“They had unprotected sex only once, and she’s pregnant? Wow.”

Erin sent him a loaded look. “Wyatt, it only takes once. Didn’t you learn that in sex education?”

“Of course, and during my brief time as a player, I always wore protection. But I figured the teachers just told kids that to scare the bejesus out of them.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Nope. They were telling the truth. It is a pretty scary thought, though. I’ll bet Julie was beside herself when she first found out. Blackie is fifty-three, and the last thing he wanted was a baby. Apparently, he’s changed his mind. It sounds as if they’re over the moon about it now. And get this! They’ve gotten a marriage license and have a preacher all lined up. They want to get married fast because of the baby. And I don’t have to go back down the mountain for the wedding, because they think it’ll be romantic and fun to say their vows up here by the lake on the day Four Toes is introduced to his little lady bear. She says most of their favorite townspeople will be up here for the campout, anyway. She won’t even have to send invitations.”

Wyatt put his hands on his hips and gazed at the lake, which lapped at the grassy shore like molten sapphires. “It sure is beautiful. I can think of worse places to get married. In fact, I think it’s a pretty great idea. Out here, surrounded by nature. Does it get any better than that?”

For the rest of the afternoon, Wyatt didn’t talk much. Erin worried that he was regretting his snap decision to make love with her, and a chink developed in her newfound armor of confidence. She hadn’t asked for forever when she’d propositioned him last night. In fact, she’d double-dared him to have sex with her. She guessed that hadn’t been one of her most stellar moments. She’d made this trip out to be a vacation from Wyatt’s reality, and she’d made no conditions. All for fun, no ties to bind.

By dinnertime, he still wasn’t saying much, and an ache had taken up residence in Erin’s chest. She wouldn’t be the first woman to love a man with all her heart and not be loved in return.

Over an evening meal of steak and baked potatoes cooked in foil on hot coals, Wyatt asked, “So do you still think ranching is your cup of tea?”

Erin didn’t take the question lightly. “I know I still have heaps to learn, but, yes, I still believe the ranch is where I belong. Maybe it’s in my blood. My mom came from generations of ranchers, after all. I feel at peace down at Uncle Slade’s. I can’t explain it, Wyatt, but it feels as if I’ve been lost all my life and finally came home. I really enjoy the animals. That surprises me. I didn’t set out to be a horse enthusiast, but they’ve grown on me.”