Natalie and Mark; A Camp Experience P3 (Patreon)

Sometimes you’ve just got to take that chance…      

Take Your Chances on Me P3 [exclusive to Patrons only]

When the girls woke the next morning, the sun was shining brightly through the windows into the cottage.

Brianna smiled; her eyes still closed. She was thinking about Jamie.

“Bri?”

“Mmm?”

“You awake I take it.”

“I guess yeah.” She opened her eyes and looked at Natalie thoughtfully. “I had a good dream.”

“Me too. Tell you later though,” Natalie smiled, looking toward the “bedroom” area where Carol and the other two were getting up out of their beds.

“Well ladies shall we get up and get dressed? I’m going to go to the main house to see if we can still help with breakfast or if Aunt Rose is already on it.” Carol put on her boots and left the cottage as the other girls began going through their suitcases.

Brianna and Natalie picked through their clothing carefully –wanting to make the best impression they could on the boys. Unfortunately they hadn’t packed with the thought in mind –and had to settle for plain jeans, t-shirts and hoodies. Reassured by the fact that they’d been in sweats the day before, the girls felt satisfied with their appearance and left to the main house slightly more confident.

When they got inside, Rosemarie was already setting food on the table. “Sit down ladies,” she invited with a smile.

“Thank you.”

After placing the last plate on the table, Mrs. Talbot went to the front door and hollered out at the sheep pen. Soon after, Tom and Mark came in for breakfast as well –washing their hands in the kitchen sink.

Mark sat down beside Natalie again and bid her good morning.

“Good morning,” she murmured shyly.

He squeezed her hand and reached past her to grab the salt despite the fact that he had nothing on his plate yet. She looked at him curiously and accepted the plate of pancakes from Mr. Talbot. She took two and passed the plate onto Mark.

“How’s everyone this morning?” Rosemarie asked.

“Good!” Ava smiled.

“Yes, good thank you,” Brianna replied, wondering in the back of her mind where Jamie was.

“Thanks for making breakfast,” Natalie expressed.

“No problem! I hope you girls enjoy it!”

There was a moment or two of silence as everyone passed around the rest of the food: toast, eggs and bacon in addition to the pancakes with fruit preserves for toppings.

“Would you like some juice Nat?”

“Uh, sure.” The nickname felt slightly awkward coming through the air so soon into knowing one another. She reached to accept the jug but Mark picked up her glass and poured some for her. “Oh. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” he answered with a smile.

“That was nice Mark,” Rosemarie commented with a gentle smile. “Say, do you girls have anyone special at school or anything? Not that it’s any of my business really but…”

“No,” Natalie answered, catching Mark’s eye.

Ava and Ashley shook their heads.

“Well, no,” Brianna answered, feeling it was now really the truth after last night. Then again the wound was so fresh it still didn’t feel like she’d lost Kyle –not completely yet anyway.

“No to be honest a lot of the guys I know are very immature,” Natalie commented, “Or they’re interested in other stuff or… Well I dunno I guess I just haven’t found anyone I’m really truly interested in yet from school.”

“Too immature? It could be because they’re in high school,” Mark commented. “Just wait until they get out and I’m sure they’ll smarten up.”

“They probably would but they might not,” Brianna considered. “I’ve met older guys who aren’t any different than the ones my age.”

“True I guess. But some guys are more down to earth.”

“I think the issue there is dating an older guy,” Carol pointed out, “Some girls and some girls’ parents aren’t comfortable with it. And especially if the guy is out of high school and the girl isn’t. People can raise their eyebrows.”

“Yes that’s true. Girls and guys have to be careful about that,” Rosemarie nodded. “Age difference isn’t such a bit thing when you’re older but when you’re a teenager and such it tends to be a bigger issue.”

“I can see what you mean,” Mark agreed somewhat reluctantly, “Well what would you all think if the guy was just out of high school or if he’d been out for a year or two –is there much difference there?”

