Chapter 34

Izzy's eyes was open wide, just starin' as I stood there holdin' her hand.

"Say somethin'." I spoke in a pleadin' tone, startin' to feel ashamed. After all, why would Izzy want to marry the likes of me? I let James take her away…

I didn't have much of a chance to think on it though, 'cause I was interrupted by Izzy lettin' loose with a loud guffaw followed by a snort.

It warn't ladylike in the least, but it was all Izzy.

"Ed Cullen, did ya just propose marriage to me?"

I nodded, "Um, yes, I expect I did…."

She stopped laughin' but kept the smile. "Well, I got two things to say. The first is that I cain't believe it took me gettin' kidnapped for ya to finally know your own mind."

Now it was my turn to do the starin'. My mouth mighta even fell open a little.

"And second, that is the sorriest proposal I ever heared tell of."

I opened my mouth to apologize, but Izzy put her fingers over my lips as she was wont to do.

"I expect ya to make it up to me when the preacher says 'Ya can kiss the bride', now let's go get hitched."

"I… I…."

"Ed close your mouth afore ya start catchin' flies."

Jake's laugh woke me from my stupor.

"Ya really wanna marry me Izzy?"

"Only since the day I met ya. Maybe afore, 'cause I was hidin' in your wagon for a full day afore ya knowed I was there."

I ain't never smiled so hard as I did then. I picked her up and spun her around, not givin' a fig if the whole town was watchin'.

Afeared she'd change her mind if I hesitated; I grabbed her hand again and set off at a fair steady pace in the direction of the closest church. We didn't get far afore Izzy stopped and refused to go another step. "We gotta get Jack."

"Izzy, why…" I was confused again. I was beginnin' to think that once I was married to Izzy, confusion would become my natural state.

"Your best friend's gonna be at the weddin'," she said with a nod toward Jake. "So I want my best friend there as well."

I was beyond arguin' with her 'bout anythin'. We walked in silence to the wagon and retrieved our beloved mutt.

As happy as the preacher was to comply with our request of marriage, he warn't so happy when Izzy insisted on bringin' the dog inside the church. He pulled me aside afore the ceremony to ask if she was a might 'touched in the head' 'cause if that was the case, he couldn't marry us in good conscience.

I lied through my teeth and telled him that she was perfectly sane, but that she was feelin' a might nervous.

He seemed to accept that, and a quarter of an hour later, give or take, with Jake, the preacher's wife, and Jack, standin' as our witnesses, we finally said our 'I dos'.

I'd promised Izzy a kiss to remember, and that's exactly what I planned to give her. But first I needed to wrap her in my arms and enjoy the feel of her against me. I looked down at her face. "Is ya really and truly my Missus?"

She gave me a jubilant smile, "Just as sure as you're my Mister. Now kiss me."

So I did. This kiss was different from any other we'd shard. Even though I was in the house of The Lord, I was like a man possessed. From the first moment I'd met her, I'd been drawn to her, and this was no different. The feel of her lips, so soft, so perfect against mine sent a rush through my body that I felt all the way in my toes. It brought my entire body to life.

Some parts was more alive than others 'cause of that kiss…

As our lips moved together, my mind raced ahead, until I could see glimpses of our future. Holdin' Izzy in my arms as she slept; Izzy, her belly swollen with my child; Izzy laughin' with a young'un on her hip….

So lost was I in the kiss and the feel of Izzy in my arms that I barely noticed the preacher clearin' his throat, or Jake softly laughin' beside me. It was Jack's whimperin' that finally caused me to break the kiss. I didn't look at any of 'em, my eyes was only for Izzy. "I love ya Izzy. More than anythin'."

My beautiful wife

My heart was filled to burstin' with happiness at the thought….

"I love ya too, husband," she telled me with a smile, but I could see the tears wellin' up in her eyes.

Congratulations sounded all around us, and I turned to my best friend. "I don't know how I can thank ya for everythin' ya done for me and Izzy, Jake. " I telled him as I grabbed onto his shoulder. "You're a true friend to me, and I hope someday I can find a way to pay ya back."

Jake, ever smilin', give us each a hug afore speakin', "I reckon ya can name your first boy after me, and we'll call it square."

Izzy giggled and I laughed. "I don't know about that Jake, I mean, I already named the dog after ya."

