Cardwell Ranch Trespasser - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,5

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