Hey dearest readers! I didn't get a chance to reply to most of your reviews last chapter, because I was writing and re-writing this chapter over and over, many times. I read all the reviews and appreciated every one. Thank you!
Also, a big THANK YOU! to my prereader, creative consultant, and sounding board, Miss "GeezerWench" who suffered with me through my numerous re-writes.
Please keep "Letsjustdance" and her family in your thoughts and prayers. She had to bow out due to real life situations.
September 16, 1866
The next day, the fickle weather had warmed, and Bella had no reason to wear Jasper's jacket, but that hadn't stopped her from inhaling its scent. Charlotte even caught her once, with her face buried in it, but she hadn't teased. Charlotte had high hopes that Bella would become her sister before winter.
Jasper and Bella's first lunch together had gone very well. They ate cold bacon biscuits with pickles. Jasper had insisted that they open the last jar because he felt the occasion to be worthy. Bella had sat on the blanket while Jasper reclined on his side—his long legs stretched out like a jackrabbit enjoying the sun.
At first Bella had been quite nervous to sit with him alone, but her nerves had dissolved away as she listened to him talk. His deep voice calmed her somehow, and soon she was comfortable answering his questions, and found herself laughing at his jokes.
Even their silences were comfortable, and Jasper marveled in awe at how he had fallen so quickly and completely for the girl.
She had promised to eat lunch with him again the next day, but their plans were interrupted by a strong midday storm that rolled across the prairie.
The storm came upon them quickly. The fat drops of rain pounded into the dry earth. Slowly at first, then all at once the rain was drenching. They hadn't enough warning to set up a tent, so they unharnessed the mules and crawled underneath the wagon to seek shelter from the storm.
Jasper had slid in beside Bella and turned to see that the rain had completely soaked the bodice of her dress, and apparently, she wasn't wearing any undergarments. Because he was a gentleman, Jasper averted his eyes, but his body was reacting to her with ferocity.
Bella had been oblivious to her indecency, for quite some time.
Peter found the awkward predicament quite amusing, and couldn't stop himself from laughing. He tried to stifle the sound and bowed his head between his knees, to keep from gawking, but his body still shook gently from his quiet chuckles.
Charlotte, finally, leaned over and whispered in Bella's ear, "Your bosoms are showin'."
At the realization, Bella crossed her arms over her chest. She was mortified, and her face burned bright red. She couldn't bring herself to look directly at anyone.
Charlotte had to elbow Peter in the ribs to shut him up.
The rain and wind came and went. Although the storm had been violent, everyone was grateful that it had passed quickly.
As soon as the rain had stopped, Jasper crawled out from beneath the wagon and ambled off to retrieve the mules. He wanted to put some space between himself and Bella, hoping to calm his prominent erection.
Peter ran up beside him, still chuckling. "Doin' okay, Jasper? You're walkin' a little stiff."
Jasper growled and shot his brother a stern look.
"Yup, that Bella sure is a good-looker." Peter nodded in approval.
"You'd be wise to shut your mouth, brother." Jasper hissed.
"You'd be wise to ask for her hand before she gets away." Peter said. "The farther west we travel, the fewer women. Have you noticed that? It would be a downright sin to leave that girl at Fort Boise. She's a real smart girl, she works hard, and she can cook!" Peter raised his hands in front of his chest and made squeezing motions. "And her biscuits...why they're just as soft and tender and fluffy—"
Jasper angrily shoved Peter, and he stumbled back into one of the mules, but he just laughed it off. Undeterred, he continued to taunt his brother.
"Hey, C'mon, Jas. You know she's a great girl, and I figure if you don't grab her up somebody else will. She's goin' to be a nurse." Peter raised his eyebrows. "Those men out there will be injurin' themselves just to have her tendin' to their wounds, and let's not forget that she'll be workin' with that young doctor fella."
Peter tugged at Nellie's harness, watching Jasper from the corner of his eye. "They'll be spendin' quite a bit of time together, gettin' to know each other real well. I expect she'll be livin' near him. Ya know, since she's the only nurse he has he might have to call on her to come over late at night, when he gets a late night emergency. You know lots of people fall ill during the winter, and stay in bed, up under the covers." Peter's eyes narrowed and slid to Jasper. "Yep. Somebody's gonna have a long, hard winter."
Anger and jealousy flared up inside Jasper, like a match to kerosene. He lunged at his brother, catching him around the neck, and jerked him roughly forward. The force knocked Peter's hat clean off his head.
Jasper and Peter stood toe to toe. "You say one more word about Bella, and I'm gonna hobble your lip."
The sound of Jasper's voice was low and menacing, and Peter could tell that he wasn't fooling around.