Now that got Izzy goin', "Ed Cullen, ya know as well as I do that Jack was named for the town of Jackson, where he found us." She was scoldin' but had a smile on her face, "Ya have no fear of the Lord to be standin' in His house and tellin' lies."

Everyone laughed, preacher included.

Chapter 35

After we had a bite of supper with Jake, I went to see about gettin' a room at the local inn. It warn't much to speak of, but it was clean and looked to be comfortable. I was fixin' to pay for two rooms, but Jake refused, sayin' he'd just as soon sleep in the wagon with Jack.

I knowed it was 'cause he felt the need to guard our things, and once again I was beholdin' to him.

"I'm sorry I didn't have a ring for ya," I whispered as I kissed Izzy's fingers.

"I've got a ring," she whispered back, causin' my eyes to widen in surprise.

Izzy, seein' my expression, continued. "Well, I don't have it with me, but my Mam give me her ring afore she died. She said there was no reason to bury it with her, and she'd rather me have it. 'Cause it was her choice, Pap didn't mind." Izzy's eyes filled with tears at the mention of her parents.

"I was thinkin' 'bout my folks today as well." I telled her. "I reckon it's a natural thing to do on your weddin' day."

She smiled through the tears and nodded.

I left her there to wash up in our room, and met Jake downstairs. After our own washin' up, he talked me into havin' a beer at the tavern.

I was right quiet, the night ahead preyin' on my mind.

"Quite a day," Jake murmured into his beer.

"That it was. I'm right glad ya was here with me Jake."

Jake smiled. "I'm glad ya was able to have someone from home stand up for ya."

"I feel a might put out that I won't be there for yours."

"It's alright Ed, mayhap Renie and me will come see ya afore long." He grinned again.

I cut the evenin' short, but not afore buyin' a bottle of somethin' to take back to the room.

When I got there, the door handle turned easily under my hand. I was just fixin' to fuss at Izzy for not lockin' the door when I caught sight of her in the bed. She had the covers pulled up to her nose, so's all I could see was her big brown eyes peepin' out at me.

"Izzy, what's gotten into ya?" I tried my best not to laugh.

"Ed, since I don't have no nightclothes, I ain't wearin' nothin' but my shift, and I'm that embarrassed 'bout it."

At the mention of her shift, I recollected the time I seened her bathin' in the creek. I bit my lip so's not to moan out loud at the memory, and my pecker started strainin' against the front of my trousers. I calmed down as I got closer to the bed, and got a look at Izzy's worried expression. It was at that moment that I was right glad I'd thought to buy the port.

"Izzy, what say we have a drink? I reckon we both need to calm our nerves." I said as I sat on the bed at her feet.

She sat up, keepin' the covers around her, as she watched me pour. When I handed her a glass, the thought occurred that Izzy probably didn't know much, if anythin' 'bout layin' with a man.

I'd heared as much as I ever needed to know while in the war. At the time, I warn't proud of the paths my mind had travelled while I lay awake at night, ponderin' what the other fellers had said. But now, I was almost thankful for their fornicatin' ways, 'cause with no Pa to give me advice, I would for certain have stumbled through my weddin' night a lovesick, although a wholly ignorant man.

I waited 'til Izzy was finished her drink afore bringin' up the subject.

She held the glass out, and I poured her another. "Izzy, there's somethin' I want to ask, but it's of an indelicate nature." I swallowed the last of my port and fixed myself another.

"What is it Ed?" I noticed that she was takin' her time drinkin' the second glass.

"Well, how much do ya know about what goes on in the marriage bed?"

Izzy's eyebrows shot up and her cheeks turned pink. "Um, well, I reckon I know just 'bout everythin'."

My mouth fell open in surprise. "Ya what?"

Izzy chewed on her lip and then reached out to lay her hand on my arm. "My Mam must of known she'd never see my weddin' day. When Pap was gone to the war and my brothers was out of the house workin' the farm, she would tell me things…"

I watched as Izzy's face turned a deeper shade of red. "At first I couldn't believe it, and I'll admit that I found it right hard to take. Especially considerin' the notion that your own parents was…." Izzy shuddered lightly and didn't finish the thought. "But as time went on, I started to notice the smiles that married folk would give one another, like they was sharin' a secret from the rest of the world, and it all kinda fit together somehow."

