AN: I love your reviews, and I love writing this story...and I love cowboy Jasper.
I also love my prereaders, they make this story so much better in so many ways :)
Thank you "Letsjustdance" and "GeezerWench" for all the help and hard work you put into this story.
I know, I totally slacked on the hilarious western name thing...(Did anybody miss it?)
When Doc Cullen and Esme informed Bella of her father's death not one tear fell from her pretty brown eyes. The sheriff had always warned his daughter about the dangers of his job; there were lawbreakers out to kill him. Bella had always imagined that he would die that way. She liked to tell herself that the reason her father had always been so distant was to protect her somehow. That was the reason he drank. That was the reason that he hadn't raised her himself. Now that he was dead, she wasn't left with any pain; ultimately that was all he had been able to give her.
One of Bella's biggest concerns was that she was going to be homeless. When she came to live with her father two years ago he had been living in the meager housing that sat behind the jail; it was known as the sheriff's quarters. Instead of building a proper house for the both of them, he had just hung a blanket across the one room shack and told her to make due. He was never there anyway. Now that her father was dead, she would have to vacate the building before a new sheriff came to live there or possibly even sooner.
Doc Cullen promised her that she could stay at his house as long as she needed, and that he would go and collect all her belongings from her old house for her. She was supposedly injured and in mourning, so she would have to stay hidden away for the time being.
Bella felt like staying hidden away forever. She hadn't considered how her lie to get out of marrying Mike Newton would affect her long-term. She started to dread ever going out in public again. What if someone asked her questions about the attack? What if the men folk started viewing her as a loose woman?
Even though her father hadn't been a big part of her life, the settlers respected her as his daughter. With him gone, who would protect her? She was grateful for Doctor Cullen's offer, but the thought of staying there at the settlement made her very nervous.
Esme expected Bella to be upset by her father's death, and she could sense Bella's tension. When her young friend finally broke down and told her the real reason that she was upset, Esme was a bit shocked. She did promise, however, that they would find a solution to her problem and not to worry.
If Bella wanted to relocate and start a new life, Esme promised to help her do just that. In fact, Doc Cullen had many associates far and wide that would be more than willing to give Bella a job as a nurse. She promised they would discuss it with Carlisle over supper.
Charlotte and Esme stayed with Bella to comfort her, while the men had all traveled to the fort earlier that morning. Carlisle felt responsible for Bella, and wanted to take care of all the details of her father's passing for her. The only belongings of any value that the sheriff had left behind was his horse and his guns—a soldier had taken them to the fort to hold for safe keeping, until his debts were settled and his daughter was notified.
Jasper and Peter felt that the horse should belong to them, under the circumstances. There had been witnesses that the rescuers were promised a horse, and Carlisle assured the soldiers that the Whitlocks had, in fact, rescued Bella. Legal papers were drawn up and the ownership of the horse was transferred. Carlisle took the sheriff's guns—the weight of the metal feeling heavy in his hands. Though he had promised to give them to Bella, he hoped she would never have to use them.
While the brothers then took their wagon to the store to buy the supplies that would sustain them on their journey, Carlisle took his buggy to the little shack that stood just behind the jail to collect Bella's things. The soldiers at the fort had asked him to remove any belongings as soon as possible, and Carlisle had decided not to waste any time.
He had never been inside the sheriff's home before, and when he got a look at it, he understood why. It was hardly a home at all. It was a simple one-room shack with a blanket strung across the rafters dividing the room in half. Doc Cullen was surprised at how little there was to collect. Bella owned a trunk full of things and not much else. Her father had left behind some clothes and a hat. There were also household items: a few blankets, cooking pots, utensils, and some foodstuff. Carlisle just decided to load everything into his buggy and cart it back to Bella. All that he left behind was the furniture and the little two-holed pot-bellied stove because he had been told that they were the property of the jailhouse.
Jasper and Peter had purchased all the supplies they could carry, and even had a few surprises for Charlotte from Newton Sr. at the big store. Jasper liked the older gentleman and wondered how such a fine man could have such a rotten son. They hadn't seen Mike Newton around the store, and Peter forbade Jasper from entering the saloon to look for him. Jasper was still angry and ready to wallop him if he were to cross his path.
After eating breakfast and walking around gathering supplies, Jasper's hangover had lessened, and he was able to think clearly, but the full meaning of his dream still eluded him and worried his mind. It was like the coal black ravens from his nightmare were pecking at his brain.
All he was sure of was that he was killing himself with his drinking, and letting his family down. Even though he knew it, the addict in him still yearned for another drink, and the numbness that came with it. Stopping was not going to be an easy task, but he would do it, and he would do it on his own terms. Jasper hadn't purchased any liquor at the store, but he had bought some hard apple cider. He wasn't planning on getting drunk off of it; he just wanted to have something to take the edge off.
Peter didn't worry over Jasper; he knew that his brother was even more stubborn and hard-headed than the mules that pulled their wagon. Whenever he set his mind to something, there was no turning him from it. Peter felt certain that his brother had a "come to Jesus" moment about his drinking, and he was thankful that Jasper was finally serious about stopping.
The brothers were anxious to take a good bath and change into their new clothes. The soldiers at the fort had offered the men, who they regarded as heroes, a place to take a proper bath and get a clean shave. The Whitlocks decided to head back there and do just that before they put on their clean clothes and returned to show Charlotte her new dresses and shoes.
