AN: Here it is the next chapter! I'm hoping I can make this one come out as smoothly as possible. I've had a lot of help from a certain reader who I've come to think of as a friend. So this one's for you! I hope it's perfect and I hope you love it! Now on with the story of our favorite couple.

The Promise

Day 7

Today was our date! My fiancée and I were going on our first real date! Jasper promised that we would look at wedding details and that we'd start working them out. His family was ecstatic when they figured out why I was squealing down at the creek. Mary Elizabeth and I agreed that we should get married as soon as possible and she gave Jasper her great-great grandmother's ring for me. I proudly wore it on my left hand.

I asked Jasper if we could get sturdy ribbon to put it on, so I could tie it around my neck when I was working. He told me we'd take care of that today. Today was going to be so much fun and I was so excited to start my life with him.

I got up before Minnie came to wake me. I lot the lamps in my room and started to dress myself. I was in the middle of putting my corset on when Minnie came in.

"Well good morning Miss Isabella, I didn't think you'd be up yet." she said. She set the candle down and finished tying the corset for me. I turned to her.

"Minnie I don't know what dress to wear. I'm lost again." I had taken to just telling Minnie I was lost when I 'couldn't remember something'. She smiled and went to the dresser and pulled out a few of the puffiest dresses I had. One was white and blue and the second was green with white embroidery, and the third was white and lavender with dark purple embroidery.

"I would pick one of these." She said holding them up. I took the purple one. It was a purple kind of day.

"Will I be able to ride in this?" I asked, already fighting the layers on the dress. I was only holding it.

"Yes, it will take some work, Mr. Jasper only taught you how to ride side saddle and working dresses." She said. I began the process of getting the stupid thing on. I dug through the layers until I found the middle. Minnie helped me and we were done a bit sooner than I expected.

Minnie did my hair similar to the way it had been done the day I arrived. When she was done she pulled out a beaded net that she then pinned into my hair. I covered all the hair that Minnie had rolled up to my neck. She put the lip color on me today but not the powder. She helped me with my riding boots and after that I was ready to head downstairs. It was almost time for breakfast.

I descended the stairs with Minnie behind me and Mary Elizabeth, James, and Jesse were already in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Mary Elizabeth. James. Jesse." I greeted them.

"Wow. You sure look spiffy Bella." Jesse said with a blush, "Jasper's not here yet."

"We'll do just fine, Bella. You and Jasper have a lot of planning to do and I also wasn't you two to have fun in town. Meet some of Jasper's friends, you'll like them." Mary Elizabeth said. "I can't wait for the day you become my daughter-in-law."

"You'll make a beautiful bride and a great wife to our son, Miss Isabella." James said. "Jesse, hurry up and finish eating I want you to go and saddle up October with one of the side saddles. Before Jasper gets here."

"Sit, you need to eat something before you get on the road. I'll fill you a canteen and show you how to keep the water cool." I sat down next to Jesse. My future mother-in-law filled my plate with breakfast.

Jesse got up and went out to the stables and Elizabeth came in shortly after.

"Bella! You look gorgeous!" she said sitting down next to me.

"Minnie." Mary Elizabeth called out.

"Are you excited to get started on the wedding?" Beth asked happily. Minnie came in.

"Yes, I can't wait to set the date. We'll know as soon as Jasper gets his orders today. We're gonna get furniture ordered for his house, and we'll start buying wedding things today." I told her.

"Will you go get that hat with the dark purple out of my room for Isabella? She's gonna need a hat for the day." Mary Elizabeth asked Minnie.

"Yessum." Minnie replied and she left.

"You might as well start calling it your house too. It's not just mine anymore." Jasper was standing in the doorway. "You look beautiful, Isabella."

A wide smile spread across my face and I blushed.

"Good morning, Jasper." I said.

"Good morning, Love. Mornin' Mama, Papa, Elizabeth." He said. He hung his hat up and gave his canteen to Mary Elizabeth. We ate with idle chatter. Jasper spoke to his father about crops and the future with him being in the army. Mary Elizabeth, Beth and I talked about the wedding, I decided that Elizabeth would be my maid of honor/ I didn't ask her yet though. The preacher in town would come out the day of the wedding and officiate. Mary Elizabeth said she would have Mable and Minnie make a feast and a cake. Jesse came back in and it was light enough to start getting mounted up.

