Hello everybody! Happy New Year! The weather here has been really crappy today, so I thought I'd post this chapter :)
I'd like to thank "GeezerWench" for prereading and "Cathy29jes" for sparking an idea when she reviewed chapter 20.
Happyghost love!
Bella woke before sun up. She smiled to see Jasper still sleeping peacefully by her side. She didn't want to wake him, so she took her time and wriggled out from beneath his arm slowly as not to disturb him from his sleep. She looked at his face for a brief moment, and noticed how youthful he appeared when his eyes were closed. She might have gazed at him longer, but he grunted and buried his head under the blanket, already missing her warmth.
Charlotte joined her, just as she was filling the pot with water to make the morning coffee. Bella assured her friend that she was indeed rested and strong enough to do some work, so Charlotte begrudgingly allowed her to help cook breakfast.
The sun had just started to peek over the horizon when Peter began to stir. He was still halfway dozing as he turned under the blankets and embraced the warm body that lay beside him. He did what he always did out of habit. He stretched and pressed his erection into what he imagined to be his wife. It was how he liked to wake her every morning. His needy fingers went in search of a breast to grope, but instead he felt something rather hard and unyielding. Thinking he had missed her chest and grabbed her shoulder, Peter pulled back the blanket to get a look at what he was grabbing and had a most unpleasant surprise. It was not his wife he found at all, only a very angry Jasper.
The women were interrupted from their work by the sound of the men arguing within the tent. They looked to each other, in confusion and horror, as they listened to the crude profanities being exchanged. Then it sounded as if the brothers had started to fight.
The tent swayed back and forth. It shook violently one last time before it toppled onto the men, effectively ending the brawl.
Jasper was the first to crawl out, still chastising his brother. "Make sure it doesn't happen again!" He growled. Jasper gave the women a curt nod, and then stormed off in a huff.
A red-faced Peter slunk from the tent without saying a word. He went down to the river to wash up and Charlotte worriedly followed.
Bella was left alone to tend the skillets. She furrowed her brow as she watched Jasper disappear into the trees.
By the time the bacon and biscuits were cooked Jasper still hadn't returned.
Peter had just taken his first bite when Bella began to worry. "Maybe you should go check on him. He's been gone an awful long time," Bella stated sadly, as she rearranged the food on her plate. "What were you two fighting about anyway?"
Charlotte patted Bella on her knee. "Don't bring it up, honey. Brothers fight sometimes. Jasper will be back soon."
Bella did not feel the least bit soothed. She got up and paced back and forth and stared towards the trees where she had last seen Jasper. "Maybe I should go check on him."
Peter almost spilled his coffee onto his trousers he stood up so fast. "No, no, no. I'll not have you traipsing through the forest after Jasper, it's dangerous. I'll go after him." In truth, Peter was more concerned for the innocence of her eyes than he was for her safety.
But by the time Peter had made it across the field, Jasper had come out from behind the trees, and all was forgiven. Peter only had to apologize a million more times, and agree that Jasper had been right all along. Even though it had been a misunderstanding, Peter was very embarrassed; he swore it would never happen again.
A few days later Peter would find out that his brother wasn't acting as chaste as he believed.
It happened over breakfast, when Jasper was curiously absent.
Peter had noticed that Jasper had acquired a new habit. Every morning, since they had all been forced to sleep together in the big tent, Jasper had made himself scarce before breakfast, taking an extra long time to get ready; time that he made sure to spend alone and far away from prying eyes. Peter figured out what his brother was doing, and he didn't blame him. He imagined that laying beside Bella all night, and behaving like a gentleman was taking its toll.
What Peter hadn't realized was that Jasper hadn't entirely been behaving as a gentleman.
One morning Bella was prattling on and on about safety, and firearms. Peter was half-heartedly listening, and politely nodding in agreement, when something she said almost caused him to choke.
