1862

Jasper

Letter Number Thirty-Six

Dear Ma,

I know you like the comfort of a date, Ma, but it's so pointless sometimes because mail is so easily lost in this system. So, I'm now numbering them instead of dating them. It'll be easier on the both of us—while you like a month and a day, Ma, I know it drives you crazy if they're too far apart.

Things are going well, I'm glad to admit. While I'd much rather be at home with you in Houston, things could be worse. Other troops barely scrape by, but currently we're residing near a small town just a few miles outside of Austin and the locals are treating us well. I was actually able to eat something besides biscuits that are harder than steel, gritty coffee, and salt pork that is much more salt than pork. Nothing, though, is as good as Brian's cooking. Don't tell him that, though. I know it'll just go to his head.

I'm sorry that this letter is so short, but it's late, my candle is burning close to the wick, and I need some sleep. Be sure to send LeLe my best wishes and congratulate Carolina for me about the new baby. I'm sure she'll be a great mother. Make sure that Nathan is taking good care of Lightning for me. Except for Catty, I wouldn't trust that old horse with anyone else, but I do need some reassurance that he's okay. I'd like to see him when I come back.

Sincerely,

Jasper

I sighed and read the letter one more time before folding it and sticking it an envelope. It was only a few more moments later when the letter was addressed and tucked away in my pack. John, a man that wasn't much older than I and a friend that I had quickly made after we met on the train to Austin, was sound asleep next to me. He was clutching, as usual, a picture of a fair-haired woman with a bright smile and dark eyes. She looked a lot like the younger photos of Ma, except John's lady was much more exuberant, or at least that's what he claimed. 'She was as charming as the sun and as refreshing as life'. His words, not mine.

"Her name is Anne," he had said when I noticed the picture that he was staring at lovingly on the train. "Anne Rose McBride. I'm damn right sorry that you never met her, 'cause that picture don't do justice compared to what she looks like in person, that's for damn sure." I handed him back the picture at that time.

"Beauty ain't the only thing that I love about her. It ain't even the first reason that I was drawn to her." John kept the picture tight in his hand as I waited for him to go on—I could tell that he wasn't done.

"She's real smart. Three or four times smarter than me. Right after we first met, she told me she wants to go to college and become a nurse. Oh, she does love children, and children love her just as much. She's the local librarian in my small little town and is always carrying a book. And smilin'. I do love her smile." He took a moment to smile at the picture for a moment, and the look in his gray eyes was so intimate that I looked away for a moment at a few men that were across from our seats until John started talking again.

"The best part is that she loves me too. I doubt that she loves me as much as I love her—no, sir, that'd be damn near impossible since I don't see how anyone can love anyone else like I love her. See, Jasper Whitlock, I'm not too bright. Always worked with my hands and I much rather would be rough housin' with some of my friends than readin' a book. Anne is perfect every day of the week, though, and twice on Sunday. She's everything that every guy could ever hope for and then some. And she's mine. That's why I'm goin' to marry her when we're done with this hell. 'Cause she could have the king of England if she wanted to do and she chose me." We both laughed slightly at this and John smiled in a certain way of his that reminded me of Catherine's free spirit. I started missing her the second that I stepped on the train.

"I'm as serious as God, too. I ain't gonna let anyone get my Anne. She's goin' to be mine, all mine. Mrs. Anne Rose Eckert. That's gonna be her."

It was nights where I couldn't sleep that I found myself thinking about my future in more detail besides just making it out of the war alive. I knew Catherine would find happiness easily. Any man would be a fool to let her go. She would choose wisely, though. Catherine wouldn't marry a man that she didn't love with her entire heart like she loved every moment that had happened, was happening, and was to come.

It was myself that I questioned, though. What did I want in the wife that I dreamed of having? Would I want someone as poised as Anne, or as carefree as Catherine? I couldn't place a woman I already knew within my life to compare to the woman that my mind created to be my wife. Frankly, I didn't even know what I wanted.

Well, that wasn't completely true. I wanted a woman that would stay true to me, yet not be afraid to stand up for herself if I was ever to become foolish in my ways with her. A woman that was headstrong and had the spirit of the sky—endless and inspiring—and she would smile just to smile. She'd be beautiful because of her heart, not because of her vanity, and she'd not be afraid to speak her mind. I wanted to be able to not only laugh with her, but be able to cry with her. She would let me hold her when she needed it and wouldn't be afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve and leave it outside of a glass case. There would be no use in thinking about love for her—she'd love first, think later, and she'd never consult her mind but her heart. No physical boundary would be strong enough to hold her back if she wanted something and she'd fight to the end. She'd face whatever was thrown her way with a smirk and find a way to stay sane amidst sheer insanity. I wouldn't need children with her—all I would ever need would be…her.

Shoot me if you will-I needed some reference to what's to come with our beloved Jalice. 3 And I love fluff. A lot. The chapter was originally going to be this huge foreshadowing chapter, but I decided against it. I'll spring chapter eleven on you tomorrow and then get killed for what I do. This is me apologizing now-I'M SO SORRY, GUYS. I LOVE YOU. PLEASE STILL READ.

Oh: anyone catch the straight-from-Alice's-past reference? 10 brownie points and a Girl Scout cookie to the first review that catches what I added in for kicks. ; )

Kidding about the Girl Scout cookie, though...those are mine. :D

Reviews, please! 3