Barking up the Wrong Tree: Book 3


 
 
 Barking Up the Wrong Tree ©2023 by Janice Thompson
 Print ISBN 978-1-63609-451-9
 Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-63609-452-6
 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher. Reproduced text may not be used on the World Wide Web.
 Scripture quotations are taken from the New Life Version copyright © 1969 and 2003. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio, 44683. All rights reserved.
 This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.
 Cover illustration by Victor McLinda
 Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., 1810 Barbour Drive, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com
 Our mission is to inspire the world with the life-changing message of the Bible.
 
 Printed in the United States of America.
 
 DEDICATION
 To Mary Gessner, one of my favorite dog rescuers and lover of all animals. You are an inspiration to many and a true hero to canines in need. Keep on keeping on for the sake of our furry friends! You are noticed and appreciated.
 
 A man who is right with God cares for his animal, but the sinful man is hard and has no pity.
 PROVERBS 12:10
 Table of Contents
 Chapter 1
 Chapter 2
 Chapter 3
 Chapter 4
 Chapter 5
 Chapter 6
 Chapter 7
 Chapter 8
 Chapter 9
 Chapter 10
 Chapter 11
 Chapter 12
 Chapter 13
 Chapter 14
 Chapter 15
 Chapter 16
 Chapter 17
 Chapter 18
 Chapter 19
 Chapter 20
 Chapter 21
 Chapter 22
 Chapter 23
 Chapter 24
 Chapter 25
 Chapter 26
 Chapter 27
 Chapter 28
 Chapter 29
 Chapter 30
 Chapter 31
 Chapter 32
 Chapter 33
 Chapter 34
 CHAPTER ONE
 Remington’s off his game, Dr. Kristin.”
 “How so?” I leaned down to examine the beautiful sheltie and was shocked when he snarled at me. “Okay then. Having a bad day, are we?” I backed up at once, knowing better than to intrude on the feisty canine’s personal space.
 “See what I mean?” The usually perky owner brushed a loose blonde hair off her face and shrugged. “Something’s wrong with my boy. Totally out of character, right?”
 “Right. For sure.” I could see from the expression on Reese’s face that this poor gal had reached her wit’s end. “How long has he been like this?”
 “For the past week and a half.” Reese tried to get him under control, but a low growl in the back of the dog’s throat served as a warning that she should tread carefully.
 “Since winning State?” This boy was our clinic’s most famous canine, after all, having recently won Best All-Around at the Texas State Agility Competition in Houston.
 “Yeah.” She finally managed to get him to cooperate at her feet. “I don’t even know what to make of it. And don’t get me started on his behavior at home. He snapped at my husband the other day. He’s never done anything like that. He’s been the perfect dog … until lately. I’m nervous he’s going to act up around my three-year-old. We can’t have that.”
 “No, we can’t. This behavior is certainly out of character for him, I’ll give you that.” I silently observed the pooch’s demeanor as he settled back down on the floor at her feet. Once there, he seemed to relax.
 “Yeah, and the timing stinks.” Reese rubbed her very pregnant belly and sighed. “I’m due in two weeks, and I can’t bring a baby into a house with an aggressive dog in it.”
 “I understand, and I agree.” Only, Remington had never shown any signs of aggression before. In the year since I’d been treating him, the pooch had never given me a moment’s trouble. In fact, those big brown eyes of his had always gazed up at me with nothing but affection. The dog at our feet today seemed altogether different, and that concerned me.
 “I’m already stressed enough, trying to juggle the pregnancy with his training.” Reese plopped down into a chair and released an exaggerated sigh. “I’m usually a lot more on the ball when we’ve got a big competition coming up, but I guess you could say I’ve been a little … distracted.”
 “Can’t blame you there,” I said. Not that I knew what it felt like to be eight and a half months pregnant, of course.
 My gaze traveled back to the dog as a low grumbling noise emanated from the back of his throat as he realized Reese was now closer to him. Remington was one of Lone Star’s favorite clients. But judging from the narrowed eyes and hoarse growl, something had happened to change all of that.
 I stood back and gave him a closer look. “Is it just me, or has he dropped weight?”
 “I thought so too.” Reese extended her hand, as if to pet him, but then pulled back before actually touching him. “And his coat isn’t as shiny or full either.”
 “I see that.”
 “We’re really worried about him. He’s got the biggest competition of his life coming up in a little more than a month, and he’s totally off his game.”
 “Does he still run the course?” I managed to get him calmed down enough to rest my hand on top of his head.
 “That’s another thing. He’s been so stubborn, like he’s afraid to run. I gave him a few days off after the big competition. I thought he needed the rest. But when we tried to start up again, he seemed scared and confused.”
 “Very odd.”
 “Scary, considering how close we are to Nationals.”
 “I see why you’re worried.”
 “Something is … off. I just thought it was my fault, since I’m not as quick on my feet as I was a few months ago.”
 “No doubt.”
 “He’s trained his whole life for this and has so much potential. Jeff was planning to run the national competition