A Cowboy to Call Daddy

by Sasha Summers

  Deacon laughed as he made his way back up the fence line to the hay barn.

  Lucky’s stubby tail wagged frantically, drawing a smile from Archer. Lucky was a good dog. Technically, Lucky was his brother Fisher’s dog. But Lucky had decided the whole ranch was his home. A month ago, Archer had woken to Lucky scratching on the front door of his cabin. They’d enjoyed their breakfast together on the front porch, and the dog had been at his heels ever since.

  Lucky barked, peering around Archer to stare at the entrance to the refuge. A blue minivan came bouncing along the road, kicking up a steady stream of red dust in its wake. When the vehicle turned under the arch, he expected it to turn around—most people wound up here by accident. Instead, the vehicle pulled up to the administrative office and parked. Archer headed toward the van, hoping it wasn’t some salesman.

  “Clara?” There was no denying the relief in Eden’s voice. Archer waited, watching her cross the yard—leaving Fester with ears twitching and his head high—toward the minivan.

  “Eden.” A woman slipped from the car and they hugged. “What a journey. Your little misses have been such troupers, though. All smiles and sweetness, like their mother.”

  Eden smiled sadly. “I’m so sorry you had to make the trip alone. There are times I think I should drag him back to court for sole custody.”

  Archer watched; Eden’s frustration was unmistakable.

  “Don’t fret now, we’re here.” The older woman squeezed her shoulders. “Your little misses are tickled to be back with their momma.”

  The van door opened and a giggle of pure delight floated out. Lucky whimpered, running around Archer’s legs in circles as the giggling went on.

  Eden was smiling. So beautiful. So...sweet.

  Archer blew out a deep breath, grappling with a strange tightness in his chest.

  “Did you miss me?” she asked, reaching into the minivan. Minutes later she emerged with a curly-haired girl in her arms.

  “Mommy,” the little girl cooed, hugging Eden as if her life depended on it. “Mommy.”

  “I’ve got you,” Eden said. “Did you ride on a big airplane?”

  The little girl nodded, still holding her tightly.

  “Where are we?” the little girl asked.

  “We are...we are on a horse ranch,” Eden said.

  “We staying here?” the little girl asked.

  “No, no, Ivy,” the other woman said. “We will stay in the big house on the hill.”

  “Do you want to see the horses?” Eden asked.

  The girl nodded, smiling.

  Archer had only nephews. So this tiny golden girl was oddly captivating. And when she reached out toward the fence where Fester stood, his heart thudded against his ribs. She was fragile and delicate, even if her excitement and energy made her ten times bigger. But when Eden carried her daughter in the direction of Fester, Archer blocked her path. “Miss Caraway...” His voice faded to a stop as two pairs of light hazel eyes regarded him steadily.

  “Who that?” the little girl asked, smiling broadly.

  “This is Dr. Boone, Ivy. Dr. Boone, this is my daughter Ivy.” She shifted the little girl, smiling that bone-melting smile at her daughter.

  “We seeing the horses,” Ivy said. “Wanna come?”

  Archer glanced at the little girl. Resisting Ivy’s enthusiasm was a challenge. She was adorable. But the smile on his face tightened when he thought of Ivy’s little fingers anywhere close to Fester’s mouth.

  A cry came from the minivan, drawing all eyes—and a high-pitched whinny from Fester.

  “Lily’s wake,” Ivy announced. “My baby.”

  “Baby?” Archer repeated.

  “My other daughter, Lily,” Eden explained.

  Other daughter. Her words came back to him then. She had two. He’d heard the custody comment. So Eden Caraway was divorced and the girls’ father wasn’t carrying his weight. Which helped explain why she had no time for anything else.

  “Pretty horsey.” Ivy clapped.

  Fester whinnied again, prancing along the fence line. Big, powerful and far too dangerous for Ivy. “Now is not the time, Miss Caraway. I suggest you take your lunch break and help settle your children at the Lodge.”

  Miss Caraway’s eyes widened. “I appreciate your concern, Dr. Boone—”

  “Good,” he said. “Let me make this clear. Unless I am with them, your daughters need to stay away from the horses. Especially Fester. Is that understood?”

