Like the rest of the author's here, I don't own Twilight. However, I am so glad you enjoy reading my story. I have to share a bit of giddy news - this little story was mentioned on 'The Lazy Yet Discerning Ficster' in an article about Jasper by AngstGoddess003. So, I have to a little fan-girl squee because being mentioned by an author who's work you enjoy reading is just one of the coolest things! I've read almost all of the stories mentioned in that article and recommend checking them out if you have not. I am so pleased to know that my 'Texsper' is working for you! Thanks to "Bendingmirrors" for telling me about the mention that lead her to the story.

Last note before you get to the story: MizTrezBoo, BeMyLullaby, and NostalgicMiss, AKA TheFournikationFoundation, are having a Pirate-Talking Contest. So far, FiberKitty, MischiefMaker1 and I are the only contributors. The point of a contest is for there to be competition - so write something! Three stories per author, so write something and send me a challenge. Steps off soapbox. And now to the story.

REV (6-11) So, I'm still doing the fan-girl squee, but I want to thank Touchstone67, who made the recommendation to AG. It means so much to have such enthusiastic readers - and you all know who you are. Love ya, Ladies!

BPOV

I walked up the stairs like a woman walking to the gallows. Of course he'd been in the room long enough to see my bookshelf. What would he think? Would he think the books were Charlie's? I mean, some of them were Charlie's after all. Has he found my notes, or the paper I wrote? I was reluctant to open the door, but pushed through. Jasper was facing the bookcase holding one of my notebooks in his trembling hands. Shit.

"Jasper, please let me explain."

"Let me make this perfectly clear. I am only still here because I think you owe me an explanation. What the hell is this, Bella? Did you even want me, or would any ol' Ranger do the trick for you?" The last statement was almost pleading, in contrast to the murderous glare he gave me when I walked in. I tried to pull him to the bed, but he wouldn't budge.

"Jasper, don't do this." Having been so betrayed by Maria, I should have known that this would be a problem for Jasper.

"Explain it to me, Bella. Please, dear God, make it good because I'm barely holdin' on to my calm."

"Alright, Jasper. It first started with Charlie's interest in those old westerns. I decided to read one, I curious about what interested him. I liked how strong the character was, so confident and sure of himself. And then I had to write a paper for my American History class. Every one else was picking either major US events or local events." I faltered. Why would he possibly believe me? Why had I waited to tell him about this?

"Jasper, please sit down with me. I know how this looks. I know you think I've trapped you somehow, but it just isn't like that. I promise. Please."

"Bella... just finish your story. I need to hear this. Now." his head was down. He looked defeated. I did this to my Jasper and I had to fix it.

"Okay. Thank you for letting me. For not ditching me. After that first book, I started reading that Frank Dobie book and I loved it. So when the paper came up, I knew I wanted to write about Texas. The more I studied about Texas and, of course, about the Rangers, the more interested I got. Writing my report on the Rangers just seemed natural. I'll admit I got a little carried away with the research. All that influenced me choosing Texas..."

"What about your very, shall we say, colorful description of your ideal Ranger in this notebook here?" He held up the binder that had all my notes and musings.

"Uh... I uh, forgot about that kind of." I winced, remembering the description and just how close it was to the man standing before me.

"Bella..." His voice chastised me.

"It really isn't what you think. It just so happens that I've always liked tall, muscular men. With blond hair and blues eyes." I cleared my throat and started squirming. "It really is just my dumb luck that we ran into each other. I'll admit that I was very pleased to see that star over your heart. It was a thrill to be so close to a fantasy. Like any other, normal, girl running into her favorite movie star." He scoffed.

"I don't know, Bella. I see books like this one..." he held up the book about Jack Hays "...and I wonder just how much of a coincidence this can be."

"It is a coincidence, Jasper. I swear." I pleaded with my voice and my eyes. Then the rest of his words caught up. "Wait, why the Jack Hays book of all of them?" Now I'm curious.

"Bella, are you kidding me? It is just too much of a coincidence that you have a book that mentions my great-grandfather heavily and you happen to be down by the river where I run. Every. Day. How did you know that? How did you find me? Was I part of your research?" His voice was incredulous and I was stunned.

"Jack Hays is your..."

"No, they rode together. Wait, you didn't know that?" He looked doubtful.

