Without A Trace (Echo Lake Book 1)

by Amanda Stevens

  “Cardwell?” Her eyes narrowed. “Any relation to the Cardwell Ranch in Montana?”

  “Dana Cardwell Savage is my mother.”

  She considered the tall, lanky, good-looking cowboy for a moment, telling herself that she had to be wrong about having met him before and stepped to the next one. “And you’re...”

  He quickly removed his hat. “Brick Cardwell Savage, ma’am.”

  She felt a start as she did a double take, looking from Angus to Brick and back. “You’re twins?”

  “Identical,” Brick said with a chuckle. “Except I’m more charming.”

  Jinx ignored that. A charming cowboy was the last thing she needed. She’d married one and look how that had turned out.

  She considered the two for a moment. Angus had a small scar on his chin in the shape of a crescent moon. Other than that, she couldn’t tell the brothers apart. She moved on to the next wrangler.

  As the cowhand removed the weathered straw hat, a long blond braid tumbled out. “Ella Cardwell,” the wrangler said, lifting her chin in obvious defiance.

  Jinx shook her head. “I said I needed men. Not—”

  “I can do anything these two can do,” Ella said, aiming her elbow at the two cowboys next to her who were also from Cardwell Ranch. “Usually better,” the cowgirl added, lifting her gaze until Jinx was staring into emerald green eyes that flashed with fire.

  She shot a glance at the two Cardwell men, expecting them to object. Neither did. Turning back to the young woman, she said, “Ella Cardwell, huh?”

  “My mother’s Stacy Cardwell. Dana’s my aunt.”

  “What are you doing riding with these two?” Jinx asked, indicating Ella’s cousins.

  “I like wrangling. I’m more at home on the back of a horse than anywhere on this earth.” She shrugged. “My cousins watch out for me and I watch out for them.”

  Jinx studied the young woman whom she estimated to be in her late twenties, early thirties—about her own age and that of her cousins. They were all young when what she needed was seasoned help. Unfortunately, there was none to be had right now because of her almost-ex-husband. It was why she couldn’t afford to be picky and yet...

  “Why aren’t you all working on your family ranch?” she asked, concerned about their ages and lack of experience. Also their possible safety, given what was going on.

  “I will someday, but in the meantime, we wanted to see more of the country and experience life before we settled down,” Angus said.

  Brick chuckled. “Just sowing some wild oats, ma’am.”

  That was what she was afraid of. “There won’t be any of that on this cattle drive. We have to get my herd up into the mountains for the summer and I’m already running late. If you’re looking for fun, you’ve come to the wrong place.”

  “We’re good hands and we aren’t afraid of hard work, ma’am,” Angus said, giving his brother’s boot next to him a kick. “Don’t mind my brother. He likes to joke, ma’am.”

  She’d had more than enough of this ma’am stuff. “Call me Jinx,” she said as she moved to the next two wranglers who’d answered her help-wanted ad.

  “Royce Richards,” said the fourth cowboy. At least he was older. “Cash and me here used to wrangle for—”

  “Huck Chambers,” Jinx said, nodding as she eyed the men more closely. She’d seen them around Jackson Hole. Cash looked to be in his early forties, much like Royce. He removed his hat and said, “Cash Andrews.” While Royce was tall and wiry-thin with a narrow, pinched face and deep-set dark eyes, Cash was larger with a broad face as plain as a prairie. But when her eyes met his pale brown ones she felt something unsettling behind them.

  She tried to remember what she’d heard about the men and why they were no longer with Huck. She thought about calling Huck, but told herself if they didn’t work out, she’d pay them off and send them packing. She only needed them for a few days, a week at most, depending on the weather and how long it would take them to move the cattle.

  Looking the lot of them over, she reminded herself that she was desperate, but was she this desperate? She hesitated. She could use all of them, but hiring a young woman wrangler? That seemed like a recipe for disaster on a cattle drive. She thought of the spirit she’d seen in the young woman’s eyes, a spirit that reminded her of herself.

  “All right,” she said with a sigh, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake—not just with the Cardwell bunch but with Royce and maybe especially Cash. What was that she’d seen in his gaze? Just a flicker of something she couldn’t put her finger on. A lot of cowboys didn’t like taking orders from a woman. She hoped that was all she’d seen.

  “See your way to the bunkhouse. We ride out at first light in the morning. I notice that you brought your own stock,” she said, glancing at the two pickups parked in her yard and the horse trailers behind them. “You can bed them down for the night in the barn or that corral. Cook will rustle up something for you to eat. I wouldn’t suggest going into Jackson Hole tonight.” Or any other night, she thought. But since they would ride into the mountains early tomorrow, they’d have little chance to get into trouble.