  She blinked but didn’t say a word. Ivy was frowning, tears welling up in her big eyes.

  “He mad, Momma?” Ivy whispered.

  “No, no, Ivy. He wants to keep you safe.” Eden’s voice was soft and cajoling.

  Archer didn’t miss the lethal glare Eden shot his way before she headed back to the minivan.

  Her anger wasn’t important. He was her boss—his place, his rules. For the time being, he needed her. Maybe Eden was right—keeping her around would be complicated. And yet Fester wanted her. And maybe that was enough to figure out how to uncomplicate things.

  He glanced at Eden. Ivy stared back at him over Eden’s shoulder. Her golden curls danced on the breeze, her huge hazel eyes unblinking. Ivy waved, her tiny fingers splayed wide even as her chin quivered. He was an asshole. Yes, he’d been trying to keep Eden’s charming daughter at a safe distance. But he’d never meant to make the little girl cry. A little girl who kept waving.

  So he waved back.

  Her smile was so bright, he had no choice but to smile in return.

  He sighed, watching Eden climb into the minivan, and the van bounce down the drive. He’d stay out of Eden’s way, and he’d do his best to stay away from her and her children. He didn’t know much about people and relationships. But work, he knew. Best course of action—work.

  Chapter Four

  Eden held Ivy’s hand as she reached for Lily’s car seat handle. While Ivy was fully recovered from her disappointment with the horses, Eden was fuming. She would never, ever put her daughter in jeopardy. She had no illusions about Fester. He might be partial to her, but she wouldn’t assume the same affection applied to her daughter.

  Archer’s warning plucked at a wound he had nothing to do with. A wound that, no matter how hard she tried to forget, stayed irritated and raw. Her children were her everything. And she did the best she could to be a good, hands-on mother. Even if her father, brother and Clark were all too eager to point out her inadequacies.

  She was so busy stewing over her encounter with Archer that she didn’t see a strange man coming out of one of the Lodge doors. Until she’d run into him.

  His hands clasped her shoulders. “You all right?” he asked. “Shoulda been lookin’ at where I was going—” But his words broke off as he stared at her. And the expression on the older man’s face made her pause. “Who do we have here?” he asked.

  She was torn between embarrassment and curiosity herself. “Eden Caraway,” she said. “I’m a guest here. These are my daughters, Ivy—”

  “That’s me,” Ivy said, smiling up at the man. “This is Lily.”

  The older man stooped, shaking Ivy’s hand before peering into Lily’s car seat. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, little lady. And your sister, too.” He straightened, leveling her with deep blue eyes. “There’s no denying you’re their momma. I’m Teddy Boone.”

  Mrs. Monroe only visited twice, but she cared about this place, my father... Eden hadn’t missed the specific mention of Renata’s father.

  “Eden Caraway, was it?” he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Guess Jenny checked you in?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Nice to meet you, Mr. Boone. You’ve an amazing place here. The whole ranch.”

  “Wait, now,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re the one helping out my son, Archer?”

  “Y
es, sir,” she murmured, trying not to let the mere mention of Archer’s name stoke her fading anger.

  He grinned. “Don’t envy you that task, Miss Caraway.” He placed an odd inflection on her last name. “My son can be a might prickly now and then. And more than a might particular.”

  “I’ll survive the week,” she answered.

  “Miss Eden.” Clara joined them. “Let me take Lily.”

  “Let me help,” Teddy offered. “I’ve enough grandbabies to know those things weigh more than they should.”

  Eden smiled, relinquishing the car seat to the handsome older man. But the look that passed between Clara and Teddy caught Eden’s full attention. And, boy, was it a look. Clara’s blush, the way she averted her brown eyes, made Eden stop and stare. And Teddy Boone’s smile was slow and surprised, in a pleasant way.

  “And all you lovely ladies are staying in the suite, I’m thinking?” Teddy asked.

  “Saweet?” Ivy repeated. “Like candy?”

  Eden and Clara laughed. “It’s a fancy name for a big bedroom,” Eden explained. “Big enough for you and me, Lily, and Clara, too.”

