Cardwell Ranch Trespasser - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,27

porch toward them. Dana called from the kitchen for her cousin. Dee hesitated, clearly disappointed, but went back inside to help Dana.

On the drive to her house, Hilde felt sick to her stomach. She’d never been violent. She was a forget-and-

forgive kind of person. At least she thought she was. But for a few moments back there at the house, she’d wanted to walk back to the porch and punch Dee in the face.

“I really need some rest,” she told herself, as she parked in front of her house. Once inside, she showered and changed into her favorite silk robe before padding into the kitchen for a glass of warm milk. She knew she couldn’t eat anything the way she felt right now.

Back in the bedroom, she finished the milk and crawled into bed with a book she’d been wanting to read—the same one Colt was reading. A book would be the only thing that could get her mind off Dee and her fears for Dana and her family.

She’d read only a few pages, though, when she must have fallen asleep. When the ringing of the phone woke her, she was lying on the open pages of the book, her cheek creased and damp. It took her a moment to realize what had awakened her.

“Hello?” she said, snatching up the phone. Her first thought was that something had happened out at the ranch. Her heart took off like a shot.

“I was afraid you were out with your boyfriend.”

She didn’t recognize the voice, but her heart was still pounding. “I beg your pardon? I think you have the wrong number.” She recognized the laugh, though, and sat up in the bed, trying to shake off sleep. “Rick?”

“One and the same,” he said with another laugh. “I’ve been sitting here having a few drinks, thinking about you.”

Hilde groaned inwardly, afraid where this was headed.

“I know your type,” he continued. “You like nice things but you try to hide the fact that you come from money.”

She was momentarily surprised by his insight.

“I like nice things, too, but I’m afraid I don’t come from money. Far from it.” Another laugh. “I’ll make you a deal. You want to know the scoop on Dee? If you can get your hands on ten thousand dollars, which I have a feeling you can without much trouble, then I will tell you things about dear Dee that will make your hair stand on end.”

“You sound drunk.”

“Not yet.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“Because I know she tried to kill you on the river. I’m betting it wasn’t the first time she put a scare into you.”

“You would sell out your own girlfriend?”

He chuckled. “That’s the other thing. Dee and I have a complicated relationship. I’ll tell you all about it when you get here. How she sold my soul to the devil a long time ago. You’d better hurry before I get too drunk, though. I’m starting to feel the effects of this whiskey.” With that he hung up.

* * *

COLT WAS AT the marshal’s office when the call came in. He saw the dispatcher look in his direction then said she would put the call through to Deputy Marshal Colt Dawson.

The woman on the other end of the line sounded hysterical, and for a moment he didn’t recognize Hilde’s voice. “Where are you?” he broke in, hoping she would take a breath.

“At the Lazy T Motel, room 9. It’s Rick Cameron. He’s dead. She killed him, Colt. She killed him because she knew I was coming here tonight.”

Colt wondered why Hilde was going to Rick’s motel room, but he didn’t dare ask right now. “Step outside the room. Take some deep breaths. I’m on my way.” The moment he put down the phone he called Marshal Hud Savage, then he headed for the Lazy T, siren blaring and lights flashing.

Hilde was standing outside, just as he’d told her to. She wore a pair of jeans, a blue-and-tan-print blouse and nice sandals. Her hair was piled on top of her head. Had this been a date?

Jealousy bit into him like the bite of a rattlesnake, filling him with its venom. “What are you doing here, Hilde?” he asked the moment he reached her.

“Rick called. He said he’d tell me about Dee for ten thousand dollars. She killed him. You know she did.” The words came flying out, tumbling all over each other.

“Easy,” he said and drew her to the side, away from the motel room doors. They had opened, and