Jacob's Return by Annette Blair Read Free Book Online

clenched with need.
    His hands stayed at her waist.
    They stood forever like that, just looking into each other’s eyes. Hers were big, and round, and dark … like warm maple syrup. And Jacob wondered if he looked as shocked as she.
    Such a tiny kiss, such a large feeling — in his heart, in his mind … in his body.
    He dropped his hands from her waist, as if the warmth of her seared him. And he clenched his fists, whether to hold onto her warmth or to keep himself from touching her again, he wasn’t certain.
    She moved her hands from his shoulders, but could not seem to release his gaze. A need so deep, it was solemn, engulfed him.
    Tiny hands tugged on his trousers, patted his knee.
    Jacob stepped back and swung both children into his arms, closed his eyes, and let out his breath.
    When he looked at Rachel again, the tension between them had eased and he was grateful. “Let’s dry them off.”
    Wet to the skin, the babies got stripped and wrapped, Aaron in Jacob’s shirt, Emma in Rachel’s apron.
    Each with a warm, sleepy child, Jacob and Rachel rested against the trunk of a blossoming cherry tree, letting the insects’ song lull them.
    Jacob cleared his throat. He needed to say this, needed to say it right. He closed his eyes, took a breath. “I talked to Jenny Moyer yesterday, about caring for the twins. She’d be fine, I guess.”
    He beseeched her with his look. “But I want you, Mudpie. My babies want you.” He shook his head. “Maybe I’m not saying this right. We, the three of us, want you to leave your job at the school to care for them.” He shrugged. “Whatever you get paid, I’ll pay you double, ‘cause they’re double trouble, you know.”
    Having Emma and Aaron to raise had been her dream since Jacob returned, and Rachel was almost afraid to believe. She cupped Emma’s head against her shoulder, and closed her eyes. “Lord, but, I want to. I love them so much.”
    Jacob seemed confused by her hesitation. “Simon has wanted me to quit since our marriage,” she explained, “but I couldn’t, because my life would have been so empty without … children in it. If I agree to leave for you—”
    “It wouldn’t be for me. It would be for Aaron and Emma. Simon will understand, and he’ll be glad to have you earning more.”
    Simon should understand, she thought, but with Simon, who knew?
    “Look at them. When they’re sleeping like this, how can you deny them?”
    “I couldn’t deny them if they ran around the best room covered in mud with piglets at their heels.” Imagining the scene made her giggle.
    “Give them a chance,” Jacob said. “They’ll try it. What do you say, Mudpie. Will you care for my babies?”
    Oh God. Oh God. She’d never wanted anything more … except maybe early in her marriage when she wanted very badly for her husband to like her even a little. She couldn’t say no. She couldn’t bear the thought of Aaron and Emma running to another woman for kisses like they had with her at the schoolhouse. “Of course I’ll give up teaching, Jacob. For these two, I’d give up just about anything.” She reached over and squeezed his hand, and despite herself, tears came to her eyes. “Thank you. Nobody could love them more, besides you.”
    “I know that.” Jacob pressed her knuckles to his cheek for a minute before he released her hand. With the gesture, her tears threatened, but she blinked them back. The night he’d returned, when he’d shown her the first tenderness she’d known in years, she’d lain awake long after, letting her tears fall silently. Tears of joy at his return. Tears of regret for her life.
    But her life was her life and she must make the best of it. She would have his babies. And she had her newspaper. “My newspaper, Jacob! Without the schoolchildren to copy it, how will I print it? I don’t have enough money to buy Atlee’s press yet — oh, that’s a secret, Jacob. Don’t tell. Please.”
    Jacob grimaced. “Simon doesn’t like