A/N The Greatest of These Is Love might be over, but I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to that version of the Thorntons, so please enjoy this sequel :)
For reference: At the start of this story, Jane is 15, Eleanor is 13, Levi is 12, Daniel and Benjamin are 10, and Audrey is 5.
...
Hope Valley, 1931
Jane Thornton moved her queen across the board. "Checkmate. I win again." She grinned smugly at her opponent, Patrick Coulter.
"Why do I even agree to play with you anymore? I don't think I've beat you since we were eight years old." He shook his head and laughed. "Do you not get bored? Obviously, it's not a challenge for you to play against me anymore."
"Don't be so down on yourself. You're a very worthy opponent. But how about we do something else next time? Your choice."
"We could go for a ride this weekend," he suggested. "With Hannah away, it's been forever since Fred has been out of the pasture. I'm sure he'd love the chance to run."
"I can't this weekend. My parents are going to Benson Hills on Saturday for their anniversary, and I have to stay home and make sure nobody hurts themselves or destroys the house."
"How about Sunday after church?"
"Sure. Maybe we can pack a lunch and make it a picnic."
"Great." He gave her a smile, and she felt her cheeks warm.
"Well, I should get home before dinner. I'll see you at school tomorrow."
"See you, Jane."
She waved goodbye to Rosemary, Oliver, and Catherine before hurrying home.
As she approached the house, she could hear her brothers running around out back with their dog, Major. Sadly, they had lost Chief a few summers back, after nearly thirteen happy years with their family. Jack insisted that the children needed a dog around, and they got Major from a family whose sheepdog had just had puppies.
"Janie!" Audrey threw herself at Jane when she came in the door. "Mama! Janie's home!"
Jane laughed, lifting her little sister from the ground. "Hi, Audie."
Elizabeth emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "Hi, Jane. Did you have a nice time with Patrick this afternoon?"
"Yes. Can I help with dinner?"
"Of course. You can mash the potatoes."
"I want to help!" Audrey insisted.
"Come on, then."
Jane stood at the stove, mashing the boiled potatoes with butter while Audrey poured in the cream.
"Mom, can I go for a picnic after church on Sunday?"
Elizabeth glanced at Jane out of the corner of her eye. "With Patrick?"
"Yes. I promise we won't be gone long, just an hour or two. He wants to go for a ride, so I'll take Lady."
"Okay. But Jane, just…behave."
"Mom!" Jane's face reddened. "We're just friends! Dad won't let me court until I'm sixteen, anyway. Remember?"
"I know, but I also remember what it's like when you really like a boy."
Jane's face reddened even further. "Mom, can we talk about something else? Please? I promise you don't need to worry about me and Patrick."
Audrey looked over at Elizabeth. "Mama, do I have to wait until I'm sixteen to court?"
"Yes, you do. That rule is the same for you and all of your brothers and sisters."
"I'm going to court Joseph."
Elizabeth chuckled. "Okay, sweetheart."
They worked quietly for a few minutes before Audrey spoke again.
"How much longer until I'm sixteen?"
"Well, you're five right now, so you'll be sixteen in eleven years."
"Eleven years?!" She huffed. "But that's so far away!"
"It'll be here before you know it, Audie."
"Anybody home?" Jack's voice sounded from the front of the house.
"I'm home, daddy!" Audrey climbed down from the chair and ran from the room.
Elizabeth chuckled. "It's like it's been weeks since she's seen him instead of just a few hours." She turned toward Jane. "Honey, I'm sorry for bothering you about Patrick."
"It's okay. I understand why you're concerned, but you really don't need to worry about us. I'm not sure he likes me as more than a friend, anyway."
"Janie…"
"It's fine, mom."
...
Elizabeth stood with Jane and Eleanor in the entryway. "There's stew in the icebox for supper. All you need to do is heat it up."
"I know, mom. This isn't the first time you and dad have left me in charge."
"Your brothers and Audrey still have arithmetic homework to do. Please make sure they finish it before supper. I want all of you in bed by nine, and that includes the two of you. Dad and I should be back shortly after that."
"We've got it. We'll be fine. You and dad just go enjoy your evening."
"If you need anything, you can call Aunt Rosemary or Aunt Abigail."
"Call Aunt Rosemary or Aunt Abigail. Got it." Ellie shooed her mother toward the door.
"I love you, girls."
"Love you, mom. Have fun with dad."
She finally—reluctantly—left the house. Jack was waiting out front with the car.
"Did you give them step-by-step instructions or something?"
"Very funny. I just wanted to make sure they're okay. We've never gone this far without them before."
Jack opened the passenger door for her, offering his hand to help her up. "Jane and Ellie are very responsible. They'll make sure Audrey and the boys behave."
"I know." She sighed as she stepped up into the car. "I promise I'll try not to worry about them the whole evening."
He chuckled, sliding into the driver's side. "Oh, you'll still worry about them."
"How about I just try not to talk about how worried I am? This evening is about us."
He reached over, taking her hand. "Happy anniversary, Elizabeth."
"Happy anniversary, Jack."
...
Jane stood by the stove, stirring the stew in the pot.
Eleanor came into the kitchen and removed her apron. "The table's set."
"Thank you. Can you go to the boys' room and tell them supper's ready?"
"Should I go find Audrey, too?"
Jane nodded. "Yes, please. She's probably wherever the cat is."
Ellie chuckled. "Captain is always hiding, so that's not very helpful."
A few minutes later, Jane carried the pot of stew into the dining room just as her brothers and sisters came down the stairs. She started serving them as they took their seats.
"Did you finish your homework? Mom wanted you all to do your arithmetic before dinner."
"Yes," Daniel and Benjamin replied in unison.
"And did you wash your hands?"
