Howdy Ya'll! How's everyone?
Thank you to my prereader Hop-a-long "GeezerWench"
She just posted an excellent chapter of "I Live"! Mosey on over and enjoy!
September 15, 1866
Peter had been watching Jasper for a few days. He had been wondering in silence why his brother hadn't tried to woo Bella. It was obvious, to him, that Jasper was taking far too long, and going about winning her over in entirely the wrong fashion. Finally, one afternoon, while the women were busy making dinner, Peter's patience had run out, and he decided to ask Jasper the question that had been weighing on his mind.
"Why haven't you made your intentions clear to Bella yet?" Peter spat a stream of brown tobacco juice from his mouth, and it hit the ground with a loud splat.
Jasper breathed deeply. He wasn't sure how to answer. The thought had plagued him many times over the past few days. Heck, it was all he thought about, but he just couldn't bring himself to flirt with her. She was so shy that she could hardly even look at him for more than a few seconds.
"Let me tell ya what to do." Peter crossed his arms over his chest and grinned. "You should offer to teach her how to shoot. That way you could stand behind her, and wrap your arms around her. Tell her you need to stand close so she doesn't fall from the force of the recoil."
Jasper rolled his eyes. "You're the last person I'd ever take courtin' lessons from, Pete."
Ignoring that, Peter continued, "Then you can wrap your hands around hers, and whisper softly in her ear…tell her how to cock it back and pull the trigger."
"I asked her to take a ride with me the other day, and she refused."
"Is that what's been holdin' you back? Ask her again. You have to pursue her," Peter said, extending his hands toward Jasper. "She's not goin' to throw herself at you like a saloon girl. She's a lady."
"Maybe I don't feel like chasin' her." As soon as the words left Jasper's lips, he knew that he hadn't fooled his brother or himself with his bald-faced lie.
"You're just afraid of gettin' hurt again. You're even afraid of puttin' yourself in the position to get hurt. We all fall sometimes, and brother, you gotta brush yourself off and get back on that horse."
"Why does it matter?"
"I'm just tryin' to help. That, and Char has told me time and again how she wished Bella was comin' with us all the way. It's goin' to be a cold and lonely winter for you with no woman to warm your bed."
Almost as if Peter's words held influence over the weather, the next morning happened to be unseasonably cold. A chill woke Jasper, as the wind snatched at the flap of his tent, and a cold breeze blew over him, causing him to shiver. Through the opening of the tent, he could see that it was still mostly dark outside. It seemed to remind him that he was alone. Outside, he could hear Charlotte and Bella moving about and speaking in hushed tones, as they made breakfast.
The smell of fresh coffee and bacon wafted in on the breeze, and Jasper's mouth watered in anticipation of a good hot meal. Before Bella had come along to help Charlotte with the cooking, there had been nothing to look forward to. Charlotte's biscuits were always hard as rocks, and she managed to burn everything. He really enjoyed Bella making his meals, really appreciated it, and dreamed of how good life would be if only, every morning, he could wake up to find her in his kitchen making his breakfast.
It struck him how much he had truly come to appreciate the time and care Bella put into every task. She didn't go on and on about it like some would have. She just quietly went about her work. She was even helping to teach Charlotte how to cook, unobtrusively giving her little hints; making each meal, no matter how simple, a true display of her caring heart.
Jasper had been feeling much better since Peter had poured out his cider, and he was looking forward to starting fresh in Oregon, but it dawned on him that life in Oregon would be so much better if he could only have Bella by his side.
He was getting tired of feeling like the third wheel between his brother and his sister-in-law. He loved them, but he was starting to think he wanted something more—needed something more. And it would be a long, cold, lonely winter.
Jasper kept his blanket wrapped tightly around him as he made his way over to the cooking fire. Bella was focused on a large skillet full of bacon, and hardly noticed that he had approached.
"Good morning." He spoke softly as not to startle her.
"Good morning, Jasper. Let me get your coffee." Bella shifted the heavy skillet away from the direct flames and smiled, though she tried not to look fully at him. There was something that seemed intimate about seeing the man just after he had crawled from his bed. His hair was disheveled in a most endearing way, and it made her heart flutter to think that underneath his blanket he was still dressed in his bed clothes.
"Thank you," Jasper said as she handed him the coffee. He purposefully touched her hand, letting his rough fingers linger over her soft skin until she pulled her hand away blushing, and returned to tend to the various pots spread across the burning embers.
"It sure is cold this mornin'," Charlotte commented as she came around from the back of the wagon holding a handful of tin plates.
