Jaxon: Heroes at Heart

  Jaxon

  Heroes at Heart

  Maryann Jordan

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Author Information

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Jaxon (Heroes at Heart) Copyright 2018

  * * *

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.

  If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, then you are reading an illegal pirated copy. If you would be concerned about working for no pay, then please respect the author’s work! Make sure that you are only reading a copy that has been officially released by the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  * * *

  Cover Design by: Becky McGraw, Cover Me Photography

  Editor: Shannon Brandee Eversoll

  Proofreader: Myckel Anne Phillips

  ISBN ebook: 978-1-947214-24-8

  Created with Vellum

  Acknowledgments

  First and foremost, I have to thank my husband, Michael. Always believing in me and wanting me to pursue my dreams, this book would not be possible without his support. To my daughters, MaryBeth and Nicole, I taught you to follow your dreams and now it is time for me to take my own advice.

  My best friend, Tammie, who for over twenty years has been with me through thick and thin. You’ve filled the role of confidant, supporter, and sister.

  My other best friend, Myckel Anne, who keeps me on track, keeps me grounded, and most of all – keeps my secrets. Thank you for not only being my proofreader and my Marketing PA, but friend. I do not know what I would do without you in my life.

  My beta readers kept me sane, cheered me on, found all my silly errors, and often helped me understand my characters through their eyes. A huge thank you to Denise, Sandi, Barbara, Jennifer, Danielle, Tracey, Lynn, Stracey, and Jamila for being my beta girls who love alphas!

  Shannon Brandee Eversoll as my editor and Myckel Anne Phillips as my proofreader gave their time and talents to making all my books as well written as it can be.

  My street team, Jordan Jewels, you all are amazing! You volunteer your time to promote my books and I cannot thank you enough! I hope you will stay with me, because I have lots more stories inside, just waiting to be written!

  My PA Barbara keeps me going when I feel overwhelmed and I am so grateful for not only her assistance, but her friendship.

  Chas…thank you for all you do!

  Most importantly, thank you readers. You allow me into your home for a few hours as you disappear into my characters and you support me as I follow my indie author dreams.

  Author Information

  USA Today Bestselling and Award Winning Author

  I am an avid reader of romance novels, often joking that I cut my teeth on the historical romances. I have been reading and reviewing for years. In 2013, I finally gave into the characters in my head, screaming for their story to be told. From these musings, my first novel, Emma’s Home, The Fairfield Series was born.

  I was a high school counselor having worked in education for thirty years. I live in Virginia, having also lived in four states and two foreign countries. I have been married to a wonderfully patient man for thirty-seven years. When writing, my dog or one of my four cats can generally be found in the same room if not on my lap.

  Please take the time to leave a review of this book.

  Feel free to contact me, especially if you enjoyed my book. I love to hear from readers!

  Facebook

  Email

  Website

  As an adolescent counselor for over twenty-five years, I had the opportunity to work with many young people. One young man, upset over a poor choice he had made, came to me. As I listened to his story and his confession, I told him that the true measure of a man was not in the mistakes he made, but in how he handled those mistakes. I remember the look on his face when I told him I was sure he was going to be a good man.

  So, this book is dedicated to all the students over the years who allowed me to be a part of their lives.

  1

  Jaxon stared at the water, his stomach in knots, forcing an I got this expression on his ten-year-old face. He glanced to the side at his identical twin, Jayden, who was bouncing up and down, radiating excitement. On the other side were his best friends and foster brothers, Zander, Rafe, Asher, and Cael, equally excited with huge smiles on their faces.

  Twisting to look over his shoulder, he observed Miss Ethel, her sharp gaze resting on him. Her grey hair was twisted into a bun at the back of her head, her glasses perched on her nose. Wearing a shirtdress, neatly belted at the waist, stockings, and comfortable black shoes, she always made him feel secure. But, right now, even her presence did not stop the queasiness in his stomach.

  Tossing her a lopsided grin that he hoped passed for enthusiasm, he turned back to look at the water in the pool. Other children were swimming, and their laughter rang out over the water. He watched as they moved with such ease, seeming to float along with no fear.

  Looking down at the edge of the pool, staring at the depth marking painted on the concrete, he blew out a breath. Four Feet. I’m four feet, six inches tall. Does that mean if my feet are on the bottom, then only my forehead and nose will stick out? What about my mouth?

  Before panic ensued, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder and Miss Ethel said, “Come on, boys. We’re going to the end, down here.”