“Depends I guess on the type of person he is,” Natalie answered first, “I mean, if he was like you –say– I don’t think it would be a big deal because he’s older but not overly mature about stuff so…”

“Yeah, I can see what Natalie means,” Brianna supported, casting her an anxious glance. “You guys here are older than us but I don’t feel that uncomfortable around you because you’re down to earth. But some guys are much more mature –you can just feel it. Not to say you’re immature!” she declared in a rush, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“Haha I wasn’t thinking that’s what you meant but good!” Mark laughed.

“Yes I can see what you all mean,” Carol put in, “But still if you hear the age difference itself it gets to be a bit uncomfortable sometimes. For example if the guy is, yeah I guess your age about nineteen…”

“I’m twenty actually,” Mark corrected slightly anxious.

“Alright about nineteen or twenty then,” Carol nodded, “And he’s dating someone in high school like the girls here when they’re only sixteen that does sound a bit awkward. Four years is quite a difference,” she declared.

“Is it that bad though? I mean by the time you get older that doesn’t sound so bad…” Natalie tried testily.

“Yeah I can see what you mean,” Carol agreed. “My personal opinion is you can go about only two or three years older…well maybe only two while you’re in school. Once you hit your twenties I think it’s almost fair game depending on how much older but yeah…”

Brianna looked at Natalie nervously. They exchanged uncomfortable glances –wondering how the conversation had ever come onto this so meaningfully.

“I guess it’s whatever you’re comfortable with,” Rosemarie concluded, “And whatever your parents are comfortable with too.”

“Yeah,” Mark nodded, taking another bite of food and glancing towards Natalie for her reaction to all this. He sensed she was only uncomfortable due to the fact that this conversation could be applied to the two of them –but he’d have to ask her later to be sure just in case.

“Well that’s enough of that topic for now,” Rosemarie dismissed,”Why don’t we change the subject? How did you girls enjoy visiting the lamb last night?”

“I liked it!” Ava exclaimed.

“Me too,” Brianna agreed.

“Yeah he’s cute,” Natalie murmured with a small smile.

“Well we haven’t named him yet,” Mark declared eagerly, happy for the change of subject, “Why don’t we let you girls come up with some ideas for us?”

They nodded and as they finished their breakfasts, they discussed several possibilities.

“Bri what’s wrong?” Natalie murmured quietly, seeing the look on her face.

“I’m guessing Jamie’s gone…” she whispered, “Just when he’d made me feel all excited and looking forward to getting to see him again today. It sucks. He’s probably gone back home or something. Oh well it’s okay. Like you said I have Duke the horse out there,” she laughed.

“Yeah,” Natalie chuckled. She grabbed Brianna’s hand quickly in support though anyway. Brianna flashed her a small smile in response.

“So I guess it’s between “Jack”, “Simon” and “Baa-sil” and “Larry the Lamb” for the little one’s name?” Mrs. Talbot summarized happily.

“We should take a vote,” Carol suggested. “All in favour of Larry?” No hands raised. “Um Simon?” Two hands raised. “Basil?” One hand raised. “Jack?” Three hands raised.

“I like Jack,” Brianna nodded as she raised her hand.

“Tom what do you think?” Rosemarie asked.

“Well I think it’s up to the girls really,” he replied, “I like Jack and Basil –I mean Baa-sil,” he laughed at the sound. They all laughed with him.

“Well Jack has the most votes so far,” Mark pointed out. “Which do you like more?”

“I really don’t know –don’t include my vote then,” Tom chuckled, “I’ll call him whatever you all decide to name him. Just don’t make it too ridiculous –I don’t want to sound funny yelling out a name into the field!”

They laughed.

“Okay well only six people voted and since we’re not including Mr. Talbot’s that means we can still have one more vote to be cast –unless we want to just end it now and stick with Jack,” Brianna illustrated.

“Let’s vote again,” Ashley suggested.

They did and this time “Jack” and “Simon” were tied.

“Well this is a dilemma,” Mark laughed.

“What is?” Jamie asked, coming into the kitchen carrying a grocery bag.

Everyone had been so busy clamouring over the vote results they hadn’t heard him come in.

