B.J. Daniels the Cardwell Ranch Collection (40 page)

“You’re such a good liar. Usually. But I don’t get what you could possibly be thinking here. Does Hud have a rich brother I haven’t met yet?”

“Rick—”

“You’d better get back into the house,” he said, glancing past her. “You really shouldn’t be on that bad ankle too long.” He chuckled. “Don’t forget to limp or you’re going to be doing dishes with the women in the kitchen the rest of your little vacation.”

With that, he climbed into his rental car and slammed the door. She slapped the window, trying to get him to roll it down, but he merely made a face at her, started the engine and drove off.

She stood in the faint moonlight mentally kicking herself. Rick was going to ruin everything.

* * *

“A
RE
YOU
FEELING
BETTER
?
” Colt asked, as Hilde came out of his bathroom dressed in the sweatpants and T-shirt he’d given her.

She nodded. He’d changed into jeans and a T-shirt that molded his muscled body. She’d never seen him in anything but his uniform before. No wonder he was so popular with women.

He handed her a mug of hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows floating in it. He must have seen her surprise.

“My mother used to always make me hot chocolate when I had a hard day in school,” Colt said, and grinned shyly. “I thought it might help.”

She curled her fingers around the mug, soaking in the warmth, and took a sip. She couldn’t help smiling. “It’s perfect.” She was touched at his thoughtfulness. “I don’t believe I thanked you for saving my life earlier.”

He waved her apology away. “I’m just glad you’re okay. Would you like to sit down?” he asked, motioning to his couch.

She glanced around his cabin. It was simply but comfortably furnished. He’d made a fire in the small fireplace. This time of year it cooled down quickly in the canyon.

The fire crackled invitingly as she took a seat at one end of the couch, curling her feet under her. She’d finally quit shaking. Now she just felt scared. Scared that she was right about Dee. Even more scared that she wasn’t. Had she wrongly accused the woman?

Colt seemed to relax as he joined her at the opposite end of the couch. “Why don’t you tell me about Dee?”

She hesitated, upset with herself for the scene she’d made earlier. It was so unlike her. No wonder Dana had looked so shocked. She shouldn’t have confronted Dee in front of everyone, but she’d been so upset, so scared. She’d almost drowned. If Colt hadn’t pulled her out when he had...

“You can tell me how you really feel,” he said quietly.

She took a breath. “I don’t know anymore.”

“Sure you do,” he said and smiled. “Follow your instincts. I have a feeling your instincts are pretty good.”

Hilde laughed. “After seeing that hysterical woman on the river a while ago?”

“Almost drowning does that to a person.”

She studied him for a moment. He was way too handsome, but he was also very nice. He’d saved her life and now he was willing to listen to her side of it. “What if my instincts are wrong?”

“You know they aren’t.”

Did she? She took another sip of the hot chocolate. It
did
help. Bracing herself, she said, “There’s something...off about Dee.”

He nodded, urging her to continue.

“I admit I was worried when Dana told me that she’d asked a cousin she’d never met to come visit. She’s paying for all Dee’s expenses. That seemed odd to me. But according to Dana, Dee recently quit her job. Add to that, no one knows how long she plans to stay.”

“So you thought right away she might be taking advantage of your friend.”

Hilde nodded. “After we picked her up at the airport, Dana was telling her all about this area. I noticed that she didn’t seem interested. It wasn’t until we reached the ranch and she met Hud that Dee perked up.”

He nodded but said nothing.

“I know this all sounds so...small and petty.”

“Tell me about the day at the falls.”

She finished the hot chocolate and put her mug on the table next to her elbow, noticing the bestseller lying open, his place marked halfway through the book. It was one she’d been wanting to read, and she was momentarily distracted to know that Colt was a reader.

“I didn’t want to go on the hike, but Dana insisted. I was probably rude. I asked how long Dee planned to stay. Shortly after that I was standing at the edge of the falls. Dana had gone over to the picnic spot to look for her camera, and all of a sudden I felt a hand on my back and a hard shove. Then Dee grabbed me and warned me to be careful, that it was dangerous around here.”