Bella had wondered out loud. "Is it truly necessary to sleep with a gun tucked in one's pants?"
Charlotte rolled her eyes as Peter nearly fell over laughing. She was glad that Jasper hadn't been there to hear it. "Hush up now!" Charlotte scolded her husband, and stared him down with her hands upon her hips.
When Peter caught his breath he thought of so many jokes that he wanted to make, but the look on Charlotte's face shut him up.
"Peter, go get the mules hooked up," Charlotte demanded.
"I haven't finished eating yet," Peter took a bite of food and grinned smugly.
Charlotte stood over her husband and spoke in a low voice. "I'm fixin' to have a talk with Bella. Now go on and give us some privacy. You will not breathe a word of this to Jasper."
"Oh come on, honey!"
"Not . . . one . . . word," Charlotte ground out.
Peter could tell his wife meant business, so he dejectedly picked up his hat, plopped it on his head, and drug his feet the whole way across the prairie to collect the animals.
Charlotte had to talk fast. She wasn't sure when Jasper would show up and she certainly didn't want him overhearing their conversation. She took Bella by the hand and sat down on a blanket that was close to the embers of the cooking fire.
"How much do you know about men?" Charlotte asked.
"Not very much I suppose," Bella shrugged.
Charlotte decided she was just going to have to come out and say it. "Jasper doesn't sleep with a gun down his britches."
"Oh, well, I'm relieved to know it." Bella pressed her hand to her heart and sighed in relief. "I could hardly rest last night for fear of having my leg blown off." She took a sip of coffee before a wondering look crossed her features. "I can't imagine why someone would want to sleep with something hard in their pocket. I'm sure it's very uncomfortable. He must have forgotten to take whatever it was out."
Charlotte couldn't help but to smile at her friend's innocence. "Sugar, that's what I wanted to tell you. See, he's sort of attached to it, or rather, it is attached to him."
Charlotte pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows as she stared at Bella, waiting for a glimmer of understanding, hoping she wouldn't have to explain how a man's body was made or how it functioned.
After a few agonizing silent moments of thought Bella's face scrunched up in understanding. "Oh, oh my, that ….was . . . Oh, God." She moaned as her head fell into her hand. She felt so foolish, and what was worse was that she had spoken her thoughts aloud in front of Peter.
"I didn't know." Bella cried. "I've never seen a man undressed, and I never imagined it to be that sturdy . . . or long. I swear, I thought it was the steel of a gun."
Charlotte put her arm around Bella. "That's what happens when a man is aroused. It's natural. Haven't you ever seen beasts rut?"
Bella blushed furiously. "Yes, but I thought a man could control when and if he became aroused."
"No, sometimes it just happens, even when someone is asleep. Jasper wasn't being fresh with you, he couldn't help it," Charlotte explained.
Bella was secretly thrilled that she might inspire arousal in Jasper beyond his control. She had been worried that her inexperience would not please him. In fact she had no idea what was expected of her on their wedding night. Being raised without a mother or sisters she had no women to talk to about such things. Now that the subject had arisen, she decided to ask Charlotte a few questions. "Is it painful?" Bella asked as she nervously twisted the hem of her dress around her finger. She was so embarrassed that she couldn't bear to look her in the eye.
"What do you mean, honey? Is what painful? A man's erection?"
"No, when a man lies with a woman. I mean . . . well . . . if what I felt on my leg was what you said it was. I'd imagine it would hurt . . . a lot."
"Oh, Lord!" Charlotte exhaled a breath then gathered her thoughts. "The first time might hurt a little, but if the man knows what he's doing he makes it easy on the woman, enjoyable even."
"Does Jasper know what he's doing?"
Charlotte looked around to make sure no one was approaching before she continued. "I don't rightly know, but you will. You like kissin' Jasper don't ya?"
Bella continued to blush as she bobbed her head up and down eagerly as she remembered Jasper's kisses.
