Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (6 page)

Juneau, Alaska

What the hell was she thinking? Here she was, a Southern California girl, marching in circles and waving a severed wolf paw in the ass-freezing cold. She'd planned to return home before the first snowfall, but the death of several of their study subjects, under the guise of predator control, had changed everything. Chased to exhaustion by hunters with high-powered rifles in low-flying aircraft, the animals had had no chance of escape. And now the governor was preparing to take this travesty to a whole new level by offering a bounty for wolf kills—a hundred fifty dollars for a left forepaw and hundreds more for a full pelt.

Haley had stayed on to join the confederation of wildlife activists who gathered at the state capital. They'd stood vigil outside the Department of Fish and Game, offering the same wolf hunters two hundred dollars for the paws that they now used as a visual symbol of the slaughter. But after weeks of protests, the governor still refused to meet them or to be interviewed. Adding insult to injury, the media had paid the protest minimal attention.

“How are you holding up?” Jeffrey appeared by her side bearing an encouraging smile and a steaming cup of coffee.

She needed both. Her frustration was growing, along with her fear of losing her fingers and toes to frostbite. She chided herself that the fight against aerial gunning was far more important than her discomfort. And she was incredibly lucky to be working with someone like Jeffrey Greene. The association with him would surely open new doors to her.

“N-not v-very well, I'm afraid,” Haley answered through chattering teeth. “The only people who seem to care are the ones marching with us.”

“The people here aren't apathetic,” Jeffrey argued. “But they're feeling defeated. Alaska has already voted this issue down twice, only to be overridden. If the hunting lobbyists had their way, they'd turn Alaska into a giant game park. That's why we have to stop this now.”

“How? We don't have money or legislative support.”

“Perhaps not here, but we have other options. We have a strong conservation base in California
and
sympathetic legislators. All we need to do is prove we have public support and money, and new federal legislation will follow.”

“But how can we do that when we can't even get any local news coverage?”

“We have to find a way to get
national
attention. All we need to do is capture this brutality on video and show the world the ugly truth. The documentary
Wolves
and
the
Wolf
Men
led to the Federal Airborne Hunting Act in the seventies.” Jeffrey's jaw was set with determination. “It worked once before. It'll work again.”

“That sounds easier said than done,” Haley replied. “I can't imagine any hunters are going to invite us to go along for the ride.”

“We'll just hire a pilot and follow them with a film crew. As long as we don't interfere, we're still operating inside the law.”

“But how do you expect to even find these hunters? They don't exactly advertise their activities.”

Jeffrey eyed her slowly up and down. “I won't.
You
will.”

* * *

“A Berserker, two Arctic Devils, and three Duck Farts.” Haley rolled her eyes as she called out the order to the bartender.

She'd thought her waitressing days were over when she'd left San Jacinto, but here she was, dressed as a nineteenth-century saloon girl in a smoke-filled bar in the middle of nowhere. She could barely breathe from all the cigars and cigarettes. At almost eight bucks a pack in Alaska, you'd think people would give it up.

Her mission hadn't proven as difficult as she'd first thought. The Hole in the Wall Saloon catered to the beer-swilling, Duck Fart–shooting, big-money hunters from the Lower 48 who'd drop seven to ten grand without batting an eye just for a chance at big game.

Although winter days in Alaska were short and unbearably cold, the darkness and frigid temperatures didn't keep people from the bars. If anything, it seemed to foster social drinking, and drinking encouraged talk. Over the past weeks she'd compiled an entire notepad filled with places, dates, and times. It was only a matter of weeks before the days would be long enough for these would-be wolf hunters to take to the skies.

While Haley gathered information, Jeffrey had returned to California to hire a film crew. With several California legislators friendly to conservation, all they needed was video evidence to garner legislative support. Although she'd hoped to be home for Christmas, and missed her grandparents and the California sun, she told herself that her future required sacrificing certain creature comforts for the greater good.

Haley filled three frosty mugs from the tap while the bartender topped the trio of shooters with Crown Royal. “Thanks, Mike.” She offered a smile, adjusted her corset, and then scooped up the tray. She delivered the drinks with a forced smile, endured a lewd joke and a slap on the ass, and then moved on to bus the next table.

She was on her break when her phone vibrated. Her pulse sped. Jeffrey said he'd try to return to spend Christmas with her. Maybe she wouldn't be alone for the holidays after all.

Her heart sank when she didn't recognize the number. She debated whether to answer, but it was a California area code. Her next thought was for her grandparents. Maybe something had happened? “Hello?” she answered tentatively, half-braced for bad news.

“Merry Christmas,” replied a deep, velvety baritone.

Was her imagination playing tricks? It couldn't be
him
after all this time.

“Who is this?” she asked.

“It's Reid.”

“Reid?” she repeated dumbly. “You're back? You're safe?”

“Yeah. Just arrived in Wyoming, actually.”

“So you're spending Christmas with your family? I'm glad.”

“Thanks. I took a detour to San Jacinto hoping to convince you to come with me.”

“You did?”

“Yeah. I thought you might like to see Wyoming. I also hoped we could make up for some lost time. I've waited a long time, Haley… I've been looking forward to seeing you again.”

She swallowed hard. What could she say to that? She'd been so busy that Reid had hardly entered her thoughts. She hadn't heard from him in months and had thought herself long over her infatuation until she'd heard his voice again. The timbre alone awakened something she'd nearly forgotten.

“I met your grandparents,” he continued. “I like them… I think they liked me, too.”

“They would,” she replied dryly. “Gramps and I aren't exactly politically aligned.”

Reid chuckled. “No wonder he and I hit it off. Personal politics aside, it's clear that they love you very much. They miss you too.”

His words made her heart ache for home. “I love and miss them too.”