“We’re trying to come up with a name for the new baby lamb,” Rosemarie explained.

“And we’ve come to a tie for two of the names,” Mark finished.

“Oh!” Jamie smiled as he placed the eggs and loaf of bread onto the counter and the juice into the fridge. “Well yes that is a dilemma!”

“Hey well since we’re at a tie, why doesn’t Jamie break it for us?” Brianna offered timidly, “Besides, I think he should have a say too since he helped the lamb come into the world.”

“Yeah,” Ava grinned.

“Well sure, uh what’ve you got?”

“It’s between “Jack” and “Simon”,” Natalie told him.

“Hmm, alright.” Jamie looked thoughtful.

“So “Simon the Sheep” or “Jack the Sheep”!” Ava exclaimed.

“Yeah. Well um Simon the Sheep does sound pretty exciting. Then again he is going to grow up and hopefully become a ram –he’s already a bit of a tough guy. And “Jack” would probably fit that description. Hmm… I’m going to have to go with… “Jack”. And if I need a nickname or a middle name I’ll call him “Si” or “Simon” just to be fair,” he laughed.

“Jack it is then,” Tom smiled.

“Well I suppose we’d better tidy up breakfast girls,” Carol proposed.

“Just grab your plates and put them by the sink,” Rosemarie directed, “I think the boys’ll have a bit more to eat –or at least Jamie will grab a plate so don’t worry about anything else; we can get it put away later.”

After following directions, they headed back to the cottage to get ready for spending some time outside with the sheep.

“Hey in about fifteen minutes would you girls like to meet us at the sheep pen and you guys can meet them and then closer to lunch help feed them?” Jamie had suggested as he’d sat down to enjoy some breakfast. They’d agreed and looked forward to learning more about the stubborn beasts they’d encountered briefly the day before. The girls remembered Jamie’s suggestion that the sheep were friendlier during the day, especially when food was involved.

“Oh-my-God I’m so glad Jamie’s still here!” Brianna grinned as she pulled out her toque from her suitcase.

“Yeah me too! I was getting kinda worried when we were almost done breakfast and he hadn’t showed up and no one had mentioned him. I didn’t remember seeing him out at the pen either so I was kinda upset for you but guess he just went out for eggs and stuff,” Nat mused.

“Yeah I was thinking the same things,” Brianna told her with a smile. “Gee I’m so excited and I don’t know why.”

“He’s cute that’s why. And he’s such a nice guy; why shouldn’t you like him?”

“I dunno… maybe because we’re only here for the weekend but who cares really. I think a lot can happen in a short period of time. We’ll see I guess, right?”

“Yup.”

“That conversation this morning though,” Brianna brought up in a more hushed tone. “I thought something was going to come out into the open or something… And it was so awkward sitting there knowing what you they were saying about the age difference was exactly the situation with you and Mark…and I guess me and Jamie too.”

“Yeah I know. Can you believe he’s actually twenty?” Natalie exclaimed quietly, “He seems so much younger –or at least only nineteen at the most.”

“I know,” Brianna agreed. “But you still like him, right?”

“Yeah totally. It’s weird thinking he’s that much older but really I don’t feel the difference at all when I’m around him. How do you feel about Jamie?”

“I know I’ve always said dating an older guy would be weird but like you said I don’t really feel the age difference much. Then again I haven’t had as much time with Jamie `cause he’s been busy but last night around the fire I think we really connected.”

“I think today’ll be a good day,” Natalie smiled.

“Me too.”

They headed outside early to walk around and perhaps go pet the horses before heading to the sheep pen. “It’s a nice day!”

“Totally. Might not need these mitts and toque after all. But I’ll keep them just in case.”

“Good idea.”

“C’mon Ashley, Ava –let’s go see the horses for a moment.”

They headed across the road to where the horses were grazing near the fence. They walked over to the girls casually and sniffed for any sort of food they might be offering –which they had none of.

“His nose is so soft,” Ashley murmured, petting Riley’s muzzle.

