The Proposal: Chapter 4

Keesha looked out her bed chamber window as the sun finished rising. She had gone to bed early last night, actually right after the kiss with Jax, with the false excuse that she was still exhausted.

Right now, she was extremely hungry. Yet, she was afraid to go downstairs. She did not know her husband's sleeping habits as of yet, though she realized she needed to find out. The sooner she knew when Jax was locked in his own room, the sooner she would feel able to venture out of hers.

Yesterday proved to her two things. First that Lord Jasper Jacks was extremely unpredictable. His moods changed with the wind. He could be very warm one moment and then ice cold the next. And he never gave a reason as to why. The second thing which Keesha learned was that Jax seemed to exert some sort of...control...over her that, try as she may, she could not deny. And now it was becoming a case of not even wanting to try anymore. Despite the fact that his moods changed like the wind.

And with these two facts, Keesha realized as she watched him go upstairs early last evening, that her best defense, was to avoid the man as much as humanly possible. And that is exactly what she intended to do.

"Is Lady Jacks joining you for breakfast this morning?" Maggie asked Jax softly as she poured his tea.

Jax looked away from the letter he was reading from his lawyer. "Pardon?"

"Should we set a place for Lady Jacks."

"No. I assume she is still tired."

"Yes my lord." Maggie poured tea into Jerry's cup and left without another word.

"Well well well...she is exhausted?" Jerry smirked.

"No, she believes she can avoid me." Jax went back to reading his letter.

"She is avoiding you. What did you do to her?"

"Nothing that I will repeat," Jax stated simply. It was an easy statement to make, because Jax had every intention of allowing Keesha to avoid him. As long as they were not in the same room, she would not be able to tempt him and make him lose his focus. "She has met Garcia."

Jerry scowled. "I hope you made it clear that she is not to speak with him."

"That...and other things. I do not believe she will heed my word however. She will not purposefully seek him out, however if he looks for her..."

"Then you need to make sure he does not look for her."

"Precisely." Jax looked up from the letter again.

"We can discuss this more over our breakfast." Jax stood and Jerry followed him into the dining room.

"Maggie..." Jax turned around, fastening his shirt as Maggie waited in the corner. "After I leave, wake Lady Jacks and tell her I will not be back until sometime this evening. And make sure to bring her something to eat, she has not eaten in over a day."

"Yes my lord." Her eyes grew as she saw a flash of the silver knife he kept in his bedside drawer. "Where should I tell her you went?"

"It is not of her concern. Therefore she will not ask. Where is Jules?"

Jax enclosed Jules in a hug. "Now...you are to do what Keesha and Agnes tell you while I am away."

"Yes Jax."

Jax placed Jules back down on the ground. "I will be back as soon as I can."

"Today?"

"This evening."

"Promise?"

Jax blinked. Jules rarely asked him to promise something...only when he was worried. "Go and play Jules." Jax watched him go. Why did children always seem to be able to tell when something was wrong.

"Oh...I am sorry my lord. I thought you had left."

Maggie said from the stairs as she held a tray of food for Keesha to eat.

"I am leaving now."

Keesha continued to pace the chamber. She was absolutely famished. She had not eaten a thing since the day she in England. Everything had happened so fast she actually forgot. Until now. She really wished there was a way to know whether Jax was around or not...

She froze at the knock on her chamber door. She quickly climbed into the bed, shutting her eyes. After a moment the door opened.

Jax was in the room. She could just tell. Why was he in there?

Jax walked over quietly, placing the tray of food down on the small table next to Keesha's bed. He wondered if she was really sleeping, or whether she was only pretending to do so.

Yet, once again, his main thought was wanting to know why he cared. She looked so beautiful lying there, her softly curled hair tumbling softly onto the pillow. He shook his head, he knew he shouldn't be there, but for some reason he also knew he needed to see her before he left. He stared at her for a moment, and then without a word exited the chamber, shutting the door behind him. Keesha waited for a moment and opened her eyes. Immediately she sat up in the bed, grabbing a piece of toast and eating.

"Well, I knew you would visit...yet I did not think it would be so soon." Garcia said from his sitting room window. "Have you met my wife, Senora Victoria Garcia."

Jax took Victoria's hand, placing a small kiss upon it. "Charmed."

"Leave us," Garcia ordered his pregnant wife and Victoria left. "Why are you here?"

"I have lived here for six years. Why are ?you here."

Garcia finally turned from the window. "You have something that belongs to me." "Jules is a person...not property to be had."

Garcia smirked."My son belongs with me."

"He is my son. Not yours. You gave up that right the moment you shirked your responsibility to Jasmine and left her alone with child. And I will see you in hell before I allow you to take the child away now."

"Is that so?"

Jax sighed deeply. "I wanted to deliver these myself."

Garcia took the papers Jax handed to him.

"They are orders from the magistrate granting my petition to keep Jules..." Jax began. "Until further notice," Garcia added, tossing the papers on the bar.

