Chapter 21

**Note:  *A word of explanation from last chapter. Memphis, like a lot of cities during the period of reconstruction, was not the safest of places. A year before Izzy and Ed made their trek across Tennessee, deadly riots had broken out in the city. Union soldiers were in charge, which only caused tensions to run higher.

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

I waked the next mornin' havin' to piss so bad my back teeth was near swimmin'. As much as I hated to leave Izzy, even if only for a minute, there was no avoidin' it.

Her warm little body had been wrapped 'round mine for most of the night, and I had a secret wish that she'd get scared every night if'n it meant she'd sleep up against me like that.

We would be spendin' the day cuttin' south across the city, so's to pick up the road that would lead us into Mississippi. I was still a might nervous 'bout what we might run into along the way, but it was better to face it durin' the daylight hours.

Once we got cleared of Memphis, I had a plan formulatin' in my mind where I was gonna be honest 'bout my feelins and kiss Izzy right on the mouth. Once I did that, there'd be no turnin' back; she'd have to agree to be my wife.

I smiled at the mere thought of it.

After relievin' myself, I was makin' my way back to camp when I 'bout jumped outta my skin at the sound of Jack barkin' and growlin'. I knowed his sounds by now and this meant only one thing: an intruder.

I hot-footed it back, and the scene that met my eyes was one I couldn't have imagined in a million years. Jack was growlin' and gnashin' his teeth while Izzy stood beside him. She had a raised rifle in her hands, aimed at none other than my good friend Jake Black.

"Go ahead, I dare ya to move a muscle Mister, I been itchin' to shoot somebody since yesterday." Izzy telled Jake in a vicious tone, her eyes wild with fury.

Jake, displayin' the common sense the good Lord gave him, had his hands raised in surrender and stood there, still as stone.

"Izzy!" I called as I comed up on her, "put down the gun. This here's my best friend, Jake."

She gave me a wary eye, and looked around, no doubt makin' sure that no one was forcin' me to say the words. I grabbed onto the barrel of the gun, pushin' down 'til it was aimed at the ground.

"Izzy," I said her name softly this time, afore wrestin' the gun from her grasp and wrappin' my arms around her tremblin' form. "It's allright Izzy. I got ya."

I turned toward my friend, while still holdin' on to Izzy. "Not that I ain't glad to see ya, but why in the world is ya here, Jake?"

Jake finally put his arms down and took a breath. "I took to the road almost five days ago to warn ya." He then looked at Izzy and removed his hat. "I take it this here's Izzy Swan?"

I nodded.

"Well Miss, ya got some folks lookin' for ya. To make matters worse, some of 'em got it in their heads that my friend Ed here spirited ya away and that his purposes was less than honorable. They wanna take ya back home, and teach Ed a lesson while they's about it."

Chapter 22

"How'd they figure that Izzy was with me?"

"One of the gals that works for Miss Sally seened her climb into the wagon just afore you was leavin'," he turned, speakin' to Izzy then, "She didn't think nothin' of it 'til your Uncle and that shady character, James Forrest, come inquirin' some time later."

Jake decided to travel with us for the next day or so. As slow as we was movin' on the trail, I felt like a sittin' duck for those fellers who was searchin' for us, so I was fair grateful for his help. Jake reasoned that those fellers probably warn't gonna follow us into Mississippi, so he wanted to make sure we was well on our way afore headin' back home. I hoped he was right, and knowin' that he could make it back in just a few days over the trail that taked me and Izzy almost a month to travel, made me feel a might less guilty for his sacrifice.

Chapter 23

And that was when everythin' turned to shit…

Jake Black was my best friend. At least I thought he was my best friend. Right now, I warn't too sure. As I watched him and Izzy laughin' and talkin' by the fire, I couldn't believe these was the same two people from this mornin', where one was holdin' a gun on the other, threatenin' to shoot.

"Ain't that right Ed?" Jake was askin' me a question, but I had no idea what he was yappin' about. I reckon that when my blood started boilin' over how familiar he was gettin' with my girl, it had affected my hearin'.

"What?" I asked him with a scowl.

"My Granny. Ya met her afore. I was just tellin' Izzy that she was half-Cherokee. She passed on just afore the war, but I learned a lot from her and her brother. My Uncle Ned was one of the best trackers in Tennessee."

