LITMIR.BIZ

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of the animals so you can park the trailer close.”

      She opened the door. “I’ll come with you. I have a couple of questions before we enter the area with the jaguar and bear.” Over her shoulder, she talked to Reid. “Wait here. When I get the information, can you move the trailer up to the area we’ll be exiting with the animals?”

      With a nod, he got out of the truck and moved to the driver’s side. A few of the officers glanced at him. He kept his head down and counted his breaths.

      The ex-con label would be attached to him until the day he died and beyond. He gritted his teeth. It would be part of his life forever now, so he’d better get used to it.

      Nothing new. Every male in his family carried the stigma. Being the only one to finish high school hadn’t saved him from his family tradition. He popped his knuckles. Could they tell by looking at him?

      Before he hid inside the cab, a large white truck with several compartments in the back pulled up next to him. A tall Hispanic woman stepped out. She came straight to Reid with an inviting grin and her hand out. Reid had to wonder if she bleached her teeth or if they were naturally so white and perfect.

      “Hi, I’m Sandra Ortiz. I’m Danica’s on-call veterinarian. Since I’ve never met you, I’m hoping she finally found a vet tech with an animal husbandry degree.”

      “Reid McAllister. Yes, I’m her new vet tech. For now.”

      The woman’s smile went bigger as they shook hands. “Good, good. I told her not to worry. God would provide.”

      Reid wasn’t sure if it was God or his selfish desire, but he didn’t say anything.

      “Hey, Sandy.” Danica returned and gave the other woman a quick hug. “Seems we have a full-grown male jaguar and a very young bear cub in the basement.”

      With quick, efficient motions, the vet started pulling equipment from the back of her truck. “Congratulations on the new vet tech. I’ll call Gloria and let her know to close the search.”

      “Oh, no. Don’t do that. Reid is one of James’s parolees. He’s here temporarily, so the faster I can get someone in full-time the better.”

      Reid saw it. The friendliness turned to suspicion the second the doctor learned she was talking with a convicted criminal. He needed to get used to it.

      Every time he started over, people would know, and he’d be an ex-con for the rest of his life. An ex-con without a home or family.

      * * *

      Danica loaded the rifle with the dart Dr. Ortiz had prepared, taking careful aim at the black jaguar as it paced and growled in the small enclosure. There were white patches of hair sprinkled over his coat, indications of old wounds and injuries.

      They would have to move fast once she shot him. Anger welled up at the humans who had caged this beautiful wild animal and removed his front claws. His fangs were coated with gold, and a gaudy diamond collar was too snug around his neck. One of his hind legs was not bearing weight.

      They’d already removed the young bear cub. She was small enough for Reid to carry her to the large crate secured in the trailer. He now hung back from the other men. Backed into a dark corner, much like the young bear they’d found huddled in her cage.

      “Is she going to shoot the cat through the bars of the cage?” She couldn’t see who Reid asked, but her husband’s low voice caressed her skin.

      It had taken her almost two years to get him out of her mind. She stopped missing him four years ago, but it seemed as if parts of her heart had already forgotten she didn’t love him anymore.

      She sighed. “Some of us are working over here if you don’t mind. The big guy is already scared, and I want to make him as comfortable as possible.” Bringing the rifle back to her shoulder, she cast the big cat in her sight. As soon as she pulled the trigger, the jaguar snapped at the spot she hit on his rump. It didn’t take him long to go down.

      “We need to move fast.”

      Reid didn’t hesitate a minute. He attacked each of the steps like a pro. Dr. Ortiz was working right alongside him as he finished securing a cloth over the animal’s eyes to keep the cat calm when he woke. With James and a couple other men, they lifted the cat onto a long board and carried him out.

      The entire time, Reid talked in a quiet voice to the animal while they moved him. The same voice that calmed her when she was upset or stressed.

      First thing in the morning, she would start calling her contacts and get the application to the National Wildlife Federation turned in ASAP. She needed to get Reid out of her life, the sooner, the better.

      With the animals secured, Reid disappeared inside the truck as she went to touch base with the lead officer.

      Unfortunately, he was waiting for her with three more crates. The day was not quite over. She would be leaving with more than the two in the trailer. “The animals are secured. The basement is all yours. What do you have there?”

      “Goats. Six kids. We crated them so you could load them quickly.” He smiled as if they were a gift.

      James came up behind her and touched her arm. “I’ll help you with these. I know time is sensitive.” He picked up the one closest to him, and the two goats inside started bleating.

      Reid joined them. “Is everything okay?” He kept his gaze on her, ignoring the FBI agent.

      “Seems as if we have a few more additions to our family. Baby goats.” She looked from the FBI agent Reid was avoiding to the crated goats. “Reid, place them in the bed of the truck. There are bungees in the back seat.”

      With a quick nod, he went to work.

      A short time later she drove over the hills, back to her struggling sanctuary, with six baby goats, a black bear cub, an old jaguar and one secret husband in tow.

      How had this become her life?

      God, I’m working on turning this worry over to You, but right now I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. Lord, please show me what to do!

      “Did you say something?” Reid kept looking over his shoulder, to the cargo they were hauling.

      She didn’t think she said anything out loud. Great. Now she was mumbling to herself. “Just having a conversation with God. The babies are safe. No one will get out.”

      “What about the jaguar? The tranquilizer will wear off soon.” He looked back again, his brow furrowed.

      “Reid, this isn’t my first rodeo. I know what I’m doing. We might have to sedate the big guy again before we can unload him. I’ve gotten good at working with wild animals, and I know how unpredictable they can be. I promise I’ve got this under control.”

      “The bear looks too young to be away from her mother. Will you have to hand-raise her?”

      “Yes, but we’ll keep hands off as much as possible. She’ll be assigned a number. Once she’s old enough, we’ll either release her into the wild or the bear section on the ranch. You were great, by the way. Some people have a hard time working with the big animals, even when they’re out.”

      “I learned to work fast while staying calm. It’s the best way to survive when you have a two-thousand-pound bull that needs medical attention. I’ve never been this close to a big cat. He’s stunning.”

      “He’s a beauty.” This didn’t seem real. She was sitting with the man she married six years ago, talking as if he hadn’t walked out on her and their daughters. She glanced at him. He was checking the trailer again. “Why did you move close to my hometown? Did you know I was living here?”

      “You were always close to your family, and I couldn’t imagine you being away from your twin sister for too long. When we talked about the future, it involved Clear Water and your family. So even if you hadn’t moved back home, I knew you would be around. I meant it when I said

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