  “Clara?” Teddy asked, offering his free hand. “Teddy Boone. Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

  Clara smiled. “And you.”

  Eden led Ivy to their suite, trying not to watch the beyond-adorable play between Clara and Teddy Boone. If Clara had a little cowboy romance, good for her. She’d lost her husband years ago. Clara’s only remaining family was right here, even if they weren’t blood.

  “Mr. Boone,” Eden said. “Clara takes care of the girls while I’m working. Would you mind showing her around? Is that all right, Clara? I can spend my lunchtime with the girls.”

  Clara shot her a wide-eyed a look, but Eden just smiled.

  “I’d be delighted. I’m thinking you’ll need access to the washer and dryer.” Teddy placed Lily’s car seat on the bed. “You feel free to use the family kitchen while you’re here. We have a big ol’ fancy one the staff uses for the guests staying here, but it’s always hopping busy.” He led Clara from the room, still talking.

  Eden slipped Lily from the car seat and smiled at her baby. “How are you? Wet, I’ll bet.”

  While Eden changed her daughter’s diaper, Ivy bounced on one of the big beds. “Momma,” she said between bounces. “I can see the whole world.”

  Eden was just finishing Lily’s diaper. She followed her bouncing daughter’s gaze out the window. She’d been too preoccupied to stop and appreciate the view before now. And what a view. Hills stretched as far as the eye could see, a veritable patchwork of green and tan pastures and fields. Towering trees, the glimpse of a river and a handful of roofs—about as country as country could get. And the sky. She stared out the window at the fluffy white clouds and pale blue sky. So blue, clear and never ending.

  “It does look like it, doesn’t it?” Eden said, cradling Lily close and walking to the window. She and Ivy counted five windmills, eight horses and a bunch of cows. Overall, it was a peaceful view, meant for enjoying from the wide deck that extended along the house. If she had time, that’s just what she’d do. “What do you think, Lily?”

  Lily’s curls brushed Eden’s chin as she turned her bright gaze out the window. “Na-na-na,” Lily said, waving one fist.

  “Ivy?” Eden asked.

  Ivy liked to interpret all of her little sister’s yammering. “She likes it.” She went back to bouncing then.

  Eden smiled. “After I get done working, we can go walking. Maybe Mr. Boone will take us exploring?”

  “Be happy to,” Mr. Boone said from the doorway. “Might just hitch up the wagon for your little ladies.”

  “I don’t want to put you out. We can just go for a walk?” Eden offered, wincing as Lily tugged a handful of her hair. “It’ll help wear Ivy out.”

  He smiled at Lily. “We can do that, too.”

  Lily reached for him, cooing in delight.

  “May I?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Boone.”

  “Can I make you some lunch?” Clara asked her.

  She shook her head. “I’m fine. But I should head back so I don’t upset Dr. Boone. Any more than I already have,” she added, mumbling.

  “Don’t let my boy to get you, Miss Caraway. He’s not real good with people, but he’s a good man. That I know.” Teddy was bouncing Lily on his hip, who was giggling.

  “You’re very good with babies, Mr. Boone,” Clara observed.

  “I’ve got a whole passel of grandbabies, Miss Clara. All boys, though. I admit, they’re my joy.” He made a silly face at Lily.

  My joy... Unlike her own father. The words tugged at her heart. Ivy and Lily were his only grandchildren. Maybe it was his new, needy young wife. Or the fact that Eden, and her daughters, looked like her mother. Whatever it was, her father seemed all too eager to keep Eden and her daughters at arm’s length. He took care of them financially, assuring her she would never make as much working for anyone else. Whether that was true or not, she never worried about keeping a roof over her head or paying her bills. And that, she supposed, was some sort of devotion.

  But if she didn’t have Clara, she’d have no one to smile with, to savor the girls’ growth with. At times, she ached for more. For love, touch, a father for her girls, someone to love them all.

  “Miss Caraway?” Mr. Boone was speaking. “You okay?”

  She nodded. “Eden, please.”

