horse seems impatient,” he said. “Don’t let me keep you from your ride.” With a tip of his hat, he headed down the mountain to the ranch house where he’d been raised.
It seemed a lifetime ago. He could barely remember the man he’d been then. But he would be glad to get off the property before his sister and her husband returned. He planned to put off seeing them if at all possible. So much for family, he thought.
WHEN DANA OPENED HER EYES, she saw that they’d left the wide valley and were now driving through the Gallatin Canyon. The “canyon” as it was known, ran from the mouth just south of Gallatin Gateway almost to West Yellowstone, fifty miles of winding road that trailed the river in a deep cut through the mountains.
The drive along the Gallatin River had always been breathtaking, a winding strip of highway that followed the blue-ribbon trout stream up over the continental divide. This time of year the Gallatin ran crystal clear over green-tinted boulders. Pine trees grew dark and thick along its edge and against the steep mountains. Aspens, their leaves rust-reds and glittering golds, grew among the pines.
Sheer rock cliffs overlooked the highway and river, with small areas of open land, the canyon not opening up until it reached Big Sky. The canyon had been mostly cattle and dude ranches, a few summer cabins and homes—that was until Big Sky resort and the small town that followed at the foot of Lone Mountain.
Luxury houses had sprouted up all around the resort. Fortunately, some of the original cabins still remained and the majority of the canyon was national forest so it would always remain undeveloped. The “canyon” was also still its own little community, for which Dana was grateful. This was the only home she’d known and, like her stubborn ancestors, she had no intention of ever leaving it.
Both she and Hud had grown up here. They’d been in love since junior high, but hit a rocky spot some years ago thanks to her sister. Dana didn’t like to think about the five years she and Hud had spent apart as they passed the lower mountain resort area and, a few miles farther, turned down the road to Cardwell Ranch.
Across the river and a half mile back up a wide valley, the Cardwell Ranch house sat against a backdrop of granite cliffs, towering dark pines and glittering aspens. The house was a big, two-story rambling affair with a wide front porch and a brick-red metal roof. Behind it stood a huge weathered barn and some outbuildings and corrals.
Dana never felt truly at home until they reached the ranch she’d fought tooth and nail to save. When Mary Justice Cardwell had been bucked off a horse and died six years ago, Dana had thought all was lost. Her mother’s original will when her children were young left the ranch to all of them.
Mary hadn’t realized until her children were grown that only Dana would keep the ranch. The others would sell it, take the profits and never look back until the day they regretted what they’d done. By then it would be too late. So her mother had made a new will, leaving the ranch to her. But her mother had hidden it where she hoped her daughter would find it. Fortunately, Dana had found it in time to save the ranch.
The will had put an end to her siblings’ struggle to force her to sell the land and split the profits with them. Now her three siblings were paid part of the ranch’s profit each quarter. Not surprisingly, she hadn’t heard from any of them since the will had settled things six years before.
As Hud pulled into the ranch yard, Dana spotted a car parked in front of the old house and frowned. The car was an older model with California plates.
“You didn’t already hire someone—”
“No,” Hud said before she could finish. “I wouldn’t do that without talking to you first. Do you think the doctor called one of the women she told you about?”
Before Dana could answer, she saw that someone was waiting out on the broad front porch. As Hud pulled in beside the car, the woman stepped from out of the shadows.
“Stacy?” She felt her heart drop. After six years of silence and all the bad feelings from the past, what was her older sister doing here?
“SURPRISE,”STACY SAID WITH a shrug and a worried smile. Like Dana, Stacy had gotten the Justice-Cardwell dark good looks, but she’d always been the cute one who capitalized on her appearance, cashing in as she traded her way up through three marriages that Dana knew of and possibly more since.
Just the sight of her sister made Dana instantly wary. She couldn’t help but be mistrustful given their past.
Her sister’s gaze went to Dana’s stomach. “Oh, my. You’re pregnant.”
“We need to get Dana in the house,” Hud said, giving his sister-in-law a nod of greeting. Stacy opened the door and let them enter before she followed them in.
Dana found herself looking around the living room, uncomfortable that her sister had been inside the house even though it had once been Stacy’s home, as well.
The house was as it had been when her mother was alive. Original Western furnishings, a lot of stone and wood and a bright big airy kitchen. Dana, like her mother, chose comfort over style trends. She loved her big, homey house. It often smelled of something good bubbling on the stove, thanks to the fact that Hud loved to cook.
Dana preferred to spend her time with her children outside, teaching them to ride or watching a new foal being born or picking fresh strawberries out of the large garden she grew—just as her own mother had done with her.
As she looked at her sister, she was reminded of some of her mother’s last words to her. “Families stick together. It isn’t always easy. Everyone makes mistakes. Dana, you have to find forgiveness in your heart. If not for them, then for yourself.”
Her mother had known then that if anything happened to her, Jordan, Stacy and Clay would fight her for the ranch. That’s why she’d made the new will.
But she must also have known that the will would divide them.
“It’s been a long time,” Dana said, waiting, knowing her sister wanted something or she wouldn’t be here.
“I know I should have kept in touch more,” Stacy said. “I move around a lot.” But she’d always managed to get her check each quarter as part of her inheritance from the ranch profits. Dana instantly hated the uncharitable thought. She didn’t want to feel that way about her sister. But Stacy had done some things in the past that had left the two of them at odds. Like breaking Dana and Hud up eleven years ago. Dana still had trouble forgiving her sister for that.
Stacy shifted uncomfortably in the silence. “I should have let you know I was coming, huh.”
“Now isn’t the best time for company,” Hud said. “Dana’s doctor has advised her to get off her feet for the rest of her pregnancy.”
“But I’m not company,” Stacy said. “I’m family. I can help.”
Hud looked to his wife. “Why don’t you go. It’s fine,” Dana said and removed her coat.
“So you’re pregnant,” her sister said.
“Twins,” Dana said, sinking into a chair.
Stacy nodded.
Dana realized Hud was still in his coat, waiting, afraid to leave her alone with Stacy. “Are you going to pick up the kids?”
He gave her a questioning look.
“I thought you probably had more kids,” her sister said. “The toys and stuff around.”
Dana was still looking at her husband. She knew he didn’t trust Stacy, hated she’d been alone in their house while they were gone and worse, he didn’t want to leave the two of them alone. “Stacy and I will be fine.”
Still he hesitated. He knew better than anyone what her siblings were like.
“Stacy, would you mind getting me a drink of water?” The moment her sister left the room, Dana turned to her husband. “I’ll be fine,” she said lowering