“He should be told that if he can’t mind his manners, he won’t be included anymore.”

“The problem with that is it would leave Jo out—and she’s good people. I feel a whole lot sorrier for Jo than any of the women he pesters,” Connie said. “Makes her look like a damn fool. We can pretty much take care of ourselves.” She patted Mel’s arm. “And you, girl—I doubt he’s going to give you any more trouble.”

At nine o’clock the party abruptly ended. It was as though someone had rung a bell—

all the women gathered up their dishes, men stacked up plates and picked up trash, goodbyes were being said and people were filing out the door. Mel was at the back of the group, following, when Jack called her. “Hold up,” he said. So she went back and jumped up on the stool. He put a cup of coffee in front of her. “Did I call you a city girl?” he asked with a smile.

“I didn’t even know I could still do that,” she said, accepting the coffee.

“Mind if I ask how you learned that?”

“It was a long time ago—when I was in my last year of college. There had been some rapes around the campus and a bunch of us went to a self-defense instructor together. To tell you the truth, I was never sure that would work in a real situation. I mean, with an instructor, mats on the floor, everything rehearsed and knowing exactly what to expect—that’s one thing. But I wasn’t sure I could react the same way if a real rapist jumped out from behind a parked car.”

“Now you know. He never saw it coming.”

“Yeah, that worked to my advantage, too.” She sipped her coffee.

“I didn’t see what he did,” he said. “I could tell by the stupid grin on his face and the shocked look on yours that something happened.”

She put her cup on the bar. “Major butt grope,” she said. And she noted that Jack’s expression went instantly dark; mean, narrowed eyes, deep frown. “Whew, easy buddy, it wasn’t your butt. I saw you making a move—what were you about to do?”

“Way too much,” he said. “I don’t like seeing something like that in my bar. I was watching him all night. The second he saw you, it was a target lock-on.”

“He was a giant nuisance, but I’m pretty sure he’ll leave me alone now,” she said. “It was kind of funny the way the party just suddenly stopped like that. Did someone look at their watch or something?”

“Livestock don’t give days off,” he said.

“Neither do babies,” she said, getting off the stool.

“I’ll walk you,” Jack said.

“You don’t have to, Jack. I’m okay.”

He came around the bar anyway. “Indulge me. It’s been an interesting night.” He took her arm, telling himself he was just being gentlemanly but, in fact, if he saw the chance, he was going to get his lips on hers. He’d been wanting to kiss her for days. They walked across the porch and down the steps, out into the street. There were no streetlights, but the moon was high and full and cast a soft glow over the town. There was a light on in the upstairs bedroom at Doc’s. Jack stopped right in the middle of the street. “Look, Mel. Look at that sky. You can’t find that anywhere else on earth. All those stars, that moon—the clear black sky. That belongs to us.”

She looked up at the most gorgeous sky imaginable, with more stars than she thought existed. He stepped behind her and with his hands on both of her upper arms, he gently squeezed.

“You just can’t see this in the city. In any city.”

“It is beautiful,” she said softly. “I admit, this is beautiful country.”

“It’s majestic. One of these days, before you pack it in and run for your life, I’d like to show you some things. The redwoods, the rivers, the coast. It’s almost time for whale watching.” She leaned back against him and couldn’t deny it felt pretty good to be shored up by Jack. “I’m sorry about what happened tonight.” He leaned down and inhaled the scent of her hair. “I was really impressed with how well you handled it—

but I’m sorry he…I hate that he touched you like that. I thought I had an eye on him.”

“Too quick for me. Too quick for you,” she said.

He turned her around and looked into her eyes. He thought he saw an invitation there in her upturned face and he lowered his.

She put a hand on his chest. “I have to go in now,” she said, a little breathless. He straightened.

“We both know I couldn’t throw you,” she said, smiling weakly.

“You’ll never have to,” he said. But he still held her arms, so reluctant to let go.

“Good night, Jack. And thanks for everything. Despite Nick—I had a good time.”

“Glad to hear it,” he said. And he let go.

She turned, and with her head down, went the rest of the way alone. He stood in the street until she was inside, then headed back to the bar. On his way, he saw Ricky’s truck parked right in front of Connie’s house. Well, damn—the boy sure didn’t waste any time. Ricky didn’t have a mom or dad and his grandmother wasn’t well. Jack had been looking out for him for a long time and he knew this day would come eventually—they’d have to have THE talk. But not tonight. Tonight Jack would have that talk with himself.

Preacher had the chairs upside down on the tables and was sweeping up. Jack walked right by him at a good clip. “Where you going in such a hurry?” Preacher asked.

“Shower,” he said miserably.

It was because Connie and Ron liked Ricky so much that they had no problem with him staying out in front of the house talking with Liz for a few minutes. They trusted him, he knew this. But maybe they shouldn’t because if they knew what one look at Liz had done to him, they’d lock her up.

