Chapter 43

Vicksburg was a bustlin' place, and not all the inhabitants seemed to be on the right side of the law.

Almost everywhere we turned, there was Yankee troops millin' around, and that could only mean that there had been trouble in the city. The sooner we was through and across the river the better.

Only, now that we was here, I had to take some time for a task that couldn't be put off any longer. I needed to send notice to my brother of where I was, as well as let him know that I warn't gonna be arrivin' alone.

I could just imagine the look of confusion on Emmett's face when he read that I'd gotten hitched; the look that would, most assuredly, give way to one of happiness.

There was no doubt in my mind that my brother would accept my Isabella, more than accept her, she would be a sister to him.

Emmett, havin' inherited the best part of both our parents, had a generous heart, and I was fair certain that he and Izzy would take to one another right away. It was a comfortin' thought that soon, I'd have all my family together in one place.

I was brought up short in my thinkin' though as I remembered Izzy's brothers. Not all my family would be together, for as sure as Emmett would be Izzy's brother, Theo and Henry was my brothers. Izzy worried daily 'bout what was happenin' back home, so after sendin' the wire to Emmett, I made sure to send one to Jake, inquirin' after any news of James Forrest, and about how Izzy's brothers was farin'.

I let them both know that I'd arrive in Monroe in about a week's time, and if they had anythin' to convey, they needed to send word to me there.

That done, Izzy and I made our way through the city. Even if I hadn't known what went on there durin' the war, the evidence was all around us.

Chapter 44

"Ya ever gonna speak to me again?" We was across the river and daylight was fadin' fast when I pulled off the trail to camp next to a nearby stream.

Izzy just give me a dirty look and turned her head away.

Once I stopped the wagon, we worked in silence. I unhitched the horses and seen to them while Izzy let Jack loose and began unpackin' her cookware.

I blew out a breath in frustration as I watched my stubborn wife go about her chores in complete silence. Well, she warn't actually silent 'cause, although she didn't say a word, she made sure to bang the pots loud enough so's they could probably hear us all the way back in Vicksburg.

I tried coaxin' her into talkin' while we ate, with no success. I was fair certain she wanted an apology from me, but that warn't gonna happen. She was in the wrong, and it was 'bout time I stood my ground and stopped givin' in.

When she was still ignorin' me after supper, my patience had reached its end, and I retrieved the bottle of whiskey from the wagon.

The first taste burned all the way down, afore that welcome warm feelin' started to settle over me. I looked up to find Izzy had stopped mendin' my shirt, and was glarin' at me.

I quirked an eyebrow, "Want a taste?" I teased with a grin as I held up the bottle.

She narrowed her eyes at me afore yankin' the bottle from my grasp and takin' a swig. I didn't even have time to warn her….

Next thing I knowed, she was doubled over, coughin' and sputterin'. I grabbed my canteen quick, and held it to her lips. When she finally stopped coughin' and was able to speak, she pushed me and the canteen away.

"Why didn't ya tell me it tasted like fire!"

"I didn't have a chance ya crazy woman!" I shouted back at her. "Why'd ya grab the bottle if'n ya never had spirits afore?"

"I don't know. I guess I was tired of men havin' all the fun!"

I tried and failed to swallow my smirk, "It looks as if you're havin' all kinds of fun now, Isabella."

The look she give me then made me feel real protective of my pecker all of a sudden. When she lunged toward me a minute later, my instinct for self-preservation kicked in and I immediately cupped myself with both hands.

For truth, Izzy was just goin' for the bottle, but my pecker was tellin' me to take no chances. When she seen what I'd done, she started in to laughin' at me afore takin' another swig of the whiskey.

I watched her grimace this time as she swallowed, but at least she didn't choke.

"This is worse tastin' than swamp water, not that I know what that tastes like," she said afore gigglin' the silliest girly giggle I ever heard come out of Izzy's mouth.

"Then why the hell ya drinkin' it?" I asked as I snatched the bottle back and took a swig.

"'Cause there's gotta be a reason that menfolk is so partial to it." She grabbed it back afore I could stop her and took another drink.

I didn't let her have no more after that, but it seemed that three swallows was just 'bout all Izzy needed to be feelin' no pain.

