Sharp Shootin' Cowboy Page 14

  “You lied to me, Reid. The necropsy and forensics reports confirmed the cause of death as a thirty caliber round through the heart. Your client carried a fifty caliber BMG. You own a .300 Winchester. You told me she was killed by a hunter, but you’re the one who shot my wolf!”

  “Hold it right there. I’ve never lied to you. I told you it happened on an elk hunt. All the details were in the report I made to the Board of Outfitters. The hunter took the first shot and only wounded it, so I had to finish the job. I never denied that, but it was a mercy killing. She was surrounded by two of her pack mates who were ready to rip her to shreds. If you’d taken the trouble to read the report first, you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble. Instead, you chose to assume the worst of me.”

  She ran her tongue nervously over her lips. “I didn’t read it first because I didn’t want to be biased. I needed to examine the facts for myself. It’s my job, Reid. I have to be neutral.”

  “You didn’t have to suspend my license,” he countered. “What happened to innocent until proven guilty?”

  “Perhaps I was a bit overzealous,” she said. “I’m sorry for making it more difficult than it had to be. My only excuse is that I’m feeling overwhelmed and defensive. I didn’t expect it to be like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “So hostile.”

  “Hate to say it, but it’ll probably get a whole lot worse before it gets any better.”

  “That’s why I came to the convention. Jim said my job would be a lot easier if I could gain the outfitters’ cooperation, but I don’t know how to go about that. I’m worried that I’ve already burned my bridges.”

  Reid considered her for a long moment. She seemed sincerely contrite and looked so small and alone. He was exactly the connection she needed to mend fences with the hunters and ranchers—especially after what had happened. He reminded himself he’d already been burned by her once, but he still couldn’t find it in himself to walk away. “I offered to show you around a few weeks ago. The offer stands.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “Really? I—I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say yes to dinner,” he blurted without thinking.

  “I’m not very hungry,” she replied.

  “Well, I suspect that’s likely to change, given that it’s barely lunchtime yet.”

  “Oh yeah. I guess you’re right.”

  “Meet you in the bar at six?” he suggested.

  “Six,” she repeated dumbly. “All right. Please excuse me. I have notes to review.” She spun toward the door as if making an escape.

  He watched her departure, willing his pulse to slow down. He’d rattled her good, but damned if she hadn’t done the same to him. He’d understood her anger about the wolf. He’d seen the pain in her eyes when she’d spoken about her. The wolves were like family to her, or maybe a substitute for the family she’d always craved. At one time he’d wanted to be the man to give her what she needed, but she hadn’t been ready. A lot of things had changed since then.

  He could have just ignored her and walked away. Probably should have. By her reaction, she might have been happier had he done so, but he wasn’t about to let Haley Cooper off the hook so easily. Not this time.

  * * *

  Dinner? Alone with him? After what she’d done? Why had he asked her? His invitation had thrown her completely off balance. She’d accepted, but what the hell was she going to do now? What was going on in his head? She hadn’t a clue.

  She checked the time. It was almost noon. She was supposed to meet her fellow biologists for lunch, but here she was holed up in her room, pacing the floor. She’d come to Wyoming for a fresh start, but Reid’s appearance complicated everything. He’d always challenged her thinking, and once more he had her feeling unsure of herself. Get it together, Haley. You’ve dealt with the unexpected before. And deal with it she would, just not without preparation.

  Snatching her phone out of her purse, she sent a quick text to beg off from lunch, using a headache as a viable, albeit not very creative, excuse.

  After that, she kicked off her four-inch heels and massaged her aching feet. Although she loved heels for the height advantage they gave her, she mostly lived in jeans and hiking boots. She almost never dressed up, except for fund-raisers and speaking engagements. She shed her business suit, one of only three she owned. She also owned the same number of little black dresses that she reserved for the aforementioned occasions…and maybe dinners with ex-flames.

