Alice sat quietly as she watched Jasper leave. The day had been full of ups and downs. She was not in the least bit happy with her behavior, not because it was wrong - she knew she was right - she was more upset that she'd gotten caught and ended up being hauled off to jail. When she'd realize where she'd ended up after Deputy Yorkie had thrown her into a cell like she was a hive full of hornets, she had been scared out of her mind at first and then sat on the cot located in the cell, trying to figure out how she was going to get out of this.
She was pretty certain that she could eventually convince Deputy Yorkie to let her out, but just as she was finalizing her plan a new figure had come in. Judging by the man's voice when she first heard him she could tell he wasn't going to be a softy like the deputy; then, when he had walked into her line of sight, well, that man just took her breath away. She didn't know how long she sat there, just staring at him when the light glinted off his badge and her eyes wandered in that direction. That was when she burst into tears, crying like a banshee.
If you asked her why she had started crying, she would probably say that just seeing the sheriff made her realize just how much trouble she was in, but truth of the matter was the thing that had really set her off was that the badge made her realize that he wasn't Emmett Swan. At the moment her eyes met his she had lost her heart. But, she'd come here to marry Emmett and that was what she would do, so she pushed those thoughts from her mind. It wasn't like she could ever marry a lawman anyway.
So, she locked up the attraction she felt towards Jasper away in the corner of her heart where she locked up all the secrets that she could never share. One thing she'd learned over the years was that life wasn't fair, but one had to learn to deal with the hand that God had dealt them.
Standing up, she slipped off her bonnet and placed it on the edge of the desk as she smoothed back her hair. Looking around the jailhouse she wrinkled her nose a bit. This wasn't exactly her ideal place to be. Standing up she walked around the room, looking at the wanted posters on the wall before she walked over to the desk and started to straighten up the papers that Eric had dropped and Jasper had tossed back on the table. As she was arranging them into a neat pile she noticed one sticking out and frowned as she took in what was printed there. Just then she heard footsteps on the sidewalk outside the jailhouse and she stuffed the paper into her pocket and continued to straighten up the rest of them.
Jasper came in carrying a basket covered with a piece of cloth and smiled as he saw she was straightening up. "Hope you're hungry, Alice." As he said it he cleared the papers she'd been tidying up off the desk and stuck them on a nearby shelf. "I'll go through those later." He put the basket down and started to unpack it.
Alice's eyes widened a bit as he pulled out several tins of food and then a large plate wrapped up in a large square cloth followed by another medium sized plate wrapped in another cloth. He opened the tins to reveal green beans, mashed taters, beans, and corn. When he opened the cloths holding the plates he revealed a whole bunch of fried chicken and half of a pie. There were also a couple of biscuits wrapped in a napkin and two jars of sweet tea.
Jasper looked at her, grinning happily and she couldn't help but smile back. "Exactly how many people are joining us for lunch, Jasper?" Laughing he turned and hung his hat up and removed his coat, placing both on pegs that were hanging by the door.
"Just so happens that the boy who you defended was Seth, Sue Clearwater's son. She's the cook over at the local hotel. When I first walked into her kitchen she was about to beat me with a rolling pin for having you locked up in here till I explained to her who I was fetching the food for." He laughed.
Alice smiled. "Well, that's very sweet of her, but…did she really think I would eat all this?"
He laughed loudly again. "No, but she knew that I'd be sharing with you and that woman swears I have a hollow leg. Sit. Eat. I promised her I'd feed you and help you out in whatever way I can."
Smiling she sat down and right as he was about to bite off half a drumstick, she folded her hands on the table and bowed her head in prayer.
"Thank you Lord, our God, for the food you have seen fit to provide for us. May it nourish our bodies just as your nourish our souls. Amen."
Jasper had frozen for a moment as she had started to pray then he quickly set the drumstick back down and bowed his head. "Amen," he added and he reached for a drumstick again.
Alice smiled at him and started to serve up a heaping plate of food as he inhaled the piece of chicken, munching away. Chuckling, she asked, "Hungry, Jasper?"
He laughed and nodded as he chewed his food. When he finished his bite he added, "Sorry. I skipped breakfast and Sue makes the best fried chicken in west of the Blue Ridge." He was about to start serving himself when Alice set the heaping plate she'd been serving up in front of him. He blushed at realizing she'd been serving him and watched as she started to serve herself. The simple gesture made his heart melt.
"I had a stale biscuit for breakfast that I saved from our last stop. This looks much more appetizing," she said.
Remembering his manners he waited till she had finished serving herself before he started eating again. "You should have a hearty meal then. You must of used up a lot of energy this morning from what I heard." He chuckled and she giggled a bit in response and started to eat.
"Oh," he said after his next bite. "I should tell you that your trunks are safe and sound. Seth carried them over to the hotel himself and there safe there."
She bounced happily in her seat. "Oh! Thank goodness! I was so afraid that something had happened to them."