I took one more drink afore corkin' the bottle hard and settin' it on the ground beside me.

"Ya know Ed, I feel kinda happy right now," she telled me afore standin' up, movin' closer, and settin' down in my lap.

As soon as she wrapped her arms 'round my neck, my pecker comed to life. I reckon he warn't fearin' for his safety anymore. "I was powerful mad at ya." Izzy said as she stared into my eyes, "But I ain't feelin' so angry now."

I studied her for a while. "That's good." I reckon the whiskey was affectin' me as well, 'cause I felt the need to do somethin' I swore I wouldn't. "I'm sorry I hollered at ya."

Her smile lit up her face, "I cain't say I'm sorry I runned after Jack, but I am sorry I worried ya."

I nodded, understandin' her completely. "I know ya hollered 'cause ya love me, Ed."

"That's the God's honest truth, Izzy." I telled her afore buryin' my face into the side of her neck.

We sat quiet for a while afore she spoke again. "I reckon I understand now why ya like spirits."

"Why's that?" I pulled back to look at her and began to run my fingers up the buttons on the back of her dress, undoin' them one at a time.

"It may taste horrible, but it sure does warm ya all the way to your toes!"

I laughed as I slipped another button from the buttonhole.

She stared at me kinda dreamy eyed then, our noses almost touchin', "Whatcha doin' back there Ed?" Izzy asked in a whisper.

"Helpin' ya out of your dress." I whispered back afore touchin' my lips to hers.

"That's mighty considerate of ya." She said just as I slipped the last button free.

Izzy untied the sash afore standin' up and lettin' the dress fall off her. She stepped out of it and just stood there smilin' at me, so I patted my lap for her to sit down again.

She took her seat, this time she sat facin' me with her legs straddlin' mine, wearin' nothin' but her shift. It took everythin' in me not to release my strainin' manhood and enter her right there and then. But I kept remindin' myself that I was a gentleman.

"Ed," Izzy was givin' me them dreamy eyes again. "Do ya like my bosoms?"

My eyes opened wide in surprise. "Wha…?"

"I never brought this up afore, so maybe it's the whiskey makin' me bold, but" her voiced dropped to a whisper. "I recollect ya talkin' to that painted up lady, Miss Sally, outside the Tavern. The way she had her bosoms shoved in yer face, ya didn't seem to mind…"

That was the point where I choked and coughed on nothin' but air. Izzy patted my back 'til I recovered. I was hopin' she'd drop the subject, but I shoulda known better. Izzy was tenacious.

"I guess what I'm really askin' is if ya wish mine was bigger like Miss Sally's?"

Chapter 45

**Note: Thank you to JayNahNah for the words of wisdom left in a review for chapter 41…although I think it applies here as well: "If the wagon is a rockin', don't come a knockin'." Lol I really don't have anything to add to that…

Enjoy!
*******************************WYiMA**************************

"Now Izzy, why ya wanna bring Miss Sally up fer? That was afore I even met ya."

"Oh, I know." She said with a little shrug of her shoulders as her fingers commenced to playin' with my shirt collar.

"Please tell me ya ain't held it against me all this time 'cause my eyes strayed where they shouldn't a oughta been lookin'."

She shook her head. "No, I don't hold it against ya. I just wondered if there's things 'bout other women that ya like better'n me…" She was lookin' down, not meetin' my eyes.

I lifted her chin with my fingers 'til she was lookin' at me. "Izzy, I have to believe that it's the drink makin' ya talk this way. I admit that Miss Sally was anxious to get close to me; closer than I ever allowed, and more times than not, she'd flaunt her womanly assets. I'm ashamed to say that, once or twice, I warn't much of a gentleman, and I let my eyes wander. But I was never interested in doin' anythin' more than lookin'."

"I never wanted her. And now, since I found ya, Izzy, I don't see no one else. There is nothin' Miss Sally or any other woman could possibly possess which could come close to what I've got right here in my arms. Ain't no one sweeter or more beautiful than the gal I married."

