Chapter 182

Jeff sat in his usual place at the head of the table. Frank Wainwright sat to Jeff's right as the family (minus four who were eating with Margaret and Tina in their suite) ate lunch. All the Alphas ate a lot, and Jeff usually ate more than most of them, but today, he was hungrier than usual. He had gone through his first plate and was already started on his second one.

"Looks like you're a bit hungry today," Frank tactfully said. "I didn't see you after breakfast. What did you do to perk up your appetite so much?" The grin on his face told Jeff that Frank probably already knew.

Hope was sitting farther down the table, but within earshot, and Jeff didn't want her to hear his response. Glancing at the girl, he quietly said, "Suffice it to say that my women, uh, thanked me for a couple of hours. And before you do too much snickering, just remember, that you marry Tina tonight. You said she wanted Margaret to be part of it, didn't you?"

"Yeah," Frank said as he glanced toward Hope, who had turned to talk with Nat. "We'll all marry each other just like you and the others have." Then quieter still, "I had to sleep by myself last night. That's a tradition I don't see any point in."

Jeff chuckled between bites. "Dropping that tradition is as likely to happen as elephants sprouting wings, and I'll bet you will be eating really heavy tomorrow morning."

Frank stopped with a piece of steak halfway to his mouth. "Oh, come on, Jeff. I've been sleeping with the two of them. Trust me, we've done about everything three people can do in bed."

Tate, who was sitting just across the table, chuckled. "Yeah, that's what I thought, too. Bet you'll have a different outlook when you come to your honeymoon breakfast in the morning."

Jeremy listened to the bantering between the men. They didn't tease me nearly as much as I thought they would. No way am I going to comment and attract their attention. I'm just going to listen.

Frank shrugged and continued, "If it hadn't been for Little One enhancing me, they would have killed me by now, but ... I'm used to the two of them, so I suspect I'll be able to hold my own – I hope," he quietly added, beginning to worry now. Maybe Tate has a point. He came through that door yesterday morning looking like something the cats dragged in.

Jeff and Quinton looked at each other and burst out laughing. Jeff turned his gaze back to Frank, "I would suggest you take a nap this afternoon, otherwise, you're going to be really sleepy in the morning."

"That's probably good advice," Wainwright admitted, a bit more uncertainty beginning to set in. Margaret has been my woman for years, and I've had both of them every night since Margaret and I married. Aloud, "We make love for a couple of hours every night. Surely our wedding night with the two of them won't be that much different."

Tate took a sip of his coffee as he watched Wainwright. "The reception will be over by sometime around nine, at least mine was. You'll have your honeymoon breakfast with your wives at eight in the morning. Right?" he asked looking toward Jeff.

"Yep," the Prime responded.

"So, then," Tate continued to Frank, "you'll have the better part of eleven hours to make love to your wives. And if Margaret and Tina are anything like my wives, sleeping won't be something they'll spend much time on."

"But ... you have four wives, and I'll only have two. If I had two more, I would probably be worried, but I don't."

"Yet," Dave added as he slapped Frank on the shoulder. "Yet," he repeated with a snicker.

With Jeff's tentative okay for the puppies, his younger wives and Selina went into research mode, taking over his business office near the Matthews' suite to do so.

"It's Saturday afternoon," Jeff tried to reason as he stood in front of his desk talking to Arlene, who was sitting behind it in his big seat, "We'll go visit some pet stores Monday..."

Shaking her head, Arlene broke in with, "I've just finished talking to our neighbor. Marcie said there's a friend of hers in Winter Park who sells Chihuahuas. She said her friend has two litters of Deerhead Chihuahuas that have just been weaned. She's going to call to see if they're ready for sale."

"I don't know about buying from an individual. Perhaps..."

"You aren't seriously' thinking about buying from a pet store, are you?" Arlene asked, but in her enthusiasm, went on before Jeff could form an answer. "We've read where a lot of pet stores buy from puppy farms. You might wind up with puppies that have diseases, hip problems, back problems or worse. Marcie says this lady sells only healthy animals. Her husband died a few years ago, and she supplements her retirement income by raising Chihuahuas to sell. Marcie says the lady takes good care of her dogs. She allows her females to breed only once per year so they can fully regain their health before having another set of puppies. Marcie says she's a good person, loves animals and would never cheat anyone."

Before Jeff could comment, the desk phone rang and Arlene snatched the receiver up before the first ring was over. As she talked with Marcie, Jeff watched his daughter-wife jot down a phone number and address. "Tell her we'll be there in an hour or so to pick up two of them, and please ask her to not sell any of them until we get there."

When she hung up, Jeff smiled at his young wife, "Baby, you can't expect someone who doesn't know you to hold puppies for you on a weekend. I imagine weekends are when she expects to make the most of her puppy sales."

"Marcy said she would hold them for that long. Are you going with us?"

"Yeah, Baby, but we need to notify Security, give them the address and at least thirty minutes to get ready for us to leave." Before his sentence was half over, he realized that Arlene had picked up a radio and was very professionally talking to Security on the secure frequency, giving them the address and explaining the reason for the visit. Jeff didn't bother to tell her that Security was almost instantly on his radio asking for confirmation from him.

When Arlene signed off, "Diana is going with us," Jeff declared. "We've had weddings every night this week. Surely everyone knows what to do by now and can get by without her for a couple of hours."

Arlene rushed out to find Diana and tell her. As Jeff turned to go change into a warmer shirt, Hope grabbed him around the waist, hugging him hard, her breasts pushing against him. For a moment, he was afraid to move, lest he scare her, but slowly encircled her with his arms, hugging her to him. Only then did he feel the wetness on the front of his shirt as the tears trickled down her face.