“Yeah,” Ava agreed, rubbing Duke’s.

Natalie pulled out her camera and snapped a picture of the other three together with the horses.

“Do you guys like being out here?” Brianna asked Ashley and Ava.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s fun!” Ava exclaimed.

“I wish they had kittens,” Ashley sighed.

The girls stayed with the horses for a few minutes longer before deciding to head to the sheep.

“Dang-it I forgot my camera; be right back.”

Natalie allowed Ashley and Ava to go ahead while she waited near the path from the main house for Brianna to come back. In a few short moments she came running out of the cottage and down the path.

As she approached Natalie, she lost her footing and Brianna fell straight into the snow bank beside her.

“Oh! Are you okay?!” Jamie called. He and Mark were coming down the steps from the deck and witnessed the entire thing.

“Oh! Yeah fine!” she laughed nervously. “Uh just go ahead we’ll meet you at the pen in just a sec…”

“Okay,” Mark agreed with an amused smile.

Natalie helped Brianna up and was laughing. 

“Oh-my-God that was so embarrassing!” Brianna pouted. “It would’ve been funny if the guys hadn’t seen but ohmygawd just my luck!”

“Yeah that sucks!” Natalie agreed, trying not to laugh.

“I mean I guess it was still funny,” Brianna chuckled, brushing off her pants, “but jeeze… couldn’t have happened when they were gone or turned away or something?”

“Of course not; fate ain’t that kind!” Natalie dismissed and the two walked around the corner to walk to the sheep pen.

Brianna stood shyly as far away from the boys as she could without it looking awkward or obvious. She kept her attention on the sheep and therefore avoided any eye contact with the boys as well. Her cheeks still felt hot with embarrassment over her clumsy fall.

“Alright so these are the sheep obviously but we haven’t introduced you to our rams yet so why don’t we walk over there first?” Mark directed.

“We’ll take you around the pen since we really haven’t gotten comfortable with going into the pen yet.”

They walked around to the left and came to a small enclosure behind the main pen where the rams stood munching away on some hay.

“That there is Mac and the other one is Joey. Mac is often the grumpy one –he’s older and just plain miserable sometimes. Joey being younger has more energy but he’s more of a people person –or ram I should say,” Mark smiled, “So far today Mac’s been fine but some days he just ignores you completely or gets angry if you try to bother him. He’ll just start bleating and trying to run away so if you girls happen to catch him in a bad mood, don’t worry too much; he won’t hurt you or anything.”

“Okay,” Ava replied with a nod.

“Joe’s my favourite anyway,” Jamie mused, “He’s just a nicer colour don’t you think?”

The girls agreed. Mac was a dusty colour whilst Joey had a more cream colour to his wool.

“But don’t tell Mac I said so; he’ll never forgive me!”

They laughed.

Jamie whistled and the rams looked up at him curiously. “C’mere!” he coaxed. It took several moments but finally they wandered to the fence warily sniffing at his hand.

“Ashley would you like to feed one of them?” Jamie asked. She came forward and he pulled a handful of something out of his pocket. “Here these are dried peas. Just hold them flat in your hand like this,” he demonstrated, “and they’ll eat from your hand. I’m warning you now, it might tickle! Just hold your hand flat.”

Ashley did as Jamie’d told her and within moments both Joey and Mac were trying to eat the peas from her hand. She smiled and pulled her hand back quickly. “It does tickle a bit!”

“Here Ava come,” Mark gestured, pulling some peas out of his own pocket and handing them to her.

She fed the rams with an excited smile. “They’re hungry!”

“Eh they’re greedy is more like it,” Jamie chuckled. “We fed them this morning before our own breakfast inside. And they still have the hay there in the trough. But then again if someone put a treat in front of me I’d eat it too!”

Brianna laughed and Jamie smiled at her.

“Well I think they’ve had enough for now why don’t we go back to see the sheep over there or we can visit the lamb again…” Mark suggested.

“The lamb!” Ashley exclaimed.

“Sure let’s go then.”

