Carly was also very much afraid that his fledgling feelings for her stemmed from emotions other than love. She was pregnant with his baby, and, being an honorable man, he felt a strong sense of obligation. She also feared that he might pity her. She wanted no part of anyone's pity, least of all his. When and if she allowed herself to love a man, it would be for all the right reasons, not the wrong ones.

"Thank you, Hank," she finally replied. "It helps to know it wasn't all just a meaningless game."

He reached to push her hair from her eyes, his smile so tender that her heart caught. "Is there a possibility-even a remote one-that you'll give me another chance? You won't regret it, I swear. I don't make the same mistakes twice. Next time, I promise you, Carly, it'll be as perfect as I can make it."

Oh, how she wished she might say yes. "I think it would be better if we just work at becoming friends," she forced herself to say. Gesturing at their surroundings, she said, "I'm not cut out for ranch life. If we forge emotional ties, it'll only make it that much harder when it's time for me to go."

He fell quiet for a long while. Then he nodded. "All right. Friends, it'll be. Just know that the offer is always open if you should change your mind."

The way Carly saw it, she had no options. She pushed hurriedly to her feet. Brushing at the back of her jeans, she flashed what she hoped was a carefree smile. "Back to the salt mines. I need to study, and you've got work that needs doing."

Chapter Seventeen.

As recently as a month ago, Hank would have laughed his ass off if anyone had told him he'd soon be married and glad of it. But every time he looked at Carly, that was how he felt. Perfect for him. The thought went through his mind, again and again.

On the Fourth, the entire Coulter clan and all those connected to the family, by marriage or by employment, gathered in the backyard of the main ranch house of the Lazy J for a picnic. Hank was provided with an opportunity to see his wife interact with members of his family, several friends, and all the ranch hands. All his brothers loved her, and she got along well with everyone else, even Shorty's cantankerous dog, Bart.

Running thirty minutes late, Hank's mother arrived bearing gifts for the baby-a sweater set, crocheted in variegated yellow, blue, and pink, and a pair of baby rattles, festively beribboned with pink and blue at the handles. When Carly saw the presents, her face flushed an alarming shade of scarlet.

Hank didn't blame her a bit for being embarrassed. They'd been married for exactly one week, she had no idea anyone knew about the baby yet, and the yard was teeming with people she barely knew. He stalked across the lawn, furious with his mother for being so insensitive. Fortunately, Carly recovered her composure by the time Hank reached her, and she defused both the situation and him by hugging Mary and thanking her.

"My mother crocheted," she said. "I felt so sad when I learned about the baby because I knew there'd be no pretty little sweaters and booties from Grandma. Now just look! Grandma is making things for my baby, after all."

Given the fact that Carly had probably never seen a baby sweater, Hank seriously doubted that she'd been wishing for one. But, true or not, the response was exactly what his mother needed to hear. Mary's eyes filled with tears, she beamed a huge smile, and promptly tugged a half-finished afghan from her bag.

"I'll have this finished soon to complete the ensemble."

Again, Carly made all the right noises, somehow managing to look pleased as punch.

A few minutes later, Hank drew her aside. "I'm sorry my mother did that. She just doesn't think sometimes."

"I was embarrassed at first, but then I decided it was silly. Things like this happen, and everyone would have found out soon, anyway. This way, we got it over with fast."

"I could wring Mom's neck." Hank looked out over the yard. In addition to his family, all the Kendrick clan had come, along with their Rocking K ranch foreman Sly Glass, who was married to Helen, Rafe Kendrick's mother-in-law. "She didn't mean to embarrass you. She's just happy about the baby and didn't stop to think."

"She's wonderful. And it's nice that she's so happy about the baby. Ever since I found out, I've been missing my mom so much. She was the first person I wanted to call when I tested positive. Now I've got your mom. She's a lovely substitute."

Hank was relieved to know she felt that way.

A few minutes later, his father drew him away from the gathering on the pretext that he wanted to see this year's crop of foals. En route to the pastures, Harv clamped a hand over Hank's shoulder and said, "Talk about the luck of the Irish. That girl's pretty as a picture and sweet to boot."

