Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(81)

The second wolf was female, which meant she got a dose of the new contraceptive vaccine they were testing, along with a special GPS collar for closer monitoring. In less than an hour, they’d collared the entire pack. He was glad this was the last excursion until spring. They were too close to the wolves’ breeding season to do any more. Any further contraceptive vaccines would only be wasted.

“I think that was our record, Reid.” Haley grinned as she gathered up her supplies. “Who would have known we’d make such a perfect team?”

“I did,” he replied smugly.

Haley laughed in reply as he boosted her back into the chopper.

Reid’s eyes never left her beautiful, wind-burned face during the twenty-minute flight. Watching Haley work with the wolves, he recognized that she was in her true element, and his heart swelled with pride. She’d been relentless in her quest for subsidies and grants for her contraception study, and her efforts had paid off in spades. She’d received enough funding to support a ten-year study.

Their next greatest challenge had been to obtain study subjects. This is where Reid’s family had surprised him. They’d thrown themselves behind Haley’s pet project, using all of their substantial clout to gain the cooperation of state wildlife services in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. It was a priceless gesture from his family, and one that gave Haley the sense of acceptance she so deeply craved.

They didn’t speak again until after landing at the Salmon Heliport. It was too loud to be heard on the chopper anyway. A few minutes later, he handed her up into the truck. He barely had the engine running before she’d shed out of her coat. “Aren’t you cold?” he asked.

“I was while on the helicopter, but mainly because of the wind. Now I’m getting hot. It hits me at really weird times, Reid.”

“Good thing I like the cold,” he said. “Else you’d freeze my ass off.”

She laughed. “Now that would be a crime. You already know how fond I am of your ass. I still think it’s much nicer than Hugh Jackman’s, and he flaunted his big time in the last Wolverine movie.”

Reid shuddered. “That was a visual I did not need, sweetheart.”

She laughed. “Are we staying here tonight or driving home?”

“I s’pose that’s your call,” he replied.

“I’m pretty tired, but I’m even more homesick,” she said. “I’d really love to sleep in our own bed tonight.”

He would too. After a week of motels and rough camping, he was glad that they were finally free to head back home. “Are you sure you’re up to the trip?” he asked, concerned about the dark circles shadowing her eyes.

“I’m fine, really, Reid, as long as you don’t mind driving. If I get too sleepy, I’ll just take a nap.”

“Here.” He handed her a pillow from the backseat. “I’ll wake you up when we get into Wyoming.”

“I’m not that tired yet.”

“Are you hungry?” he asked. “If you want to get something, we should stop here in town. There won’t be many options once we get on the highway.”

“I’m always hungry, Reid, but I have juice and granola bars in my pack. I’ll survive until we hit Wyoming.” She shook her head with a giggle and then threw the pillow in the back. “What a mother hen you’re becoming.”

“I take care of what matters to me, and you top that list.”

“You’re first on mine too, Reid,” she returned with a soft smile, and then curled up against his chest. He put the truck in gear and drove the next twenty miles lost in his thoughts. He thought she’d nodded off until she broke the silence. “It’s getting close to Christmas.”

“Yup.”

“We haven’t talked about how we’re going to spend it.”

“Nope,” he replied, watching her in his peripheral vision.

“So…do you have any thoughts on the subject?”

“As a matter of fact I do,” he replied. “Thoughts and plans.”

“Care to elaborate, Reid? I’m not sure I like playing twenty questions.”

“Seems to me we have several options.”

“I’m listening.”

“Since it’s our first Christmas together, we might want to spend it alone. Or, if you prefer, we’re always welcome up at the ranch.”

“You said several options. What’s the third?” she asked.

“We could drive out to California and spend it with your grandparents.”

“Really, Reid?” Her face lit up. “You’d do that?”

“Absolutely. Only seems right. You haven’t seen them in almost a year.”

“But will your family be disappointed if we don’t spend it with them?”

“A little.” He shrugged. “But they’ll get over it.”

“We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? Your family and me. I never could have imagined it, especially Krista.”

“She never really disliked you. She just wanted to see me with Tonya and thought you were the only reason it didn’t work out. She didn’t know anything about Ton and Jared. Everything changed once I told her. Krista’s always been fiercely loyal to me.”