They walked back to the barn and spent several minutes inside watching the lamb and its mother before the girls began to want to do something else.

As they returned to the fence outside, Carol came to ask them if they’d like to wash up and start making one of the crafts they’d planned for the weekend.

“Yeah sure,” Natalie agreed, “Thanks guys for showing us the sheep and stuff…”

“No problem. Catch up with you later,” Jamie saluted, grinning wider as Brianna caught his eye and looked away shyly.

“See you,” Brianna murmured, looking between the two and turning to go with the rest of the girls.

They got inside and settled around the table to make beeswax candles from long sheets of the material and some pre-made wicks.

“I don’t know what kind of a candle to make…” Brianna sighed.

“Just make a few different ones,” Natalie laughed, “There’s enough here we can each do like three or four each!”

“Yeah I know but I dunno what colours to start with!”

“Do the red with this one,” Ava suggested, pointing to the mauve-blue.

“I can’t stop thinking about Jamie…” Brianna murmured, cutting the wax to a suitable size.

“Me neither,” Natalie laughed, rubbing the wax between her hands to soften it and then roll it into a cylinder shape around her wick.

“What?!”

“Not Jamie –I mean Mark!” she chuckled, “The boys… the boy. I can’t stop thinking about him either.”

“I just can’t help it like it sounds stupid but…” Brianna began rolling her red wax tightly around the wick. “Ah whatever let’s talk about something else before I go mad! Tell me more about Mark or something else even.”

“Hmm… Uh I never thought it but I kinda don’t mind the sheep. I’ve always thought they were stupid weird animals but being here has given me a new appreciation I guess. They don’t seem that bad…”

“I agree,” Brianna smiled.

“I liked feeding them,” Ava smiled.

“It was weird,” Ashley put in.

“How about the horses?” Carol asked. “Do you like those?”

“I guess,” Ashley shrugged.

“Maybe we can go feed them too later before lunch!” Ava stated.

“Sure why not?” Carol smiled.

“That looks nice Bri,” Natalie complimented.

“Oh, uh thanks,” she murmured. She’d rolled some indigo around the red and followed it with the mauve. It made the middle swirls of color. “Yours is better!” Brianna exclaimed.

Natalie’s had all yellow wax wrapped on her wick but she was working small pieces of the other colors of wax into shapes and pressing them on. So far she had a heart and was starting teardrop shapes for petals to make a flower. “It’s alright I guess…”

Brianna sighed. “When will you ever take a compliment about your artistic skills?!”

“Never,” Natalie chuckled.

“Fine have it your way!” Bri laughed. She began a new candle by wrapping some indigo wax around a wick.

“That looks nice Ashley!” she smiled. “I like the white like that.”

“Thanks,” Ashley murmured, putting the completely white candle in front of herself to survey.

“I like yours Ava,” Natalie put in. Ava’s was red and she was adding little scrap pieces of white onto the outside.

“Thank you!”

The girls continued on for another half hour before deciding they were done. They tidied up their supplies from the table and took their finished candles to the cottage to place in their bags.

“We should each give one of our candles to the Talbots in thanks for letting us come this weekend,” Natalie proposed.

“That’s a great idea!” Brianna smiled. The other two agreed. The four of them each selected one of their own and placed it to the side to give as a gift later that evening.

“Well what should we do now?”

“Visit the horses?” Brianna suggested.

“I don’t want to,” Ashley declared. “I want to go and play a game.”

“That sounds good,” Ava smiled.

“Alright why don’t you two go back to the main house and play a board game –Brianna and I will go out to the horses.”

“Okay!”

“Let’s hop the fence,” Brianna dared as she and Natalie came to stand beside it. 

“Really?”

“Yeah c’mon!”

“Oh my God…” Natalie muttered as Brianna began to climb over. She followed her reluctantly.

“See it’s not so bad…”

“Yeah but we haven’t come right up to them just yet; we’re still approaching.”

“Fine then I guess we’ll see…” Brianna murmured in amusement.

