Page 11 of No Bones About It

“Did you know someone bought the land between us? Have you met him yet? He seems really nice, and he’s got a horse named Kitty.”

Kimi kept her attention on the puppy she was checking over. Owen Kerins’s eighth birthday was coming up and his mom had bought him this cutie. Rachel had asked Kimi for help and together, they’d found a rescue living at a vet’s in New Hampshire, which was perfect for the two of them. This guy was mostly a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and would be an ideal pet for the first-time pet owners.

When she’d had time to absorb Nina’s information, she looked up. “Maybe. Tall, longish brown hair, cowboy hat, a bit of a southern drawl.” And jeans that molded his very fine ass. But she didn’t say that part to the freshly minted teenager.

“That’s him. I was cutting through the land like I always do when I realized it was occupied. He didn’t make me go out and around and said I could keep cutting through. And he was really gentle with his horse.”

Kimi nodded. That part didn’t surprise her at all. The living next-door bit did. That hadn’t crossed her mind. Town gossip was usually way ahead of people moving in or out, and she hadn’t heard a single peep from anyone.

Nina picked up the puppy and held him up so they were eye to eye. “Hey, little cutie. Kimi’s got you all fixed up and ready to meet your new family. You’re going to have a Gotcha Day and a real name tomorrow. Owen’s going to lose his mind at how cute you are.”

Kimi grinned because that was completely true. Owen was an extrovert and high energy and all good fun. He and the puppy would be a perfect fit. She figured the two of them would wear themselves out enough to give Rachel more than a moment of peace for herself.

Kimi grinned at her. “Take the puppy with you, and we’ll let him socialize while I introduce you both to the new friends we’ve acquired.”

“The mare outside is gorgeous. She’s different from the brown one next door. This one looks like she’s a racehorse.”

“Good observation. What makes you think that?” The girl had learned a lot from the horses they’d treated and boarded over the last year.

Onigis grazed happily in the paddock with her new goat buddies, making Nina grin as she climbed in on the far side to let the horse see her clearly. “Popcorn really is a therapy goat. She makes everyone comfortable.”

Kimi nodded, and she walked Nina through Onigis’s condition and treatment as they let the puppy roam the paddock without getting too close to the horse. The girl soaked up knowledge and always remembered what she learned. Her teachers had to love her.

Then Kimi motioned her to head behind the barn to the back paddock.

As they rounded the barn, Nina pointed. “You moved the rheas. Did they put up a fuss?”

Kimi shook her head. “Not even a bit. I waited until Regis came to talk to me, and I opened the gate. He led the rest of them through.”

Nina had named the rheas and all the names started with R. Regan. Reba. Remington. Reid. More, but Kimi didn’t remember the rest. Nina did and could tell them all apart. Regis was easy because he was always the first to check out something new.

The pigs had watched the birds approach and had even stuck their snouts through the fence to check out their new neighbors.

The black and white dog barked up ahead and then moved away into the trees. “Looks like the stray is making friends with our new guests.”

“What kinds of guests did you get—pigs? We got pigs?” Nina laughed and raced off with the puppy chasing along behind her. When they neared the paddock, Nina scooped up the puppy so he wouldn’t get underfoot of the large animals or sneak under the fence with the rheas.

When Kimi caught up, Nina asked her a million pig questions before she was satisfied she knew enough for now. At this rate, the girl would be able to pass the exam for veterinarian school before she got her driver’s license.

“Do they have names yet?”

Kimi shook her head. “Not yet. What do you think?”

Nina narrowed her eyes and scrunched up her face. “Bacon, Pork Chop, and Hambone? Straw, Sticks, and Bricks? Porky? Piglet?”

She kept naming pigs from cartoons, movies and books until Kimi was laughing along.

Then Nina stopped and turned to look at the empty lot beside them. Well, no longer an empty lot.

“What about silly names?”

Kimi raised an eyebrow. “Unlike the very serious names you’ve been listing?”

Nina laughed again. “Our neighbor has a horse named Kitty. What about using baby animal names for these guys? Let him know he’s moved into the right kind of place?”

Kimi squeezed Nina’s shoulder in a side hug. “You’re a pretty smart filly. Go ahead.”

“Are they all female?”

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