Cardwell Ranch Trespasser(8)

Minutes later, they were all dressed in wet suits and life jackets provided by the rafting company. Dee latched onto his arm as they started to load the rafts, riders sitting three across.

Their guide, though, had him move to a spot on the outside next to an older woman and her husband. In the row directly in front of him, Dee was forced to sit in the middle with Dana on one side and Hilde on the other. Both Hilde and Dana were given paddles.

From where he sat, he could catch only glimpses of Hilde. As their guide shoved the raft off from the shore, everyone on the sides paddled as they’d been instructed. The raft went around in circles for a few minutes before everyone got the hang of it.

Hilde took to paddling as if she’d done it before. The woman was right about one thing. She was serious in most everything she did. He liked that about her and felt like a jackass for having asked Dee out in front of her.

Now they would all be at some family dinner tonight at Cardwell Ranch. He couldn’t imagine anything more uncomfortable—unless it was this raft ride.

* * *

THE RIVER SWEPT them slowly downstream past huge, round boulders and through glistening, clear green water. A cool breeze stirred the trees along the bank. Overhead, white puffy clouds bobbed along. It was the perfect day for a raft trip.

Hilde tried to relax and enjoy herself, but the memory of what had happened up at the falls made her edgy. She was only too aware of Dee in the seat next to her. She could feel the woman watching her as if measuring her for a coffin. Who was Dee Anna Justice? Not the woman Dana thought she was, that much was clear.

But how was Hilde going to convince Dana of that? Maybe it was better to keep it to herself; after all, Dee would be leaving soon and probably never coming back.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could hear Dana and Dee talking and laughing as the raft picked up speed. Behind her, she was aware of Colt. She’d heard him ask Dee out. Not very subtle, she thought, realizing that she’d hurt him when she’d turned him down for a date. That surprised her.

She tried to concentrate on the river and her paddling. But it was hard with Dee so close and Colt probably watching everything she did. He probably hoped she’d end up in the river.

The Gallatin was known as one of the premiere rafting rivers in the West. The river wound through the narrow canyon with both leisurely waters as well as white-water rapids.

Most of the raft trip so far had been through fairly calm waters, the navigation easy. They’d passed through a few sets of rapids here and there that had had most everyone on the raft screaming as they’d roared through them, water splashing over the raft, Hilde and the other paddlers paddling furiously to keep the raft from turning or capsizing.

But Hilde knew that the rough part was ahead, where they would have to run technical rapids past House Rock for the Mad Mile in the lower canyon.

The Mad Mile was a mile of continuous rapids. The cold water ran fast with huge waves, holes and a lot of adrenaline paddling in the Class IV water. That stretch of river required more precise maneuvering, especially this time of year when the river was higher, and she wasn’t looking forward to that.

Hilde noticed that Dee and Dana seemed to be having a great time. She was glad she’d decided not to say anything to Dana. She could almost talk herself into believing that Dee hadn’t pushed her at the falls. Almost.

She didn’t dare sneak a look back at Colt. She concentrated on her paddling. Not telling Dana was the right thing. It wasn’t like Dee was...dangerous.

That thought hit her as the raft made the curve in the river just before the Mad Mile. She could hear Dana explaining about the next stretch of river ahead. Dee actually seemed interested.

They made it through the first few rapids, and the raft passed under the bridge. House Rock was ahead, a huge rock that sat in the middle of the river, forcing the fast water to go around it on each side.

The ride became rougher and wetter with spray coming up and over the raft. There were shrieks and screams and laughter as the raft dipped down into a deep hole and shot up again.

Hilde could see House Rock ahead. It was the other rocks they had to maneuver through that were the problem. The guide picked a line down through the rocks and shouted instructions to the paddlers.

The standing waves were huge. The raft went into the first one, buckling under them. The front of the raft shot down into the huge swell, then quickly upward, stalling for a moment.

Hilde reached with her paddle to grab the top of the wave and help the raft slip over it when suddenly her side of the raft swamped. She tried to lean to the middle of the boat, but Dee was pushing against her. Before she knew what was happening, she was in the water, the top of the wave crashing down on her, the current pulling her under.

As she struggled to reach the surface, Hilde realized she wasn’t alone. Dee had fallen out of the raft as well—and she had ahold of Hilde’s life jacket. She was dragging her under.

She fought to get away, but something was wrong. She couldn’t see light above her. Was she trapped against House Rock? She’d heard about kayakers getting caught against the rock and almost drowning.

But she wasn’t against a rock. She was rushing downriver through the huge rapids—trapped under the raft. Somehow, her life jacket had gotten hooked onto a line under the raft. As she struggled to get it off, she realized Dee still had hold of her. She kicked out at the woman, struck something hard, then worked again to free herself.

She couldn’t hold her breath any longer. The weight of the raft was holding her down. If she didn’t breathe soon—

Arms grabbed her from behind. She flailed at them, trying to free herself from the life jacket and Dee’s grip on her. The life jacket finally came off. She had to free herself from Dee’s hold and swim out from under the raft before she drowned.

The darkness began to close in. She could no longer go without air. She felt her body give in to the strong grip on her.





Chapter Five

Hilde came to lying on a large flat rock with Colt Dawson kissing her. At least that was her first impression as she felt his mouth on hers. She coughed and had to sit up, gasping for breath.

She could see where the raft had pulled over downstream. The guide was leaning over Dee, who was lying on the side of the raft. “Dee.” It was all she could get out before she started coughing again.

“Dee’s all right,” he said.

Hilde shook her head and let out a snort. “She tried to drown me.” Her voice sounded hoarse and hurt like the devil.

Colt looked at her for a full minute before he said, “She tried to save you and almost drowned.”

She shook her head more adamantly. “She was the one who hooked my life jacket on the rope under the raft.” Hilde could see he didn’t believe her. “It’s not the first time she’s tried to hurt me. When we were up at the falls, she pushed me.”

He seemed to be waiting.

“Then she grabbed me just before I fell.”

Colt nodded and she realized how crazy she must sound. But if he had been under that raft with her...

“Is Dana all right?” she asked, looking downriver.

“She’s just worried about you.”

“And Dee,” Hilde said, seeing how her friend was clutching Dee’s hand.

“She’s probably worried about Dee because her cousin almost drowned, and this raft trip was her idea,” Colt said. “You apparently kicked Dee in the face.”

“Because she was trying to hold me down while she hooked my life jacket to that rope.” She could see that he didn’t believe her and felt her eyes burn hot with tears. “Colt, you have to believe me—there is something wrong with her cousin. I was under that raft with her. She wouldn’t let go of me. She hooked my life jacket onto that rope. If you find my jacket...” She was trying to get to her feet.

“Hilde, I’m not sure what you think happened under the raft—”

“I don’t know why I expected you to believe me,” she said angrily. “Especially about someone you have a date with tonight.” He reached for her as she stumbled to her feet, but she brushed off his hand. Stepping down through the rocks, she found a place to cross that wasn’t too swift. She could hear him behind her.

All she could think about was getting to Dana, telling her the truth about Dee. Dee was dangerous. Dana had to be warned.

She still felt woozy and should have known better, but she made her way downstream toward the raft. Dana was still holding Dee’s hand as she approached. The sight angered her even more.

Hilde remembered right before she’d gone into the river. She’d tried to lean back, but Dee was pushing on her, pushing her out of the boat and going with her. There was no doubt in her mind that the woman had tried to drown her.

“She tried to kill me,” Hilde cried, pointing a trembling finger at Dee, who lay on the edge of the raft clearly enjoying all the attention she was getting.

“Are you all right?” the guide asked, sounding scared.