Cardwell Ranch Trespasser(4)

So much for fate and her luck finally changing. She wondered how quickly she would escape. Maybe she would have to use the sick-sister or even the dying-mother excuse, if it came to that.

Just then a man rode up on a horse. She did a double take and tried to remember the last time she’d seen anyone as handsome as this cowboy astride the horse.

“That’s Hud, my husband,” Dana said with obvious pride in her voice.

Hello, Hud Savage, Dee said to herself. Things were beginning to look up considerably.





Chapter Three

Deputy Marshal Colt Dawson got the call as he was driving down from Big Sky’s Mountain Village.

“Black bear problem up Antler Ridge Road,” the dispatcher told him. “The Collins place.”

“I’ll take care of it.” He swung off Lone Mountain Trail onto Antler Ridge Road and drove along until he saw the massive house set against the side of the mountain. Like many of the large homes around Big Sky, this one was only used for a week or so at Christmas and a month or so in the summer at most.

George Collins was some computer component magnate who’d become a millionaire by the time he was thirty.

Colt swung his patrol SUV onto the paved drive that led him through the timber to the circular driveway.

He’d barely stopped and gotten out before the nanny came running out to tell him that the bear was behind the house on the deck.

Colt took out his can of pepper spray, attached it to his belt and then unsnapped his shotgun. The maid led the way, before quickly disappearing back into the house.

The small yearling black bear was just finishing a huge bowl of dog food when Colt came around the corner.

It saw him and took off, stopping ten yards away in the pines. Colt lifted the shotgun and fired into the air. The bear hightailed it up the mountain and over a rise.

After replacing the shotgun and bear spray in his vehicle, he went to the front door and knocked. The nanny answered the door and he asked to see Mr. or Mrs. Collins. As she disappeared back into the cool darkness of the house, Colt looked around.

Living in Big Sky, he was used to extravagance: heated driveways, gold-finished fixtures, massive homes with lots of rock and wood and antlers. The Collins home was much like the others that had sprouted up around Big Sky.

“Yes?” The woman who appeared was young and pretty except for the frown on her face. “Is there a problem?”

“You called about a bear on your back deck,” he reminded her.

“Yes, but I heard you shoot it.”

“I didn’t shoot it. I scared it off. We don’t shoot them, but we may have to if you keep feeding them. You need to make sure you don’t leave dog food on the deck. Or birdseed in your feeders. Or garbage where the bears can get to it.” Montana residents were warned of this—but to little avail. “You can be fined if you continue to disregard these safety measures.”

The woman bristled. “I’ll tell my housekeeper to feed the dog inside. But you can’t be serious about the birdseed.”

“It’s the bears that are serious about birdseed,” Colt said. “They’ll tear down your feeders to get to it and keep coming back as long as there is something to eat.”

“Fine. I’ll tell my husband.”

He tipped his Stetson and left, annoyed that people often moved to Montana for the scenery and wildlife. But they wanted both at a distance so they didn’t have to deal with it.

As he drove back toward Meadow Village, the lower part of Big Sky, he thought about what Hud had said about a raft trip down the river. No way would Hilde go. Would she?

* * *

HILDE HAD BEEN watching Dee Anna Justice on the ride from the airport to Cardwell Ranch and fighting a nagging feeling.

What was it about the woman that was bothering her? She couldn’t put her finger on it even now that she was back in the sewing shop—her favorite place to be.

“So what is she like?” Ronnie asked. The thirtysomething Veronica “Ronnie” Tate was an employee and a friend. Hilde loved that she could always depend on Ronnie to hold down the fort while she was away from the shop.

“Dee Anna Justice? It’s eerie. She looks like Dana. But she doesn’t act like her.”

Ronnie seemed to be waiting for Hilde to continue.

Hilde weighed her words. Dana was her best friend. She didn’t want to talk about Dana’s cousin behind Dana’s back.

“More subdued than Dana, but then who isn’t? She’s from New York City and all this is new to her.”

Ronnie laughed. “Okay, what is wrong with her? I can tell you don’t like her.”

“No, that’s not true. I don’t know her.”

“But?”

What was bothering her about the woman? Something. “I just hope she doesn’t take advantage of Dana’s hospitality, that’s all.” Dana had flown her out here and was paying all her expenses, and Dee was letting her. That seemed wrong.

Ronnie was still waiting.

“I don’t want her to be a hardship. Dana is stretched thin as it is with four kids, two still in diapers.”

“How long is she staying?” Ronnie asked.

“That’s just it—Dana doesn’t know.” Hilde had always thought visitors were like fish: three days and it was time for them to go. But then again, she enjoyed being alone to read or sew or just look out the window and daydream. Dana was more social, even though she’d deny it.

“I’m sure Dana will show her a good time,” Ronnie said.

“I’m sure she will since she has already drafted me to help.”

After Ronnie left, she was still wondering what it was about Dee Anna Justice that bothered her. She started to lock up for the day when she recalled Dee’s reaction to Hud as he’d ridden up on his horse.

Dee had suddenly come alive—after showing little interest in Montana, the canyon or the ranch before that moment.

* * *

DEE MOVED RESTLESSLY around the living room of the old ranch house this morning, running her finger along the horns of some kind of dead animal hanging on the wall. Hud had told her, but she’d forgotten what kind.

Last night, while Dana had seen to the kids, Hud had shown her around the ranch. Dee hadn’t been impressed with the corrals, barn, outbuildings or even the view. But Hud, who was drop-dead gorgeous and so wonderfully manly, was very impressive. She’d never met a real live cowboy before. It made him all the more interesting because he was also the marshal.

When the tour of the ranch ended, Hud had excused himself and she’d been forced to stay up late talking with her “cousin.” Dana had shared stories of growing up here on the ranch.

Dee had made up a sad childhood of being raised by nannies, attending boarding schools and hardly ever seeing either of her wealthy parents. The stories had evoked the kind of sympathy she’d hoped to get from Dana. By the time they’d gone to bed, Dana had been apologizing for not knowing about Dee and saving her from that lonely childhood.

“Ready?”

Dee turned to smile at Hud. He had offered to teach her to ride a horse this morning. Her first instinct had been to decline. She’d never been on a horse in her life and she really didn’t want to now. But she loved the idea of Hud teaching her anything.

“Ready,” she said past the lump in her throat.

Hud must have seen her reluctance. “I’m going to put you on one of the kids’ horses. Very gentle. There is nothing to worry about.”

“If you say so,” she said with a laugh. “Let’s do it.”

Hud led the way outside. He had two horses tied up to the porch railing. She felt as if she was in Dodge City. This was all so...Western.

“Just grab the saddle horn and put your foot in my hands and I’ll help you up,” Hud said. She did as he instructed, wobbled a little and fell back. He caught her, just as she knew he would. The man was as strong as he looked.

“Let’s try that again,” he said with a laugh. Behind them, she heard Dana come out on the porch with the two oldest of their children. Dee had forgotten their names.

“Is she going to ride my horse, Mommy?” the little girl asked.

“Yes, Mary, she needs a nice horse since she has never ridden before,” Dana answered.

“Really?” The kid sounded shocked that anyone could reach Dee’s age and have never ridden a horse.

This time Dee let Hud lift her up and onto the horse. She gripped the saddle horn as the horse seemed to shiver and stomp its feet. “I don’t think it likes me,” she said.

“Star likes everyone,” the girl said.

Dee was glad when they rode away from the house. She’d always found children annoying. It was beyond her why anyone would want four of them.

Once she got used to the horse’s movement, she began to relax. The day was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. A cool breeze blew through the pine trees, bringing with it a scent like none she’d ever smelled before.