The Cowboy

many times have you seen a so-called friendly merger result in a purge of management that cost dozens of jobs?"
    "Yeah, but…"
    "I wouldn't be surprised if some of the mergers and buy-outs you've instigated have resulted in exactly that kind of purge."
    "We're not talking about me, here, remember? We're discussing Julie's artist friend. Hell, he's from a whole different world. They've got nothing in common. Julie's got a degree in business administration, although she has yet to do much with it. She's not the artsy-craftsy type. What does she see in Winters?"
    "You're just looking for excuses, Rafe. You've got a typical redneck macho male's built-in prejudice against men in the creative arts and you're using the insecurity of the business as a reason to disapprove of Sean as a boyfriend for your sister."
    "Damn." Rafe looked appealingly at Connor. "Wish I'd kept my mouth shut."
    "Don't look to me for backup on this one." Connor gave his host a wide grin. "I learned my lesson a few years back when Maggie here was dating an artist. I tried to give her the same lecture. Couldn't see my girl getting involved with some weirdo who hung out with the art crowd. You should have seen his stuff, Cassidy. Little bits of aluminum cans stuck all over his canvasses."
    That got a quick scowl out of Rafe. He glanced at Maggie. "How long did you date the weirdo?"
    "Jon was not a weirdo. He was a very successful multimedia artist who has since gone on to make more from a single painting than I make from a single book. I've got one of his early works hanging in my living room, if you will recall."
    Rafe's eyes narrowed. "That thing on your wall that looks like a collection of recycled junk?"
    "I'll have you know that if I ever get desperate financially I'll be able to hock that collection of recycled junk for enough money to live on for a couple of years. It was a terrific investment."
    "How long did you date him?" Rafe demanded again.
    "Jealous?"
    "Damn right."
    Margaret grinned. "Don't be. Jon was a wonderful man in many respects but it was obvious from the start we weren't meant for each other."
    "Yeah? How was it so obvious?"
    "He was a night person. I'm a morning person. And never the twain shall meet. At least not for long."
    "Glad to hear it."
    "The point is, our incompatibility had nothing to do with his profession. And you shouldn't judge your sister's boyfriend on his choice of careers. Besides, Julie's old enough to make her own decisions when it comes to men."
    "That's another point. He's too old for her."
    "He is not. He's thirty-five. The difference between their ages isn't much more than the difference between our ages, Rafe."
    "Okay, okay, let's drop this discussion. We're supposed to be celebrating an engagement here tonight." Rafe looked at Connor with a hint of desperation. "Need some help with the ice?"
    "Appreciate it," Connor said.
    Rafe gave Margaret a quick, hard kiss. "See you outside in a few minutes, honey."
    "Go ahead. Make your escape. But keep in mind what I said about giving Sean Winters a chance." Margaret fixed both men with a meaningful glance before she turned and headed for the door.
    "Whew." Rafe exhaled on a sigh of relief as he watched her leave the room. He stared after her departing figure for a moment, enjoying the sight of her neatly rounded derriere moving gently under her elegant cream silk skirt.
    "I know what you mean," Connor said. "Women get funny notions sometimes. Maggie tends to be real opinionated."
    Rafe took another sip of his Scotch. "Was she really torn up after she stopped seeing the artist?"
    Connor laughed and started for the kitchen. "Let me put it this way. One week after she'd stopped dating him she was dating a banker. One week after you and she broke up, she went into hibernation."
    Rafe nodded, satisfied. "Yeah, I know. If it makes you feel any better, Connor, my social life followed roughly the same pattern during the past year."
    "That's one of the reasons I agreed to help you get her back," Connor said. "Couldn't stand to see the two of you sufferin' like a couple of stranded calves. It was pitiful, just pitiful."
    "Thanks, Lark. You're one of nature's noblemen."
     
     
    O utside on the patio Margaret helped herself to another round of salad while she chatted easily with several of the guests. She was answering a barrage of questions concerning publishing when Rafe's sister materialized with her friend the artist in tow.
    Margaret had met Julie and Sean earlier in