Page 13 of Willow Vale

I forced a chuckle at his words. While he was teasing, I could tell Desmond’s words were sincere. Concerned.

In our small town, I almost always ran into one of the Adlers. However, that was as far as I’d let our interactions go. Just so that the inevitable mention of Travis wouldn’t come up.

I decide to tease him rather than dive into that whole mess. “You still look good, though. How old are you anyway? Thirty?”

Desmond released a genuine booming laugh that made River finally peer up at the man standing in front of me. In a flash, he hurried over to my side to get a better look at the work boots Desmond was wearing. I placed my hand atop his head and said, “River, say hello to Mr. Adler.”

“Hello.” River gave a shy smile before pointing to the black worn boots. “Are you a cowboy? A real one?”

“I sure am. It’s nice to meet you, River.” Desmond reached a large hand down toward him and when River took it, his little one practically disappeared. “You like cowboys?”

River nodded with a little grin before sticking close to my side, wrapping one arm around my leg.

“River loves anything to do with cowboys, including horses.” I had all the drawings he’d made strewn across the kitchen table to prove it.

“Horses?” Desmond placed his hands on his hips, “Well, what do you know? I happen to own a bunch of horses back at the ranch.”

“You do?” River asked enthusiastically.

“You should have your sister bring you over to the ranch sometime! I’ll even let you ride one.”

I arched a brow. “Ride one?”

Desmond gave me a sheepish smile. “With your permission, of course.”

River was practically bouncing up and down with excitement now. “Lila, can I? Please?” He drew out the “please” extra-long.

While I didn’t want to crush River’s hopes of seeing a horse, I couldn’t bring myself to accept it either. Going to the Adlers ranch would only result in heartache and more memories. That and Travis would be there if he still lived on his parent’s property. Not that I asked or anything, but Desi did mention he’d built a house on Silver Hill so he could stayclose to his parents. I hadn’t asked Desi for more information on where he lived or if he had someone in his life—both were things I didn’t need to know—but I imagined he would have stayed close by, in case his father ever needed help.

I’d tried not to think back on our conversation yesterday, and failed. How good it felt to be so close to Travis again. How he touched me so casually, as if he never stopped in the first place. The obvious was that he still felt something for me. The way I still felt something for him.

Not that I ever stopped.

Desmond kept us company and helped River pick out a bag of chips. They both agreed that Cool Ranch Doritos were superior. I paid for the chips at the counter while Desmond asked the lanky teenage cashier to open one of the pumps for him.

As we were walking out together, he asked, “I hear you’re working at The Pint now. You’ll make good money. People tend to tip generously when they’ve got one too many drinks in them.”

“That’s good to know. I am in desperate need of that now more than ever.” I chuckled awkwardly.

He walked us to my rusty 1974 Bronco parked a few feet away. My grandfather bought it a long time ago and left the truck to me when he couldn’t drive anymore. Now she was my pride and joy. I suspected she was on her last legs, but she got me to where I needed to go.

Before I could say goodbye and part ways with Desmond, he said, “I also hear you need a babysitter for River.”

I frowned. “How?—”

I’d been texting Desi all day today venting about my dilemma with the babysitters. She must have mentioned it to Desmond at some point if they’d ran into each other at the bar or… I loved my best friend, but she was a little gossip. She called it“sharing information,”hating the words “gossip” and “Desiree Boone” thrown together in the same sentence.

“If you still need one, I think I might have someone in mind. I’ll talk to Amelia but I’m pretty sure the answer will be yes.”

I glanced up at Desmond after I loaded River into his car seat and buckled him in. “A-Amelia? Oh, I can’t do that to her. She must be so busy and?—”

Desmond chuckled, cutting me off. “It’s not a problem, Lila. There’s always one of us on the ranch, including Finn. We’ll work something out. Let me talk to her first and I’ll get back to you. Do you still have our number saved in your phone?”

I nodded gingerly, still too stunned by the fact that he and Amelia would want to watch River for me. It was too much. Too kind. Too risky.

Then again, they were never anything but nice to me. It shouldn’t come off as a surprise that they’d offer to help me now.

“That’s very kind of you, but…” My words died away when he smiled knowingly at me, as if he knew exactly what I was about to say. It made a lump form in my throat. “I’d appreciate it if you asked her. Thank you.”

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