Jasper led October to the tall fence near the house. I knew I how I supposed to get up on her, just not with so much dress in the way. Mary Elizabeth took the lead from Jasper and Beth stood on the other side of October.

"Go ahead and start getting on. Elizabeth will keep your dress where it's supposed to be." I climbed up on the fence and fluffed my dress in Beth's direction. She caught it and started to spread it backwards. I got on the horse like normal and then moved my right leg back over to drape over the top pommel. I adjusted myself and Beth had me raise up a bit to untuck part of the dress. I put my left foot in the stirrup and my left knee came into comfortable contact with the bottom pommel.

When my dress and I had been properly situated, Mary Elizabeth hooked my canteen to the saddle and put it underneath the layers of my dress.

"That'll keep it cool for a while. You can put Jasper's under there to if you want."

"Okay." She hooked his on, too. I took the reins from Beth who had them now. I walked October away and trotted with her in a circle a few times, then I cantered with her to get my bearings back. This was only the third time I had done this. Jasper tucked some important things into his saddle bags and then mounted up.

"Are you ready, my flower?" he asked.

"Wait your hat!" Beth ran back inside and came back out holding the sun hat with purple ties on it. She gave it to me and then waved us off. I put the hat on and tied it under my chin.

Jasper and Pistol set the pace at a fast trot and we were off.

"So what's our plan of action Mr. Soldier Man?" I asked him. He looked over and smiled underneath his hat. He was sexy in that cowboy hat.

"Well, I figure we'll get me signed up for the army first so we can work on the wedding plannin' for the better part of the day. I know the owner of the saloon in town, we'll have lunch there. I've got a bit of business with him too. Then we can do whatever we want to do before supper."

"How far is town from here?" I asked him. The sun was just barely above the horizon.

"We live ten miles from town at this pace it will take us about an hour to get there. We'll speed up every now and again to cut down on time." He said.

"Who are you gonna have stand with you at the wedding?" I asked.

"Jesse. I have friends but none of them are as close to me as Jesse. Am I correct in assumin' you want Elizabeth next to you?" he asked.

"Yes. She's my only friend, she's my best friend. Well, apart from you." I blushed and he chuckled at me.

"I love it when you do that. Blush. I can't wait for you to be my wife." He said. I ginned at him mischievously, I was feeling a little spunky.

"Well then, Mr. Whitlock, we should get to town and take care of business." I spurred October into a moderate run and left Jasper in the dust.

I heard him laugh and spur his horse. He soon caught up with me and we were laughing together. We alternated between trots and canters to keep from over working the horses.

We talked about our future together. And every time he brought up long term plans, it reminded me that he would never get to do most of those things.

"You want children, right?" he asked, I could just barely see the town in the distance. The question wasn't quite out of the blue but it still hurt to know that he wants them and will never have them. I perked up quickly.

"Absolutely, I even have tentative names picked out for a boy and a girl." I said, smiling a bit nervously. Did girls do that in the 1800's?

"Let's hear them. I wanna know what my children's prospective names are." He laughed.

"Well for the girl, I fell in love with the name Coralyn Grace. And I only have one name for the boy, I can't decide if I like it as a first or middle name. It's Jeremiah." I said. He stared at me. I hope I didn't say anything wrong.

"That's a beautiful name for a little girl, Isabella. I also really like Jeremiah. Mama did too. She had a miscarriage after Jesse and if it was a boy, she wanted to name him Jeremiah Axel." He told me.

"Jasper, I'm sorry. I love that name and would be honored to name my child Jeremiah Axel." I said. He smiled and looked up at me from his saddle horn.

"You really are perfect, aren't you?" It wasn't a question. I looked down bashfully, then peeked up at him.

"Only to you." I said.

"Come on, we'll run the last bit." he said spurring Pistol.

I followed him, happily. I would follow him anywhere. We had one of our first real couple moments, we had just named our first child. Not that we'd get the chance. This mate thing was crazy. I followed him into town and he slowed near a small group of three people.