  She drew a hot bath with the intention of reviewing her lecture notes while soaking in the tub. There was nothing better than a hot bath to relax the mind and body. Well, almost nothing, but the best thing hadn’t been on her menu in months. She wondered if she hadn’t already gone so long without sex if she would have been as susceptible to Reid. If she was going to be running into him regularly, maybe it was time to invest in something with batteries?

  Her phone rang just as she shut off the tap. Her gaze darted longingly from the steamy tub back to the phone where caller ID showed Jeffrey’s face. She hadn’t heard from him in weeks. She chewed her lip and then snatched it up. “Hi, Jeffrey.”

  “Hi yourself. Haven’t heard from you. How are you settling in?” he asked.

  “Not so great, I’m afraid. I’ve only been here a few weeks and have already had a nasty confrontation with one of the outfitters over a wolf kill.” She’d never told Jeffrey about Reid. There was little point in bringing up their past relationship.

  “What kind of confrontation?” An edge of worry had crept into his voice.

  “I had the guide’s license temporarily suspended while I initiated an investigation, but he wasn’t completely at fault. The situation hasn’t endeared me to the outfitters, but at least he and I seem to have arrived at a truce.” She hoped so anyway. “On top of that, I’m at the Outfitters Convention now to speak about wolf recovery.”

  “You’re kidding, right? You’re surrounded by a bunch of redneck hunters and ranchers with guns? You shouldn’t take them on alone.”

  She gave a dry laugh. “You’re overreacting. This is the perfect opportunity to present our side.”

  “I don’t think so,” he argued. “It could get really ugly before all is said and done, especially once they realize you’re in a position of influence.”

  She thought of Reid. He’d already connected those dots. “You fret too much, Jeffrey. I appreciate your call, but I have to get ready now. The gun-toting rednecks are waiting to string me up.”

  “Ha. Ha. You shouldn’t take my warning so lightly. This issue is a social and political quagmire, and you’re about to march right into the middle of it.”

  “I can take care of myself,” she assured.

  “I hope you don’t discover differently. Call me if you need anything. I can be on the first plane.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate your offer of moral support, but there’s really no need for concern.”

  “Of course I’m concerned,” he said. “I still care about you, you know.”

  “I know. But not enough,” she said sadly. “Good-bye, Jeffrey.”

  “Bye.”

  Haley hung up, undressed, and sank into the now-tepid tub. But instead of reviewing her notes, she tossed them aside to mull over the awkward situation she found herself in. Although she still felt a bit melancholy about ending the relationship with Jeffrey, she couldn’t regret leaving California. Coming to Wyoming had renewed her sense of purpose, but seeing Reid again filled her with so many contradicting emotions.

  So much had changed over the years, but the attraction between them remained. It simmered beneath the surface even during their moments of hostility. Now Reid had offered an olive branch. She still didn’t know why. Maybe she really was about to be sucked into a quagmire—just not the kind Jeffrey meant.

  * * *

  Hours later, Haley scanned the blan
k faces of the few people who still occupied the room. It had been filled to capacity only minutes ago for the panel on elk management, but following her introduction, the occupants had begun slinking out, much like rats from a sinking ship. Not a good omen. “Good afternoon,” she said with a nervous smile.

  No one smiled back. Her stomach knotted tighter.

  She cleared her throat and began again. “It’s my pleasure to be here today as the new liaison from the Rocky Mountain Wolf Management Task Force. We are a team of conservation biologists and wolf specialists contracted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to review and monitor the wolf management strategies in the Rocky Mountain region.” She drew another breath to recite the lecture she knew by heart. “The recovery of the gray wolf after near extinction is a true American success story—”

  “If they’re recovered, why the hell are they still listed as endangered in Wyoming?” a voice called out.

  Haley glanced up in surprise. “Please, if you will bear with me, I think my presentation will answer most of your questions. If any remain at the end, I’ll be happy to stay for an open Q and A.” She glanced down at her notes in an effort to recompose. “Since the reintroduction of the gray wolf in the mid-nineties—”

  “Reintroduction my ass,” someone else mumbled.

