub, and then you can help me," he said and stood, walking towards the tub. I kept my back to him, hearing the water swoosh before he called me over, "Miss Alice, would you please wash my back?"
I stood for my spot on the floor and walked to the side of the tub, sitting on the edge. "Most certainly." I took a towel, dipping it in the water and lathering soap into it. Gently, I scrubbed his neck, shoulders, and back. "So, I reckon ya'll are here to catch Sam Bass?"
"Yes, ma'am. We almost had him a few towns back but it seems that we arrive a day late. Not this time, Miss Alice. We'll get him before he knows what hit him." He leaned forward a bit resting his head on his bent knees and took a deep breath. "I know this is, most certainly, not something you want to hear but this place here is the finest establishment I've ever been. The women looked very cared after, is that correct?"
"Yes, it's correct. However, I've never known anything different, so I can't compare," I said and looked upon his muscular back that held a few scars no doubt from fights.
"You've lived here all your life, Miss?" He sat up and looked to me with a disgusted face.
"No, not all my life. A majority of it, yes," I answered and rinsed his back with my hand, softly caressing his shoulders. He sighed, closing his eyes, and resting his head back on his knees.
"Why?" He turned his head to face me, and the look of concern was etched on his face, again. "I'm sorry. I'm over stepping my boundaries."
"It's fine. Would you place your head back and I will clean your hair." He did as I said and I combed water through his blonde locks. "My parents died when I was not but thirteen and I was left with nothing. The owner of this place was sort of a friend with my grandfather and he took me in."
"So, you have been doing this since you were a young girl?" There was pity in his eyes and I shook my head at him.
"No, not working. I decided to do this when I was sixteen. I had a choice in all this but what was I to do with no money and no one to go to? I have no family, so this is it for me," I said and handed him the towel with soap so he could finish bathing.
"You haven't dreamt of anything beyond this? There is more out there than this, you know," Jasper said as he was moving the soaped towel across his chest and then down into the water.
"Of course I have dreamed of more than this, but it just hasn't come to that time." I laughed and looked down to my skirt. "I dream of a man coming here, sweeping me off my feet, and carrying me towards the sunset."
"Someday I'm sure it will come true," Jasper said and then smiled. "How much will it cost me if I want you to stay here and talk to me?"
"Triple of what I charge for full service." I deadpanned because we don't do such things here. It was a get in, get out type of business.
"I'd gladly pay that if you stay. It gets kinda lonely out there chasing outlaws." He shrugged and splashed his face with water. "Do you mind turning away while I get out and dress?"
"Oh, yes! Go right ahead and then I'll clean this all up while you do so." I waved to the tub, and then turned around until I heard him stepping out of the tub, onto the wooden floors. I drained the water and wiped down the inside of the tub and placed the bar of soap back in the wardrobe.
"Miss Alice, do you need to go to your room for a nightie? You can't possibly be comfortable wearing that all night."
"No, this is fine." I lied because there was no way I was sleeping in this man's room wearing only a nightie. That just felt too intimate and it's just not what I do. Of course it was going to be awful to stay in this tight corset for the remainder of the night but that's what I was getting paid for.
"Please, find something more suitable to wear to bed. I will not stand having you in such discomfort while you sleep." Jasper pointed to the door and gave me a stern look. I simply nodded and left to my room.
Rosalie was sitting at my vanity brushing her hair when I stepped into my room.
"Is there something wrong with your room, Rosalie?" I asked, walking to my wardrobe for a night slip and robe.
"No. However, there is that big, brawny man cleaning himself up in there. He's paying a nice amount of money, so I figured I could at least freshen up for him," she said and dabbed on a little powder.
"Jasper is paying me to stay the night with him to talk. He didn't even allow me to look at him nude, so I know that's all he wants," I said. "Will you untie me, please?"
Rose helped me, and I changed into my night clothes and a pair of night shoes. I made sure I looked decent and made my way back to Jasper's room, knocking on the door before entering.
He was lying on his back on the bed with his arms behind his head. He had a pair of light cream colored linen pants on and a white buttoned shirt. He smiled and patted the spot next to him. I wasn't sure how this was to work but I sat at the edge of the bed, my back facing him. I removed my night shoes and turned to look at him. He lay on his side and patted the empty space again.
"I won't bite, I promise. I just want someone here to share this bed with and simply carry a conversation until I fall asleep." I nodded and lay on my back beside him, ensuring my robe was tightened and I wasn't exposed. "Relax will ya."
"Sorry, I've never done this before. It's making me anxious." I didn't know what else to say but the truth.
"Would it help if you lied on your side, so you ain't looking right at me, Miss Alice?" He was being nothing but a gentleman. That is one thing that I noticed was different about the Rangers; they were nothing but polite and courteous to the woman here unlike most men from out of town.
"I can try it." I turned on my side and felt the bed shift before an arm pulled me in. My back was flush with Jasper's chest and I could feel his breath along my ear. I stiffened as it was something that I have never experienced; a man hugging me to them.
"Take a breath and relax, Miss Alice," he said in a whisper and I felt his nose skim along the back of my neck. I took a breath, letting the air escape, and my body softened in his arms. "That's better." He pulled me in a little closer, as if we weren't close enough. I sighed and closed my eyes.
We stayed like that for an unknown period of time in silence. I thought Jasper had fallen asleep, but then I felt his fingers lightly tracing along my arm and he took my hand into his.
"Isn't it nice to just be relaxed?" he asked.
I didn't respond because I'm not sure if it is a nice feeling. It is different.
"Ok," he yawned. "I'm tired, so sleep, Miss Alice." I nodded and closed my eyes.
I woke before dawn broke and was in the same position as last night when I fell asleep…in Jasper's arms. I rubbed my eyes and slowly slid out of bed. It was a wonderful night of sleep, but I knew it was something I would have to get accustomed to if I ever did find a man. Re-adjusting my robe, I turned to look at Jasper's sleeping form. He looked peaceful. I tip-toed out of the room and quietly closed the door.
I pinned up my hair as I watched the sun come over the horizon. Most days I hated to see the sunrise but it felt like a special sunrise today. I dressed in a violet and black corset and skirt. I placed a small silver flower barrette into my hair and then check myself over, like I do every day before leaving my room.
I stepped out of my room at the same time Jasper closed the door to his room. He looked over and gave me a quick smile. I paused for a moment to look him over and I was in awe. Every man around here wore the same clothing day in day out, but Jasper made his dark brown trousers, cream colored buttoned shirt, leather vest and chaps, boots with spurs, and hat look like nothing I have ever seen. What made him look even better was the brown scarf he had tied around his neck and the silver Texas Ranger badge pinned on the left side of his chest right over his heart.
"Morning, Miss Alice. I reckon you had a good night?" He smirked.
"Indeed, Jasper." I smiled and made my way to the stairs to eat a little breakfast before starting my day of toil.