by Linda Wisdom
"We still don't have enough money," Tyler told her.
"But we have a lot of information on paper, right?" she asked, holding up a computer disk that they'd added information to on almost a daily basis. "And it proves this is a good investment and a potential money-maker."
He nodded, then broke into a slow grin as what she said fell into place. "Good old Mr. Beecham. He'll probably have a stroke when we lay this out before him."
"Maybe not. He'll feel he has us under his thumb again. That just might make his day." Letitia walked around the chair and settled down on Tyler's lap. "I was wondering what you'd think about letting the men have a say. After all, they know what we've been doing, but we really haven't talked about it at length."
"They'd adore you even more," he said quietly.
AFTER THE EVENING MEAL, Letitia asked everyone to remain for a few minutes.
"As you all know, Tyler and I have been looking into alternatives for running cattle," she announced right off. "It appears we have a good bet by breeding llamas and with luck, we can work into it on a large scale."
"Llamas?" J.T. looked confused. "You mean those long-necked animals from South America?"
She nodded. "They've become very popular as pets, watch animals and pack animals. They have good temperaments and their worth is increasing all the time." She proceeded to layout the facts and figures in front of them by providing each man with a sheet of paper.
"Why are you talking to all of us about this?" Ben asked, looking at her with a confused frown.
"Because you men have been very loyal in staying through the hard times and we hope you'll stay with us during the good. If this works the way I hope it will, it will be your future too," she said simply. "They've proved to be more than a fad pet and we could even sell that upper pasture since we wouldn't need all the land. Right now, we have the available funds to buy four animals. I talked to one breeder who's willing to sell us a pregnant female. And naturally, extremely cold climates don't bother them. That's a big plus. Tyler and I talked to Mr. Beecham about refinancing the existing loan, and while he grew a little red in the face and choked a lot, he is seriously considering our proposal." The men chuckled at that.
"We'd have our own cashmere yarn right here for knitting," Myrna pronounced.
"Do we want to devote everything to the llamas?" J.T. asked.
"It looks good," Tyler answered. "It won't be like running cattle or horses."
The couple nodded.
They waited tensely for the men's response.
"Think llamas are easier to herd than cattle?" one man asked.
"Hell, anything's got to be easier than cattle," another replied with a laugh.
"Llama roundups."
"Git along little llamas!"
Tyler's eyes met Letitia's across the length of the table. "I think they agree."
Letitia smiled broadly and launched herself into Tyler's arms. The men quickly dispersed. "Think you'd mind receiving two pair of llamas for a wedding present?" she asked.
He grinned, allowing all his love for her to show.
"Mind? How many men get a wedding present like that? You better hope your brother is home, because I don't intend to wait any longer," he told her. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us, darlin'.'
She licked her lips. "I think we've waited long enough. I'll call him right away." She quashed any guilt at the thought of getting married without Jack present.
"It's not going to be easy," Tyler quietly warned her. "We're both stubborn to the core."
Her smile lit up the room. "Yes, but we each have our ways of persuading the other to see our side, don't we?" She idly fiddled with his shirt button before releasing it and sliding her fingers inside.
"That we do." He'd take his revenge later when he was assured they wouldn't be disturbed.
Letitia was lucky. Jack was home. And like all the others, not surprised at her news. A date was immediately set and Letitia could expect her family to arrive within the week. Holly told her she would take care of the wedding dress and accessories.
"It is not fair that not one person was surprised we're getting married," she groused to Tyler as she curled up in his arms.
"I wouldn't worry." He nuzzled the tender spot just behind her ear. "You give me more than enough surprises to make up for it."
"Then I'll do my best to keep up the tradition," she vowed, wiggling just enough to get the reaction she wanted.
Epilogue
Four Years Later
Tyler looked out over the pasture dotted with llamas varying in color from a pure creamy white to a pale tan. The two pair they started out with increased beyond their expectations and with the refinanced loan they were able to expand. It wasn't long before the demand for Running Springs llamas had increased right along with it.
"Ticia's family arrives today, don't they?" J.T. asked.
He nodded. "They're stopping by on their way to New Mexico where Jack plans to do some research for his next book. Letitia has been running around all morning making sure everything is all right." He grimaced. "She's supposed to rest, but does she listen to me?"
"Has she ever?"
"True," he ruefully admitted. "But I can hope."
"Ever think the operation would get this big?" J. T. chuckled as one snow white llama made her soft humming and clicking sounds as she approached. He stroked her muzzle and murmured to her. "Yes, darlin', you are the prettiest one here."
Tyler shook his head at the older man's affection for the animal. "Nor did I expect celebrities would be coming to us. She was a stubborn lady about this when it started, but it worked out." He turned when he saw a black sedan head up the road. "Looks like they're here." He walked around to the front of the house where he found his wife hurrying out the door. "Hey, countess, no running!" he warned.
She wrinkled her nose as she slowed her pace. "I was not running. I was walking fast. The doctor believes in exercise."
"Yeah, well, he isn't the one watching you do things you're not supposed to." As her pregnancy progressed he found that he couldn't stop looking at her and feeling the changes taking place in her body. They both oohed and aahed over the child making his or her presence known to the prospective parents.
In a little over two months, there would be an addition to the Barnes family. He wasn't sure who was more excited about the upcoming baby: him, Letitia or the men. With everyone watching out for her, she wasn't allowed to lift anything heavier than a feather. He stood behind her and slid his arms around where her waist used to be.
"I look like Humpty Dumpty."
"Yeah, but you're my Humpty Dumpty," he reminded her, playfully bumping his hips against hers.
The car slowed to a stop and doors immediately opened with a nine-year-old boy hopping out followed by an eleven-year-old girl.
"Aunt Ticia" Caro squealed running toward Letita.
"Hey, do I get to play with the llamas?" Ryan asked without further ado. "I wanted to bring Toby, but Mom said he was too big to bring on the plane. He could have fit in one of the seats!"
"Slow down," Holly scolded them as she climbed out of the car and reached in the back seat to release the occupant of a child seat. The ten-month-old boy had his father's hair and eyes, and most especially a devilish smile that warmed his mother's heart. Five years of marriage to Jack had changed Holly into a self-confident woman who firmly believed she could take on the world. She rolled her eyes at her son's remark. "Right, just what we need is that crazy Labrador running all over. I swear that dog is bigger than Ryan!"
But it was the man Letitia's eager eyes lingered on. Tall, black-haired with now a touch of silver at the temples that only increased speculation about his rumored magical powers, Jack Montgomery headed for his sister. As Tyler released her, Jack took her hands and held them out at her sides. Dressed in a bright turquoise tunic top and black leggings, she didn't look like a married woman of four years and in her last trimester of pregnancy.
"I'd say ranch life agre
es with you, sister dear," he said quietly as he pulled her into his arms for a hug.
Letitia hugged him just as tightly before looking over her shoulder. "It's more like the man agrees with me. Luck is on our side."
"Where Ticia is concerned, I wouldn't exactly use the word agrees," Tyler said dryly, thinking of their argument just the other day over what color to paint the nursery. He'd since come to the conclusion they only fought because they enjoyed making up so much.
Jack grinned as he understood what Tyler was talking about. "Luck has nothing to do with it, Ticia. It was all magic, remember?"
She snuggled against Tyler's chest as he came forward to reclaim his wife and put out his hand to greet Jack. "Then I'd call it magic of the best kind."