Cardwell Ranch Trespasser Read Online Free PDF

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.
    * * *
    D ANA 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 elk sandwiches.
    “It’s...interesting,” Dee said of the sandwich. “I thought you raised beef?”
    Dana laughed. “Wild meat will grow on you,” she promised. “Hud always gets an elk and a deer each year. We both really like it.”
    “I’m not sure I’ll be here long enough for it to grow on me, ” Dee said.
    This gave Hilde an opening. “So how long will you be staying?” she asked.
    “I’m not sure,” Dee said, and looked to Dana, who appeared shocked that Hilde would ask such a thing.
    “As long as she wants to,” Dana said.
    Dee smiled. “That could definitely wear out my welcome. The more I see of this place, the more I love it here and never want to leave.”
    “Montana does that to people,” Dana said.
    “At least this time of year,” Hilde said. “You might not find it as hospitable come winter.”
    “Oh, I don’t know.” Dee stretched out on the ground and stared up at the blue sky. “I can see myself sitting in front of that huge rock fireplace at the house with a mug of spiked cider, being pretty content.”
    “A woman after my own heart,” Dana said.
    Hilde began to clean up the picnic, putting everything back in the cooler before she got up and wandered over to the edge of the falls.
    “What has gotten into