boys start sleepin’ through the night.”
“Amen,” Randall said. He lifted his glass to that.
“They’re a right handful,” Earl agreed. “Two handfuls.” He chuckled, pleased. “Did you see the way Philip was smiling tonight? I’m sure it was a smile. He’s old enough to start smiling. David, too. I’d swear he giggled at me. And that James has got a twinkle in his eye. Right smart laddie, our James. Goin’ to be a fine earl someday. And little William. His eyes follow me everywhere I move. I swear those are the smartest, finest grandbabies a man could have.
“You two ought to be thanking your old grandfather. Weren’t for me you’d still be slaving away on all those newspapers, Randall. All work and no play. And you’d still be a shiftless run-around eight-second cowboy, Gabriel. All play and no work. So, what do you have to say for yourselves, lads? Lads?”
He looked from one to the other. Gabe’s whiskey, untouched, sat on the coffee table. Gabe’s eyes were closed. He emitted a soft snore. A glance in Randall’s direction showed Randall doing exactly the same.
Earl sipped his whiskey and looked into the fire, and then at his grandsons. What a difference a year made. He smiled. Then he raised his glass to them both.
“To the finest pair of scoundrels a grandfather could have. Blood brothers,” he remembered fondly. Then his smile broadened and he lifted his glass once more.
“To Philip, David, James and William. And, of course, Charlie and Emma.” Couldn’t forget Charlie and Emma. “Reckon you’ll give your dads a run for their money, blood brothers-and sister-of the next generation.”
ANNE McALLISTER
RITA Award-winning author Anne McAllister fell in love with a cowboy when she was five years old. Tall, dark, handsome lone-wolf types have appealed to her ever since. “Me, for instance,” her college professor husband says. Well, yes. But even though she’s been married to the man of her dreams for over thirty years, she still likes writing about those men of the West! And even though she may take a break from cowboy heroes now and then, she has lots more stories planned for CODE OF THE WEST. She is always happy to hear from readers, and if you’d like, you can write to Anne at P.O. Box 3904, Bozeman, Montana 59772. SASE appreciated.
LUCY GORDON
met her husband-to-be in Venice, fell in love the first evening and got engaged two days later. They’re still happily married and now live in England with their three dogs. For twelve years Lucy was a writer for an English women’s magazine. She interviewed many of the world’s most interesting men, including Warren Beatty, Richard Chamberlain, Sir Roger Moore, Sir Alec Guinness and Sir John Gielgud.
In 1985 she won the
