Page 9 of No Bones About It

Mona laughed. “Thanks to you, actually. Is there anything we can do to help? Would leftover produce be good for them to eat?”

When she left, Kimi had several boxes of leftovers, a box of fresh veggies, and a dozen eggs to thank her for her trouble. New England was filled with good people. With a few glaring exceptions.

Like Hendry. She’d have to draw bloodwork from Onigis later today. She had her suspicions about what he was putting into his horses, and Onigis was going to help Kimi take the man out of business.

After driving home and relocating the pigs to the rear paddock with plenty of trees for shade and suitable ground for their rooting behaviors, she added soybean meal to her shopping list. That would ensure their diet stayed balanced, but they’d be fine for a few days until the feed arrived.

Her stomach growled, and she realized she’d missed both breakfast and lunch. Again. After doing a quick check on the animals, she headed inside her cottage and made an omelet with a few of the fresh eggs and veggies.

Kimi sat on her back porch to eat her late lunch and surveyed her property. This was her favorite spot in the world. As a little girl, she’d wanted to take care of all the animals. Her grandmother had laughed and encouraged her to do what she could to help while teaching her that wild animals needed to be wild to be happy.

They hadn’t had a lot, but they’d been happy and able to help others. “You’d like this place, GG.” Her grandmother would have had a good giggle about the pigs watching the chickens, too. Maybe it was time to get a few of her own chickens. She had lots of room to add a coop out near the pigs.

However, if she moved the rheas to a closer pasture, maybe they would serve the same purpose. Rheas looked like small ostriches, although the rheas had three toes. She’d inherited the small flock recently when a vet in Albany had called her. The birdshad been rescued from some idiot who thought it would be fun to have them in his apartment.

Rheas were easy-going and got along with most animals and humans, but she hoped they’d pecked the guy in his sleep. At least now they were safe, and she was sure they’d have fun being entertainment for the pigs. She’d make the move this afternoon.

A dog’s bark broke her contentment. It was the black and white pit bull she’d found on the road in New Hampshire more than a week before. She’d been doing reconnaissance and spotted the poor thing passed out.

He’d been nearly dead from dehydration and with a broken foreleg. Bite marks on his face and both forelegs. Fury rippled through her again. Bastards like the ones who’d made him fight should be jailed. Or worse.

She’d managed to get the dog home and into her operating room before he’d woken. Sadly, he’d escaped shortly afterward.

The dog had been in recovery when Kimi’d been called to an emergency. A rabid coyote had wandered onto a sheep farm and the dogs were attempting to protect the flock. The farmer had run out there with them.

It had taken a long time to contain the coyote, calm the man and his dogs, and ensure none of them had been bit. She hadn’t returned until the middle of the night, and the dog had been gone.

She had to have left the door slightly open. Rookie mistake but the Hal’s panic had infected her. The man wasn’t prone to overreactions and her haste had cost the dog its safety.

From the glimpses she got, he still wore the cast. She wanted to lure him to the barn but hadn’t had any luck. He watched from a distance but wouldn’t approach.

For the first time in years, she didn’t have other dogs on the property. They’d all been adopted and were thriving. Maybe if she had some, the stray would come for the company.

When Nina came by for her shift later, she would ask about borrowing Animosh back for a few days. The shepherd was a sweetie and might be able to lure in the stray. Nina wouldn’t mind. The girl might only be thirteen, but she’d done more for the world than manyadults. She spent at least three hours every Saturday working with Kimi and had a knack for making everyone feel welcome. Humans and animals alike.

Nina thought she was working for the fun of it, but Kimi paid her regularly without her knowing. The girl’s college fund was growing, and Kimi couldn’t wait to turn it over to her one day.

A flash of black and white had her standing and moving toward the barn. Maybe today, she could talk the dog into approaching. Or perhaps she’d spot her mysterious visitor from earlier. Either one she would call a win.

CHAPTER 4

Dog And Pony Show

Garrett ignored the bark. He’d caught glimpses of black and white, but he’d avoided looking at it directly. The dog would be better off at the vet’s place next door. He didn’t need a dog, and he certainly didn’t want one. No dog could replace Shaggy and he didn’t need those memories ripping at his heart every time he saw the animal.

After a few hours cleaning out the barn, he was ready for his first new tenants. Hay and feed would arrive soon, but he’d bought most of the equipment he would need from CC. The man had felt bad about selling out to developers, so he’d given Garrett anything he’d wanted for a song.

Now that the barn was clean and fresh, it was time to load it up. Kitty had only taken up part of his large trailer. Equipment crammed the rest of it and his truck. Anticipation had him smiling. He wanted to set up before springing his arrival on his buddies, but it wouldn’t shock him in the least if they figured it out first. Probably depended on whether or not the vet was a gossip.

He yanked his mind off his sexy neighbor and back to his task. Probably be best to install the stall fans first. It wouldn’t be as hot in Vermont as in Tennessee, but his horses would be comfortable no matter the temperature.

“Hey, Kitty. I’m putting in the first fan. You have a preference for a stall?” She nickered softly at him, but he doubted she’d chosen one as she hadn’t been willing to step hoof in the barn yet. He hoped she’d acclimate over the summer. Winter in Vermont equaled snow, and she’d be much happier indoors during those months.

The mare watched him trek back and forth with interest but never looked directly at the barn. “Soon, Kitty. You’ll get used to it soon.”

A small yelp had him setting down the last fan and looking over Kitty’s back to see a girl climbing down his fence. The mare jumped, so he stroked her neck to keep her calm.

Her shocked face seemed familiar, but he didn’t think they’d met.

---