  She steered him toward the end of the pool and he sighed in relief at the words painted on the side, now reading Three Feet. Breathing easier, he listened to his brothers complain that it was the baby side, but one look from Miss Ethel had them quieting immediately.

  Braver, now that he knew he would have his head out of the water, he watched as the others jumped in, whoops and yells calling out. Sitting on the side, he twisted his head up toward Miss Ethel once more and, with her encouraging smile, he clung to the side as he inched his body into the water. His grip became tighter until his feet hit bottom and his face broke out into a huge grin as he stood with his head and shoulders above water.

  Turning, he splashed his arms around, careful not to leave the safety of the side of the pool.

  “Come on, Jaxon,” Cael called out, kicking his legs in the water to move faster.

  “I’m good here,” he replied, nervousness and envy warring inside.

  “But—”

  “He’s good,” Zander said. He was already twelve, making him the oldest, and he always looked out for his brothers, maintaining peace between them when needed and beating up on anyone on the outside who said anything de
rogatory about them.

  Shooting him a grateful look, he continued to move along the side, keeping within grabbing range of the ledge. Cael, eleven, paddled up next to him, his face contrite.

  “Sorry, Jax. Listen, if you want, I’ll stay nearby and play.”

  “I’ll be here,” Jayden said, moving closer. Jaxon shared a look with his twin.

  “It’s okay,” he said, feeling more confident, bouncing up and down on his feet. As his brothers moved away slightly, each enjoying the pool, he noticed a tiny, red-headed girl walk to the edge and dive straight into the water. Stunned, he had never seen anyone dive before, other than on TV. He waited to see what would happen, holding his breath as she was under the water.

  Just as he was about to call Miss Ethel for help, the little girl broke the surface and began to swim to the deep end. He was amazed, not only for her diving and swimming skill, but that she had to be only about five or six years old. Losing sight of her, he noticed a man standing on the edge of the pool, yelling at the little girl to swim harder.

  Looking back at Miss Ethel, he observed her pursed lips, the expression she had when she was irritated. Grateful that she rarely used it with them, he nonetheless knew that she was not happy with that man.

  “Children should be allowed to play,” she mumbled before looking back down at him. Her lips curved into a smile again, and she said, “Take your time to get used to the water and just have a good time, Jaxon.”

  Relieved, he continued to bob up and down, moving slightly away from the edge as he became more confident. Blocking out the sounds of the man yelling, he played with his brothers, making sure to keep his head above the water.

  Miss Ethel settled into a pool chair, placing her knitting bag on the table next to her. Able to knit and keep her eyes on her boys at the same time, she smiled as they continued to play.

  “Miss Ethel?”

  She looked up and saw a man standing nearby. His swim trunks and t-shirt with the pool logo on it identified him as one of the instructors. “Yes?”

  “I’m Jimmy, the pool manager. We spoke on the phone?”

  “Yes, please have a seat.”

  He sat across her from, his friendly gaze moving to the pool where her group of boys played. “Those your boys?”

  Her face, always at ease when talking about her charges, broke into a smile. “Yes. I have six right now that are permanent with me and others that come and go as their needs change.”

  “You know, we have group classes that are less expensive than private lessons.” He threw his hand up and assured, “Not that I wouldn’t like the business. I just wanted you to know you had choices. When the social worker first called me on your behalf, I told her I could let you know what options we offered.”

  “Thank you,” she said, but nodded toward the pool and continued, “But those boys are all special and need all the individual attention I can give them. They have lots of socialization at school, but for something as important as learning how to swim and how to be safe in the water, I would prefer private lessons.”

  He nodded, and they sat in silence, watching the boys for several minutes. “You know,” Jimmy began, “they all look pretty comfortable in the water, except for that one.” He pointed to Jaxon and continued, “He might be the only one who needs individual lessons.”

  She smiled, her indulgent gaze landing fondly on her boys. “He might be the only one who needs the individual attention, but they will all have lessons from you.” She caught Jimmy’s questioning gaze as he swung his head back toward her.

  “You see, each of my boys came to me with different needs…different backgrounds…different experiences. It’s my honor to bring them together as a family, learning to function as one.” She nodded to Zander and said, “My oldest came to me from an impoverished background. He may be unused to the water, but he was on his own for a while and learned to be self-sufficient. He’s a quick learner and will watch after the others.”

  Indicating Rafe and Cael, she said, “Those two came from good families, but each one lost their parents at an early age. Both of them have been in the water before and know the rudiments of swimming. They’ll be able to take on a leadership role and help the others as well.”

