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Archer turned his surprised gaze to her there was no hint of a smile on her face. For the first time he saw her without the sunny personality in place, and he wondered then if that easygoing Amelia was a mask she wore. He sat up slowly.
    “You mean that, don’t you?”
    She scowled. “Of course I do. I wouldn’t have made the offer if I didn’t.”
    He looked away, over the pasture and beyond, across the lush green hills that rolled away from them. “I don’t know if I can join a program or not.”
    “You don’t have to. We can meet outside the library. Maybe here. We’d have to meet at a minimum of once a week, though twice would be better. You should at least consider trying it. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. If you hate it you can quit. No harm, no foul. The only shame is in not trying.”
    “Just how do you think your parents would feel about that?”
    She shrugged. “They’d probably be a little overprotective. Mom has already warned me not to develop a crush on you, you dangerous older man.” The cheeky grin was back. “She likes you, but I’m her baby.”
    Archer wasn’t unaware of the veiled scrutiny they’d been under. “You’re lucky to have her looking out for you.”
    “I know. You think about it. The offer stands. I’d like to help you. I think I can. But it’s up to you.” She gave him a spontaneous hug and then bounded to her feet. “Let me know.”
    Archer stood too, and with a wave for a watchful John and Ben, he headed for the barn and the fence row beyond. She’d given him a lot to think about.
    A few minutes later, footsteps sounded in the grass behind him. Archer turned to see Owen Campbell himself heading in his direction.
    “Hey. You okay?”
    “Yeah. Just needed a little air. I’m not used to such a rowdy crowd.”
    Owen looped his arms over the top rail of the fence. “Seems like you and Amelia were having quite a serious discussion.”
    He left it at that, turning a sharp gaze to watch Archer’s reaction. Deciding honesty was most certainly the best policy in this situation, Archer confessed.
    “She wants to teach me how to read.”
    Owen was taken somewhat aback. He frowned, and a hand came up to rub at his mouth. “She–you can’t read?”
    “Just enough to get by and to fool people.” The admission was painful to make, and Archer would be lying if he said he didn’t feel some resentment at having to make it.
    “Damn. I’m sorry.” Owen shook his head as though he couldn’t imagine not being able to read. Archer figured he probably couldn’t. “So she wants you to join the literacy program?”
    “That’s one option. I don’t care to have my private business displayed in public, though. She offered to do it here, under supervision.”
    “Is that something you’re interested in?”
    Archer was a little surprised the idea hadn’t been rejected out of hand. “I don’t know.”
    The older man didn’t say anything for a couple of minutes. They just stood there side by side and let the late-summer day wash over them.
    “She’s a good kid. If you want to learn, she’s probably one of the best teachers you’ll find.”
    Archer half-turned to face him. “You can’t seriously want me underfoot that much.”
    Owen’s grin was fast. “Jury’s still out on that one. But you seem solid enough. Seriously though, I’ll talk to Sarah but I don’t see it being a problem. I know what it’s like to feel inadequate because you don’t have the education or skills other people take for granted. I never went past the eighth grade. Got my high-school diploma via a correspondence course. But it wasn’t the same. The stigma’s still there, even if it’s just in my own mind.”
    “But you’re a writer!”
    “I am.”
    Archer was speechless. Though he’d only met Owen Campbell a few weeks ago, the last thing he would have expected was to find out what he’d just heard. The man was too learned, too scholarly, to not have gone to college.
    “No