Izzy was a might excited 'cause one of her Grannies happened to be part Cherokee too, and she and Jake reckoned they was some kinda long-lost cousins.

The look on Jake's face made me suspect that he wouldn't mind it if they was 'kissin' cousins'.

I kept havin' to remind myself that he had comed to warn us 'bout the fellers that was after Izzy, and that his company was fair helpful on the trail, so's I wouldn't walk over there and hit him.

Even Jack was sittin' right beside Jake, his tail waggin' while Jake rubbed his head.

Man's best friend.

It was a damned lie.

When Jake pulled out his mouth organ and started into playin' while Izzy sang, I couldn't stand it no more.

I hadn't never had a drink in front of Izzy afore, but I was feelin' the need for one now, so's I retrieved a bottle from the wagon.

The years creep slowly by, Lorena
The snow is on the grass again
The sun's low down the sky, Lorena
The frost gleams where the flowers have been
But the heart throbs on as warmly now
As when the summer days were nigh
Oh, the sun can never dip so low
A-down affection's cloudless sky.

I couldn't hold onto the anger as I listened to Izzy's fair voice. The liquor warmed me and her voice started in to makin' my heart beat faster. It helped that her eyes was on me as she sang, with nary a glance in Jake's direction.

A hundred months have passed, Lorena
Since last I held that hand in mine
And felt the pulse beat fast, Lorena
Though mine beat faster far than thine
A hundred months...'twas flowery May
When up the hilly slope we climbed
To watch the dying of the day
And hear the distant church bells chime.

"I cain't sing no more of it," Izzy's voice trailed off quietly. "Makes me think of sad times."

I stood up then and went to sit beside her, while passin' the bottle off to Jake.

And that's how we spent the balance of that evenin', drinkin' and listenin' to Jake play. The drink made me feel bold enough to wrap my arm around Izzy. She never complained nor pulled away, so I reckoned it was alright.

Sometime durin' the night, when the fire was burnin' low, she left the spot where she was sleepin, and crawled in next to me without utterin' a single word. Not carin' for a minute what Jake might think, I pulled her close and kissed her hair, hopin' I warn't dreamin'.

Whether ridin' in the wagon or sleepin' next to the fire, I wanted her beside me always. Even though it warn't proper, I just couldn't seem to help myself. 

Chapter 24

It was the shakin' that woke me. When I got enough sense into myself to open my eyes, I realized that Izzy was pressed up against me and her whole body was tremblin' from head to toe. Afore I had a chance to find out what was the cause, I was startled by a loud snort comin' from the other side of the fire, where Jake was sleepin'.

Izzy started shakin' again. It was clear as crystal to me then that she was laughin'.

"Izzy?" I whispered.

At the sound of my voice, she rolled over to face me. I could see her smile shinin' in the darkness. "My brother Theo snores like that. My Mam used to threaten to make him sleep in the chicken coop." Izzy laughed for a while longer, but when the laughter finally faded away, she started in to cryin' softly while clutchin' onto my shirt.

"I miss 'em Ed." She telled me in a broken whisper.

"Your brothers?"

She nodded. "All of 'em. But most especially my Mam and Pap." She answered afore layin' her cheek against my chest.

I ran my hand over her back in a soothin' fashion. "I know Izzy." I said the words, 'cause they were for true; I knowed all too well the way she was feelin'.

I missed my Pa the most 'cause the loss of him was recent, but there was times I still missed my Ma somethin' fierce, causin' the ache in my chest from all them years ago to return.

I missed my brother too, but was fair comforted by the fact that he at least still drew breath.

Izzy lifted her head. "I try real hard not to think about 'em, but sometimes that hurts just as much as when I do." She sniffled. I didn't have nothin' to say, so I just kept soothin' her back.

"Ed?"

"Yeah, Izzy?"

"When I'm with ya, it helps me forget to hurt."

I hugged her tight. "I know what ya mean Izzy."

***WYiMA***

"Ed, when ya gonna ask that gal to marry ya?" Jake was never one for mincin' words. We was packin' the wagon, and Izzy had taken Jack with her to wash up, so I knowed she warn't around to hear us.

