Cardwell Ranch Trespasser - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,9
that particular trail. It was flattering that Colt had asked her out, but she was his age, and he hadn’t dated a woman his own age since he’d come to Big Sky, let alone one who was looking for something more than a good time.
As she started to turn away from the front window of her store, she saw the man at the deli’s front table get up and leave. Colt Dawson quickly took his place, his blue-eyed gaze coming up suddenly as if he knew she would be standing there.
Hilde quickly stepped back, but she couldn’t help smiling as she hurried to the counter at the back of the store.
A moment later the bell jangled as someone came in the front door. Her heart took off like a shot as she turned, half expecting to see Colt.
“Just need some black thread,” said one of her older patrons. “It’s amazing how hard it is to keep black thread in the house.”
Hilde hurried to help the woman. When she looked out the window again, the front table at the deli was empty, Colt long gone.
“Why didn’t you go out with him?” Dana had asked her. “What would it have hurt?”
She hadn’t had an answer at that moment. But she did now. A man like Colt Dawson was capable of breaking her heart.
* * *
DEE HATED IT when the horseback ride ended, even though she could definitely feel her muscles rebelling. She’d insisted on helping as Hud unsaddled the horses and put them in the corral. Helping might have been inaccurate. She’d stood around, asked questions without listening to the answers and studied the man, considering.
Back at the house, Dana announced that Hud was going to take care of the kids while she and her cousin went for a hike and picnic at the falls. That is, if Dee wasn’t too tired.
She would much rather have taken a nap than go on a hike since she hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, but she couldn’t disappoint Dana, especially in front of Hud. So she’d helped pack the lunch to the pickup and the two of them had driven out of the ranch and toward what Dana called Lone Mountain.
“So this is the town of Big Sky?” Dee asked a few minutes later. “I thought it would be bigger.”
“It’s spread out. There is the upper mountain where the ski lifts are, and the lower mountain where the golf course is. Plus a bunch of houses you can’t see from the road,” Dana told her. “We’ll have to take the gondola to Lone Mountain, if you’re here long enough. I think you’ll like that—the view is nice. And tomorrow I’ve set up a rafting trip for the three of us.”
“Oh, Hud is going?” Dee asked.
“No, he’s taking care of the kids. Hilde is going with us. In fact, she’s joining us for the picnic today.” She turned onto a narrow road that went past a cluster of houses and businesses before climbing up through the pines. “Yep, there’s Hilde’s SUV already parked at the trailhead. Hilde is so punctual.” Dana laughed. “It’s amazing we’re best friends since we are opposites on so many things.”
Hilde. The best friend. Dee recalled yesterday feeling Hilde watching her a little too closely. Dana was so trusting, so open. Hilde was more reserved and definitely not trusting, Dee thought. Dana parked next to Hilde’s SUV, and Dee glimpsed the woman behind the wheel, her brown eyes so watchful.
* * *
DANA CHATTERED AWAY on the hike up to Ousel Falls. Hilde dropped behind her friend and Dee. She hadn’t been up to the falls in several years and was enjoying the gentle hike through the pines. She could hear the roar of the creek. It was early in the year, so snow was still melting in the shade and the creek was running fast and high.
The cool air felt good. Hilde was wondering why Dana had insisted she come along. She felt like a third wheel. Not that Dee and Dana seemed to be hitting it off. Dee was quiet, nodding and speaking only to say, “Really?” “Oh, that’s interesting.” And “Huh.” Clearly she wasn’t finding anything all that interesting in the information Dana was imparting about the area and its history.
Dana stopped to wait for her in a sunny spot not too far from the falls.
At the falls, Dana opened the cooler she’d brought, and they sat on rocks overlooking the falls to drink iced tea and eat roasted