Episodes

  • Ch 47: Preparing For Opening Day

    Ch 47: Preparing For Opening Day
    Dec 24 2022
    Honey floated into Rory’s office with a goofy smile on her face, as if she were tipsy. “Doc, I just talked to Hugh,” she said dreamily. “He’s flying in tonight.” “Are you planning to see him?” Rory asked, smiling and trying not to break into a chuckle. “Oh, yes,” she replied euphorically. “Hugh’s coming early because he misses me. We’ll be staying at the Paso Inn.” “That’s great,” Rory laughed, wondering why Marol hadn’t let him know what was happening. “What’s the occasion, Honey?” “Chuck and Selena are ready to open their tiger show, and Hugh’s going to film it, or at least the prequel to the opening.” Rory nodded. Honey continued. “Everyone is hyper-focused on the grand opening. Hugh wants to capture the excitement.” “Is Marol coming?” Rory asked hopefully.
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    26 mins
  • Ch 45: Unexpected Surgery

    Ch 45: Unexpected Surgery
    Dec 17 2022
    The next morning Rory came in late because he was still learning the art of performing an intravenous drip on himself. Honey met him at the door holding an orange cat. “Hey, Doc, how are you?” She asked. “Where’s Marol?” “I’m good. Marol’s shopping in Paso,” he chuckled, seeing the cat in Honey’s arms. “What do you have there?” “It’s Pumpkin. Steve Derks dropped him off. He’s taking Janice to a doctor in SLO for her back.” “What’s wrong with Pumpkin?” Rory asked. “He quit eating and is turning orange. He’s orange inside and outside.” “What do you mean?” “Look!” Honey exclaimed. Opening the cat’s mouth, Rory understood. The inside of the mouth was no longer pink. It was an orange color. “He’s jaundiced, Honey.” “Steve said nothing about that. He told me Pumpkin stopped eating and has soft stools. He thinks it’s some sort of stomach upset.” “Not if he’s jaundiced. The problem is more severe than he thinks. Let’s start some tests, then I’ll call him,” Rory decided. Rory followed Honey into the exam room, where they began an evaluation.
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    13 mins
  • Ch 46: Wolf Bite

    Ch 46: Wolf Bite
    Dec 17 2022
    Rory was outside talking with Steve when Honey called from the front door. “Doc! Melanie, Chrissy’s daughter, is on the phone. She needs to talk to you as soon as possible.” “Who?” Rory asked as he neared. “Chrissy’s daughter, you know, the wolf lady from Wherewolve Rescue.” “Hello, this is Dr. Evans,” Rory began. “Doc, it’s Melanie, Chrissy’s daughter. We’re at Twin Cities Hospital. Enzo chewed Mom’s foot off…”
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    10 mins
  • Ch 43: Marol Arrives

    Ch 43: Marol Arrives
    Dec 16 2022
    Rory was bored, tired and bored, but mostly bored. It was eleven o’clock. He was halfway through his evening drip therapy. He’d been sitting at the kitchen table for the better part of an hour waiting for the medicine to drip, drip, drip, slowly into his vein. He remembered Marol was coming. Suddenly his boredom turned to anxiety. The place is a mess! he complained to himself, hearing his mother’s voice. And you are too, and you stink! When was the last time you took a shower? Rubbing the stubble on his face Rory lifted his free arm. Sniffing his armpit, he decided he needed to shower and shave. But Rory was still connected to the yellow bag of fluids. He reminded himself to be patient. But you’re healing and that’s significant, it's not time wasted! He tried to tell himself.
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    16 mins
  • Ch 44: Lovers Breakfast

    Ch 44: Lovers Breakfast
    Dec 16 2022
    Rory opened his eyes and smiled as he inhaled Marol’s fragrance and felt her warmth. He was lying on his back, his right arm still wrapped around her, holding her tight. His left arm was throbbing from numbness in the cumbersome bandage. The limb tingled as renewed circulation brought life to the sleepy arm. “Hi there,” he murmured when he saw Marol open her eyes. Her face was radiant; she was so glad to be there. She moved closer to him and laid her head on his chest. “How are you feeling?” she asked. “Good, I’m all right. Shit, that beer was a mistake,” he admitted. She chuckled, rubbed his chest, and kissed his cheek. “Potty break,” she said and crawled out of bed. Rory appreciated her shapely behind as she walked away from him. He sat up and put his feet on the floor, rubbing the back of his neck. “Do you want coffee, Marol?” “Yes, please.” Marol came from the bathroom wrapped in Rory’s robe. Rory was standing buck-naked, except for his mummy-wrapped arm, when she joined him in the kitchen. “Nice butt,” she said. “That’s what I was thinking about yours a few minutes ago,” he replied, pouring her coffee.
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    15 mins
  • Ch 42: Septicemic Delirium

    Ch 42: Septicemic Delirium
    Dec 12 2022
    Rory woke the next morning alert enough to see his left arm encumbered in a large bandage that extended from below the elbow to the top of the thumb. He could see the tips of four fingers. His head hurt more than his hand. It's probably a hangover from the drugs, he thought. That surprised him because details of the surgery were coming back. He didn’t recall the procedure being a big deal. Rory slept most of Wednesday. That afternoon Honey stopped in to see how he was. “Thanks for coming Honey. What time did you leave?” “I stayed past midnight,” she smiled. “When they wheeled you into surgery you were high as a kite."
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    20 mins
  • Ch 41:Tiger Bite

    Ch 41:Tiger Bite
    Dec 5 2022
    Rory and Honey drove to Selena’s the next morning. “This implant? How does it work?” Honey asked as she slid into the truck. “It dispenses a birth control drug to prevent the cat from entering her estral cycling. It works for two years.” “Why birth control? I thought tigers are endangered.” Rory shook his head. “Nope, zoos worldwide have too many tigers, plus different subspecies are interbreeding, causing a dilution of original genetics. New cubs have become a liability. They cost the zoo money to feed and are only trafficked on illegal sites.” “There they are,” Honey said as Rory slowed the truck. Both Chuck and Selena were waiting in front of the main cage. “Tamyra’s locked in the back, in her bedroom, Doc,” Chuck said. “Good,” Rory replied. Turning to Honey, he started the procedure. “I’ll load the dart. You gather the other stuff.”
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    28 mins
  • Ch 39: Kennel Cough

    Ch 39: Kennel Cough
    Nov 27 2022
    Rory pushed a thermometer into Trixie’s butt as Honey positioned herself in front of the computer, waiting to enter Rory’s findings. “Temp is 102.4, a mild fever,” he said. “Trixie’s alert, bright, and has a normal respiratory rate.” Placing his stethoscope in his ears, Rory moved the instrument’s head to different locations on Trixie’s chest, listening first to the heart, then at different areas of the right and left lung fields. Repositioning the head on the windpipe Rory listened to the airflow in and then out. Nodding in satisfaction, he unhooked the earplugs from his head and set the stethoscope around his neck. “What did you hear?” Phil asked. “The heart sounds fine, but I hear increased harshness over the windpipe during inspiration when Trixie breathes in,” he replied in a quiet voice. Focusing on the dog, Rory rubbed her throat with his thumb and forefinger, squeezing the windpipe in different places, causing Trixie to elicit a paroxysm of gagging goose honk coughs when he did so. “That’s the cough Doc, how did you do that?”
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    16 mins