Page 50 of Her Bachelor Cowboy Billionaire

“At least you know your limitations.”

“I’d better know them. If I didn’t, I could be a danger to those around me. My design might not withstand the wind and snow if I didn’t get expert help.”

“When did Mannie learn to fly?”

“As soon as I bought the copter. No one else seemed interested.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t hire a pilot when you bought it.”

“I did. A pilot-slash-instructor. He knew he was only here until Mannie got his license. That was our deal. I paid him a flat rate for twelve months, which is how long he said it would take to get Mannie licensed. For each month less than twelve that it actually took, he got a bonus. The man was motivated, and he got a three months’ bonus when he left.”

“That’s great.” She looked at the copter with her stomach in her throat.Is this really such a good idea?f“How long ago was that?”

Roark set her down for a minute. She stood with her crutches and watched the helicopter. “You needn’t worry. He’s been flying for me for about eight years and only crashed once.”

With her heart in her throat, she pulled back and looked up at Roark. “What!?”

He laughed again. “I’m teasing. Only about the crash. He really has been flying us around in the ‘copter for about eight years, with no crashes.”

Jessica released a breath she’d unconsciously been holding. “Thank goodness. You had me second guessing myself. I wasn’t going up if he’d crashed. I have a highly developed instinct for survival.”

“We’ll be just fine. I promise.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

She leaned on her crutches with them in her armpits and then wiped imaginary sweat from her forehead. “Good. You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.”

Roark laughed and placed his hand on her back, at her waist, while they walked up to the aircraft.

Jubal and Mannie waited outside.

They both smiled, and she thought the smiles looked genuine.

“We heard you holler. Figured Roark must have told you the story about Mannie crashing. He told Athena the same thing, and she refused to get in.” Jubal smiled again. “She finally came around. Now, she loves flying around the ranch in it.”

“Oh, good.” Jessica blew out a breath. “That makes me feel better.”

“It’s supposed to. Let’s get in and get going,” said Jubal.

The engines were warming up on the Bell 412 EP.

She knew from the research she’d done for a book this helicopter could cost as much as nine-and-a-half million dollars. But Roark wouldn’t even feel a pinch spending that much for one.

Jubal climbed in the front with Mannie.

She and Roark sat in the back.

They all strapped in.

Mannie lifted off, flying out of the hangar through the open roof.

As they rose, she got a wide-open view of the surrounding countryside, which mesmerized her. The rolling hills were covered with meadows of yellow and green grass. Spots of color, which she knew from their horseback ride, were patches of flowers. Copses of pine trees dotted the countryside.

She saw a stream running out of one of them and pointed out the window toward it. “Is that the stream we saw yesterday?”

Roark leaned over and looked through her window. “It is. Good eye.” He leaned back. “Ifyoudon’t see signs of rustling, we might not have any going on.” He squeezed her knee and winked.

She rolled her eyes and returned her gaze to the landscape below. Suddenly, she saw movement. “Look!” She pointed. Two four-wheelers were herding cattle to a truck sitting in the middle of a downed portion of the fence.

“Mannie, buzz them. Sometimes, I wish we had guns on this thing,” He muttered under his breath.