Troubled by the thought, Hank got on the computer up at the main house the next morning to surf the Net, then visited the Crystal Falls library that afternoon. After doing some research on lattice dystrophy and the sighted blind, he was better able to understand Carly's disease, the surgical procedures that would hopefully restore her sight, and the problems she was having with her visual cortex.

The fact he discovered that most amazed him was that lattice dystrophy could be extremely painful, making the eyes hurt nearly all the time, especially when exposed to bright light. Bess had told him about that, and he'd tried at first to be considerate, but with Carly never mentioning the eye pain, he'd forgotten over time. Hank remembered how raptly she'd watched the fireworks at the lake, barely taking her eyes from the sky for fear she'd miss something. He suspected that the bright bursts of light had caused her pain, but she hadn't let on or closed her eyes to spare herself discomfort. I'll never forget this night, she'd whispered.

No guarantees. That was another fact Hank verified as he researched her disease. The second surgery might restore her sight, but then again, it might not.

Dozens of different things could go wrong, and it was entirely possible that Carly might never see another fireworks display. That was why she'd endured the bright flares of light and stared unblinkingly at the sky. Each day of sight truly was a precious gift.

Hank intended to take her to the Portland Zoo on Tuesday, the fifteenth, but that was a week away. In the meantime, he didn't want her to be cooped up in the cabin with her nose stuck in a book. She needed to be going places, seeing things, and making memories, not wasting this precious time trying to train a visual cortex she had no guarantee she'd ever be able to use.

Hank cornered Jake in the stable on Tuesday morning. "I need to take some time off,"

he told his brother.

Jake left off working with a colt. After closing the stall door, he said, "It's our busiesttime of year, Hank. I don't need to tell you that."

Hank swept off his hat and slapped it against his leg. "I know it's a hell of a time toleave you in the lurch, but I don't have a choice. I'll do as much as I can around here,Jake, but for the most part, I need to be freed up."

As briefly as possible, Hank explained his reasons. "Except for Portland and a tour ofthe Crater Lake area, we'll do mostly day trips. I'd like her to see as much as shepossibly can before the lights go Out. You know? Even a few day hikes would bebetter than nothing. She's probably never clapped eyes on a waterfall or watched thesun go down over the Cascades. I want her to have those memories."

His expression solemn, Jake finally nodded. "I'll cover for you."

"I appreciate it. I know I'm putting you in a hell of a spot. But it's something I've gotto do. By this time next week, she could be blind. I have no way of knowing."

"Go. I'll call Dad and ask him to help out. He'll enjoy working with the horses. We'llhandle it."

Hank retreated a step. "Thanks, big brother. I owe you one."

Carly was getting a drink of water when she heard the front door open. By now, sherecognized the distinctive rhythm of Hank's stride as he crossed the living room."Carly?" he called. "Where are you, honey?"

"Right here." She stepped out from the kitchen. "Is something wrong?"He flashed that slow, lazy grin that never failed to make her insides tingle. "No, Mrs.Coulter, everything's absolutely right." He gestured at her sandals. "Get yoursneakers on. We're going for a drive."

"Where to?""I don't know yet. Someplace special."

The mischievous expression on his face made her smile. "You don't know, but it's someplace special? How does that make sense?"

"Doesn't have to make sense. I'm taking some time off so we can go see some sights." Carly understood then, and knowing what he had in mind made her heart pang. "You can't take off work. We have so many expenses coming."

"How many times do I have to tell you I'll worry about the finances? Go get your shoes on. Grab a sweater, too, just in case we get back late. I don't want you taking a chill."

Carly hurried into the bedroom, excited to be going somewhere. They were going to see some sights! Yes. She doubted there were that many things to see around Crystal Falls, but just visiting a few places would be fun.

That afternoon, Hank took her to the high desert. After he parked the truck on an old dirt road, Carly stared across the barren expanse of flatland, wondering why he had stopped. All she saw were clumps of sage and dirt.

