AN: A HUGE THANK YOU to my awesome pre-readers :
Laughing "Letsjustdance" and Whistling "GeezerWench" They rode in on their white horses and put alot of love into this chapter!
Most of my reviewers got rowdy over my lil' old cliff hanger. I'll never leave you hanging long...
Doc Cullen decided not to return and tell Bella the news of her father's death; she had had enough grief for one day. He would break it to her in the morning. Instead, they all rode together to the fort to discuss the sheriff's burial.
A group of men that had been out searching for the outlaws that had supposedly taken Bella, had come across the sheriff's lifeless body lying in a field. They might have ridden past unaware, except that his horse was left standing and grazing not too far from his body.
The men had carried the body back to the fort, in the back of a buggy, where a group of people who knew the sheriff best decided to bury him in the small graveyard that sat just beyond the fort on a hill. When Doc Cullen and the Whitlock brothers arrived, the men in charge of digging the grave looked relieved to have some help. They had brought a few extra shovels, hoping more men would show up to help with the burial.
The sheriff's body was lying stiff and cold beneath some burlap fabric waiting to be buried. Doc Cullen decided that he should have a look, so he peeled back the burlap just enough to ascertain the cause of death.
He had been shot in the head, and the buzzards had set in on him. It was a gruesome sight—a sight that Bella should never have to lay eyes on. Doc Cullen leaned down and removed the star from the lawman's vest and told the men to proceed with the burial. All of them took up shovels, including the Whitlocks, and started to dig a grave for the fallen sheriff.
The mood was somber, and everyone was quiet; even Peter. No one said a word until after the last shovelful of dirt had been patted into place over the sheriff's lonely grave. The men all held their hats in hand as Doc Cullen said a prayer, and then the solemn group parted ways.
Jasper and Peter were surprised that none of the men had said a good word about the sheriff at his burial, but they hadn't known the man. Jasper remembered Mike Newton saying something about him being a heavy drinker, and for a moment, Jasper contemplated what his own funeral would look like one day. The thought saddened him that he could end up much like the sheriff—alone and overlooked; a drunk that nobody cared for. It was probable. In fact, the realization just depressed him and made him feel like drinking.
"Let's go have a talk with Mr. Newton," Doc Cullen said as he wiped the sweat from his brow with a crisp, white handkerchief. His fair skin was flushed, and he looked and sounded exhausted. "Let me try to reason with him, I've seen enough blood for today."
Tensions were high by the time the men reached Newton's store and saloon. The two buildings sat beside each other, and Jasper had already decided where he was going: the saloon.
Peter wasn't looking to argue with Jasper. He knew it wouldn't get him anywhere, so Peter followed Doc Cullen to the general store. They walked to the back where they found a stout, older man with a big belly behind the counter.
When the shopkeeper saw Doc Cullen, his face lit up and he welcomed him and Peter to come sit with him. Peter was wondering if the man could be Newton. He thought not; the man looked too old to marry Bella. The rotund man had talked for quite a while about all of his aches and pains before Doc Cullen had the chance to introduce him to Peter. His name was Newton, but he was the elder Newton; the father of the man Bella was going to marry. Peter shook hands with him and proceeded to tell him all that had transpired earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, Jasper was drowning his troubles at the saloon. He was hoping to see Newton and lay into him, but unfortunately, the snake was nowhere to be found. Jasper figured he had run off to avoid paying him, and that just made his blood boil. Jasper swore if he ever saw the yellow-bellied varmint again, he would settle things between them.
It was twilight before Doc Cullen and Peter left the store. Mike Newton Senior had paid his son's debt. He had given Peter five hundred dollars in gold and cash, and Peter in turn had paid his debt to the doctor. Mike Newton Senior had heard about Sheriff Swan's death and thought that Peter should have his horse as part of the reward. Peter planned to settle it in the morning. When the men went to retrieve Jasper from the saloon, they found him in a sad state. He was slouched over the table with his hand curled around a shot glass.
"My brother is a good man," Peter explained to the doctor. "He's just been through a lot, and sometimes he drinks too much."
Doc Cullen nodded his head and pursed his lips as he helped Peter lift his brother to his feet. They paid his tab and got him steadied on his mule before they led him slowly back to Doc Cullen's place. By the time they arrived at the house, it was pitch dark. They would have never found it without Doc Cullen's horse leading the way.
Charlotte stood outside by the wagon holding a lantern, waiting worriedly for her husband to return. Relief flooded through her when she recognized that all the men had returned unharmed.
Peter was in a triumphant mood, as he dismounted his mule and strode across the yard. "We got paid, honey! Make a blanket for Jasper, he went and got drunk again."
