He let out a nervous laugh as he closed the distance between them. “Why would I do that?”
“I was wondering the same thing.” He was close now, so close she could see the dark holes of his eyes.
He glanced around and then said quietly, “I thought everyone was asleep.”
“I figured you did.”
His gaze settled on her. His lips curled into a smirk. “What’s a woman like you doing up here on this mountain with a bunch of men anyway?”
“You have a problem with it?”
“Me?” He leaned toward her. “Naw, but some men would think a young, good-looking woman riding with a group of males was just asking for it.”
His words sent a chill through her, but she didn’t let it show. Except for the fact that she’d eased her hand down to the holstered gun at her hip. “Men like that end up dead. Good thing you’re not one of them. Otherwise, I’d advise you to sleep with one eye open.”
He cleared his throat as his gaze dropped to her hand resting on the butt of her pistol. “That sounds like a threat.”
“Only to men who don’t respect women.”
Ella heard a soft chuckle from the darkness before Jinx materialized out from behind Cash.
“There a problem here?” the trail boss asked, startling the already nervous Cash.
He spun around. “Not from me,” Cash said quickly and took a few steps away from Ella.
When Jinx shifted her gaze to her in question, Ella simply shook her head and said, “I believe Cash was just on his way to bed. He’s thinking about sleeping with one eye open.”
He shot her a mean look before checking his expression and turning to Jinx. “In case either of you care, I’m a light sleeper.” He touched the gun at his hip.
“Sleep well,” Jinx said.
As Cash headed toward camp, Ella heard him mumble something about women not knowing their place.
Jinx sighed as she watched him disappear into the darkness before she turned back to Ella. “Now, what was really going on out here?”
“I couldn’t sleep. Cash didn’t see me out here in the dark. I think he was planning to release the horses. He was starting to open the gate when I spoke up. He said he was just checking his horse.”
“But you don’t believe him.” Jinx nodded. “Best get some sleep.”
Chapter Seven
Wide awake now, Jinx saddled up her horse. Royce had offered to take the first watch, along with Brick. So far it had been quiet. Other than the black bear that had gotten into their larder, they hadn’t seen any more bears.
But with the grizzlies out of hibernation and hungry, they were a threat to the herd. She’d seen how easily one could take down beef on the hoof. She and the others had to be cautious, especially of the ones with cubs, she thought as she rode out toward the south end of the herd.
But the wild animals weren’t the only threat. She thought about what Ella had told her, trusting the woman’s instincts along with her own. Cash needed to go. But maybe after being caught, he wouldn’t be a problem. Jinx sighed. She needed him just a little longer. If he’d hired on to cause her trouble, then maybe he was already working with T.D. Otherwise, there was a good chance he would turn on her once her almost-ex did show up. It was only a matter of time before that happened. T.D. was too predictable not to follow her up here.
Pushing thoughts of him away, she considered what to do about Cash. As the last of the clouds passed, the night sky was suddenly ablaze with stars and a sliver of moon. Nothing seemed to move in the dark stillness as she rode south along the edge of the herd.
On nights like this, she couldn’t help but think of her father. She missed him so much it took her breath away. He’d been everything to her since she was a girl. He’d always been there when she needed him. When her mother had died, he’d comforted her more than she could him. He would have known what to do about Royce and Cash.
Just as he’d known that T.D. was all wrong for her. He’d tried to talk her out of marrying the cowboy, but she’d been in love.
Love. She could laugh now at how starry-eyed she’d been. T.D. had definitely charmed her. He’d made her feel beautiful. Her feelings for the few boyfriends she’d had seemed silly in comparison. T.D. had been her first honest-to-goodness love affair. He took her to fancy restaurants in Jackson Hole, getting her out of her jeans and boots, making her feel like a desirable woman.
That thought made her heart ache. She’d felt like a princess with T.D. Why wouldn’t she marry him? He’d said and done all the right things.
“I know you want your father to walk you down the aisle,” T.D. had said one night. “I want that for you. That’s why I don’t think we should put off getting married.”
She’d been dragging her feet. There’d been little red flags. T.D.’s credit card not working. Times when he’d forgotten his wallet. She’d been happy to pay. Another time there’d been the man whom T.D. had purposely avoided at the rodeo, saying the man was a poor sport at cards. Later, she would learn about his gambling habits. But back then, there’d been enough that she’d been wary of when it came to marrying T.D. He had talked a good line, but she questioned how much help he would be on the ranch.
But then her father had gotten sick. T.D. had been right. She’d dreamed of her father walking her down the aisle. They’d decided to get married, rushing into it even as her father was telling her to wait and be sure this was the man for her.
An owl hooted down at her from a tree limb, startling her out of her thoughts.
