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“Also possible.”

Rissa gave her a look. “You’re supposed to tell me what to do.”

She held up her hands. “Absolutely not. I’m not walking into that trap.”

That earned another laugh.

After a few beats of silence, Amanda asked, “Have you ever considered animal science?”

Rissa stopped slicing. “As a major?”

“Yeah. I was watching you at Second Chance the other day. You obviously love working with the animals, and you seemed right at home there.”

“I do love it.”

“I could tell. That’s what made me think of it.”

The teen picked up a slice of pepperoni, popped it into her mouth, and chewed. “I know what animal science is, but I never really thought about majoring in it.”

“Maybe because it’s always been part of everyday life around here, growing up around ranches and livestock. But there are a lot of different directions you can take with a degree. I researched it the other night out of curiosity.”

“Like what? Besides a vet, I mean. I don't think I'd want to go that route.”

“Animal nutrition is one. Livestock or ranch management. Breeding programs. Research. You can focus on behavior and welfare too.”

That seemed to catch her interest. “What about working someplace like Second Chance?”

“Absolutely. There are plenty of ways a degree like that could be useful at a rescue.”

That did it. The pepperoni was forgotten.

Rissa wiped her hands on a dish towel and reached for her phone.

“Well, I guess I’ve lost my pizza maker.”

“I’m multitasking.”

“You’re standing there Googling.”

“That counts.”

Amanda went back to the vegetables while Rissa scrolled.

“There are different concentrations,” the teenager said a minute later. “The stuff you mentioned, plus production and management. Oooh, and equine science...” She looked up. “Why did nobody tell me this was a thing?”

“I just did.”

“You know what I mean.”

She did.

Rissa had grown up around ranches and livestock, but everyone seemed to assume that loving animals meant becoming a veterinarian. Amanda was beginning to wonder why no one had suggested another possibility before now.

“Being good with animals doesn’t mean you have to be the person treating them when they’re sick,” she said. “There are a lot of careers that involve keeping them healthy in the first place.”

Rissa’s attention returned to the screen. “Nutrition actually sounds kind of cool.”

“Yeah, that one caught my attention too.”