"Whitlock! Haven't seen you in week! What are you adoin' in town?" a short stock man said. I rode up next to Jasper and reined October in. "And who's this lovely little Peach?"

Jasper tipped his hat toward the men. "Howdy John, Marcus, Bo. My apologies men, this here is my wife-to-be, Isabella. Isabella, this is John Harrison, Marcus Phillips, and Bo Abernethy." He indicated each man. I put on a shy smile and nodded to them. "We're in town to take care of wedding business and other sorts. You happen to know where the recruitment office is set up?" Jasper asked.

"Sure! They're up at my place, hoping to sign up as many drunk bast... er sign up as many drunks as they can before they realize what's happening." The one named Bo stuttered a bit when he remembered I was there. I smiled under my hat.

"Well, hold on now, THE Jasper Whitlock is getting hitched? We ain't seen ya in weeks and now yer getting' married? Well I'll be." John seemed quite astonished.

"Yes, I am boys, now if you'll excuse us, we'll be getting on." Jasper said and tipped his hat again.

"Bo Abernethy awns Abernethy's Saloon Just up there. Marcus is the sheriff and John is the deputy. They're all great people."

"They seem to believe that you'd never marry." I commented. He grinned mischievously.

"According to them, I was the biggest bachelor in all of Texas and the lady that finally captured my heart, would keep me away from my friends and family." he said. "I was never actually a bachelor. No girl I had ever met really caught my eye. Not like you, anyway."

I smiled, we had arrived at the saloon and Jasper jumped off his horse and tied him to the saloon post. He took and tied October to the same post and then came to help me down. I situated my dress and took a canteen off the saddle and took a long drink. I offered it to Jasper and he happily accepted. The other was still full.

"Thank ye kindly, ma'am." He was just so perfectly southern. I loved that about him. I loved everything about him. He opened the saddle bag and took out his personal information and put the full canteen in it. He handed me back the empty canteen and offered me his arm. "Shall we?"

"We shall." I said, he walked me in and stopped to look around. I guess he spotted the right people before I did because he led me in a different direction.

"How can we help you fine folks?" two worn looking men in gray uniforms asked us. I stood meekly behind Jasper, Occasionally peeking around his broad shoulders.

"I'm here to enlist, Jasper Lee Whitlock." He said laying down the birth certificate.

"Good. Good man! We have a couple questions for you to answer and a test to see where your education level is." The man on the left said. Meanwhile the man on the right was willing out a bit of paperwork and pulling a uniform together.

"Why should you need to know my education level?" Jasper asked.

"We have several high level ranks that need fillin'. Texas is having trouble getting soldiers so depending on your education, you may start out in a higher paying job and a job with more power." He took several papers from the man on the right. "Now go on and fill this test out and bring it back when you're done. We'll finish enlisting you when you get done."

The man on the right handed Jasper his birth certificate back along with the papers he had filled out.

"Finish filling these out as well please." He said. We walked over to a clean table and sat down.

"Isabella, I'm sorry. I didn't know I would be taking any test. You don't have to wait with me. You can go look at fabrics for Elizabeth's gown or for your own. I'll pay for anything and everything you want." He told me.

"Oh, Jazzy. You spoil me." I giggled. "Don't worry too much about the test. It's okay. Is there anything I can help you with before I go? I could fill out some of these papers so you won't have to worry about them." Jasper smiled at me.

"I like it when you call me that." He said caressing my face. "But, don't worry about me. I'll be maybe an hour at most. It would be the perfect for you to go pick out the most beautiful wedding dress you can find and make it pale in comparison to your beauty." He kissed my hand and smiled up at me.

"Okay, I will. Where is the dress shop?" I asked.

"It's right across the way. I'll come find you when I get done here. When they ask about payment open a tab under my name. I love you, my Isabella." he said. I stood and walked around behind him. I wrapped my arms around his middle and hugged him tight to me.

"I love you, too." I got up on my tippy toes and kissed under his ear. He looked back at me with a smirk and I headed to the door.

"That's one hell of a woman you go there, Whitlock. Can I have her when you're done?" I heard someone call. I heard glass break and I whirled around. Jasper was standing up and eyeing a man a few tables over and the table we were standing at had now been knocked over. The glass vase that had been sitting on the table now lay shattered on the floor.