He laughed at her reaction. "I don't blame you for being worried. From what I heard while I was fetching lunch, half the ladies in town were more interested in talking about your dress and bonnet than your little skirmish with the Mallorys."
"That's good. I think. I mean if they liked it. I made it myself."
He arched a brow at that. "Did you? They were saying that you probably got it in New York or some other big city from some famous dressmaker."
She giggled and blushed in response and started to eat with more gusto. They continued to talk over their meal about various things, from how long Jasper had been a sheriff and how much he loved his job to her job as a schoolmarm and how she loved her job as well. Halfway through the meal she quickly lost her appetite as she heard Jasper's next question.
"What brings you to Spoons Valley, Alice?"
She dabbed her lips with one her napkin and looked at her plate she answered, "Well, I'm here to marry Mr. Emmett Swan."
Jasper had lost his appetite right after Alice had answered his question, too.
The conversation had definitely become strained after that and after asking if he was done she started to pack up the remnants of their meal, insisting that he should take it home to finish off for supper. After that, they had made their way to the hotel and he'd left her with a gushing Sue as he went off to borrow a wagon from Garrett again to transport Alice over to the Big E.
For the most part they were silent on the trip. He couldn't believe his luck. This girl was perfection and she was here to marry one of his best pals. He felt like shit for hoping that Emmett wouldn't go through with it. His friend deserved to be happy.
But, damnit, didn't he deserve to be happy, too?
Every now and then he would glance at Alice as she rode alongside him at the front end of the wagon. She looked lost in thought. Had she caught onto his feelings? Would she tell Emmett? In a way she hoped she would, then, maybe his pal would back down. There he was, being selfish again, and from he could tell the pretty lady sitting next to him was the most selfless person he'd ever met. She was a lady, through and through; she even said grace before they ate for Pete's sake.
As he saw the homestead in the distance he brought her out of her thoughts by saying, "There's the Big E homestead up ahead."
She looked up at the buildings in the distance, but didn't seem very interested and she continued to sit there in silence. After a few moments, she surprised him by leaning over, giving him a kiss on the cheek, and whispering, "Thank you for everything, Jasper."
He looked at her and gave her a soft smile and whispered back, "It was truly my pleasure, Alice." Their eyes locked for a moment before they both looked away and lapsed back into silence as they got closer to the main house.
As they pulled into the front of the house they both noticed two figures sitting on the front porch. When the wagon stopped one of the figures got up and Jasper noticed Emmett stumbling a bit before he almost tripped down the front steps. Behind him, Edward snickered and slurred, "Yooou look like yer sipter….kister…shishter!"
This sent both men into peels of laughter and Emmett was now hanging onto the side of the wagon, though it wasn't clear if he was doubled over in laughter or if he was about to throw up. Alice thought it was probably both.
To say that Jasper looked upset was an understatement. "Wait here," he said to Alice and shaking his head he climbed down and without bothering to greet either Edward or Emmett who were still laughing like the drunkards they were, he made his way inside, calling for Carmen.
Alice looked from one drunken man to the other and wondered which one was her fiancé. Sighing and shaking her head she climbed down from the wagon and asked. "Which one of you is Emmet Swan?"
Emmet straightened up and puffed out his large chest. "I'm Emmeth!"
Alice's eyes widened as she tilted her head back to look at him. She hadn't realized how big he actually was while he'd been stumbling down the stairs and leaning against the wagon. "Oh…my," she whispered in awe, but she quickly shook it off and cleared her throat, saying more clearly. "I'm Alice. Alice Brandon."
Emmett looked confused for a second as he swayed on his feet in front of her and then his eyes widened. "You're Alish!" He looked to Edward who was now standing against the railing to the porch, looking in real danger of toppling over the side. "It's Alish!"
Edward giggled. "That's not Alec. He's a ten year old boy. Though they are the shame size."
Alice almost smiled at the silliness of it all.
At that moment an older, Spanish looking lady came out with Jasper and glaring at Edward and Emmett she made her way to Alice all while muttering, "¡Sinvergüenzas borachos!" Going up to Alice the woman sighed. "I'm sorry, m'ija, it has been an….interesting day. Come inside, ¿si?" Carmen turned to Jasper. "I'll send someone to help you with her things, Jasper." Jasper nodded and just stood to one side, scowling at the whole scene.
Emmet, perhaps remembering some manners though the haze of alcohol, bowed clumsily in Alice's direction. "Pleshur to meet you, Alish!"
Biting her lips together so she wouldn't laugh, Alice held out a hand and placed it on Emmett's chest so he wouldn't tip completely forward onto her and she watched as he swayed and straightened to his full height again, grinning down at her.
Patting his chest with her tiny hand she shook her head and whispered, "He's a giant." Then she felt Carmen take her hand and lead her inside.
Chapter End Notes:
"¡Sinvergüenzas borachos!" - Drunks without shame (Sinvergüenzas is a bit hard to translate. It's a word that literally translates as "without embarassment", but is used to address individuals without shame)
