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Texas 1857
Chapter Two

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"To hell with regulation," Jasper mumbled. He undid several buttons on his uniform, revealing his gray flannel shirt. It felt like he was being cooked alive. In Colorado his uniform had been comfortable, but since getting into Texas, he hated the damn thing. Each day seemed to get hotter. At their next stop he was changing into his other shirt, which he hoped he'd brought. It was God awful ugly with loud hickory stripes, but it was a lot cooler to wear in the summer heat.

"Looks like the storm is definitely headed our way," Sergeant Black informed his superior.

Major Jasper Whitlock just nodded his head, silently agreeing with Black's observation. By the look of the clouds, it was going to be a rough storm. The clouds were dark and low almost touching the horizon. They needed to find a place to camp out until it passed. He knew there was a town nearby, but he wanted to stay away from the distractions it would offer his men. No. He didn't need them whoring around catching something or getting too liquored up. They had to report to Fort McIntosh in Laredo and rejoin their squadron.

Also, if he headed into town, he'd feel obligated to swing farther off their route to go see his family, which meant he'd have to see Rosalie. Though his men, Jasper was certain, would welcome several leisure days, he wanted to stay as far away from Three Rivers as possible.

Jasper lifted his hat, rubbing the sweat off his brow with his forearm. Rosalie was lovely. No. She was a beauty molded from the finest materials. They'd grown up together, and for a while as kids, Jasper even had a crush on her. She'd been the first girl he held hands with, and the first girl he'd kissed. It only seemed logical that they would continue to share dozens of other firsts. Their families were hell bent on them marrying. Jasper was sure that she'd make a good wife, and a good mother. Surely then he should feel like the luckiest man in the world to be able to marry a beauty like her, but he was already married.

He was married to the US Army. Granted her arms weren't as soft as Rosalie's nor did she smell as good as Rosalie, but in the last seven years, the Army had been a good wife to him. He'd shared many firsts with her. For one, he killed his first man with her and well a whole lot of other things. Leaving her for a real flesh and blood woman just didn't appeal to him. The wide open spaces Texas offered him were far too alluring with her promises of adventure and freedom.

One more tour, that's what he told Rosalie. One more tour and he'd come home and they would talk about their future. Jasper wasn't sure why he was holding it off. He knew as well as Rosalie that he was going to marry her. He was just trying to postpone it as long as he could.

Out of obligation and more so out of habit, he'd continued to write her over the last few years. That is until several months ago when he was in Colorado. He dreaded getting a letter from her pleading for him to stop home on his way through. He just wasn't ready to see her. Not yet. So he decided to postpone writing her until he returned to Laredo.

Several months ago, trouble with Indians had led his troop from Laredo to Fort Richardson near Jacksboro. From Fort Richardson, his troop joined the fight against the Indians, which had led them into Colorado. With that situation now secured, their medical corp was now ordered to return to Laredo.

"I hope this storm cools things up a bit," wistfully said Lieutenant Cullen, maneuvering his horse next to the Major. Taking out his neckerchief, he wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"I'm sure it will doc," Black said removing his hat. He took his big hand and wiped the bald spot on top of his head.

"Looks like a family," said Cullen gesturing toward the horizon. Jasper nodded. He'd spotted the wagon and three bodies as soon as they rounded the hill. The closer he and his men got, it became clear the three bodies were a man, woman, and child.

"Looks like they're heading out," observed Black.

"I'm sure hoping they can spare a barn." Cullen's eyes scanned the dark skies ahead of them. "That storm looks like it's going to be a doo-sie."

Jasper silently studied the landscape. His First Lieutenant was right. They looked like a family, which only served to remind Jasper of his own obligation to his family. Jasper's father said the future of Texas was in cattle, and Whitlock Senior was busy building his empire and busy getting his son to marry Rosalie Hale.

The Hales were from a well to do family, which meant money. According to his father, Rosalie was the perfect wife for the son and heir of an up and coming ranching empire.

It could be worse, Jasper silently lamented. She could have been ugly. He inhaled deeply. "Let's pick the pace up," he said. His men loyally followed his lead. He swatted away thoughts of Rosalie and of his father. He needed to find shelter for him and his men.

Several yards closer to what had looked like a family, Jasper spotted a large and imposing figure.

"Damn, he's a big son of a bitch," snickered Sergeant Black. "Ain't that cozy," he sneered.

"That's enough Sergeant," Jasper warned him as they approached within hearing distance from the woman and the child. Expertly maneuvering his horse's reigns, Jasper brought Allegro to a gentle stop a few yards from the wagonette.

"Gather up what you've got," Isabella gently instructed her sister. Alice nodded her head and was about to do as her sister said when the soldiers on horses caught her attention.

"Horses!" Alice exclaimed excitedly. Dropping the basket, she took off running toward the soldiers. Isabella had a mind to scold her little sister, but decided against it. Bending over, she took Alice's discarded basket before walking toward the soldiers.

"I'm Alice," she chimed looking up at the man on the lead horse. "What's your horse's name?" Jasper smiled at the little spirited girl standing expectantly next to him and his men. He dismounted his horse.

"His name is Allegro," Jasper answered.

"Can I pet him?" she asked looking up at the tall solider.

"Sure." Jasper grinned. Alice was utterly entranced with the horse, forgetting everything about the other soldiers or her sister. For a few moments Jasper's attention was on the little girl petting his horse. He patiently answered all her questions, from how old was Allegro, where did he get him from, to how fast could he gallop.

"I'll take those," Nathanial said as he reached out to take the baskets of wild flowers from Isabella. She readily handed them over to her companion. "Here." Nathanial gingerly handed her, her bonnet and shawl.

Isabella glared distastefully at the garments. She raised her hand in protest.

Nathanial gave her a silent plea with his eyes. Master Edward disapproved of Isabella walking around in her Spanish blouses, but Isabella ignored his silent reminder. For now she was free. She would wait until the last possible moment to replace the shackles of decorum she was expected to conform to.

Isabella walked passed Nathanial; her dark hair cascading over her shoulders.

Carefully, Nathanial sat her bonnet, shawl, and baskets in the wagonette.

"Afternoon Ma'am." Sergeant Black tipped his hat from a top his horse. With an arched brow, Jasper glanced up at Black questioning the Sergeant's changed demeanor. He turned around to see for himself what the fuse in Black's expression was about.

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