"Of which you should not wait for."

"You work rather quickly."

"I will be leaving now." He turned to go.

"How is your lovely wife?"

Jax felt his jaw begin to twitch. "Stay away from her."

"Now, Jasper...I merely asked a question."

"She is well." Jax answered, his voice deep.

"She is also the only reason you have my son...until further notice. That can be changed."

"I said...." Jax turned back to Garcia, his blue-eyed stare as cold as ice. "Stay away from her."

"Then give me damn son!"

"Jules...you have hardly touched your supper." Keesha noted quietly, as they sat together in the dining room.

"Where is Jax?"

"I am not sure."

"Jax should be back by now."

Keesha looked at the clock against the wall. It was rather late. "Perhaps he had to go into town."

"He said he was coming back. He said he would be back tonight."

"Then I am sure he will be back tonight."

"May I please be excused?"

Keesha sighed. "Of course. I will have Agnes send you up something. And do not worry...Jax will be back."

Keesha watched as Jules left the room. She picked up her fork to continue eating, but soon changed her mind, leaving as well.

"My lady!" Maggie exclaimed.

Keesha looked around the servant's dining room. Maggie could not believe anyone would actually come down here...yet Keesha did not seemed to be bothered at all. "Where is J...where is Lord Jacks."

"He did not tell you?"

"No. Where is he?"

"He will be back tonight."

"That is not what I asked."

Maggie dropped her gaze. She did not know what to say. She could not tell Keesha that Jax had decided where he went was not her concern, and that Jax had not given any clue to where he was going. "I...am not sure."

"When did he leave?"

"This morning. He only said he would be back..."

Maggie stopped speaking at the sound of the front door closing. "Perhaps that is him..."

Keesha took a deep breath, the first she had since her worry about Jax's whereabouts began. Maggie waited for her to go upstairs to see about Jax, but Keesha merely stood there. She had managed to avoid him this long...

"Jax!"

"What are you doing up here in your room?" Jax asked Jules quietly. Jules jumped off the bed and Jax carefully picked him up.



"I wasn't hungry, and Keesha said I could go." "She did. Do you know where she is?"

"No."

Jax put Jules down. "You should go to bed." "But I didn't eat all of my supper."

"Then you should have done that shouldn't you have. No one told you not to eat. Call Agnes and have her put you to bed." Jax finished and walked out of the room.

Keesha walked into her chamber, closing the door and immediately going over to the adjoing bath. She reached up her hand to knock, but changed her mind, going to the window.

What was she going to say anyway? She could not ask Jax where he had been all of this time. That was not any of her business. Besides, it was good that he was away all day-if she started to ask, he might make it a point to stay around, and that was something she could not have.

Of course, no harm would be had in knowing where he went when he left,she began to rationalize. When Jules was worried, who did he ask about Jax-her. And she had no answer to give. That would not do. With that valid reason, Keesha knocked on the bath door. When no answer came she entered, walking over to Jax's door and knocking softly.

"STAY AWAY!"

Jax sat down on his bed, taking a sharp breath at the stinging pain in his side. Keehsa blinked at Jax's tone. She wanted to dismiss it as his normal moodiness, however...she knocked again.

Jax groaned, ignoring her. If he called a doctor, Jules would be so upset...he could not let Jules be upset because of him. Besides, it was merely a small wound...Jax looked down and noticed the blood seeping through onto his shirt. He could wait for a fifteen minutes, that was how long it took Jules to fall asleep, and then if necessary he would see if his wound should be attended to. Jax leaned down in the bed, closing his eyes. Just 15 more minutes...

Keesha knocked for the third time. Again no answer came and she started to leave. Yet... Closing her eyes, she opened the door. "Jax?" she called, peaking in, hoping that he was not undressed.

She did not know what she would do if he was undressed. "Jax?" she called and stepped in slowly, and seeing his form on the bed walked in front of it.

"Jax..." she breathed. What happened..."Jax...can you hear me..."

Jax opened his eyes slowly. "I told you to stay away..." he mumbled.

"I am getting a doctor..."

Jax grabbed onto Keesha's wrist. "No doctor."

"Jax...you're..." bleeding and Keesha was petrified. "You need a doctor."

"No doctor...Jules will...I am fine..." Jax tried to sit up.

"Lay," she whispered.

Jax closed his eyes as he reclined once more, and a moment later he could feel Keesha's hands on him. Keesha pulled the bottom of Jax's shirt from his breeches, carefully lifting it to inspect his side. Her eyes grew at the sight of the blood. "Who hurt you?" she choked.

"Garcia..." Jax mumbled, trying to stay concious.

"Garcia..." she repeated.

She glanced around the room, taking a mental survey of the area. She reached up, removing the ribbon from her hair and it cascaded down to her shoulders. "You will be fine...I will take care of you..."

And that promise was the last thing Jax heard before he drifted off.

