Page 55 of Roam

She nodded then laid her painting down because Matthew’s eyes had opened and he was getting ready for his feed me cry.

Chapter Thirty-One

Sprite listened to Blake and Phoebe giggling at Beth and Ellie’s antics. The road over to the shelter had included teasing, giggling and lots of stories. She wondered if the other vehicle was as full of laughter. Remington was driving their vehicle.

The others had piled into a second one. Although they were later than they originally planned, Blake was still thrilled.

Yesterday’s date night with Roam had just cemented she’d made the right decision in coming to Bluff Creek. They’d crawled in bed and Roam had shown her exactly how much he loved her by worshipping every inch of her until finally slowly claiming her. Remembering his words you’re mine had a shiver running through her. She needed to not be thinking about it or she’d embarrass herself.

Once they’d cleaned up and slipped on nightclothes, he’d talked about how he wanted a date night at least once a month to spend time alone getting to know each other. Who did that?

She never would have pictured this happily ever after when she was struggling through middle and high school dealing with bullies and lack of food. But each struggle, each mountain she’d climbed, had brought her to Bluff Creek.

She hadn’t been listening closely but Blake’s words of maybe two animals had her pausing her thoughts. One animal, not two today.

“Umm, what Blake?”

“I was saying that if I get a puppy, it would be sad for the puppy to leave its brothers or sisters,” a sly grin accompanied Blake’s words.

“Yeah, no,” Sprite shook her head for emphasis.

“Okay, I told Phoebe it wouldn’t work.”

Chuckles filled the car. Oh, Sprite could see the fun and trouble that these girls would get into as they grew up. And wasn’t that a fantastic thought?

“Okay, we’re here. I love coming here. I wonder...”

“Oh my gosh, Beth. You have three dogs. Do you really need more?”

Beth hopped out of the car and then opened the door for the girls, ushering them out. “Ladies, the pets await you.”

Sprite followed Beth and Remi leading the way. They were quite the large group, but she could see the shelter people being happy if they brought more animals home with them. Stella, Clara, and Regina had joined them, along with all the sisters but Jesse. She’d been under another deadline.

Flick had mentioned he might want a pet but when he’d found out it was all the women, he’d decided to wait on an animal.

“Good morning, ladies. I’m a little full right now. I accepted some animals from my friend’s shelter in the city that was overflowing. Are we looking at puppies, dogs, cats, or other animals?”

Blake had been pretty much set on one of the puppies that Regina had shown her but at the mention of other animals, Blake had perked up. Not that she wasn’t already almost bouncing off the walls.

“Other animals?”

“I have a couple of bunnies, litter box trained. A miniature cow and a miniature horse that were living at a pumpkin farm that closed down. I also have two Nubian goats.”

Beth stepped forward. “Were they from a mill or a hoarding situation?”

The owner shook his head. “No, they all lived on the pumpkin farm and the owner died without any heirs. The farm was sold and the new owners just dropped the animals off at the shelter.”

“I think we should see them,” Regina said.

Sprite followed the group out to where he had housed the animals.

“Right now, I’m housing them together because they’re like a family, but I know they’ll most likely be split up.”

Blake and Phoebe went through the gate the owner opened and immediately sat down and picked up the bunnies. Sitting closely together, the girls were whispering to each other.

Winnie leaned close to Sprite. “I’d give anything to know what they are cooking up.”

Sprite smiled. “Me too. I didn’t know rabbits could be litter trained. What type of rabbits are they?”

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