She leaned against the porch, crossed her legs in front of her, pulled a cigarette out of her purse and lit it.

“What are you doing that for?” he asked her.

“Got a problem with it?” she said, blowing out smoke.

He shrugged. “Makes your mouth taste like shit,” he said. “No one’s going to want to kiss you if you smoke.”

She smiled at him. “Someone wants to kiss me?” she asked.

He took the cigarette out of her hand and tossed it. Then he grabbed her around the waist and brought her onto his lips. Yeah, he thought. Makes your mouth taste bad, but not bad enough.

She curved right to him and of course it happened to him. Happened all the time these days. When she opened her mouth and pressed harder against him, it happened even more. Holy God, he was dying. He could feel her full, hard breasts against his chest and right now all he wanted was to palm one. Against her lips he said, “You shouldn’t smoke.”

“Yeah.”

“It’ll cut your life short.”

“We wouldn’t want that.”

“You’re beautiful,” he said. “Really beautiful.”

“So are you.”

“Guys aren’t beautiful. You want a ride to school Monday?”

“Sure. What time?”

“Pick you up at seven. What class are you?”

“Freshman,” she said.

It stopped happening to him real fast. “Four…fourteen?” he asked her.

“Yeah. And you’re…?”

“Ah…A junior. Sixteen.” He backed away a little. “Damn. Holy God.”

“Did I just lose my ride?” she asked, tugging her sweater down a little bit, which only made her boobs pop out more.

He smiled at her. “Nah. What the heck, huh? See you Monday morning.” He started to walk away, then turned back abruptly and decided on another kiss. Deep and strong. Long. And then another, still longer. Maybe deeper. She sure didn’t feel fourteen.

Chapter Six

O ne morning, Doc left the house early, before breakfast, to make a call. He hadn’t been gone long when Lilly Anderson came to the office to see Mel. Lilly was in the same general age group with Connie and Joy and most of the other women Mel had met—late forties to early fifties. She was pleasantly round with a soft, kind face and lots of short, curly brown hair strung with gray. She wore no makeup and her skin was perfect, blemish-free ivory with pink cheeks and a sweet dimpled smile. The moment Mel met her at the potluck, she’d sensed a safe, nurturing way about her. Mel instantly liked her, trusted her. “You still have that little one, that baby?” Lilly asked.

“I do,” Mel said.

“I’m surprised no one has come forward, wanting to take her in, adopt her.”

“I’m kind of surprised by that, too,” Mel said.

“Perfect healthy little baby,” she said. “What about all those people who want to adopt healthy babies? Where are they?”

Mel shrugged. “Maybe it’s just a matter of social services getting their ducks in a row—I understand they’re busy and small towns like this get put on the back burner.”

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. I thought, well, maybe I could help out,” Lilly said.

“That’s nice of you,” Mel said. “Do you live nearby? Because sometimes it’s nice for me and Doc to get a break for a few hours. Especially if we have patients.”

“We’re ranchers—I’m on the other side of the river, but it’s not so far. Thing is, I already raised six youngsters—had my first at only nineteen and my baby is eighteen now and already married. But I have room at the house, what with the kids gone off on their own. I could take in the baby until something permanent is arranged for her. I even have those old baby things stored in the barn. Maybe I could be a foster parent. Buck, my husband, he says it would be okay.”

“That’s very generous, Lilly, but I’m afraid we couldn’t pay you anything.”

“I wouldn’t need pay,” she said. “It’s just a neighborly thing. We help out when we can. And I do love babies.”

“Let me ask you something—have you any idea who might’ve had this baby?”

She shook her head and looked terribly pained. “You have to ask yourself, what kind of woman would give up her baby? Maybe some young girl in trouble, no one to help her. I raised three daughters and by the grace of God, none had to pass that way. I have seven grandchildren already.”

“That’s the beauty of starting early,” Mel said. “Your grandchildren come along while you’re still young enough to enjoy them.”

“I’m blessed,” she said. “I know this. I can only imagine that whoever left her must have been desperate, so desperate.” Mel thought Lilly might have even briefly had tears in her eyes.

“Well, I’ll take your offer to Doc and see what he says. You’re sure? Because I can give you some formula and diapers, and that’s all.”

“I’m sure. And please tell Doc I’d be more than happy to do it.”

When Doc returned an hour later, Mel told him the story. His white eyebrows shot up in surprise and he rubbed a hand over his head. “Lilly Anderson?” he asked. He seemed to be considering this idea with some consternation.

“Does something about that worry you, because we can make do here a while longer…”

“Worry me? No.” He collected himself. “Surprises me, is all.” And he shuffled off to his office.

She followed him. “Well? You didn’t have an answer.”

He turned back toward her. “Can’t think of a better place for that infant than Lilly’s,”

he said. “Lilly and Buck are good people. And they know what to do with a baby, that’s for sure.”

“You don’t need time to think about this?” she asked.