Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(15)

Reid threw his gear in the truck and hit the highway bearing east. An hour later, he pulled onto a street lined with rows of small stucco houses. They looked much alike, but he remembered which was hers. Recon was a big part of his job.

He parked in the drive and climbed out of his truck, taking a moment to straighten his uniform. By the time he approached the front door his palms were sweating. He could run without a thought straight into AK-47 fire, but the thought of seeing Haley made him sweat? Fuck that.

He cursed himself and wiped his palms before ringing the bell, waiting in a parade stance, psyching himself up to engage. His mission was to win her over by any means, fair or foul. He was even ready to throw her over his shoulder, if it came down to it.

To his disappointment, it wasn’t Haley who answered, but an elderly gentleman surrounded by a choir of barking dogs.

“Hush now!” He stifled the canine chorus. Straightening, he slowly assessed Reid from the mirrorlike gleam of his black shoes to his snowy white cap. “Can I help you, young man?”

Reid slowly released his breath. “Yes, sir, I’m looking for Haley Cooper.”

“Are you now?” One bushy brow rose over a pair of sharp gray eyes. “Are you a friend of my granddaughter?”

“You might say that, sir. We have a long-standing acquaintance.”

“And you’re a marine?”

“Yes, sir. Staff Sergeant Reid Everett, Third Battalion First Marines out of Camp Pendleton.” Reid relaxed his stance and offered his hand.

“I’m Bill Cooper, Haley’s grandpa,” the older man replied, closing his hand over Reid’s. He glanced past Reid to his black truck parked in the driveway. “I remember that truck. Were you the one who drove her home when she went out dancing with Yolanda?”

“Yes, sir. We met that night at the Temecula Stampede. She cleaned my clock at the pool table. I’m guessing you taught her that jump shot?”

“As a matter of fact, I did.” The old man chuckled.

“Is Haley at home?” Reid asked.

“No, I’m afraid she’s not. Why don’t you come on in, Staff Sergeant Everett. You drove all the way out here. Let’s at least get acquainted. Do you like apple pie?”

Reid grinned. “Yes, sir. It’s my favorite.”

“Good.” Bill opened the door in invitation. “My wife just made a couple of ’em. Come on inside and have a slice.”

“Thank you, sir. I’d love some.” He was disappointed not to see Haley, but recognized an intel opportunity when he saw it. Reid removed his cap and followed, only to be assaulted by a pack of aggressively friendly dogs.

“Down!” Bill commanded. “Please pardon my granddaughter’s motley crew of misbehaving mutts.”

“They don’t bother me.” Reid squatted on his heels to scratch their heads, giving each its due. They were some of the strangest looking mongrels he’d ever seen, but all responded with wagging tails and lolling tongues.

“Ugly bunch, aren’t they?” Bill remarked. “Haley has a habit of collecting the ones no one else wants.”

Reid stored that new Haley insight as he stood. The house was small but neat and filled with the mouthwatering aroma of cinnamon and spice. He felt a momentary pang of homesickness. His mother and sisters loved to bake.

“Put on some coffee, love of my life. We have a guest. My wife, Dorothy,” Bill introduced the petite woman with a slightly faded version of Haley’s green eyes.

“Reid Everett.” He once more extended his hand. It completely enveloped hers.

She regarded Reid with as much curiosity as her husband had. “You’re a friend of Haley’s?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Reid replied. “Do you expect her back anytime soon?”

“No, I’m afraid not. She’s gone to Alaska.”

“Alaska?” Reid repeated. “I thought she was at UC Davis.” He’d been prepared to drive to Sacramento if necessary, but Alaska? “What is she doing there?”

“She’s taken the semester off to participate in some wolf study,” Dorothy replied.

“A wolf study? I thought she was going to be a veterinarian.”

“Sit down, please,” Dorothy urged and turned her attention to the coffeemaker. “Do you like cheese or ice cream on your pie?” she asked.

“No thank you, ma’am, just plain.”

“How about your coffee?”

“Black. Just having it in liquid form will be a luxury.”

Dorothy gave him a quizzical look. “I don’t understand.”

“In the field, we had packets of instant coffee in the MREs but often had to swallow it down dry.” He shrugged. “You learn to make due.”

“Haley changed majors late last year,” Bill finally answered. “She started thinking about it after a summer internship at that wolf place over in Julian. Now she wants to work for one of those wildlife conservation groups.”

“She went to Alaska to assist one of her professors.” Dorothy placed a cup of steaming coffee and a huge hunk of pie in front of Reid before joining him and her husband at the kitchen table. “He’s the one who encouraged her to swap majors, but we’re still hoping she’ll change her mind.”