Peter watched his brother scrape the last of the soapy lather from his face with piqued curiosity. Strangely, Jasper was putting quite a bit of effort into his appearance. He had bought a fancy plaid shirt that had red in its pattern, and he was messing with his hair a lot more than usual. He couldn't remember the last time his brother had made such an effort, and he laughed to himself. "You sly devil, you're getting all slicked up for Bella, ain't ya?"
Jasper narrowed his eyes at his brother as he put on his new hat. "Quit yer yappin'. You're gettin' on my last nerve."
"There's nothin' wrong with it. I knew you liked her from the first moment you saw her, and who am I to judge? It's your own business how fast you fall for a girl."
Jasper shot across the room and grabbed Pete by the collar, "What did I just tell you?"
"Fine, I wasn't goin' to say anythin', damn it, Jasper. Calm down."
Jasper was wound tight, and he wasn't sure why. He noticed his hands were shaking as he released his hold on Peter's shirt. He was used to his brother taunting him. It was irritating, but usually, it was tolerable. Something about Peter insinuating that he had feelings towards the girl had sent Jasper into a hot rage. He didn't want to get involved with a woman—any woman. That was trouble he didn't need. Sure, Bella was a pretty little thing, but soon Jasper would be leaving the fort and be back on the trail. That's what he needed. It's what he wanted.
Peter recognized that he had overstepped his brother's boundary. Jasper was fighting his own personal demons, and already had a short fuse. He made a point not to say another word to rile him, and the whole ride back to Doc Cullen's was spent in silence.
When the brothers returned, they found Bella and Charlotte busy in the kitchen helping Esme set the table. When Bella saw Jasper, she turned around quickly and hid behind Esme's back, thinking he was a stranger. She hadn't recognized him without his beard, and she was worried that her secret would be ruined.
Esme sensed Bella's trepidation and whispered quietly to her young friend. "It's alright, That's just Peter and Jasper. They're just cleaned up wearing new clothes."
Bella felt extremely foolish and turned to see the men staring at her.
"We're sorry about your father," Jasper said quietly.
Bella's dark brown eyes stared without blinking. She wanted to respond, but her voice was caught in her throat. The only thought that occupied her mind was that Jasper was the most handsome man that she had ever laid eyes on. There was something compelling about him, and she wondered how she hadn't noticed it before.
It must have been the beard, she thought. The beard made him look older.
Slowly, Jasper and Peter removed their hats. Peter opened his mouth to say something but he thought better of it.
Finally, Bella turned her burning face away from the men and sat down.
Esme thought her friend looked faint. "Are you feeling alright Bella?" She touched Bella's forehead with the back of her wrist, and Charlotte brought her a cup of cold, sweet water.
"I'll be fine. I don't know what's come over me," Bella gasped.
"She's been through a lot, bless her heart." Esme patted Bella gently on the shoulder. "Everything will be fine dear, don't you worry. You need to try and eat something." She glanced up at the brothers. "She hasn't had a mouthful of food all morning."
"Yes, that's it," Bella said biting her lip and looking down at her hands in her lap. "I do feel weak."
Esme lightly patted Bella's back. "Now that all the men have arrived, we can serve lunch," she said cheerfully.
Everyone took their seats around the long rectangular table, and Esme served the meal. Once again, she set a bowl of broth in front of Peter, and once again he thanked her.
Esme waited until everyone was almost finished eating before she broached the subject of Bella finding employment. "Carlisle, dear, have you any associates that are in need of a nurse?"
"Of course, for many of them, a good nurse is hard to find and worth her weight in gold out here on the prairie," Carlisle answered.
"Bella desires to leave the settlement and find employment, since her father has passed away, and I thought you might know of someone who would treat her well as an employer."
Carlisle swallowed a mouthful of food and thought for a moment. "I do know of a doctor that I esteem very highly. He's actually my nephew—Edward Cullen. Every time he writes, he laments that he doesn't have a proper nurse."
Esme's eyes grew bright, and she clasped her hands. "Of course! Edward! He's a fine young doctor, and quite the gentleman."
"He comes from good stock." Carlisle smiled at the small joke he had made. Turning to Bella, he said, "He would pay you well, Bella. He's done quite nicely for himself."
"Does he live close by?" Bella wondered.
"No, he lives in Idaho, in a settlement close to the new Fort Boise. How would you feel about living farther west, instead of going back east?
"Oh, I would welcome it." Bella smiled. "How far is it from here?"
"It depends, but I'd estimate the journey to take about two months." Carlisle answered. "I would be happy to pay for your transportation."
"Are we headed that way, Pete?" Charlotte asked excitedly. "Maybe we could take Bella with us."
Peter glanced at Jasper who it seemed was choking on his last bite of food. He quickly answered his wife, before Jasper could catch his breath, "We sure are, honey. We'd be happy to have Bella along, wouldn't we, Jas?"
"Yep." Was all Jasper could say. His eyes were cast downward, and his lips were set in a tense, straight line.
Charlotte was ecstatic at the chance to have another woman share part of their journey and reached across the table to grasp Bella's hand. "Then it's settled. Bella will come with us!"
AN: Did this chapter surprise you? I think it surprised Jasper.
I posted this chapter early in celebration of my 101 followers! Thanks guys :)
Also I'd like to thank "jlove34" for bringing me some new readers. If you haven't read her story "Revolutionizing Bella" go check it out. Garrett X Bella