The Magnificent Seven

The Magnificent Seven
Cheryl St.John

A life with you just isn't possible.Heather Johnson had never intended to return to Whitehorn, Montana. But restoring an inherited ranch seemed the perfect way to pass the summer with her three kids. The moment she hired carpenter Mitch Fielding, though, his motherless twin daughters in tow, those short-term plans suddenly went awry. Mitch was the first man in her life who truly seemed to notice her. And as his skillful hands restored the ranch and ignited a passion she'd never known, her fragile heart began to heal, as well. For once in Heather's life everything seemed magnificent. And that scared her. Because the future she wanted–and the past she'd run from–were forever in Whitehorn….

Stories of family and romance beneath the Big Sky!

What had just happened to her?

More than once, Heather had found herself looking at Mitch Fielding with preposterously sexy thoughts. She’d never mused in that feverish manner before.

Remembering the way Mitch’s simple touch set her skin tingling, she closed her eyes and relished the memories. The strength of her reactions frightened her. Looking at him, smelling him…Heather’s heart fluttered.

She was the almost-thirty-year-old mother of three children. She’d been married. And she’d never had these overpowering feelings toward a man before.

Her body remembered his touch. His kiss. The intoxicating loss of control and the frantic desire to possess, be possessed. The lack of restraint terrified her.

And thrilled her.

The question was, how much courage did she really possess?

The Magnificent Seven

Cheryl St.John

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

CHERYL ST.JOHN

A peacemaker, a romantic, an idealist and a discouraged perfectionist—these are the words that Cheryl uses to describe herself. The award-winning author of both historical and contemporary novels says she’s been told that she is painfully honest.

Cheryl admits to being an avid collector, displaying everything from dolls to depression glass as well as white ironstone, teapots, cups and saucers, old photographs and—most especially—books. When not doing a home improvement project, she and her husband love to browse antiques shops. In her spare time, she’s an amateur photographer and a pretty good baker.

She says that knowing her stories bring hope and pleasure to readers is one of the best parts of being a writer. The other wonderful part is being able to set her own schedule and have time to work around her growing family. Cheryl loves to hear from readers! E-mail her at SaintJohn@aol.com.

In memory of Carol Backus, aka Suzanne Barclay.

This book is lovingly dedicated to the newest darling in our family: Elijah.

I praise God that he is fearfully and wonderfully made.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

One

M itch Fielding led his twin six-year-olds, Taylor and Ashley, through the lunch crowd at the Hip Hop Café as though he were guiding them through a minefield. Taylor narrowly missed knocking over a gray-haired gent’s cane that was leaning against a table edge, and Mitch clamped his hand firmly over Ashley’s mouth as soon as he noticed an overweight woman shoveling chocolate-cream pie between her lips.

He got them settled into a booth and released his breath. “There.” He picked up the plastic-coated menu and scanned for something nourishing the twins would eat without pitching a fit. “They have hamburgers and chicken fingers.”

“Yuck. I want a chocolate malt and a pickle,” Ashley pronounced.

“I want skettios,” Taylor said.

“They don’t have skettios,” he replied to one daughter, then turned to the other. “And you can have a chocolate malt if you eat a hamburger.”

“Gross. I don’t want a hamburger.” She folded her arms over the front of her Teletubbie T-shirt. “I want a pickle.”

“You can have a pickle with your hamburger. Taylor, they have spaghetti.”