Green Bethune was to be hers.... What was it that drew her instead to this riverboat captain?

Not wanting Mama to look down from her bedroom window and see them, Lily led Harrison to the kitchen herb and vegetable garden.

"Stop!" The captain grasped her hand.

Catching her breath at his touch and the soap scented nearness of him, she turned her eyes from his face toward his pointing finger with difficulty.

Silently they watched a tiny hummingbird. Its round, green body and blur of wings made an enchanting picture as it darted from one deep-throated orange lily to another. Barely drawing breath, they said nothing until the exquisite creature had flown to the top of a tall pine. Each seemed to feel the other a kindred spirit. She had not realized they were still clasping hands until a hardy voice broke their shared silence.

"Good morning you two."

Self-consciously, they drew apart physically, and turned to see Green Bethune striding toward them.