No Bones About It: Oh Deer!
Don't Be A Donkey
Garrett woke to a donkey’s loud bray. Was Snoops alerting to an intruder? The donkey was cranky, but he didn’t generally bray loud enough to wake them at four o’clock in the morning.
Beside him, Kimi hopped out of bed and they grabbed their clothes. “Do you think it’s another bear? They should be in hibernation by now. It’s unlikely any of them are still foraging for food.”
Garrett grabbed his gun and ammo from the night stand then raced to slide on his boots at the back door. Kimi was already there with the shot gun she’d pointed at him on the day they’d met.
He couldn’t contain his grin at the memory as they raced out of the cottage with the three pit bulls on their heels, to where the paddocks sat in front of the barn. Neither he nor Kimi had bothered with outer layers. Even in the winter, the animals came first.
Kimi had adopted Snoops the donkey at least a decade before, and Garrett knew she’d do anything to keep the ornery old guy happy and safe. Once they knew his situation, they’d go back for layers.
Garrett widened his senses as he’d been trained in the military. His K-9 partner Shaggy had taught him to notice far more than what he could see. The pit bulls would help with that, too.
Around them, the night was crisp with snow falling softly. Thanks to their motion-activated lights, they could see well-enough around them.
Snoops brayed again, but none of the other animals was in an uproar. Whatever had annoyed the donkey, it wasn’t bothering anyone else. That should be good news.
Garrett moved left and Kimi went right as they neared the paddock. Presenting two targets was smart, but the move rankled. He hadn’t been dumb enough to suggest it, but he wished Kimi had remained behind in the cottage. Having her in potential danger sent panic through his blood, but his military training had him moving forward anyway. She was an extremely capable woman.
Snoops stood near the outer fence, facing the middle of the paddock. Knowing that donkeys used their hind legs to attack and defend, Garrett focused his attention on the area behind the paddock. Nothing appeared unusual and Snoops wasn’t kicking. He didn’t look angry at all, more confused. Now that the humans had arrived, he was silent. The pygmy goats that loved hanging out with Snoops rested along the paddock’s edge, looking around sleepily, apparently not concerned in the least.
When he was satisfied that no one was preparing to attack Kimi or the animals from beyond the paddock, Garrett turned to see the paddock itself.
From his angle, it looked like a young deer or caribou rested in the middle of the fenced area. Knowing it wasn’t a threat and that Kimi would race in to help the animal, Garrett kept his attention on their surroundings. He walked the perimeter, but found no signs of humans. Hoof prints showed the animal had come from the woods.
Even as a youngling, the deer would have had to squeeze to get into the paddock or jump the fence. There were easier places to lay down, places with more shelter, and without a cranky donkey.
Olaf, the black and white pit bull, whined at Garrett’s side and looked from him to where Kimi huddled in the paddock. “I think you’re right, buddy. There’s no one here but our new friend. Let’s help Kimi.”
Oh Deer!
Kimi slowed her steps once she stood in front of the magõlibo. She had never seen a caribou in Vermont, but the animal was easy to identify. Anyone who’d seen movies with Santa and his reindeer would know them. They normally in the northern regions of Canada or Scandinavia.
“Hello, my young friend. I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe here.”
The reindeer blinked at her. Alive.
“I’m Kimi and we’re going to help. Are you sick or injured? Hungry?”
Normally, a caribou would avoid humans, so something had to be wrong. Keeping her voice gentle, she eased closer until she could reach out and offer the back of her hand for the animal to scent.
“You’re safe now, my friend.” She heard Garrett approaching with Olaf, Astro, and Star.
With her antlers remaining in place after autumn, Kimi knew she was a female and likely pregnant. A visual survey showed a mostly healthy caribou with what appear to be a series of slashes in her side and flank. “That has to hurt, Tuktu. We’re going to help.”
Garrett spoke quietly as he squatted beside Kimi. “Tuktu?”
“That’s the word for caribou in Inuktitut, the land of this one’s ancestors. This species goes by many names, including reindeer.”
“Caribou and reindeer are the same animals?”
Kimi nodded as she grazed the deer’s antlers. “Different names on different continents. Tuktu’s antlers show she’s female and likely pregnant. Looks like she’s had a run-in with a wolf or two, but she got away. I’ll need to disinfect the area and check for internal damage, ensure the baby is okay.”
Garrett nodded, giving off the peaceful vibe that always calmed the animals around him. People too. He sighed. “Poor girl. Do you want me to bring the portable x-ray machine along with everything else?”
