Cardwell Ranch Trespasser - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,10

elk sandwiches.

“It’s...interesting,” Dee said of the sandwich. “I thought you raised beef?”

Dana laughed. “Wild meat will grow on you,” she promised. “Hud always gets an elk and a deer each year. We both really like it.”

“I’m not sure I’ll be here long enough for it to grow on me,” Dee said.

This gave Hilde an opening. “So how long will you be staying?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” Dee said, and looked to Dana, who appeared shocked that Hilde would ask such a thing.

“As long as she wants to,” Dana said.

Dee smiled. “That could definitely wear out my welcome. The more I see of this place, the more I love it here and never want to leave.”

“Montana does that to people,” Dana said.

“At least this time of year,” Hilde said. “You might not find it as hospitable come winter.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Dee stretched out on the ground and stared up at the blue sky. “I can see myself sitting in front of that huge rock fireplace at the house with a mug of spiked cider, being pretty content.”

“A woman after my own heart,” Dana said.

Hilde began to clean up the picnic, putting everything back in the cooler before she got up and wandered over to the edge of the falls.

“What has gotten into you?” Dana whispered next to her a few moments later.

“Sorry. I was just curious how long she’s planning to stay,” she whispered back. “I didn’t mean to be rude.” When Dana said nothing more, she glanced over at her. “What?”

“You’re jealous of my cousin.”

“No, that’s not it at all.” But Hilde could tell there was no convincing her friend otherwise. “Fine, I’m jealous.”

“Don’t be,” Dana said with a laugh. “You’re my best friend and always will be.” She lowered her voice. “Not only that, Dee has had a really rough life.”

“She told you that?” Hilde asked, unable to keep the skepticism out of her voice.

“She didn’t have to,” Dana said. “I could tell. So be nice to her for me. Please?” Hilde could only nod. “I’m going to get my camera and take a photo.”

Hilde turned back to the falls, thinking maybe Dana was right. Maybe she was jealous, and that was all it was. The roar of the water was so loud she didn’t hear Dee come up behind her. She barely felt the hand on her back before she felt the shove.

She flailed wildly as she felt herself falling forward toward the edge of the roaring falls, nothing between her and the raging water but air and mist.

Dee grabbed her arm and pulled her back at the last second.

“I found my camera,” Dana called from over in the trees, and turned in their direction. “Look this way so I can get a picture of the two of you.” A beat, then: “Is everything all right?”

“Hilde got a little too close to the edge,” Dee said. “You really should be careful, Hilde. Dana was just saying earlier how dangerous it can be around here.” She put her arm around Hilde’s shoulders. “Say cheese.”

Dana snapped the photo.

Chapter Four

“I don’t think your friend likes me,” Dee said once they were in the pickup and headed back to the ranch.

“Hilde likes you,” Dana said, not sounding all that convinced. “But I think she might be a little jealous.”

“I suppose that’s it,” Dee agreed. “Well, I hope she accepts me. I feel so close to you. It’s almost like we’re sisters instead of cousins, you know what I mean?”

Dana readily agreed, just as Dee had known she would. “Hilde is just a little protective.”

“A little?” Dee said with a laugh. “I think she’s worried I will take advantage of you, stay too long.”

“Put that right out of your mind,” Dana said, as she parked in front of the house. “You’re family. You can stay as long as you’d like.”

“Hilde has nothing to be jealous of me about,” Dee said. “She’s beautiful and smart and self-assured and has her own business. She’s what I always wanted to be.”

“Me, too,” Dana said with a laugh.

“Oh, you have even more going on for you,” Dee said. “You have Hud. And the kids,” she added a little belatedly, but Dana didn’t seem to notice. “And the ranch. I bet you were practically born on a horse.”

“I have been riding since the time I could walk,” Dana said, then fell silent for a moment. “Do you want to talk about your childhood? I don’t mean to pry.”

Dee realized that she’d sounded jealous of both Dana and