“Shhh…” Archer patted Caleb’s leg and ignored Mateo’s eye roll. “We’re just loading the next car. It’ll start and stop at every car so they can unload and load the riders.”

“Oh, God,” Caleb moaned. “Can I get off now?”

Mateo stiffened as he held in a laugh.

“Not now, Caleb. But it’s okay. You’re going to be okay. Take some deep breaths and picture something happy in your mind.”

“Like getting off,” Mateo supplied.

Archer glared at him, trying not to smile. You’re not helping, he mouthed.

Sorry, Mateo mouthed back, then he leaned over to look at Caleb. “Statistically, you’re more likely to die in the van on the way home than you are on this Ferris wheel.”

“Maybe don’t bring up dying?” Archer said through clenched teeth as Caleb started to hyperventilate.

Sorry, Mateo mouthed again.

Archer spent most of the ride making soothing noises at Caleb, but there was a moment at the top where Caleb stilled, eyes screwed shut as he clutched the edge of the car. Archer took a slow breath looking around at the green rolling hills and flashes of blue water around tiny Hallfield. Mateo took a deep, contented breath at the same time.

“It’s pretty,” Mateo said. His knee bumped Archer’s.

“Yeah,” Archer agreed.

Then Caleb let out another squeak and Archer went back to soothing.

It was definitely the longest Ferris wheel ride Archer had ever been on. When they were finally done, Caleb staggered out of their seat and down the stairs, face green.

“You did it!” Archer informed him. “Look at that!”

Caleb clutched his chest. “Never. Again.”

“Definitely never again,” Archer agreed.

“Excuse me, gentlemen.” A Black woman with a tight black bun and a frilly apron approached, clipboard in hand. “My name is Agnes, and I’m running the pie baking contest today. I was wondering if you three would be interested in judging for us?”

Caleb shook his head, face pinched as he pointed at himself. “Gluten-free.”

“Hmm, not you, then.” She turned to Archer and Mateo. “How about you two?”

Archer was awfully hungry, but … “How many pies do we have to eat, exactly?”

“You’ll each be given a slice of six different pies, but you don’t have to eat the whole thing. Just enough to rate them. Hallfield is famous for its pies, and I guarantee they will all be delicious.”

Archer looked at Mateo while Caleb went to collapse onto a bench. “I am hungry … I’m game if you are?”

Mateo nodded. “Let’s do it.”

“Wonderful!” Agnes beamed. “Follow me!”

“Are you coming, Caleb?” Archer called over to the slumped figure on the bench.

He offered a meek wave. “Go on without me. I’m going to go find some booze.”

“There was a pub back where we parked,” Mateo told him.