A Cowboy to Call Daddy (The Boones of Texas 4)

“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.