UNBROKEN PROMISE

~35~ Confession

The sun was  high in the sky, casting its golden light over the ranch, but the atmosphere felt anything but bright. Megan was by the washing tubs near the house, her hands working mechanically as she scrubbed a shirt against the washboard. The soapy water splashed and sloshed, but her mind was elsewhere. Her brows were furrowed, and her lips were pressed into a thin line, betraying the frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. Every so often, she would glance toward the the part leading to the ranch, half-hoping to see Logan’s wagon returning, though deep down, she wasn’t sure what she’d say to him if it did.

She felt responsible, guilty even, for what had happened that morning. It had been her idea to nudge Oma into baking the cake, to encourage her to try and make Logan feel special. But instead of gratitude, Logan had stormed off, leaving Oma heartbroken and sobbing. Megan had tried to push the guilt away, but it clung to her like a second skin. Even Mama Becca, with her calm wisdom, hadn’t been able to soothe her.

“Don’t go blamin’ yourself, Megan,” Mama Becca had told her after she shared what had happened. “Logan’s a grown man. His reactions are his own, not yours. You were just tryin’ to help.”

But those words, well-meaning as they were, didn’t erase the knot of guilt in Megan’s stomach.

As she scrubbed another shirt, her hands moved with more force than necessary, the fabric snapping against the board. Caleb’s giggles echoed nearby as he played with Cookie, who was wagging his tail and chasing after a stick the boy had thrown. Normally, Caleb’s laughter would have brought a smile to Megan’s face, but not today. Today, the sound barely registered over the whirlwind of thoughts spinning in her head.

The crunch of boots on gravel pulled her attention, and she looked up to see Jacob approaching, his trousers and boots caked with mud. He carried a faint smile as he walked toward her, but it faded when he caught sight of her tense expression.

“Afternoon,” he greeted, his voice low and easy, but there was a hint of concern in his tone. “You alright?”

“Fine,” Megan replied quickly, her voice sharper than she intended. She turned back to the tub, scrubbing with renewed vigor as Jacob raised an eyebrow.

He glanced down at his muddy clothes, then back at her. “Guess I’ll go clean up,” he said carefully, his tone neutral, though his eyes lingered on her for a moment longer. He walked toward the house, disappearing inside to change and drop off his dirty clothes.

When he came back out, he carried the pile of soiled laundry toward Megan and set it down near the tubs. He didn’t leave, though. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned against the nearby fence, watching her with that familiar skeptical look that always made her feel like he could see straight through her.

“What’s got you all twisted up?” he asked, his voice calm but firm. “You snapped at me like I tracked mud through your fresh-cleaned floors. What’s botherin’ you?”

“I said I’m fine,” Megan replied tersely, keeping her eyes on the shirt in her hands.

Jacob didn’t buy it for a second. He tilted his head, his brow arching as he studied her. “Megan, I’ve known you long enough to know that when you get that look in your eyes, somethin’ ain’t right. You’re stewin’ over somethin’, and it’s only a matter of time before you blow up and do somethin’ that’ll land you in trouble.”

Megan shot him a glare, but he wasn’t deterred. His tone softened as he added, “Just tell me what’s goin’ on before I have to step in and save you from yourself. Last thing we need is me tannin’ your hide.”

Her glare faltered, and she let out an exasperated sigh, throwing the shirt back into the tub. “It’s Logan,” she muttered, crossing her arms and avoiding Jacob’s gaze. “He... he stormed off this mornin’ after Oma tried to celebrate his birthday.”