“Well, hell,” Cole muttered, and pulled her against him, pressing her face against his heartbeat. It made him hurt to think of Debbie trying to live down someone else’s shame. “It’s no big deal, you know. I wish they were still alive, girl. I’d like to thank them for putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. I’d hate to think of my world without you in it.”

She tried to smile past the tears but never made it. They spilled over and ran silently down her face.

“What’s wrong with Debbie?” Morgan asked. He’d relinquished the phone to Buddy and then suddenly became aware of the fact that everyone else wasn’t shouting for joy.

Cole answered without looking up. “You know how women are, Dad. She’s just happy.”

Morgan wrapped them both in his arms. “It’s been so long since we’ve had a woman on the place, I’d forgotten that little trick.” He grinned and hugged them tightly. “From the greeting you two gave each other this morning, it looks like I’m about to get a refresher course on it. All I can say is this has been one of the happiest days of my life. I got a grandson and another daughter handed to me.”

Cole’s eyebrows rose. His smile was lopsided as he stared his father straight in the face and tried not to sound too sarcastic as he said, “Well, Dad, it looks like you have everything all figured out. When you get the details in place, let Debbie and me know what’s happening.”

Debbie kicked Cole lightly in the shins and then ignored his gasp of pain.

“What did they name the baby?” she asked.

She knew that, with Cole, commitment did not automatically follow the act of love. That he felt deeply for her was an obvious given. He might even love her. But he’d said nothing to her. And when she heard it, it must be from his lips first. She didn’t want his father pressuring him into something he wasn’t ready to face.

“Oh! Right! A name! Buddy, give me the phone. I forgot to ask.”

Morgan made a dive for the phone and relegated Buddy to the sidelines again.

“I’m sorry,” Cole said.