Page 6 of Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire

Domino galloped over to the gate and extended his neck over it.

“That’s my boy.” She hugged the horse’s neck.

“He’s a beautiful horse.” He loved the sorrel’s coloring with its reddish coat and golden mane and tail.

“He is.” Michele opened the gate.

Erin took her hand.

Alex had followed on the outside of the arena.

Joker followed without her leading him. He stopped when she did and resumed walking when she did.

It impressed Alex. “Your skill with the horses is exemplary. They are very well-trained.”Training the horses to follow like this had to have taken a long time and yet she’s got two that do it.

Michele blushed. “Thank you. That’s nice of you to say.”

Erin walked through the gate first, followed by Joker.

Michele came last and closed the gate behind her.

“You are welcome, but I only speak the truth.”

She blushed, deepening from pink to red. “Come on, let’s go to the barn. We have something special to show him, don’t we, Erin?”

The little girl’s eyes widened and her mouth formed an -O-. Then she nodded and covered her giggle with both hands.

They walked to the large red barn. It was typical in shape, with a hayloft door above the large doors. It could have been on any ranch in Montana, including his own.

Michele opened one of the barn doors. “Alex, would you get the other door, please?”

“Of course.” He opened the second of the large barn doors.

Michele headed inside, with Erin and the horses following.

Alex entered last. He could tell from the smell, or lack thereof, that the stalls had been recently mucked and fresh straw put down. All the stalls appeared to be occupied except the two with the open gates. Her barn was a little smaller than his and definitely older, but he noticed she had added lights to the ceiling.

“You don’t use the lights?” He pointed up toward the ceiling.

Each of the horses entered a stall.

His eyes widened. “They know their own stall?”

“’course,” said Erin. “Don’t your horses know where they live?”

Alex chuckled. “I guess they do not. They did not have your mother to train them.”

Michele closed the gate on Joker’s stall.

Alex closed the gate on Domino’s.

“Thanks,” said Michele. “I’ll take care of them in a minute. First, I want you to see my latest pride and joy.” She walked to the end of the barn and the large corner stall. She stopped and leaned her arms on the top rail of the gate, smiling down at the occupants. “This is Royal Blue Danger’s first colt. He’s just two weeks old.”

In the stall were a white mare and a cream-colored colt with a white blaze on his forehead. His eyes were blue-gray in color.

“He is beautiful. Do you think he will be as golden as his sire when he matures?” The colt was fine to look at, but Alex preferred to gaze at his owner.

“I’m hopeful. Regina is a Palomino, too, so I have great hope that if he doesn’t turn gold he’ll remain white, like she is. I won’t know for some time, though.”