JANUARY 15, 1861

Ian paused in sanding down the cabinet he was making when he saw Luke poke his head into the workroom. "Hey there Mate, what can I do for ya?"

"I just wanted to let you know I was leaving for work. Would you mind keeping an eye on Meg for me? Her time is getting nearer and I just want to make sure she's looked after."

"Always the over protective Papa." Ian replied with a good natured smile. "No problem Luke, Meg is safe with me." He added softly and watched as his friend left to saddle his horse. Luke didn't know what he was asking of his friend, ever since the kiss under the mistletoe Ian couldn't get the memory of Meg in his arms out of his mind. Add to that the kiss they shared on his birthday and he had sleepless nights too. Whereas the kiss before Christmas was unplanned and hurried, he had deliberately set out to kiss Meg for New Year's. When Luke had left them alone, Ian took the opportunity given him and took what he'd been wanting for months from Meghan.

He groaned softly and sat on his workbench as he thought back to that moment. She'd been caught off guard but he was persistent in his kiss and suddenly she seemed to melt in his arms. If she hadn't felt the baby move and he hadn't heard Luke coming back they would have been caught. As it was, Ian wasn't sure if Luke had any suspicions but he doubted it. Luke would've never left the two of them alone if he'd thought something was going on.

Ian went back to sanding and thought briefly about the note he'd found on his workbench that morning. It was a message from a secret cupid telling him to meet her at the Dreamer's Hotel on Valentine's night in room 7. He smiled as he thought of Elena lying in wait for him and chuckled when he thought of leaving her there waiting for him. But good sense won out in the end, the woman he would have loved to spend Valentine's night with was spending it instead with his best friend at the town's dance. A night of making love to her substitute held promise, he would be able to keep Meghan out of his mind-even if it were only for a few hours.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Meghan watched from the doorway as Luke rode off their property and towards town. As soon as she closed the door her smile fell, things were definitely strained in the household. She felt incredibly guilty about her actions with Ian, and she was sure that any day now Luke would pick up on it and confront them. So far there had been nothing to tip her off that her husband suspected anything, but Meg wasn't sure how long her luck would last.

After their kiss beneath the mistletoe, Meg had been careful making sure that she was never left alone with Ian, but Luke had noticed and asked if she was avoiding his friend. So as not to raise her husband's suspicions she renewed the old friendship she shared with his friend though she tried to keep a safe distance. Which is what made what happened next all the more terrifying for her. On New Year's Eve, they celebrated Ian's birthday. While Luke went to get the champagne he'd bought for the dual celebration Ian thanked Meghan for the gift they had given him. She wasn't quite sure how it happened, but she found herself in his arms and responding to the kiss he gave her. They had separated when she felt the baby kick which happened only moments before Luke returned making Meg count her lucky stars. Ian had immediately placed his hands on her abdomen, using feeling the baby move as an excuse for his close proximity to her. Luke had readily accepted it and stood beside his friend as they both felt the child within her. Luke had assumed that Meg's flushed features were due to the fact that she was skittish when it came to another man's hands on her, ever since her brush with Simon he made sure he was always around when men were near. When he'd asked her if she was alright, she smiled weakly and assured him that she was.

Since then she'd been the most attentive wife she could have been. Luke hadn't wanted for anything when it came to affection. Meg was always touching him and kissing him for no reason. In turn, Luke had given her more attention as well, with her girth it was uncomfortable sleeping and Luke often stayed up with her at night rubbing her belly and massaging her back. His consideration for her only made her feel worse and she vowed that no matter what, she wouldn't fall under Ian's spell again.

A soft knocking on the front door brought Meg out of her revelry. Ian was out back in his studio working on who knows what so it could only mean that she had a visitor. Briefly she wondered if Corey would have come to see her since Meg found it difficult to get into town, somehow the thought of seeing her friend brightened her drooping spirits.

When she opened the door she caught sight of a lone rider galloping away and she wondered who it was. She then saw a note with her name on it fastened to the doorknob with a red ribbon. Curious, she opened it and smiled as she read the contents. So, she thought, she had a secret admirer. It could only be one person, Luke. It must've been him she saw riding off their property, Meg smiled, he could be incredibly romantic when he set his mind to it. Last night, they had been talking about the last Valentines Day dance and how when he had seen her there he realized he had wanted her for his own.

Ultimately that one night had led to their marriage and Luke had said he wanted to make each Valentine's a special day to remember. Ian had agreed to leave the couple alone for the night and the plans were to go to dinner then the dance and end the night at home alone. But Meg thought this was a nice change, she reread the note and beamed happily. She was to meet her cupid at the Dreamer's Hotel at eight o'clock in room 7. Well, she thought, she'd certainly make sure she'd give him a night he wasn't going to forget anytime soon.