“And Grant Campbell was about to take a short walk off a high cliff.”

“What the hell are you doing here?""A typical Grant Campbell welcome.”

“Rude or not, she'd accept his offer of help.Then as far as she was concerned, Grant Campbell could go to the devil.”

“With the organization and brevity of a drill sergeant, she began arranging them to her liking."Alan here..." She took him by the arm and stood him between his parents' chairs. "And Shelby." She nudged Shelby beside him. "Caine,you sit in the foor." She tugged on his hand, until grinning, he obliged her. "And Diana-" Caine pulled his wife down on his lap before Gennie could finish. "Yes, that'll do. Justin over here with Rena.And Grant-""I'm not-" he began."Do as you're told,boy," Daniel bellowed at him,then spoke directly to his grandson. "Leave it to a Campbell to make trouble."Grumbling,Grant strolled over behind Daniel's chair and scowled down at him. "A fine thing when a Campbell's in a MacGregor family portrait.""Two Campbells," Shelby reminded her brother with alacrity.”

“Frog-faced?" Caine asked when he met Grant in the hall."Beauty's in the eye of the beholder," Grant said easily.With an appreciative grin, Caine leaned against one of the many archways. "You had Dad going. We all got one of his phone calls,telling us the Campbell was in a bad way and it was our duty-he being by way of family-to help him." The grin became wolfish. "You seem to be getting along all right on your own."Grant acknowledged this with a nod. "The last time I was here, he was trying to match me up with some Judson girl. I didn't want to take any chances.""Dad's a firm believer in marriage and procreation.”

“What the hell is all this I read in the papers?""Narrow it down for me," Alan suggested."I suppose it might have been a misprint," Daniel considered, frowning at the tip of his cigar before he tapped it in the ashtray he kept secreted in the bottom drawer of his desk. "I think I know my own flesh and blood well enough.""Narrow it just a bit further," Alan requested, though he'd already gotten the drift.It was simply too good to end it too soon."When I read that my own son-my heir, as things are-is spending time fraternizing with a Campbell, I know it's a simple matter of misspelling. What's the girl's name?"Along with a surge of affection, Alan felt a tug of pure and simple mischief. "Which girl is that?""Dammit,boy! The girl you're seeing who looks like a pixie.Fetching young thing from the picture I saw.Good bones; holds herself well.""Shelby," Alan said, then waited a beat. "Shelby Campbell."Dead silence.Leaning back in his chair, Alan wondered how long it would be before his father remembered to take a breath. It was a pity, he mused, a real pity that he couldn't see the old pirate's face."Campbell!" The word erupted. "A thieving, murdering Campbell!""Yes,she's fond of MacGregor's as well.""No son of mine gives the time of day to one of the clan Campbell!" Daniel bellowed. "I'll take a strap to you, Alan Duncan MacGregor!" The threat was as empty now as it had been when Alan had been eight, but delivered in the same full-pitched roar. "I'll wear the hide off you.""You'll have the chance to try this weekend when you meet Shelby.""A Campbell in my house! Hah!""A Campbell in your house," Alan repeated mildly. "And a Campbell in your family before the end of the year if I have my way.""You-" Emotions warred in him. A Campbell versus his firmest aspiration: to see each of his children married and settled, and himself laden with grandchildren. "You're thinking of marriage to a Campbell?""I've already asked her.She won't have me...yet," he added."Won't have you!" Paternal pride dominated all else. "What kind of a nitwit is she? Typical Campbell," he muttered. "Mindless pagans." Daniel suspected they'd had some sorcerers sprinkled among them. "Probably bewitched the boy," he mumbled, scowling into space. "Always had good sense before this.Aye, you bring your Campbell to me," he ordered roundly. "I'll get to the bottom of it."Alan smothered a laugh, forgetting the poor mood that had plagued him only minutes earlier. "I'll ask her.""Ask? Hah! You bring the girl, that daughter of a Campbell, here."Picturing Shelby, Alan decided he wouldn't iss the meeting for two-thirds the popular vote. "I'll see you Friday, Dad.Give Mom my love.""Friday," Daniel muttered, puffing avidly on his cigar. "Aye,aye, Friday."As he hung up Alan could all but see his father rubbing his huge hands togther in anticipation. It should be an interesting weekened.”

“A pair of aces," Daniel said with a fierce look in his eye.Justin set his cards down quietly and faceup. "Two pair.Jacks and sevens." He sat back as Caine swore in disgust."You son of-" In frustration, Daniel broke off, shifting his eyes from his daughter to Shelby. "The devil take you, Justin Blade.""You're sending him off prematurely," Shelby commented, spreading her cards. "A straight,from the five to the nine."Alan walked over to look at her cards. "I'll be damned, she drew the six and seven.""No one but a bloody witch draws an inside straight," Daniel boomed, glaring at her."Or a bloody Campbell," Shelby said easily.His eyes narrowed. "Deal the cards."Justin grinned at her as Shelby scooped in chips. "Welcome aboard," he said quietly and began to shuffle.”