Charlotte was thrilled that Peter had gotten the money, but she was disappointed with Jasper drinking in front of the good doctor. She didn't say anything about it. She was too tired. When the men had left, she had spent most of the evening doing chores, and making camp in the field beside Doc Cullen's house. She laid out a blanket for Jasper while Peter helped his brother off the mule.
"Sorry Charlotte," Jasper said as he laid down and fell into unconsciousness.
"Well, don't that beat all!" Charlotte exclaimed. "He's never said he was sorry before."
Peter poked Jasper, trying to wake him. "We know you're a sorry cuss, now ya need to apologize."
"Let him be, Pete. It's better if he sleeps it off."
"Bella's father, Sheriff Swan, got himself murdered," Peter said quietly as he removed Jasper's boots.
Charlotte gasped, and her hand flew over her mouth. "Oh, no! Does Bella know?"
"Doc Cullen is going to tell her in the morning. I figure we can camp here a few days and rest up a little before we continue on. What do you think?" Peter asked as he embraced his wife.
"I think that sounds fine." She handed Peter the lantern so that he could take care of the mules while she rolled out the blanket that they would sleep on. The weather was comfortable, so they didn't need to bother setting up a tent. It had been such a trying day, as soon as Charlotte laid down, she fell asleep, and Peter followed soon after.
That night, in a fitful, restless sleep, Jasper had a vivid dream—a nightmare. Jasper felt he was looking down on a gathering of people. Through a sort of haze he tried to figure out the familiar ceremony. Suddenly, he realized he was watching a funeral take place but he only recognized a few people.
Peter, dressed in a long black preacher's frock, seemed to be officiating the solemn ceremony; while his sister-in-law was sitting on the front row. Peter said a few words that Jasper couldn't make out, and then fell to his knees. Eventually his brother got up, shaking his head sadly, he walked slowly over to Charlotte and they left.
There were hardly any people in attendance, and Jasper began to wonder who the funeral was for. As he kept watching, a woman, also dressed in black of mourning, ran through the group and over to the grave. She threw herself over the fresh mound of dirt, sobbing, and called out a name. His name…Jasper!
He wanted to go comfort the woman and remove the dark veil from her face to see who she was, but his hands just passed right through the veil. He realized that he was in spirit form, and the funeral was his own. It seemed time sped up and most of the people disappeared but then he saw Mike Newton walk briskly over to the bereaved woman. At first, he thought Newton meant to console her. Instead, he yanked her up by the arm and started slapping her in the face. The mist cleared instantly as the woman's body burst into a hundred midnight black ravens that flew cawing into the darkened sky.
Covered in sweat and screaming, Jasper woke up with a start. There was an awful, sour taste in his mouth, and his stomach quivered. His head was pounding and when he tried to sit up, everything spun. As the memories of the nightmare filled his mind, his stomach heaved. Then Jasper got sick and started retching. His throat felt raw and dry, and he decided that he needed some water, but he felt too sick to fetch it himself.
"Pete," Jasper said weakly. "I need some water."
Startled awake by his brother's cries, Peter quickly retrieved a tin cup from the wagon and filled it with some water that they hauled in a jug. He carried it over to his brother and sat down beside him. "You don't look like you feel well this morning, but it's time we talked, Jas." Peter said quietly.
The sun was coming up over the horizon, and the birds were singing. It was going to be a beautiful morning, but Jasper couldn't enjoy it. His head was still reeling, and he leaned over and got sick again.
"We can't keep carrying on like this," Peter said seriously. "You are embarrassing us in front of these nice folks, but that is the least of it, brother, and you know it."
Jasper nodded his head carefully. He felt awful. He was so sick, and he couldn't stop thinking about his dream. He wasn't sure what the nightmare meant, but he knew in his heart that the drinking was going to have to stop.
"Me and Doc Cullen got the reward last night, while you were off drinkin'." Peter plucked a long blade of grass from the ground between him and Jasper and tore it apart, bit by bit.
Jasper could hardly believe it. "Newton paid up?"
"Newton Senior. He's a good man, Jas. We need to take the wagon to the store and get supplies. You'll get to meet him. You'll like him."
"I need some coffee." Jasper moaned, dragging his hand down over his face.
"I'll make coffee for you this mornin', but my patience with your drinkin' is wearing thin. I'm not going to be babyin' you once we get to Oregon, Jasper. It'll take both of us plus Charlotte to get our land up and running." Peter stood up, brushing loose grass from his pants, and went to look for materials to build a fire, while Jasper laid back on the blanket.
When Peter finally returned with the coffee, Jasper thanked him, and leveled with his brother. "I'm ready to stop, Pete."
"Good." Peter placed his hand on his brother's shoulder, looked into his bloodshot eyes, and for the first time in a long time, he knew his brother had made a real commitment. Jasper didn't need to say anything else; Peter knew he meant it.
AN: Happyghost love! :)