Free Cardwell Ranch Trespasser by B. J. Daniels Page B

life story.”
    “I grew up north of here. I married young. It didn’t work out. I went into law enforcement and got the job here.”
    “You like Big Sky?”
    He looked back at the country they’d just left behind and nodded. “It’s not as open as I’m used to—the mountains are so much larger—but it grows on you living in the canyon.”
    “Doesn’t it?” she said. “Some people think its paradise and hate to leave.”
    He saw that she was looking at the two riders ahead of them. Dee was in a deep conversation with Hud. Rick was nowhere to be seen.
    * * *
    D EE WAS LEANING toward Hud and pretending to be fascinated by the different types of rock faces ahead when Hilde and Colt came riding up. Colt cut Hud away from her as slick as the ranch cow dog she’d seen herding calves in the pasture.
    A few moments later she found herself riding next to Hilde, also not a coincidence.
    “Where’s Rick?” Hilde asked, looking behind her. “We seem to have lost him.”
    “I think he needed to see a tree about a dog. Isn’t that what you locals say out here?”
    “I’m not a local,” Hilde said. “I’m actually from Chicago, and I think it’s a dog about a tree.”
    “Really? I just assumed you were like Hud and Dana, born and raised out West.”
    “So is Rick from New York City, too? Is that where the two of you met?”
    Dee smiled over at her to let her know she knew what she was doing and it wasn’t going to work. “I’m still surprised you were up for this ride today after your near-death experience yesterday.” She touched the bruise on her cheek. “I know I was still feeling the aftereffects this morning. I didn’t realize Montana was such a dangerous place.”
    “It sure is —when you’re around.” With that, Hilde spurred her horse and rode on up to join Colt and Hud.
    So much for that earlier apology, Dee thought with a curse.
    She hadn’t planned to actually drown Hilde yesterday, but at some point it hadn’t seemed like such a bad idea. Dana would have eventually gotten over losing her friend. In fact, she would have needed her cousin even more.
    But Dana would have had to lean even more on her husband. Dee had hoped to avoid all of that and just get Hilde to keep her distance. Apparently her plan hadn’t worked after the incident at the waterfalls or on the raft trip.
    Hilde needed stronger encouragement to get out of her way. Dee stuck her hand into her pocket, closed her fingers around one of the rocks, hefting it in her hand. Ahead, the trail narrowed as it cut across the side of a rocky mountain face. The horses with Hud, Colt and Hilde fell into single file as they started across the narrow trail.
    Dee looked down at the drop-off. Nothing but large boulders all the way down to the creek far below. She let Hilde and her horse get a little farther ahead. She didn’t want to be nearby when things went awry.
    Poor Hilde. She was having such a bad week. First almost falling off Ousel Falls, then almost drowning in the Gallatin River. Clearly she shouldn’t have come along on this ride after what had happened yesterday. She really wasn’t up to it.
    Dee lifted the rock, measuring the distance. The trail was narrow. If a horse bucked off its rider right now, the rider could be badly hurt—if not killed.
    She told herself she had no choice. Hilde had managed to get back in Dana’s good graces. Dana was more apt to believe whatever Hilde came up with now. And there was no doubt Hilde would be trying to find out everything she could about cousin Dee.
    Reining in her horse at the edge of the pines, she pulled back her arm to throw the rock. All she had to do was hit the back of Hilde’s horse. If it spooked even a little, it might buck or lose its footing, and both woman and horse could fall.
    Just as she was about to hurl the stone, a hand grabbed her arm and twisted the rock from her grip. She let out a cry of both surprise and pain. Turning in her saddle, she swore when she saw it