The silence in her room deepened. It wasn’t what Ivy had expected him to say, but the first rush through her wasn’t incredulous disbelief. It was a kind of sweet pleasure.

She laid a hand against his cheek. “Wow.”

A slow, sexy smile drifted over his features. Contentment was there, but there was also amusement that seemed just for her. “Wow? You’re not giving me much to go on. How do you feel?”

“You know very well how I feel. Any woman who’s had two orgasms in a short period of time is pretty happy. If I’m surprised by anything, it’s how much better that was than when we were young, considering neither of us have been practicing.”

Walker laughed softly. “It just never felt right to take that final step.”

A flash of memory struck. “That’s why you smiled when I told you I hadn’t had sex.”

He nodded. “Maybe that makes us a couple of old-fashioned fools.”

She leaned in tight, pressing her lips to his and kissing him fiercely. “We’re the perfect fools together, then.”

Walker tapped her on the nose before slipping from the bed to take care of the condom. A moment later he poked his head out of her tiny bathroom with a grin. “You have a shower in here,” he informed her brightly.

Ivy sat up, tucking the sheets against her chest. “Good eye.”

“Smarty-pants.” He tilted his head toward his discovery. “Join me. I’ve always wanted to have you in the shower.”

It was clearly a demand, not a request, but Ivy didn’t care. His idea was right in line with what she wanted, so she pushed back the sheets and joined him.

Wet and sex turned out to be a lovely mixture when the water was hot and the man was Walker. Steamy pleasure turned into long, languid cuddles in her bed, and he didn’t leave until the morning. He’d curled around her and held her all night.

Ivy was thankful she’d wiggled the queen-size bed into the space, even though Walker had to sleep at an angle to keep his feet from hanging off the end.

Ivy was still in a sleepy fog when Walker pressed his lips to hers, kissing her lazily. “I gotta go, Snow. I’ll call you later.”

“Come over when you’re done with work,” Ivy offered.

“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away,” he teased.

“We still need to talk,” she reminded him. “We’re not done.”

His face went serious. “No. You’re right. We’re not done.”

She didn’t think he was talking about his panic attacks, and that was fine with her. She gave him a final squeeze then watched him stride from the room.

She fell asleep again quickly enough considering it was four a.m., but her dreams were filled with partial conversations and mini movie clips. Ones that started with a shock and never concluded.

Sweet images from their days in high school. Ivy with her family gathered around. Time from her days spent in the hospital when she’d fallen sick—which was a secret she needed to share with Walker sometime soon. Her dreams turned even more restless and when she saw Walker thrown from a bull—

That was when she gave up altogether, crawled out of bed, and got ready for her day.

She did a few tasks related to the school year, but it still meant that by noon she was headed to her parents.

Sophie greeted her with a smile. “Your father is at the bookstore if you need him.”

“I’ll stop by later, but I thought I’d visit with you, if you’ve got time.”

Her mom pushed aside the papers on the table before her and gave Ivy her full attention. “Want a cup of tea?”

Ivy laughed. “No, it’s not that type of conversation. I just wondered if everything was going well.”

“That’s supposed to be my question, not yours.” Her mom headed to the counter to plug in the kettle anyway. She turned and examined Ivy briefly without staring too intently. The mom glance she’d perfected over the years. Ivy knew she’d been checked out closely, but it didn’t seem as invasive as when others did it, probably because it was a mom thing.

The other mom thing Sophie did? She waited until Ivy answered the question. “I’m fine. No lingering problems from my dip in Heart Falls.”

“Nothing physical, but what about—?” Sophie turned her back quickly and pulled tea bags from the cupboard as if it was the most vital task ever. “How is Walker?”

Ivy’s cheeks heated, but she was old enough to make up her own mind about how she lived her life. “Are you asking because you don’t know? Someone in town has to be keeping you up-to-date with gossip.”

Sophie placed the teapot on the table and took her seat again, playing with the spoon. “What do you mean someone in town? Your little sister Fern—I swear that girl has a shortwave radio hidden somewhere in that artist’s cave of hers. I heard something happened last night at the watering hole you kids go to, and it involved Walker, but I didn’t hear how it ended.”

