The Little Family, bk3 in the Riverbend adventure series

By Brenda Hamilton

This is the third book in the Riverbend Adventure Series. In it Gene and Mitch, a newly married couple work to establish their businesses. A large animal veterinary practice for Gene and cabinetry and construction business for Mitch. They have issues with one of Evie's boyfriends. Evie runs a doggy day home out of Gene's house in town and a pharmacy for Gene's clients. Then there are some exciting veterinary emergencies which Gene must handle, and unfortunately the couple continue to struggle to explain boundaries to Mitch's mother. There are lots of laughs, a few cries, and one big surprise. You must read the book to find that one out. Enjoy

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brenda Hamilton
• Release date: Dec 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005233013

Brenda Hamilton

Brenda grew up near Oxford Mills, Ontario. After high school she went to Guelph University and graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1977. She moved to the Rainy River District where she ran her large animal practice until the year 2000. Since then, her arthritis and fibromyalgia which had bothered her for years, has finally convinced Brenda to retire. After moving to Oliver with her husband, she has began to write down some of the many story ideas she has had in her head for yearsHope you enjoy reading these tales.

Book preview

The Little Family

by Brenda Hamilton

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2020 Brenda Hamilton

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

About Brenda

Characters in this novel

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

Other Books by this Author

How to Reach this Author

About Brenda

I grew up in the Ottawa Valley in Eastern Ontario. I have two brothers whose families still live in the valley. Throughout public and high school I excelled in the maths and sciences, and by grade 11 had decided to attempt to get into veterinary school. Not so easy of a dream to fullfill.

I was accepted into the Ontario Agriculture College and did two years in this stream. You needed that much post high school learning before you could apply to the Ontario Veterinary College. I applied and surprisingly was accepted. I later learned that most of my class mates had a minimum of 4 years in one of the universities in Ontario and some had graduated with a masters. I was severely at a disadvantage. As well in a class of 120 students there were only 20 women, but that was nothing compared to the year in front of us which had accepted only 5. Most of the women in both years intended to work in small animal medicine while I aimed to work with cattle and horses. Which I ended up doing, but had to move to the extreme north-western point of Ontario to be hired by a hospital. Not only were women descouraged to enrol in vet. Medicine, but we had trouble getting our first job if that job was for large animal medicine. I applied to all jobs posted through the college and only heard back from a few, all but two politly declining to hire me. No one said outright that they thought there was no place for a woman in their profession, but that was my conclusion when the only acceptance letter besides the place I was hired in came when I signed my letter to them as B. Hamilton. When they phoned me and learned of my sex they withdrew their offer.

As I understand it, after my interview with my prospective employer, he went to the head of the Large Animal Surgery Department and the field vets in the Large Animal Mobile Department. Apparently when he showed them the long list of people he had interviewed they pointed him my way.

To make this long story a little shorter, after two excruciating years I started my own mobile veterinary service and eventually bought a small house in the town of Emo, Ontario. My husband who I had met and married while working there helped me renovate the building and I started accepting dog and cats for appointments and surgeries.

Kim and I had 3 daughters and beside the vet business we ran a dairy farm.

This was my dream come true.

I worked there from my graduation in 1977 until 2000, when the arthritis in multiple joints forced me to give up my practice. Kim and I had divorced and he moved to Hinton, Alberta, where by 2000 two of my girls lived. So the third and I packed up and relocated. Since I couldn't practice medicine myself, I eventually was hired as front office manager in the local vet. Hospital. I worked there for 3 years when I met my second husband Dwayne an RCMP officer who was transferred to Fort St. John, BC.

After another move there, I got a job working for Complete Pumpjack Service in the front office and as a hot-shot driver. I didn't know what that was until the first time I was sent off for an hour's drive in a company truck with engine or pumpjack parts for the men at an oilfield site. Just to be clear few trips were on hard top roads and most needed hand drawn maps for me to find the location. Have you tried to read a map sketched by a welder or mechanic? Right. I loved the job and worked there until my health again failed me. I was diagnosed with severe osteo-arthritis and fibromyalgia and had to retire early due to permanent disability. I went through two years living with bedrest and using a wheelchair full time.

About that time Dwayne was transferred to Oliver, BC, in the beautiful Okanogan Valley. Here I was referred to a local specialist in fibromyalgia, and thanks to his meds and the arthritis society's physical therapy I was able to get the strength back into my back and legs and was able to walk. Part of my recovery is largely due to my little support dog Kuta who I adopted and together we walked the numeous paved walkways along the Okanogan Canal.

I started to write. My first book was doctor-vet an autobiographical narative of funny and sometimes sad days in the large animal veterinary practice. It started as a memoir for my daughters and grandbabies, but I was convinced to self-publish the book which sold out the limited supply I had printed (500). I then published the book with Smashwords which is where I have published all the fiction books I later wrote. I will leave you with web addresses if you want to check any of them out.

About three years ago now I took up watercolour painting. I have always wanted to try, but had been told repeatedly through public and high-school that I didn't have an artistic bone in my body. But I tried anyway and have sold one painting and donated many to fund raisers plus gifting some to family and friends. It is all self-taught, but people tell me