Hank nodded.

"You're coming to care for her, aren't you?"

"I'm in love with her, Dad." Hank reached the fence. After hooking a boot heel over the bottom rung and resting his arms on the top rail, he stared off at nothing. "I know it happened fast. I'm in so deep it scares the hell out of me."

"Do I take that to mean she doesn't return your feelings?"

Hank shook his head. "Just wants to be friends. That's a step forward, but it's nowhere close to where J Want us to be."

Harv settled in beside him. "Friendship works. You'll get her there."

Hank wasn't so sure. "We had a long talk yesterday, and she's more relaxed with me now. But that's the only encouraging sign."

"Time's on your side."

"That's true. She's still bent on eventually dissolving the marriage, though. Says she isn't cut out for ranch life."

"Not everyone is," Harv conceded. "But there's nothin' that says she has to be. Take Molly, for instance. She's a finance wizard. On the surface, her and Jake don't seem to have much in common. Couldn't be more different if they tried, in fact. But I can't recollect ever seeing a happier couple."

"Carly's a teacher. She wants to work with blind kids."

"She works with kids, you work with horses. You've got common ground."

"I never realized what an optimist you are. She's big city, I'm a country boy. She never even saw a horse 'til a week ago."

Harv mulled that over. "When it comes to love, I reckon I am an optimist. Look at your mama. Fell in love with her the minute I first clapped eyes on her. Couldn't have found a woman more different from me."

"You seem perfect for each other to me."

"We were like night and day at the beginning. I was a drinker and partier. She went to church three times a week, read her Bible atwixt and between, and swore lips that touched liquor would never touch hers. I think the girl starched her drawers."

Hank chuckled.

"I cussed like a sailor," Harv went on. "She wouldn't say 'shit' if she had a mouthful. For damned near the first six months of our marriage, I never saw her naked. Every time I got a twinkle in my eye, she turned off the lights and hid under the covers."

"Enough, Dad. I'm convinced my mother's still a virgin. Don't disillusion me."

Harv rubbed his jaw. "Yep. Pure as new snow, that's your mama." His mouth twitched at the corners. "My point is this. Different isn't always bad. Your mother brought fine things into my life-added some 'pretty,' if you know what I mean- and straightened me up in the process. Left me once, early on. For nigh on a week, as I recall. I had it in my head I could still drink and carry on like I always had, married or not. I didn't trifle on her. Never that. But she wasn't sure I hadn't."

"I never knew Mama left you."

"Oh yeah. Pregnant with Jake at the time. Had a tummy out to here." He gestured with his hand. "Wasn't easy, packin' her out of her daddy's house, I can tell you that. Didn't weigh much over a hundred pounds, fully clothed and soakin' wet, but it was damned hard to get a good hold without hurtin' her, especially with her hissin' and spittin', bound and determined not to go."

Hank stared incredulously at his father. "You forcefully removed my mother from Grandpa McBride's house?"

"She wasn't about to come home otherwise." Harv cocked an eyebrow. "Your mama's stubborn, in case you haven't noticed. Wouldn't listen to nothin' I said. When she first left me, I got my mad up and told myself I didn't care, but once my anger burned out, I missed her like blue blazes. That brought me nose to nose with reality. I couldn't live without her. What choice did I have but to go after her? Little hellcat blacked my eye before I got her settled down."

"Mom hit you?"

"Made me see stars. Her fist is a perfect fit for my eye socket."

"I never would've thought it. Mom's not the physically violent type."

"She's not so inclined as a general rule. But she was flat pissed that afternoon. I think she would've stomped me flat if she'd been packin' a little more ballast."

"No wonder Grandpa had a problem with you."

Harv laughed. "By then, your grandpa knew how much I loved her, son. When I showed up, ready to fight buzz saws and win, he already had her bags sittin' on the porch. While he helped me load 'em in the truck, he said all newlyweds went through an adjustment period, and if I wanted to keep my Mary, I'd best start doin' a heap of adjustin'."

