Cardwell Ranch Trespasser(3)

AS THE PLANE flew over the mountains surrounding the Gallatin Valley, the now Dee Anna Justice prepared herself for when she met her cousin.

She’d been repeating the name in her head, the same way she used to get into character in the many high school plays she’d performed in. She’d always loved being anyone but herself.

“Dee Anna Justice,” she repeated silently as the plane made its descent. The moment the plane touched down, she took out her compact, studying herself in the mirror.

She’d always been a good student despite her lack of interest in school. So she knew how to do her homework. It hadn’t taken much research on her laptop to find out everything she could about her “cousin” Dana Cardwell Savage.

The photos she’d found on Facebook had been very enlightening. Surprisingly, she and her “cuz” shared a startling resemblance, which she’d made a point of capitalizing on by tying back her dark hair in the plane bathroom.

“Dee Anna Justice,” she had said into the mirror. “Just call me Dee.”

The man in the seat beside her in first class had tried to make conversation on the flight, but after a few pleasantries, she’d dissuaded him by pretending to read the book she’d picked up at the airport. He was nice-looking and clearly had money, and she could tell he was interested.

But she’d needed to go over her story a few more times, to get into her role, because once she stepped off this plane, she had to be Dee.

“Hope you enjoy your stay at your cousin’s ranch,” he said, as the plane taxied toward the incredibly small terminal. Everything out the window seemed small—except for the snowcapped mountain ranges that rose into a blinding blue sky.

“I’m sure I will,” she said, and refreshed her lipstick, going with a pale pink. Her cousin Dana, she’d noticed, didn’t wear much—if any—makeup. Imitation was the best form of flattery, she’d learned.

“Is this your first time in Montana?”

She nodded as she put her compact away.

“Staying long?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. How about you?” He’d already told her he was flying in for a fly-fishing trip on the Yellowstone River.

“A short visit, unfortunately.”

“Dee Anna Justice,” she said extending her hand, trying out the name on him. “My friends call me Dee.”

“Lance Allen,” he said, his gaze meeting hers approvingly.

Any other time, she would have taken advantage of this handsome business executive. She recognized his expensive suit as well as the watch on his wrist. He’d spent most of the flight on his computer, working—his nails, she noted, recently manicured.

She’d known her share of men like him and hated passing this one up. It didn’t slip her mind that she could be spending the week with him on the Yellowstone rather than visiting some no-doubt-boring cousin on a ranch miles from town. But the payoff might be greater with the cousin, she reminded herself.

The plane taxied to a stop. “You don’t happen to have a business card where I could reach you if I can’t take any more of home on the range?” she asked with a breathy laugh.

He smiled, clearly pleased, dug out his card and wrote his cell phone number on the back. “I hope you get bored soon.”

Pocketing his card, she stood to get down her carry-on, giving him one final smile before she sashayed off the plane to see if her luck had changed.

* * *

HILDE WASN’T SURPRISED that Dana was questioning her impulsive invitation as the plane landed. “What if she doesn’t like us? What if we don’t like her?”

“I’m sure it will be fine,” Hilde said, not for the first time, even though she was feeling as anxious as her friend.

“Oh, my gosh,” Dana exclaimed, as her cousin came off the plane. “She looks like me!”

Hilde was equally shocked when she saw the young woman. The resemblance between Dana and her cousin was startling at a distance. Both had dark hair and eyes. The ever-casual ranch woman, Dana had her long hair pulled up in a ponytail. Her cousin had hers pulled back, as well, though in a clip.

All doubts apparently forgotten, Dana couldn’t contain her excitement. She rushed forward. “Dee Anna?”

The woman looked startled but only for a moment, then began to laugh as if she, too, saw the resemblance. Dana hugged her cousin.

Hilde had warned her friend that Easterners were often less demonstrative and that it might be a good idea not to come on too strong. So much for that advice, she thought with a smile. Dana didn’t do subtle well, and that was one of the many things she loved about her friend.

“This is my best friend in the world, Hilde Jacobson,” Dana said, motioning Hilde closer. “She and I started a sewing shop, even though I don’t sew, but now I’m a silent partner and Hilde does all the work. She always did all the real work since she’s the one with the business degrees.”

“Hi,” Hilde said, and shook the woman’s hand. Dana took a breath. The woman’s hand was cold as ice. She must be nervous about meeting a cousin she didn’t know existed. It made Hilde wonder if Dee Anna Justice was ready for Cardwell Ranch and the rest of this boisterous family.

“Let’s get some lunch,” Hilde suggested. “Give Dee Anna a chance to get acclimated before we go to the ranch.”

“Good idea,” Dana chimed in. “But first we need to pick up Dee Anna’s bags.”

“Please call me Dee, and this is my only bag. I travel light.”

The three of them walked outside and across the street to where Dana had left the Suburban parked.

“So how far is the ranch?” Dee asked after they’d finished lunch at a small café near the airport.

“Not that far,” Dana said. “Just forty miles.”

Dee lifted a brow. “Just forty miles?”

“We’re used to driving long distances in Montana,” Dana said. “Forty miles is nothing to us.”

“I already feel as if I’m in the middle of nowhere,” Dee said with a laugh. “Where are all the people?”

“Bozeman is getting too big for most people,” Dana said, laughing as well. “You should see the eastern part of the state. There’s only .03 people per square mile in a lot of it. Less in other parts.”

Dee shook her head. “I can’t imagine living in such an isolated place.”

Dana shot Hilde a worried look. “I think you’ll enjoy the ride to the ranch, though. It’s beautiful this time of year, and we have all kinds of fun things planned for you to do while you’re here. Isn’t that right, Hilde?”

Hilde smiled, wondering what Dana was getting her into. “Yes, all kinds of fun things.”

* * *

DEE STARED OUT the window as they left civilization behind and headed toward the mountains to the south. They passed some huge, beautiful homes owned by people who obviously had money.

She tried to relax, telling herself that fate had gotten her here. The timing of the letter was too perfect. But luck had never been on her side, so this made her a little nervous. Not to mention the thought of being trapped on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. She fingered the business card in her pocket. At least she had other options if this didn’t pan out.

She considered her cousin. Dana, while dressed in jeans, boots and a Western shirt, didn’t look as if she had money, but she drove a nice new vehicle. And was a partner in a sewing shop—as well as owned a ranch. Maybe her prospects were good, Dee thought, as Dana drove across a bridge spanning a blue-green river, then slipped through an opening in the mountains into a narrow canyon. Dee had never liked narrow roads, let alone one through the mountains with a river next to it.

“That’s the Gallatin River,” Dana said, pointing to the rushing, clear green water. Dana had been giving a running commentary about the area since lunch. Dee had done her best to tune out most of it while nodding and appearing to show interest.

The canyon narrowed even more, the road winding through towering rock faces on both sides of the river and highway. Dee was getting claustrophobic, but fortunately the land opened a little farther down the road, and she again saw more promising homes and businesses.

“That’s Big Sky,” Dana said finally, pointing at a cluster of buildings. “And that is Lone Mountain.” A snowcapped peak came into view. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

Dee agreed, although she felt once she’d seen one mountain, she’d seen them all—and she’d seen more than her fair share today.

“Is the ranch far?” She was tiring of the tour and the drive and anxious to find out if this had been a complete waste of time. Lance Allen was looking awfully good right now.

“Almost there,” Dana said, and turned off the highway to cross the river on a narrow bridge.

The land opened up, and for a moment she had great expectations. Then she saw an old two-story house and groaned inwardly.