She could feel that Jasper was looking at her every now and then as she sat next to him at the front of the wagon. She was pretty sure that she had a permanent blush that wasn't going to go away; she only hoped that the shade from the black lace parasol she was holding up to provide some respite from the midday sun was hiding the crimson color to her cheeks.
Jasper and one of his deputies, a Ben Cheney, had helped him load her trunks into the back of the wagon. As she stood there waiting, she noticed that people continued to stare even as Jasper helped her up into her seat. There hadn't been much conversation after that, but with the sheriff it seemed a more of an easy silence rather than an uncomfortable one.
After a while of nothing but brush and open country she got up the courage to ask, "Are we very far from the Big E, Jasper?"
He smiled at her and shook his head. "No, ma'am. Just several more miles. I'm sure you're anxious to get there. Em will sure be very happy to see you." There seemed to be some sort of implication to his tone, but she couldn't quite make out what it was so she ignored it and decided to continue her line of questioning. "What's the ranch like? Is it big?"
He gave her a strange look and a frown at the question, but seemed to shrug off whatever he was thinking as he answered, "Well, it's several thousand acres. Don't know how many head of cattle he has, but he and Mr. Mallory pretty much are the biggest land owners and cattle holders around here. He's got a nice little operation going on." He shrugged again and continued to look ahead. Somehow she felt that she had done something wrong and she worried her lower lip a bit before she asked her next question.
"Is he happy?"
That question got a big smile from Jasper again and he nodded. "Em's about the happiest fellow I know. I don't think I've seen him get down about near anything, well, except….well, doesn't matter now that you're here." He winked at her again.
She wondered if Jasper meant that Emmet was lonely for his family and she smiled to herself. Now she was glad that she had come. Her brother needed her just like she needed him.
They continued to travel in silence until Jasper brought her out of her thoughts by saying, "There ahead. See the homestead?"
She peered into the distance and sure enough she saw a white two story frame house surrounded by several outer buildings and she couldn't help but smile in excitement. She was going to see Emmet, her big bear. She suddenly felt giddy as a twelve year old again.
As they pulled the wagon up to the front of the house she noticed several men milling around by some of the outer buildings which seemed to consist of stables, a barn, and some other small structures that she didn't know the use for. As Jasper climbed down she turned in her seat, her back to the house as she took everything in.
That's when she heard a screen door slam and heard a loud, booming voice that just tugged at her heart. "Jasper! What are you doing here and who do you got with you?" She turned in her seat and blinked back tears as she laid eyes on her big brother.
Emmet barely glanced her way and said, "Hello…" as he turned his big smile on Jasper who was moving around the wagon, but then it seemed to hit him and he looked at her again, going pale under his tanned skin and he whispered, "Bells?"
Before she could get a word out, he was pulling her off the wagon into his arms, squeezing her so hard that she couldn't breathe and she was sure he was going to crack a rib, but she didn't mind and she hugged him back, sobbing in his arms, her feet dangling at least a foot off the ground.
Jasper's voice broke through Emmet's own whimpers and he drawled out. "And, here I was thinking of stealing her away from you." He snickered. "You were afraid you wouldn't like her and she wouldn't like you."
Bella was thoroughly confused by Jasper's words and Emmet was turning crimson and obviously trying to hold in his legendry temper. Setting Bella down, he turned to Jasper, giving him a pointed look. "Sheriff Whitlock…this is my sister, Bella Swan."
Now it was Jaspers turn to blush and turning to Bella his eyes widened and he bowed his head a bit as he tipped his hat. "I'm…I'm sorry, ma'am. I thought you were…" Emmet issued a growl beside her as he curled his arm around her shoulders, tucking her close to him and Jasper frowned. "I was confused, ma'am."
"Damn right you were confused, Whitlock!" Emmet boomed.
Jasper muttered something under his breath and decided to avoid the situation by unloading Bella's trunks.
Turning to Bella, Emmet wiped at her tears with his big, gentle hands and whispered, "Bells, what's going on? What are you doing here?"
Now she just felt more confused. Hadn't Jasper made it sound like Emmet was expecting her? "Mom…mom and dad d…died." She burst into tears and felt herself enveloped in her brother's embrace again as he whispered, "Oh, sissy! I didn't know. I'm so sorry." She could tell he wanted to cry too.
Emmet might not have gotten on well with his father before he left, but he figured he had time to go back and make things right. Now he knew it was too late. Sniffling he held her and figured he should get her inside and have his housekeeper, Carmen, fix her a cup of tea. His voice hoarse he looked to Jasper, who hadn't been able to help overhearing, and said, "Jas, will you bring in her trunks. I'll have one of the fellas bring it up to one of the rooms later."
Jasper just nodded, looking at both Emmet and his sister in concern as his best friend picked up the little lady and carried her inside, cradling her in his arms.
When he'd seen Bella standing by the coach depot he had figured her to be a true lady and after he'd introduced himself he couldn't help but want to protect such a helpless, pretty thing. He'd almost felt a pang of jealousy when she'd mentioned the Big E Ranch. Ladies, especially pretty ones, were few and far between in these parts, but he wasn't the type to hold on to jealousy and more than anything he felt happy for his friend.
When Emmet had told him one drunken night that he'd sent away for a mail order bride, he'd expected someone from the dregs of society to show up. Emmet had never told him who this girl he'd sent for was or what she was like, only insisting that she was a lady, so when Bella had arrived, asking for Emmet and the ranch, he'd just figured…
He'd watched her from the corner of his eyes on the ride and wondered what such a pretty girl would be doing as a mail order bride when she'd turned to him and asked about the ranch. Then he figured she was a gold digger. Of course, that assumption was trampled when she asked if Emmet was happy. Perhaps Emmet had found the right gal after all.
Now he was just ashamed by all the lurid thoughts he had about his best pal's little sis. He sighed as he placed the last of the trunks on the porch and decided he'd leave them in peace. Right now they obviously needed each other. He would just have to apologize again later.