Page 3 of Blake Marshall Says He Needs Me

Chapter Two

Blake

“Is that a goat?”

Shelby rolled her eyes and tugged on the rope in her hand attached to the animal. “It’s a sheep, Wilder.”

“You thought that was a goat?” I laughed. “It doesn’t even have horns,” I pointed out.

“I don’t give a crap what it is; why do you have one?” Wilder asked. He propped his hands on his hips and looked down at the white, fluffy animal.

Shelby smiled at Wilder. “You live on a farm and don’t have any animals,” she pointed out.

“Is that a rule or something?” Wilder asked. He crouched down in front of the lamb and patted its head.

“You have barns with no animals to enjoy them.”

Wilder grunted and stood as he motioned to me. “Blake seems to be enjoying his barn well enough.”

I snickered and ran my fingers through my hair. “And I even use the bathroom.”

“Ha, ha.” Shelby rolled her eyes and curled her lip. She motioned to the sheep. “You guys are both so funny. I bet you’ll get along great with Ba.”

Wilder blinked slowly. “What?”

The sheep’s name was Ba? Good lord.

“Ba,” Shelby repeated. “You know, ba, ba, black sheep have you any wool? I think it fits him perfectly.”

I raised my hand. “Uh, this is not a black sheep. It’s white,” I pointed out.

Wilder threw his hands in the air. “I stepped into the twilight zone, didn’t I? This is insanity. Why on earth did you buy a sheep, Shelby Lynn?”

Shelby crouched down and rubbed Ba’s head between her hands. The sheep leaned into her, and his little puff of a tail wiggled. “Because he is cute, and I thought he would be a great starter animal.”

“Starter animal?” I asked. “Uh, that sounds like more animals are coming.”

“That’s silly Uncle Blake,” Shelby cooed to Ba. “He’s going to be helping to take care of you.”

“Hold up,” I called. “I don’t think it says anywhere on my signed lease that I would care for a sheep.”

Shelby glanced at me. “I doubt you signed a lease.”

I hadn’t, but if I were going to be saddled with animals, I would like to have one drawn up with the specifics that I was not responsible for Ba or any other animal that Shelby pushed on Wilder. “I’ll have my lawyer draw one up,” I drawled.

“Shelby, why a sheep?” Wilder asked. “Couldn’t you get like a dog or something? Bandit is a cool dog. Why not ask Missy where she got him from.”

“Or,” I butted in, “Just have Missy bring Bandit over for a visit every now and then so you get your animal fix,” I suggested. “Problem solved.”

Shelby rolled her eyes. “We are going to get a puppy.”

Wilder motioned to the sheep. “Then why do we have Ba?” he asked. “What are we going to do with a sheep?”

“Love him,” Shelby cooed. “He’s going to be your best friend.”

Wilder pointed at me. “I have Blake and even Charlie. I don’t need any more best friends, Shelby Lynn.”

“You guys are being sticks in the mud,” she laughed. “All you have to do is feed him and ensure he has a fenced-in area to roam. Easy peasy.”

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