Chapter 13

"Can ya write?" Izzy asked after a while.

I frowned and looked at her then, "'Course I can write. I went to school…"

"No," she giggled a little. "I figured ya could read and write, I meant 'cause it's your right hand that's hurt, can ya still write with it?"

"Oh," I wiped the frown from my face and reminded myself to simmer down. There warn't no call gettin' angry with Izzy on account of she had a curious mind. "It took some time, but my writin's fair close to what it was afore. I started keepin' a journal after the war. At first it was only for practicin' but I learned that I liked writin' down my thoughts."

She nodded and smiled up at me, makin' my breath catch in my throat.

One thing was for sure and for certain, I warn't gonna write down my thoughts about Izzy any time soon. 'Cause a fair amount of 'em was improper. And if she was to ever read them thoughts she'd probably shoot me with my own gun.

"Did ya always like to write?"

I thought about that and shrugged. "Well, I never had no call to write much afore the war exceptin' school work. Durin' the war, I writed letters to my Pa."

Izzy smiled. "I writed to my Pap all the time." She was still hangin' onto my arm. It felt nice and I was fair hopin' she wouldn't let go any time soon.

"Ed," I turned and she was lookin' up at me again with a smile lightin' up her pretty face.

"Yeah, Izzy?"

"If I'd a knowed ya durin' the war, I woulda writed to ya. I woulda writed to ya all the time."

As soon as she said those words, I started in to feelin' a little woozy. My heart was suddenly palpatatin' in my chest at such a rate that I almost stopped the wagon so's I could catch my breath. Instead, I pulled at my collar 'cause I was feelin' a might warm and it liked to be stranglin' me.

After I thought about it and calmed my breathin', I reckoned out that twenty was too young to be havin' heart troubles and I was probably just a might overheated. I offered my canteen to Izzy afore takin' a swallow.

Funny thing was, every time I looked at her after that, my heart started back to thumpin' loudly in my chest.

Chapter 14

Time passed and afore I knowed it, Izzy and me had been on the trail together for more'n two weeks.

It hadn't all been rosy times. Matter of fact, more than once along the way I'd teased her to the point that she stopped speakin' to me. I didn't like those times particularly, but I can't say I minded so much when she got angry 'cause her cheeks would turn a fiery red, and she'd start in to breathin' hard.

She were fair beautiful, and sometimes I just set back and watched, not able to form words, while she give me a proper tongue-lashin'.

It hadn't taken me long to sort through the strange feelin's I'd been havin' when we was together, and to know for true that I had developed a great affection for Isabella Swan.

More than that, Izzy had become somethin' that was precious to me.

Rememberin' back to when I was sweet on Ellie, I recollected that the feelings I held for her was nothin' compared to what I was feelin' for Izzy. Truth be told, Ellie was a bit of a forward girl. She'd even gone so far as to kiss me on the mouth when I warn't expectin' it the night afore I left for the war. It was the memory of that kiss and Ellie's sweet words that had kept me pinin' after her nearly two years.

I hadn't even kissed Izzy yet, but I knowed for certain that if we was separated now, I'd pine after her a lot longer than two years. I'd pine after Izzy for the rest of my miserable life, 'cause that's just what I'd be without her, downright miserable.

I'd started writin' in my journal 'bout the way Izzy made me feel, but made sure to hide it away under the seat of the wagon so's she wouldn't find it. In my writin' I poured my heart out and said all the things I wanted to say to the girl herself, but was holdin' back from tellin' her. Reason bein' that I wanted to know what was in Izzy's heart afore I revealed mine.

When we stopped in Jackson, Izzy made friends with a little mutt of a dog that followed her down the street from the general store. I tried to shoo him away, but as soon as Izzy offered him a bit of bacon from our wagon, she'd made a friend for life. She made inquiries in the store as to whether he had an owner, but was told that as far as anyone knowed, he was a stray. That was the day I found out that I could refuse Izzy nothin'.

"How come ya don't already have a dog Ed?"

I took a glance at the mongrel she'd lovingly named 'Jack' after the city where we'd found him, and then up at her smilin' face. "The last dog we had was right old when I comed back from the war and it died the next year. By then, me and Pa was plannin' the move to Texas and didn't feel the need to replace her." I shrugged and looked down at Jack again.

This was gonna take some gettin' used to.

The best thing 'bout havin' a dog was that neither of us had to stand watch at night no more. A dog was a natural born sentry. I had to laugh at the way Izzy fussed over him though, washin' and brushin' out his matted hair 'til he was almost presentable. He really warn't a bad lookin' little feller after all.

Jack was mighty protective of Izzy too, and that fact alone was doin' a lot to win me over. I had to admit that gettin' a full night's sleep warn't nothin' to complain about neither.

After Jack joined us, mornin's fast became my most favorite time of the day. As soon as I opened my eyes and looked across to where Izzy was still sleepin', it made my heart fill to almost burstin' to know that she warn't just a dream, she was flesh and blood, and she was here with me.

***WYiMA***

We warn't in a hurry, 'cause I knowed when I set out from home, that the trip to Texas would take three months or more. With havin' a fully loaded wagon, I didn't expect to cover much more'n ten miles a day, unless we wanted to wear out our poor horses. They'd been good animals to me and Pa, and I hoped to keep 'em for many years yet.

There was another reason I warn't in a hurry though. As soon as we got to Texas, I had no idea what was in Izzy's mind. I would lay awake some nights just worryin' that, once we got there, she'd set out on her own, maybe find a feller to marry, and I'd never see her again.

In my heart, I wanted more than anythin' to be that feller she chose but, as I said, I couldn't guess what was in her mind.

