Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(32)

“As usual, we’re one step ahead of you, Reid,” Tonya replied with a smirk. “The three of us have already introduced ourselves.”

Haley watched Krista with bated breath. Her eyes sparkled and face glowed, but both faded as her gaze darted between Tonya, Reid, and Haley. Haley forced a smile and stepped forward. “Nice to meet you, Krista. How was your trip?”

“Not too bad,” Krista replied. “But then again, Ton here did most of the driving. We dropped off some horses at a dude outfit in Utah, unhooked the trailer, and then drove straight here.”

“Horses?” Haley asked.

“Tonya’s family breeds and trains them, and leases them out to dude ranches and outfitters,” Reid explained. “She also works part time with Krista as a wrangler on our ranch.”

“You have a ranch? I thought your family ran a hunting business?”

“We do,” he replied. “But we also keep about eighty head of horses and a bunch of mules for hunting, packing, and for guests who just want to ride the trails. It’s not a big spread by any means, but we do keep our own stock. Krista and Tonya mostly take care of that side of the operation. How is the horse business these days?” Reid asked Tonya.

“We’re doing okay,” she replied. “Thanks mostly to Keith.”

“So he’s still doing his dog and pony show?”

“Yup.” She grinned, her teeth blazing white against her tanned skin. “He’s even hawking calendars now, and just put out one of those big coffee table books. He’s quite a commodity these days. Last I heard, he’d even been approached by some big-name film producer.”

Reid turned to Haley and Yolanda. “Keith is Tonya’s cousin and one of those so-called horse whisperers—”

“He prefers the title Equine Behaviorist,” Tonya corrected.

Reid made a scoffing sound.

“He’s also incredibly hot,” Krista interjected.

“Keith?” Tonya made a face. “You think my cousin’s hot?”

“Heck yeah! Who wouldn’t?” Krista said. “How else could he travel around the country trailed by a bunch of horse-loving groupies?”

“I s’pose you’re right,” Tonya admitted. “There are certainly a bunch of women who can’t seem to get enough of him, especially the Europeans. He’s booked for a big summer tour over there next year. Six countries I think.”

“Unbelievable.” Reid shook his head with a chuckle. “Got to give the guy credit for making the most of his assets.”

They all laughed.

Haley shifted in place, feeling increasingly awkward. “Is this your first visit to California?” She directed the lame-sounding question to Krista. She’d never been good at small talk and still didn’t know what to make of Tonya. She didn’t feel overt hostility from her, but certainly didn’t feel warmth either.

“Yeah, it is,” Krista replied. “I’m really excited to see the sights. Maybe it sounds silly, but I’ve wanted to go to Disney since I was a little kid. I was a hopeless Disney Princess addict and still have the entire collection of dolls.”

“Except Pocahontas,” Tonya said. “You gave her to me.”

Krista grinned. “She was always my favorite, but I thought she looked just like you.”

“The weather looks great for a day in the park,” Haley chimed in, feeling even more like a fifth wheel.

“It does,” Tonya agreed and then turned her attention to Reid. Haley noted how her gaze worked him slowly up and down. “You’re looking well, Reid. I think this California sun agrees with you.”

He shrugged. “The winters are a damn lot easier here than in Wyoming.”

“That’s for sure,” Krista laughed. “We’re still wading through several feet of snow back home. That’s probably what’s put the bow hunters off. We didn’t have any booked until the end of the month, so it seemed a great time to come out here.”

“You hunt with bows?” Haley asked.

“Yeah,” Krista replied. “We usually get a couple dozen bow hunters every spring and fall that want to bag a bear.”

“That’s barbaric!” Haley laid a hand on Reid’s arm. “Did you hunt bears with a bow and arrow?”

“Only black bears,” he clarified. “Grizzlies are still endangered, although they’ve more than recovered and need to be delisted. They’re actually booming in the areas around Yellowstone and Grand Teton and encroaching on populated areas. They need to be managed.”

She scowled. “Managed or murdered?”

“C’mon, Haley. We’ve already been down this road. Do you really think a griz is going to stay within the park just because we say pretty please?”

Although they’d come to a truce of sorts, his mocking remark was stark proof that their differences remained. “There must be another way.”

“Like what?” Krista laughed. “Telling all the hikers to carry pepper spray and wear bear bells?”

Tonya chimed in, “Do you know how we tell the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat back in Wyoming? Black bear droppings have berries and the Grizzly bear droppings contain little bells and smell like pepper.”