Page 11 of Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire

Travis moved behind her. “You’re safe, little firefly. Your mom wouldn’t bring you here if it wasn’t the safest place to be.”

Willow turned her gaze toward Travis, mouthing her thanks. He didn’t need to protect them, but he’d understood when she first told him about Simmons, and now he was helping her with her daughter. Travis put a hand on Willow’s shoulder. She recognized his support and felt immense gratitude for his gesture.

“So, how about you knock off most of the flour so you can see your new room?” She kissed Mindy’s forehead.

Mindy beamed, illuminating the already bright room. “Okay.” She turned around to Claudia. “What should I do to help clean up?”

Claudia tweaked Mindy’s nose. “Not a thing, little firefly. I’ve got this.” She pulled a clean dish towel from a drawer and dusted Mindy off. “There, now you can go see your new room.”

Travis pulled a cookie from the cooling rack. “Snickerdoodles, my favorite, and they are fresh from the oven.” He walked to Claudia and kissed her cheek. “You’re the best.”

The little girl grinned. “Thank you, Claudia. I haven’t had that much fun in forever.”

Willow’s heart constricted. If she wasn’t worried about finding a safe place to live, she could have been the one to have this fun with Mindy. She should have done this. Willow shouldn’t have to run from a stalker, but she did. Her life for the last three years had been determined by Simmons. If only the police could find him. But he’d been able to find them no matter where she’d moved. She’d been in three different counties and filed restraining orders with local law enforcement. Finally, she went back to her condo. She decided moving hadn’t helped and she was ready to be home. But she hoped Montana was far enough away he couldn’t find her.

She had a list of the numbers to call to have the utilities turned off in the condo. She had automatic payments from her checking account to cover the house insurance, taxes, and the utilities, but saw no need to keep the lights and gas on while she was gone. She realized she didn’t need to call the utilities. She’d just use Travis’s internet to contact the utilities and have them turned off.

Willow closed her eyes for a moment and prayed this was far enough away.

Chapter 3

The three of them stood just inside the door to Mindy’s bedroom. Willow smiled at her daughter.

When the girl saw her room, her blue eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open.

She turned her gaze from her mother to Travis and back again. “Are you sure this is all for me?”

Willow nodded.

Mindy gave a whoop, ran to the bed and jumped on it. “It’s got good bounce.”

Willow put one hand on her hip and pointed at Mindy with the other. “Mindy Renee Adams! Stop that. You will not bounce on the bed.”

Her daughter hung her head and sat on the side of the bed. “Yes, Mom. I’m sorry, Travis. Thank you for the wonderful bedroom.” She suddenly looked up. “Mom, can I see your room? Please?”

“Of course. It’s just down the hall.” She headed toward her room and opened the door so Mindy could proceed her into the bedroom.

“Wow, Mom. These are the prettiest rooms we’ve ever had. Sure beats the last apartment we were in. That bed is bigger than that apartment was.” Then she giggled.

Willow chuckled and then looked at Travis. Her face heated. She truly didn’t want him to know the state of the apartments she’d rented. “It certainly does.” The last place they lived before returning to the condo was horrible. It had one small bedroom, so Mindy ended up sleeping with Willow. The living room wasn’t much bigger and the kitchen was laughable. But they’d managed for about four months before Simmons found them again. Even compared to the condo, this place was a palace. She desperately hoped they could stay for a while. This was the kind of life she wished she could provide Mindy. But as a single mother, she was doing well just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, even if that food was takeout and then takeout leftovers.

The money from this job would help her provide a better life for her baby, even if she wasn’t a baby anymore.

And what would she do without her parents? They’d taken on Mindy’s home schooling two years ago, so Willow could work. She’d begun doing in-home care because she could work the hours she needed. No twelve-hour shifts, no nights, and no weekends. It was the best she could do, even though the money wasn’t as lucrative as working three twelves in a hospital.

Those hours meant she could spend the time with Mindy she’d always wanted to. Travis, unknowingly, was providing her with the opportunity to spend even more time with Mindy, and she would not take it for granted.

“I want you to unpack your suitcase and put your clothes away. Then we’ll go downstairs.” She turned to Travis. “Are you up to showing us around your ranch? I know Mindy would like to see your horses. She loves horses, don’t you, pumpkin...I mean firefly.”

Mindy jumped up and down. “Oh, yes, can we Travis? Can we see the horses?”

He grinned. “We can. You do as your mother says and then meet me in the kitchen. Okay?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll hurry.”

Willow raised an eyebrow and lowered her chin. “You can’t leave until I’m done, too, so put your clothes away properly, not haphazardly.”

The child’s shoulders slumped. “Yes, ma’am.”