“You believed it was a threat.”

“I did.”

“But you didn’t say anything to Dana.”

“I was too shocked and—”

“You talked yourself out of believing it.”

She nodded. “Also, Dana was enjoying her cousin so much, I didn’t have the heart to tell her.”

“You feared she wouldn’t believe you.”

Hilde let out a laugh. “With good reason. She didn’t believe that Dee tried to drown me today.”

“But you do.”

She swallowed, then slowly nodded. “She wasn’t trying to save me. I know you find that hard to believe because I tried to fight you off moments later, when you were only trying to save me.”

“Why do you think she pushed you at the falls and yet saved you, then today tried to drown you and maybe really did try to save you?”

“I don’t know. It makes one of us seem crazy, doesn’t it?”

He smiled. “What is it you think she wants? Dana and Hud don’t have a lot money. She can’t possibly think she can get her hands on the ranch. She’s going to wear out her welcome within a week or so.”

“That’s just it, I don’t know. I just can’t get over the feeling that she wants something from Dana. But the more I think about it, the more I feel I must be wrong. What if I’m overreacting? Maybe she
was
trying to save me in the river today.”

“Maybe she didn’t push you at the falls?”

She looked away. “Dana thinks I’m jealous.” She turned to meet his gaze. “Maybe I am.” She got to her feet. “I should go home.”

Colt rose, too. “What are you going to do?”

“Stay away from Dee,” she said with a laugh. “Like you said, she’ll wear out her welcome and leave.”

“Hud called while you were changing clothes. He’s taking Dee up to Elkhorn Lake on a horseback ride tomorrow. Dana’s idea. I think we should go.”

“
What?
And give her another chance at me?”

He grinned. “That’s what I thought. You don’t think you imagined any of this. Dee’s dangerous, isn’t she?”

“Yes. But you’re the only person who believes me. Dee always comes away looking like a hero.”

“Almost as if she planned it that way. If you really think Hud and Dana are in danger, then I think we need to keep an eye on Dee. Meanwhile, I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

Hilde couldn’t help but feel a small thrill at the last part. She liked the idea of Colt keeping an eye on her. She told herself not to make anything of it.

“The last thing I want to do is go on a long horseback ride with Dee Anna Justice. What makes you so sure she won’t try to kill me again?”

“I can’t promise that. But it will look more than a little odd if you meet with yet another accident. I have a plan. But you probably won’t like it.”

She didn’t, but she was so thankful that Colt believed her, she would have gone along with anything he asked.

“Right now, she’s won,” he said. “You need to throw her off balance and stay close to Dana. There’s only one way to do that.”

* * *

“H
E
’
S
A
BOYFRIEND
, isn’t he?” Dana said excitedly when Dee returned to the house after walking Rick out. Hud had apparently gone up to bed. Everyone else had left as she was coming back into the house.

“No, he’s...” She saw the sympathy in Dana’s expression. Her “cousin” was waiting for some heartbreaking love story. How could she disappoint her with so much at stake?

“Your ex, isn’t he.” Her cousin drew her over to the couch and patted the cushion, indicating she should sit and spill all. Dee was thankful she had only Dana to deal with now. Dana saw what she wanted to and clearly loved finding a cousin she’d never known she had. Hilde wouldn’t have been fooled by her relationship with Rick.

“I can tell he still cares about you,” Dana was saying. “He followed you all the way to Montana to make sure you were all right.”

Maybe it would be better for everyone to think Rick was a boyfriend, then when she broke up with him and sent him packing, it would play well with the family. It could buy her more time here. She wouldn’t want to go back East right away after such a traumatic breakup.

“That’s why you quit your job,” Dana said. “Did you work with him?”

Why not give her what she wanted and then some? “He was my boss.”

“Oh, those kinds of things are so...sticky.”

