“What are your llamas names?”
Sean left the flowers on the table and helped Mary pull out the chair beside him. “They’re called Snowflake and Cupid. My sister chose their names.”
“Do they like living on your ranch?”
“I think so. They like munching the grass and saying hello to the ranch hands. When it’s cold, they share the barn with Frank and Mildred, our two pigs.”
Mary’s eyes widened. “You have pigs?”
“They’re round and pink, and love rolling in the mud. You can meet them when you visit the ranch with Becky.”
Mary’s gaze flicked to Becky. “We’re going to the ranch?”
“Only when Mr. Gray and I have finished something we’re working on together.”
The timing of her visit didn’t seem to worry Mary. “Do you think the llamas will talk to me?”
Sean could see the cogs of her brain working overtime. He’d watchedDr. Doolittlewith his niece and nephew. If Mary had seen the same movie, she might be disappointed when the llamas spoke to her. “Snowflake and Cupid don’t talk like you and me. Instead of using their mouths, their ears move all the time. They like wiggling their tails when they’re happy but, if you hear them humming, it means they’re annoyed.”
Becky placed a sheet of paper and a container of crayons in front of Mary. “While I’m talking to Mr. Gray, why don’t you draw a picture for him? He could take it back to the ranch.”
“To remind him we’re coming to see his llamas and pigs?”
“Something like that.” Becky caught his gaze.
The laughter in her eyes made his breath catch. Regardless of what happened with Matthew’s wedding, he knew he’d found something special that could turn into something amazing.
All they had to do was organize his brother’s wedding—and find a venue that would seat seventy surprised guests.
Chapter4
“What do you think?” Sean asked as he opened the doors to the fourth barn they’d looked at today.
“It has potential.” Becky tried to inject some enthusiasm into her voice, but it was difficult. The barn was big, drafty, and full of abandoned machinery. Nothing short of a major overhaul would make this building close to what Ashley wanted for her wedding.
Sean placed his hands on his hips, looking like a man who was seriously considering the merits of the run-down building. “After we get rid of everything, it will look okay.”
It would take a lot more than emptying the barn to make it into a fairytale venue. “You’re underestimating the amount of time and money it would take to improve what we see.”
“It’s not that bad.”
Becky’s eyebrows rose. “I know this is your friend’s barn, but the only things that belong in here are horses and cows.”
“That’s the city girl inside of you talking. We could have the barn cleaned out in next to no time.”
Giving him the benefit of the doubt, Becky ignored the layers of grime and imagined tables filled with sparkling glasses and vases full of flowers. A wagon wheel covered in white roses could sit behind the bridal table and fairy lights could glisten from the rafters. But, regardless of how many lights and flowers they added, she didn’t think this was Ashley’s dream wedding venue.
Sean frowned. “You don’t look happy.”
Just in case she was wrong, Becky took some photos to add to their folder of options. “If this was the only choice we had, I’d still be worried about using this barn.”
Sean ran his hand through his hair. “This is the last one on my list. I’m not sure what we’ll do now.”
“Let me call Molly. She’s taken so many photographs of barns she must know about others we’ve missed.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Molly’s in The Bridesmaids Club with Sally. If she says anything to my sister, everyone will know about the wedding.”
“We have to do something.” Becky checked her watch, then stepped into the afternoon sunshine. She had to leave in a few minutes and, if they didn’t find a suitable barn, they’d be having the reception in Pastor Steven’s church. “Molly won’t say anything.”