"Isn't that beautiful?" he asked softly.Carly realized he was staring off at the horizon. She followed his gaze and sawnothing but an indistinct red blur. Oh, God. He'd taken off from work, driven for miles, and wasted gasoline, all so she could see something pretty, and now shecouldn't.Carly almost told him. Only she couldn't bring herself to do it. This was his gift to her. It didn't matter if she could enjoy it. What counted was the thought behind it."Oh yes," she said. "That's gorgeous, Hank.""The country's not much, but the rock formations out here are fantastic.""They sure are.""That one's called Old Man.""Ah. I can see why," she said.She felt him studying her. "Can you see clearly enough to make out his face and- stuff?"

"Hmm." She forced a smile and nodded. "Yes, I do see his face."

Watching her, Hank knew she was lying, not because she failed to pull it off with aplomb, but because she wasn't blushing to the roots of her hair. Old Man, the formation before them, truly did look like an old man lying on his back. One could see the clear outline of his facial profile at one end, his toes poking up at the other, and midway in between, a certain part of his anatomy was prominently displayed.

Just to be certain he wasn't misreading the situation, he said, "Mother Nature is really something. You'd swear it was a man standing there. I can even see his belt buckle."

When she nodded and beamed another smile, Hank's heart sank. "You're right!" she exclaimed. "I do see his belt buckle."

"Carly?"

"Hmm?"

She turned those beautiful blue eyes on him. Looking into them, Hank could scarcely believe that they were diseased. They were as clear as deep pools of blue water.

"You can't see the rock at all, can you?" he asked.

A stricken expression crossed her face. She caught her lower lip in her teeth and slowly shook her head, her eyes going bright with tears. "I'm sorry. You drove all this way and took off work. I'm so sorry."

She was sorry? She was the one going blind, damn it, not him. Why? It just wasn't fair. He doubted she'd ever done a wrong thing to anyone in her life.

"We need to talk," he said firmly. "You haven't been leveling with me about your eyes. If your sight has gotten that bad, why haven't you said something?"

She stared blankly out the windshield, her face taut and pale. Hank wondered how far into the distance she could see.

"I've been-I don't know-kidding myself, I guess." She placed her hands on her thighs and bunched them into tight fists. "Hoping it might stop, telling myself it wasn't that bad yet. As for why I didn't say anything-'' She broke off and swallowed convulsively. "When you say things out loud, they seem more real, not just secret fears anymore. I didn't want it to be true, so I just kept quiet, hoping it might get better."

Hank ached to gather her into his arms.

She bent her head, brushed at her jeans, and then plucked at the denim as though removing specks of lint. "And I feel so guilty."

"Guilty? For what?"

She went back to staring out the window. "I knew from the start that I might go blind during my pregnancy, but I never dreamed it'd happen this fast. In a few months, maybe, and I hoped I wouldn't go totally blind, even then. Some pregnant women get lucky, and I so wanted to be one of them."

Hank could completely understand her having that hope. Who wouldn't? But he still wasn't clear on why that made her feel guilty.

"It doesn't appear that I will be," she said. "All indications are that I may go blind very quickly. Saddling you with a blind wife for a few months was one thing, but now it looks as if you'll be saddled with one for a year or longer. I told you once how difficult it would be, that blind people have all kinds of special needs. You said everything would be okay. But I don't think you comprehend what you've gotten yourself into."

"You feel guilty because you're afraid you'll be a burden on me?" he asked incredulously.

She nodded. "If I'd known it would happen this fast, I never would have-"

"Hold it." Hank reached out to grasp her chin and make her look at him. "Don't even go there, sweetheart. I went into this with my eyes wide open."

"How could you possibly? You had no idea it would happen this fast, and you've got no clue what you're in for." She twisted her face from his grasp. "The kitchen cupboards, for instance. Right now, they're arranged any old which way, and you can put things back wherever there's space. When I go blind, nothing can be out of place. Nothing. And that's just for starters. You throw your clothes on the floor. You kick off your boots and leave them lay. You pull chairs out and don't put them back. When my sight goes, I won't be able to live like that."