As they got closer, the horses looked at them in interest but they didn’t move. Bravely, Brianna went ahead and stood in front of them. She slowly reached out her hand and pet Riley’s nose. She sensed the horses’ comfort with her presence there and beckoned Natalie over.

Slowly, Natalie made her way over and stood with Brianna. She began to stroke Duke’s nose and he leaned into her touch eager for the interaction. “I guess they’re not so bad,” Natalie mused. “They’re just so big that sometimes I feel… I dunno intimidated I guess.”

“I agree but I just remind myself that if I present myself slowly and deliberately, they’ll sense my intentions and if they’re uncomfortable they’ll let me know…”

“Since when are you the expert on horses?” Natalie laughed.

“I didn’t say that!” Brianna retorted with a chuckle, “I just think it’s the same with any animal. Let them kinda lead you as to what they’re comfortable with. If they don’t want you to come closer or touch them or something I think they’ll give you a clue beforehand.”

Natalie gave her a curious look. “What?” Brianna asked.

“Do you know who you sound like right now? You haven’t known the guy longer than even a day and already you two are on the same page…”

“Jamie?” Brianna exclaimed, feeling herself blush in surprise.

“Just a little…” Natalie smirked in amusement. “Meant to be?”

“Oh stop teasing!”

The two friends laughed. They grabbed some hay from the bale nearby and offered it to the horses, who accepted the offer no questions asked.

“Hmm well shall we head back?” Natalie inquired, looking back towards the farm.

“Sure… see what the guys are up to?”

“You read my mind.”

They saw Jamie walking out of the barn as they approached the house and it looked like Mark had gone into the far shed off to the left of the rams’ pen. Jamie waved.

“Hey!”

“Hi,” the two answered, pleased with his enthusiasm at seeing them.

“Whatcha up to?”

“Just came to see the sheep,” Natalie smiled.

“Nice. Well, since the other two girls aren’t really up to it, would you like to come in the pen and feed them?”

“Sure, yeah I guess,” Brianna agreed with a smile.

“Awesome. Come with me.” He led them over to the shed where it had appeared Mark had disappeared into. But he was nowhere to be found inside. He must’ve left through the opposite door out the back to take care of some chores. Instead Jamie handed them each a small bucket and walked them over to a large cylindrical container. He scooped some dried peas into each of their buckets from the container and then grabbed a covered ice cream pail from the shelf nearby.

“Let’s go!” he exclaimed with an excited smile.

The girls wondered what had him so excited. Hadn’t he done this before like a million times?

He brought them into the pen. “Alright now it’s time to get some lovin’ from the sheep. Rule one: don’t let them boss you around. You decide who gets peas and when. Rule two: don’t let one or two of them monopolize the situation –share with all the girls. Third: don’t let them intimidate you. I guess that’s really the same as rule one but… well whatever I like things that come in threes. Any questions?”

Brianna was laughing. “No I don’t think so…”

“Good. Alright time to reveal our goods then and begin the chaos. Watch them all flock once one realizes. I swear they have like a sixth sense between them. Just watch.” Jamie opened his pail and grabbed a handful of peas. He offered them to the nearest sheep. She eagerly took the peas from his hand and began sniffing for more within moments. Sheep nearby trotted over interestedly. “Go ahead and offer them some,” Jamie nodded.

The girls did as he said and suddenly they were like celebrities to the animals around them. All the sheep in the pen within mere moments had realized the opportunity the two of them and Jamie were offering and flocked around to get a mouthful (or several) of peas.

“Oh my gosh!” Natalie chuckled. “This is insane!”

“Hate to say I told you so,” Jamie grinned.

At first the girls felt slightly overwhelmed but after a few moments they began to feel comfortable again and enjoyed themselves.

“I’m out!” Natalie told the bleating sheep around her. It was like they were complaining about her refusal to offer anything more.

“Here, want some?” Jamie offered, letting Natalie scoop some more from his pail. “We should probably keep it at that though…” he laughed, “otherwise they’ll get too fat and greedy. Here Bri I’ll refill yours too.”