“He’ll be okay.” Ivy hesitated. It wasn’t her secret to share, but there were things her mom could help with.

But more than that, Ivy was aware of how much her parents had helped over the years. How strongly they’d fought for her in so many ways.

“I don’t think I’ve told you thank you often enough,” Ivy said softly. “You and Dad have been wonderful parents. Not just to me, but to all us girls. The whole time I was gone, I knew I had you to come home to. I knew that whatever happened, you would support me.”

Her mother paused in the middle of pouring tea. “Well, I think you’ve said it often enough. We know you’re appreciative, but that’s not why we do it. We love you.”

“And I have never doubted that, especially not on the days when I would come home sick from crying over being teased at school.”

Sophie’s expression sharpened. “Oh, a few of those days I got to have a little extra excitement, marching back to school to give some of the other parents a piece of my mind.”

“You were fair, though. I hope the parents I have to deal with are as reasonable and admit when their little darlings aren’t angels.”

Her mother smiled. “The only time you weren’t an angel was when you were running around with Walker. But I don’t blame your behaviour on him. I think you probably got him in more trouble than he would’ve on his own. His mother used to ask if we could calm you down a little, which always made the two of us laugh, considering you were so frail.”

It was always a little sad to talk about Walker’s parents. Their deaths had touched everyone in the community, including her mom and dad, who had been friends with them both.

“I’m glad you adopted us.” Ivy leaned forward and gave her mom’s hand a squeeze. “I know you said before that you simply picked four girls who needed to be loved, but we were fortunate. You opened your hearts to us, you and Dad.”

“It’s been worth every moment,” her mom said firmly. “On a slightly different topic, not that I don’t love for you to come in here and tell me how awesome I am…”

Ivy grinned at her.

“You and Walker.”

Her smile slipped slightly. “Yes?”

Sophie picked up her spoon and her cup. An obvious telltale sign she was looking for the right words to say.

“Mom. You’re not going to say something embarrassing, are you?”

Her mom’s gaze snapped up. “I’m totally going to say something embarrassing. Honey, I know he was at your house last night, and I don’t think he was helping with house repair. And I just want to make sure you know that while we like Walker very much… Well, you’re a grownup, both of you—”

“Yes, we are.”

Sophie gave her an evil look. “Be careful.”

Safe-sex talks with her mother. So not what she wanted. “I’m pretty sure we had this conversation well over ten years ago.”

Her mom looked shocked for a moment before laughing. “Oh, honey. I’m not talking about sex. You’re right, if you haven’t figured that bit out by now, what with the Internet and everything, you just go ahead and muddle through on your own. I’m talking about your future.”

Well that was almost more embarrassing than talking about sex. “What kind of future? Don’t you think I should be with Walker?”

It was her mom’s turn to reach for her hand and squeeze her fingers tight. “The opposite. I don’t want you to miss out on something that could be absolutely wonderful. You had to give up a lot when you went away, and I know with your health problems, it’s taken a long time for you to return. He’s a good man. An awful lot like his father was. Walter Stone had more heart than anyone we knew, including your father, who has a tendency to get a little too sarcastic at times.”

Her mother wanted her to be with Walker. “I always thought you liked him but, you never seem that taken.”

Sophie looked at her with the solid bluntness that had carried through the years. “For a while we didn’t know if you had a future, darling. It wasn’t right for either of you to get your hopes up. But it wouldn’t have been right to deny you your young love, either.”

Cold ripples went through Ivy at the memory of how sick she’d been. “I’m far healthier now.”

“You are,” her mom agreed, “and you’ve learned a lot that will help you stay strong in the years to come. But that means you have to juggle. If Walker’s the one you want, I don’t want to see you miss out on him. Having the right person in your life makes the tough days so much more bearable.”

They fell quiet for a moment, the light music her mom always had playing in the background filling the corners of the house with quiet joy. Not loud enough to hear the words, but a distinct enough tune that was uplifting and joyous, so much like her mom.