“I knew better, but he was unrelenting.”

“I can see that in him. To fly all the way out here.”

“I should never have called him and told him where I was. But I knew he’d worry and I certainly shouldn’t have mentioned that I sprained my ankle.”

“You couldn’t know that he’d follow you,” Dana said. “He seems nice, though. Is there no chance for the two of you?”

No chance in hell. “He’s married,” she lied.

Dana looked worried. “Children?”

Dee shook her head. “He and his wife are separated. He’s always wanted children, but his wife didn’t. She says she doesn’t like kids.”

Her cousin looked shocked. “Oh, how awful for him.”

“Yes. I feel sorry for him, but he needs to try to work things out with his wife.”

Dana agreed.

Dee realized she was painting too sympathetic a picture of Rick. “He’s been so despondent since I broke it off and...” She lowered her voice. “He’s been taking...pills. I’m worried sick he might do something...crazy, between the depression and the drugs. Still I shouldn’t have called him to check on him.” Like she would have ever called him, but she was grateful that Rick was quick on his feet when it came to lying.

“You did the right thing. Just imagine how you would have felt if you hadn’t called and something had happened to him.”

“Hmm,” she said. “You’re right. But maybe I should go back home. I hate bringing my problems to your door.”

“Don’t be silly.” Dana reached out and squeezed her hand. “That’s what family is for.”

She’d always wondered what family was for. A part of her felt sorry for Dana. The woman was so caring. It must be exhausting.

“You’re tired and you’ve had such an emotional day,” her cousin said, glancing at her watch. The fact that Dana still wore a watch and didn’t always carry a cell phone told Dee how far from civilization she now was.

“I hope Hilde is all right.” She watched Dana’s expression out of the corner of her eye, trying to calculate whether or not Dana would call her friend to patch things up or not.

“It’s just a good thing Colt was there,” Dana said. “He’ll take care of her. I’ll give her a call later to make sure.”

“I feel badly about what she said.”

“Don’t let it bother you. She was just talking crazy because she was scared. Still, it wasn’t like the Hilde I know at all.”

She could tell Dana was worried about her friend. “Almost drowning would do that to anyone. I just don’t want to come between the two of you.”

“You won’t. I shouldn’t have insisted Hilde come on the raft trip. It really isn’t her thing. And anyone would have panicked if they’d been trapped under the raft like that.”

“It was just such a freak accident,” she agreed.

“I’m sure Hilde realized that, once she had a chance to calm down. I wouldn’t be surprised if she shows up tomorrow to apologize.”

Don’t hold your breath on that one.
“I hate to even ask what you have planned for tomorrow,” Dee said with a small laugh. She hoped Dana would come up with something away from the ranch with Hud and as far away as possible from Big Sky and Hilde and Rick. “You really are showing me such a great time. How will I ever be able to repay you?”

“It’s my pleasure. I thought you’d like to ride up to Elkhorn Lake.”

“So you’ll be able to go?” she asked.

“No, I have to stay here. Hud is going to take you by horseback, if you’re up to it. The lake is beautiful and the trip is really wonderful.”

Oh, yes. She couldn’t wait.

“I think his deputy Colt is going along.”

Dee swore silently. Colt? The man who’d saved Hilde.

“It sounds like fun,” she said, although it had sounded much more fun when it was just going to be her and Hud. “I just wish you could go. Maybe next time?”

Dana nodded. “You must come back every year.”

Or never leave.
“Oh, I would love that.”

“Well, sleep tight and don’t worry about Rick.”

Easy for Dana to say.

Chapter Six

The next morning, Dee got up early and borrowed Dana’s pickup to drive into Meadow Village. She still didn’t get the town of Big Sky. Everything was so spread out, but it was all close enough that it didn’t take her long to find Rick’s rental car parked in front of an older motor court motel.

Rick had always been cheap, usually out of necessity because he was broke. She could only guess that that was the case this time.