"What ya on about Jake?" I pretended not to know what he was askin'.

Jake give me an unbelievin' look. "You're sweet on each other. Ya even telled folks she was your wife. So's I'm askin' when are ya gonna propose?"

"Why don't ya mind yer business?"

"I always figured ya for a smart man, but the way you're actin' 'bout Izzy ain't smart Ed. That gal's set her cap for ya. I believe she'd be willin' to wait forever, but she shouldn't have to."

"Oh, so ya thinkin' 'bout askin' her for yourself?" I could feel the anger from the night afore returnin'.

Jake laughed and shook his head.

"How's Renie?" The bitterness I was feelin' showed in my voice.

Jake give me a sly grin. "Plannin' a weddin'."

His words stopped me in my tracks. "Ya asked her?"

He nodded. "Yep. We's gettin' married at the end of summer. So's ya can stop frettin' 'bout me tryin' to steal your girl." He smiled and pointed to his chest. "I am happily spoken for."

I couldn't stay mad at him, 'specially now that I knowed he warn't tryin' to steal Izzy. "I cain't believe she telled ya yes!" I bellowed afore slappin' him on the shoulder and laughin' loudly.

"Shut yer yapper!" Jake was laughin' too.

Chapter 25

After I got the horses settled for the night, I went to sit next to Izzy where she was mendin' her blue dress by the light of the fire.

Jake had travelled with us for a full day into Mississippi, afore settin' out toward home early the next mornin'. After he left, I spent most of the ride thinkin' 'bout what I needed to say to Izzy.

I looked at her quietly sewin' and swallowed hard. "Izzy, I think it's time I had a word with ya."

She glanced up at me afore returnin' to her work. "What ya need to say Ed?"

This was a might harder than I'd figured. "If I'd of met ya back home, things would be different." I rubbed my hand over the back of my neck. "I'd a come to your house, and asked your Pa's permission to court ya."

Izzy stared up at me then, her brown eyes wide and lookin' sort of hopeful.

"But since your Pa has passed on, I reckon I'd of had to ask your Uncle." At mention of that scoundrel, Izzy's expression turned cloudy.

"That feller's got no say over me Ed. As far as I'm concerned, he ain't no kin of mine."

"Fair enough," I telled her with a nod of my head. "I guess what I'm tryin' to tell ya is that I care for ya Izzy. And even though things on the trail ain't how they would be back home, I'd still like to court ya. As best I can."

She was smilin' at me then. "Ed Cullen, I coulda died of old age waitin' for ya to finally ask."

"What…"

She shook her head, "Don't try and pretend ya ain't noticed how I've been workin' to get your attention, 'cause that kinda thing mayhap hurt a gal's feelin's."

"I'm sorry Izzy…"

She laughed then. "I'm just teasin'. But I am glad ya finally asked me. And to answer," she placed her hand on my arm, "I'd be mighty pleased for ya to court me Mister Cullen."

"For true?"

Izzy nodded. "Gospel." She peered up at me in a shy way then, "Do ya think it's proper for a feller to kiss a girl when they's courtin'?"

I was the one smilin' then, and kickin' myself for waitin' so long to tell her. "Cain't say as I care," I telled her afore pullin' her to me and pressin' my lips to hers ever so softly.

As soon as our lips was joined, it was as if all the feelin's I'd been holdin' inside was chompin' to break free. My body comed alive and I couldn't get close enough to her. As much as I tried to remember to be a gentleman, I couldn't stop myself from pullin' her close and lettin' my hands roam across her back and down to grasp onto her sides.

When I finally broke the kiss and pulled away, we was both pantin' and Izzy's body give out a little shiver. I let go of her and stared at the ground. "I'm so sorry Izzy."

"Ed, what're ya sorry for?" She asked, tryin' to catch her breath.

"I warn't much of a gentleman. I promise it won't happen again."

"Don't ya dare promise that!" Izzy said in a scoldin' tone. "I never cared what my first kiss would be like 'til I met ya, and I think as kisses go, that had to be one of the best." She placed her hand on my cheek, forcin' me to look at her. "And ya'd never hear a word of complaint if ya was to kiss me like that for the rest of my life."

When she put it that way, I couldn't help but kiss her again.