13. A Bone To Pick
CHAPTER 13
A Bone To Pick
S omething inside Garrett had shifted. Seeing Olaf bleeding on the ground had brought him right back to that horrific day when he’d lost Shaggy. It had taken a second for Garrett to see past her shattered corpse in his memory to see Olaf in reality.
His heart had shuddered to the point of cracking, and only Kimi’s calming presence had kept him together. Otherwise, he might have been a sobbing ball in the corner of the paddock.
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 he was a 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 blue baby’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. ”
Kimi’s smile lit up the room. “Fabulous idea. And I like the we portion of that sentence.”
He kept one hand stroking Olaf, and used his other hand to pull Kimi in for a kiss. “Me too.”
“I’ve set up a bed for Olaf at the cottage. Let’s go.”
Garrett stood and stretched, stiff from the time sitting on the ground with the dog. “I’ll bring him up, and then get the horses inside and settled.”
Kimi smiled. “Oscar and Grover are inside and set up for the night with their radio. There’s nothing to do but go to bed.”
“I still need to take Kitty home.”
That earned him a laugh. “Maybe, but I’ll let you decide that in a minute.”
Curious, he bent down to pat Olaf. “Okay, bud. I’m going to pick you up, and we’re going to find a new spot to rest for the night. Ready?”
The dog lifted his head but didn’t protest the action. Instead, he sighed and leaned into Garrett’s chest. They followed Kimi to the front office, where he realized the parrot was asleep and the cat box was gone. “Where are the kittens?”
Kimi laughed. “They figured out how to get out of the box and were causing some chaos. I moved them into a stall and blocked the entrance with hay bales for the night. It’s time for them to get used to the other barn cats, anyway.”
“I’m sorry. I should have been helping you.”
She patted his arm. “You were. I didn’t have to worry about Olaf at all.”
Kimi locked up the barn, and they crossed to the paddock holding Onigis and Kitty. He laughed when he looked up. The two mares stood with their heads in the shed-stable and their hind ends out in the paddock.
“The goats are inside, and they’ve been like that for at least thirty minutes.”
He grinned while he shook his head. “I think we’re safe to leave them there tonight. They’ve made friends and are being brave for each other. That’s fantastic. ”
Soon, they had Olaf installed on a dog bed in Kimi’s bedroom, and he had Kimi spooned in his arms. The lack of sleep from the night before and the emotions of the last few hours took their toll. His eyes drifted closed, and he didn’t think he’d ever been so content in his life.
T he following day, keeping Olaf quiet turned into a bit of a challenge. As long as Garrett was in sight, the dog was happy and content to be still and let his body heal. If he couldn’t see his human, he whimpered and tried to follow him.
Kimi figured she felt pretty much the same.
Smiling at herself, she typed out a response to a farmer who was trying to sell off his stock and move to a warmer climate. The pygmy goats she’d had her eye on would be hers soon. One step closer to her dream of sharing her animals with the community. When people got to interact with animals, their compassion and kindness increased, and she wanted that for all sides of the equation.
When she headed outside, Garrett was in the paddock with the mares. Olaf lay on a dog bed in the shade. When she approached the pit bull, he flinched, but she kept her voice low and manner open. She let him sniff her hand again and took her time before petting him. “You’re doing a good job of ignoring those stitches, Olaf. Smart dog.”
The sound of an engine pulling into the yard had her standing to see Marcus in his cruiser. The deputy parked and waved. Then he moved to the back seat and opened the door. When he pulled out a box, her curiosity got the better of her.
Marcus skirted around the peafowl and closed the distance. She peeked in the box to see listless baby bunnies. Anger rolled through her. “Bring them inside, and I’ll get them some milk. Where did you find them? Any idea what happened to their mother?”
Marcus followed her inside and straight to her exam room. “I spotted the box on the side of the road on the way out here. Someone must have dumped them.”
Anger surged through her. “What’s wrong with people? Everyone knows I’ll take in strays of any kind. Why would they dump them on the road?”
Shaking her head, she moved to her fridge and started putting together what she’d need to best simulate their mother’s milk. They looked too weak to eat any food yet, although they also appeared to be old enough to be weaned. That might give them a decent chance of survival.