She had to knock three times before he finally opened the door wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.

“I wondered when you’d show up,” he said with a grin.

She shoved past him into the room. It was pretty much what she expected: bed, television, bathroom. A discount-store piece of so-called art of a mountain from some other state hung on the wall over the unmade bed. Rick’s clothes were strewn on the floor and there were a half-dozen empty beer cans next to the bed.

“You always were a slob,” she said, turning to look at him. “You have to leave. Now.”

“I wish I could, but I spent every dime I had just to get here to see you.”

How had she known that was the case? She reached into her shoulder bag. “Here’s enough to get you back home and a little extra so you won’t starve on the way. The next flight is this afternoon. Be on it.” With that she started to leave. “And Rick. No drugs.”

“Come on, you know I’m clean. Anyway, you need my help.”

She stopped next to him. “No, I don’t. I know what I’m doing.”

“You and I used to make a pretty good team, as I recall. I’m probably the only person you can truly trust.”

“Unless you get drunk or high and shoot your mouth off.”

“I’ve kept your secrets all these years, drunk or sober. Come on, there’s a bond between us that not even you can deny.” He touched her shoulder.

She pulled away. “I mean it. Don’t buy drugs with that money.”

“Don’t try to kill that blonde woman again.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Remember when you and I were little more than kids and I almost drowned? I know you, remember?”

“Then you know to stay out of my business, don’t you.”

By the time she returned to the ranch, Hud was busy saddling horses. She drove into the yard, but didn’t get out of the truck right away. She liked watching him, watching the muscles in his arms and back, imagining being in those arms. Desire hit her like a sucker punch. She wanted him, and she’d always made a habit of getting what she wanted, any way she had to.

“Best get dressed,” Hud called to her, as she climbed out of the truck. “Dana’s put out some clothes for you to wear in your room.”

She smiled. “Thanks.” Inside she went right to her upstairs room. She could hear Dana in the kitchen with the kids. How could the woman stand that noise all the time?

She quickly dressed in the Western attire her cousin had so thoughtfully put out for her, right down to the cowboy boots. Fortunately or unfortunately they were close enough in size that all the clothes fit.

“They’re my prebaby clothes,” Dana said when Dee came downstairs in them. “I knew they would fit you.”

They did, she thought, as she caught a glimpse of herself in the front window reflection. At a glance, she could pass for Dana. A slightly skinnier version, but still...

Dana had made her a breakfast sandwich since she’d apparently missed the usual ranch breakfast. She couldn’t believe how these people ate. It was no wonder Dana hadn’t gotten back to her pretwins weight.

Breakfast often consisted of pounded and floured fried deer steaks, hash browns, milk gravy, biscuits and eggs. She’d never seen anything like it in her life. There would be changes if she were running this house.

There would have to be a lot of changes. She realized with a start that she hadn’t thought this through. Getting Hud would be hard enough. But what to do with Dana and the kids? Dana would have to go. So would the kids. She wasn’t interested in having them even come visit on weekends or summers.

She thought of Rick. Maybe he could be helpful after all. She was debating calling him to tell him they should talk, when she looked out and saw with a groan that Hud was saddling
five
horses.

“I see Hud has saddled a bunch of horses,” she said nonchalantly to her cousin over the screaming of the children. “Did you decide you could go on the ride with us after all?”

Dana smiled but shook her head. “I need to spend some time with my babies.”

“Then Mary and Hank are going?” She was amazed that she finally remembered their names. They were cute kids. If you liked kids.

“No,” Dana said with a laugh. “They’re too young for this ride.”

Just then the front door opened. She turned and was unable to hide her shock as Hilde came in duded out in Western attire. “Hilde?”

“Dee,” the young woman said. She hurried to Dee and took both her hands. “I am so sorry about yesterday. Can you ever forgive me?”

Even if she hadn’t been good at reading people, she would have seen through
this
apology. But out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Dana was smiling, buying into every word of it. The only gracious thing to do was pretend it was real.

