Page 4 of Blake Marshall Says He Needs Me

Wilder and I both looked around. “Fence?” I asked.

“Where?”

Shelby stood and wiped her hands on her pants. “Over there, by the silo.”

“Again, what fence?” I asked. The silo was next to my place, and last I checked, there wasn’t a fence anywhere.

“The fence guys will be here this afternoon, and then his little shed will be delivered tomorrow.”

“What?” Wilder exclaimed. “How in the heck do you have this all planned, and I’m just hearing about it?”

“I’m gonna move here once I rent out my house, right?” she asked.

Wilder shrugged. “Well, that’s what we talked about, but I don’t know if you tell me everything or just the things you want to.”

“Well, I want to have animals if I’m going to live here. You have the room for animals, so why not start with a sheep?”

Wilder ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t even know what to feed a sheep,” he moaned.

Shelby beamed proudly. “I googled it and talked to Jim at the feed mill. He said he’d have feed delivered around noon, and they also like to graze. We’ll make the pasture by the silo and loop around the back of the barn. Ba will have plenty of green and clover to eat.”

Wilder glanced at his phone. “Shelby, it’s twelve-ten.”

“It should be here any minute, then.” She puffed her chest out proudly as if she had accomplished something amazing. “We are going to be the best parents to Ba.”

I patted Wilder on the back and couldn’t help but laugh. “Congratulations,” I laughed. “Who would have thought you would have become parents simultaneously as Charlie and Missy.”

Wilder shrugged me off and folded his arms over his chest. “Something tells me a baby would have been easier than caring for a sheep and whatever other animals Shelby has coming.”

“We’re just going to have a small farm,” Shelby sighed. “A few chickens, a goat, and maybe a pony.” She held up her thumb and pointed fingers an inch from each other. “Just a small one, though. I was thinking about a Clydesdale, but Missy walked me out of it.”

“Oh, god,” Wilder groaned. “I should have known Missy would have something to do with this.”

“Might be for the best,” I laughed. “If she weren’t, you’d have a Clydesdale on the end of that rope instead of a sheep.”

“See,” Shelby sang, “Blake understands what is happening. It’s really just for the best if you go with it, baby.”

I honestly didn’t really get what was happening, but I found this all comical.

Moving to Adams had been one of the best decisions of my life.

Wilder was amazing to work with, and Shelby and Missy were hilarious. There was never a dull moment when either of them was around.

The best part was that I could be a part of the craziness when I wanted, and when I was done, I just had to walk over to my converted barn for peace and quiet.

Best of both worlds.

A loud beeping sounded, and a flatbed backed into the driveway.

“Oh,” Shelby exclaimed. “There’s the feed now.” She kissed Wilder’s cheek and pressed the leash to Ba into his hand. “I’ll be right back,” she promised.

She skipped over to the truck, and Wilder glared at Ba.

“It’s a good thing I love her,” he grumbled.

“Man,” I chuckled, “I knew moving to Adams would be different from Chicago, but this is next level. Good luck, man.”

Wilder folded his arms over her chest. “You’re talking like this dude isn’t going to live in your backyard,” he growled. “If I’m going to deal with Ba, so are you. Unless you plan on moving out.”

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