Page 12 of No Bones About It

“Nope. Mama and one piglet of each gender.”

“Could be Mare, Filly, and Colt, but I don’t think those fit. Same with puppy or cub. Didn’t you once tell me a female donkey is sometimes called Jenny?”

Kimi nodded.

“Let’s call the mama Jenny.” After a long pause, she added more. “Chickadee and Tadpole.”

Kimi couldn’t stop the laugh. “Okay. Jenny, Chickadee, and Tadpole it is. Welcome to your new home.”

When they turned back to the barn, Kimi’s gaze drifted to the formerly empty lot. Mystery Man had a horse named Kitty and a gentle manner with animals. He’d also disappeared without a word. Stetson was an intriguing man.

As they returned to the barn, Kimi’s phone chimed with a notification. One she didn’t want Nina, or anyone else, to know anything about.

While Nina went about cleaning up the supply room at the back, Kimi moved into her office and sat at her desk with her back to the wall. The notification held a series of numbers. She plugged the coordinates into her phone and came up with a location. Across the New Hampshire border and about an hour or more south. In the heavy forests past Keene, but before Dublin.

She saved the location and then deleted the notification. Tonight wouldn’t be any good. Her energy was zapped after rescuing Onigis the previous night. But soon, she’d head out to that location and collect more information.

She wanted to ask Sam Young out at Midnight Lake for some night vision equipment, but she couldn’t explain her mission without getting him involved. Her own research would have to be enough for her first foray.

Maybe she’d order some things online before a second trip out there. A camera that would record in the dark without emitting lightand that would upload directly to a cloud or another phone would be helpful. Night vision goggles, too.

She’d never had to worry about her nocturnal comings and goings being noticed before. There had been a forest on one side and an empty farm on the other. Hopefully, Stetson proved to be a sound sleeper.

CHAPTER 5

Feel It In Your Bones

Garrett decided Kitty had settled well enough in her paddock that he could leave for a couple of hours to see at least one of his buddies. Because he’d already met Nina, he decided Slick’s house would be his first stop.

He showered and changed, then went back to the mare and patted her on the neck. “I’m going to visit some friends. I’ll be back in a few hours. Now that we’re settled, we’ll see about getting you a few friends. The cats appear to be permanent fixtures, but we’ll find someone your size. See you soon.” Horses were herd animals and liked a group. Back in Tennessee, Kitty had stayed away from the group initially but had been working her way closer to them when CC had sold the place. Now it was up to Garrett to find her some new friends.

Instead of getting in his truck, he hopped the fence and followed Nina’s path. This farmhouse was bigger than his own and had signs of ongoing renovations and upgrades. Looked like solar panels were being installed, and a few windows were getting upgraded as well.

His phone beeped, and he checked it, thinking Heath had spotted him. But it was CC.I’ve got a man up north desperate for a place for two geldings who’ve been through hell. You interested?

He responded immediately in the affirmative. CC’s answer made him smile.Figured. They’ll arrive at your place tomorrow afternoon.

This meant the man was likely on the road already, and CC was making sure Garrett would keep busy.

Thanks, boss.

Some kind of weird face emoji came back, proving CC hadn’t been wearing his glasses again.

Contentment filled Garrett. Kitty would have buddies starting tomorrow, and he would see his own friend in a few minutes.

He turned his attention back to the farmhouse. The wide porch ran along the three sides of the house that he could see with rockers and swings scattered on all sides. A family house. Hard to imagine Slick with a family, but after meeting Nina, he knew the man was happy.

He moved to the front door and knocked. Knocking on the back seemed too personal when they didn’t know he was coming.

Nina’s voice called out. “I’ll get it. I know, I’ll check first.”

Garrett grinned. Heath would always be protective of his family, but after what had happened to Addy at Christmas, he would have dialed that protection to the maximum.

Soon, the door swung open, and the girl’s face lit up when she saw him. “Hi. Come on in.” Then she called over her shoulder. “Dad, Mom, it’s the new neighbor I told you about.”

A gorgeous German shepherd mix greeted him. The same dog as he’d seen on Kimi’s Gotcha Wall. The same dog that had sent him running from her office. At least he’d been able to brace himself this time, but he couldn’t bring himself to pat the dog.

As he moved into the foyer and closed the door behind him, heavy footsteps hurried down the stairs. Heath would be worried about a stranger with his daughter, even for a few moments. “It’s okay, Slick. I’m no threat to your family.”

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