Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(16)

Reid digested that tidbit as he took a bite of pie. Was she involved with this guy? The pie was delicious, but his thoughts left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“She never mentioned any involvement with a marine,” Dorothy said.

“No. I don’t suppose she would have since we weren’t technically involved.”

Dorothy’s tiny hand rested on his. Her gaze softened. “I’m surprised Haley would have led you astray. She detests the military. Always has.”

“I gathered that,” Reid replied. “It’s an unfair prejudice.”

“She has good reasons,” Bill argued.

“Does she? She told me her father was a marine. I’d like to understand the circumstances.”

Dorothy sighed. “Yes. He was a marine, but we never met him. Don’t even know his full name. He got our Beth pregnant and shipped out. She was only eighteen and not ready for a child. She wanted to abort. We talked her out of it. She had Haley, and we filed for legal guardianship.”

“Where’s her mother now?” Reid asked.

“Up in Seattle. She’s married with four kids. Beth tried to get Haley back about ten years ago, but Haley won’t have anything to do with her.”

Reid shook his head. “That’s got to be a real tough situation for all of you.”

“It has been.” Dorothy’s eyes misted. “We love them both, but Haley needed us more.”

“Everyone needs someone in their corner,” Reid said.

“We just want her to be happy,” Dorothy said. “She loves animals. Always has…sometimes I think more than she likes people.”

“That’s often a matter of trust,” Reid said. “Animals love unconditionally. People don’t.”

“True enough,” Bill admitted. “Haley’s never gotten over her mother’s abandonment, and I think we’ve spoiled her in our attempt to make up for it. I admit we’ve never taken to her politics, but we’ve always tried to stand behind her.”

“She’s lucky to have you.” Reid said.

“What about your family, Reid?” Dorothy asked. “How did they feel about you joining the military, with all that’s happening?”

“My mom tried to talk me out of it, but my ol’ man is from the school of tough love. When I told him my plans, he said the best gift a father could give his son on his eighteenth birthday was a suitcase.” Reid chuckled. “We come from a long line of military men. There’ve been soldiers, sailors, and marines in the family for five generations.”

“Where are you from, Reid?” Dorothy asked.

“Wyoming. My family runs a hunting outfit in Dubois.”

“Hunting?” She gave him a look of surprise. “Does Haley know this?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned. “It was one of several controversial topics we’ve discussed. As a matter of fact, I’m going home for Thanksgiving. I came in hope of persuading her to drive out there with me.”

“If you know how she feels about the military and hunting, why Haley?” Dorothy asked.

He shook his head. “I can’t rightly answer that. Wish I could. There’s just something there.”

The older couple exchanged a look he couldn’t interpret.

Reid stood. “Thanks so much for the pie, Miz Cooper. It was a real treat.”

“Just a moment, Sergeant—”

“Reid,” he corrected her.

“Reid, there’s a jacket in Haley’s closet. Is it yours?”

“It is,” he said, “But I’ll come back for it when she’s here. Do you expect her home for Christmas?”

“We’d hoped so, but she hasn’t committed yet,” Dorothy answered.

“Maybe I’ll try and talk her into it.”

“Good luck,” Bill said. “She’s a very stubborn girl, especially when she sets her sights on something.”

Reid grinned. “Me too. So I s’pose that’s one thing more we have in common. Thanks again. It was a pleasure meeting you both.”

Reid had planned only to spend Thanksgiving at home, but now, unless Haley decided to return, he’d probably stay in Wyoming until after Christmas. He wasn’t certain how to proceed with her after that. Maybe he should just abandon his Haley campaign? He quickly discarded that defeatist strategy. Her grandparents weren’t very encouraging, given their obvious differences, but they didn’t actively discourage him either. He wasn’t ready to concede, not yet anyway. Not until he saw her again. The Marine Corps’ campaign in al-Anbar had been based on patient and persistent presence. Reid’s personal campaign would be no different. Today he’d made inroads by forging a connection with her family. He left with the satisfaction that he’d at least won them over to his side.





Chapter 7


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.