Page 13 of Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire

The front door opened onto the wrap around covered porch she’d seen from the helicopter on the way in. The porch was at least ten feet wide, with a swing on one side of the door and a table and four chairs on the other. At the end of the native rock walkway from the porch was a four-seat ATV.

“This is our ride to check out the rest of the ranch. I can’t walk it right now, so we ride.”

Mindy climbed into the back seat and secured her seatbelt.

Willow sat on the passenger side and fastened her seatbelt, too. She thought it looked like a golf cart’s, more hopped-up older brother. She hoped Travis was a good driver, especially since he really had only one working hand.

Travis climbed behind the wheel, buckled up. “Are you ready?”

“Yup...I mean, yes,” said Mindy.

Willow turned around and frowned at her daughter.

Mindy looked at her mother and grinned.

Shaking her head, Willow turned and faced forward. I’m glad she’s having a good time and is teasing me.

Travis took off, slowly.

Willow was sure that the action was for her benefit and that if they hadn’t been there, he would speed the ATV toward the barn, which they were presently heading toward.

He parked the vehicle outside the big open doors. Then he unbuckled his harness. “Come on, ladies, and meet some of my horses.” He climbed out of the four-wheeler.

Willow noticed he put his good right leg on the ground first. “Travis, you should go down with your bad leg first. Down with the bad and up with the good.”

“I’ll try to remember those instructions, especially on the stairs in the house.”

She wondered if this outing would be too much for him, despite his walking cast. She would monitor him for fatigue or pain.

She climbed out and watched Mindy jump to the ground with the ease and grace of a gazelle. Those ballet lessons she took before Simmons came into their lives were evidently still working.

Mindy took her hand and pulled her toward the door. “Come on, Mom.”

“I’m coming. Wait for Travis. He can’t move as fast as you do. For that matter, neither can I.”

Mindy huffed out a breath. “Okay.” She dropped her mother’s hand and put both of hers in the front pockets of her jeans.

Travis entered the barn and waited until they stood next to him. “In the first stall is my favorite horse. He’s four-years-old and high spirited. His name is Jet because he’s all black. Not a drop of white on him.” He walked up to the gate. “Isn’t that right, boy?” The horse came to the gate and nuzzled Travis’s hand.

Mindy moved closer to Travis. “Can I pet him?”

Travis nodded. “Sure. He’s high spirited when being ridden, but he’s a big teddy bear in the stall. He loves attention.”

Mindy walked up to the gate and petted the horse’s nose. “Mom, he’s so soft. Come feel.”

Willow moved forward and petted the horse, too. “You’re right. It’s like the softest velvet I’ve ever felt.” She turned toward Travis. “Are all horses like this? So soft?”

“Yes, they are.” He turned away and went back out into the main aisle. “Come with me. I have something special to show you.” He walked down to the other end of the stalls.

Seven stalls were on each side. Most were filled with horses. The stall he led them to had another beautiful black horse in it.

“This is Bella. I bred her with Jet and she just had her colt.” He went to the stall’s gate. “Hi there, Bell. Will you let us see Snow?”

The big horse came to the gate and used her lips to taste Travis’s hand.

“Mindy, see that bag hanging on the wall back over there by the office?”

She looked around. “Yes.”