Page 182 of Maple Mountain
“Homeschooling Lenni.”
He blinked.“Seriously?”
I nodded.
“Is it because of what Muddy said?”
“Partly.But I don’t know.She’s an active kid.She likes horses.She likes the outdoors.Being stuckinsideat a desk for eight hours ...that’s kind of a nightmare for a kid like her.She likes to read and loved helping Poet in the store.I think she could learn so much more about real life if she wasn’t stuck in a traditional school setting.”
“Yeah,” he said slowly.“But who’d homeschool her?”
“Me, of course.”
“You.”
I nodded.“Morning study.Done with that by noon.Afternoons free to explore, ride horses, garden when the weather’s right.Muddy knows everything about everything.Hell, even I would like a crash course in what she knows.”
“You’ve really thought about this.”He scratched his jaw.“I mean, if Lenni wants that, then sure, why not?”
I smiled.“It means more afternoons spent together as a family, too.You get that, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I put that together.”He settled his hand on my belly.“She does love horses, doesn’t she?”
“She does.”
“You think she’d want to learn some farrier skills?”he asked.“Not just ride the horses and feed them?”
“I think if you’d be willing to teach her, she’d love to learn.”I bit my lip.“It would give you both some much needed timetogether.”
He sighed and shook his head.“God damn.”
“What?”
“You’re just ...I didn’t even know I needed you, Wyn.And then one day you’re just there and I can’t imagine what life was even like before you.”
I smiled.“Yes, Archer, I’ll marry you.”
“Woman,” he said with a laugh.“That’s not a proposal.I’m gonna call your father and talk to him first and ask for his blessing.”
“You just talked to him.”
“No, he railed at me.That’s not the same thing.”He grinned.“Now I’m speaking to him with a purpose.”
“No telling my parents I’m pregnant.They’ll think you’re marrying me just because of that.”I swallowed.“You’re not, right?You’re not that selfless?”
“You beautiful, perfect idiot,” he said with a wry smile.
I grinned.“Yeah, I thought so.I just wanted to hear it.”
“Hear me call you a beautiful idiot?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Mildred turned her head and nuzzled her snout underneath Archer’s hand.
“Someone’s jealous,” I commented.
“She just wants one good rubbing before we let her out for the night.”He looked at me.“You really think Lenni’ll keep it a secret that you’re pregnant?”