"You will not speak about my wife-to-be that way. Ever. Am I understood?" he wasn't yelling, just forceful. He looked my way and realized I had heard the entire altercation. He gave me an apologetic smile and I gave him an encouraging one. I turned back on my way, and over to the little dress shop in the square.

When I entered, I was greeted by a young girl about Beth's age.

"Hello Miss. Can I help you find something?" she asked. She was small. Smaller than Alice though not by much. She had the lightest blonde hair I had seen, even lighter that Rosalie's and she had beautiful green eyes. She had sparse freckles and lovely honey colored tan skin.

"I'm here to find a wedding gown. My husband-to-be requested the most beautiful dress I could find. So it would pale compared to me. I don't know if that's much to go on but I hope it helps." I said. The girl immediately went to work pulling out several fine gowns most of which were large and impossible to maneuver in. I would know, I tried on a few of them. As I was walking out from behind the dressing area with the fifth dress I had tried on, I spotted it.

"What of this one?" it's absolutely gorgeous. It was completely off the shoulder on both side. It was long lace sleeved and was buttoned all the way down the back. The skirt didn't pouf but about six inches from where my knees would be. It was mainly chiffon and had a silk overlay that went about halfway down the front of the skirt and almost all the way down the back of the skirt. There was intricate beading in the mid-section of the dress and its veil was normal except the lace trim. It was short in the front. Just past the breast of the dress and when all the way to the floor in the back.

"This is my own creation. The man who owns the store doesn't think it will sell because it isn't royal looking. He doesn't think it's pretty. He makes me hide it in the back of the store to keep the reputation of his store." She said. I looked offended. This man didn't have taste.

"I adore it. May I try it on?" I asked her. Her eyes lit up and she hurried to get it off the mannequin. I pulled it on and with her help, did the buttons up. I looked in the mirror.

"Oh it's perfect! I love it! It's just slightly too big though here." I said a bit sadly.

"I can take it in a bit for you. I can make it fit you perfectly." She said.

"Oh would you? This is the dress I want to be married in. It's absolutely-"the bell to the store cut me off.

"I'll be with you in just a moment!" the young girl called.

"That won't be necessary, Liza. I'm looking for my bride to be." I heard Jasper's gravely southern tone.

"Oh gosh, that's him! I can't let him see the dress!" I whispered franticly.

"You're marrying Jasper Whitlock?" she sounded astounded as she hurriedly unbuttoned the dress and hung it up.

"Yes I am, just as soon as we can." I said pulling on my own dress. With her help I was ready to be seen in public in a jiff.

I'll go put this on my work station and be right with you." She said. I came out from behind the screen and saw my Jasper. But he was wearing the same uniform then men in the saloon had been wearing, but his was different. His was adorned with yellow and had embroidery on the sleeves and lapels.

"How did it go?" I asked, still stunned at the man before me. He was damn hot in uniform.

"I passed the tests apparently. Upon hearing I own my own horse and came from a rather wealthy family, they enlisted me as an officer. I'm now First Lieutenant Jasper Whitlock of the Confederate State Cavalry." He said bowing his head as he introduced himself. He held a gray hat in his hand with yellow tassels on it.

"Oh Jasper, that's absolutely marvelous!" I jumped into his arms and he swung me around in a circle. "Did you get your orders?" I asked him.

"Yes," he seemed hesitant. "Because I rank so high, they need me as soon as possible. I leave tomorrow morning. Also because I rank so high, I'll be back home from headquarters on Wednesday night. We can be married any day between Thursday and Saturday. I have to leave on that Sunday morning again." I stepped back from him; that was too soon. I wasn't prepared to leave him. I looked down. I only had a small window to be his wife.

"Saturday. That's a week from today. We can have the wedding planned out and ready by then." I told him, Saturday was pushing it. It was my last day before I went back.

"I can have your dress done and delivered to you by Monday." Liza said reappearing.

"You've found your dress?" Jasper asked excitedly. I nodded.

"But you don't get to see it yet. I poked him in the chest. I looked back to Liza. "Thank you that will be perfect. Now we have to figure out what colors we want tour siblings to be wearing." I turned back to Jasper.

"What color do you want them to wear?" he asked.

