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

“Yes, I had to shoot your cougar ass, didn’t I, big guy?” His voice was soft as a dove’s call. He reached in with the other hand and grabbed the cougar’s cheeks, jostling its thick head. The cat oozed over on its back, tail flipping leaves around.


David pushed a little more. “You love these animals. I can show that.”


The cougar’s thick tongue eased out and licked Jared’s hand. The animal’s gaze never left Jared’s face, even when David moved closer.


“Go on, kids, go play.” Jared pulled his hands away with care, then stood with a grimace. The cougars sat side by side and watched him. “What else have you written?”


David was always ready with a verbal resume; most reporters were. “I was editor for the Ft. Lauderdale Leaderand I won a Midwest 2009 journalism award in Kentucky for an investigative piece I did.” A student award, but still worth mentioning.


Chapter 64