  “Mr. Boone was offering to pack up a lunch for you and Dr. Boone. We’ll bring it down later,” Clara said.

  “I’m not sure he wants the girls in the way,” Eden said.

  Teddy Boone chuckled. “You both need to eat, don’t ya? You let me worry about Archer.”

  “I appreciate the offer, Mr. Boone, but we’ll be fine. Really.” She stressed the last word, hoping he’d listen. She didn’t want another run-in with Archer Boone. She’d rather not see him again today, or she might say something she’d regret.

  Minutes later, Eden was riding back to the refuge with Toben.

  “Good thing Uncle Teddy gave me a call,” Toben said as they bounced along the dirt road. “Archer’s been spitting nails since you left.”

  Eden scowled out the front window, saying only, “It’s illegal to have employees work through lunch.” He was the one who had told her to take a lunch. Now he was being ridiculous. More than ridiculous. She’d been gone for half an hour, tops. She was more than ready to “spit nails” right back at him. She’d love to knock that chip right off his shoulder. What would he do if she told him she was a Monroe? She was tempted, more than tempted.

  “And Fester’s been pitching a fit since you left,” Toben explained. “Reared up at Archer, charged him and jumped the fence—took off.”

  Eden stared at Toben then. “He did?” Poor Fester. And...poor Archer. He was upset over the horse—not her.

  Toben nodded, a dimple appearing in his cheek. “Seems I’m not the only one who’s interested in you, Miss Caraway.”

  Eden ignored Toben’s attempt to flirt, worried over Fester. No one wanted a mean horse—especially one so big and aggressive. What would happen to him?

  And there was Archer. Whether or not Fester had managed to physically injure Archer, she suspected the blow to his pride would hurt more. Gruff temperament aside, there was no denying the man wanted only what was best for the horses. And an animal like Fester would be a puzzle Archer couldn’t give up on.

  * * *

  ARCHER SAT IN the saddle, letting his horse, River, lead the other horses out into the lower pasture. This group was headed to auction in a few weeks—strong, healthy and ready for a home. Until then, they’d be happy here. The water tank was full, there were tall shade trees, and he’d made sure there were mineral and salt blocks in the two troughs at either side of the pasture.

  River pick
ed up speed along the creek. Archer sighed, letting the horse run through the water once, then twice, pawing at the water with his front hooves. He’d always loved the water—that’s how he’d earned his name. And on a hot day like today, Archer didn’t mind a refreshing dousing in the creek.

  They rode back to the refuge dripping wet.

  “River get hot?” Renata said with a laugh, stepping back when he slipped from his saddle.

  “We both were,” Archer agreed, shaking water from his head.

  “Any sign of Fester?” she asked. “Toben told me.”

  He shook his head. “He’ll come back when he’s hungry.” He sighed.

  “Dad left some food in your office.” She nudged him. “Said he needed to talk to you.”

  Archer looked at his sister. “About what?”

  She shrugged. “He didn’t say. Thought I’d try out a few of the new rides for the parade. If that’s okay. Toben said you’ve got a few sweet horses to choose from. He thought the dapple and the blue mare would be good choices.”

  He nodded. “I’ve been thinking the mare might be a good fit for Shawn. He’s ready for his own horse, and she’s about as even-footed and responsive as a horse can be.”

  “What’s Fisher say?” Renata asked.

  “I need Fisher’s permission?” Archer asked, frowning at his sister.

  Renata laughed. “Well, considering Shawn is his brother-in-law and Fisher and Kylee have baby twins to keep them busy, yes. I think you might want to make sure they want Shawn to have a horse. On top of everything else.”

  Archer shook his head. “I’d say our family has done their part populating Stonewall Crossing.”

  “Don’t be such a grump, Archer. I love how big and happy this family’s become. All the laughter and smiles... And, yes, babies. I know you love it, too.” Renata smiled.

  For the most part, yes. Even if it was a whole lot louder. Three weddings and two sets of twin boys joined the family. He was happy for his brothers—even if he didn’t understand the whole falling-in-love, start-a-family thing. They seemed happy; that’s all that mattered. “I’ll talk to Fisher about the horse.”