Hank had never considered just how much he would have to change in order to make this arrangement work. "You won't have to live like that," he assured her. "I'll become a neat freak."

She laughed shakily, which told him she was perilously close to tears. "You, a neat freak?"

"I'm not that old a dog. I can still learn a few new tricks. It'll be a simple matter of organizing everything so you can find it and changing my habits."

"I never meant to make you live that way for months on end."

"What was the alternative? As I recall, I didn't offer you a choice."

"I should have stood firm and refused to marry you. You never would have taken my baby away from me, Hank. Now that I've gotten to know you better, I feel silly for ever having believed you might."

Hank smiled sadly. "So you've got my number now, do you?"

"Yep, just like those silly chickens that won't go into cardiac arrest when you chase them. You're a big love, just like Sugar and Sonora Sunset. And knowing you are makes me feel even worse. It's one thing to make a not-very-nice person miserable. It's quite another when he turns out to be one of the most wonderful people you've ever known."

That she'd come to think so highly of him meant more to Hank than he could say. "Thank you for that," he said huskily. "That's one of the nicest things anyone's ever said to me."

"I'm just so sorry for doing this to you," she whispered.

"Shit happens. I'd give anything for you to be able to see all through this pregnancy, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen."

"No," she agreed, the word trembling from her lips on a weary sigh.

"That being the case, let's get a few things straight. No matter how difficult it may be to live with a blind person"-he smiled and winked to soften those words-"I won't think of it as a burden. I knew from the start that you might lose your sight very quickly. I pray to God you aren't blind for a year, but if you are, we'll deal with it."

"It's not going to be easy."Nothing worth having came easy. "Does that mean it won't be boring? I hate boring."She laughed wetly. "Nope. It definitely won't be boring.""Good."They fell silent and simply looked at each other for a long moment. Then she said, "I think it's important to keep a positive attitude. Mind over matter, and all that."Hank was all for her keeping a positive attitude. If anyone had the strength of will tobeat the odds, it had to be her. "Damn straight. If the lattice suddenly backs off, youmay still be able to see when you're nine months along." He winked at her again.

"Except for your toes, of course. I have it from a credible source, my sister-in-lawMolly, that pregnant ladies can't see their toes the last three months."She laughed. "Being able to see my toes is the least of my concerns.""I know." He gave her hand a final squeeze. "No more worrying. If your sight goes, we'll organize the house. It shouldn't take but a few days.""Shouldn't we start on that now?""Hell, no. We've got sightseeing to do."She gestured at the horizon. "I can't see the sights, Hank."He cranked the ignition. "That only means I need to get closer."When he took off across Open country, Carly grabbed the dash. "There's no road!"

she said with a laugh.

"That's the beauty of a four-wheel drive, darlin'. We don't need a road." He smiledover at her. "I'll take it slow. If it gets too bumpy for comfort, holler."Carly was bouncing from her seat, but the cushioned upholstery provided her with a soft landing. Even if it hadn't, she wouldn't have asked him to stop. She was going to

see the rock formation, after all.A few minutes later, she could finally make out the craggy red rock, cast against aclear, powder-blue sky. "Oh!" she cried, her awe heartfelt this time. "How pretty!

And it does look like an old man. He's lying on his back."

Hank chuckled. "That's right."

She fixed her gaze on the formation again. "I can see his toes poking up. And his knees." Her voice trailed away, and her cheeks went pink. "It really does look like a man lying there. Doesn't it?"

"Yep, all parts of one. Now I know you can see him. You're blushing."

From there, Hank headed east. Carly got to see a herd of deer along the road, which was exciting. Later they passed a group of antelope, which were close enough for her to make out. Then, just when she thought she'd seen it all, Hank slammed on the brakes and pointed to the top of a power pole.

"Bald eagle," he said.

Carly leaned forward to see. "Ohmigosh! Isn't he beautiful?" She cast Hank a bewildered look. "He's not bald. I thought they were featherless on top."

