Coyote True — Stephen A. Bly

Nathan couldn't believe it. He and his dad and his friend Colin were going on a cattle drive. But as they set out, the trip began to take unexpected turns. Nathan's dad had to leave them to hunt down an escaped crook and would have to join the group later. Then Colin's friend Leah finagled her way along.
When Pepper the cook hurt his foot and had to return to camp, the three kids were on their own. How would they round up cattle when they had never done it before? And how should they deal with the coyote family living beneath their cabin?
Soon their situation turned ugly. Nathan found himself face to face with the hungry coyotes trying to take a newborn calf. Worse yet, in a terrifying encounter the escapee found their camp and threatened to kill Nathan, ambush Nathan's dad, and hold Colin and Leah for ransom.