Cardwell Ranch Trespasser

by Daniels, B. J.

  * * *

  DEPUTY MARSHAL COLT DAWSON watched Hilde Jacobson and Dana Savage come out of the sewing shop from his spot by the window of the deli across the street. Hilde, he noticed, was dressed in tan khakis and a coral print top she’d probably sewn herself. Her long golden hair was bound up in some kind of twist. Silver shone at her throat and ears.

  Colt couldn’t have put into words what it was about the woman that had him sitting in the coffee shop across the street, just hoping to get a glimpse of her. Most of the time, it made him angry with himself to be this besotted with the darned woman since the feeling was far from mutual.

  As she glanced in his direction, he quickly pretended more interest in his untouched coffee. He’d begun taking his breaks and even having lunch at the new deli across from Needles and Pins. It was something he was going to have to stop doing since Hilde had apparently started to notice.

  “She’s going to think you’re stalking her,” he said under his breath, and took a sip of his coffee. When he looked again she and Dana had driven away.

  “I figured I’d find you here,” Marshal Hud Savage said, as he joined him. Colt saw Hud glance across the street and then try to hide a grin as he pulled up a chair and sat down.

  He realized it was no secret that he’d asked Hilde out—and that she’d turned him down. Of course Hilde told her best friend, Dana, and Dana told her husband. Great—by now everyone in the canyon probably knew.

  The “canyon,” as it was known, ran from the mouth just south of Gallatin Gateway almost to West Yellowstone, miles of winding road along the Gallatin River that cut deep through the mountains.

  Forty miles from Bozeman was the relatively new town of Big Sky. It had sprung up when Chet Huntley and a group of men started Big Sky Ski Resort up on Lone Mountain.

  Hud ordered coffee, then seemed to study him. Colt bristled at the thought of his boss feeling sorry for him, even though he was definitely pitiful. He just hoped the marshal didn’t bring up Hilde. Or mention the word crush.

  Hilde had laughed when he’d asked her out as if she thought he was joking. Realizing that he wasn’t, she’d said, “Colt, I’m flattered, but I’m not your type.”

  “What type is that?” he’d asked, even though he had a feeling he knew.

  She’d studied him for a moment as if again trying to decide if he was serious. “Let’s just say I’m a little too old, too serious, too...not fun for you.”

  He knew he had a reputation around the canyon because when he’d taken the job, he’d found there were a lot of young women who were definitely looking for a good time. He’d been blessed with his Native American father’s black hair and his Irish mother’s blue eyes. Also, he’d sowed more than a few oats after his divorce. But he was tired of that lifestyle. More than that, he was tired of the kind of women he’d been dating.

  Not to mention the fact that he’d become fascinated with Hilde.

  Hilde was different, no doubt about it. He’d run into her a few times at gatherings at Hud and Dana’s house. She was serious. Serious about her business, serious about the life she’d made for herself. He’d heard that she had been in corporate America for a while, then her father had died and she’d realized she wasn’t happy. That was when she’d opened her small sewing shop in Big Sky, Montana.

  Other than that, he knew little about her. She was Dana’s best friend, and they had started out as partners in the shop. Now Dana was a silent investor. Hilde also had her own house. Not one of the ostentatious ones dotting the mountainsides, but a small two-bedroom with a view of Lone Mountain. She’d dated some in the area, but had never been serious about anyone. At least that’s what he’d heard.

  Some people talked behind her back, saying that she thought she was too good for most of the men around the area. Colt would agree she probably was too good for most of them.

  “Maybe I’ve changed,” he’d suggested the day he’d asked her out.

  Hilde had smiled at that.

  It had been three weeks since she’d turned him down. He’d had numerous opportunities to date other women, but he hadn’t. He was starting to worry about himself. He figured Hud probably was, too, since the canyon was such a small community, everyone knew everyone else’s business.

  “I thought I’d let you know I might be taking off some more time,” Hud said after the waitress brought him a cup of coffee. Neither of them had gotten into the fancy coffees that so many places served now in Big Sky. Hud had taken off some time when the twins were born and a few days now and then to help Dana.

  “Things are still plenty slow,” Colt said, glad his boss wanted to talk about work. He and Hud had gotten close since he took the job last fall, but they weren’t so close that they could talk about anything as personal as women.

  “Dana discovered she has a cousin she’s never met. She and Hilde have gone to pick her up. Stacy’s babysitting all the kids right now, so I have to get back. I’ll be in and out of the office, but available if needed. Dana wants me to teach her cousin to ride a horse. She’s going to try to talk Hilde into taking her cousin on one of the river raft trips down through the Mad Mile. I told her I’d do whatever she wants. As long as Dana is happy, I’m happy to go along with it,” he added with a grin.

  “Wait, Hilde is going on a raft trip?” Colt couldn’t help but laugh. “Good luck with that.”

  “I think there’s a side to Hilde you haven’t seen yet. You might be surprised.” Hud finished his coffee and stood. “Might be a good idea for you to go along on that raft trip,” he added with a grin.

  * * *

  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.

  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?