"You're perfection in every way to me, and I desire ya more than a sane man probably should. I cain't help myself, I want ya every wakin' moment, and even in my sleep I'm drawn to ya." I stroked her cheek with my hand, "Ya own my heart pretty girl, and I ask ya to forgive me for not tellin' ya often enough…"

She was just starin' at me with a flushed face, her lips parted in surprise, her chest heavin' from the effort of her breathin'.

"Oh Ed," She was tryin' to catch her breath as she panted out the words, "I reckon ya better take me to bed or else I'm gonna strip nekked right here, and maybe give Jack a fright." Next thing I knowed, her lips was on mine in a fierce kiss. As soon as I felt her tongue in my mouth, I stood.

Izzy clung to me like a bear cub, never releasin' me from the kiss, as I carried her to the wagon.

I barely had her laid down on the mattress afore she was pullin' off her shift. I started workin' on my shirt so's I could catch up and, in my haste, may have pulled off a button or two.

"Izzy girl, what's got into ya?" I asked against her mouth, once we was both divested of our clothes. She was a wildcat as she pulled me to her, mind you, I warn't complainin'.

She pulled back just long enough to answer. "Those words ya said was sweeter to my ears than Shakespeare, Ed. Knowin' that no other woman could turn your head," She closed her eyes and huffed out a breath, "I never thought I could be so desirable to a man… it's just so, unexpected."

She looked up at me and wrapped her arms 'round me so's I could feel her fingernails pressed into my back. "Oh Ed, just join with me now afore I explode!"

As much as I wanted to, I warn't about to just 'get down to business' as it were. I needed to slow things down a bit, for her sake. I kissed her slow, with everythin' that was in me, and as I did, I felt her begin to relax. Her heart was still beatin' wildly, but she stopped the frantic pushin' and pullin' of her limbs as she let me take control.

I worshipped her then with my lips and tasted her soft skin with my tongue, startin' with her own sweet lips afore workin' my way down her body. Her neck, her shoulders, her breasts, and still lower as I kissed her stomach. Izzy's body tensed as I kissed lower still, and when I reached the place of her womanhood her legs started to twitch. We'd been married a month, but I'd never kissed or tasted her there afore. It was somethin' I'd heard the fellers talk 'bout once or twice and, at the time, I could never imagine wantin' to do that.

Of course that was afore I'd met Izzy…

But, as much as I wanted her that way, I was always hesitant as to her reaction.

"Relax beautiful, I only aim to make ya feel good," I whispered against her flesh afore swipin' between the folds with my tongue. If I hadn't a been so wrought up, I'd a laughed at the little squeak that come out of her then. I touched her with my tongue once more, afore crawlin' up her body and kissin' her lips. "I ain't surprised that you're sweet everywhere." I telled her with a smile, "Ya are the most desirable woman in all the world to me," I whispered afore pressin' into her warm heat.

Izzy let out a little sigh of contentment now that we was finally joined and we started to move together. "I find ya most desirable as well, Ed," she whispered against my cheek as I thrust into her. "You're good, and kind" she lifted her hips to meet me, "and the most handsome man I ever laid eyes on. Sometimes, I think I'm gonna wake up and this will all have been just a dream."

I shook my head as I continued to make love to my wife. "No dream darlin'. We belong together."

And so the dance continued, until we found our release.

We fell asleep in each other's arms both content in the knowledge that, no matter what tomorrow may bring, we could face anythin' as long as we faced it together.

Chapter 46

"Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears,
While we all sup sorrow with the poor;
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears;
Oh hard times come again no more."

I could hear Izzy singin' as I returned from huntin' early the next mornin'. The sound of her sweet voice brought back memories of when I was a child, and my Ma would sing that same song.

"Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard Times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh hard times come again no more."

I stood a ways off, just watchin' and listenin'. In some ways, Izzy put me in mind of my Ma. Her happy nature tended to lift the spirits of everyone around, just like Ma's did.

"While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
There are frail forms fainting at the door;
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh hard times come again no more."

At that moment, she lifted her head from her work and seen me standin' there. A pretty smile lit up her face at the sight of me and my heart felt near to overflowin' with the knowledge that I could be responsible for that sort of reaction.

Despite all the sins of my past, the Lord had seen fit to bless me with much more than I could ever deserve.