Rocky Mountain Heat by Vivian Arend Read Free Book Online Page A

items she had planned on doing that week. Jaxi listened even as she stopped to admire the family picture on the dresser, the six boys ranged in a circle surrounding their parents.
    She had missed so much as an only child. Her folks loved her but didn’t understand her need to be around others. They were both quiet, independent people who shied away from social events and thought nothing wrong with their little girl spending evenings and weekends alone with a book. When they moved to Rocky Mountain House and her new neighbours had welcomed Jaxi in, it was like she’d come home. All the time she’d spent at the Colemans’ ranch over the years had opened her eyes and heart to the love of a big family.
    The expressions on Mike’s and Marion’s faces in each picture displayed around the room made her heart skip. She saw it, plain as day. They were a team, loving and supporting each other as they worked the land and raised their family. Jaxi had seen that strength in Blake, and she wanted to show him she could create the same kind of team with him. The physical attraction she had for him was one thing, but his responsible character impressed her even more. The kind of a connection his parents had was what she longed for, ached for.
    What she was willing to work for, body and soul.
    She fell back into the routine of nursemaid easily, guiding Marion from the tub, helping her dress. Marion smiled approvingly. “Tell you what. Let’s have a cup of tea, and we can plan the menus and a bit of a schedule for the next week so I can get those boys of mine to chip in as well.”
    “They don’t need to help.”
    “Yes, they do.” Marion waved her good finger in Jaxi’s face. “I’m their mama, and if I tell them to help dry the dishes once in a while, it won’t kill them. I don’t expect them to do a lot, only a few things so you and I can get by. It’s not as if they haven’t been doing it on their own anyway.”
    “True, but—”
    Jaxi rushed to help her as Marion got tangled in the sweater she attempted to lay across her shoulders. The older woman growled her frustration. “I still don’t believe it. The house hasn’t been this full in years, and now is when I had to go and hurt myself?”
    “Oh, right. I’m sure you went and broke your arm just because. Accidents happen.”
    “Not to me.” Jaxi bit her lip to stop from laughing as Marion’s face changed from indignation to an embarrassed flush. “Listen to me, I sound like a baby, complaining because I’m a little inconvenienced. You’re right. I didn’t plan it, and we’ll have to make the best of it. But that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to martyr yourself for me, young lady.”
    Jaxi backed down, or at least pretended to. She’d do what she thought was right when it came to getting work accomplished anyway—what Marion didn’t see wouldn’t hurt her. “No, ma’am. Boys can help out if you insist.”
    “And I won’t have you scrubbing and such. Mike already said he’d get the Wilson woman to come in a couple of extra times to do the floors. She usually comes once a week, so it’s not much of a change for her.”
    “I really can do that. Honest.”
    Marion shook her head firmly. “You’re a hard worker, Jaxi. But cooking and caring for a family this size takes a lot of time and energy. I’m going to need extra help since I can barely comb my hair by myself yet. I don’t want to scare you away.”
    Little chance of that ever happening. “I think we’ll figure things out.”
    “Come on,” Marion said, grabbing Jaxi by the arm. “Let’s go get that cup of tea.”

Chapter Four
    Blake pulled in next to the barn, his truck coated in dust. The west fields were bone dry, and he’d been driving all morning on bumpy back lanes. He stopped to take a swig of cold coffee from his thermos, distracted by a blonde head bobbing to the right of him as Jaxi walked the path to the chicken coop, her hands full of boards and tools.
    Intrigued, he