I downed the rest of my port and watched as Izzy did the same. After settin' our glasses on the side table, next to the bottle, I turned toward her.

"Well, Missus Cullen, I'm hopin' by tomorrow, mayhap we'll have our own secret smile to share."

Izzy reached up and touched the side of my face with her hand, "I believe I'd like that Mister Cullen. I'd like that very much."

Chapter 36

"Ed?"

"Yeah, Izzy?" I answered between kisses.

"Ya got on too many clothes," she breathed the words against my lips.

"Girl," I gasped out as I tried not to choke on my own tongue, "ya say the most unexpected things," I telled her with a smile. "But I suppose, to be fair, I should shed some of 'em."

She smiled like she'd just won a small victory.

I could feel Izzy's eyes borin' into me as I removed my boots and then my trousers. The gasp I heared escape her mouth as soon as my trousers hit the floor liked to make me laugh out loud.

"Ed!" She almost hollered my name. "Why ain't ya wearin' no drawers under your trousers?"

I did laugh then. "My dear wife, if ya ain't noticed, it's comin' onto summertime and it's fair hot down here in Mississippi."

"I know but, I guess I was just a might surprised."

Knowin' full well that my shirt tails was long enough to cover where I needed 'em to, I sat down on the bed and took Izzy's hand in mine.

"Now, we's even. I ain't wearin' nothin' except my shirt."

She reached up with her free hand and played with my collar. "I'm scared."

I wrapped my arms around her then, pullin' her to me, "I've got ya Izzy, I ain't gonna let nothin' bad happen, I promise."

She nodded her head against my chest. "Mam said it sometimes hurts…. the first time."

I frowned 'cause I didn't rightly remember hearin' that afore. "For true?" I whispered.

She nodded again.

My head was spinnin' in confusion, "Izzy, I don't wanna hurt ya…"

"I know. I reckon it cain't be but so bad, and Mam said it's only the once."

I let go of her then and turned away in order to stare at the floorboards.

Her soft touch on my arm was enough to pull me from my musin's, and I turned to face her again. "I don't mind Ed, truly. When I said 'I do', it meant I was ready to be your wife in every way that the good Lord intended."

She pushed away the covers afore wrappin' her arms around my shoulders. "I love ya, Ed."

I looked into those brown eyes, so trustin', and kissed her sweet lips. "Oh, Izzy. I love ya too."

We just sat there for a time, not movin', as I wrassled against the thought of hurtin' her. There commenced a battle which pitted my muddled brain against the burnin' fire of my physical need. It warn't long afore the flesh was winnin'. I sighed in defeat, knowin' it was a lost cause, 'specially when Izzy was sidin' with my pecker.

I let my hands travel along the smooth planes of her back until they come to rest on her hips, afore leanin' in to whisper in her ear, "Can I see ya, Izzy?"

She took a deep breath afore noddin' and I pulled back so's I could take her in.

The light in the room was dim enough so's I couldn't see through the thin material of her shift, but it warn't no matter 'cause I'd committed the vision of Izzy bathin' to memory. I then gently pushed the material of the shift away from one of her shoulders, layin' it bare, afore placin' a lingerin' kiss there against her soft skin.

I pulled back and looked into her eyes, "Would it be alright if we took this off?" I asked as I touched the material of her shift with my fingertips.

She didn't answer, instead she grasped the hem of her shift and began liftin' it up. I sat there, struck dumb, as Izzy pulled it over her head and tossed it to the floor.

Oh my sweet Jesus…

The memory of Izzy warn't nothin' compared to the reality. She was like a dream; all soft curves and hidden secret places that I yearned to explore.

My blushin' beauty.

Never in a million years would I have considered myself worthy of havin' her.

But she was mine, and I was hers. And I had the paper to prove it.

"You're beautiful beyond words Isabella." I telled her as the urgent need to join with her consumed me. "Izzy, I'm gonna take off my shirt now," I telled her, still attemptin' to go at a slow pace.

All she did was nod in reply.

I fumbled for such a time with the buttons, my maimed hand not cooperatin' in the least, that she finally giggled and pushed my hands away. I didn't watch her as she unbuttoned my shirt, 'cause I was fair mesmerized by the way her bosom rose and fell with each breath she took.

