move?”

26

“There isn’t a move in the books you could check me with!” Donavon returned.

They chatted for a few minutes about the weather and each other’s health, and then exchanged their moves. “Move my castle to White’s king rook file, third rank,” Grandfather told him, “and then sweat that one out!”

“Why you old buzzard!” Donavon came back, “you think that’s going to help you? Wait until you see what I’ve got in store for you! Move my queen’s bishop to the king knight’s file, fifth rank. Now figure that out if you can!”

“Ha!” Grandfather was indignant. “You’ll have to get up early in the morning to find a move that I can’t figure out. Your trouble always has been that you jump to too hasty conclusions, Donavon!”

But Grandfather looked worried, Ronnie noticed. He was studying the board and frowning. “See you tomorrow night, same time!” Donavon signed off, and the loudspeaker went dead.

Then Grandfather turned off his transmitter and receiver. “Thinks he has me cornered, does he! Well, let him figure out that move I gave him!”

He leaned back in his chair. “Ronnie,” he said, “it’s nice having you back in here with me like old times. I’ve been fearing that maybe you and I were drifting apart of late.” He closed his eyes for a few moments and leaned his head back against his chair. “So many things have been slipping from me these past weeks, so many things.” He opened his eyes again and looked at Ronnie. “You aren’t going to slip from me too, are you, boy?”

27 “Of course not, Gramps. It’s because you’ve been worried about the village and I didn’t want to pester you,” Ronnie explained. “That’s why I haven’t been coming in here to see you so much lately.”

27

“Of course, and you’ve been worried too!” Grandfather added. “Why, it’s been written all over you. You wouldn’t be my boy if you weren’t worrying about the village.” He stretched out his game leg to ease some of the pain. “You won’t be forgetting the wonderful times we had together in the village now, will you, boy?”

“No, sir, Gramps!” Ronnie exclaimed. “Why, just this afternoon I was telling Mr. Caldwell some of the stories you told me!”

“Caldwell? I don’t recall that name.”

Ronnie explained to 

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