Again I stood in the back yard, pondering the state of things, when two small bundles of giggling came running across the grass. They hurtled themselves at me while the tall, handsome man who escorted them laughed into the cool evening, a shaggy, giant hound with red fire in his eyes following close behind.

I scooped my daughter into my arms, kissing Ethie's tanned cheek soundly. Her blue eyes glittered with good humor, dark hair falling in ...