“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.”