Page 23 of Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire

“Not today. I’m just checking on Jet and Bella.”

She trotted beside him. “Do you think Snow will let me near him? He’s always a little skittish.”

He slowed, even though he was just walking, so she could keep up. “We’ll see what kind of mood the colt is in.”

“I hope it’s a good one,” she mumbled.

Travis chuckled. “Me, too.”

The barndoors were open, leading into the shadowy interior. As they entered, the smell of hay, leather and horses reached him. Many people wouldn’t care for the scents, but to him they were the odors of home and he relished them.

He went to the tack room to grab a couple of horse cookies and put them in his shirt pocket before he went to Jet’s stall. “Hi, Jet. How’s my boy today?” Travis opened the stall’s gate and walked inside.

Mindy stayed outside the stall.

He looked back at her. “You can come in. He’s a good boy. Aren’t you, Jet?” He patted his neck with one hand and extended his other toward Mindy.

She walked up to Travis. “Do you think he’d mind if I petted him?”

“I don’t think he’d mind, at all. Jet’s one of those rare horses with spirit, and yet, he’s still gentle.”

She stepped up to Jet and petted his neck as high as she could reach.

“I’ll show you his secret.” He tugged on Jet’s halter.

The horse lowered his head.

Travis scratched between and around his ears. “He loves to have his ears scratched. You try.”

Mindy reached up and scratched him just as she’d seen Travis do. She grinned. “He likes it.” She stopped.

Jet butted her shoulder with his head.

She laughed and looked up at Travis.

He chuckled. “He doesn’t want you to stop. Here, you can give him a cookie. You remember how?” He pulled a cookie from his shirt pocket.

“Yes.” She flattened her palm and placed the cookie in the center.

Jet took the cookie, his lips brushing her hand as he did.

She giggled. “That tickles.”

“Horses have very soft lips and noses. It’s like velvet, I think your mother said.”

“That’s right, I did.” Willow walked up. “I wondered where you two partners-in-crime had gotten to.” She looked at Travis. “It’s time for your physical therapy.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “I got my PT when I walked over here.”

She put her hands on her hips. “That’s not enough and you know it.”

He pouted, his bottom lip jutted out, and his mouth turned down.

Mindy burst out laughing. “You look like my best friend’s little brother and he’s only three.”

Willow lifted a brow. “I wouldn’t have put Travis over two.” She laughed.

So did Mindy.