Later that afternoon, when David and Diane drove into the courtyard of the homestead, Jack came out to greet them.
"How'd you do?" he asked as he opened Diane's door.
"Not bad," said David offhandedly. "Six blue and golds, nine scarlets, and four hyacinths.' "No s**t!" cried Jack. "Let me see!”
David opened the back of the car and Jack carefully unloaded the cages. Carrying the ones with the hyacinths as though they were made of the most fragile crystal, he set them down on a bench and let out a long, low whistle.
"You beautiful babies!" he said to the squawking chicks. Then he turned back to David. "Any more where these came from?”
David looked at Diane. "I don't know, but we'll find out, won't we, partner?”
Diane's eyes crinkled with pleasure. "You bet.”
Over the next several day