"I had no idea. I had no idea about the river, either. And, honestly, I really am about to freak out like a girl with her favorite movie star." My heart was racing and I almost felt guilty about it.

"Do not fuck with me, Bella."

"Uh, Hello - terrible liar over here. Did you forget that part?" I walked over to him, putting my arms around his waist. He didn't move, but he didn't move away. "You're so upset with me for not telling you about this that you forgot to interrogate me?" I offered a faint smile, leaning my head trying to make eye contact. He took a deep breath and with a deliberate measure, let it out. He tilted his head just enough to look in my eyes.

"Lemme see if I've got all this straight. You decided to move to Texas because your Dad read some books about Texas and the Rangers, including one that has my great-granddad in it. You made a fairly detailed description of your 'ideal' Ranger, a description that just happens to also describe me, we just happen to meet on campus - and I'll buy that one, by the way - and we just happen to meet again by the river. Have I summed it up?"

"I think that covers the highlights."

"Do your friends know about all this?"

"No. OUR friends don't know about this. They don't even know about the report I did. The only person who has an inkling is Charlie and even he doesn't have the full picture." I gave another tentative smile.

"You are a terrible liar, aren't you?" It was more of a statement and his eyes were still narrowed, so I gave only a small nod. He moved to grasp my shoulders and leaned close to my face. "I need you to tell me, Bella, need you to tell me if you would have given me a second glance if I hadn't been wearing my badge. I need it so bad, I almost want you to lie to me, Bella." His eyes were so full of pain that my heart broke.

"Oh, Jasper! Of course. Everything about you calls to me in a way that I can not deny. I saw your eyes before I saw your badge, Jasper, and your eyes claimed me first." He leaned into my hand when I cupped his cheek. "I am yours, badge or not, sweet Texas twang or not." He gave a small smile. "I am yours, heart, body, mind, and soul, Jasper. I love you."

"Bella, what am I going to do with you? I think Fate has had her hands full with you." He finally put his arms around me and rested his chin on the top of my head.

"You'll just have to love me. And forgive me for not telling you. At first, I thought you'd think I was strange and then it just seemed to matter less and less. Of course, until you come into my room and see the abundance of reading materials and notes. I had planned to tell you this trip. I had hoped to tell you, y'know, before you saw my room."

"I probably would have been okay with all of it, except for the Hays book. That just put a weird stalker twist to it." I felt his body relax around mine. Thank God. I knew we were going to be okay.

"So, wanna tell me about your great granddad?" He snorted before replying.

"Maybe another time. Right now, let's work on getting you back into my good graces, shall we?" And I was blessed with a genuine, dimpled Jasper smile. At last.

"Oh, Jasper, I love you. Thank you for hearing me out. And for not thinking I'm a complete freak."

"I love you, too, Bella. And I never said you weren't a complete freak." And then he kissed me. I have never been more happy to feel his lips on mine.

JPOV

After Bella finished telling me her story, I calmed. Being a terrible liar certainly worked in Bella's favor. There was no hint of dishonesty during her story. Well, until I mentioned her 'ideal Ranger'. She remembered it, though I do believe that even that was a coincidence. To have all these things fall into place for her, I am now certain that she lives the most charmed life of anyone I've ever met. I did manage to laugh about our first meeting. Had she tried to pull off a series of events like that, she would have needed a Hollywood crew to get it that perfect. We stayed in her room for a while, relaxing and talking about the time she spent here. She told me the stories surrounding the pictures she had everywhere. She doesn't have any siblings to come in with embarrassing stories, like Peter had done for me. I would look to Charlie for that. Which reminded me…

"So, Darlin, we should head downstairs and spend time with your dad. I don't want him to have any reason not to like me." I am so emotionally exhausted, I really just want to go to sleep. What a strange and convoluted journey I've been on in the last few hours.

"Don't worry, Jazz, now that Dad knows you're a Ranger, you are so in his good graces. I wouldn't be surprised if he's got the wedding planned." Her smile was so bright. My heart stuttered at the mention of a wedding. I wouldn't object, but I wonder about Bella.

"Yeah, right. No dad is ever that eager. When do you want to tell him about the house hunting?"

"Uh, I kinda already told him we were moving in together." She smiled.

"Oh, yeah? I'm guessing that it wasn't too bad since I'm still in the house."