  “Excuse me?” Her hands had begun to tremble.

  “It wasn’t a reintroduction. The Feds imported a whole new subspecies that are half again the size of the plains wolf that used to be here. My granddaddy has picture proof from the last big wolf hunt in the ’20s. They had good reason for getting rid of the ones we had, and they weren’t near the size of those sons of bitches that you people brought down from Canada.”

  “On the contrary, we’ve been conducting ongoing genetic studies that prove—”

  “I don’t care about your science. The fact is there wasn’t ever any plains wolf that could take down an elk all by its lonesome. Now there’re whole packs of them that you people are allowing to wipe out the elk and moose herds.”

  “According to our records, wolf depredations account for only—”

  “’Sides that,” the old man continued, “most of the time they only eat half of what they kill before moving on to fresh game. Wolves are killers. It’s what they do. And they have no natural predators to control them. Now, we have to suffer for it. If you don’t believe me, you need to go talk to my buddy who runs a sheep outfit outside of Victor, Idaho. He’ll set you straight real quick, little lady. Only a few months ago two wolves terrorized the whole herd. He lost over a hundred lambs and fifty-seven ewes at a cost of twenty grand.” The old man shook his head and stood up. “I ain’t listening to any more of this wolf preservation bullshit.”

  The younger man beside him spoke. “I’ve got a question that’s on all of our minds. What’s the real purpose of this so-called task force?”

  Haley licked her lips. “I thought I already explained that. Our purpose is to review, monitor, and provide timely updates on all wolf management activities—”

  “Updates to whom? The Fed or those fanatical activists that are suing us?” He eyed her with open hostility. “The same people you worked for.”

  Haley’s chest constricted. She glanced frantically around the room that was now abuzz. They did somewhat resemble the lynch gang she’d joked about. Maybe Jeffrey hadn’t exaggerated so much after all.

  “I believe Dr. Cooper stated she’d take questions at the end of her talk.”

  She hadn’t noticed Reid’s entrance until he laid a hand on her antagonist’s shoulder. They stared each other down for a protracted moment. To her relief, her adversary backed down, taking his seat again with a sullen look. Reid took a place beside him and nodded to Haley to continue her lecture. The next twenty minutes passed in a blur as she mindlessly recited from her notes, her gaze remaining focused on Reid’s passively reassuring face.

  “In closing, thanks to the cooperative efforts of federal, state, and tribal agencies, as well as conservation groups and ecologically-minded private citizens, we have succeeded in restoring this magnificent species to most of the Northern Rockies. We now look to you, the ranchers, sportsmen, and outfitters of Wyoming, to help us build upon this success.”

  She paused, surveying the room, but rather than the smiles, nods, and applause she was accustomed to, she was met with dead silence and cold, steely stares. Her smile wavered. She cleared her throat again. “Now then, does anyone have any questions?”

  Arms across his chest, her former detractor maintained his icy glower. His light blue eyes reminded her all too much of Reid’s. Did all Wyoming men have eyes that color?

  After a moment of strained silence, Reid raised a hand. “I do. I think everyone in this room wants to know the same thing. We’ve already presented a wolf management plan to the Feds. What more will it take for them to delist?”

  Haley replied, “While I can’t answer for the federal government’s final decision, the task force will review the data and look for assurances that breeding pairs and collared subjects will continue to be protected. We feel that further monitoring is needed since so many of our study subjects periodically migrate out of their protected habitats and into Wyoming.”

  “If that’s so, what’s to keep you from slapping collars on every wolf?” her first heckler asked.

  “Money and manpower,” she answered bluntly. “I wish we could monitor every wolf. We’d then be able to prove that your concerns about livestock depredation are largely unfounded, but it’s just not feasible.”

