Excerpt:

"I've missed you, too," Penny admitted. She took a step forward just as Val did. Then she was enfolded in his fierce embrace, puppy and all. She lifted her face to take and give in a kiss expressive of all that words were inadequate to convey. The pup, painfully squeezed between two much larger bodies, chose that moment to make his discomfort known. He yipped, then began to whimper and struggle. Val broke the kiss reluctantly before he stepped back.

"Damn, he's as bad as a kid!"

Penny had to laugh at the disgruntled expressions on both man and dog. "I expect we were about smothering the poor little guy. I totally forgot about him for a minute."

After a moment, Val shared her laughter. "Yeah, I guess we both did. Well, anyway, since he's the center of attention here, Andy's kids called him Honcho. The family owns the mother, and she's a fine dog. Whatever is opposite of the runt, that's him. He was always the first and most of the litter of six pups. I took a litter mate, one who looks more Chow, and I'm calling her Lucita. She's just as bright as a new pen--er, a candle."

Penny giggled. "I don't take exception to 'Penny' phases. You don't have to censor your speech! I've still got some packing boxes in the basement. Maybe we could get one and make him a bed. I've got an old wind-up alarm clock, too, which I've heard helps keep a pup or kitty company when you first wean them. I guess the tick is kind of like a heart beat."

"I just fed him, so maybe he'll be ready for a nap," Val's tone sounded hopeful but his expression reflected doubt.

They got a box, cut a pup-sized hole in one side, and lined it with a couple of old bath towels. Honcho went in willingly. After whining a couple of times, he turned around twice before he settled down to sleep.

"Let me get you some coffee," Penny offered.

"I can't stay much longer. I'm acting sergeant tonight which means I've got to be on duty by 2000, but coffee sounds great. It's going to be a long, cold night."

They went to sit in the kitchen, on opposite sides of the little yellow table in the breakfast nook. Penny studied Val, noted he looked more tired than usual. For the first time, she noted a few silvery strands had appeared in his chocolate-dark hair.

He looked around the room, a slow smile softening his face. "You've really done a fantastic job on this house. I had my doubts that day we came up to look at it, back in August. At that time, it looked more dilapidated then I remembered, but you'd never know it was the same place, now." Val admired the clean bright walls, the glossy floor and stenciled designs on the cupboard doors. "Yeah, you've really worked a miracle here."

"Thanks," Penny replied. "Knowing it's mine makes so much difference, that and learning how to do things I'd never tried before. I wouldn't have missed a scrub, brush or shine of it! It's such a good feeling to finally have a real home."

"I guess it is important, to have some place to belong. Someday...." Val left the rest of his thought unfinished, falling silent abruptly as if he was fearful of saying too much. He stood, lifting his cup to his lips to drain it.

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Author BIO: Gwynn Morgan, lifelong Arizona resident, finds endless inspiration in the natural beauty, ethnic diversity, colorful history and marvelous variety of the American southwest. She brings a strong flavor of this exciting region into every one of her novels which she calls “romantic adventures.” On the drawing board at present are some historical tales set in the environs of Tombstone, Fort Huachuca and Bisbee as well as more Arizona-set contemporary stories. “So many ideas, so little time,” she frequently laments.

Bitten hard and early by the writing bug, she wrote her first verse at age eight and soon afterwards began to try her hand at fiction. Serious pursuit of a writing career was put on hold while she went to college, found employment with the U.S. Government, married and raised a family. Finally after ending a twenty-five year civil service career, she found her niche in writing romance--but romance with a unique Arizona Ambience.

Gwynn now lives in a rural area of Cochise County, Arizona’s southeastern corner, an area rich in history and natural wonders. She shares her rustic little home with two canine companions, Sadie and Rico, for whom she serves as chauffeur and household staff. Although she has been an active and volunteering member of a number of writing-focused organizations including Romance Writers of America and several of its chapters, she has now drawn away from most of her volunteer efforts. This was necessary to allow her to concentrate on writing and rebuilding her life following the sudden death of her partner and husband of thirty two years late in 2003. She plans to complete some joint efforts they had worked on together as well as to continue with her own projects.

In between hours at the keyboard, she enjoys a wide range of creative and outdoor activities such as reading, Celtic/ethnic music, rock-hounding and lapidary, astronomy, nature photography, sewing and crafts, hiking, back-road driving in her fiery red Mazda pickup, the Red Hot Mama, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Gwynn presently has six novels available from four different small press publishers and several others in the queue for release in the next couple of years. Penny’s Luck, Book 1 of the Copper Stars of Cochise series debuts in June 2004 and will be followed by Mollie’s McGuire and Jessica’s Legacy. The series celebrates the courage and devotion of law enforcement personnel in Cochise County as they fight drug smuggling, cattle rustling, and all the common problems of modern police officers--and still find time to fall in love.