Page 61 of A Texas Hero

The thought of Archer with a wife and children sent a swift kick to her belly. She didn’t like the thought, unless she was in the picture. Now that would be a nice photo op.

“You’re going to have a wife and children?”

“I’m Italian, what do you think? I think it’s written in the contract at birth.” He snorted.

“Well, I’m half Mexican and half Black so it’s probably in my contract, too.” She chuckled. “I have to tell you, this is probably the best Sweetheart Day ever.”

“Yeah? That’s high praise.”

“Except for the ones I had with my mother, of course.”

“Naturally. I can’t compete with that, nor would I want to.”

“Had I known this would happen, I would have canceled sooner. It’s better than a party.”

“You say that now,” Archer said with a smirk. “But wait until you wake up after a night sleeping on the cold, hard ground.”

“I won’t mind.”

“We’ll see about that.”

* * *

Archer bit his lower lip to keep from breaking into a full-blown smile watching Zoey struggle with zipping up her sleeping bag.

“I’m going to sleep outside the tent, I’ve decided.” She positioned her bag a foot away from the smoldering firepit. “And truly see the stars.”

“I might join you. If it gets too cold, just climb in the tent. It’s not like we need protection from dangerous animals or anything.”

“My gardener sprays regularly for snakes and mosquitoes.”

“I meant a coyote.”

Her expression was priceless, eyes round, brows scrunched together. “But I don’t think—”

He grinned. “No coyotes out here. Or lions or tigers and bears.”

“Oh, my.” She giggled, having now curled completely into her sleeping bag and zipped up. Only her pretty face showed.

He certainly wasn’t afraid of anything out here. He had his gun nearby, locked and loaded, though he hardly needed to bring that up to her. She’d seen him carrying the entire time. But just because they were outside in a perfectly landscaped backyard in a wealthy neighborhood didn’t mean he’d let his guard down. Protecting Zoey was still his number one job.

It didn’t take much longer for the sky to darken to inky black, and with the cloud cover gone, the stars twinkled brightly against a perfect velvety backdrop. This was the way Archer loved to see the sky, and the range and depth of space itself. It reminded him that this earthly life was temporary and transitory. He’d already lost so many friends who would never experience the pleasures and pains of growing old. Archer could only hope he would be one of the lucky ones who did.

He covered the fire, took off his boot, then his foot, placed both in the zipped-up tent and climbed into his own sleeping bag not far from Zoey’s.

Zoey took out her arm to point. “That’s the Big Dipper.”

“You’re not a true novice.” He chuckled.

“I’m still a camping virgin,” she said, scooting her body closer to him.

He snorted. “Proud to be here with you for your first time.”

“Archer, this is the best thing ever.” She reached for his hand and squeezed it.

He squeezed hers back, not letting go. He’d been all over the world and slept under the sky countless of times, but without a doubt, this would be the one he’d always remember.

They fell asleep holding hands.