4. Dog And Pony Show
CHAPTER 4
Dog And Pony Show
G arrett 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.
With wide eyes, she climbed back on top of the fence. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know someone had bought the land. It’s just that I always cross through here when I’m helping Kimi. I really didn’t mean to trespass and I’ll go around next time. My name’s Nina and I didn’t mean any harm. That’s a beautiful mare. Did I scare her?”
He blinked at the rush of words and absorbed the facts. This was Slick’s daughter, Nina, which was why she seemed familiar. From the photos he’d seen, she looked a lot like her mom, but there was also some of her dad in there.
Thanks to Nina, he now knew the sexy vet’s name was Kimi. The girl had also revealed she knew a decent amount about horses.
He nodded at her to acknowledge he’d heard her and kept stroking the horse. “She’ll be fine. Kitty’s not used to the place yet, and she’s nervous around strangers.”
Nina’s face lit with joy as she laughed. “You named your horse Kitty? That’s awesome. Would it be okay if I stood on the paddock fence and spoke to her?”
The extroverted chatterbox smiled until he nodded. The girl probably had Slick wrapped around her pinky.
Nina kept her movements slow. Kitty watched her as she climbed down the fence separating their properties and crossed to the paddock, remaining in full view of the horse the whole time. She maintained eye contact as she climbed the paddock, so she was about ten feet away .
“Hi, Kitty. You’re a pretty mare, aren’t you? You’re going to like it here in Phail. The people are really great. They’ll all help to make sure you’re safe.”
Her eyes glimmered at that. He knew enough about what had happened to Nina’s mom over Christmas to know she was talking from personal experience.
“One day, I hope you’ll let me bring you a treat. I bet you like carrots and apples. I didn’t know you were here today, but if it’s okay with your dad, I’ll bring you something soon.”
Her mischievous glance turned to Garrett, and he nodded, glad she was using her persuasive powers for good.
Nina spoke to the horse gently for a few minutes and then stepped down. “I’d better get going. Kimi’s expecting me, and I don’t want her to worry. I’ll go around on the way home. Sorry to bother you.”
And with a wave, she was off. Just as she reached his other fence, he called her name. She turned with a smile.
“You can keep using the shortcut. Kitty and I don’t mind.”
Her smile was brilliant as she thanked him and climbed over to the other side.
Garrett stroked Kitty’s neck. “She’s going to slay some hearts when she’s older. Slick’s got himself a live wire.”
It surprised him that his heart ached a little at that. His heart had been completely shattered after Shaggy’s death, and he didn’t think he’d ever hope for more again. But Slick’s little family seemed like something he might like for himself one day.
“I’m heading back to work, Kitty. You keep an eye on things out here.”
It took a few hours, but he got all the fans installed. The barn’s wooden feed and water troughs were in good shape, but he stashed the ones from Tennessee in the utility room as backups. The large space doubled as a tack room, and he hung his saddle and gear up there.
He tossed the large ball Kitty liked to play with into her paddock and then filled the utility room with cleaning supplies and all the other things he’d need to help the horses. Once it was all set up, he snapped a few photos and sent them off to CC with another Thanks .
His phone rang almost instantly with a video call. CC grinned at him, then angled the phone to show Kath. “Hey, son. The place is looking good. Do you have enough supplies?”
Garrett nodded. “My truck and trailer were so packed I don’t think I could have fit a mouse in there.”
Kath smiled. “No mice allowed. You make sure you get some cats.”
That made him smile. “Already have at least one. There are some roaming around the fields and the paddocks, too.”
“Good. That’ll keep you company. Any humans in the vicinity? You need people too, you know.”
As if she’d let him forget. “I’ve got good people on the land on each side of me.”
CC angled the phone back. “How’d Miss Kitty like the trip?”
He walked outside and turned the phone around so they could see the horse and the rest of the place. They chatted for a few minutes, and when Garrett hung up, he felt lighter. He had good people on both sides of him. He wasn’t much for wanting human company, but he was ready for some time with his friends. And time with the sexy vet, Kimi, wouldn’t go wrong either.
The black and white dog barked from the field again. Garrett ignored him and turned to climb into Kitty’s paddock. He kicked the ball and smiled as she bounced in excitement at the game.
He had all he needed.
“ D id 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?”
“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 light and 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.