Jasper realized that Bella wasn't wearing a coat. "Are you cold, Bella?
"No, I'm fine. The fire is quite warm."
"It's goin' to be an early winter," Peter yelled from where he stood beside the wagon, washing his face. He still had the pitcher of water in his hand, and was wiping around the front of his neck as he looked toward the brightening sky.
Jasper walked over and joined his brother. A serious, worried look masked his normally lighthearted features.
"We might not make it to Oregon this year, Jas. I've got a feelin'."
The thought weighed heavily on Jasper's mind as he climbed in the wagon and dug around through his belongings and retrieved his sheep skin coat. Just under it, folded carefully, was his Confederate officers dress coat—the gold and light blue grey coat that he hadn't worn since the war had ended. The collar had a single gold star; the rank of a major. He had been so proud to wear it, and all at once he decided that nothing would please him more than to see it draped around Bella's body.
Jasper dressed quickly and washed his face, then walked briskly over to the fire to find Bella, her fingers stretched towards the embers, warming herself.
"May I?" he asked, and before she could respond, she found herself wrapped in the warmth of Jasper's coat.
It smelled of tobacco and some other masculine scent that she couldn't quite name. It was intoxicating, and uniquely Jasper. It was a fine coat, with beautiful golden buttons and trim. In fact, it seemed much too important for her to wear it.
"Jasper, thank you, but I shouldn't wear this. I might stain it."
She could feel the heat of his hands through the coat, as they rested on her shoulders—willing her to keep it on.
"I want you to be comfortable." Jasper spoke in a low voice so that only Bella could hear his plea.
Something about his tone compelled her to comply, so she ducked her head, and thanked him again, a light blush adding even more color to her morning-chilled cheeks.
Jasper slowly removed his hands from her shoulders. He couldn't help himself from running his fingers around the tall collar and freeing her braid. He felt her shiver beneath his hands as he slowly gathered her silky hair and took far longer than necessary arranging it down her back.
"So beautiful." Jasper sighed, as he unwillingly backed away from her, as Bella bent to tend her cooking pots.
Her hair had been even softer than he had imagined. His only regret was that it had been tied in a braid. Oh, how he wished to run his fingers through her unbound hair, slide his hand down her arm and around her waist, and pull her body against his. It had been a long time since he had been with a woman, and he hadn't wanted to become trapped like that again, but he couldn't help his attraction to Bella. The more he found out about her, the more he wanted to know. Every touch drew him in closer.
Charlotte was quite delighted to see Bella wearing Jasper's jacket. She was so tickled, that she rewarded him by adding extra raisins to his oatmeal that morning.
By mid-morning the sun had warmed the trail, and Bella, overcome by the heat, reluctantly took the jacket off, and attempted to return it to Jasper.
He seemed a bit disheartened when she placed it in his hands. "Do you have a jacket of your own?" he asked.
"Actually no, but I'll get one as soon as I can."
"It would please me greatly if you would consider using mine until then." Jasper found himself wanting to take care of her, provide for her; make sure she had the things that she needed and wanted. He couldn't resist reaching out to her and, he covered her hand with his own. Although his skin was rough, his touch was incredibly gentle.
Bella felt tingly all over. For the first time, she allowed herself to gaze into Jasper's cinnamon eyes instead of turning away, and she reveled in what she found there. He was taken with her. She wondered briefly if he could also see the feelings she had for him reflected in her own. The thought made her feel anxious, and she quickly bowed her head.
Jasper had felt something powerful pass between them. It was a touch of Heaven, and when Bella had broken their gaze, it was as if he had fallen back to earth.
Slowly, Jasper crooked his finger beneath her chin and raised it, until their eyes met again.
Her mouth parted slightly in surprise, and he found himself staring at her soft, pink lips. His body was screaming at him to take her in his arms and kiss her, but his mind was loudly reminding him how innocent and fragile she was.
Bella was so much more than that. Beneath that innocence, she had a subtle strength that he admired, and it attracted him to her even more. She had been through so much recently; yet, hadn't given up. He admired the bravery she had shown during her escape from the farce of a marriage with that no-good, worthless dandy. Then, when fate threw another obstacle in her path and her father was killed, she found the strength to start over again and had fearlessly joined his family on their journey.
Jasper was beginning to think he wanted to share more than that short journey with her—he wanted to share his life with her. He just wasn't sure how to start.
"May I join you for lunch?" Jasper asked.
His question broke her from his trance, and she took in a much needed breath of air, before she managed to remember how to speak. "Yes."
AN: Aww Yeah!