"Well . . . Relations with a man is like kissing, naked, with your whole body. Something like that. If you don't like something, just tell him to stop, simple as that." Charlotte explained.
Bella liked the sound of it, but she still felt inadequate. She needed to know more. "I don't want to disappoint him. I know he's done it before, and I haven't. What if he's not pleased with me?"
"Speak of the devil," Charlotte whispered. She spied Jasper approaching, and spoke quickly. "He won't be disappointed, sweetie, he loves you. Just act enthusiastic, that's all you need to remember. I promise you'll figure out the rest." Charlotte got up and smoothed her hands over her skirt to straighten it, as Jasper arrived.
Bella sat very still and appraised him boldly, as he poured some coffee for himself. Jasper felt her eyes on him, so he turned to meet her gaze, and found her blushing radiantly and staring at him. He couldn't help but smile back. Then Jasper realized that Bella was actually raking her eyes over his body, which shocked and delighted him all at the same time. He winked at her, and she shyly turned away.
That night, when Peter was certain that everyone was fast asleep, he decided to make some much needed amorous advances towards his wife. He was certain it was really her this time. His body was pressed up against her and could see the outline of her fine features in the dark. He started to kiss her gently, as he ran his fingers through her hair to rouse her.
When her eyes fluttered open, she began to kiss him back, igniting his passion.
Jasper was awakened by the sound of Peter's loud smacking kisses. He was stunned that his brother would do such things when he lay at his back, but his mood turned to horror as Bella's eyes popped open and met his own.
They lay there and stared at each other awkwardly, not knowing what to do. Jasper could actually feel the heat of Bella's blush, as she realized what was going on behind them in the tent.
Jasper was torn between wanting to roll over and smack his brother, or grabbing Bella and ravishing her plump parted lips. He finally settled on having a coughing fit.
He coughed loudly and fidgeted until he was sure that everyone was aware that he was awake, and the kissing stopped.
Relieved yet aroused, Jasper couldn't get back to sleep, and neither could Bella. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Usually, she slept with her back to him, but had turned in her sleep to face him. So close yet so far. All he had to do was raise his arm to encompass her and close the gap by pulling her to meet his wanting body.
Bella was worrying her lower lip between her teeth, as she though about kissing Jasper again. He looked so serious, somehow focusing on her in the dark. She couldn't help herself any longer, and leaned in slowly towards him, and softly pressed her mouth against his.
What started as an innocent peck quickly turned into a passionate embrace. She had come to him, and he would deny her nothing. As his tongue entered her mouth, she moaned lustily. Jasper felt the sound travel all the way down to his toes, inflaming his need.
Peter had also heard the sound, and decided that he would soon put a stop to whatever was going on behind him in the dark. If he wasn't getting any, no one was. He released a great fart that he had been politely holding for hours. The sound was like rolling thunder. It was so loud and long that Peter was mighty impressed with himself for creating such a powerful diversion.
Jasper's kissing abruptly stopped as he turned to wallop his brother. He was going to curse him for doing something so vulgar in the presence of ladies, when the smell of Peter's creation hit him square in the back of the throat and Jasper began to retch uncontrollably.
It smelled of rotten eggs, and shit, and death. Jasper stuck his head out the door of the tent to get some fresh air, while he waved the flap towards his brother, willing the smell to escape.
"Of all the vile, rotten, detestable things you've ever done, Peter." Jasper scolded.
"Sorry, I thought ya'll was asleep." Peter laughed as he lied through his teeth. "Anyways, I couldn't help it. Them beans I ate for dinner made me gassy."
Jasper narrowed his eyes. "If you feel the need to do such a revolting thing again, do it outside."
After Jasper felt certain that he had completely aired out the tent, he lay back down beside Bella. She had turned her back to him, and burrowed down deeply into the blankets to protect herself from the chill of the night air.
As angry and frustrated as Jasper felt, it took him along time to fall back to sleep that night.