“Hilde, you don’t need to apologize, really. I was so scared for you. I’m just glad you’re all right. It was such a freak accident.”

“Wasn’t it, though?” Hilde agreed. “Thank you for being so understanding. I told Dana I couldn’t wait until I saw you to tell you how sorry I was for thinking you had anything to do with my almost drowning.”

I’ll just bet.
“Well, it’s good to see you looking so well today. Thanks for coming by.”

“Hilde’s going on the ride up to the lake with all of you,” Dana said.

It took all her effort not to show how that news really made her feel. Hilde was smiling as if she knew exactly what Dee was feeling right now. Apparently such a close call with death hadn’t taught Hilde anything.

“That’s great,” Dee said. “But I would think you’d want to stay home and rest today after what you’ve been through.”

“That’s what I told her,” Dana said. “But Hilde is tougher than she looks.” She smiled and gave Hilde’s arm a squeeze.

“I’m not so tough,” Hilde said to her friend. “Look at your cousin. She almost drowned yesterday, too, and look how
she’s
bounced back.” Hilde turned back to her. “Oh, Dee, that bruise on your cheek looks like it hurts. Did I do that?”

“I know you didn’t mean to,” Dana said quickly.

Ha,
Dee thought. “So who else is going with us?” she asked just an instant before Hud came in the door with Colt Dawson right behind him and Rick bringing up the tail end. “Is anyone protecting Big Sky?” Dee asked. “It seems the entire force is right here.”

“The other two deputies are holding down the fort,” Colt said. “So don’t worry about the canyon being safe while we’re here with you.”

Dee swore silently as Hud asked if they were ready to go. “I can’t wait,” she said. Rick was more of a dude than she was. She hoped he got saddle sores.

As they all filed out to the saddled horses, she wondered what the trail was like to this Elkhorn Lake. Hopefully it wasn’t too dangerous. She would hate to see anything happen to Hilde. Let alone Rick. Horses were so unpredictable.

Before she mounted her horse, she surreptitiously picked up several nice-sized rocks and stuck them in her pocket.

* * *

C
OLT
MADE
SURE
that he and Hilde stayed behind the others as they rode away from the ranch. He liked riding next to her. It was a beautiful Montana spring day. The air smelled of new green grass, sunshine and water as they followed the creek up into the mountains. Sun dappled the ground as it fingered through the pine branches.

“So tell me about Hilde Jacobson,” he said, as their horses ambled along. The others had ridden on ahead, but Colt kept them in sight in case anything happened.

“There isn’t much to tell,” she said. Then, as if realizing he really was interested, she added, “I grew up in Chicago. My father was a janitor, my mother worked as a housekeeper. I was an only child. My father was determined that I would be the first in his family to go to college.”

“And you were?”

She nodded. “I went into business. My father had worked around corporate America and decided that would be the world that I should conquer. I gave it my best shot at least for a while.”

“How did you end up in Big Sky owning a fabric store?”

“My father died. My mother told me to follow my heart. I hated big business. I came up here skiing, met Dana and Hud, and the rest is history.”

“You and Dana are close, aren’t you?”

“We
were.
”

He heard the catch in her throat.

“Your turn,” she said after a moment. “Tell me your life story.”

“I grew up north of here. I married young. It didn’t work out. I went into law enforcement and got the job here.”

“You like Big Sky?”

He looked back at the country they’d just left behind and nodded. “It’s not as open as I’m used to—the mountains are so much larger—but it grows on you living in the canyon.”

“Doesn’t it?” she said. “Some people think its paradise and hate to leave.”

He saw that she was looking at the two riders ahead of them. Dee was in a deep conversation with Hud. Rick was nowhere to be seen.

* * *

D
EE
WAS
LEANING
toward Hud and pretending to be fascinated by the different types of rock faces ahead when Hilde and Colt came riding up. Colt cut Hud away from her as slick as the ranch cow dog she’d seen herding calves in the pasture.