So much like the household Ivy had grown up in, and once again she was struck by how much she wanted the same thing with Walker.

Ivy picked up her cup, wrapping her fingers around it as she smiled at her mom. “You’re a pretty smart lady.”

“Damn right I am,” Sophie offered in return. “So ignore your father’s grumbling, because he’s still got his tail out of joint. We should plan a family meal and invite Walker. I promise not to tease, and I’ll make Malachi behave as well.”

“Are you physically capable of not teasing?” Ivy asked in dead seriousness. “Oh, wait. Let’s be sure to ask Grandma to join us. That’ll put Dad on his best behaviour.”

A snicker escaped her mother before Sophie forced her face back to serious. “Buffalo?”

Ivy smiled and laughed and felt warm inside. “Oh, Mom, I love you so much.”

“I love you too. We’ll get the guys to barbecue. They can bond over the smoke and charcoal. It’s written into male genetics, right?”

---

Caleb slapped a hand on his shoulder and offered a droll grin. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but can you stop singing?”

Walker blinked in surprise. “Was I singing?”

“It’s like working with a cage full of canaries next to me. You keep chirping out this and then the other, and none of it makes any sense. It sounds good, but I don’t know that you can sell it.”

Luke slipped from a stall on the other side, stepping forward. He looked Walker over closely. “You’re okay.”

“I am. Thanks for checking.”

Caleb looked between the two of them. “Did I miss something?”

Luke hid his grin, and Walker worked on keeping a stone-like face. Their oldest brother had never caught up on the gossip as fast as everybody else, which this time was playing in Walker’s favour. “Nope.”

“Walker spent the night at Ivy’s.” This offering came from above their heads, and the three of them twisted to see a flash of a bright red flannel shirt disappearing as Kelli’s voice trailed off into the distance. “Not that Caleb would be interested.”

Walker glanced at his big brother. Caleb had one brow lifted and there was a smile on his face that involved a fair bit of gloating.

“What’re you smirking about?” Walker demanded.

Luke jumped back in. “He’s a happily married man. Now his only goal in life is to make sure everybody else gets a ball and chain.”

Walker’s and Caleb’s eyes met, but this time it wasn’t amusement that passed between them. Something had changed in Luke’s tone, and they turned to face him.

Luke had grabbed a pitchfork, stabbing into the nearest hay pile as if he was defending himself from invading monsters.

“Interesting observation from a man who’s engaged to be married,” Caleb offered dryly.

That comment should’ve gotten a snarky response, but Luke quietly lifted a load of feed in the air and walked off, his shoulders stiff under his fleece jacket.

Caleb and Walker stared at each other. “Was it something I said?” Caleb asked. “I was kidding around.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, either. Penny’s been gone for a few weeks, so maybe he’s missing her.” Walker didn’t want to poke a sore point by asking, either. But something was definitely wrong.

Shuffling noises drifted from above, and a bit of hay fell from the loft.

Caleb rolled his eyes. “Kelli. Get your ass down here and stop eavesdropping.”

She slid down the old water pipe they used to play on when they were kids, riding it like a fireman’s pole. A pair of heavy leather gloves protected her hands, and as she landed, a swirl of dust puffed up under her boots. She marched over, slapping her hands together then slipping the gloves into her back pocket.

“Yes, boss?” she asked, all innocent and sweet.

“Don’t try that with me, young lady.”

Kelli’s lips twisted for a second before she outright snorted. “Oh my God, don’t. I mean when Ashton gives me hell, I can see it because he’s like…old. But you’re most definitely not the grandpa type. At least not yet.”

“Stop trying to change the topic. What do you know?”

Kelli made a face. “Isn’t that Luke’s business?”

“Kelli,” Caleb warned. “You seem willing enough to talk about everything else that goes on around here. Spill.”

She cocked a brow. “All I know is he went from bouncing like a frisky colt because he just happened to beat me at cards, then his phone went off with a message, and ever since he read the text, he’s been a grumpy ass.”

