Cardwell Ranch Trespasser - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,1

Liza Turner Cardwell, were now all living here in Big Sky. Her other brother, Clay, was still in California helping make movies.

“A cousin is on her way to Montana,” Dana announced. “We have to pick her up at the airport.”

“We?” Hilde asked, looking out the window at the Suburban parked at the curb. Normally the car seats were full and either Dana’s husband, Hud, or Stacy would now be wrestling a stroller from the back.

“Tell me you’ll go with me. I can’t do this alone.”

“Because you’re so shy,” Hilde joked.

“I’m serious. I’m meeting a cousin who is a complete stranger. I need you there for moral support and to kick me if I say something stupid.”

“Why would you say something stupid?”

Dana leaned in closer and, although there was just the two of them in the shop, whispered, “This branch of the family comes with quite the sordid story.”

“How sordid?” Hilde asked, intrigued but at the same time worried. Who had Dana invited to the ranch?

“I was going through some of my mother’s things when I found these,” Dana said, picking up the letters she’d plunked down on the counter and turning them in her fingers.

“That sounds positive,” Hilde said, “you going through your mother’s things.” Mary Justice Cardwell had died nearly six years ago. Because it had been so unexpected and because it had hit Dana so hard, she hadn’t been able to go through her mother’s things—let alone get rid of anything. Not to mention the fact that her siblings had tried to force her to sell the ranch after their mother’s death because Mary’s most recent will had gone missing for a while.

“About time I dealt with her things, wouldn’t you say?” Dana asked with a sad smile.

“So you found something in one of these letters?” Hilde asked, getting her friend back on track.

Dana brightened. “A family secret!”

Hilde laughed. “It must be on the Cardwell side of the family. Do tell.”

“Actually, that is what’s so shocking. It’s on the Justice side.” Climbing up on a stool at the counter, her friend pulled out one of the letters. “My mother had a brother named Walter who I knew nothing about. Apparently he left home at seventeen and married some woman of ill repute, and my grandparents disinherited him and refused to have his name spoken again.”

“Seriously? That is so medieval,” she said, stepping around the counter so she could read over Dana’s shoulder.

“This is a letter from him asking for their forgiveness.”

“Did they forgive him?”

“Apparently not. Otherwise, wouldn’t I have known about him?”

“So you tracked him down on the internet and found out you have a cousin and now she is on her way to Montana.”

“Walter died, but he left behind a family. I found one cousin, but there are apparently several others on that side of the family. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Amazing that you were able to find this cousin you know nothing about.” Hilde couldn’t imagine doing such a thing—let alone inviting this stranger to come visit—and said as much.

“It’s not like she’s a complete stranger. She’s my cousin. You know, since I had my own children, I realize how important family is. I want my kids to know all of their family.”

“Right,” Hilde said, thinking of the six years Dana had been at odds with her siblings. She’d missed them a lot more than she suspected they’d missed her. “I’m sure it will be fine.”

Dana laughed. “If you’re so worried, then you absolutely must come to the airport with me to pick her up.”

“How did you get out alone?” Hilde asked, glancing toward the street and the empty Suburban again.

“Stacy is babysitting the twins, and Hud has Mary and Hank,” Dana said, still sounding breathless. It was great to see her so happy.

“How are you holding up?” Hilde asked. “You must be worn out.”

Hilde babysat occasionally, but with Stacy, Jordan and Liza around, and Hud with a flexible schedule, Dana had been able to recruit help—until lately. Jordan and Liza were building their house on the ranch and Stacy had a part-time job at Needles and Pins and another one working as a part-time nanny in Bozeman. Mary was almost five and Hank nearly six. The twins were seven months.

“I’m fine, but I am looking forward to some adult conversation,” Dana admitted. “With Stacy spending more time in Bozeman, I hardly ever see her. Jordan and Liza are almost finished with their house, but Jordan has also been busy with the ranch, and Liza is still working