"Thank you, Jeff," she quietly whispered. "I've wanted a dog for a long time, and I've always loved Chihuahuas. But ... they're expensive. I..."

"Hush," he whispered into her ear. "God has been good to us. Money isn't a concern right now. We want you to get the dog you chose, so, take your time. If you don't like anything the lady has, there are plenty of other places that sell puppies."

The Prime reached over to pull a couple Kleenex from a box on his desk. He had learned to keep plenty of tissue handy with as many women as there were in the Retreat – thus the two folded paper towels he kept in his back pocket for emergencies. Most of the tears the women shed were tears of happiness, but the tissues were useful no matter the reason for the waterworks.

As he dabbed at Hope's wet face with the tissue, he realized that the two of them were alone, all the girls having slipped out while his attention was focused on Hope. While he was contemplating that, she put a hand behind his neck, pulling him down to attach her lips to his. There wasn't any tongue, but the kiss was soft and meaningful, anyway. He dared to encircle her with his arms again, pulling her gently against him until she pulled back a half minute later, all the while he continued to keep a secure rein on his pheromones.

"Thank you," she said again as she broke the kiss, smiled sweetly at him and moved back a step, her eyes lidded and her expression unreadable.

"You're welcome. A couple of puppies should liven the place up, not to say anything about giving Billy something to do," he tried to joke. But the kiss had rattled him, and ... he had the distinct impression she realized it.

In the distance, there was the sound of one of the big helicopters leaving the ski lodge, headed north over the deserted mountains. Fifteen miles from the Retreat, it changed to an easterly course, traveled a few miles, then later changed again, its destination: Winter Park.

A little later, the little caravan consisting of Security and Jeff's Expedition turned from Highway 40 in Winter Park onto Lakota Trail. Diana sat beside Jeff in the front, while Jennie, Arlene, Hope, and of course, Kayla, were sitting farther back. The snowplows had recently plowed out the curving, tree-lined street, and it was reasonably clear of the two foot accumulation that appeared to be undisturbed under the trees that bordered the little road.

The homes – what few there were along here – were spaced well apart. Security had already told Jeff the house he was looking for was at the end of the cul-de-sac. A few minutes later, they approached a brick and redwood home set back in the trees.

"Nice," Diana commented as they turned into the drive. "This doesn't look like the home of someone who makes a little extra income selling puppies."

"Marcie said Mrs. Kimbrel's husband died a while back," Arlene repeated. "That's basically all I know about her."

"I hope Security didn't scare her," Diana worried as they stopped in the parking area near the house and got out of the Escalade.

"I doubt it," Jeff said. "They are well trained."

As they walked up the steps, a lady appearing to be in her sixties, with short, almost silver hair and a trim build opened her front door and stepped out on her porch. Arlene moved around her parents and put out her hand to shake as Mrs. Kimbrel said, "You must be the Matthews that Marcie just called me about. I'm Meg Kimbrel."

"Yes, Ma'am. I'm Arlene Matthews," then motioning, "and this is my mom, Diana, and this is Hope, Jennie, and Kayla." Then turning to Jeff, "And this handsome guy is my father, Jeff Matthews. We hope our Security people didn't frighten you, Mrs. Kimbrel."

A look passed between Jeff and Diana because of the way Arlene had taken over the introductions.

Meg shook hands with the others, then turned back to Arlene. "Oh, no. They were polite as could be. Besides, I know who you people are. I guess everyone in Winter Park does," she added with a chuckle. "Come in. That wind has a bite to it today. And please call me Meg. Mrs. Kimbrel sounds too much like my mother."

As Jeff held the storm door open for the women, his glance took in his surroundings. A hundred feet or so to the right of the house, his excellent vision picked up a set of footprints in the snow under the shade of the evergreen trees. Even as he watched, the footprints began to disappear. Looks like they have come up with something to take care of the footprints they leave. Well done, he thought as a smile touched his lips. There was a click in his ear of a mike being briefly keyed when the trooper realized his Colonel knew where he was.

Inside, as they were hanging up their coats, they were met by several adult Chihuahuas, all barking at the newcomers and seeming to have a wonderful time in the process.

"Hush," Meg said firmly, and there was instant silence. "They love to bark and pretend they're mighty watch dogs." As she ushered her guests to seats in her living room, she continued, "Actually they are great little watch dogs. They have excellent hearing and their sense of smell will rival that of any other dog I've ever seen. They love to bark at the delivery people, particularly the UPS man. They start barking when he's still a half mile away. He says he thinks the dogs can hear the racks squeaking in the truck, and identify him by the noise. However they do it, he hasn't made a single delivery here that they weren't waiting for him at the front door barking like crazy. He has a blast trying to sneak up on them."

They all turned to look as two female Chihuahuas came into the room with a number of puppies, more or less following. More or less, because several of the puppies were distracted by their littermates and began to roll and mock fight with each other.

"We're interested in two. A male and female," Arlene offered.

"Look at that one," Hope said, pointing at a gray puppy that was a little smaller than the others. Going to her knees to pet the momma first, Hope then reached out to pet the puppy she had commented on.

Jeff noticed Meg's face, but before he could ask, she spoke to Hope while shaking her head. "Why don't you choose one of the others? There's another female that color from the same litter right there," she said, pointing.

"Why not this one?" Hope questioned, pulling the pup into her arms, where it immediately whined and enthusiastically licked her face.

Meg seemed uncomfortable, but apparently decided to be truthful. "I always have the puppies checked, and this one – well, she was the last to be born, and is the runt of the litter. You'll notice that she's smaller than her littermates. The vet said she has a very distinct heart murmur and she probably wouldn't live very long. She suggested I put her down, but I'm not going to do that. She'll stay with us for as long as she lives. Why not choose that one there?" she said, pointing.