Cardwell Ranch Trespasser - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,12

melodious voice. Desire spiked through her, making her weak with a need like none she’d known. She wanted this man.

“You have a wonderful life here,” she said, realizing she’d never been so jealous of anyone as she was Dana Savage. “It’s so peaceful. I can’t imagine having the tie to the land that you do. I’ve moved around a lot. I’ve never felt at home anywhere.” Until now, she thought, but she didn’t dare voice it.

Like Hilde, she was sure Hud was wondering how long she was going to stay. But she’d never met a man she couldn’t charm. Hud Savage would be no exception.

She moved to the edge of the mountaintop and breathed in the day. She’d been telling the truth about her family moving around a lot. Her father couldn’t bear to stay long in any one place—even if he wasn’t forced to flee town before the law caught up to him. A small-time con man, he worked harder at not working than he would have had he just gotten an honest job.

“I feel as if I could just fly out over the tops of all these mountains,” she said, as she freed her hair to let it blow back in the wind. She stuck out her arms, laughing as she laid her head back. The wind felt good. She felt alive. Free.

“I wouldn’t get too close to the edge,” Hud said, stepping to her. “I don’t want to have to explain to Dana how I lost her cousin.”

“No, we don’t want that,” she agreed, as she met his gaze.

“We should get back. The kids will be waking up and Dana will need help with dinner,” he said.

Disappointed, she pulled her hair up again and turned to walk back to the four-wheeler. For a moment, she had felt as if he was responding to her.

She hadn’t gone but a few feet when she stepped on a rock, twisting her ankle as she fell. Hud rushed to her as she dropped to the ground with a groan.

“How bad is it hurt?” he asked, frowning with concern.

“I think I just twisted it, but I can’t seem to put any pressure on it,” Dee said, wincing in pain as she held her ankle. “I’ve spent my life walking on sidewalks. I don’t know how to walk on anything that isn’t flat. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. It happens. Can you get to the four-wheeler?”

She made an attempt to put weight on her ankle and cried out in pain. “I don’t mean to be such a big baby.”

“I’m just sorry you hurt yourself. Here, I can carry you over to the four-wheeler. If it’s still hurting when we reach the ranch, Dana will take you over to the medical center.”

“Are you sure you can carry me?” she asked. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. I can certainly carry someone as light as you,” he said, lifting her into his arms.

She was quite a bit slimmer than Dana since her cousin had delivered twin sons not that long ago. Nice that he’d noticed, she thought. She put her arms around his neck, and he carried her with little effort over to the four-wheeler. She hated to let go when he set her down on the seat.

“How’s that?” he asked.

She lifted her leg over the side, wincing again in pain but being incredibly brave. “Fine. Thank you.”

“No problem.” He got on and started the motor. “Dana is going to have my hide, though.”

“I’m sure it will be fine by the time we reach the house. I don’t want to upset Dana or get you into trouble with her. It’s already starting to feel better.”

Dee wrapped her arms around Hud’s waist, leaning against him again as they descended the mountain. She breathed in the scent of him. She would have him. One way or the other.

* * *

AFTER THE HIKE to the falls, Hilde was still trembling an hour later back at the shop. The worst part was that there was no one she could tell. The shove had happened so quickly, even now she couldn’t be sure she’d actually felt it. And yet, she knew that Dee had pushed her. Was she trying to scare her?

Or to warn her to back off? The shove had come right after Hilde had asked how long Dee would be staying.

The shop phone rang, making her jump. She really was getting paranoid, she thought as she answered. “Needles and Pins.”

“Hi,” Dana said. “I just wanted to call and tell you what

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