She smiled. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.” And it had been wonderful. Well, part of it had been wonderful.
“Lily have a rough night?” he asked.
“She’s teething.” She saw Teddy Boone peek around the door, watching them curiously. “I’ll let Clara know you’re here so you can have the girls when they wake up.”
He nodded. “Good to see you, Eden.” He picked up his bag.
She didn’t answer. She waited until he’d left before packing the letters back into the box. She carried them to the front desk. “Teddy,” she said. “I need your help.”
“Name it.”
“Can you tell me where Archer might be?” she asked. “I need to talk to him.”
“There’s a few places.” Teddy sighed. “I’ll get Jenny to cover the desk and go look for him.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to cause trouble.”
Teddy looked beyond her. “That city fellow a problem for Archer?”
“Could be.” She nodded. “He’s here about the refuge. My father sent him. I want to give Archer a heads-up.” She glanced at the clock. “I need to get into the refuge to finish the paperwork.”
“I’ll go look for him. Deacon’s got keys. He can let you into the office.” Teddy patted her hand. “It’ll be fine.”
“I hope so, Teddy. I can’t shake the feeling that my involvement is making things ten times worse.”
“I think my boy might disagree with you,” Teddy said, smiling.
She hoped he was right.
* * *
ARCHER SPUN THE WRENCH, wiping the sweat and oil from his fingers to get a better grip. He’d been working on the tractor engine for an hour, cut up two fingers, and the damn thing was still choking. But he wasn’t about to give up. Right now he needed straightforward problems with logical answers. Animals. Machinery. Paperwork.
As long as he wasn’t thinking about Eden, he was fine.
But even when he wasn’t thinking about her, he was. Yesterday had changed every damn thing. He’d never thought all that much about a person’s smile or voice or wanted someone’s company. He was a solitary sort, always had been. But spending time with her, he’d been fascinated by everything. Stonewall Crossing had been a different town, a brighter place, when she was at his side.
And last night. The feel of her. The taste of her. Watching her come alive and fall apart from his touch... There was nothing straightforward or simple about the feelings she’d inspired in him.
He wanted to keep her beside him, to never let her go.
Another part needed to cut and run—to get as far from her as possible before he begged her to stay. He couldn’t be that man, ruled by emotion. He wasn’t wired that way. He was cautious, methodical.
Eden challenged that. She made him think that maybe giving in to his heart wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
But giving in, loving her, was too big a risk. When she’d said she couldn’t stay, he’d thought she’d meant in Stonewall Crossing. And it had hurt. It had been eye-opening. None of what was happening made sense. It wasn’t practical or rational. And, damn it, what sort of father would he be to her girls? He shook his head, rubbing his hands on the work rag before tossing it into the toolbox.
The sky rumbled, drawing his gaze upward. The clouds flickered with lightning, thunder bouncing off the hills. Good damn thing, too; they needed rain. The tanks were getting low and the sun was getting hotter. A good soaking would bring welcome relief all around.
A dust trail kicked up, headed straight for him. His father’s truck.
He sighed, wiped his hands again and dropped the wrench into the toolbox.
“Archer.” His father climbed down from the ranch truck. “I know you’re not wanting to be found, but Eden was looking for you.”
Archer took a deep breath, fighting the instinct to drop everything and go to her.
“Figured you’d want to know. Since you won’t answer your damn phone.”