Chapter 21
A sun-kissed breeze caressed Caroline’s face as she sat beside Jackson on the picnic blanket and sipped lemonade that had long since turned lukewarm. They hadn’t gone farther than the yard, but it didn’t matter. They were together.
The air was thick with the scent of lilacs and freshly turned earth. Red columbine adorned Amanda’s grave, and out past the fence, rows of wheat swayed in soft golden ripples.
A few yards away, Noah galloped in lopsided circles with a stick for a horse and a crown of dandelions Jewel had insisted he wear.
She trailed behind him on bare, dusty feet, her pockets heavy with pebbles and her sun-kissed curls bouncing.
Ranger trotted along behind her, tongue lolling, his tail wagging every time she called him “Sir Dog.”
A sentimental smile crossed Jackson’s lips as he watched the pair run and laugh. “I wish Amanda could see them.”
Caroline leaned sideways and laid her head on his shoulder. “She can.”
He planted a kiss on the top of her head. “Do you ever wonder what things might’ve been like if we’d made a life together from the start?”
“Sometimes. But we wouldn’t appreciate each other as much, and we wouldn’t have Noah and Jewel.”
Jackson sat a while without speaking. Like her, he was probably lulled by the pleasant weather and grateful for the break from work and responsibility. “Do you regret becoming a farm wife?” he asked.
“Not yet. Ask me next year.”
He chuckled. Then he turned his head slightly, just enough to catch her eye, and looked at her with the expression she’d never tire of—complete adoration with desire warming its depths.
She reclined on the blanket and stared at the clear blue sky.
The wind stirred a loose strand of Caroline’s hair.
It put him in mind of the day he’d returned from war, of her running through her garden to greet him, whole locks riding on the wind, and something inside him ached—not with grief, but with time.
The pain of longing for the years that had been stolen from them.
He let the feeling have its way with his heart for a while, then chided himself for dwelling on the past. Time had been an enemy, but Caroline was right. It had also stripped away everything but what was truly important.
“Jewel called me Mama today,” she said in a tone that sought his opinion.
“You are her Mama.”
“Mm...” The sound meant she hadn’t expected that reply but didn’t necessarily disagree. “Noah asked if he could, too.”
“What’d you tell him?”
“I said yes.”
“Good.”
She got quiet, and he looked down to find her staring up at him. “Do you still plan to add a room.”
“To the house?”
“Mm hm.”
“I suppose we could.” He started to turn away, but didn’t. “Do we need another room?”
“We will, come November.”
He splayed his hand over her abdomen. “Are you expecting?”
Caroline nodded, a smile spreading across her face.
“You’re sure?”
“Hester confirmed it.”
Jackson scooped her up and set her on his lap. He was so surprised he couldn’t speak, just hugged her close and let out a shaky breath that was half elation and half disbelief. The sight of Caroline in his arms, wearing his ring and carrying his child... the feeling was indescribable.
“Are you happy?”
Jackson cupped her face and kissed her deeply.
“I don’t think I could be any happier.” He drew back enough to look at her beautiful smiling face then kissed her again.
“I can’t know how the crops will fare from year to year, but there’s one thing I can promise—I’ll love you with all my heart for the rest of my days. ”