Cardwell Ranch Trespasser - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,57
her bets.
“Not only that, Hud announced that he plans to take Dana on a trip to Jackson Hole beginning Sunday. Jordan and Liza are going to stay at the house for a couple of days and watch the kids.”
“You’re sure Dee isn’t going with them?” he asked.
“Definitely not. He said he hoped things calmed down once Dana put Dee on the plane.”
Colt bet he did. “Thanks for doing this, Annie. One more thing. I left a message for Hud—”
“There’s been a break in the burglary case in West Yellowstone. He was up there today and he’s coming back tomorrow. That’s probably why he hasn’t returned your call.”
Either that or he’d seen who’d called and didn’t want to deal with his suspended deputy right now. While Hud had to be having his own misgivings about Dee, Colt knew that the marshal would be skeptical even if Colt gave him the information he’d gathered in Tuttle—until he saw the photograph of Camilla Northland and her brother.
* * *
“YOU’RE IN LUCK,” the woman behind the counter told him. “I have one vehicle left. I’m afraid it’s our most expensive SUV.”
“I’ll take it,” he said, and pulled out his credit card. Getting the paperwork done seemed to take forever. He glanced at his watch. Not quite noon. While he was waiting for the woman to finish the paperwork, he’d checked.
It was twenty-two hours to Big Sky. That didn’t take into account the bad weather ahead of him. He knew he wouldn’t be able to make good time once he reached the snow. He would have to make up for it when he had dry roads.
But he could reach Big Sky by late morning. He just prayed that wouldn’t be too late.
Finally, she handed him the keys. A few minutes later, he was in the leather, heated-seat lap of luxury and headed north.
Hilde had sounded disappointed when he’d called to tell her the news. “But I’m glad you’re on your way. Just be careful. I checked the weather before you called. It looks like that storm is going to stay to the south of us.”
Neither of them had mentioned what they had said to each other earlier.
“I can’t wait to see you,” he said.
“Me, too.”
“I’d better get off and pay attention to my driving.” He’d hung up feeling all the more frustrated that he couldn’t get to her more quickly. Hud still hadn’t returned his call.
He pushed down on the gas pedal, hoping he didn’t get pulled over.
* * *
DEE SAW HOW disappointed Dana was at dinner when Hud told her he had to go up to West Yellowstone the next day. Any other time, Dee would have felt the same way.
She touched the small vial in her pocket. Hud didn’t realize how lucky he was. Now she could implement her plan without involving him. This was so much better.
“I should be back by late afternoon,” Hud was saying. “What do you and Dee have planned?”
“She flies out tomorrow afternoon, so it’s up to her,” Dana said. She and Hud looked at Dee.
“I just want to spend the morning here on the ranch with Dana and the kids,” Dee said. “I don’t know when I’ll get to see them again, so I want to make it last. If it’s nice, I’d love to take the kids on a walk. I saw those tandem strollers you have out there. I thought we could hike up the road, pick wildflowers...”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Dana said. “I could pack a lunch.”
“You’re not going,” Dee said. “You are going to stay here and put your feet up and relax. You have been waiting on me for days. It’s my turn to give you a break. The kids and I can pack the lunch, can’t we?”
Mary and Hank quickly agreed. “I want peanut butter and jelly,” Mary said.
“Mommy’s strawberry jelly,” Hank added, and Mary clapped excitedly.
“Good, it’s decided,” Dee said. “You aren’t allowed to do any work while we’re gone. When was the last time you had a chance to just relax and, say, read a book or take a nap?”
Dana smiled down the table at her, then reached to take her hand to squeeze it. “Thank you. I really am glad you came all this way to visit us. I’m just sorry—” Her eyes darkened with sadness.
“None of that,” Dee said, giving her hand a squeeze back. “I can’t tell you how thankful I am that you invited me.”
As she sat picking at her food, the rest of the