"In other words, you were the one who had some changing to do."

Harv nodded. "Even with all the changin', though, your mother and I are still mighty different. She came my way a little. I went her way a lot. We met somewhere in between. To this day, I can't really say I understand how her mind works more'n half the time, and she'd probably say the same of me. Life is full of surprises. I like it that way, and so does she."

Hank sighed. "It's weird, hearing stories like that. I can't remember you and Mama having a single fight."

"If you'd been me, would you have fought with her again?"

Hank thought about it. His father outweighed his mother by a fair hundred pounds and could have knocked her flat with one blow of his fist. "No, I don't guess I would. Doesn't sound like she fought fair."

They fell quiet for a time, both of them grinning sheepishly. Finally, Harv asked, "Where was I? I've flat forgot."

"I think you were trying to tell me that a few changes might swing the vote in my favor. Ordinarily, that might work, but Carly has a problem with my being a rancher. A man can't change the basic package."

"Nope. But he can sure as hell wrap it up in prettier paper." Harv patted Hank's shoulder and straightened away from the fence. "You'll coax her around to your way of thinkin', son. You're a Coulter, aren't you?"

As much as Carly enjoyed the Fourth of July picnic, she was weary by early evening and more than ready for a relaxing drive into town to see the fireworks. An hour after the picnic mess was cleared away, practically everyone who had attended the party was parked along the lakeshore, the pickups backed in toward the water for optimal viewing.

"The Kendrick/Coulter version of a tailgate party," Hank said.

Carly sat with Hank in the bed of his truck, their backs braced against the cab. He'd brought along two army blankets, one folded beneath them for padding, the other draped over their outstretched legs to ward off the chill that always descended after dark at such a high altitude. To their right, Rafe and Maggie Ken-drick, Bethany's brother-in-law and his wife, were awaiting the display in much the same fashion, except that they were snuggling like newlyweds while their two children napped inside their vehicle. To Carly and Hank's left, Bethany and her husband Ryan were perched on the open tailgate of their Dodge, their son Sly asleep in the cradle of Ryan's arm.

"How come Ryan and Bethany named their son after a ranch foreman?" Carly asked.

Hank smiled. "Sylvester Glass is a great old fellow. Ryan thinks of him as a second father, and Bethany fell in love with the old fart shortly after she married Ryan. I guess they wanted to honor him."

"Ah." Carly liked the fact that the wealthy Kendricks weren't so high on themselves that they looked down on their employees. "That's nice." She sighed and added, "It's

fun, knowing everyone who's parked around us."Hank narrowed his gaze on his brother Jake and sister-in-law Molly, who'd spread ablanket on the ground down by the water, their son Garret soundly asleep besidethem. "If that situation warms up, you may change your tune."

Carly squinted to see. Then she giggled. As blurry as her vision was at a distance,she could see that Hank's older brother was passionately kissing his wife. "Uh-oh."

Hank grinned. Then he yelled, "Jake! None of that in public."Jake merely cocked the brim of his Stetson to impede Hank's view. Not wishing toinfringe on the couple's privacy, Carly averted her gaze, only to discover that Rafeand Maggie were also sharing an intimate kiss.

"My goodness."

Hank chuckled. "You get embarrassed about being seen with 'em, just holler. I'll loanyou my hat."She glanced up at his Stetson. "What earthly good would that do?""You can tip it down over your face so nobody sees it.""No way. The fireworks might start.""Seems to me they already have." He drew up a knee. "You comfy?"She shifted. "Except for the metal ridge poking my shoulder blades."He glanced behind her. "Damn. It is jabbing your shoulder blades. I'm taller. Doesn't bother me." He drew away the blanket and bent both knees. "Sit between my legs. Imake a great backrest."Carly glanced at the fly of his jeans. "I'm fine right here."

"Don't be silly. Come on."She didn't think it was a good idea. But he kept insisting, and she didn't want him tothink she was afraid to be close to him. As she settled between his spread knees, heslipped a hard arm around her waist, which made her leap with a start. She felt his chest jerk with laughter.

