Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(82)

“Don’t I know it,” she replied dryly.

“Speaking of family, there’s something else I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”

“What’s that?”

“Your mom, Haley. I’m wondering if you might be feeling a tad bit softer toward her now.”

She exhaled a long sigh. “I don’t know. Maybe part of me does, but the other half feels more resentful than ever.”

“Then maybe you can just concentrate on that first part?” he suggested.

“Why are you bringing it up out of the blue like this?”

“Because she’d like to see you at Christmas. She’d like to be part of your life.”

Haley’s brows met in a scowl. “You’ve spoken with her?”

“Not directly.”

“Then how?” she demanded.

“Your grandpa told me. Just think about it, okay? We could drive through Washington on our way to California. That way you could visit however long you like—twenty minutes or twenty hours. Totally your choice. I’d just like to see you mend your fences with her. Especially now. I think you’d be happier if you did.”

“But I am happy,” she insisted.

“You might be even happier knowing the truth about your parents, especially with the baby coming. Have you ever thought about tracking down your father?”

“I lied when you asked me that once before. I told you I hadn’t, but the truth is I’m afraid.”

“Of what, sweetheart?”

“Rejection, Reid. What if he really is the dog I’ve always believed he was?”

“But what if he isn’t? Worst-case scenario, he’s the man you already think he is, but maybe he isn’t. What if he has regrets about the past and is equally fearful of rejection from you? What if he never knew about you at all? I’m not gonna force the issue, but just consider it, okay?”

“I will,” she replied. After a moment she added, “It’s really sweet of you to care about all that, Reid.”

His hand came off the wheel to grip hers. “I care about you. Everything that matters to you, matters to me. Which brings up another subject I’ve been waiting to discuss.”

“What’s that?”

“Wolves. Or rather wolf control.”

“What do you mean?”

“You remember that range rider idea I had?”

“Of course I remember.”

“I have some thoughts on how to get it started.”

“Do you? Tell me, Reid.”

“A couple of weeks ago I got a call from an old buddy of mine who’s having some wolf troubles. He’s got a big spread, about five thousand acres, I think. He’s expecting a new crop of calves soon and is getting worried about driving them into the mountains for summer grazing. He says he lost a number of high-dollar cows to predators last year.”

“Is he using fladry?” she asked.

“No. It’s not practical in the mountains.”

“Then I suppose we could collar them and try to weed out the culprits,” she suggested.

He shook his head. “But then the damage is already done. On top of all that, it isn’t just depredations that he has to fret about, but aborted fetuses and low-body condition of their stock due to stress from predators. Do you see how it is?”

“I’m starting to,” she said.

“Dirk told me he’s looking for some ranch hands to watch over the herd. I asked him about hiring some vets. I think his place would make an ideal pilot program.”

“What did he say?”

“He’s interested. He knows better than most how it is. He had a helluva time adjusting.”

“Why’s that?”

“He lost half his leg in Afghanistan.”

“And he’s still running a ranch?”

“Yup. Moreover, he’s about to expand his operation. He just signed a grazing lease for twelve hundred acres owned by his brother’s fiancée.”

“So what’s the next step?” she asked.

“We need to go up there and meet face-to-face. Iron out some details about how we’re going to do this.”

“When do you want to go? I’d love to meet him.”

“Them,” Reid corrected. “I forgot to mention he’s getting married. I know her too. We all used to rodeo back in the day. Her name’s Janice. You’ll like her. He’s invited us to their wedding in February. It’s going to be small and private.”

“The best kind,” she said.

“Oh yeah? So you didn’t miss that whole bridesmaid-and-bouquet-tossing thing?”

“Maybe a little,” she confessed, then broke into a mischievous grin. “But you more than made up for it with the honeymoon.”

They’d rushed things a bit once they’d learned about the baby, but he had no regrets about any of it. He’d waited long enough already. After the civil ceremony, he’d surprised her with a honeymoon cabin at Dunton Hot Springs outside Telluride, Colorado. He’d seen it listed in Forbes as one of the ten most romantic places in the U.S. Forbes was right. They didn’t leave their cabin for three days. Although most of the amenities were wasted, at least they’d had the benefit of a private hot pool and five-star room services.