Cardwell Ranch Trespasser - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,64

Hilde’s name. The heat was so intense he felt as if his face were burning. He feared the vehicle’s gas tank would explode any moment.

Then he heard her answer.

She and Dana came out of the smoky darkness silhouetted against the walls of flames.

“Where are the babies?” he yelled over the roar of the flames.

“They got out!” Hilde yelled back.

He shoved them both into the SUV and threw it in Reverse. The heat was unbearable. He knew if he didn’t get the rig out now...

The hood of the SUV, the paint peeling and blackened, had just cleared the edge of the barn when he heard the loud crash, and the barn began to collapse.

If he’d been just a few minutes later...

He wouldn’t let himself even imagine that as he slammed on the brakes back from the inferno. Hilde and Dana were coughing and choking, but he could hear fire trucks and the ambulance on its way.

“My babies,” Dana choked out.

“They’re in that outbuilding,” Hilde said, pointing a good ways from the burning remains of the barn.

“Where’s Dee?” he asked them.

“She left after she started the fire,” Hilde said.

“I heard her take my truck,” Dana added. She was already getting out of the SUV to go after her children, Hilde at her heels. Colt ran ahead and found the children all safe, huddled together in a back corner of the outbuilding.

Later, as the fire department and EMTs took care of Hilde and Dana and the kids, he told Hilde, “I have to go after Dee. I can’t let her get on that plane.”

“I’m fine,” she told him. “Go!”

Chapter Sixteen

The ride to the airport outside of Bozeman was the longest one of Colt’s life. He called ahead and asked that Dee Anna Justice be detained, but he was told that she’d already gone through security. Two airport officials were looking for her, but so far they hadn’t found anyone matching the description he’d given them.

Camilla’s plane was scheduled to board within twenty minutes.

“Don’t let her get on that plane,” Colt ordered. “Hold her there until I get there. Consider her armed and dangerous.”

“Armed? She just went through security. I’m sure if she was—”

“You don’t know this woman. She’s dangerous. Have your officers approach her with extreme caution.”

He was just outside of Belgrade when Hud called.

“I’m on my way to the airport,” Hud said. “Make sure that woman doesn’t get away, Deputy.”

“I’m doing my best,” Colt said. “But I’m on suspension.”

“Your suspension was lifted hours ago,” Hud said. “About the time you saved my wife’s life. We’ll talk about that later. Where are you?”

Colt told him he was turning onto the airport road. He was only minutes away from confronting Camilla Northland.

* * *

DEE LOOKED INTO the women’s restroom mirror, appraising herself. She’d brushed out her hair. Since it was naturally curly, it flowed around her head like a dark halo.

She’d applied makeup, especially eye shadow, mascara and blush, sculpting her face. It amazed her how different she looked from the woman who’d been staying at Cardwell Ranch.

As she studied herself in the mirror, she liked what she saw. She’d been able to cover most of the damage she’d done to herself. But maybe when she got wherever she was going, she’d change her hair. Something short and blond. Yes, she liked that idea. A whole new her.

That thought made her laugh. When she’d first left Oklahoma, she’d believed in her heart that she could put the past behind her, become whoever and whatever she wanted.

She hadn’t realized then how deep the past had embedded itself in her. It ate at her like a parasite, a constant reminder that she was broken and while she might be able to put back the pieces, she would never be whole.

One of the female security guards stuck her head in the restroom door. Camilla saw her out of the corner of her eye but continued to carefully apply another coat of bright red lipstick.

“Excuse me,” the woman said. “We’re checking boarding passes. May I see yours?”

“Of course,” Camilla said. She took her time putting the lipstick back into her purse. “Here it is.”

The woman started to take it, her attention on the slip of paper. More important the name on the paper. No Dee Anna Justice but Amy Matthews.

Dee Anna’s boarding pass was buried at the botton of the trash container.

The security officer looked from the boarding pass to Camilla, then handed the paper back. “Have a nice flight, Ms. Matthews. I believe your flight is boarding