Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(73)

“Your mug shot,” Krista replied. “You made the national news, Reid.”

His father slid a copy of the Casper Star-Tribune across the breakfast bar.

Reid snatched it up. “What the hell?” His pulse thundered as he read the headline. ABOVE THE LAW: WYOMING HUNTING GUIDE BAITS AND KILLS PROTECTED GRIZZLY. “Holy shit! How could this have happened?”

“It’s also in USA Today.” Krista handed him the article on her iPad. “They’re all accusing you of grizzly-baiting.”

Reid quickly Googled “Wyoming bear baiting.” At least a half-dozen related articles popped up, all featuring Haley’s photographs of him, the horse carcass, and the dead bear.

“It’s a damned lie!” he cried. “That’s not how it happened.”

“But it’s still all over the Internet,” Krista said. “Can you sue her?”

“Haley?”

“Yeah. It was her, wasn’t it?”

He groped desperately for any other explanation, only to come up empty-handed. It was her phone. She’d insisted on taking pictures. He remembered the near-kiss between her and Jeffrey. He’d thought she wasn’t into it. He was such a deluded jackass! He’d thought she loved him, or was at least starting to. The realization that she’d played him was a knife in his gut.

“I don’t know,” he replied woodenly, still unable to believe it. “But one thing is for certain: the Feds are gonna be all over this like flies on shit.”

His father stood and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about a thing, Son. I’m calling Jared right now to take this up with the lawyers. He’s already in Cheyenne for the Board of Outfitters meeting. They’ll stand behind you, but I promise this is gonna get real ugly real fast. The board won’t have any choice if the Feds insist on suspending your license.”

“Again?” Reid shut his eyes in disbelief.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice… The adage hit him like a sledgehammer.

“I’m afraid that’s the least of your worries,” his father continued. “You could be facing a felony charge over this, but I promise we’ll fight it tooth and nail.”

“What are you gonna do, Reid?” Krista asked.

“Hell if I know.” He gave a defeated sigh. How could he have been such an idiot over her?

“I’ll tell you what he’s gonna do.” His father snatched up the latest copy of Eastman’s Hunting Journal, stabbing a page with his index finger. “It says right here that Idaho Fish and Game are looking for a professional hunter to eliminate two wolf packs.”

“What has that got to do with me?” Reid asked.

“Everything, Son. This group that’s causing you so much strife came up here to sue Idaho over this issue. Seems to me if they wanna play dirty, you can hit them back right where it hurts the most. Take the job. I’ve got connections. If I make the call, the contract is yours.” His eyes searched Reid’s. “What do you want to do?”

Reid didn’t hesitate long. He’d had enough. The job would offer solitude and time to think. And with all of his plans gone up in a puff of smoke, it was time to get the hell out of dodge. He nodded to his father. “Make the call.”





Chapter 20


A week later, Haley pulled into the Everett ranch. Her stomach knotted with trepidation as she knocked lightly on the door. To her relief, it wasn’t Krista, but an older woman who answered. She was tall and thin with vaguely familiar features.

“Mrs. Everett?” she began. “I’m Haley Cooper, a friend of Reid’s.”

The warm smile evaporated from her face. “I know exactly who and what you are, Dr. Cooper. And you are no friend to my son or to his family.”

“Please! Listen to me, Mrs. Everett!” Haley cried, sensing the door was about to slam in her face. “I had nothing to do with it. It’s all a big misunderstanding. I’ve been trying to reach Reid for almost a week, but he doesn’t answer my calls. It’s urgent that I talk to him.”

“I’m sorry. My son isn’t here,” she responded tight-lipped.

“When will he be back?”

“I don’t know. He’s on an extended trip. I’ve got nothing more to say to you, Dr. Cooper.”

“Wait! I can explain everything!”

The door swung only marginally wider as Krista appeared behind her mother. “I’ll bet you can,” she snorted. “Haven’t you already caused my brother enough grief?”

“Did you ever give him my message?” Haley asked. “I called before any of this happened. I was trying to warn him about it. You must remember that. Someone stole the pictures from my phone. I had nothing to do with any of this.”

“Someone?” Krista’s brows met in doubt. “Like who?”

“His name’s Jeffrey Greene. He’s the head of the Wolf Recovery Alliance. I used to work for him.”

“You mean before you came to Wyoming to spy on us?”

“That’s not how it was. Not why I came here. I’m as much a victim in all this as Reid is.”

“I doubt it. You aren’t about to face a felony charge, are you?”

“That’s what I’m trying to say. Reid isn’t going to be charged with anything. I’ve given my sworn testimony to U.S. Fish and Wildlife about what really happened. I want Reid to know I’m trying to make things right.”