Read Online B.J. Daniels the Cardwell Ranch Collection by B. J. Daniels - Free Book Online

was because they had their heads together in deep conversation.
    As she approached, she saw her father look up and catch her reflection in the mirror. He sat up straighter, pulling back but mouthing something to Harlan as if warning him of her approach. Uncle Harlan turned on his stool to flash her a smile, both men appearing nervous. Clearly she had interrupted something.
    “Dana,” Harlansaid, sounding surprised. “Haven’t seen you for a while.” Like his brother, he was a big man with a head of dark hair peppered with gray.
    “Uncle Harlan.” She patted his arm as she passed, her gaze on her father.
    While Angus Cardwell resembled his brother, he’d definitely gotten the looks in the family. He’d been a devastatingly handsome young man and Dana could see why her mother had fallen for him.
    Angus was still handsome and would have been quite the catch in the canyon if it wasn’t for his love of alcohol. Thanks to the healthy settlement he’d received from Dana’s mother in the divorce, he didn’t have to work.
    “How’s my baby girl?” Angus asked, and leaned over to kiss her cheek. She smelled the familiar scent of beer on his breath. “Happy birthday.”
    Dana had always been his baby girl and still was—even at thirty-one. “Fine. Thank you.”
    “Is there someplace we could talk for a minute?” she asked. Angus shot a look at Harlan.
    “We could probably step into the back room,” her father said. “I’m sure Bob wouldn’t mind.” Bob owned the place and since Angus was probably the most regular of the regulars who frequented the bar, Bob probably wouldn’t mind.
    “Guess I’ll tag along,” Uncle Harlan said, already sliding off his stool.
    The back room was partoffice, part spare room. It had a small desk and an office chair along with a thread-bare overstuffed chair and a sofa that looked like it might pull out into a bed. The room smelled of stale cigarette smoke and beer.
    “So what’s up?” Angus asked. Both he and Harlan had brought along their beers.
    She studied them for a moment, then said, “I’m sure you’ve heard about what happened at the ranch today.” She could see by their expressions that they had.
    “Hell of a thing,” Angus said.
    Harlan nodded in agreement and tipped his beer bottle to his lips.
    “Any idea how the bones got into our well?” she asked, wondering how much they’d heard on the canyon grapevine.
    “Us?” Harlan said, sounding surprised. “Why would we know anything about her?”
    Her. So they’d heard it was a woman. She couldn’t believe how quickly word spread.
    She hadn’t meant to sound so accusing. “I just thought you might have some idea since you were both on the ranch during that time.” Her parents were still together then, kind of, and her uncle had been working on the ranch and living in one of the spare bedrooms.
    A look passed between them.
    “What?” she asked.
    “We were just talking about this,” her father said.
    “And?” she prodded.
    “And nothing,” Angus said.
    “Anyone could have comeonto the ranch and done it,” Harlan said. “Could have driven right by the house or come in the back on one of the old loggin’ roads. Could have been anyone.” He looked embarrassed, as if he’d spoken out of turn. Or maybe said too much. He took a drink of his beer.
    “So you two have it all figured out,” she said, studying them. “That mean you’ve figured out who she was? Seems she went into the well about fifteen years ago.”
    “Fifteen years?” Clearly, Angus was surprised by that.
    “Bunch of cowhands on the ranch back then,” Harlan said. “Anyone could have known about the well. There’s old wells and mine shafts all over Montana. Usually an old foundation nearby. Not that hard to find if you’re looking for one.”
    Dana thought about the homestead chimney still standing and part of the foundation visible from the ranch house. Stood to reason, she supposed, there would be an old well