Once she worked the last button, I heard her gasp again and looked back at her face. She warn't lookin' up at me though, she was lookin' down at my…..

Oh

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I just never seen, um,…" She give me a puzzled look.

"Ya never seen a man's privates afore?"

"I reckon I seen 'em, when my brothers was little and used to run around nekked as jaybirds afore Mam give 'em a bath." She looked down again, still starin'.

"I just never seen one lookin' all stiff like that." She was blushin' harder than I'd ever seen afore. "Is there somethin' wrong with it?"

I laughed again, but Izzy just kept starin' at my pecker.

"God's truth girl, I'm that glad I married ya." I looked down, noticin' that my wife's questionin' hadn't done nothin' to change the situation down south. "Izzy, didn't your Ma tell ya 'bout what happens afore a couple is joined? How the man's privates get a might excited."

Izzy gasped and looked up at me. "I don't recollect her sayin' that Ed. So it's supposed to be doin'that?"

"It wants to join with ya," I bent down to kiss her lips again.

"It does?"

"In the worst way, sweet girl." I telled her afore yankin' my shirt off the rest of the way and sendin' it to lie on the floor with her shift.

"I reckon ya better give it what it's askin' for then," she whispered as she lay back, pullin' me on top of her.

****************************WYiMA*****************

**Notes:  In those days, the 'drawers' that men wore under their trousers were basically loose long johns, I don't blame Ed for going commando in the summertime, who would want to wear two pairs of long pants?

Chapter 37

The feel of flesh against flesh just 'bout sent me into a frenzy, but through some miracle I was able to make my mind focus. "Izzy," I whispered, "there's things I should do to make this better, for ya…"

She froze and stared up at my face, "How do ya know that Ed? I thought ya ain't done this afore."

I shook my head afore the wrong notion took hold in her mind. "For true, I ain't never done more than kiss a girl, and only the once, afore meetin' ya."

She studied my face with wide eyes as I continued.

"I heared fellers talk, mostly when I was in the army."

Her mouth fell open as her expression turned a might angry, "That's what fellers talk about? They go around braggin' to one another about the private things they do with their wives?" She was close to shoutin' the words.

"No, no, Izzy," I brushed my hand against the side of her face to calm her. "I'm ashamed to say that it warn't none of the married fellers doin' the talkin'."

This time her eyes pert near bugged out of her head.

"I like to think that the married fellers had more respect for their wives than that. I know I do."

She breathed out a sigh of relief then. "I'm glad Ed, 'cause I don't know what I'd do if'n ya was to tell anyone…".

"Rest your mind sweetheart." I calmed her with a kiss so passionate and lingerin' that, after a time, I could feel all her worries melt away from her little body. I could also feel my manhood hard and wantin', pressed against the place where it wanted most to be.

I leaned up on my elbows and looked down at her; she was fair glowin' beneath me. I couldn't resist the urge to kiss more than her lips, so I bent my head and left a soft kiss on each breast. Izzy started in to squirmin' and put her hands on my shoulders, but she didn't push me away. With the gentlest of touches, and startin' at her neck, I let the tips of my fingers trace along her skin.

I stopped when I reached her breasts and teased each peak, amazed at the way her body was reactin', her little moans and sighs nearly sendin' me out of my mind with want. I continued to kiss and touch her 'til Izzy started in to liftin' her hips and rubbin' against me.

It was more than I could stand. "Izzy, I need to join with ya now, if that's agreeable." I could barely choke out the words.

She stared up at me, but didn't answer.

"Let me love ya, my sweet girl," I whispered.

She nodded as she gave voice to her answer. "Yes, please."

I positioned myself between her legs and stroked against the flesh beneath her soft curls with my fingertips, as I captured her lips in mine once again. After takin' a deep breath, I slowly guided myself inside. The feelin' was unlike anythin' I'd ever felt. I had only made it part of the way inside her warm, tight passage, when I found the need to squeeze my eyes shut and hold still, so's I could calm my frantic heart.

After a moment, I pushed further inside. Izzy's little whimper caused me to open my eyes and give her a sorrowful look. "Are ya hurtin' Izzy?"