“But you're not coming home for the holidays?”

“No. I can't. What I'm doing here is too important.” She saw no point in divulging more to someone who had at least one foot in the enemy camp.

A brief silence followed. “I thought you'd set your sights on vet school. Seems you've veered pretty far from that plan.”

“Maybe not as far as you think,” she said. “I'm still helping animals, just wild ones now instead of pets.”

“How is it going?” he asked. “Do you like it there?”

“Well enough, I suppose, but not enough to stay permanently, if that's what you're asking.”

“So you plan to come back?”

“Eventually, yes.”

“I want to see you.”

“But why?” she asked.

“Do I need a reason? I just do. Why did you reply to my emails?”

“I don't know.” She twirled a lock of hair. “It just seemed rude to ignore them under the circumstances.”

“It's more than that,” he insisted.

“Look, Reid. I'm truly glad that you're home safe, but there's no point in us seeing each other.”

“Why not?”

“It doesn't make any sense when you'll just be leaving again.”

“But not for another six months. Why can't we just see where it goes in the meantime?”

“Because this is crazy. We hardly know each other. We met only once almost two years ago.”

“Nineteen months,” he corrected. “But who's counting?”

“That's my point,” she argued. “And we've not seen each other since.”

“That's what I want to rectify. I want us to get to know each other. We need some time together just to talk. Come to Wyoming and spend Christmas with me.”

“I can't, Reid. Even if I wanted to. I have a job here and responsibilities. They're all counting on me. But even if I could, this thing between us can't go anywhere. I'm too busy to get involved with anyone at this point in my life. I have plans that are going to require all my time and energy.”

“I can respect that,” he said. “My job is a big strain on my resources too.”

“Yes,” she said. “I imagine it is.”

“But you still shouldn't be alone for Christmas, Haley. We have plenty of wolves out here too. I'll even drive you out to Yellowstone to see them. Say the word and I'll buy your ticket.”

For a few crazy seconds she actually considered it, but then reason returned. “No, Reid. I can't.”

“It's your boss, right? That professor guy? He won't let you leave?”

“It's not that, exactly.”

“Is he there with you?”

“No,” she replied. “He went back to California.”

“And left you alone in Alaska?”

“He had important business to take care of.”

“Are you involved with him?”

“That's none of your business,” she snapped.

Although shared politics and common values had originally brought them together, Jeffrey had recently hinted about taking their relationship in a more personal direction. She'd thought about it a lot lately.

“That's answer enough,” Reid said. “He's not the one for you. He's a jackass.”

“How the hell would you know that? You've never even met him.”

“He left you there alone. That says everything. He's not right for you. When do you come home?” he asked.

“I don't know for certain. It'll still be a couple of months yet. Probably early April,” she answered his question without knowing why.

“Good. I'll still be around.” She could almost hear the smile in his voice. “I'll be waiting for you, Haley Cooper.”

“Good-bye, Reid.” Haley ended the call feeling dazed and confused.

His doggedness was flattering. No one had ever shown that kind of interest in her before, but she resented how his words had roused her own feelings of self-pity and loneliness. She also hated that he made her feel unsure of Jeffrey, a man who'd offered nothing but encouragement and support. Reid, on the other hand, made her question almost everything she believed in.

She still couldn't deny her attraction to Reid, but it could never be enough to overcome their incompatibility. Nevertheless, late that night, in the darkest and loneliest hours, it wasn't thoughts of Jeffrey, but a tall cowboy with sky-blue eyes that heated her body and haunted her dreams.

* * *

Dubois, Wyoming, the same night

Reid had stepped outside to escape the sudden crushing sensation in his chest. He'd never suffered claustrophobia before, but the music, the laughter, the smells, and the questions he wasn't ready to answer were like sensory overload. His family all just carried on like normal, but he couldn't. He almost wished he hadn't come home. It was just too much, too soon after his deployment.

He sucked in a breath, filling his lungs with frosty air and then shut his eyes in a silent prayer for all the guys who'd never see another Christmas. Bravo company had arrived in Kuwait with 185 men; a quarter of them would never return to their families. His platoon had been among those hit the hardest. They'd accomplished their mission but had paid a heavy price in blood.

He took a long swig of his beer.

A moment later he'd dialed his phone. He hadn't even thought about it. He'd just wanted to hear
her
voice. The conversation was short, even a bit terse. He'd felt her resistance about seeing him again, but in the end she hadn't actually said no. He pocketed his phone with a smile.

“Hey you! The party's inside.” Tonya sat down beside him, drink in hand. She rested the other one on his thigh. Her touch and voice were light, as if testing the waters.

He tensed slightly but couldn't think of a tactful way to get away from her.

“Who was that on the phone?” she asked.

“A friend.” He decided just to play it cool. Tonya wasn't dumb. She'd eventually get the hint.

Her black brows arched, but she didn't press that line of questioning. Instead, she tilted her head skyward and released a long sigh. “I love the cold weather, don't you? It lights up the night. The sky seems darker, and the stars more intense. And I love the snow too, walking in it, skiing on it, and even catching the flakes on my tongue. Did you miss it much, Reid?”

“Yes, I did. I hate the desert.”

“Then why did you go? Your family's outfitting business is doing well. Better than well. There's a whole new lot of oil barons coming in from the Dakotas.”

“I'm doing what I was called to do. If you don't understand that by now, you never will.”

She shrugged. “I was hoping you'd be back for Christmas. We really need to talk, Reid.”

“That so? Then why didn't you just
text
me?”

“Ouch.” She winced. “I'm sorry about that. More than I can say, Reid, but I just didn't know how else to break it off. I was afraid that if I called you, I wouldn't be able to do it, and that wouldn't have been fair to either of us.”