Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(59)

“I got a call about your missing horse and came to investigate. When is he going to stop?” she asked anxiously. “That horse looks terrified.”

“The horse is an Appaloosa,” Tonya interjected with an impatient roll of her eyes. “She might look scared to you, but the white sclera is a trait of the breed. She doesn’t like what’s happening right now, but believe me, she’s fine. She’s just not used to having anything on her back that she can’t readily toss.” Tonya jerked her head toward the horse and rider. “She’s almost ready to quit now. It won’t last much longer.”

Haley was almost chewing her nails by the time the horse stopped. Sweat coated the animal from nose to tail, and her sides heaved. She shook her head with a loud snort and then became perfectly calm. Reid looked up with a triumphant grin that vanished the minute his gaze met Haley’s. They’d parted once more on bad terms and hadn’t spoken in weeks.

Yet her pulse still sped with anticipation the second his booted feet hit the ground. He handed the reins to Tonya with a smirk. “Got her warmed up for you. See if you can stay on her this time.” Haley watched the exchange with a pang of jealousy. They seemed so comfortable with each other.

Rather than opening the gate, Reid surprised her by vaulting easily over the panel, landing with a light thud almost directly in front of her. Show-off.

“That horse didn’t look like she enjoyed the ride half as much as you did,” she remarked.

Reid tipped his hat. “And a good morning to you too, Dr. Cooper.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just that—”

He raised a hand. “I’m not going to dispute you. I had a helluva time, and she fought me all the way. But I didn’t hurt her.”

“You exhausted her,” she accused.

“No I didn’t. She wore herself out. I never touched a spur to her.”

“But—”

“At least let me finish before you jump to judgment, Haley. Just like you and me, this horse here has a job to do. And just like you and I would rather laze on a beach in Mexico sipping margaritas, she’d rather be grazing in a lush, green pasture. But in the end, just like you and me, she needs to earn her keep. In her case, that means wearing a saddle for a couple hours a day. In return, she gets food, shelter, and even some TLC if she’s sweet enough about it. When you think it over, that’s really not a bad gig. We all need to pay our own way, Haley.”

She opened her mouth on instinct, but having no rebuttal, she closed it again.

“I s’pose you’re here about Buckshot?”

“Buckshot?” she repeated blankly.

“The missing horse.”

“Yes. I am. Don’t think for one minute I’m going to allow a kill permit without proof—”

He shook his head. “There you go again. Jumping to conclusions. I already told the ol’ man how it is, but you gotta remember he’s been around longer than you and me, and he’s set in his ways. He’s used to handling things like this himself. At least he sought the permit.”

“What are you saying?”

“That there’re plenty of ranchers who would shoot first and ask questions later.”

“But that’s a felony!”

“You know that, and I know that, but we’re on a thirty-two-hundred-acre ranch. There’s no one out here to tell if he did shoot a wolf. At least give the man credit for trying to do the right thing.”

Once more he stole the wind from her sails. “I’m trying to do the right thing too, Reid. I’ve come to investigate.” Haley pulled a notepad from her purse. “When was the last time you saw the horse?”

“Krista?” he asked. “Do you know?”

“I generally ride out and check on the horses every few days,” Krista replied. “We have them split up into two different herds and graze them on different winter ranges. Tonya and I brought the geldings in yesterday. Today we were supposed to bring in the mares, but Reid said we should go and try to find Buckshot first.”

“What makes you so certain he didn’t just wander off?” Haley asked.

“He was old,” she replied. “Well past his wandering days. He would have come in with the rest of his buddies.”

“Why do you think it was wolves?” Haley asked.

“Because we’ve been seeing a lot of tracks,” Krista answered.

“But you said he was old. Maybe it was just natural causes. A lot of animals will go off by themselves when their time comes.”

“She’s got a point, Krista,” Reid said. “He could have just laid down somewhere.”

“Does she?” Krista jutted her chin. “There you go again, Reid.”

“I don’t understand,” Haley said, watching brother and sister.

“It’s nothing,” Reid said. “Just something we discussed this morning. We’re all just wasting time standing here and debating. If we want answers, we need to ride out to the range.”

“If it is wolves, we need to bring the mares in,” Krista argued. “We have some new foals out there that I’m worried about.”

“Then why don’t we kill two birds with one stone? You and Ton go out and get the mares, and Haley and I will look for Buckshot.”