Page 16 of No Bones About It

As long as the two new horses showed up, and they all got along. He knew he couldn’t leave this horse on her own. She’d had enough change. He wanted her to feel safe.

After a shower, Garrett threw in some laundry and took his tablet outside to sit in Kitty’s paddock on a hay bale. If he truly wanted this to be a horse rescue and therapy center, he needed to think about a business license and all the other crap that went with it.

He hated this stuff, but he needed an idea of what he wanted before he roped Heath into doing most of it for him. The guy worked with start-up businesses all the time, so he would know the things Garrett would have to do.

His gaze drifted often to the property next door. He’d heard Kimi return after four. She was probably still sleeping, and he wondered if she needed to have someone check on her animals.

Plus, he wanted to see her again. Find out more about her.

He stowed his tablet in the barn, then crossed the fields and fences to her yard. To his surprise, he spotted Kimi in the far paddock, checking on the mare.

She hadn’t seen him yet, so he had time to watch her. Her confidence and sure movements with the animals were sexy as hell. As was her laughter when the ridiculous goats bounced around the area.

After she’d checked out the horse, she picked up her kit and spotted him. Her smile didn’t falter, which he took as a good sign. “Good morning.”

“Morning. After your late-night excursion, I thought you might need some help this morning. I’m surprised you’re up already.”

The smile slipped right off her face and out of her eyes. What the hell had she been up to the previous evening? Hoping to find an answer without sounding like a gossip, he phrased his question as a statement. “Vets must get some interesting calls in the middle of the night.”

She nodded but didn’t add any information. He’d been thinking animal call last night, but now he wondered if she was sneaking out to see someone. Which was dumb because she could date anyone she pleased. Unless it was a married guy.

Garrett rejected the thought immediately. Nothing about Kimi made him think she was that kind of person.

He stuck out his hand. “I think it’s probably time I introduced myself. I’m Garrett Briscoe.”

Her smile returned. “Hi, Garrett Briscoe, I’m Kimi Twinishe.”

“I found some of that out from Nina the other day and got the rest from Heath and my other friends last night.”

Her lips tipped up as she tilted her head to study him. “Heath and your other friends? You’re not Scooby, are you?”

“Good guess.”

She laughed. “The guys talk about you a lot. Troy has always told stories about the team and how he wanted the entire group here. Marcus is quieter, but he’s told his fair share of stories as well. I was really sorry to hear about how you lost Shaggy that day. She sounds like an amazing partner. You have my condolences.”

Garrett felt like the horse had kicked him in the stomach. Or a bull had gored him. No one ever talked about Shaggy to his face. No onebrought up her death because they knew how it had devastated him. Yet here was a woman he barely knew, telling him how sorry she was about it all.

Kimi reached forward and squeezed his arm. She didn’t wait for him to respond before changing the subject. “If you were with that group last night, I bet Nina told you about my new friends out in the backfield.”

He nodded but couldn’t manage a smile yet. “Jenny, Chickadee, and Tadpole. That girl is a bucket of joy.”

Kimi’s face lit up. “She really is. I don’t know what she’s going to do in the future, but she’s going to change the world for the better. In fact, she already is.”

“Do you always take in strays?”

Kimi nodded. “If I can. I’m not letting an animal suffer when I have the room and the ability to help. This place is actually quite empty at the moment. I’ve got a surprise puppy to deliver to a birthday boy later. The cows are heading home today, too. I’m thinking of getting some chickens and more goats as companions for these three. Usually, we’ve got a half-dozen or more dogs around here, too.”

He breathed through the dog comment, glad there weren’t many at the moment. “I’ve got a few cats roaming my area. Are they yours, too?”

She shrugged. “Most of them are outdoor cats and go where they please. They keep the rodents away and feed themselves. I’m assuming you don’t mind them.”

“You’re right. In fact, I could use a few more if you get word of any. I’ve got two geldings coming in today.”

Another serious study from her. “What are you planning to do with the horses?”

He knew this was a test, and he was glad he would pass it. “These two are also rescues. I don’t know much about them yet. My former boss texted me that he had two who needed a place to go.”

“You’ve got experience in rehabbing them?”

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