Family Man

homemade muesli cereal Katy had prepared.
    Matt was a bottomless pit these days, she thought, smiling to herself. She spent an incredible amount of time throwing food at him and watching it disappear. But it was all worth it. He had turned into a fine young man. The morning sunlight gleamed on his bright red hair, and she noticed again the increasing breadth of his shoulders.
    Her little brother was growing up quickly, she realized. It would be strange not having him around the place next year.
    “What do you mean, Gilchrist's going to leave his dog with us?” Matthew spread jam on his third slice of toast. Katy had baked the bread the previous evening.
    “Just what I said. He's leaving today to tour the restaurants and Gilchrist Gourmet. He wants to introduce himself to management and the employees. Apparently he feels he can't take the monster with him, so he's leaving it with us.”
    “And you want me to be in charge of feeding and walking it, huh?”
    “Right. Do we have a deal?”
    Matt munched toast. “You'll owe me one.”
    “I'm aware of that.”
    “Okay. Deal.”
    Katy sat back in her chair. “That's a relief. They should be here in a few minutes. Luke said he was going to drop the beast off on his way out of town. I hope he brings a sturdy chain we can use to tie the creature up outside in the yard.”
    “So you really think this guy can save Gilchrist?”
    Katy made a face. “I think that if anyone can do it, he can.”
    Matt poured more orange juice into the glass. “You don't like him, do you?”
    “I think he's going to be difficult to have around,” Katy said dryly. “Like all Gilchrists.”
    “Cheer up. He'll probably spend a lot of time in Seattle.”
    “I'm counting on it,” Katy murmured.
    A knock on the front door of the cottage came just as Katy was adding milk to her own muesli.
    “I'll get it,” Matt said. He got to his feet and went into the front room of the small cottage to open the door.
    Katy heard the rumble of voices and the unmistakable sound of dog claws on the old wood floor. A few seconds later Luke and Zeke appeared in the kitchen doorway. Luke had a huge sack of dry dog food under one arm. Zeke had his bowl in his mouth.
    Zeke was not on a leash, Katy noted with disapproval. And there was no heavy chain anywhere in evidence. She glowered at the dog. Zeke glowered back and dropped his bowl in the middle of the kitchen floor. He stood protectively over it. Luke put the sack of dog food down beside him.
    Luke was dressed in a black sweater and black jeans. It was obvious that, like the rest of the family, he was going to stick to black. But Katy had to admit he looked good in it. The color underlined all that lean masculine grace and power.
    Luke caught her studying him, and his mouth curved faintly. His sorcerer's eyes gleamed green in the morning light. Katy's fingers trembled slightly as she reached for her orange juice. She was not going to let him make her nervous, she promised herself.
    “Good morning.” Luke glanced meaningfully at the coffeepot as Zeke made a royal tour of the tiny kitchen. “Mind if I have a cup? I've got a long drive ahead.”
    “Help yourself,” Katy said, not bothering to get to her feet.
    “Thank you,” Luke murmured as he rummaged in a cupboard for a mug. “I see you are by nature a gracious hostess.”
    She smiled blandly. “It's more hospitality than I got when I dropped in on you down in Oregon.”
    “What are you complaining about?” Luke asked as he poured coffee for himself. “You got to walk back out again in one piece, didn't you?”
    “I'm supposed to be grateful?”
    “Yes.”
    “Excuse me.” Matt's eyes flickered from his sister's face to Luke's as he leaned down to pat Zeke. “Katy says I'm elected to feed your dog. How much does he eat?”
    “So she delegated that job, did she? I wondered how she'd get out of it.” Luke sipped his coffee. “Fill his bowl to the top twice a day. If he starts chewing on the furniture, you might want to give him a little extra food. Let him run on the beach in the mornings and evenings, and he'll take care of himself the rest of the time.”
    Matt nodded. “Got it.”
    Luke lounged against the counter and watched Matt intently. “I appreciate this.”
    “Sure.” Matt gave Zeke one last pat and straightened. “Well, I'd better get going or I'll be late for school. See you later.”
    “Good-bye,” Katy said. “Good Luck on that math exam.”
    “Thanks.” Matt