Houston, Texas 1859 Jasper's POV
The weeks and months are passing quickly as Isabella and I explore this new side of our relationship. My little spitfire is getting angrier the longer I wait to talk to her parents. Her Momma is persistent that she find a suitable husband before her 16th birthday in 5 months from now.
It's Christmastime now. While I didn't do our courtship the traditional way, by asking her father first I am going to ask him for her hand. I want to ask her on Christmas day which is merely a week from today. Make it memorable for her, for our Momma's too if I'm being honest. First, I have to talk to my parents so they don't get blindsided by my decision.
The rain was starting up again as I make my way from the the stables towards the house. I pick up speed hoping to get in before the down pour hits. Luck was with me, just as I came through the house the heavens opened up.
The house smells of Ma's mince meat pies, Brown Betty and Spice Cake. She's busy by the stove as I expected she would be this close to Christmas day.
"Hey Ma is Pa gonna be in soon" I ask her as I take a seat at the table watching her work. I would offer assistance but she always refuses when it comes to the dishes for Christmas dinner.
"I expect so since the rain has picked up Jasper" she replies while setting the big wooden spoon down and turning towards me.
Just as she had said that Pa walk through the door. Taking his hat off and hanging it on the rack by the door as he wipes his boots on the rug by the door. I look down at my own muddy boots guiltily while sending a big grin to Ma. She just smiles and shakes her head while going towards Pa and enveloping him in a hug. Pa is big man Ma's little arms not quit able to reach all the way round as she lays her head on his chest.
"You feed them horses son" Pa asks while returning the hug to Ma.
"Course I did Pa that's where I was before I came in" I answer him.
"Good, good" he says while lowering himself to the chair next to me.
"Ma, Pa, I was wondering if we might be able to talk" I ask as my little sister Lucy comes barreling into the room and hopping into Pa's lap.
Lucy is only 10 years old and already a looker. She got Ma's golden blonde hair that I too inherited but she also got Ma's clear blue eyes while I got Pa's brown. Tall for her age standing at 5 foot tall. Her height she inherited from Pa.
Sure sweetheart what was it you needed to talk to us about Ma asks as she takes the big pot containing tonight's dinner off the stove and placing it in the middle of the table.
I lick my lips nervously my heart suddenly beating in overdrive. What if they don't approve of Isabella as my wife? Sure, our families have been friends for years but being a friend and being related by marriage are two totally different things. I need to get a hold of myself. Of course they'll approve they already treat Isabella as their second daughter.
"Well, I've been courting someone for a few months now and realize I wanna marry her" I say quickly.
Ma stops ladling the soup into our bowls her eyes wide and getting teary as a big smile spreads across her beautiful face. Pa is sitting there perfectly still just looking at me.
"Well, who is she son? Someone we know" Pa finally asks with a slight smile of his own.
"It's Isabella. I wanna marry Isabella. We've been friends our entire lives and we finally admitted to each other we've felt differently for a few years now" I explain to them nervously awaiting their reactions.
Suddenly Pa's giant open palm smacks the table and he let's out a billowing laugh. Ma is outright crying tears of joy and Lucy is smiling so big it could break her face it two.
"I told Charlie! I told him the day she was born just hours after you. I told him, you wait, these two are the ones who will unite our family. He didn't believe me" Pa says between bellows of laughter.
Ma snatches me up in a bone crushing hug.
She suddenly lets go and races out of the room and up the stairs. I'm sitting there silently trying to process their reactions.
Ma makes her way back down handing me her Momma's ring set tears still shining in her blue eyes. She dabs her eyes with the corner of her apron before getting back to ladling the soup into our bowls.
"I still have to ask her Pa. I never even asked permission to court her" I tell them knowing they would get a small amount of disappointment out that. Might as well get it all out there now though.
"Jasper! We raised you better than that! You better not have been taking liberties with Isabella or I'll take that switch to you no matter if you're twice my size now" Ma says her wooden spoon inches from my face as I look into her angry eyes that moments ago were alight with excitement.
"No Ma of course not" I reply while guiltily thinking of the passionate kisses and heavy petting we've been doing these past months. I must have covered it well because they took the explanation with ease.
We all tucked into dinner the conversation going easily. Ma already making plans on helping Mrs. Swan with the wedding preparations.
I eat my chicken and apple dumplings slowly thinking of how I'm gonna talk to my Bella's Pa tomorrow.
The night came and went. I was restless trying to play out every scenario in my head. Trying to come up with exactly what I would say to Mr. Swan to make him realize I really do love his daughter.
After saddling Misty we made our way over to the Swan's barn. I knew Bella's Pa would be in there tending to the animals. He and my Pa have the same tendencies which I'm thankful for this morning. No trying to hunt him down.
Finding him in there I quickly get down from Misty and tie her to the post just outside the barn before giving her the carrot I had stashed for her in my pocket.
Walking into the barn I find Charlie milking the cows and I set down beside him to milk the other. Might as well help while I'm here.
"Mr. Swan, sir, I wanted to ask you for your permission to ask for Isabella's hand in marriage" I ask while steadily milking. I had decided that Charlie being the man he was he would prefer me to get straight to the point instead of lolly gagging around the issue.
He stops milking for a second looking at me. His dark eyes, Bella's eyes staring straight into my own as if searching for something. He must have found it.
"I was wondering when you would finally ask. You two been courtin each other for months now" he says in his gruff voice.
For a moment I'm struck dumb wondering how he knew. Trying to decide if I should apologize and explain to him that I hadn't meant any disrespect for courtin his daughter without his permission.
"No need for excuses son. We all expected it as close as you two have always been. You have my blessing. I'm not gonna tell Bella you asked nor will I tell Renee. It's fiercely amusing watching her fret over not having many suitors come a callin on our little Bell" Charlie says with a grin.
Well, that went better than I expected. I helped Mr. Swan finish the milking before heading back to my ranch to help my Pa with the chores and telling Ma not to say anything to Mrs. Swan nor Bella. I want it to be a great Christmas surprise.
A/N here is chapter 2! Please review and if any of you have ideas for the story please share! Thanks for reading :)