  “And what about the declining moose and elk?” he pressed. “What’s your answer to that? Our herds are a fraction of what they were ten years back.”

  “There are many factors for the decline of ungulates outside of predators. Namely changes in migration patterns and habitat due to expanding human interference. I’m sorry I can’t elaborate more,” Haley hedged, “but I believe my colleagues who spoke earlier can better respond about the herd decline. Any other questions?”

  Another glower from Reid silenced her two antagonists.

  Haley exhaled in relief. Still shaken, she shuffled her notes while waiting for the room to disperse. When she looked up again, it was empty of everyone but Reid.

  Stepping down from the podium, she laid a hand on his sleeve. “Thank you for coming to my rescue. I had no idea this would become so confrontational.”

  His gaze met hers. “Don’t mistake my actions, Haley. What I did doesn’t mean I agree with you. I’m not on your side on this issue. I just don’t adhere to bullying.”

  “Then I appreciate your intervention all the more.”

  “I invited you for dinner, but perhaps you’d like to get a drink?”

  “Yes,” she replied shakily. “I could definitely use a drink, but could we please go somewhere beside the hotel bar? Someplace quieter maybe?”

  “That leaves out the Million Dollar Cowboy,” he replied. “I’m assuming all steak houses are also out, right? You still a vegetarian or have you gone full-out vegan?”

  She looked abashed. “No. I’m not a vegan. I tried it for a time but I caved on dairy,” she blurted with a guilty look. “And shoes.”

  “Shoes?” He returned a quizzical look. “’Fraid I don’t follow you there.”

  “True veganism is a lifestyle, Reid. Vegans shun not just animals as food but animal products. I had a very hard time finding decent shoes that weren’t leather. I also had a hard time giving up wool, especially while in Alaska.”

  He shook his head with a tsking sound. “So Dr. Haley Cooper chose personal comfort over ethics?”

  “Yes,” she confessed with a look that made him chuckle. “The whole truth is comfort coupled with vanity. I love high heels. When you are barely over five feet tall, you need all the extra inches you can get. But I suppose you wouldn’t understand that, not being challenged for inches.”

&nb
sp; He cocked a brow.

  Her face flamed. “That didn’t come out right. At. All.”

  “Yes. I’m thankful for all my inches.” His lips curved in a slow smile that made her insides quiver. “They help get me into those really hard-to-reach places.”

  She shut her eyes on a distant memory of all those thick, hard inches moving inside her. Her thighs tightened against the sudden surge of desire.

  “What’s the story on dairy?” Reid’s question jerked her mind from the gutter.

  “I made a sincere effort to fall in love with soy and tofu, but there’s no comparison with real ice cream…or cheese. Not even close. One night, when I was feeling particularly blue, I was seduced back to the dairy side by a four-cheese pizza and a pint of Moose Tracks. I fell off the wagon and never got back on. There you have it. Pathetic, isn’t it? I’m the Benedict Arnold of vegans.”

  “So pizza was your Achilles’ heel?” His laugh was low and rumbly. She loved the sound. Jeffrey rarely laughed, but when he did it was nasally and grating.

  “Can’t blame you there,” he continued. “I love pizza, second only to a good steak. Those were two of the things I missed most in the sand pits.”

  “What else did you miss?” she asked.

  His grin disappeared. “Ever heard of General Order Number One?”

  “No. What is it?”

  “The prohibition of booze and all sexual contact in a combat zone. I did seven deployments in eight years, all in combat zones. Each averaging seven months. Some longer. Fifty months of total abstinence. Four-point-one-six years, if you do the math.”

  “Oh,” she said. His gaze was too intense. She had to look away. “I guess you must have been real eager to make up for all that lost time.”

  He shook his head slowly. “Time, once lost, can never be recouped.”

  Was there a deeper message in that? What were they doing now? He’d begun to thaw. In some ways it felt the same between them as before, as if the years had never passed, but in other ways, it was as if they were perfect strangers.