"I did!" Audrey held up her hands.
Levi groaned. "Why do you always get left in charge when mom and dad are gone? I'm twelve now; I don't need anybody to watch me."
"If you're going to be upset about it, then I guess you can go in the kitchen and make your own supper."
"Ooh, Levi's in trouble."
"Audrey, hush." Jane put her hands on her hips and glanced around at all of her siblings. "If any of you has a problem with me being in charge, you can talk to mom and dad about it. I'm just doing what I was told."
Eleanor nudged her brother. "You should probably apologize."
He sighed. "Sorry, Jane."
"Thank you." She filled his bowl. "Now, who wants to say grace?"
...
Jack opened the door, letting Elizabeth enter the house before him.
"It's so quiet," he whispered.
"I told them we expected them in bed by the time we got home."
"Sounds like they listened to you. So what do you say we go get in bed now?" He raised his eyebrows.
"I'll meet you there. I'm going to check on the children first."
"Okay." He kissed her softly, disappearing up the stairs.
Elizabeth peeked into the girls' room, finding Audrey and Eleanor sleeping, but Jane still awake, reading a book.
"Jane," she whispered. "Bedtime."
"Can I finish this chapter first?"
"Yes, but lights out as soon as you're done."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good night, Janie. Thank you for keeping an eye on things tonight. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Elizabeth closed the door behind her and quietly padded down the hall to the boys' room. The light was out and all three boys were sprawled out on their beds. She smiled and closed their door, too, finally making her way to her own room.
Jack was turning down the blankets. "All sleeping?"
"Almost. Jane was still up reading, but I told her she needs to go to sleep."
"I'm assuming everything went well tonight. No one burned the house down."
Elizabeth chuckled. "That's because I told Jane and Ellie not to let Ben or Audrey anywhere near the kitchen."
"Smart." He laughed, slipping under the covers. "Now, come get in bed."
"In a minute."
He reached for his sketchbook. "I guess I'll just get a sketch or two…or three…done while I wait."
"Jack Thornton." She shot him a look.
"If I had a dollar for every time you've given me the scary teacher face over the years…" Jack shook his head and chuckled.
"You'd what?"
He cleared his throat. "I'd have like two dollars."
A few minutes later—before Jack finished a single sketch—Elizabeth joined him in their bed. She retrieved her journal and started writing about her day. They were quiet as his pencil scratched and her pen flowed across the page. There was a comforting familiarity to the routine, something they had been doing almost every evening for years.
When she finished writing, Elizabeth set down her journal and looked over at her husband, smiling at him as he concentrated on whatever he was drawing. "Jack?"
He looked up from his sketchbook. "Hm?"
"How would you feel about having another baby?"
He chuckled. "Well, we already have twice as many children as nearly every other family in Hope Valley."
"That's not an answer."
"Is this a hypothetical question, or are you…?" He raised his eyebrows in question, quickly shooting a glance at her belly.
"It's not hypothetical." She smiled and drew her hands to her stomach. "Apparently, six isn't enough for us."
He set down his sketchbook and pencil, disbelief on his face. "Another baby? We're really having another baby?"
Elizabeth nodded. "We're really having another baby. Baby Thornton number seven is in here right now." She reached out and touched his cheek. "Are you happy?"
"Are you kidding me? I'm so happy, Elizabeth! Any child we have is a blessing. I love you so much."
She twisted her fingers in his shirt and pulled him closer, kissing him deeply.
He pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against hers. "Were you worried that I wouldn't be happy?"
"I don't know. Maybe a little part of me was worried." She shrugged. "We already have six children. And I know you've talked about wanting lots of children, but we clearly didn't plan for this one to happen. We aren't as young as we were when the other children were babies."
"Those are all true. But you know what else is true? You are an absolutely wonderful mother, the very best, in fact. This baby is going to be born into so much love. Not to mention, we make beautiful, amazing, perfect babies."
"That we do." She kissed him again. "Happy anniversary."
"I know I've said this on our past fifteen anniversaries, but I think this really is the best anniversary ever. Sixteen must be a magic number."
"Goodness. I still can't believe we've been married that long."
"The best sixteen years of my life." He kissed her cheek.
Elizabeth threaded her fingers through his. "How do you think the children are going to react when we tell them about the baby?"
"Well," he draped his arm across her shoulder, "I think Audrey is going to be ecstatic, Jane and Ellie will be happy, Levi will groan, and Ben and Daniel will be indifferent."
"That sounds about right." She smiled.
"When were you thinking of telling them?"
"I'm not sure. It'll have to be soon." She pushed the quilt down and pulled her nightgown tight against her stomach. "I'm surprised you haven't noticed this."
Jack put his hand on the little bump. "In my defense, I think you're an expert at hiding pregnancies at this point." He grinned as he brushed his hand across her stomach. "How long have you known?"
"A couple of weeks."
"I just can't believe it. Another baby. I thought we were done after Audrey."
"So did I." Elizabeth put her hand on top of his. "She's not going to be our baby much longer."
"When do you think you're due?"
"Spring. I think March or April, but I'm not positive. I need to go see Carson and Faith." She smiled as Jack spread his fingers over her belly.
"I wonder if this one will be a boy or a girl."
"Well, either way, this baby will break the tie in our house."
"You're forgetting about Major and Captain."
She rolled her eyes. "I was talking about our children, not our pets. Besides, if you want to include pets, you also need to include Sergeant and Lady and Daisy and June. So it's still a tie."
"But they don't live in the house. They live in the barn."
"You're incorrigible. You just want the boys to be winning."
"Maybe." Jack laughed and nudged her with his shoulder. "But honestly, I don't care what this baby is. Boy or girl, I'm just so thrilled we're having another one."
"I love you, Jack Thornton."