Ambush Before Sunrise: Bonus Story (Cardwell Ranch Book12; Montana Legacy

as if he’d taken out a loan at the bank. He’d gambled on being able to pay what he owed, just as he’d gambled away any money he could get his hands on. “Five thousand. I can get you that by the end of the week.”
Shawn raised a brow. “You don’t have two nickels to rub together. Where will you get five grand?”
“Leave that to me. One week. Five thousand to hold your boss until I can pay him everything I owe him.”
“With interest and late fees.”
“Right,” T.D. said, thinking how large a chunk that was going to take out of his half of the ranch. But when he considered the alternative, what choice did he have? Jinx had no idea just how deep his gambling debts had gotten. Not that she was going to bail him out again. She’d made that clear before she’d thrown him out.
His future looked bleak. Unless he got the entire ranch. Like he’d told his friends, anything could happen on a cattle drive.

Chapter Four
The day passed in a blur for Angus as they worked the cattle up through the pines and began the long climb to the high mountain range. Saddle sore after eating the dust the cattle kicked up, they had stopped midday for a quick lunch and to let the cattle drink from the stream. Then it was back in the saddle. Jinx had said she wanted to make it up to the old corrals the first day so they pushed ahead and reached the spot by the time the light began to fade.
Angus climbed off his horse now to close the gate to the corral that held the horses. The herd lowed from a large vibrant green meadow, the cattle glowing in the last of the day’s light.
He felt the hours in a saddle. But it was a nice tired feeling of accomplishment. Also, he was thankful that they’d gotten the herd this far without any trouble. He’d actually been a little surprised. But then again, T. D. Sharp might be the kind of man who made threats when he was drinking, then didn’t follow through on them.
At least he hoped that was the case. He’d seen Jinx watching the trail behind them. She expected her ex to make trouble. But they’d been moving at a pretty good pace all day. He figured T.D. would wake up with a hangover this morning and not be anxious to jump on a horse and head for the hills.
But Angus didn’t doubt that the man wasn’t through making trouble for her. He just didn’t know how or when the cowboy would strike, only that he would if he could get some friends together to buoy his confidence. Angus had met men like him before.
All day he’d kept an eye on Jinx—as well as Royce and Cash. He’d seen Jinx’s expression when she’d hired the two. She’d hesitated more with Royce and Cash than she had with Ella. That told him a lot. She didn’t trust them and neither did he.
After unsaddling his horse, he left it in the fenced enclosure and headed for the chuckwagon, following the smell of something good cooking. He could see flames rising from a large campfire not far from the wagon where Max was dishing up dinner. There was steak, potatoes and beans with fresh homemade sourdough bread to soak up every bite.
Angus took his plate over to the fire, pulled up a log and sat down next to Ella and Brick.
“Good grub,” Brick said as he cleaned his plate and went back for more.
Royce and Cash were still taking care of their horses. Angus didn’t see Jinx. Max was busy in his wagon kitchen slopping more beans and potatoes on Brick’s plate along with another steak.
“How are you doing?” Angus asked Ella quietly. He knew she never complained and that she could hold her own. He also trusted her instincts. She had a sixth sense about some things, especially people. But sometimes he worried about her. She would get quiet and he’d know that something was bothering her. Like now.
“I’m doing better than your brother,” she joked. “He is getting nowhere with Jinx.”
He smiled and shook his head, letting her deflect his question for the moment. “You know Brick. He’ll keep trying.”
“She likes you, though,” Ella said, glancing over at him. “She isn’t sure she can trust you, though. I’ve seen her watching you and frowning.”
Angus chuckled, knowing trust wasn’t the problem. But he said, “I would imagine she won’t be trusting any man for some time to come. However, I asked how you were doing.”
Ella smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m fine.”
“Well, if you want to talk about it...” He let that hang, seeing that whatever seemed to be bothering her, she wasn’t ready to share it.
Over by the chuckwagon, Brick had struck up a conversation with Jinx as she came to get her plate. Ella shook her head as she and Angus watched him. “She sees right through him and yet he still thinks he can charm his way into her good graces. You, however, haven’t tried to charm her.”
“Nor am I going to try.” Jinx wasn’t like the other women he and Brick met. He wasn’t interested in making it a competition. The other women had recognized it as a game and had enjoyed the attention. But none of the other women were Jinx.
He ate and watched the flames rising into the wide-open sky overhead. It wouldn’t be full dark for another hour or so, but by then, he figured most everyone would be out for the night except for those assigned to stand watch over the herd.
“I’m worried about Royce and Cash,” he said. “You let me know if they give you any trouble.”
Ella chuckled. “You sound like Jinx. But like I told her, I can take care of myself.”
“I’ll still be watching them both,” he said and followed her gaze to where the two men had finally finished putting their