Alex sat, his back rigid, his mind frozen. He had dealt with many contemptible people, but Hardy exceeded the boundaries of villainy. How could he do this to Ellie? Gentle Ellie, whose only sin was to need tenderness, to make Alex a present of her unopened gift of passion, a gift Hardy had refused. His heart ached for her. How in the name of anything human could a husband betray no sign of altered emotion for six long months while harboring this swinish 'show and tell trash? He wanted to strangle the man, to force the color of suffering into that flat-white, lifeless face. He realized he'd already refilled his glass with port. His head was humming. His gaze moved from the decanter to the man behind the gun. Al1 that wine, and now the port. Had Hardy actually drunk any? What were his intentions? Certainly he would know the perfect potion for a slow death. And the gun.was it to keep them imprisoned at the table until the poison infiltrated their veins? Or did he intend to poison and shoot them, a Rasputinish overkill? He, who had been accused of the ability to read minds at countless negotiating confrontations, hadn't even a good guess.

The welfare of farmed animals such as cattle is an increasing concern for consumers and regulatory agencies. This book explores the science behind our understanding of dairy cow behaviour and ways to improve their welfare. Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of dairy cattle summarises this wealth of recent research and reviews dairy cattle behaviour in areas such as cognition, learning, pain and stress. The collection features authoritative assessments by leading experts on developments in welfare indicators, monitoring and certification, as well as approaches to improve welfare practices of calves, heifers and transition cows at different stages of production including housing, transport and slaughter. With its distinguished author team and wide-ranging coverage, Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of dairy cattle will be a standard reference for university and other researchers in dairy and veterinary science as well as ethology. It will also be a key reference for government and other agencies involved in regulating and monitoring farm animal welfare, as well as dairy farmers and companies processing milk and other dairy products.

This book provides a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of the welfare of cattle. It starts with a consideration of animal welfare science and its application to the management of cattle and moves through to discussions of the challenges and opportunities for providing good welfare for cattle in farming and husbandry systems across the globe. The first section comprises three chapters that discuss the social, behavioural and physiological methods that can be used to assess welfare in cattle. The second section considers the welfare challenges of beef and dairy cattle in extensive and intensive systems. The third section details welfare challenges such as at slaughter, during handling and in the growing period and details solutions such as the use of sensors and application of animal breeding techniques. The final section addresses welfare challenges and solutions in achieving sustainability, in smallholder farms in Africa and new entrant dairying in Asia and cow shelters in India. This work makes a valuable contribution to the field of animal welfare and modern livestock farming. It is a must-read for researchers and students, veterinarians as well as industry personnel and informed farmers and producers.

Cathy Phillips returns to close the lake house where tragedy shattered her golden existence; she intends to leave her memories and carefully built, safe way of life intact. A vital stranger arrives to offer his help, then stays to challenge her to banish yesterday's ghosts and reach for tomorrow with both hands. Dare she take the risk, or is it too much too soon?

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"Second Chance at Love one of best lines. Mary Haskell one of favorite authors." Waldenbooks (Bethesda, MD)

"Enlivened by good dialogue and strong characterization." Sensual Reads (Mellinda P Heifer)

Alex sat, his back rigid, his mind frozen. He had dealt with many contemptible people, but Hardy exceeded the boundaries of villainy. How could he do this to Ellie? Gentle Ellie, whose only sin was to need tenderness, to make Alex a present of her unopened gift of passion, a gift Hardy had refused. His heart ached for her. How in the name of anything human could a husband betray no sign of altered emotion for six long months while harboring this swinish 'show and tell trash? He wanted to strangle the man, to force the color of suffering into that flat-white, lifeless face. He realized he'd already refilled his glass with port. His head was humming. His gaze moved from the decanter to the man behind the gun. Al1 that wine, and now the port. Had Hardy actually drunk any? What were his intentions? Certainly he would know the perfect potion for a slow death. And the gun.was it to keep them imprisoned at the table until the poison infiltrated their veins? Or did he intend to poison and shoot them, a Rasputinish overkill? He, who had been accused of the ability to read minds at countless negotiating confrontations, hadn't even a good guess.