I'd even gone so far as to start tellin' her all about the plans me and my brother had for when I arrived, but every time I spoke of it, she grew as silent as the tomb.

I didn't rightly know what to think. She was a mystery.

Chapter 15

I was fixin' to surprise Izzy, but now that it comed down to it; I was that afeared of her reaction to what I had planned.

It had been a might troublin' to me that she'd lit outta home with only the clothes on her back. Her blue dress had seened better days, that was for certain. But Izzy never complained. Not even 'bout havin' to wear some of my duds when it was washin' day.

I taked a chance when we got to the town of Bartlett, and while Izzy was outside playin' with Jack, I asked the lady runnin' the general store if there was a dressmaker in town sold readymade clothes.

"What exactly are you lookin' for son?"

I smiled at her callin' me son, knowin' she warn't much older than me.

"Well, my wife," I said with a gesture to where Izzy was standin' outside with Jack, "is in sore need of a new dress." I'd thought 'bout callin' Izzy my sister, but that didn't set right with me. Callin' her my wife feeled just 'bout perfect, even if it did cause my heart to start poundin' frantic in my chest again.

The lady looked real seriouslike afore answerin'. "The only dressmaker in town works off of special orders only, so I know she won't have anything…" She trailed off as she seemed to be studyin' Izzy through the window. She walked over to it, I supposed so's she could get a better look. "That right there's your wife?" She turned to face me afore posin' the question.

"Yes, Ma'am." It was gettin' easier and easier to tell that lie.

She bit her lip as she seemed to be ponderin' somethin'. "Wait here just a moment." She telled me afore disappearin' into the back room. She comed back a few minutes later holdin' a bunch of cloth in her hands. When she held it up to show me, I recognized it to be two calico dresses. One was dark red and the other a brown. They was brand new.

"I made these a few months back, intendin' to wear them this summer," she smiled afore restin' her hand on her right large belly. There warn't no doubt to anyone that seened her that she was 'with child'. "Your wife looks to be about the same size as me," she giggled lightly. "Or rather the size I used to be. I'll sell them to you for what I have in them."

"Oh but Ma'am I wouldn't feel right buyin' your own clothes from ya."

"Listen," she hesitated, "what's your name?"

"Ed, Ma'am, my name's Ed Cullen."

She smiled again, "Ed, I can make more dresses once this little one arrives. For now, those are doin' nothin' but gatherin' dust," she was whisperin' then, "I'd much rather someone have them that can wear them. So, you're doin' me a favor by takin' them off my hands."

I smiled gratefully, knowin' that she was the one grantin' the true favor, but I was that happy to be able to get Izzy them dresses. "In that case, I thank ya kindly Ma'am."

She wrapped the dresses in brown paper and I paid a sum far lower than I shoulda afore leavin' out of there.

"What ya got there Ed?" Izzy asked as we piled into the wagon. She was always curious. "Just some cloth for my brother's wife. She likes to sew."

Izzy let out a little huff and folded her arms across her chest. "I like to sew," she stated with a pout.

I chuckled afore takin' the reins in hand.

Chapter 16

We set up camp near a creek just outside of town.

When I waked up early the next mornin', I left Izzy sleepin' afore goin' to have a proper wash in the creek. Part of my surprise for her was that we was stayin' put for today, so's we could have a rest.

After my wash, I put on my Sunday best and started the coffee brewin' afore unwrappin' Izzy's dresses and layin' them out in the wagon where she could see.

When she woked up she smiled at me, "Ya's all dressed up," she said as she stretched.

I nodded and handed her a mug of strong coffee. "I thought we could go to church, seein' as it's the Lord's Day."

Her smile turned brighter for a minute afore it disappeared altogether.

"What's ailin' ya Izzy?" I asked, movin' to sit beside her. I was that concerned 'bout whatever was causin' her to be so near to tears. "We don't have to go, I just thought…"

"I want to Ed. I'd like it very much. I ain't been to church in so long…"

"Then what ya frownin' for?"

Izzy give me a sad smile. "It's just," she reached over to touch the front of my jacket. "Ya look nice Ed, better'n nice, and I don't have nothin' fittin' to wear to church…" As hard as she was tryin' to hold 'em back, one tear managed to escape and slip down her cheek. As soon as I seened it, I grabbed her hand and, quick as lightenin', pulled her over to the wagon.

Her eyes grew wide as saucers when she spied the dresses. "What's all this?"

"These here are for you."

She looked away from the dresses to frown at me. "Where'd ya get 'em?" At least the tears was gone.

"I have to confess to tellin' ya a lie, Izzy." I runned a hand over my face afore continuin'. "That package I carried out the store yesterday warn't for my sister-in-law, it was these here dresses. The lady had made 'em for herself, but never got the chance to wear 'em."

Izzy nodded in understandin' then, 'cause she'd seen the lady while we was shoppin', and no doubt took notice of her belly. But there was no way I was gonna mention that out loud. "Anyways, she agreed to sell 'em to me."

Izzy turned back to the dresses and ran her fingers over the material of the brown one, and I heared her start to sniffle.

"Izzy… if they're not what you want, we can try in Memphis to see if'n they have some readymade dresses…"

She looked up at me and pressed her fingers against my lips. "Hush up right this minute, Ed Cullen. What ya did is just about the sweetest thing anybody's ever done for me. I cain't even tell ya how happy I feel right now." She was cryin', but smilin' at the same time. It was mighty confusin'.

She threw her arms around my neck then and hugged the stuffin' out of me. Izzy was a right strong little thing. I sighed in contentment as she grabbed up them dresses and twirled around while holdin' them against her. Jack was jumpin' all around and I had to laugh 'cause it looked like they was dancin' together.