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rushed the words, but it was one of the longest statements I’d made in my short journalist career.
    H e gave me a large genuine smile. “I played my first match when I was twelve and never looked back. Rugby gets in your blood, melds with your cells, and doesn’t let go.”
    I reached in my bag , pulled out my recorder, and turned it on. “I interviewed Van Stelson earlier and he said the same thing about it getting in your blood. I’ll be completely honest… I’ve never seen a game and all I know is what I’ve learned from the internet. I plan on bringing the newbie perspective to my series of articles and show readers the ins and outs of the sport along with its growing popularity.”
    “Well then I’ll start with a minor correction. In rugby you play a match not a game.” He smiled again with the gentle admonishment. “If you’ve met Van, you’ve talked to one of the best players in the league. Only his brother is a rival for the title. Those boys have shed more blood on that field than anyone I’ve seen play. If you’re coming to the match on Saturday, you’re in for a real treat.”
    “I’ll be there. I’m assigned to the team as long as they stay in the running for the championship.”
    “That’s the next three matches. If we can’t turn you into a fan by then, I’ll eat my match hat. I would suggest you come in here before the match and talk to some of the townspeople. It’ll be quite eye-opening.”
    “Estella says it gets crowded in here after the game.” I smiled, “I mean match.”
    “Before and after. The fans love their beer.”
    Disgust must have shown on my face because he laughed. “We’ll get you into the beer too. It’s a tradition, a pint before the game and as many as you can handle afterward.”
    I remembered the wine and figured the beer couldn’t be much worse. “So tell me something about the Stelson brothers.”
    Charlie’s grin widened. “Their mother’s family is from here. Tally, their mom, had dreams of making it big in Hollywood. She moved there directly out of high school and got her wish in a slightly different way than she imagined. She wound up married to Leo Stelson a year after she moved there. She had the boys a year apart and moved back here when they were little more than toddlers. She wasn’t getting along with Leo and decided to come home to raise her sons.”
    “Does Tally still live here?”
    I watched Charlie’s smile fade. “You never met a nicer woman or a better mother. She died in a car accident about ten years back. Real shame those boys lost her. Without Leo in town, they needed their mom’s influence.”
    “How old were they when their mom died?”
    “Around sixteen and seventeen I think.”
    So young. “ Did they go and live with their father?”
    “No , though he tried persuading them to move. Couldn’t stop those boys from playing for the college team. They gave the college three championships in five years and started their league team as soon as Van graduated. Got it too and gave this town a huge boost.”
    “Is Van older or younger than Joel?”
    Charlie assessed me closely. “Van’s the younger brother. That boy’s always had a wild streak. ” Charlie’s eyes zeroed in on me further. “Did he behave himself when you interviewed him this morning?”
    Dammit, heat warmed my cheeks.
    Charlie groaned slightly. “Watch that one. When the right woman comes along he’ll fall hard and settle down, but all others before her are only toys. Van always had to have the best toys and he was never very careful with them.”
    “Thanks for the warning.” What else could I say? Two admonishments in less than an hour. That was glowing praise if I ever heard it . Not! I had to change the subject. “Tell me about your paper.”
    He smiled again and talked about the Colt Sentinel . “I’ve owned it for a little more than thirty years.”
    “You don’t look old enough,” I said in all honest y. I had Charlie pegged for