Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(42)

“I’m the one who turned the collar in.”

“You were there?”

“Yes. I was there.”

She fired off the next question before even taking a breath. “What happened to her?”

He doffed his hat and raked a hand through his hair with a heavy sigh. “She was shot during an elk expedition.”

“Shot? But it’s illegal to hunt wolves in Wyoming. In fact, it’s a felony. The ESA is very specific about this. It prohibits harassing, harming, pursuing, hunting, shooting, wounding, killing, trapping, capturing, or collecting any listed species. I promise you, if this was a willful rather than accidental kill, someone’s gonna pay.”

Reid met her gaze levelly. “I’m well aware of all that. It’s my job to make sure those kind of things don’t happen.”

“Then how the hell was she shot? What exactly happened on this elk hunt?”

Reid scrubbed his face, visibly agitated. “I’d like to say it was an accident, but it wasn’t. I was hired as a private guide by someone who should never have been allowed a hunting license.”

“Then why did you take the job?”

“Because he paid me. It’s how I make my living. Lots of people come to Wyoming to hunt. It’s impossible to screen every prospective client. I do my best to keep all my clients safe and to uphold the game laws, but this was beyond my control. By the time I realized he was going to shoot it was too late to stop him. Believe me, if I’d had any clue something like this was gonna happen, I would have refused the job.”

“Really.” She pursed her mouth in disbelief.

“Yeah. Really. I uphold the game laws, Dr. Cooper. I’ve already made my full report to the Board of Outfitters.”

She pushed out of her chair to stand eye to eye with him. “This won’t go unanswered.”

“I can understand why you’re upset, but please try to put it in perspective. She was a wild animal and shit like this sometimes happens. Hell, more wolves are killed by each other every year than by man.”

“But this shouldn’t have happened at all. I’m requesting a full inquiry.”

“I told you the Board of Outfitters is already handling it,” Reid assured her.

“I don’t care. I’ll still be doing my own investigation. I have questions, Reid, and until those are answered to my complete satisfaction, I’m recommending the suspension of your license.”

“What? You’re putting both my reputation and my livelihood on the line here! We were friends once, Haley. Hell, we were even lovers. Don’t you think I deserve a little more courtesy?”

She clenched her teeth. “Our past has no bearing on this whatsoever. If this event goes unanswered, it’ll be open season on all wolves in Wyoming. I’m not about to let that happen.”

Her position required her to maintain neutrality, but he was clearly in the enemy camp. She could never allow him a pass due to their former relationship.

“I don’t appreciate your insinuations, Dr. Cooper. No one is trying to hide anything. I told you I made a full report.”

“Then you have nothing to fear from an inquiry. If there was no wrongdoing there’s no cause for concern. The suspension will be lifted.”

“How long? We have groups booked for the entire elk season.”

“I guess your family will have to make due without you for a few weeks. Just be thankful they don’t shut the whole operation down.”

“They or you?” He stood, towering a full foot over her with eyes as frosty as snow-covered peaks. He snatched up his hat and shoved it on his head, turning for the door with long, angry strides. Halfway there, he stopped, facing her one last time. “I guess that tour I promised you is off. I’ll see you next at your damned inquisition.”

*

Half an hour later, Reid threw a leg over the saddle that served as a barstool at the Million Dollar Cowboy.

“How’d it go?” Jared asked.

Reid ignored the question to order a double bourbon with a beer chaser.

“That bad, eh?” his brother smirked.

“You keep up with all the political bullshit. What the hell is this Rocky Mountain Wolf Management Task Force anyway?” Reid asked. “Why doesn’t the WGF handle the wolves like they do all the other wildlife issues?”

“It’s too controversial. You know as well as I do that the tree huggers are looking for any excuse to delay delisting those sonsofbitches.”

“Maybe… Probably,” Reid amended.

Jared continued, “This task force is supposed to be an independent review board, but I’ve been checking on their new appointee. Independent, my ass. Did you know Dr. Cooper worked for one of the very same groups that sued the state last year? They won. Now we’ve got a new plan to manage wolves, and they don’t like this one either.” He shook his head and took a swig of beer. “So how’d it go with Dr. Haley Wolf Lover anyway? I’m guessing by your expression she broke your balls.”

“Yeah. You might say that.” Reid downed his bourbon in one long, burning swallow. He set the glass down with a sigh. “She’s going to have my license suspended while she investigates.”

“Fuck that!” Jared protested.

“I don’t see a hell of a lot we can do about it if she’s the one calling the shots. Why didn’t you give me a heads up about her anyway? Had I known it was her…” He could only hope she’d see reason once she got over her initial shock.