Peter didn't say anything else. He pressed his lips together and held up his hands to avoid coming to blows.
Jasper released him with a strong push, and stalked off towards the forest to calm down. "Get the mules harnessed up yourself, you damn jackass," he yelled over his shoulder before disappearing into the cover of the trees.
Jasper had never been so consumed by jealousy before. He paced back and forth, trying to calm himself. He didn't like the thought of Bella getting to know Doc Cullen's nephew Edward. How could he compete with him? The young doctor would be able to offer her stability, a settled life, and nice place to live. All he had was a few mules and a dream.
Jasper was startled from his thoughts by a rustling of leaves.
He turned to find Charlotte and Bella, only a few yards away.
"What are ya'll doin' here?" Jasper asked, his voice still tight with anger.
"Don't be cross, Jasper. We're not here to spy on you. There was a strange man walking up, and Peter sent us to the woods because Bella hasn't changed her dress yet," Charlotte explained.
Jasper nodded in understanding, as his anger subsided. Bella was still wearing the same dress. She had one arm across her breasts, still attempting to cover them.
Why did she have to be so alluring? Jasper wondered, as he looked away.
"Did he see ya'll walk into the forest?" Jasper asked quietly.
"I think so, but I can't be sure. He's probably just tryin' to smell out a meal," Charlotte said. She didn't understand what all the fuss was about. They passed travelers from time to time, but Peter had "a feelin'" about that one and had sent them away.
Jasper decided to go to the edge of the trees to have a look at the stranger. Bella and Charlotte followed nervously behind.
They saw Peter standing by the wagon talking to a tall lanky man; his shaggy brown hair was peeking out from beneath his ragged brown hat. Jasper noticed that he was traveling alone, and had only a small wagon laden with pelts, and thought that he must be a fur trader.
He had an air of danger about him, and Jasper was relieved that he hadn't seen Bella, and hoped to keep it that way.
"Should we wait here until he leaves?" Charlotte asked.
"Yes." Jasper and Bella answered in unison, causing them all to take pause.
They watched Peter and the man talk for a few minutes. Then Peter bought a few buffalo hides from him, and the stranger went on his way.
When Peter felt sure that the man had traveled out of sight, he walked over to the trees where everyone was waiting. "Ya'll can come out now. I guess that fella' was all right. He gave me a good deal on those skins. I'm pretty sure he's a damn Yankee though, and I still don't trust him."
"The war is over, Pete," Charlotte said brusquely as she walked quickly past him to retrieve two clean dresses; one for herself and one for her friend.
When Charlotte returned, she shooed the men away, so that they could change in private.
"I didn't like the looks of him." Jasper spat.
"Said his name was Garrett. He's been workin' out here as a trapper since the war ended, but he's sellin' off all his furs, and goin' to search out gold. He said there was a big find out in Leesburg—north of here. He seemed pretty excited about it." Peter crossed his arms.
"Did he ask about our women?" Jasper wondered.
"He saw 'em, I reckon, but he had better sense than to ask. We may see him again. He's headed the same way we are, up to Rock Creek, to meet with some friends. He said there's a store up there, and good fishin'. Hey, maybe there will be a preacher there, too!"
Jasper glared at Peter. "I mean it Pete, not another word."
Before Peter could open his mouth, Charlotte came out from behind the trees and waved, letting the men know that they had changed, and they were decent. Bella followed close behind her.
Jasper narrowed his eyes and spoke lowly. "I'll not stand any more of your foolishness, and don't think I won't punch you just because the women are watching, 'cause I will."
"Fine, but when she marries someone else, and not you, I don't want to hear any belly-aching," Peter said as he turned to lay out all of the buffalo hides. He thought they might sit on them and have lunch before moving on.
Charlotte and Bella brought out some of the leftovers from breakfast: cornbread cakes, side meat, pickled eggs, and coffee, and set them out on a blanket beside the hides where the men stood waiting.
When Charlotte and Bella sat down beside each other, Jasper realized that he would not have the chance to eat lunch with Bella alone. It saddened him to think that she had forgotten her promise, but worse than that, Jasper was hardly able to get a word in edgewise during their meal. Charlotte was going on and on about how she and Bella were going to sew warm winter coats from the soft buffalo hides that Peter had purchased. At the same time, Peter was jawing incessantly about that Yankee he had just met.
After everyone had eaten, and the wagon was loaded, Jasper decided to drive the team. He needed some space and some time to mull over his feelings and get his head straight. More than anything, he needed a plan.
AN: Yes, we shall see Garrett again. What do ya'll think? Happyghostlove!