A man. A tiger. A tornado. Jared Montaine owns a big cat rescue in Florida and faces financial pressures, getting over his ex-wife, and the challenge of suburbia creeping ever closer to his enclave for the animals. But when a tornado wrecks part of the refuge, Jared's worst fear comes to life: his Siberian tiger, Sultan, escapes. It's a big cat handler’s nightmare: a tiger on the loose, confused, lost -- and hungry. Jared races against the police, the media, and the hysterical public, all of whom are clamoring for the tiger's hide. He must re-capture Sultan before the cat is killed -- by traffic, by SWAT, or by a civilian who just wants to shoot a tiger. With fellow wildlife handlers at his side, Jared fights desperately to find and capture Sultan before the tiger injures or kills a human. Because that would lead to his worst nightmare -- having to kill the tiger he hand-raised from a cub. Jared’s commitment is tested -- to his animals, his refuge, and his belief that saving the life of even one tiger is worth losing everything.

The Tiger Whisperer

But, beyond that, no real fights. Just one, well, beating really: Tasha’s owner. The other man had gone limp in Jared’s fierce grip, hadn’t even fought back.


It had scared Jared badly; he knew he was capable of killing someone.


Little Steve burped, breaking Jared’s reverie and they all laughed.


“Coupla beers and this would almost be fun,” Steve said.


“No time for fun yet. What’s the status on the perimeter fencing?” Jared asked.


Steve rose and stepped over to the refuge map. “First up was the front gate, and then east over to here. We’re having a harder time on this section because the ground hasn’t dried off and it’s still under ten inches of water. It’s about a fifteen-foot section, and I’m guessing it’ll be dry enough by Saturday if there’s no more rain.”


“Weather should be good. Forecast says dry and clear,” Peter offered.


Chapter 40