A/N: Chapter 6 or the 12 Chapters of Christmas! Tune in December 13 for an all new and exciting chapter!
(Chapter Forty-Five)
Jack's Secret
Jack had been gone more than he was home the past few months; before the capture of the Morgan Gang and again after.
What was Jack's big secret anyways?
Jack came home one night looking half-dead, as he always did. There was a strange liveliness under the obvious tired look in his eyes.
"Elizabeth – " he greeted her with a brief kiss.
"Jack, I'm glad you're home," she said walking away to make a few final tweaks on the dinner table.
"Well, I'm glad to be home. Do you have a minute?"
"Of course. Anything for you."
"Come for a ride with me," he said more as a statement than a question.
"What?"
"Come, please?"
"But Jack, what about the baby?"
"Belinda can watch her."
"And the dinner?"
"We'll have it as soon as we get home. Please, Beth."
"Oh alright," she surrendered.
They hopped on his horse that had been waiting outside.
"Hold on tight."
"Oh, I will!" she giggled, sounding a lot like Rosemary.
Jack pushed the horse as hard as seemed fair. They came to Jack's land and Elizabeth gasped. She wasn't sure if it was from the excitement of the ride, or the sight before her. She decided on the latter.
"Jack, what's this?" she asked in unbelief. She could not believe the sight before her eyes.
Jack chuckled. "This," he said as he dismounted Sergeant and helped his wife down after him, "is our new home."
"What? You did this?"
"Yep. I wanted to build it all by myself so that I could say it was truly from me, and not the help of others. It's my Christmas present to you."
"Oh, Jack. It's beautiful."
He hesitated. "Just like you," he whispered softly as she leaned in to kiss him. "It needs a few finishing touches, but it will be ready by Christmas."
"Oh, Jack!" she cried as she jumped into his arms.