AN: Yee-Haw! and THANK YOU to my awesome outlaw pre-readers:
Lucky "Letsjustdance" and "GeezerWench" the Kid :)
I thought I'd go ahead and post today because it's raining here.
Mike Newton was used to dealing with many different types of people. He had come into contact with travelers and settlers from all stations of life through his work in the store and saloon that he and his family owned. He knew trouble when he saw it, and the stranger who had rescued Bella, was trouble with a capital T. Newton knew that someone was going to have to pay the man, he just didn't think it should have to be him.
Whenever Sheriff Swan returned, he would have to deal with the ruffian himself. He was the sheriff after all. Until then he could pacify the stranger with drink and a place to freshen up. That much he would oblige.
Jasper looked around the dingy room that Newton had led him to. There was a cabinet that held a wash basin full of water, and under it there were a few cloths and a bar of soap. The room looked clean but there was rankness in the air. He briefly wondered which was worse—the odor from the room, or the one from his own body.
Jasper rubbed his rough hands across his injured face and growled. He was still burning with hatred for that bastard Newton. Firstly, for refusing to pay him, and secondly, for his abhorrent treatment of his waitress. He was certain that Newton had raised his hands to the woman before—he had seen the fear in her eyes.
Jasper noticed a small mirror on the wall and took a good look at himself. He hardly recognized the reflection of the man who was staring back at him. His eye was almost swollen shut, and there were some scratches on his cheek, but what really stunned him was how broken and empty he looked. He could use a good shave too, but that would have to wait. He removed his shirt and cleaned himself up the best he could and then reluctantly pulled the filthy shirt back over his head. Jasper felt so foolish for trading his last pair of spare clothes for whiskey. He would have nothing clean to wear until after he collected the reward money. The realization just riled him further. For a moment he considered taking out all of his frustrations on Mike Newton, but then he'd be late for lunch, and he was awfully hungry.
When Jasper arrived back at Doc Cullen's place, he realized that the Indian was gone and he heard a soft, feminine sobbing coming from the kitchen. Peter was still stretched lazily across the cot, right where Jasper had last seen him.
"Where'd your buddy go, Pete?" Jasper motioned to the empty cot where Jake had been.
"I'm not sure. Esme came in here and handed Jake something earlier. They talked a minute, but I couldn't hear what they were saying, and then he stormed out. Bella must have been upset 'cause she started crying. Then I took a nap. Did you get the money?" Peter asked his brother the question even though the aggravated look on Jasper's face had already given away the answer.
"No. That Newton fella says he heard that Bella's been ruined, and he thinks he shouldn't have to pay us 'cause he's not planning on marrying her now." Jasper spoke loudly enough that everyone in the kitchen could hear him. When Bella's crying abruptly stopped, he was sure she had been listening. "Newton says Sheriff Swan will pay us. He hasn't made it back yet. We can go up to the saloon after lunch and wait for him."
Bella peeked around the corner, her eyes timidly focused on Jasper. She appeared relieved at hearing the news. Though her eyes were still red-rimmed and her face wet with tears, a small thankful smile crossed her lips at the realization that Newton didn't want her anymore. Jasper nodded towards her. She had sensed a sort of compassion in him—possibly an understanding. Bella noticed that she no longer felt afraid of the bearded traveler as she turned and went back to the kitchen.
Esme handed Bella a dampened cloth to wipe her tears away. She put her arms around her and whispered soothing words to her young friend, telling her not to worry about Jake or Mike Newton; she would be better off without them, and she was welcome to stay in her home for as long as she needed. Bella hugged Esme in appreciation. Surely, the woman was an angel sent straight from heaven.
Charlotte finished setting the table and walked around the corner to check on her husband. Peter whistled in appreciation at the sight of her. She had taken a bath and washed her hair while Esme and Bella had been busy in the kitchen. Esme had loaned her a yellow dress, so that she had something clean to wear, and though it fit her, it was a little tight through the bust.
Peter, however, thought that the dress fit perfectly. "Well don't you look prettier than a glob of butter melting on a stack of wheat-cakes?" He said as he stood up and walked toward her, a look of hunger in his eyes.
Charlotte pursed her lips and placed her dainty hand on Peter's chest, stopping him before he could grab her. "We're about ready to eat. Make sure you both wash up before you come to the table. I'll not have either of you embarrassing me in front of our gracious hosts."
"Yes ma'am!" Peter saluted his wife as if she were his commanding officer. "Whereabouts can we get cleaned up.?"
Carlisle offered to show the brothers where they could all wash up, and a few moments later the hungry men all followed their noses to the wonderful smells that poured from the kitchen. Esme and Bella had spent hours preparing a feast of a meal. The long wooden table was overflowing with food. There was a golden roasted chicken surrounded by heaping bowls of fixings. The women had prepared boiled potatoes, sliced tomatoes, fresh peas, two different types of beans, and biscuits and gravy. On an adjacent counter sat three different desserts: two pies with the bright red juices still bubbling through the crusts, and a large pan overflowing with apple dumplings.