  They watched the boys splash as Jaxon continued to stay near the edge of the pool, occasionally reaching over to hang on to its side.

  “The youngest, Asher,” she chuckled, “he’s the quiet one. I never know what to expect from him but, like Zander, he’s fearless. He’ll watch and learn.”

  She looked back down at her knitting needles for a few seconds, tying off the end of the yarn before choosing a new color. “Now, my twins, Jayden and Jaxon, are so much alike…identical in many ways. They even finish each other’s sentences sometimes. But, while Jayden is the quieter one and Jaxon is the delightful mischievous one, there is a fear of water for Jaxon.”

  He looked at her, his brow wrinkled. “Fear?”

  Nodding, she said, “I didn’t know where it stemmed from, but in the beginning he was terrified of taking a bath, insisting on a shower, even at the age of seven. I finally asked his aunt, who had custody for a couple of years. She said that after their mother died, her mom had custody of the boys, but she had a heart attack and passed on unexpectedly. When the boys had been dropped off at her doorstep, the policeman told her that Jaxon had been left in the tub full of running water. He was unable to get out and nearly drowned.”

  “Jesus,” Jimmy breathed, looking back at the boys, newfound respect in his eyes.

  She watched him carefully, her lips curving in satisfaction. “You’ll be a good teacher for them, I can tell. You need to understand their needs and understand how to best help them.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he assured. “They can start next week.”

  “That would be lovely,” she replied, her eyes leaving him and returning to the pool to follow the boys, a proud smile playing on her lips. “I’ll make sure they’re here on time and ready.”

  After about thirty minutes of splashing about, Jaxon watched as his brothers ventured a little deeper into the water, managing to stay afloat by kicking and using their arms. Determined to follow their lead, he tried to ignore the pounding of his heartbeat as he bounced on his toes toward deeper water, still keeping his head above the surface.

  Suddenly, his feet slipped, and his head went under. Panicked, he flailed his arms and opened his eyes in fear. Uncertain what to do, he managed to get his feet under him but before he could move, he saw the red-haired little girl swimming toward him under the water. For an instant, he thought of the mermaid stories that Zander read to them. The hair that had escaped her ponytail flowed about her face as her blue eyes remained pinned on his.

  She grabbed his hand and slid her body underneath his armpit, tugging him upward. His head broke the surface and he gulped in air. Too scared to be embarrassed, he grabbed onto her, holding tightly as she maneuvered his body through the water to the side.

  Clinging to the edge with his elbows, he sputtered and coughed for a few seconds, using his hand to wipe the water from his eyes. Chest heaving, he looked at her as she smiled up at him.

  “Th…thank you,” he gasped, looking at her slicked-back hair and the light freckles that crossed her cheeks.

  “It’s okay,” she said. “You should stay near the side for a while. Just until you learn to float.”

  “How old are you?” he blurted between deep breaths.

  She giggled and replied, “I’m six.”

  “But…but…you’re such a good swimmer.”

  “I swim a lot,” she replied, her wide smile showing a missing front tooth.

  “Jaxon,” Miss Ethel called out. “Are you okay?”

  Before he had a chance to answer, the little girl asked, “Who’s that?”

  “That’s Miss Ethel.” He saw her tilt her head to the side in question. “She’s our mom.”

  Eyes wide, she looked back at the other boys still splashing and asked, “All of you?”


  “She’s our—”

  “Morgan! Get over here!”

  The little girl startled and rolled her eyes as the man on the other side of the pool yelled again, before she dove under the water, coming up a few feet away. Calling out, “Stay safe!”, she dove back under and swam like a mermaid to the other end.

  Still clinging to the side, he watched in awe. Even though she was a lot younger, he liked talking to her. Licking the drops of water off his lips, he looked up, seeing Miss Ethel walking toward him, concern etched in her face. Tossing her a sheepish grin, he said, “I’m okay.”

  She stared for a moment and he knew she had to see for herself that he was indeed okay. She finally nodded, and called out, “Boys, time to go. Come on out.”

  The first one out, he walked over and accepted the towel she wrapped around his shoulders. As he followed the others away from the pool, he cast his gaze back toward the water and winced as the man appeared to be yelling more orders to the little girl as she swam back and forth. Just as he was about to leave, he watched her make it to the deep end, look his way and toss her hand up in a little wave before she began swimming once more.

  2

  Dinner, as usual, was a lively event that night. Miss Ethel had taught the boys table manners, so while laughter abounded, decorum was still maintained. As she stood at the end, she looked down the table and asked, “Whose night is it to help clean?”