Monster Whisperer - J.B. Trepagnier

Chapter 1

River

S

unday could always go two ways. I could either make sure I was well stocked on inventory, or it could be a total disaster, and I ended up sleeping at the clinic. I owned one of the busiest vet clinics in town, but I had to set limits. I was only open until noon on Saturday, and I was here until three for emergencies only on Sunday. If I kept my door open for walk-ins on Sunday, my waiting room would be packed.

I had trouble keeping other veterinarians on staff at my clinic. I desperately needed their help, but no one who brought their animals to my clinic wanted to see any vet but me, and anyone else I hired didn’t enjoy talking to grumpy pet parents talking down to them about how I was better.

Not that I was a better vet or studied harder in school. I became a vet because of a gift I could never explain. I’d read everything I could about horse and dog whisperers, but it seemed to be more about reading signals. I could hear them in my head as if we were having a conversation. All I had to do was ask, and they would tell me where it hurt and sometimes why.

I’d never found an answer why I could do this, but I put it to good use. I became a veterinarian and tried to help animals. Sure, I could have advertised it and became some internet-famous animal psychic, but just the thought of that was kind of mortifying. Honestly, I felt like a freak, and I always had. When I was young, I learned to shut up real quick about trying to tell people what their pets were whispering in my head.

This Sunday was looking like a lazy Sunday. No one had called that there was any type of emergency. I’d already gone through my stock and placed orders for anything I was short on. I put another ad to hire a doctor for the clinic to give me a break, hoping they’d stick around this time.

Thirty more minutes and I was out. I had a date with some Chinese takeout and a series I was binge-watching on Netflix. My last relationship ended so badly, I’d rather listen to a Schnauzer tell me his anal glands were full than even think about dating again. No, I’d squeeze all that stinky anal gland juice from a dog’s butthole before I even thought about looking twice at a cute guy.

I was thinking about leaving early when my phone rang. I picked it up because everyone knew I was here for emergencies—no one called unless it was. Someone’s dog could be at death’s door, and it was the entire reason I was here.

“Hello. Sweetwater Veterinary Clinic. May I help you?”

“Is this Doctor River Kelley? I need Doctor River Kelley,” a deep voice replied.

“You’ve got her. What’s wrong with your baby?”

“My hound is lethargic. He’s got no fight in him.”

“I can definitely take a look at him. Has he been here before?”

“No, but this is a special breed of dog. Only the best vet can treat him. I’ve heard stories about you. You’re the only person I trust right now to treat him.”

“How soon can you get him here?”

“Two minutes.”

Was he sitting in my parking lot? I peered out the window, and I didn’t see any cars. Maybe he was just on his way. Most concerned pet owners would do anything for their pets. He could have just put the dog in the car and started driving before he called to make sure I was here.

“I’ll be waiting, but please drive safely.”

I hung up the phone, and there was a massive flash of light outside. Was it about to storm? The weather report said nothing about a lightning storm today. I hoped I didn’t get caught in it on the way home. I didn’t even get the man’s name, and he said two minutes, but almost as soon as I hung up and the lightning flashed, there was a knock on the front door. That was quick.

I opened the front door, and there was a tall, dangerous looking man standing at my door. There was a huge, muscular man next to him, cradling an enormous dog in his arms. The dog was lethargic. I could worry about Mr. Dark and Dangerous, and the man who looked like he could crush my skull with his bare hands after I treated their dog.

I ushered them into an