Keesha left the bath, walking over to Jax with a cold cloth. She placed it on his brow, and then, just as she had done all night, she leaned in closely...shutting her eyes as she listened to him breathing. He still sounded fine...she pulled back and looked down at the bandage she had made from a torn pillowcase, held with the ribbon she had been wearing in her hair.

She sighed deeply and stood from the bed. She walked over to the large chair she had blocking his chamber door and with a groan moved it out of the way. She opened the door and peaked around the corner before picking up the tray of food left outside. She barricaded the door once more, turning as Jax moaned, opening his eyes. After a moment they shut again. He had been doing that all night. Either mumbling incoherent thoughts...something about Jules, and Garcia, and pregnancies, and not being able to finish something-or opening his eyes breifly, only to drift back into unconciousness. Jules was leaving to go into town with Agnes, and the moment he left, Keesha was getting a doctor. Keesha rubbed her arms, watching him...she hated this...

Keesha sat down in the chair, continuing to watch him for a moment. For some reason she felt too far and she stood and walked over to the bed, sitting down next to him.

Once again Jax mumbled something incoherent...yet this time he also opened his eyes. He blinked slowly and focused. Keesha leaned closer. "Jax?"

He blinked again, seeing Keesha clearly. What a lovely sight to awaken to. Jax didn't speak, but he tried to sit up.

"Be still." Keesha lightly touched his arm. He was awake...thank God...he was actually awake...

Jax looked down and realized he was only half dressed. He touched his side and noticed the bandage. "You called a doctor..."

"No, I did that myself. I said I would take care of you, and I did." Keesha lifted the cloth from his forhead, wiping his face gently. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Garcia." His voice lowered and he tried once again to sit up.

"Will you please lie still. Jules will be leaving soon, and then I am calling a doctor. At least I was able to stop the bleeding, but I beleive you require stitches..."

"You did all of this?"

"All of what? I merely tended to your wound and made you as comfortable as possible. Which was rather easy given you were not awake long enough to bark any orders."

"I do not bark."

"Of course not."

"How did you know what to do? Were you a nurse?"

"No." Some slaves came to Keesha's father in extremely bad condition, and it was dangerous to get them to doctors many times. So her father, Keesha and other people often took care of them themselves. "My father taught me."

"What does your father do?"

"He is a lawyer."

"Really?"

"And other things."

"As in?"

"Can I get you anything?" Keesha changed the subject.

Jax stared at her for a moment. "I am rather thirsty."

Keesha nodded and went over to the pitcher of water, pouring Jax a glass. She sat down at the edge of the bed, holding out her hand.

Jax looked at her.

"I am going to help you up...and I do not want to hear how you can do it yourself..." Her voice trailed off as Jax took her hand, holding it tightly. His skin was warm, slightly rough, yet strangely comforting.

"All right.." she whispered. "Lean up..." Jax was able to sit up slightly and Keesha used her other arm to wrap it around his waist. His body tightened and she looked at him. "Did I hurt you?"

"No." Jax opened his eyes, trying to become used to the softness of her hands around him. He leaned back into her arm.

"I am going to tighten my hold, all right?"

Jax nodded and she managed to wrap her arm even further around him, squeezing lightly. Jax shut his eyes once more.

Keesha was sure she was hurting him, but she did not ask again. Jax took a deep breath and with her help, was able to sit up a little more.

"There." She smiled, letting go of his hand to take the water glass. "Drink." she held the glass to his mouth. Jax glanced up into her eyes and in a moment he was completely lost. "Jax..." Jax sighed, placing his hand on top of hers. They tilted the glass so he could drink from it and about halfway through she pulled it away. "Thank you."

Keesha looked down and realized she still had a hold of him. Keesha slowly drew her arm from around his waist. "Do you need anything else?"

"Only to apologize."

"Apologize..for what?"

"This situation you found yourself in last night...."

Keesha stared into his eyes. He was sorry. Keesha was so very thankful that she had been stubborn and found him when she did...because if he had just laid there bleeding...a chill went through her body and Jax felt his guilt grow.

"I'm..."

"Please stop apologizing. You have no reason to do so. I am very glad I was here to help you."

"Really?"

"Of course...you are needed here."

"Yes...Jules needs me."

As do I. Jax watched as she brushed his hair back from his eyes. He locked eyes with her again.

Keesha blinked as she realized what she had just done.

"So much for avoiding me." Jax smiled.

Yet instead, it made Keesha even more aware of the confusing feelings he was causing yet again. However this time they were different...his words and motions had not really done anything to her physically...but her emotions...

Keesha dropped her gaze from his. "You seem much better, so I am going to inquire about the doctor now."

Jax nodded and Keesha stood from the bed, walking to the door and moving the chair. "Thank you."

"Of course." she answered without looking at him. She opened the door slowly. "Keesha?"

"Yes."

"You...you will be back when you are done, won't you."

Keesha turned slowly, looking at Jax. He wanted her to come back..."Of course," she whispered, and left, closing the door.