He burst out laughing.

At dusk, Hank stopped at a roadside cafe and got them sandwiches. A few minutes later, they ate while watching the sun go down over the desert. Carly had seen few things so spectacular. As the sun dipped low, it sent shafts of brilliant white light through the fluffy white clouds that were gathering on the horizon. Moments later, the entire sky turned a beautiful shade of dusty rose.

Pocketing a bite of food in her cheek, she said, "Thank you for bringing me here, Hank. This is magnificent."

"Enjoy," he said softly. "It won't last long."

He was right; the sunset didn't last long. But she knew she'd have a memory of it for the rest of her life.

As full darkness descended, Hank settled back and asked, "What's it like?"

His voice was so husky and thick with sadness that Carly immediately knew what he was asking about. "It's not real bad yet-sort of like looking through lightly steamed glass or a thin fog."

He said nothing, just sat there, a black shape in the darkness.

"I'm going to be all right, Hank. I'm used to being blind."

"I know you'll be all right, honey. I just wish God would give us a miracle."

"Maybe he will. If not, I think it'll be easier this time. Before, I had never seen the sky or the stars. When people spoke of a beautiful sunset, I couldn't picture it. What did pink look like? What did blue look like? I had no idea. Now I've seen a lot of things, and I'll have all those images in my mind."

Hank meant to make sure she saw a lot more things before her sight went. Images in my mind. Those words whispered inside his head all the way home. He had no idea how much longer she'd be able to see. He only knew they were going to make every second count.

Chapter Eighteen.

For the remainder of that week and through the weekend, Carly came to feel like a vacationer with only a few days left to play. Hank took her for long drives to see everything in the area-rivers, snow-capped mountain peaks, forested high lake areas, and quaint lake resorts. They picnicked in grassy meadows dotted with dandelions and clumps of clover, napping afterward on the wool army blanket he kept in the truck. At other times, they dined in unique restaurants overlooking streams and lakes so she could enjoy the views even while she ate. When the vistas were too far away for her to see them clearly, Hank went to incredible lengths to get her closer.

For Carly, it was a magical interlude before darkness fell-a time for mischief and laughter and harmless flirtations with an incredibly handsome man who never pressed her for more. Holding hands. Wrestling and playing tag. Walking through the forest when the earth was dappled with sunlight. Dancing with only the wind to provide them with music.

Sometimes, at particularly pretty viewpoints, they'd find a comfortable place to sit and remain there for an hour or more, drinking in the panoramic vistas. During those stops, Hank pointed out things that Carly might have missed-the spots on a fawn, a squirrel clinging to a branch, or clouds shaped like animals. During those lulls, he sometimes held her hand and toyed with her fingers. At other times, he'd casually drape an arm over her shoulders, his hand lightly caressing her skin through her blouse.

In those first three days, Carly cataloged countless memories of the world around her. She saw one of the largest obsidian flows in the world, a lava bed that stretched forever, and a spectacular view of Central Oregon from the top of Shoshone Peak. She couldn't see as far into the distance as she would have liked, but all that she could see was beautiful. She had to be content with that.

After touring the immediate area, they ventured farther afield, traveling the scenic Highway 101 into northern California to see the Redwood National Park. From there, they went to Crater Lake, where they spent a day hiking the trails to incredible viewpoints and taking a boat tour so Carly could clearly see Wizard Island.

With the passing of each idyllic moment, Carly became more achingly aware of Hank physically-of his height and breadth, of the way the muscles in his back and arms stretched his shirt taut when he moved, of the lazy, powerfully fluid shift of his lean hips as he walked. She found herself recalling that morning when he'd stripped off his shirt and posed for her-and she yearned to see him that way just one more time.

After Crater Lake, they cut across to Lake Lemolo, rented a small chalet by the water, and spent the evening in the quaint little resort bar, enjoying hamburgers for supper, drinking Seven-Up, and dancing to jukebox music long into the evening.