Page 36 of No Bones About It

He’d managed to gather up the dog and get him to Kimi’s surgery. Then, he’d managed to follow her orders and instructions. He wasn’t sure he would have been able to make any decisions on his own with the two dogs’ lives and fates swirling together in his mind.

He wasn’t sure why this dog constantly triggered such an onslaught of Shaggy memories. If he wasn’t a practical man, he might think the German Shepherd was working her magic from beyond the grave, that she was making sure he didn’t screw up this place for himself.

But hewasa practical man, so he’d choose to believe it was time to let himself heal. Time to let the guilt go.

And he couldn’t have done any of that without Kimi. She’d maneuvered a onesie onto the dog, making the big pit bull look ridiculous in a soft bluebaby’s outfit.

It shouldn’t have made him smile.

He hadn’t been able to leave the recovery room yet. Kimi had quietly cleaned up the surgery and then told him she was moving Olaf to recovery. He’d carried the dog to the mat she’d set up with a kennel nearby. She’d known Garrett would stay and had set up some blankets and cushions for him and the dog.

The dog was coming out of the anesthetic and he didn’t want him to be scared, so he stroked his head as he spoke with him. “Hey, Olaf. It’s Garrett, the guy you’ve been haunting since I moved here to Phail.”

“I’m glad you liked the food we’ve left out, but I think we’re going to have to get you eating inside so more bears don’t show up. I’m sorry you got hurt. I think you and Snoops made a pretty good pair to keep the bear away from the other animals. Thank you.”

He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry you got hurt before, too. Some people are scum, but there are more good than bad. You’ve landed in the middle of good. We’re surrounded by it here. We’re going to help you out and give you a home. You’ll like it. I promise. Shaggy would have liked it too.”

Hell, he hadn’t meant to start talking about Shaggy. Not even to a dog. But he couldn’t shut himself up.

He told Olaf how he’d met Shaggy as a puppy and how they’d trained together for years to become an elite K-9 pair. They’d done a lot of good overseas.

“She was a special dog, Olaf. She saved so many people over the years. I shouldn’t have let her die.”

He heaved out a sigh and then flinched when Olaf licked his hand. “Hey, buddy. I didn’t realize you were awake. I’ve been yammering away about another dog and here you are wide awake and listening. How are you feeling?”

Olaf licked him again.

“Kimi put you back together but you’re going to have to do your part. You can’t play with the stitches. She’s got you fixed up, and if you leave them alone, you don’t have to wear one of those cone things. Trust me, you don’t want that.”

The dog whimpered in agreement, and Garrett laughed, blinking away the emotion that wanted to spill out of his eyes.

“I’m glad you’re going to be okay, Olaf. I’m sorry you have to wear the baby clothes, but they’ll help you feel better faster.”

The dog wiggled a bit, and Garrett ran his hands over him, repeating what he needed to do to get better. “Kimi said you’ll let me know when you want to drink, but we’ll have to wait a while before you get food. You’re probably groggy from the anesthesia, anyway.”

He kept stroking Olaf, and the dog didn’t protest, nor did he try to reach the stitches or pull at the onesie.

“How are my guys doing?”

Garrett looked up to find Kimi leaning against the doorjamb. “He seems good.”

She moved in and sat down on the floor beside Garrett. “Hi there, Olaf. Nice to see you awake. Your eyes are clear, and you’re nice and calm. Good job. Doesn’t look like you’ve tried to get to your stitches either.” She smiled as she patted Garrett’s thigh.

“Nope. We discussed it, and he decided he didn’t want the cone of shame.”

Kimi laughed and reached over to pat the dog’s head. “Excellent choice, Olaf. You’re a real sweetie. I’m very glad you decided to trust Garrett and let us help you.”

He could hear the wistfulness in her voice and knew she was thinking about the dogs out at that compound, the dogs they hadn’t been able to help.

Olaf whined and licked Garrett again. “Sorry, bud, only good thoughts, right?”

Kimi smiled at him. “Right. It’s getting late.”

Garrett checked his phone, and shock rippled through him at how late it was. He’d been sitting with Olaf for hours. Talking about Shaggy for hours.

With another shock, he realized he was happy. Fully happy. Not with the shadow of Shaggy’s death haunting him. Between Kimi and Olaf, they’d led him through the grief and into a place where he could focus on the positive memories of the best dog in the world.

A place where he had room in his heart for another dog. “Maybe we need to include a canine therapy program along with the equine portion.”

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