* * *
IVY WAS GOOD as gold. She smiled, giggled, held on to his arm and waved at the crowd with all her might. She probably had half of Stonewall Crossing won over; he knew he was. She chattered away, asking the name of everything and what it was for. And since Archer appreciated an inquisitive brain, he answered her.
By the time the parade was over, her questions had faded and she’d shifted, leaning into him with her head against his stomach.
“Look at you, all sweet and fatherly, holding a sleeping beauty,” Renata said. “Pretty little thing. Like her mom.”
Archer didn’t disagree.
“Speaking of her mother.” Renata nudged Blue closer. “You realize you’re running out of time.”
“And you realize I’ve known her for a week?” he bit back.
“You don’t love her?” Renata asked. “And her kids?”
“I do,” he answered, surprising both of them into silence.
Renata stared at him, her blue eyes round.
“Knock it off,” he muttered.
She shook her head. “I’m in shock.”
“Stop it.” He sighed.
“I can’t.” She grinned. “You know what you need to do, right?”
He waited, shooting her a cautious look.
“You need to take her on a date, just the two of you. Lay it all out there, tell her how you feel.”
“She can’t just leave Lily and Ivy in a stall for the evening,” he argued.
“I can watch them. And if Dad knows what’s going on, I’m sure he’ll let Clara out of his room for a few hours.” Renata smiled. “Since she got here, you seem...happy.”
He was happy.
“You don’t want to lose that.”
No, he didn’t. Her leaving scared the shit out of him. If she left, she might not come back. What the hell would he do then? But just because he was acting irrationally didn’t mean she was. “I think it might take more than one date to convince her they belong here with me.”
Renata smiled. “Well, you won’t know until you talk to her.”
He couldn’t argue with that. But talking to her scared him almost as much as her leaving. He didn’t say much as they rode to the trailers and trucks waiting to haul the horses back to the ranch. No Eden, so he turned River and headed out onto the streets.
He stopped now and then, letting tourists and kids alike pet River’s neck. The horse stood, tolerating the affection until Archer set off again.
He saw Eden amid the crowd, Lily sleeping in the sling, shielding her eyes as she looked for him. She waved when she saw him, her smile bright and sweet.
He urged River on, riding down the middle of the road. “I think I have something of yours,” he said, glancing at Ivy.
Eden laughed. “She’s worn out. You made today unforgettable, Archer.”
He smiled. “I hope so. Looks like Lily’s down for the count, too?”
“Nap time,” Eden agreed. “Clark went to cool the van down.”
He nodded, then cleared his throat. “You free for dinner tonight? Renata said she’d watch the girls. I was hoping I could have you to myself.”