B.J. Daniels the Cardwell Ranch Collection by B. J. Daniels

lies. She’d spent thirty-one years telling the truth and Hud came back to town and she became an instant liar.
    “You’re not engagedto Lanny Rankin,” he said softly. “Are you?”
    She lifted her chin ready to defend her lie to the death. “Not that it’s any of your business—”
    “Why did you lie to me, Dana?”
    Something in his tone stopped her cold. Obviously he thought she’d done it to make him jealous because she still cared. This was turning out to be the worst day of her life.
    “I didn’t want you thinking there was any chance for you and me.”
    He smiled. “Oh, your attitude toward me made that pretty clear. You didn’t have to come up with a fiancé.” His eyes suddenly narrowed. “Why hasn’t the guy asked you to marry him? Something wrong with him?”
    “No,” she snapped. “My relationship with Lanny is none of your business.” She could see the wheels turning in his stubborn head. He thought more than ever that she was still carrying a torch for him.
    “You’re the most annoying man I’ve ever known,” she said as she headed for the door to show him out.
    His soft chuckle chased after her, piercing her heart with memory. So many memories of the two of them together.
    “At least I still have that distinction,” he said as she snatched open the front door and he stepped through it.
    Joe, she noticed, had followed them and now stood by her feet. The old dog might be deaf and barely getting around anymore, but he was no fool. When push came to shove, he knew where his loyalties lay.
    Hud turned inthe doorway to look at her, all humor gone from his expression. “At some point, I’ll need to talk to you about this investigation. I can come here or you can come down to the Big Sky office—”
    “The office would be fine,” she said. “Just let me know when.”
    “Dana, I really am sorry about—” he waved a hand “—everything.”
    Her smile felt as sharp as a blade. “Good night, Hud.” She closed the door in his face but not before she heard him say, “Good night, Dana,” the way he used to say it after they’d kissed.
    She leaned against the door, her knees as weak as water. Dammit, she wasn’t going to cry. She’d shed too many tears for Hud Savage. He wasn’t getting even one more out of her.
    But she felt hot tears course down her cheeks. She wiped at the sudden wetness, biting her lip to keep from breaking down and bawling. What a lousy day this had been. This birthday was destined to go down as the worst.
    Joe let out a bark, his old eyes on her, tail wagging.
    “I’m not mad at you,” she said, and squatted to wrap her arms around him. “I know you always liked Hud. Didn’t we all?”
    Dana had never been one to wallow in self-pity. At least not for long. She’d gone on with her life after Hud left. His coming back now wasn’t going to send her into another tailspin.
    She rose and walkedto the kitchen window, drawn to it by what she now knew had been in the old well all these years. The horror of it sent a shudder through her. Was it possible she had known the woman? Or worse, she thought, with a jolt, that Angus had? Hud had reminded her that her father had owned a .38.
    With a groan, she recalled the time her father had let her and Hud shoot tin cans off the ranch fence with the gun.
    Through the falling snow, she looked toward the hillside and hugged herself against the chill of her thoughts before glancing at the kitchen clock.
    There was time if she hurried. She’d heard that her dad and uncle were playing with their band at the Corral Bar tonight. If she left now she might be able to talk to both of them and still get back in time for her date with Lanny.
    She was anxious to talk to her father—before he and her uncle had time to come up with a convincing story. The thought surprised her. Why had she just assumed he had something to hide? Because, she thought with a rueful grin, he was her father and she knew him.
    By now the canyon grapevine