"Relax. We're surrounded by people." He splayed his hand over her ribs. "If I'm gonna make a move on you, do you really think I'd do it here?"

As she recalled, he hadn't let the presence of others stop him once before. Her trepidation mounted slightly when he flipped the blanket back over them, hiding both her and his hand from view.

"No funny stuff. I promise," he assured her.

Just to be sure, Carly curled a hand over his broad wrist, which made him laugh again. "You don't trust me any farther than you can throw me."

"It's not a question of trusting you," she replied.

The instant the words left Carly's mouth, she knew they were true. She had come to trust Hank. She just wasn't at all sure she could trust herself. That night outside the bar, she'd responded to him with heedless abandon, her inhibitions swept away by the feelings he evoked within her. Now that they'd talked and resolved so many of the issues between them, what was to say she wouldn't respond to him that way again?

He removed his hat and rested his cheek against her hair. His breath sifted through the strands, tickling her ear. Carly's lashes swept low, and a delicious languor stole over her. It was lovely, being held by him. Even as darkness fell and closed around them, she felt absolutely safe.

She heard Bethany giggling. Then the deep timbre of Ryan's voice carried to them through the night. Bethany giggled again. "Ryan, stop it. What if Sly wakes up?"

"We should have parked by my folks," Hank said with a disgruntled sigh. "Strike that. They're probably fooling around, too."

Carly thought it was lovely to see married people still so deeply in love. They all seemed so happy, which had the perverse effect of making Carly feel sad. Would she ever experience love like that-or anything even close?

"You okay?" Hank asked.

"I'm fine," she said brightly.

"Now that it's dark, it shouldn't be long before the show starts."

His voice rumbled in his chest, treating her shoulder blades to tingling little shocks of sensation. Under the blanket, he tightened his arm around her. Then, using his free hand, he trailed his fingertips over her arm, seeking out sensitive spots she hadn't realized she had. When he reached the bend of her elbow and began circling lightly over the sensitive skin there, she shivered and nearly moaned in delight. Dangerous thoughts slipped into her mind-thoughts of his hands touching her like that everywhere.

She was about to ask him to stop when she heard a distant boom, like the discharge of a cannon. Hank's breath stirred her hair as he said, "Ah-hah. Here it comes, sweetheart. Feast your eyes on your first fireworks display."

The sky lit up with colorful bursts of light, the patriotic spray of red, white, and blue so brilliant that Carly forgot all about the way he'd been touching her. "Oh, my goodness! Our flag! Oh, how beautiful! What a perfect way to begin. Sometimes I forget the Fourth is Independence Day. We should all be thinking of the sacrifices that made our freedom possible." Another burst of patriotic color lit the sky. "Oh, Hank! Just look at that."

"You like it, do you?" Against her hair, she felt his lips curve in a smile. "It is beautiful. Isn't it? I'm always amazed at what they can do."

"Another flag. I can't believe it," she whispered as the design began to disintegrate.

He drew her more snugly against him, his hand shifting slightly on her ribs but not actually moving. Carly relaxed, her gaze fixed on the sky until the last bursts of light faded away.

A booming sound came again. "Here comes another one." , Carly rested her head in the hollow of his shoulder. When the third display filled the sky, she marveled at the colors and brilliance that streamed through the darkness. It wasn't just her first fireworks display, she decided, but the very first time she'd ever really experienced the Fourth of July in the same way other people did.

"I'm going to remember this night for the rest of my life," she told Hank softly.

"Me too," he whispered. "Me too."

Over the holiday weekend, Hank began to fear that Carly's sight was growing worse at a faster rate than she was willing to admit. On Saturday at lunch, she reached for her glass and knocked it over. Later that day, he caught her peering at things as though trying to make them out. On Sunday evening as he passed the open doorway of her bedroom, he saw her holding her hand at arm's length, staring at her splayed fingers. He couldn't imagine how horrible it must be for her, knowing that darkness might soon return.