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

The cub spent one night at Stint’s veterinary clinic and was ready to return to the refuge after a twenty-four-hour IV of saline. His appetite was enormous; he would eat until he vomited if they didn’t watch him. They put him on vitamins and calcium supplements to give his bones the strength to grow properly, and within two weeks his back legs began to straighten out.


Juliana offered to stay and assist with feedings. “I’m on vacation this week anyway. Let me give you a hand.”


It was a help. The cub needed constant supervision and feedings every four hours. Several volunteers helped out during the day. Juliana slept on the living room sofa, refusing Jared’s offer of the bed. They took turns doing the midnight and four A.M. feedings. Jared used a baby gate to keep the cub in the kitchen but knew that wouldn’t last much longer. A big air kennel with blankets filled one corner.


Chapter 84