Page 33 of Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire

A gleam appeared in his eyes and a scary smile formed on his face. That had her scared, not for her, but for her mom.

“Gordon Simmons. I’m here. Release my daughter.”

She heard her mother’s voice, loud and fearless. Mindy missed her mom so much. Tears formed. “Mommy!”

“Shut up!” Simmons looked down at her. “Now, we’ll see just what it’s going to be. Come on and don’t wiggle or I’ll backhand you, Willow, or not.”

Mindy wasn’t sure what to do. She didn’t want her mother hurt or to go with this crazy man, but she couldn’t see any way out.

Chapter 8

Willow had dismounted and watched as Mindy came out of the door.

Simmons stood behind her with his left hand on her shoulder. His right held the pistol pressed to Mindy’s side.

Dear Lord, how will I help my daughter, except by going with this man?

“Willow, you come forward. When I see you’re halfway, I’ll release the kid.”

“Don’t hurt her. I’ll come with you willingly, as long as you don’t hurt her.” She crept forward, giving Travis’s men the time they needed to come up on either side of the shack.

When she was about ten feet away, Simmons took his hand off of Mindy’s shoulder and gave her a shove.

Mindy stumbled for a couple of steps and then fell.

“What’s the matter with you?” Willow yelled as she ran to Mindy. “You don’t get to treat my daughter that way.”

He waved the gun at her. “Leave the kid alone and come to me.”

Willow put her back to Simmons and bent down to take Mindy’s hand. “I’m helping Mindy. You can like it or not. I don’t really care what you want.”

“You will when I put a bullet in your precious daughter.” He lifted the revolver and aimed it at Mindy.

Shots rang out from behind them.

Willow fell on top of Mindy, shielding her without crushing her. She put her hands around Mindy’s head and pulled her to her chest while she rested on her elbows.

A hand encircled her arm.

She pulled away, her body stiffened, and she tightened her hold on Mindy. “Leave us alone. Get away.”

“Willow. It’s me. Travis. It’s all over.”

Lifting herself, staying off of Mindy with her palms flat on the ground and her arms straight, she looked over to where Simmons had been. She saw his bullet-riddled body on the ground.

Then, without instructions, Travis’s men circled the body so Mindy couldn’t see it.

Willow turned her gaze to Travis and mouthed, “Thank you.”

He closed his eyes and nodded. Then extended a hand to her.

She took it and stood, then released him and scooped Mindy in her arms.

The girl broke down and cried.

“It’s okay, baby. Simmons is dead. He’ll never bother us again. We’re free.” Willow felt the knot in her stomach that had been her constant companion for three years finally release. They were free. Mindy could go to school. Visit with her friends, have sleepovers, all the things that little girls do.

Mindy wrapped her arms around her mother and buried her face in her chest. Then she looked up at Willow, her face damp with tears. “He was crazy, Mom. I mean, really crazy. Mentally ill.”