She nodded. As a rural vet, she dealt with many of her patients at their homes. Most of her equipment was mobile so she could work anywhere, preform surgery anywhere. Even in a donkey’s paddock with snow on the ground.
“She’s too large to move into the surgery. I’ll take care of everything out here.”
Garrett kissed Kimi’s hair. “I’ll grab our coats and the equipment. You stay here and get aquainted with Tuktu.”
Kimi watched him walk slowly away, nothing in his body language or manner indicating hurry or worry, keeping her patient calm, too.
“We’re going to help you, Tuktu. Your new friend Snoops here got us to you in time.”
Deer with injuries in the wild became easy prey for predators. That wasn’t happening with their new friend.
Hang On For Deer Life!
Late December in Vermont meant the sun wouldn’t rise for a few hours yet, so Garrett rigged up lights and a windbreak to protect Kimi and Tuktu from the weather while she performed repairs right there in the paddock.
Once Garrett had stopped with the noise and activity of setting up the protective shield, the pygmy goats dropped back to sleep. Snoops moved around the paddock until he could see the action.
Kimi grinned. “Living up to your name Snoops? You’re kind to be so concerned for your new friend. She’s very calm and the wounds don’t appear deep enough to harm her baby. If she lets me help her, she’s going to be fine. If she gets too upset, I’ll use anesthesia, but that makes for a more challenging recovery for a wild creature.”
Garrett squatted on the other side of the reindeer and helped her cover the area with the surgical cloths. It reminded him of the first time he’d helped her in surgery, when Olaf had helped Snoops protect the farm from a hungry bear.
That had been a hell of a moment for him. It had been the one that had let him heal from Shaggy’s death overseas. Between Kimi and Olaf, he’d found a way to deal with the sorrow and regrets. He’d opened his heart that day and hadn’t regretted it once.
Now, he lived a full life and ran the equine and canine therapy center of his dreams. They’d also opened a petting farm and he helped Kimi with her veterinary business when he could. It was impossible to imagine a better life.
This time, he would help Kimi save this reindeer and give it a chance to live its best life.
Snoops dropped his muzzle to Garrett’s shoulder and he reached up to pat the donkey. “It’s okay, buddy. Kimi’s going to do everything she can for your friend.”
Kimi smiled but didn’t look up from where she worked. “I think she’s going to be okay, Snoops. No promises yet, but I don’t see too much internal damage. I should be able to fix her up with a local anaesthetic and stitches.”
Snoops nodded his head, making Garrett grin. The animals always seemed to know when the humans were helping.
As he passed Kimi whatever she needed, he asked. “Are there reindeer in this area of Vermont? Don’t they mostly live up north?”
“They do. They’re migratory animals, moving with the food sources, but rarely come close to the Canada-US border. Normally, they stick with their herds. It’s rare to find a solitary animal. I don’t know how she found us.”
But he was glad she did.
Deer To My Heart
Kimi let the shower steam off the aftermath of the surgery. Working on Tuktu in the paddock meant a simple hand scrub at the sink had been out of the question. A shower was a necessity, but taking time away from her patient was difficult.
The caribou wasn’t alone as Garrett and Snoops were at her side. That had her smiling. Maybe Snoops was getting mellow in his old age.
First Popcorn and her goat troop had befriended him. Then the pygmy goats she’d rescued had moved into his pen and he hadn’t been able to scare them away. They’d become unlikely friends.
Now, Snoops had alerted her and Garrett to Tuktu’s distress. He might try to nip Kimi every time she needed to check on his hooves, but he had a good heart under there.
She rushed through the shower, braided her hair and dressed quickly. She’d set the coffee maker before she’d showered, so she filled two reusable mugs, grabbed a container of muffins and headed back to the paddock.
Nina had joined Garrett in the paddock, while her German shepherd Animosh hung out with the pit bulls.
Tuktu continued to rest in a huddle, while Snoops stood guard over her, the pygmy goats wandered in and out of the paddock in search of food.
Kimi passed Garrett a mug. “I didn’t realize you were here, Nina. There’s coffee in the kitchen if you want some.”
The teen shook her head firmly. “No thanks. It smells great, but the taste is awful.”
Garrett grinned. “You know where everything is if you want something.”
Nina had been helping Kimi on Saturdays for years. The high-schooler was intuitive with the animals. She thought she was volunteering her time, but Kimi paid her directly into a savings account she’d sign over to her for college or a car when the time came. It would be a fun day.
Nina pointed at the reindeer. “I take it Santa is currently one short for his trip in a few days.”
