I told myself to cool it though. Being disrespectful wasn’t going to get me anywhere. I knew that.
“I’d love to see you try that sometime,” he joked, taking a seat beside me. The puppy perked up but didn’t go closer to him. “Wanna answer the question?”
“Life?” I sighed, reaching a hand out to pet the puppy.
“That is a lot to think about.” He paused, leaning his elbows on his knees. “What about it that causes you to be so lost in thought?”
What didn’t, was the better question.
“Why did you buy me?”
“To save you. If it wasn’t for me, someone would have bought you from Donny, and you’d likely be dead by now.”
“Maybe death would have a mercy.”
“If that had happened, yes. But isn’t life worth living now?”
“Because of you.” I flickered a look his way. It was all because of this man.
“I’ll do anything to give you the life you want, Oakley. Even if it means getting you that darn stinky goat.” The last part was spoken with a bit of humor, and I almost laughed.
“The goatwascute.” I hedged. “But I like this one better. She can sleep on the bed with us.”
“I don’t think I said she could.”
I looked at Sabastian, wondering if that would be a rule. His eyes were squinted at me, but there was no heat behind that glare.
I was pretty darn sure that when we went to bed tonight, whatever happened, the puppy would be in the bed with me.
He shook his head, either at his thoughts or knowing what went through my own.
“Have I told you today how adorable you are?”
I breathed through my nose, dropping my eyes to the puppy again as she lay at my feet.
“Shall we go in and get a snack? And maybe watch a movie?”
“If that’s what you want?”
“Come on. Maybe I’ll show you how to look stuff up on your new phone so you can name this puppy.”
Now that was a great idea. I’d eventually figure out how to use the device, once I got over the small nerves that were ingrained in me to not even think about touching a thing like that.
***
I finally decided on the name Dixie. The puppy seemed to like that name, too, as she had coked her head to the side when I had used it.
Sabastian hadn’t been any help whatsoever, leaving it completely up to me.
All he did was sit back, watching the war movie he put on while I looked through so many pictures of names. Every so often, his hand would run over my head, or he’d comment here or there, but he didn’t give me any names or hints on the ones he’d like.
It was strange to have something left to me like that. In the grand scheme of all things, it probably wasn’t that big of a deal to name a pet that was basically all mine.
As the afternoon turned into night, dinner ate and dishes cleaned up, I found myself part nervous, part fearful.
I knew what I’d have to do, and no matter if tears were shed or not, I’d have to bear my body, and possibly my soul, to the man.
I knew it could be worse. So much so, that the devil himself could be the one who wanted my soul and body.