"Yeah, he was ready to run a background check on you until I told him you were a Ranger." She looked at her feet.

"And?"

"And nothing. He asked if you knew about my, uh... fascination... and sent me up here to clarify things with you." I sighed. We'd already said everything that needed be said on that subject and it was time for me to let it go.

"Alright, well then let's go face your dad and see how the news is sitting with him now." I snuck in a quick kiss and followed Bella downstairs.

**-***--***-**

Bella insisted on cooking dinner while Charlie and I sat in the living room in front of what ever sporting event Charlie wanted to watch.

"So, Jasper, a Texas Ranger, huh?" I saw the same determination in Charlie's eyes that I had seen so many times in Bella's. The same deep brown that lead to a pure soul and clarity that laid everything bare. He's the reason Bella can't lie. God bless him.

"Yes sir. " I said, giving a slow nod. He turned his eyes back to the television.

"I worry about Bella being with a cop. Probably more than I worried about her living with me. I don't want her to live with that kind of uncertainty."

"What cop doesn't worry about that, sir? Bella, of all people, knows the risks, and she knew about my job from the moment we met, and still wanted to see me. Sir." He gave me a sideways glare. After a deep breath, he smiled. Relief washed over me, but only briefly.

"Alright, son. But let me tell you this. If you ever, I mean it, ever hurt my little girl, I will fly down to Texas with a whole tribe of pissed of Indians and kick your cowboy ass. No one is as loved here as that little girl. Are we in agreement?" I stood with my hand out.

"Sir, if I ever, I mean it, ever hurt Bella, I'll fly myself up here so you and Jake's friends can kick my ass. He's already promised to bury my body on the Res." Charlie also stood and shook my hand. He smiled and clapped me hard on the back.

"Let's eat, Son."

I helped Bella set the table while she and Charlie talked about the goings-on in the town.

"Oh, Ben and Angela are expecting their first in the spring." Charlie beamed when Bella squealed.

"That's great. I'll have to call her while we're here. What have you heard about Jessica?"

"She's been working in Seattle. Started dating some guy from there and they are supposed to get married sometime after the New Year. Lemme think, I know his name, but it's escaped me."

"Eat up while you think about, Dad." She patted his hand. Having little interest in people I don't know, I wasn't really focused on the conversation. That gave me extra time to focus on Bella. In the months we've been together, I still marvel at her easy beauty and love the extra glow she has while talking with her father. Someday I'll have a little girl who looks at me that way. A little girl with soulful eyes and a sweet smile, who calls me Daddy and wraps her tiny arms around my neck. I was snapped out of my fantasy by Charlie's exclamation.

"Mike Newton!" He crowed. Bella paled.

"Wh… what about Mike Newton?" she asked with a tentative voice.

"That's the boy's name. Damn, I hate when that happens." His smile was triumphant. "You have a few more years before that kinda thing happens to you." He winked at her.

"Uh… so Jessica is going to marry Mike Newton?" Bella's color still hadn't returned.

"Yep. She brought him home to meet her folks for Christmas. Seems like that's going around these days." He smiled at her.

"Uh huh." She seemed distracted still.

"You okay, Darlin?" I whispered.

"Huh? Oh… uh… yeah. I just… I knew Mike in college." She stammered and blushed. Ah, I guess I'll be hearing about that later this evening.

As is my job, I insisted on cleaning up after supper. Charlie and Bella moved to the living room, talking more about town happenings. When I sat next to Bella, she gave me a small smile before turning back to Charlie.

"So, Dad. You never said anything about me moving in with Jasper.

"What do you want me to say, Bella? I can't forbid you and it's not like I can check up on you. Anyway, you have a good head on your shoulders. You will always be my baby, Bella, but you are a woman and some things are just beyond my control. Besides, Jasper knows where I stand, right Son?" He glared at me.

"Yes, Sir." I nodded.

"Well, then. I guess we've said all there is to say about that." With that, the conversation was over and I realized that my day had been too long.

"Mr. Swan, Bella, I think the day has caught up with me, so I'm going to take a shower and turn in for the evening." I was asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

Alright y'all - Remember to show the FornikationFoundation some love and write a fun little Pirate story. You know you want to do it. Just think of it as preparation for 'International Talk Like A Pirate Day'.

'babe