Kimi smiled. “I’m hoping she’ll be up and ready by then.”
“Garrett said it looked like an animal attack. Do you think it’s because she’s alone? Normally a herd can fend off most attacks.”
Kimi nodded. “I think so. I haven’t heard of any caribou in the region. I don’t know how she would have wandered so far south.”
Nina smiled softly. “Maybe she was on a practice flight and got disoriented. I’m glad she’ll be okay.”
“Me too. I’ll have to figure out what to do with her once she’s healthy.”
Garrett tilted his head. “She can’t stay here?”
Kimi shrugged. “I don’t think she’d be content here. Reindeer are happiest in herds. They’re also natural migrators.”
Nina pointed to where Snoops had dropped his head to snuffle at Tuktu’s bandages. “I think Snoops has a crush. Maybe the feeling’s mutual.”
Kimi laughed even while part of her mind worked on solving the problem. They had horse trailers. If Tutku had a family somewhere, she and Garrett could reunite them. The five foot fence surrounding the paddock wouldn’t be enough to contain a healthy caribou. Tuktu could easily make the leap once she’d healed. But she’d run into the same problems as before. A lone member of the deer family wasn’t safe in the woods.
Kimi would put out some feelers to fellow vets around the state, find out if anyone knew of a herd in the area.
In the meantime, they’d keep her safe and healthy.
Deer Me
Garrett brought Kimi another mug of coffee. She’d barely left the paddock in the past thirty hours, nor had she slept much.
Tuktu had tried to use her teeth to remove the bandages, so Kimi had stayed at her side, with Snoops supervising the entire time.
Garrett had brought the winter sleeping bags for the two of them, and had taken care of the rest of the animals so Kimi could focus on the pregnant reindeer.
An actual reindeer in their paddock two days before Christmas. Mind-boggling. They’d made dozens of calls to people around Vermont and neighboring states searching for anyone who’d seen or heard about a herd in the area. No luck.
They worried that Tuktu had been taken by someone looking to sell her for some nefarious purpose. Far too often, people looked to use animals to pad their bank accounts. Some people illegally collected unique or endangered animals like trophies.
Olaf nuzzled his hand and Garrett took a breath to settle himself. No getting that worked up near the animals as they sensed everything.
He handed Kimi the mug and scratched Snoops on the muzzle. The donkey hadn’t drifted far from the reindeer and hadn’t tried to bite either her or Kimi. Garrett rubbed him again. “Did you fall in love with Tuktu, Snoops? You’ve been very mellow with us.”
The donkey brayed loudly in Garrett’s ear, making him laugh. “Okay, okay. You’re still tough and scary. Forget what I said.”
The donkey bobbed his head in agreement.
Kimi smiled. “You can relax now, Snoops. Tuktu is healing well and the baby’s heartbeat is strong and steady. Mama here knows we’re helping and that she’s safe here. With Christmas Eve being tomorrow, she’ll be here for a few more days. Even if we find her home, there won’t be any action for a bit.”
Garrett knew caribou were similar to horses in that they spent most of their time on their feet. Tuktu hadn’t made any attempts to stand. He hoped that was because she was healing and regaining strength. Kimi had searched for other injuries but hadn’t found anything.
When she up on her feet, they’d have decisions to make. With her antlers, she could be a danger to other animals if she got scared or aggressive. Deer used the antlers to scavenge for food, but the antlers could also be used offensively and defensively.
Would she be content to stay in this small pen with Snoops and the goats? Would she be happier in the large field with the horses and ponies?
They could also put her in a stall in the horse barn if she cooperated. At about two hundred pounds and with those antlers, she’d mostly go where she wanted. Their job would be to see that she wanted to go to the safest place for her and the others.
Deer, Deer
Kimi had to blink back happy tears when Tuktu climbed to her feet on Christmas Eve morning. It was an excellent sign that she was healing well and felt more like herself.
Garrett hugged Kimi close. “You did it.”
Kimi laughed. “She did most of it, letting us clean the wound and stitch her up. Now that the bandage is smaller, she doesn’t seem bothered by it.”
Tuktu shook out her legs and then nodded her head up and down, as if checking to see if all systems were working.
When she was satisfied, she turned to study her surroundings. She and Snoops stared at each other for a moment, and then Tutku wandered to poke through the snow, looking for food.
Donkeys and caribou had different dietary needs, so they’d been leaving food directly in front of her and out of Snoops’s reach. Even the smitten donkey was wary of those antlers.