Peter and Jasper stood slack-jawed and wide-eyed at the amount of food that was laid out before them. They hadn't had a meal like that since before the war; back when their mother was alive.
The sound of a chair scraping across the floor startled the brothers out of their food-induced haze. Esme was dragging two extra chairs from the front room into the kitchen to accommodate the extra guests. The brothers immediately assisted her with the chairs then stood awkwardly not knowing where to sit.
Carlisle took his usual place at the head of the table then everyone else settled into place. The married couples would sit beside each other on both sides, and that left Jasper and Bella to sit at the ends. Esme busied herself at the stove. She brought a large ceramic bowl filled with broth and set it gently in front of Peter.
"You sure have outdone yourself ma'am. This looks and smells wonderful." Peter said and then noticed that he was the only one that she had served.
"Your mouth is going to be sore, Pete. The doctor said you should be on soft food for at least a week. Remember?" Charlotte whispered.
Peter nodded gloomily. The effects of the whiskey were wearing off, and he was becoming aware of the throbbing pain in his mouth. Still determined to eat as much of the wonderful smelling food as he could, he reached for a biscuit.
Charlotte smacked his hand away, and spoke lowly and menacingly, so that only he could hear her. "Don't go embarrassing me in front of these ladies, Pete."
"I weren't going to take one, honey. I was just seeing how soft it was." Peter explained.
Charlotte felt bad for her husband, knowing how sparse their food had been the last few days on the trail. She spoke gently to him. "Honey, let me put some gravy on a biscuit for you. Let it soak in the gravy for a few minutes and see if it's soft enough for you to eat, okay?"
He smiled at his wife, lovingly, and nodded his head in agreement.
Soon the bowls of food were being passed around the table, and Esme carved and served the meat. When everyone had filled their plate, they all bowed their heads as Carlisle said grace.
During the course of the meal, they all engaged in pleasant conversation. Bella hardly said a word, but she listened intently to the travelers' account of what they had endured during their journey thus far. The difference between the two brothers was striking. The elder one, Jasper, seemed quiet and serious, while the younger, Peter, was light-hearted and would have talked non-stop if his wife hadn't been there to rein him in.
Jasper spoke quietly with long silences between. He wasn't a chatterbox like his brother. He seemed like someone much older than his 24 years. He had accepted great responsibility at a young age. Jasper told his hosts the story of how he had enlisted in the Confederate Army, and worked his way up to the rank of Major, leading many men, before the war had ended.
Peter had also been affected by the war. He had fought alongside his brother even though his heart hadn't been in it. Peter had wanted to become a preacher, but after his years of suffering through the war, and being surrounded by horribly wounded and dying men, his faith had waned.
The brothers spoke of their hopes to become farmers in the uncharted wilds of Oregon. They didn't go into any detail , but somehow they had lost their own land back in Texas, and had decided to make the journey after hearing that each man could stake a claim of over 600 acres apiece.
Before the meal had ended, it was interrupted by knocking at the door. Bella went to hide in the back bedroom before Carlisle answered the door. It was a visitor for Bella—the first of many. It seemed like a steady stream of well-wishers had decided to stop by the doctor's house to ask about her and her well-being. Most of them brought some sort of food with them to leave as a gift for the injured girl. No one was allowed to see Bella or talk to her. Doc Cullen and Esme kept her hidden in the back bedroom, and told the visitors that she was resting and wouldn't be accepting visitors until she healed considerably.
Some of the folks that had stopped by would sit a while and talk with Jasper and Peter. They regarded the brothers as heroes. Jasper didn't have much to say, but the settlers sat in rapt amazement at the tall tales Peter would tell them. It seemed that Peter never seemed to tire from hearing the sound of his own voice. In fact, Peter couldn't remember ever enjoying himself as much. He was especially thankful for all the pies and cakes that the well-wishers had brought. Peter thought that he had died and gone to pie heaven.
As it grew later and later, and the last of the visitors had left, Jasper thought it was high time that they go into town and look for Bella's father.
"Are you coming with me Pete?" Jasper asked. "It's about time that we go collect our reward. I wouldn't want to wear out the good doctor's welcome," he said as he tipped his hat to Carlisle.
"You've been wonderful guests." Carlisle stood and grabbed his wide-brimmed hat from a peg on the wall. "Do you mind if I join you? I need to pick up a few things from the store, and I'd like to have a talk with Mr. Newton."
The men had traveled only half-way to the store, when a lone rider approached them. The horse thundered towards them at a gallop, but as soon as the dust-covered man recognized the doctor, he brought his horse to a prancing stop. The man had been riding hard, and he could barely get his words out as he gasped for air. "Doc Cullen, I was coming to tell you! It's Sheriff Swan. He's dead."
AN: DUN DUN dunnnnnn!