Read Forever Wishes (Montana Brides Book 4) for Free Online Page B

yet,” she grinned, “but I’m sure I’ll come up with a suitably impressive job to keep him occupied for a few minutes.” Swallowing another mouthful of cake, she thought of a few jobs around her house that a six-foot-five male could easily handle.  
    Thinking of Jake in a tool belt and hard hat sent her heart rate soaring. She knew one thing. He wouldn’t need his suit for what she had in mind.

    Jake stood on his sister’s front porch waiting for someone to answer the door. His arms were loaded with presents in all sorts of shapes and sizes for Ethan. He nudged the doorbell again, hoping like crazy Lucy had made it home from town.  
    His brother-in-law had been killed in a car accident four years ago, and ever since then he’d kept a careful eye on his sister and nephew. The first year without Dan had been rough on everyone, but Lucy had managed to keep going, determined to make a new life for herself and her son.  
    The big wooden front door banged open. A bundle of multicolor fur ran out to plaster his knees with buckets of doggy slobber.  
    A second hurricane came hurtling through the door. “Uncle Jake.” Ethan flew toward him, grabbing hold of his knees just above doggy slobber line.  
    “Hi, big guy. Help me get this lot into the house.”
    Handing Ethan one of the presents, they traipsed into the house with Mad Max yapping at their heels. A hopeful look crossed Ethan’s little face. “Who are the presents for?”
    “For you. I brought them back from Los Angeles.”  
    Excitement filled Ethan’s face. He yelled for his mom to come and join them as he led Jake through to the living room.  
    Lucy found them hunched over a pile of shredded wrapping paper and discarded boxes. “You’re opening those presents fast. I should have run from the garden.” She laughed as his hands tore into another parcel. Woops of delight filled the house.  
    Fifteen minutes later, Ethan disappeared into his bedroom to find a special spot for each of his new toys. Mad Max jumped around the living room, playing hide-and-seek inside the empty boxes.
    Lucy bundled up a pile of paper. “I’ll make you a cup of coffee before lunch. Come into the kitchen.”
    Water gushed out of the kitchen faucet as Lucy filled the kettle. Jake watched his sister take a carton of milk out of the fridge and put two mugs on the counter. “How’s Scott holding out?”  
      “Same as usual,” she sighed. “Mom keeps hovering over him like he’s a piece of fragile china and Scott keeps getting more and more frustrated.”
    “Why can’t mom see that he’s a grown man and not a helpless boy anymore?”
    With a tight smile, Lucy glanced at him. “I don’t think there’s ever been a helpless bone in his body. Do you remember the time he did some of the neighbor’s chores? He earned twice as much as he would have at home. He saved so hard for the school camp.” The smile faded from her face as she remembered what had come next. “And mom still refused to let him go. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him cry so much.” Lucy pushed a mug of coffee toward her brother and sat down beside him. “What a mess.”  
    Jake sipped his drink as they silently contemplated their childhood demons. At least Lucy had been at home to look after Scott. He’d disappeared from Bozeman as soon as he could drive. He’d been too wrapped up in his own life. Too sure of everything he didn’t want, to spend another minute with his family.
    “I don’t know what to do about Scott,” he said. “Something’s going to happen if mom doesn’t back off and give him some space.”  
      “I’ll go and see her tomorrow.”
    “You could talk to her all you want, but I don’t think it’s going to make any difference.” He’d thought moving back to Montana would help his family. But so far, all he’d managed to do was get in the middle of the bickering between his mom and brother.    
    Jake listened to Ethan squealing. It sounded like Mad Max was