Disclaimer: I'm not SM so I dont own Jasper! Excuse me while I go sulk in the corner :'(

Chapter 2

JPOV

I sat on the edge of the camp, drinking a cup of coffee and staring out into the pre-dawn light. As I watched the sky turn a light purple colour, I thought back to the family I had left behind. This time of the day was my baby sister's favourite. Amelia loved the colours and the quiet, for a little girl of seven she was wise beyond her years. Then there was my twin brother, Peter. For a man of almost twenty he sure as hell was a child, yeah there were times when he was wise and serious, but they were rare. Leaving my parents, brother and sister behind had damn near killed me, but I needed to protect my family.

I was drawn out of my thoughts by the men beginning to stir. I looked back towards the tents and found my best friend, Logan, emerging from a tent. "Mornin' Jasper. Any sign of that bad weather them injuns have been predicting?" I shook my head, "Not a cloud in the sky. How do we even know it is an actual storm that's coming? Maybe it's just a change in general, something that's going to affect us." He shook his head, "Dunno Jasper, but we're going need to start getting ready to head out soon. Head back to the fort." I nodded again, standing and throwing my, now cold, coffee on the floor.

The next hour passed in a blur of clearing up the camp site and loading the horses. "Tommy, you're in charge of the spares." Indicating to the pack horse. He nodded, "Yes sir, Major Whitlock." He replied, I tilted my head and turned to address the rest of the men, "Right, then men move out." I mounted my horse, stroking his neck, "Good boy." We spent the better part of the day riding at a slow pace past areas of rock, checking them so that no one was hiding inside doing anything illegal, we were just reaching the back of one when the horses began to act nervously.

We all stopped and tried to calm them down; it was then that we heard what the horses had. Growling. As we turned the horses back around we saw a pack of coyotes. Logan, three other men and I fired at the coyotes, missing completely. One of the coyotes snapped at the pack horse which wrenched free of Tommy's hold and sped out of the alcove. Great! Now we have no spare ammo. We all continued to fire at the coyotes until we were all out of ammo and we still had five of the wretched animals left.

Realising this I turned to Tommy shouting, "You just had to let that fuckin' horse go didn't ya!" He answered with a meek, "Sorry Major Whitlock, sir, but I couldn't hold him!" I thought about replying, but it was then that the coyotes started to advance on us, growling. I handed Logan the reigns for my horse, shrugged out of my coat and slid to the ground, hearing Will shout, "Major are you crazy? You can't take on coyotes bare handed!"

I stood in front of the cornered troop and crouched down preparing to face the growling coyotes in front of me. I readied myself to fight just as the coyote at the front leapt for me. BANG. The coyote fell down dead in front of me. I looked up and the coyotes turned to find the source of the gun shot. At the opening of the alcove stood a figure, we all stood still and watched while the coyotes went for the stranger. The stranger must have been about 5" 4 maybe 5"5, skinny, with dark hair judging from the strands escaping from under the hat he was wearing.

The stranger shot the four remaining animals in quick succession, before clicking the safety on his pistol and walked back around the boulder away from us, "Sweet Jesus! What I wouldn't give to be able to shoot like that. Didn't even miss a shot!" I heard Logan exclaim behind me, the men murmuring in agreement. I heard the men jump down as I followed the figure out round the boulder at the entrance, to find him standing next to his horse.

"Thank you, Stranger. Can I ask for a name?" I asked as the figure turned round to speak to me, "You can ask, but I can't guarantee that I'll tell you." I heard the woman reply smirking slightly at what were probably looks of shock. I shook off my shock and replied smiling, "Well ma'am, my name is Major Jasper Whitlock and I want to thank you for saving me and my men. And apparently returning our horse."

I watched as she smiled a truly amazing smile, What I wouldn't give to see that smile again, I thought as she said back, "You're quite welcome Major. My name is Morgana Raven, but please call me Ana." I smiled back, nodding my head Like hell I'm calling her anything but Morgana and I have never heard someone make this accent sound so sexy, "Now please don't take offense Morgana, but would you allow my men and I to escort you safely to where ever it is you are going?"

I watched as her smile faltered. I took the time she was silent to really look at her. She had the most amazing green eyes that lit up when she smiled, her hair was either black or brown I couldn't tell because of the Stetson. She stood there dressed in pants and a thin cotton shirt with work boots and a Stetson on her head. The top of her head barely came to my chin. She's Perfect. I think I found the storm the Indians were talking about.