leaving to go back to Houston. I need to see if I still have a drilling business, I’ve been gone so long. Meg and I have parties Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night. Meg’s a party girl.”
“Meg?” Zach asked. “Should I know who Meg is?”
“No. I can answer for him,” Will said. “Meg is just the most recent.” He grinned at Ryan. “You two are kids, still doing kid stuff,” Will teased.
“May be kid stuff, but it’s fun. At least I’m not so decrepit I have to sit around someone’s home each of those nights,” he teased.
“And Zach in Italy. Who is the latest beautiful lady?”
“I’ll be alone at my villa, which is fine.”
“Well, all of you should come to Colorado. This is going to be the best ever Christmas,” he said, smiling at Ava and then at Caroline. “We have a Santa suit for Muffy that Caroline thinks Muffy loves to wear. We’ll have worlds of fun and if anyone wants to come afterwards to ski and enjoy Colorado, you’re invited. Except our invalid.”
“Not an invalid any longer,” Zach said. “Doc’s given me a big okay and I can do whatever I want. We didn’t discuss skiing.”
“C’mon, Zach,” Ryan said. “Garrett, you, too. Let’s fly up there after Christmas and ski. I’ll come, Will, right after New Year’s if you’re staying that long.”
“Sure. All of you come join us. You can bring anyone you want with you.”
“I’ll see how it goes in Italy,” Zach said. “I doubt if I’ll be back that soon.”
“The bird has flown the coop again,” Will teased. “You just can’t stay put. We’ll see you next summer.”
“I’ll pass this time, but thanks,” Garrett said. “I’m building furniture and Sophia is painting.”
“Still the workaholic,” Ryan stated. “Some things never change.”
They ate ribs until they had a platter filled with bones. When they finished, they all cleaned up and soon they returned to the family room to open gifts.
The first gift went to Caroline and her eyes sparkled as she unwrapped a box that held a new doll. She gave Zach a hug and he smiled at her. “Merry Christmas, sweetie,” he said, wishing Emma was with him.
After the gifts were unwrapped and stacked neatly to go, Zach said he had something else for them.
He left and returned with a box holding the gold pocket watch, the Colt revolver and the Henry rifle. “My secretary and I have been through a lot of the memorabilia. I don’t know why these things were buried under the letters. So far, we found these three items. Why doesn’t each family take one. We can draw if you want to see who gets what, regarding this stuff.”
“You ought to have something,” Garrett said. “Leave me out. These are Delaney possessions and I’m not a Delaney.”
“Sophia is,” Zach said immediately. “There was a locket that I gave to my secretary. Sorry, I didn’t wait to ask you, Sophia, when I gave Emma the necklace. She has pored over this stuff and enjoyed it. You’d think these people were related to her.”
“That’s fine, Zach,” Sophia said. “Really. I don’t need it and it’s nice you gave it to her.”
“Sophia, you participate,” Zach said. “I’m staying out of it because all of you know I don’t care about the letters and the ancestors and our past. It’s history.”
“Our parents weren’t sentimental, and you’re really a chip off the old block,” Will said.
“Now that remark and comparison, I can do without.” Zach scribbled out words on three pieces of paper and wadded each up. “We can draw or you can each say what you want and see if anyone else wants it. Or we can go in order of age.”
“Hand us the papers and that will be that,” Will said.
Zach held out his hand and in seconds Will picked up the Henry rifle, Ryan the Colt revolver and Sophia the pocket watch. “Okay. Is everyone happy with what you got?” Zach asked.
“Sure,” Ryan said, rubbing his hand along the Colt. “This is excellent.”
“I love this watch—more than I would the rifle or the revolver,” Sophia said. “I would like one of the letters to put with it.”
“Good choice. I like the watch,” Garrett said, exchanging a smile with his wife.
“Go to the office and pick out whatever letters you want,” Zach instructed. “We can divide them all three ways when someone finishes going through them.”
“These things are treasures,” Ryan said, continuing to turn the revolver in his hand.
“The Henry rifle is fantastic. I’m definitely happy,” Will added.
It was late afternoon when Garrett stood. “We need to get home because we’re flying back to Dallas.”
Ryan stood and gathered his gifts. “I’ll go, too. Soon I’ll fly out for a tropical paradise, palm trees and warm breezes and a beautiful woman.”
“Won’t seem like Christmas,” Will said. “Of course, you may not care. I’ll bet you’ll be ready for snow-covered mountains before New Year’s.”
“Probably will,” Ryan replied cheerfully.
“You can bring your friend with you.”
Ryan winked. “I think I’ll come alone and see if I can find a new friend. See you in the summer, Zach, and thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll let your drivers know you’re going.”
Zach saw them out, then returned to join Will and Ava while Caroline played with her new doll. “Want one more beer? You don’t have to go because they did.”
“Sure, I’ll have a beer. Is your foot hurting?”
“No. It’s healed,” Zach said, getting two beers from the bar.
“You don’t look so great. Anything worrying you?”
“No. Maybe you’re getting me mixed up with Ryan. He’s the one who’s always got a smile. Remember, I don’t have his rosy outlook on life. This is my natural look all the time.”
“I know that, but you aren’t usually as quiet as today and you look as if something’s on your mind besides Christmas and us.”
“Actually, Christmas hasn’t been on my mind, which I’m sure, surprises no one.”
“What do you think about the prospects for the Cowboys this next year?”
“Great,” Will answered and the talk shifted to football and then moved to business while they told each other what the current projects were.
When
