A Cowboy To Call Daddy. Sasha Summers

cousin Toben was already making plans to show the temp a good time with a cowboy. He glanced at Miss Caraway...Eden, hoping she wasn’t interested in having a good time with his cousin—or any man, for that matter. He needed her undivided attention and time.

      “Is that Fester?” Eden asked, pointing.

      Sure enough, Fester was at the fence, head up, ears pricked forward, nickering sweetly—at Eden. He glanced at the woman, then the horse. “He’s talking to you.”

      She looked at him. “How do you know?”

      “Animals communicate just as clearly as people,” he said. “More so. There’s not as much room for misinterpretation. A horse nickers, he’s saying ‘Come talk to me.’ He snorts or blows, he’s excited—”

      “What if he...if he sort of...” She glanced at him. “Hugged me?”

      Archer looked at her. “What do you mean?”

      “I...I caught my shoe between a couple of rocks so I stopped to free it... He stepped close so his chin was on the back of my shoulder and leaned his head against mine.” She used her hand and arm to clarify as she was talking.

      “He did?” Archer sighed, pleased and frustrated at the same time.

      She nodded.

      “And he followed you back? Behind you?” he asked.

      She nodded again. “It might sound strange, but I think he was watching over me.”

      “Not strange,” Archer argued. “Intuitive. He was watching over you.”

      Fester kept up the nickering, tossing his head a little.

      “May I?” she asked.

      Archer nodded, walking down the fence line to turn on a few lights. He hung back, curious to see the exchange between Fester and the only human the horse had acknowledged favorably.

      “Should I do anything?” She glanced back at him, hesitating.

      “No,” Archer said. “There’s a fence between you. He just wants you close.”

      “Do you?” she asked Fester, her voice soft and calm—not high-pitched or affected but inviting and warm.

      Fester stretched his head out, and Eden stepped closer.

      Archer was in shock. Not only did Fester clearly adore the woman, Eden seemed to understand exactly what Fester needed. She didn’t reach for him, she simply stood and let the horse nicker and blow against her chest and neck. She didn’t try to touch his nose or rub the horse’s face. She might not realize that was significant, but he did. A person didn’t like a stranger touching their face. Neither did most horses. Somehow, Eden Caraway understood that.

      “Hi,” she said softly. “Thank you for walking me here.”

      Archer draped his arm on the top rail of the wooden fence, resting his chin. What the hell? Maybe Renata was right? Maybe Fester recognized something in Eden that brought him pleasure. Whatever it was, it made him happy to see Fester so content. This was what he wanted for all the horses that came through the refuge. A sense of comfort and belonging.

      The shrill chirp of a cell phone split the night. Fester jerked his head back, his chin clipping the side of Eden’s head as the horse startled.

      “Are you okay?” Archer asked, instantly at her side.

      “I’m fine.” She was rubbing her head. “It’s not his fault.” She pressed her hand to her forehead. “It spooked me, too.”

      He liked the way she defended Fester. “We should probably get you some ice. Just in case.”

      “I’m fine,” she argued, waving him away before she pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “Yes?” she answered.

      Archer stared at her. She’d dismissed him.

      “When did this happen?” There was no sign of the calm and controlled Eden Caraway now. “He just left?” Her tone was razor-edged as she stalked the length of the fence. “I can’t... Oh, Clara.”

      He saw her shoulders droop. Saw Fester clop down the fence line to nicker at her.

      “No, of course. We’ll make it work. I’ll book the first flight out tomorrow. Give them kisses for me, Clara.” She hung up the phone, leaning her head against Fester’s broad nose without thought.

      “There a problem?” he asked, bracing himself. He’d do whatever he could to make her stay. He needed her help.

      “No.” She collected herself, her posture stiffening and her voice deadpan once more. “No problem at all. I do, however, need to get to the Lodge. I have some personal business to attend to.”

      Archer nodded. “Nothing that will interfere with your work, I hope?” If he sounded callous, it wasn’t intentional.

      She shook her head, not bothering to make eye contact as she brushed past him. “Not at all.”

      He sighed, relief washing over him. She was staying, and he would be ready to convince Mr. Monroe that his continued support of the refuge was essential for expansion. “I’ll take you to the Lodge,” he said, the weight of his deadline easing for the first time since he’d received Monroe’s letter.

       Chapter Three

      Eden finished scanning the invoices for the first quarter and set to work color-coding the tabs on the spreadsheet she was creating. She liked having everything in one place, no back and forth, riffling through things for backup or verification. After tossing and turning in her bed all night, she appreciated the distraction her work was giving her. If she didn’t have something to do, she was likely to call Clark and rip into him for what he’d done.

      Did Ivy understand her father had broken his word—again? No. She was too young to know. Eden hoped. But Eden knew. This wasn’t the first time Clark had been sent on some “emergency” trip that conveniently fell on the week he’d demanded for his visitation. This wasn’t the first time Clark had promised Ivy all sorts of adventures and fun and time only to take off before any of his promises were fulfilled. This wasn’t the first time she’d been forced to adjust her schedule even after she’d been assured that he had everything under control and that she should relax.

      Thank God for Clara.

      Clara, Ivy and baby Lily would be here soon. The suite at the Lodge would work, putting them all in one large room for the remainder of her stay. The rental car company had upgraded her sedan to a minivan so Clara and the girls weren’t stuck in the Lodge all day. As pissed as she was at Clark, she was equally delighted that the girls were coming. She hated being parted from them. Lily was still so small, just seven months old. The thought of missing out on a milestone—rolling over, laughs, funny faces—was too much for her. And Ivy, her wide-eyed ray of light, made her look forward to coming home all day, every day.

      “Coffee?” Archer placed a large cup of black coffee on the corner of the table.

      Eden glanced at the cup, then the man she’d decided to avoid as much as possible.

      It wasn’t just that she’d had a surprisingly intimate dream about him. But even awake, she had to accept that she was attracted to him. And while Archer Boone seemed clueless to pretty much everything that wasn’t horse-related, she’d be mortified if he caught her ogling his angular jaw or intense eyes or firm thighs. And his butt. Nicely showcased in his well-worn, work-faded jeans.

      “No?” he asked, reaching for the cup.

      He was standing right there. Stop thinking about his body. “Thank you.” She was so startled that she grabbed the handle and took a sip, scalding the roof of her mouth in the process.

      “It’s hot,” he said.

      She nodded, setting