  At least that was what she told herself as she headed inside the ranch house to talk to Max about feeding them. She found him in the kitchen finishing up washing some pots and pans, his back to her. The cook was short and stocky as a fat thumb with a personality as surprising as what he often cooked. He’d been with Jinx’s family for years. She didn’t know what she would do without him. Or vice versa if she sold the ranch.

  But as she studied the man from behind, she realized Max was getting old. He wouldn’t be able to handle a cattle drive much longer. For him, her selling the ranch might be a relief. He could retire since she knew her father had left him well-off.

  The moment he turned around and she saw Max’s face, she knew he’d seen her wranglers. “They might not be as bad as they look,” she said defensively.

  “Didn’t say a word.”

  “You didn’t have to.” She leaned on the counter. “Can you rustle up something for them to eat?”

  He nodded and began digging in the refrigerator. He came out with a chunk of roast beef. She watched him slice it and said, “They’re young, I’ll admit.”

  “Unless my eyes are going, that one looked distinctly female.”

  She sighed. “I like her.”

  Max laughed, shaking his head. “Bet she reminds you of yourself.”

  “Is that so bad?” He said nothing, letting that be his answer. “You hear anything about Royce Richards and Cash Andrews?” she asked, changing the subject. “They used to work for Huck Chambers.”

  He looked up from the beef he was slicing. “If you have any misgivings, send them on down the road.”

  “I can’t. I have to take a chance with them. I need the help and at least they’re older and probably more experienced.” She looked toward the window and wondered what her father would have done. In the twilight, the pine trees were etched black against the graying sky. Beyond that, the dark outline of the mountains beckoned.

  She told herself that she had to follow her instincts. First, she would get the herd up to the high country to graze for the summer. It would buy her time. Then she would decide what to do. She couldn’t think about the future right now.

  But of course that was all that was on her mind. “Once this cattle drive is over...” She didn’t finish because she didn’t know what she would do. Just the thought of ever leaving this ranch brought her to tears.

  “I’ll run sandwiches over to the bunkhouse,” Max said. “You should get some sleep. You worry too much. You have five wranglers. With a little luck—”

  “My luck’s been running pretty thin lately.” If the wranglers had heard what was going on at her ranch, they wouldn’t have wanted anything to do with the Flying J Bar MC and she’d really be out of luck.
<
br />   “I have a feeling your luck is about to change for the better,” Max said as he picked up the plate of sandwiches and started for the door. “You’re due. You want one of these sandwiches? I don’t remember you eating much for dinner earlier.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not hungry, but thanks. Max,” she called, stopping him at the door. “You didn’t have anything to do with those three showing up from Cardwell Ranch, right? You didn’t call Dana Savage, did you?”

  He didn’t turn as he said, “Go behind your back? I know better than to do something like that. I’m no fool.” With that he left.

  Jinx sighed, still suspicious. Her mother had been friends with Dana and it would be just like Max to try to help any way he could. She let it go, telling herself not to look a gift horse in the mouth. She had five wranglers, and tomorrow they would head up into the high country. Maybe Max was right and her luck was changing.

  Still, she stood for a long time in the kitchen, remembering how things had been when both of her parents were alive. This house had been filled with laughter. But it had been a long time ago, she thought as she heard Max leave the bunkhouse and head out to his cabin. Her father’s recent illness and death had left a pall over the ranch even before she’d finally had it with T.D.

  You need a change. Don’t stay here and try to run this ranch by yourself. I don’t want that for you. Her father’s words still haunted her. Did he really think it would be that easy just to sell this place, something he and his father had built with their blood, sweat and tears?

  She shook her head and was about to head up to bed when she heard the roar of a vehicle engine. Through the kitchen window, she spotted headlights headed her way—and coming fast. “T.D.” She said his name like a curse.

  Copyright © 2020 by Barbara Heinlein

  Love Harlequin romance?

  DISCOVER.

  Be the first to find out about promotions, news and exclusive content!

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  Instagram.com/HarlequinBooks

  Pinterest.com/HarlequinBooks

  ReaderService.com

  EXPLORE.

  Sign up for the Harlequin e-newsletter and download a free book from any series at

  TryHarlequin.com

  CONNECT.

  Join our Harlequin community to share your thoughts and connect with other romance readers!

  Facebook.com/groups/HarlequinConnection

  ISBN: 9781488067440

  Without a Trace

  Copyright © 2020 by Marilyn Medlock Amann

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at CustomerService@Harlequin.com.

  Harlequin Enterprises ULC

  22 Adelaide St. West, 40th Floor

  Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada

  www.Harlequin.com