Garrett came into the room with Olaf in his arms. The dog peeked into the box and sniffed curiously. The sight soothed her anger. At least the bunnies had a chance now. She filled syringes and motioned the men back into the main room. They sat around her conference table with Olaf on Garrett’s lap.
“Michael J. Fox. Michael J. Fox.”
She nodded at Canuck as the bird flapped over to sit on her desk and watch the proceedings. “Good choice. I think we’ll channel some of that man’s kindness here.”
She passed each man a bunny and a syringe and showed them how to feed them. She took the smallest ones herself. Olaf watched the proceedings with perked ears, and when the bunny in Garrett’s hand twitched his ears, the dog yelped in surprise.
Garrett held the rabbit closer to Olaf and let him sniff it, talking to them both soothingly in that sexy voice. “It’s okay, buddy. Bugs here just needs food and someone to help him out, too. You can be friends.”
The dog’s head tilted as the bunny twitched again and blinked. Olaf lapped him with his tongue, and the bunny sat upright, giving Kimi both a smile and the hope that they weren’t too late to save them all.
Eventually, all the rabbits were fed, and sleeping in a clean container lined with a fresh blanket. Once they were ready, they could share the stall with the cats. She’d have to ensure the cats saw them as companions, not prey, but with them all being so young, she imagined they would get along without much help.
Olaf sat on Garrett’s lap and watched the bunnies with a fascinated expression. She hoped he would be a good protector for the little guys.
“I don’t understand people who would just dump these bunnies.” Garrett’s voice echoed her thoughts .
Marcus leaned back in his chair. “Which brings me to the reason for my visit.”
The deputy’s gaze swung Kimi’s way, and she waited.
“I’ve had some calls from my contacts in and around the area. Veterinarian clinics are being targeted for thefts. The thieves are taking surgical supplies, medications, and surgery items. The areas they’ve hit are mostly in southern New Hampshire, but they’re moving north and spreading out. I want to make sure you’ve got adequate security out here.”
Garrett swore, and Kimi sighed. Looked like she was about to out herself and her reconnaissance missions. She nodded at Marcus. “Not surprising. That’s my cue to share some information. I have a good guess as to who’s been stealing from the clinics. I’ve been gathering information on a dog fighting ring, and I’ve recently confirmed its location in southern New Hampshire.”
Marcus’s eyes hardened. “And when were you going to share this information with me? You’re not a trained investigator, Kimi, and the people who run these rings are hardened criminals, usually members of gangs or organized crime. What were you thinking, going off investigating by yourself?”
When Garrett started to speak, she shook her head and answered herself. This was her problem and her responsibility. No way was she making it an issue between the two friends. “I spoke to the FBI about it a while back. They needed some concrete evidence in order to start an official investigation.”
“And you decided it was your job to find it?”
“Yes.”
Marcus ran his hands over his face. “Seriously, Kimi? You’re smarter than that. Do these guys have any clue you’ve been checking them out?”
That had her hesitating, and Marcus growled. She held up her hand to forestall his questions or his lecture. “I’ve been careful, and I’ve only been out there a few times. You don’t have to believe me, but we were going to talk to you about what happened two nights ago.”
“We?” Marcus switched his focus to Garrett. “You knew about this? You were involved in this and didn’t tell me? I thought you trusted me.”
She tapped her finger on the table to bring his attention back to her. “Whoa. This is all on me. The only reason Garrett knows anything is that he jumped into my truck the other night as I was heading out. He figured out I was doing some late-night recon on something, and didn’t want me heading out alone.”
She sighed. “He’s also been after me to tell you from the first moment I told him what I was doing. And I was going to yesterday until Olaf there got swiped by a bear and that took priority. But you’re right, these guys are scary and organized and too big for me to take on by myself.”
Marcus blew out a breath. She could tell he was still pissed, but he was making himself listen. “Fine. Tell me what you’ve seen. In detail.”
“You’re not going to like some of it.” Like her painting over her license plate.
“I already figured that out. Tell me something I don’t know.”
“William Shatner. William Shatner.”
Kimi was grateful for the parrot. He always seemed to pick a celebrity that would make the humans smile. She could use a little of Shatner’s tech right now. Then, they could beam the dogs right out of danger.
With a deep breath, she prepared to tell Marcus everything.