"I want Elizabeth to wear white. She'll look gorgeous in it. Something like…" I looked around the store. I spotted an A-line chiffon dress with cap sleeves. It was perfect. It cinched under the breast and flowed freely down. I walked over to it and looked around me. Finding what I was looking for, I pulled a lavender ribbon off another mannequin and tied it under the bust.

"This is exactly what I want for Beth." I said. He smiled at me.

"It's in her size too." Liza said.

"Oh Jasper it's like fate! We have to get this for her." I squealed.

"Slow down, love! We will. What about Jesse?" he asked. He turned to Liza, "Will you wrap that and have it sent with her dress as well?"

"Yes, Mr. Whitlock." She went to take the dress down.

"I don't know. I figured he would match you a little bit. What would you like him to wear?" I asked.

"I'll be wearing aa full suit. Jesse has one like mine. I meant what color, Bella. Purple to match Elizabeth?" he explained.

"Oh…" I thought for a moment. "I like light green and lavender. Maybe you to could have light green flowers pinned to your suits." I said. Jasper strolled slowly toward me, taking in the shop around him.

"I think that's perfect, my angel." He said and pulled me close to him. I smiled and kissed his cheek. Jasper paid Liza and we moved to the next store. Furnature.

We spent the better part of the morning purchasing things for our home. I was just beginning to get hungry when Jasper decided it was time to eat.

"Let's go find something to eat." he led me to an inn and we sat down to eat a tasty lunch. Afterwards we spent the rest of the day milling around the town. Jasper introduced me to everyone he knew in town which was a lot of people. We talked to a lot of people, they inquired about Jasper's position in the Army and about my background. Jasper did most of the talking, that I was grateful for. I didn't have to struggle to remember what I had said.

We sat in the saloon talking about wedding plans and our future together for a few hours. It surprised me when a scantily dressed woman came up to the table and asked us if we wanted to order supper. Jasper ordered steak and sweet potatoes and I asked for chicken and greens. While we were waiting, Bo Abernethy came in.

"Jasper! I been lookin' for ya all day! Damn, son you clean up nice!" he said. "Oh my apologies, Miss Isabella. What happened? That ain't no normal Confederacy uniform." I smiled down at my lap. If only he knew the things I heard on a daily basis back in my time.

"I'm an officer. I was educated enough to enlist as a ranked official. I'm a first lieutenant now." he explain. "Would you care to join us? Bella and I were just about to have supper." Jasper offered.

"Oh I can't. I have a shift to cover until my night guy gets here. But thanks for askin'. After though, I believe we have business." Bo Said.

"Of course, Bo. I'll just take Isabella dancing until then. It's only a couple hours." Jasper said. Bo tipped his hat and left.

"Are you happy? With your new military position and all?" I asked Jasper.

"I am. I believe we'll both be happy with it. In a few years, I think I'll have advanced high enough to be home much more. We'll begin our family. I'll continue to work with my father when I'm home, you'll only have to work around the house. I can't wait to make you my wife, Isabella Marie. You make this dreary war time bearable." He said. I couldn't get the thought out of my mind, knowing he was going to be in so much pain and I wouldn't be able to help him. I was scared. I didn't want to lose him by accident.

"Jasper I'm scared." I said, I couldn't hide it anymore. I was worrying about something I knew I couldn't control.

Bella, don't be frightened. Nothing will happen." If only he knew.

"I'm afraid to lose you." I told him.

"You won'-" he was interrupted by the same waitress bringing our food. "You won't lose me, Isabella. I'll always come back to you." he said. He took my hand and held my gaze.

"Do you see this ring?" he asked me. I nodded, afraid to speak for fear I would cry. "This is my promise to you. It not only means that I'll be yours and only yours for all eternity. But it means that every time you look at it, you'll remember my promise to you. I promise to always come back to you. No matter how badly injured or different I may be, I'll never leave you alone. I love you. This ring in my promise to you, my love for all eternity."

…one of three things that will come back with you…

A gift. The journal.

A promise. This had to be the promise. The ring was the promise. The promise that he would always love me and comeback to me.

What was the legacy?

AN: So? Tell me what you thing! I love to hear from you! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Read on my fellow FanFictioners!