Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch - B.J. Daniels [63]
"You know I came back here because of you. Because I still love you. I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner. I should never have left."
"You thought you'd lost everything, your career—"
"Losing you is what devastated my life, Dana. It took a while to get my head on straight."
She nodded. "I just need to take it slow." She dropped her hand and turned her back to him. Otherwise, she would be in his arms and Hilde would find them between racks of fabric making love on the hardwood floor when she came in.
"We can take it as slow as you need," he said. "Just don't push me away again." He pulled her around to face him and into his arms, kissing her until she was breathless.
She leaned into his strong, hard body and rested her cheek against his chest, his jacket open, his cotton shirt warm and soft. She could hear his heart beating fast and realized she'd scared him with her disappearing act this morning.
"I'm sorry I took off this morning," she said against his chest.
He hugged her tighter. "I know you're worried about your dad. And Stacy." He sighed. "Dana, I found out that your brother Jordan got into town the day of your birthday."
She pulled back a little to look at him. "He lied about that, too?"
Hud nodded. "I'm sorry, but I think he's responsible for what happened at the well the night before last, and if he is, I'm going to have to arrest him."
She made a sound deep down in her throat as she realized that most of her family could end up in jail the way things were going. "Hud, you and I both know that if Jordan had found those bones in the well he'd have covered them with fifteen feet of dirt and never given them another thought."
Blood was thicker than water. But this was Hud and the truth was the truth.
"And don't try to make me sound so noble," she said. "I didn't tell you everything." She told him about going to see her father about his .38, then about finding Jordan searching the ranch house and finally that Jordan and her father had been arguing just before Angus Cardwell's collapse. "Is Dad's .38 the murder weapon?" she asked, her heart in her throat.
"We don't know yet. But I'm worried. I'd like you to drive out with me to talk to Stacy."
"When I stopped by her place last night on the way to your cabin," Dana said, "she wasn't there."
"Maybe she's come back. Or maybe she left something behind that will give us an idea of where she's gone. If what she told you is true, then someone was behind setting me up. I need to know who it was. And why. If she was being threatened with jail, then, Dana, I have a pretty good idea who was behind it. I just have to prove it. I need your help. Your sister might open up if we're there together."
As if on cue, Hilde came in the back door on a gust of wind. She looked surprised to see Dana at work so early and even more surprised to see Hud. She looked from one to the other, her gaze finally settling on Dana. She smiled, obviously seeing what Dana had hoped to keep a secret.
"Hello, Hud," Hilde said.
"Nice to see you again, Hilde," he said. "I just came by to steal your partner for a little while."
"Be my guest," Hilde said, giving Dana a meaningful look.
"We're just going to look for Stacy," Dana said. "It's a long story."
"I'm sure it is," Hilde said, still smiling.
Dana groaned inwardly. Her friend knew her too well. Hilde had seen the glow in her cheeks this morning, the sparkle in her eye. Hud had always been able to put it there. "Let me get my coat."
* * *
SNOW WAS PILED HIGH on each side of the highway. Beside it, the river gurgled blue-green under a thick skin of transparent ice.
"You're sure she said 'jail'?"
Dana nodded. "She looked scared, Hud. I guess that's why I believed her. She seemed to think she was in danger."
"I think she set me up to keep me away from Judge Randolph's house that night," Hud said. "It's the only thing that makes any sense."
"You think Stacy had something to do with the judge's murder?"
"Look at the evidence, Dana. The judge was murdered the same night Stacy drugged me at the bar and made sure I wasn't the one