"Not much, it just feels strange." Her voice was a quiet whisper. I stilled my movements for fear of causin' her more pain.

Soon, Izzy was buckin' her hips against me. "I think I'd like it better if'n ya moved Ed."

Bein' joined with Izzy was what I imagined heaven to must be like, and once I withdrew and pushed in again, I couldn't stop myself from doin' it over and over again. I whispered words of love, and proceeded to kiss her lips, her breasts, her shoulders, and any other part of her body that I could reach as I kept up the steady rhythm.

Izzy's soft moans spurred me on, and I come to realize that once I really began to move, I couldn't have stopped if my life depended on it. As soon as Izzy started bringin' her hips up to meet mine, it warn't long afore a feelin' of utter euphoria overcame me. I cried out Izzy's name while spillin' my seed deep inside her.

After collapsin' half on top of Izzy, and half on the mattress, I felt her soft fingers strokin' along my back.

It was then that I felt the shame for how I'd behaved. "Izzy, I'm sorry," I whispered.

"What ya sorry for Ed?" She asked in a quiet low voice.

"I know it warn't enjoyable for ya like it coulda been, but I warn't able to slow down once I started, I didn't have the will…"

"Shh," she soothed as she continued to stroke my back. "It was enjoyable. 'Specially considerin' that it was the first time for us. Ya make me feel loved Ed, with everythin' ya do. This warn't no different."

I leaned up so's I could look at her face; the smile I found there warmed my heart.

"That's 'cause I love ya, Izzy Cullen, with all my heart."

She nodded. "And I love ya too, Ed Cullen, forever and always."

Chapter 38

The feel of the breeze blowin' through the curtains cooled down the air in the room a bit, but didn't do much for me. There was other things, besides the heat, makin' me sweat.

I looked to the side and found Izzy lyin' with her back to me. Sometime durin' the night, she'd kicked off the sheet, and I could just make out her pale naked form in the darkness.

I ached to reach for her, to touch her, to have her again, but I knowed she needed her rest. Besides, it would be a long time 'til we was able to spend the night in a proper bed again.

Finally, I buried all the wantin' feelins deep down inside and turned to face away from her, tryin' to fall back to sleep.

The feel of Izzy's body pressed against my back was what woke me later. She had her arm throwed over my side, which was oftentimes the way she slept when we was by the campfire, but then we was always fully clothed.

My pecker was already standin' at attention, but feelin' Izzy's naked bosoms against my back was makin' me so hard it was downright painful.

When I feeled her fingers brushin' along my chest, I knowed she was lyin' there awake, so I turned to face her, catchin' her in my arms as I did.

She looked a little surprised, but happy. I kissed her lips. "Cain't ya sleep?"

She shook her head.

I just held her, lovin' the feelin' of nothin' between us, afore givin' a contented sigh.

After a while, Izzy started to speak in a whisper. "Ed, remember how ya said that your, your… man part, gets stiff when it wants to join with me?" I couldn't tell in the dark, but I was fair certain that she was blushin'.

I held in the laugh that was tryin' to escape, and just gave her an answerin' nod, knowin' full well she could feel my stiffness against her leg.

"Does it want to join with me right now?" She asked, so low I could barely hear her.

"Always, sweet girl, but I won't let him have his way 'cause you're tired."

She looked up at me, her eyes wide and innocent, "I don't reckon I'm too tired. If ya want to… I think I'd like to…"

She didn't finish her thought afore I spoke, "Izzy, are ya not feelin' poorly at all? I don't want to hurt ya."

"No Ed. It burned a little last night, but it was tolerable. And since Mam said it only hurts the once, I think I'd like to try it without the chance of the hurtin'."

Afore I could stop myself, my lips was on hers. When I finally broke apart from her, I smiled. "Izzy, ya are a dream come true for me."

In the dark of our room, I spent the time explorin' with my fingers and lips, findin' it easy to be bold, whereas I couldn't the night afore, when the nervous feelins had been rulin' my actions.

It didn't take long to discover the touches that could make Izzy squeal and wriggle.

By the time I entered her, she was dreamy eyed and fair glowin', becomin' even more so as we moved together. I was more than happy when, just afore I fell over the edge, she got to experience the euphoria I'd felt, and with our lips touchin', we breathed in each other's joy of the moment.