I am self taught, and sometimes don't see the obvious.  I am having trouble figuring out the best defense to this risky (but sometimes lethal) and common opening.

 I am playing as black, and after king pawn openings, white moves Queen to h5 and bishop ot c4.

 Through trial and error, I figured out that I need to move Nc6 and d6.

 But where do I go from there?

This is a cheap opening hoping for scholars mate but it is easy to defend.

1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 Qe7 4....Nf6

YES   The Queen response at e7 is much better than my d6 pawn move.  Thanks

This should do the job.

When white looks to develop his knight to f3, black can then respond with Nd8 to defend the f7 pawn from the Bishop to check the king which is supported by the white queen and also allows black to later develop the king's bishop in order to castle.