“Penny,” Caleb guessed. He sighed heavily. “I’ll track him down later and find out what’s going on.” He glanced at his watch. “Actually, I’ll track him down now. I promised the girls I’d take them fishing, and we need to get ready.”

“You’re going in the middle of the afternoon? The fish don’t bite until dusk.”

“Oh, we’re going fishing later, but that means we have to start to get ready this afternoon, at least according to the girls.”

He slapped Walker on the shoulder, gave Kelli a warning glance, and then marched off after Luke.

“And he complained I was making noise? His whistling is terrible,” Walker muttered. He turned his attention on Kelli who was trying to sneak out of the room without it looking as if she was sneaking away. “I won’t call you young lady, but don’t you leave without talking to me.”

Kelli offered him a saucy grin. “Sure, boss.”

Walker gave her a dirty look.

She toned it down. “Sorry, it’s just so much fun to tease Caleb now that he’s all jollified from being married to Tamara and all.”

“How’re you doing?” He kept his gaze fixed on her face so he wasn’t tempted to check her for more bruises.

“I’m good,” Kelli said sharply with a firm tip of her chin. “No problems, and I don’t see any in the future, either.”

“So you’re good?”

“Good as gold,” she offered, back to full perkiness. “But I’d be even better if you give me permission to ride Storm Dancer. Please?”

The girl had a masochistic streak mile wide. “That horse is dangerous as hell.”

“You ride him.”

“I’m not five foot and one hundred pounds.”

Kelli planted her fists on her hips and glared. “Five foot two, and way more than one hundred pounds. But that might make it better because he won’t mind little ol’ me on his back.”

“You really want to ride Storm Dancer?”

“Damn right I do,” she snapped back with enthusiasm.

“Tell me who gave you the bruises.”

Her face twisted into a scowl. “That’s nasty.”

“Your choice,” Walker said calmly. “I swear I won’t tell anyone else, and as soon as you give me a name, I’ll supervise your attempt to ride Storm Dancer.”

Kelli seemed to think it over, opening her mouth and closing it a half-dozen times before giving her head a firm shake. “I can’t. And I think you’re really mean to make that a condition, because—well, just because.”

It had been worth a try. “You’re sure no one’s going to come and beat on you again?”

“I’m positive the situation is never going to come up ever again,” Kelli said with absolute conviction.

Damn. He wished one of the other hands could give him the scoop, but there wasn’t anybody else. Kelli was the eyes and ears around Silver Stone. She was the one who found out the gossip, not the one who created it.

“Fine. Tell you what. Next time I have Storm Dancer out I’ll let you give him a try. But only when I’m there,” he finished, raising his voice to be heard over her high-pitched squeal of delight. Kelli threw herself at him and offered a shockingly strong hug for someone her size.

Then she was off, racing away with the enthusiasm of a teenager.

Walker shook his head. She was a damn fine cowboy, but hell if he knew what made her tick.

His phone buzzed, and he glanced down, excited to see a message from Ivy.

He couldn’t resist: buffalo

He laughed: is this something that happens often? Emergencies in your bedroom?

It was a sweet exchange, almost a flashback to the days before she’d left. And as they made plans to get together when he was done for the day, Walker enjoyed knowing they had parts of this relationship thing down pat.

He still had to figure out what he was going to do with his future. Was it possible to deal with his panic attacks, or was he going to have to find something else to do to help his family?

Unfortunately, no matter how hard he racked his brain, he didn’t come up with any other solution. The entire time he was at the bunkhouse to get scrubbed up, he kept mulling over the idea. Something new. That’s what he needed.

Yet, he’d already been given a golden opportunity, and was it right to just throw it away? How many people longed for a career in music? And he was being handed one on a silver platter—

Enough.

He threw some things in a duffel bag because he fully intended on staying with Ivy tonight. Not just because they had a lot to talk about, but because he needed to get her perspective. Being able to spend the night in her arms was going to make all of the confusion and the restlessness that much easier to deal with.