AN: Howdy readers! I have been busy writing and saving it up for a "Thanksgiving Holiday Fanfiction Feast of Chapters!"

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I must thank "GeezerWench" She is the most awesome prereader and creative consultant ever!

Thank you!

I have not one, not two, but three chapters . . . I will be posting over the next few days.

I hope you are enjoying my story. I promise something exciting will happen, perhaps something you've all been waiting for, by the third chapter in this three part posting, so stay with me!

I'm also thankful for my readers, the reviews, the follows, and the favorites!

Happyghost love ya'll!

September 22, 1866

It was still mostly dark outside when Bella crawled from her tent to start the day. She was startled to find Jasper lying under a pile of blankets, just outside the flap. He was sleeping, and held a musket by his side.

She thought he looked so peaceful bathed in the soft morning light, that she couldn't bother him. Bella took a moment to study his face. His long lashes and sculpted lips made him look like an angel, but his rough stubbly cheeks reminded her that he was all man. She sighed. An extremely handsome man.

Bella thought she could climb over him, without waking him. It appeared to her, at first, to be a simple reach over his body to the other side, but she was wrong.

Suddenly, she found herself completely sprawled across Jasper in an embarrassing fall.

Jasper woke with a start. It took him a moment before he remembered where he was—camped outside Bella's tent. In his confusion, he had almost thrown her off of him, before coming to his senses and realizing that he wasn't in any danger. It was only Bella.

"Good morning," Jasper smiled, still half asleep. He wrapped his arms easily around her struggling body.

"What are you doing out here?" Bella huffed, as she freed herself and quickly clambered to her feet. "You're blocking the entrance to my tent."

"Oh, yeah." Jasper sheepishly ran his hands over his face. "I was protecting you."

Bella looked down at Jasper, her face etched in utter confusion. "From what?"

"Didn't you see the looks that stranger was givin' you? I was concerned he'd try to steal you off during the night," Jasper explained in earnest.

Bella just shook her head. "I can't have you sleeping outside my tent, Jasper. What if it rains?"

"Or, what if he sneaks in?" Peter asked, grinning at them both. Charlotte and Peter had been awakened by all the commotion and had crawled out of their tent to see what was going on.

Jasper folded his arms across his chest indignantly. "I would never sneak into her tent. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind."

"Oh, yeah, come on, Jas." Peter rolled his eyes. "If you're so worried about it, just set your tent up beside hers. There's no need to sleep in front of the gol-durn door."

Bella left the brothers to their arguing, and found Charlotte beside the wagon, holding a full kettle of water, getting ready to make the coffee.

Charlotte's eyes gleamed as she set the cast iron kettle down, and grasped Bella's hands.

"Isn't it wonderful Bella? I'm sure we'll soon be sisters!"

Bella just blinked in bewilderment, remembering the conversation she'd had with her friend the previous evening over a pile of dirty dishes.

"But, he hasn't asked me to marry him. How can you be so certain?" Bella wondered.

"I'm sure he will. Look at how he's fussin' over you. I've never seen him so smitten," Charlotte said as she stoked the fire.

A smile crept upon Bella's lips. "He is very handsome, and I do enjoy his company . . ."

"And?" Charlotte asked.

"Marriage just scares me a little, especially after what I've been through. I thought I'd be working and making my own way—going west and starting a new exciting life for myself." Bella's eyes searched Charlotte's for some inkling of understanding, but her friend wouldn't be swayed.

"You will be. It will be excitin', especially with Jasper, and me too, Bella. Oh, I don't think I could stand it if you don't come with us." Charlotte handed Bella the bag of coffee beans. "Promise me you'll consider it."

Bella smiled shyly and nodded.

Charlotte put her arm around Bella's shoulder and squeezed. "Just wait until he kisses you. Then you'll know."

The thought of Jasper kissing her, sent Bella into a heated blush. She could hardly remember what she was doing, and accidentally poured the coffee beans into the skillet instead of the kettle.

Before long, everyone became lost in their work. There was food to prepare, dishes to wash, animals to tend, and a long dusty trail to travel.

They wanted to get an early start. Everyone was excited about reaching the store, and they hoped to reach it before nightfall. It had been so long since they'd seen anything that resembled civilization.

They finally reached the store that afternoon. There were plenty of wagons lined up beside the stage station and down by the river, camping. Jasper and Peter both noticed that there were at least a dozen men for every woman.

A group of young men stood just outside the store. All of them were sneaking shy glances at Bella and Charlotte, causing Jasper and Peter to become green with jealousy. Peter wrapped his arm tightly around his wife, and Jasper stood protectively beside Bella, balled his hands into tight fists, and made a menacing face at any man that dared to look upon her beauty.

The women couldn't be bothered by all the men's foolishness. The store was full of beautiful things to look at, and wonderful foods to eat. There were barrels of hard tack, dried fruits, and twist tobacco, of course, and plenty of other things that the travelers hadn't seen in ages.

Peter was fussing with the shop keeper over the high price of his sunflower seeds, while Charlotte excitedly ran her hand over a bolt of fine red calico.

Jasper was following Bella around, watching her carefully, to see what held her interest. He was ready to buy her whatever her heart desired, but strangely, Bella only seemed excited by the fresh produce. She was going on and on about sweet potatoes, when something shiny caught Jasper's eye. It was a beautiful silver filigree hair comb. He imagined how beautiful it would look tucked in her mahogany locks.

"Bella?" Jasper interrupted her and took her hand, as he led her towards the counter. "I want to know how you feel about something."

Bella, still holding a sweet potato, followed behind Jasper, until it became clear to her what he was looking at.

"You want a comb?" she asked, completely baffled.

"For you." Jasper's crooked smile had Bella breathless. "I want to see it in your hair."

"I wear my hair braided, Jasper. Besides, a comb like that is meant for a fine woman, not someone plain like me." Bella spoke quietly, her head down, as she focused on a knot in the wooden plank floor.

Jasper curled his finger under her chin and lifted it until she was looking at him. "You are a very fine woman, Bella. I'll do everything in my power to convince you of it."

Something about the way Jasper's eyes smoldered made Bella believe. He made her feel beautiful, and she all at once wanted to kiss him for it.

That would have to wait. Jasper had gotten the shop keepers attention, and requested to see the comb.

Bella's hands almost trembled when the attendant handed it to her for her appraisal. The store keeper started to tell them a story about how the comb had once belonged to a royal family, but Bella couldn't focus on a single word he said. Jasper had untied her braid and was running his fingers through her hair, loosening it ever so gently. It sent waves of pleasure across her scalp and caused her to shudder, which she felt all the way down to her toes.

"I'm afraid I don't know how to secure the comb." Jasper stepped back, and watched as Bella pulled her hair around into a bun and set the comb into it.

"This is one way, I suppose. How does it look?" Bella turned her head for Jasper to see.

"It's beautiful, just like you. I'll take it."

AN: Awwww shucks, that Jasper makes me blush. ;)