A few moments later she found herself riding next to Hilde, also not a coincidence.

“Where’s Rick?” Hilde asked, looking behind her. “We seem to have lost him.”

“I think he needed to see a tree about a dog. Isn’t that what you locals say out here?”

“I’m not a local,” Hilde said. “I’m actually from Chicago, and I think it’s a dog about a tree.”

“Really? I just assumed you were like Hud and Dana, born and raised out West.”

“So is Rick from New York City, too? Is that where the two of you met?”

Dee smiled over at her to let her know she knew what she was doing and it wasn’t going to work. “I’m still surprised you were up for this ride today after your near-death experience yesterday.” She touched the bruise on her cheek. “I know I was still feeling the aftereffects this morning. I didn’t realize Montana was such a dangerous place.”

“It sure
is
—when you’re around.” With that, Hilde spurred her horse and rode on up to join Colt and Hud.

So much for that earlier apology, Dee thought with a curse.

She hadn’t planned to actually drown Hilde yesterday, but at some point it hadn’t seemed like such a bad idea. Dana would have eventually gotten over losing her friend. In fact, she would have needed her cousin even more.

But Dana would have had to lean even more on her husband. Dee had hoped to avoid all of that and just get Hilde to keep her distance. Apparently her plan hadn’t worked after the incident at the waterfalls or on the raft trip.

Hilde needed stronger encouragement to get out of her way. Dee stuck her hand into her pocket, closed her fingers around one of the rocks, hefting it in her hand. Ahead, the trail narrowed as it cut across the side of a rocky mountain face. The horses with Hud, Colt and Hilde fell into single file as they started across the narrow trail.

Dee looked down at the drop-off. Nothing but large boulders all the way down to the creek far below. She let Hilde and her horse get a little farther ahead. She didn’t want to be nearby when things went awry.

Poor Hilde. She was having such a bad week. First almost falling off Ousel Falls, then almost drowning in the Gallatin River. Clearly she shouldn’t have come along on this ride after what had happened yesterday. She really wasn’t up to it.

Dee lifted the rock, measuring the distance. The trail was narrow. If a horse bucked off its rider right now, the rider could be badly hurt—if not killed.

She told herself she had no choice. Hilde had managed to get back in Dana’s good graces. Dana was more apt to believe whatever Hilde came up with now. And there was no doubt Hilde would be trying to find out everything she could about cousin Dee.

Reining in her horse at the edge of the pines, she pulled back her arm to throw the rock. All she had to do was hit the back of Hilde’s horse. If it spooked even a little, it might buck or lose its footing, and both woman and horse could fall.

Just as she was about to hurl the stone, a hand grabbed her arm and twisted the rock from her grip. She let out a cry of both surprise and pain. Turning in her saddle, she swore when she saw it was Rick.

“Don’t be a fool,” he said under his breath. “If she has another accident this early, it will only make everyone more suspicious.”

“I have to stop her. She’s onto me.”

Rick shook his head. “I’ll help you, but not here. Not today. Be nice to her but watch yourself.” He dug into her pocket to pull out the other rocks. “Just in case you get another smart idea while looking at
my
horse’s backside,” he said, and rode on up the trail to catch up with Hilde.

* * *

H
ILDE
KEPT
HER
eye on Dee during the ride to the lake. But the woman seemed almost subdued after their little talk.

Rick spent most of the time talking with Hud on the last part of the ride up and even when they’d reached Elkhorn Lake. Hilde saw Dee watching the two of them. She got the impression Dee didn’t like her boyfriend talking with Hud.

When Hud broke out the lunch Dana had packed, Colt brought her over a sandwich and sat down with her on the rocks at the edge of the lake away from the others.

“Have you noticed the way she is with Hud?” she asked quietly before taking a bite of her sandwich. They’d both been watching Dee.

“Yep.”

Hilde locked gazes with him. “I think I know what she’s after. She wants Hud.”