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

“You going to make me?”
“If it comes to that, yes.” The cowhand still hadn’t moved, hadn’t touched the gun at his hip, but there was something like steel in his tone.
She could see T.D. making up his mind. He’d come out here looking for a fight even if he hadn’t realized it. But with T.D., like most bullies, he preferred better odds.
He swore and shot Jinx a lethal look. “This isn’t over. You might have hired yourself some...cowboys,” he said as some of the other wranglers came out of the bunkhouse and watched from a distance, “but when they’re gone...” She heard the promised threat, saw it in his gaze. He’d be back for more than the ranch.
Jinx felt a shudder. How could she have not seen the mean side of this man before she stupidly married him? Because he’d kept it well hidden. Drunk, he was even worse, filled with an unexplained rage. She’d felt the brunt of that anger. He’d never hit her. He wasn’t that stupid. But he’d beat her down with his angry words every time he drank until she’d had enough and sent him packing at gunpoint.
Her father, Ray, had been in the hospital then. Once he died, T.D. got it into his head that he deserved a second chance. When that didn’t work, he’d decided the ranch should be his. And so should Jinx. He’d refused to sign the divorce papers until she settled up with him.
The problem with the man was that he never took no for an answer. Egged on by his friends he drank with and some of the other ranchers he’d grown up with who’d tried to buy her out the moment her father had died, T.D. felt both the ranch and she were his legal right.
Legally, he might have some right to the ranch, unfortunately, because they were still husband and wife technically. She hadn’t had the sense to get a prenuptial agreement signed before they’d married. She’d been in love and stupid. But no matter how much of a fight T.D. put up, she was divorcing him. And while he might get his hands on half the proceeds from the ranch, he would never get his hands on her again if she could help it.
T.D. started toward his truck, stopped and tilted his head as if listening. With a smirk, he turned back to say, “If you called the sheriff, he’s sure taking his time getting here.” His gaze locked with hers for a moment. “Liar, liar, pants on fire, all Miss High-and-Mighty. You didn’t even call the sheriff.”
“If I’d called the sheriff,” she said quietly, “he would have stopped me from shooting you, if you’d taken another step in my direction.”
The words seemed to hit T.D. like a strong wind. He wavered, his gaze locking with hers. “So why’d you bother with a restraining order, then?” he snapped, thinking he was smarter than she was.
“Because it will look better in court after I kill you. ‘I tried to keep him away, but he just wouldn’t listen.’”
“Best keep it loaded and beside your bed, then,” he said, smirking at her. “Because I’ll be back.”
She didn’t doubt that. He would come back when it was just her and Max alone on the ranch. “And I’ll kill you before I let you touch me again.”
Her words inflamed him—just as she knew they would. But he wasn’t the only one with a temper. She’d put up with all she was going to from this man. She didn’t want him to doubt that she would pull the trigger on both barrels when he came back.
T.D. slammed his fist down on the hood of his pickup as he stumbled to the driver’s-side door and jerked it open. He shot her a hateful look before climbing behind the wheel. The engine revved. He threw the truck in Reverse and tore off down the road, throwing dirt and gravel.
Jinx let out the breath she’d been holding. Moments before, she’d half expected T.D. to turn and charge her like a raging bull, forcing her to shoot him or pay the price for even a moment’s hesitation. She figured the only reason he hadn’t was because of Angus.
As she turned to thank him, she saw that the spot where he’d been standing was empty. Like the others, he must have gone back inside the bunkhouse. Apparently, he hadn’t wanted or needed thanks. But now he’d put himself in the line of fire. T.D. wouldn’t forget.
ANGUS STEPPED AROUND the side of the bunkhouse, listening to the sound of T.D.’s pickup engine fading in the distance. He hoped the man had enough sense not to come back, but he wouldn’t bet on that.
He thought of the way that Jinx had handled the situation and he smiled. Angus had come down here believing that it was to save not just Jinx’s cattle—but the woman herself.
After seeing her with that shotgun tonight, staring down her husband, Angus realized Jinx McCallahan could take care of herself. It didn’t surprise him. He thought of the girl he’d met just that once. She’d made an impression on him all those years ago. She’d done it again tonight.
Her almost-ex-husband thought he could bully her. Well, T. D. Sharp had picked the wrong woman to try to intimidate. Angus could have told him that just based on knowing her a few hours years before. You didn’t want to mess with that redhead, he thought, smiling to himself.
So as he stood in the dark, pretty sure T.D. wasn’t headed back this way—at least not yet, he reevaluated what he was doing here. Helping Jinx get her cattle to summer range, but after that...he wasn’t so sure.
Angus thought of the woman standing on the porch with the loaded double-barrel shotgun trained on her not-soon-enough-ex-husband. He realized he wasn’t here to rescue her. She could rescue herself. But maybe, with some luck, he could keep her from killing T.D. and going to jail.
PATTY STOOD IN front of