UNBROKEN PROMISE

~53~ Baby

Jacob's grin didn't fade for a second as he and Megan walked back toward the house, the joy of her announcement was evident. Every so often, he'd glance at her, a sparkle in his eyes that hadn't been there in days. Megan, despite her usual tough demeanor, softened under his gaze. She smiled shyly.

As they approached the house, Jacob turned to her. "Megan, you go on and rest now. No more liftin' a finger today. Doctor's orders."

Megan raised an eyebrow. "You ain't a doctor."

Jacob smirked, pulling her into a gentle hug. "Well, I'm your husband, and that's close enough. Now go on. I'll make supper tonight."

Her eyes widened. "You? Cookin' for the whole house? You sure that's a good idea?"

"I'll have you know, I'm more than capable," he teased, giving her a playful nudge. "And Mama Becca ain't gonna lift a hand either. Tonight's on me."

Megan laughed softly, shaking her head as she headed inside. She couldn't remember the last time she saw Jacob this happy.

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True to his word, Jacob went straight to work in the kitchen. He tied an apron around his waist backwards at first until Mama Becca corrected him, chuckling softly from her seat near the window.

"You don't need to be doin' all this, Jacob," she said. "I can handle it."

Jacob grinned, his pride evident. "You just wait. I'm gonna whip up somethin' special. You go on and rest for the evening."

Mama Becca snorted softly but handed him the ladle. "Alright, then. Don't burn my kitchen down."

Jacob rolled up his sleeves and got to work, Caleb trailing behind him with Cookie at his heels. Megan watched from the table, her chin resting on her hand as Jacob struggled to keep the flour from flying everywhere while kneading dough for biscuits.

"Papa, you're makin' a mess," Caleb giggled.

Jacob ruffled his son's hair, a smirk on his face. "Mess or not, it's gonna taste just fine, you'll see."

Logan and Oma arrived at the main house shortly after, both looking more relaxed than they had in days. Jacob told them about the baby.

"Megan and I are havin' another baby," he announced, his chest puffed with pride.

Logan's eyes widened slightly before a rare smile broke across his face. "Congratulations," he said, shaking Jacob's hand firmly.

Oma's face lit up, and she stepped closer to Megan, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Oh, that's wonderful. Congratulations, Megan."

"Thank you, Oma," Megan said, her eyes glistening with happy tears.

As the family settled into the warm atmosphere, Logan thought of what it would be like having youngin's with Oma.

By the time supper was ready, the house was filled with the comforting aroma of roasted chicken, creamy mashed potatoes, and biscuits. Jacob stood proudly at the head of the table as everyone took their seats.

"Alright, y'all," Jacob said, clapping his hands together. "Let's eat."

To everyone's surprise, the food was delicious. Even Caleb, who could be picky, polished off his plate.

Caleb, sitting between Megan and Jacob, tugged on his father's sleeve. "Papa, does that mean I'll have a little brother or sister soon?"

Jacob chuckled, tousling his son's hair. "That's right, buddy. You're gonna be the best big brother."

Caleb beamed, his excitement contagious as he began listing all the things he would teach his sibling how to ride Cookie, climb trees, and throw rocks into the creek.

The family laughed, the room filled with warmth and joy. Oma, who had been quiet for most of the evening, seemed to relax as the conversation flowed. For a little while, all the worries about the court hearings and Ezra and Clara's schemes were forgotten.

As they cleared the table, Jacob pulled Megan close, kissing her softly on the temple. "Told you I'd take care of dinner," he murmured.

Megan leaned into him, her heart full. "You did good, Jacob," she whispered back. "Real good."

As the evening wound down and the house grew quiet, Jacob led Megan upstairs to their room. The warmth of the day still clung to the air, but inside, it was cool and calm, the faint scent of lavender lingering from a sachet Megan kept on the nightstand.

Jacob shut the door behind them, casting a glance toward Megan, who was already loosening the braid she'd worn throughout the day. Her movements were slow, her body clearly weary from everything that had happened, but Jacob had made a promise to himself to ease her burden tonight.

"Alright, darlin'," he said softly, rolling up his sleeves. "Let's get to it."

Megan turned to him, a small, grateful smile tugging at her lips as she climbed onto the bed. Jacob fetched the bottle of oil he'd brought in earlier and sat beside her, his large hands warm as he gently guided her to lay on her stomach. She let out a small sigh, her tension evident as she settled into the mattress.

Jacob poured a little of the oil into his hands, rubbing them together to warm it before starting on her back. His touch was firm yet careful, his fingers kneading the knots in her shoulders and along her spine. Megan closed her eyes, her body slowly relaxing under his ministrations.

"You've been holdin' onto too much, Meg," Jacob murmured, his voice low and soothing. "It ain't good for ya. You need to let me carry some of it."

She hummed in response, too relaxed to form words. His hands moved lower, working over her lower back, and then he shifted to her legs, his thumbs pressing into the muscles to release the day's strain. He took his time, ensuring every bit of tension melted away. By the time he finished, Megan was nearly half asleep, her breathing slow and steady.

Jacob leaned over and pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder, his lips lingering for a moment. "There, all done. Now you'll sleep like a babe."

Jacob helped her slip into her nightgown with careful hands. Once she was dressed, he pulled her into his lap, her head resting against his chest. He reached for the hairbrush on the nightstand, running it through her hair in slow, soothing strokes.

Megan sighed contentedly, her body fully relaxed against him. "You're pretty good at this," she murmured, her voice thick with drowsiness.

"I reckon I've had some practice," Jacob replied, his tone teasing.

When he finished brushing her hair, he set the brush aside and lifted her to sit on his lap she rested her head against his chest.

"I'm real sorry for goin' to hard on ya Megan, I might've roughed ya up too much. If I knew what I know now, I woulda used another alternative"

Megan nodded as she nuzzled deeper into his chest and Jacob sighed kissing her cheeks.

He laid her down gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face before pressing another kiss to her temple. He then leaned down and kissed her stomach, his hand resting lightly on her abdomen. "You rest, darlin'," he murmured. "Gotta take care of both of ya now."

Megan's smile softened, and she reached up to cup his cheek. "Goodnight, Jacob."

"Goodnight, Meg," he replied, pulling her close as they settled under the covers. His arm draped protectively over her, his hand resting lightly on her hip as he tapped her bottom in a soothing rhythm, lulling her to sleep.