Brianna handed over her bucket to him, trying not to feel too excited about the fact he’d used a shortened nickname-like version of her name.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

“No prob!” He grinned at her and she almost forgot all about what she was holding as she felt herself getting lost in his gorgeous green eyes.

“He-he, here you go!” she laughed after a sheep jostled her angrily in an attempt to get her attention and request more peas.

“I’ll be right back!” Jamie told the girls, “I’m just going to put this back.” They nodded at him and he ran back to the shed with the pail of peas.

“Hot damn!” Brianna murmured to Natalie, “I have such a crush on him.”

Natalie raised her eyebrows several times quickly in response.

He came back into the pen. “How’s it going? Gosh they’re greedy!” he laughed as he saw Brianna surrounded by so many sheep that she couldn’t walk anywhere. “Move out of the way girls!” he chided, making his way to her. “They seem to like you,” he commented.

“Yeah even though Natalie is offering more than I am!” she laughed.

“I don’t think it’s that,” Jamie mused, “I think there’s something else about you…”

When he didn’t continue his sentence, Brianna looked at him curiously. She found him looking at her with a smile and looked down shyly after a moment.

“I don’t know what it is…” she trailed off.

“No?” Jamie took a handful of peas from his pocket and held his hand out to one of the sheep. “Well I can see why.” He looked back up at her more confidently, “It’s obvious they can see that you’re good with animals –you’re comfortable with them and like to be around them.”

“Well I guess that’s true,” she agreed, “though how do they know that?” Brianna caught the glance of Natalie who was smiling excitedly.

“I think they can just tell…” he smiled. She felt the butterflies rise in her stomach. 

“Well c’mon girls back off –you’ve had enough Holly!”

“They have names?” Natalie asked incredulously, looking around at the sheep which had to number at least thirty she estimated.

“Some of them have nicknames,” he replied, “ones that are more recognizable anyway. That one is Holly for sure because of the dark patch on her back leg. That one sniffing you there is May and the one in the barn is Belle who just had the lamb Jack.”

“Belle?”

“Yes kinda like “Southern Belle” but like the French “Belle” meaning beauty,” he smiled at Brianna, who’d asked the question.

“Yes,” she murmured, “trés belle.”

“Oui,” he answered, “Elle est belle.”

His mediocre French made him all the more attractive Brianna thought. She wondered how much he knew –being a farm boy in the middle of Alberta. She knew she’d been taking it in school since grade four but she wasn’t planning to stay on a farm indefinitely like Jamie seemed to be at the moment.

“Anyways is it alright if I leave you girls here alone for a bit?” Jamie declared.

“Oh, no go ahead,” Brianna encouraged. Natalie agreed.

“Just going to go check up on the horses and get them some more hay and such.”

“See you at lunch then?” Brianna asked a little too eagerly.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “Lunch.” With a short wave, he left them.

“Oh-my-God he was totally flirting!” Natalie exclaimed in a hushed tone, in case he or someone nearby could still hear them.

“I can’t help it I like him so much already and I feel like we barely know each other,” Brianna sighed happily.

The sheep were starting to back off now that the girls had no peas left.

“Oh he dropped his glove,” Natalie observed. 

Brianna bent over and picked it up. “He’ll probably need this right? He said he was getting hay or something. I’ll run it to him?”

“Sure. Try to say something flirty!” Natalie encouraged.

“I’ll try,” Brianna laughed, knowing she had never been good with stuff like that; her mind either went blank or she lost the courage to say anything.

Natalie pat a few of the sheep who were still lingering near her and then went to the side to put the buckets on the ground outside the fence. To her surprise, Mark was walking towards her with a smile on his face.

“Hey,” he greeted.

“Hi,” she murmured.

“Feeding time’s over I take it?” he commented, seeing the empty buckets on the ground.

“Yeah,” she nodded.

“Well there’s probably not much more to do with them now then,” he mused, “Why don’t you come with me instead?”

“And do what?” she asked curiously, trying to sound casual as she came through the gate a few steps away that he helped her unlatch.

“Come and see…” he invited.