Garrett slipped out of the corral. “I’ll get some of her feed.”
When it appeared no one was stressed with the caribou’s movements, she and Garrett relaxed. “I’m not sure what to do for her. She needs a herd, but she needs space, too. Her diet is different from Snoops and from the horses, but I can’t leave her in a paddock by herself.”
As always, Garrett understood. “We need her to be safe and happy. We can keep a close eye on her for a few days, but we’ll need a more permanent solution for the new year. Would she integrate with a different herd easily? We could contact some people in the northern Canadian provinces and see what they think.”
She nodded. “They would know best. We’ve talked to everyone in Vermont.”
Garrett chuckled. “And in a couple more states.”
“If that’s not a solution, we’ll have to see if there’s a way to get her some friends.”
This time, Garrett laughed loudly. “I’ve been waiting for that option to come up. We could partition off the back field and add a separate barn. That way their feed would be easier to monitor and keep everyone safe.”
Kimi loved that he’d been thinking the same thing. If they couldn’t find a way to help Tuktu find her family, they’d give her a new one.
You Know Tuktu...
Garrett smiled as Nina and her parents joined him and Kimi at the corral for Christmas Eve. There were several activities happening in Phail and out at the No Phailed Apples Inn, but he and Kimi wouldn’t leave Tuktu on her own or unattended.
Nina grinned as she bounced to the paddock’s fence. “Hi Tuktu, you’re moving great. No one would even know you’re injured. Did you thank Kimi for helping you?”
Tuktu huffed out a heavy breath and her head bobbed as she nibbled at her food, making everyone laugh.
Addy held up a thermos. “We’ve brought hot chocolate with cinnamon for everyone.”
Heath set down a cooler. “Along with treats for the humans and animals alike. Nina ensured everyone gets a healthy snack.”
Nina grinned. “I can handle a sugar high, but I’m not doing that to our friends here.” She moved into the paddock and around the rest of the property, handing out carrots, apples, and whatever treats were safe for their friends.
The sun set early on Christmas Eve in Vermont, but they’d strung twinkle lights along the eaves of the barn and wherever they wouldn’t endanger the animals.
Nina had returned and they were leaning on the paddock’s fence when Tuktu huffed loudly and lifted her head to the sky.
Snoops brayed softly and followed her lead.
Garrett put his hand on his weapon in case the animals sensed a threat. He knew Heath did the same. Beside him, Kimi climbed up on the bottom rail of the paddock to get a better sense of what was happening.
Tuktu bounced in place and then moved to the far edge of the paddock, attention still high in the air. Higher than any predator would be.
Kimi climbed into the paddock and he followed suit, knowing she’d do anything to keep the animals safe.
Kimi spoke softly. “What is it, Tuktu? What do you sense?”
She shot Garrett a questioning look. “I don’t see or hear anything. Do you?”
He shook his head. “None of the dogs are agitated or even interested.”
Kimi smiled. “Maybe there’s another reindeer out there. Maybe it’s her herd.”
Tuktu backed away from the fence and then moved in a circle a few times. Kimi spoke to her, but didn’t get closer. He stayed intent on Kimi and the deer, knowing Heath would watch their backs.
Suddenly, Tuktu raced to the far end of the paddock and then wheeled to charge forward. It wasn’t a large space, but the speed she built up was incredible.
Instead of crashing into the fence, she lifted her forelegs and leaped.
She cleared the fence and turned to face Kimi. The reindeer bobbed her head a few times, then bounded away into the woods.
They watched in shocked silence as she disappeared from sight. A faint jingle of bells sounded from the direction they all faced.
A man’s joyous laugh accompanied another jingle of bells, and then silence.
Garrett shook his head, trying to change the direction of his thoughts. It couldn’t be.
Kimi’s hand found his and she looked up at him, happy tears in her eyes.
They turned to find Nina glowing while Heath and Addy looking back at them with wide eyes.
When Garrett spoke, it came out as a whisper. “Did we all hear the same thing?”
The five humans exchanged glances. Nina laughed. “Why not? You and Kimi have created a magical place here? Why couldn’t it be real?”
Addy slid her arm around her daughter, then Heath hugged them both to him, their eyes going back to the sky.
Kimi wrapped her arms around Garrett’s waist and they turned in the same direction.
Clouds drifted over the stars and moon. They didn’t see any reindeer.
Or sleighs.
But why not? Why couldn’t they believe?
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this bonus scene to the No Fail Heroes Romantic Suspense series!
The next book in the series is No Man Left Behind spotlighting Marcus and Elina.
