Read Online Wanted By The Cowboy Tiger (Heroes of Shifter Creek 3) by Clara Moore - Free Book Online Page A

us. The bats are on the endangered species list, they’ve been on the endangered species list, and we’re obligated to protect their habitat. I’m sorry, Roger,” he said, “but unless you can provide me with some compelling reason to go up against the feds on this, we’re going to have to deny your appeal. You just can’t build where you want to build.”
    “They’ve had the bats on the endangered species list for thirty years, and have made absolutely no progress in increasing their population,” Roger sputtered. He had his own pile of papers in front of him. “She said the bats were once found in Arizona and New Mexico, but the DEC’s own numbers have less than one hundred individual animals in each state. They’re failing in their mission,” he thundered. “Why should I have to continue giving control of my land over to these people?”
    Janelle looked at Danny, who raised an eyebrow and nodded.
    “The reason population numbers have fallen as much as they have, Mr. Wilson,” she said, in an icy tone, “is because people like you have continued to destroy the bat’s habitat. Long-nosed bats can’t just nest anywhere. The ideal scenario is a network of caves, such as you have present on your property. That type of topography is becoming increasingly rare.”
    “Haven’t you ever heard of survival of the fittest?” Roger shot back. “That’s how nature works. If the bats can’t make it in the world the way it is right now, maybe the bats aren’t meant to make it at all.”
    “That’s very libertarian of you,” Janelle replied. “But these bats don’t exist in isolation. They’re part of a larger system. If the bats disappear, the rest of the system they’re part of will be impacted.” She turned her attention toward the crowd of cowboys. “The Mexican long-nosed bat is one of the primary pollinators of the agave plant.  And as you all know, agave is what tequila is made of.” She smiled. “No more bats? No more shots.” She consulted her notes.  “While I don’t have exact numbers, American tequila interests approached two billion dollars last year. That’s a lot of jobs – and those numbers are only expected to go up. But it can’t happen without the bats.”
    “I don’t give a rat’s ass about tequila!” Roger shouted. “None of that two billion winds up in my pocket. This is my land, and I should be able to do what I want with it.”
    “Compensation programs do exist, Mr. Wilson,” Janelle said, calmly, “to offset the financial impact of having an endangered species present on your land. You may want to look into those.”
    “I did,” Roger said. “Pennies per acre. Big whoop! What a joke.” He spat on the floor, right in front of Janelle’s feet. “You’re a joke.” He turned toward the front table. “These proceedings are a joke.” Jorge was getting to his feet. “Sit down, old man,” Roger sneered. “What are you going to do, arrest me?”
    “Roger,” Danny said, “that is enough.”
    Roger snorted. “I’ll tell you when it’s enough.” He turned on his heel and started walking out of the town hall. “I’m haven’t even begun to get started.”  He kicked open the door, strode through and let it slam shut behind him.
    The crowd sat in silence for a long moment. Then Danny said, “Well, if no one else has anything to say, we’ll note for the record that Mr. Wilson’s appeal was denied.” He glanced at the wall clock. “It’s 4:30. Is there any more business?”
    No one had anything to say. The cowboys stood up and slowly shuffled out of the room, leaving Danny, Janelle, Jorge and Steven behind.
    Janelle let out a big sigh. “Well, that was fun.”
    Steven smiled at her. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”
    “It was a waste of time all the way around,” Jorge added. “We’ve tried explaining the law to Roger every which way, but he doesn’t want to hear it.”
    “It happens all the time,” Janelle said. “What we really