Saving Scarlett (TCS-1) ON HOLD

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

11th June, 1877
Walter Ranch House
May-Belle Town, Montana.

The darkening of the sky, lit out the lamps in the house. Horses and cows were huddled into the barn for the night. The watchdog, Bruce was standing guard outside on the porch.

Scarlett watched the dog, sitting quietly but cautiously. The house was silent after the family was done getting to know her. She had been honest. She did not hide anything. She did not have anything to hide. Everything was open to everyone. They were family after all.

"Scarlett?" The man who made her a part of this family stepped forward from the shadows. "Are you ready?"

She nodded and looked out the window for last time before turning away to climb upstairs and see the room where she would stay from now on.

Jasper walked ahead. His long feet making him reach faster than her and he waited for her at the open doorway of a room. The hallway had many doors but the brown oak door at the end was the one where he stood by.

"This was my room." Jasper said, his hand gesturing the inside of it. "Now it is ours."

Scarlett looked at his eyes and did not find any resentment or regret. He was fine sharing his bedroom with her. He was fine sharing his life forever.

How did she get lucky? Scarlett asked herself again in mind.

She knew with marriage came, many rights. Scarlett wouldn't deny Jasper his marital rights but still she couldn't help herself from being anxious. Last year, she had heard Mrs. Gold talking to the young maid who was about to get married, back in England. She had heard it because Mrs. Gold let her. She said Scarlett ought to know it because Aunt would not even bother with it.

She turned toward the room and stepped inside. Immediately the scent of wood and something unknown which always followed Jasper's body, engulfed her. This was Jasper's room, no doubt.

Scarlett's eyes followed the right side of the wall where a vanity table with a mirror and a door which probably led to a bath place and water closet, lined up. Then on the left wall, a desk and a chair backed up, beside it a beautifully carved wardrobe. Finally her eyes took her attention to the large four poster bed with two end tables on each side of the bed. It was backed up on the opposite wall of the doorway.

The deep red sheets over it beckoned her to slip under it. All of a sudden, she felt all the tiredness slip in her body.

A lamp was lit by Jasper, which he kept over the desk. Scarlett could see the night sky, twinkling stars from the two windows by the bed. Light flooded in the room from the lamp and a painting was visible over the bed, hanging on the wall.

Jasper didn't seem like a man who would decorate his room. Only a simple painting decorated the room and other walls were kept bare. He seemed like a man who stayed outdoor most of the time. That painting must be there on insistence from his mother.

Even though it lacked a great amount of feminine touch and ricked of manly scent, Scarlett liked it. She liked it a lot. She could already see herself making her own small space in Jasper's room.

She turned to face her husband and smiled, "Thank you. Thank you for everything."

Jasper shrugged, "You don't have to than--"

Scarlett shook her head, "No, I have to. You have done so much for me. I could never repay you."

Jasper cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. But soon, a sudden look passed over his face then blue eyes met hazel eyes. "You could repay me one way, Scarlett."