“I’m just fine,” Sonny said, “but thank you. Getting to come out here and see the new babies is all I need today. Jesse and Cody are turning the cows back out into the pastures where they belong since the snow has melted down to where we can see grass. But for a few hours, I can enjoy seeing them milling about out there beyond the corral. They seem to be as happy as I am to see the weather getting back to normal. Only trouble with that is that spring will be here soon, and it’s getting to where I can’t do a damn thing except supervise.”

Pearl tucked her scarf into her coat and zipped it up. “I’m just glad to see the sun and the temperature up in the forties today. Even the drifts in the shady areas should be melted pretty soon, and, Sonny Ryan, we’re of an age where all we need to do is supervise, so stop your bellyaching and enjoy the day.”

“You’re probably right, but it ain’t easy. We don’t like the snow when it’s here, but it sure helps the soil bring up good grass,” Sonny pointed out into the corral. “Look at that little girl, darlin’. She’s fitting right in with Maggie’s new baby. Pearl, darlin’, what are you going to name her?”

“I figured Mia would name her,” Stevie said.

“Nope,” Sonny sighed. “She thought she was going to sell the alpacas right along with her sheep, but I reminded her that I had paid for them, so they were mine. She’s done very well since she came home, but she doesn’t get to name the new babies. It’s a reminder to her that choices have consequences.”

“Tough love?” Stevie sat down on the other side of Pearl.

“I’m not sure who it’s the toughest on,” Pearl said, “Mia or us two old people who would like to step in and tell her that we’ll make everything all right for her.”

“I can’t even imagine how hard that would be on parents,” Stevie said.

“Letting them make their own choices, and then not rushing in and trying to make everything perfect when they make bad ones is probably the hardest part of being parents,” Sonny said. “Speaking about Mia, I want to thank you for taking her under your wing when it comes to this vet tech stuff. I’m glad that she wants to pursue that in addition to the business end of ranching. She’s going to make a good foreman someday.”

“Hey, where is everyone?” Mia’s voice floated across the barn.

“Back here,” Pearl called. “We’ve turned the heifer and her calf and all the alpacas out into the corral. They’re happy to be free of the stalls.”