Page 2 of Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire

Montana. She was going to Montana where she’d be two hours from civilization. How will this affect Mindy? Will she miss her best friend? She doesn’t see her often because of being homeschooled, but they video chatted and she supposed they could still do that...as long as Mindy didn’t tell her where she was. It wasn’t like being there in person, but Willow couldn’t risk Mindy’s safety or trust her to be safe at someone else’s house. Additionally, it was unfair to burden someone else with the responsibility for her safety, even temporarily.

Thank goodness for video schooling and for her parents. They took care of Mindy’s schooling during the day and Willow helped her with homework at night. Since her patients don’t require her to work twelve-hour shifts, she could pick up Mindy from her grandparents before dinner most nights. Though she was sure Mindy would be just as happy or happier to stay there for dinner, too, since cooking was not one of Willow’s talents.

But leaving now, after the regular school year, she wouldn’t have to worry about most of the schooling. She still liked to have Mindy work on her math and English during the summers. She didn’t want her to get behind.

She sighed. Montana? Her heart was pounding. Would this be the opportunity she needed? She hoped she was doing the right thing for Mindy and herself. Surely Montana was far enough away that Simmons wouldn’t find her. Please God, let it be far enough away.

Travis Morgan glared at his assistant, Grace Williams, on the laptop’s screen. The woman’s silver hair conjured thoughts of a nurturing grandmotherly figure. Nevertheless, she possessed a deceptive cutthroat nature and an unwavering accuracy in her beliefs. Unfortunately for Travis, she was consistently right at least ninety-nine percent of the time.

“What do you mean, you hired a nurse? I don’t need a nurse. I’m perfectly fine as it is.”

Grace made a pfft sound and waved her arm back. “You’re not fine. You’re lying in bed with your laptop for the third week in a row rather than up and about doing things. You’re in a walking cast for a reason. Just because you can’t do any bronc busting or skydiving, or whatever other wild things you do for hobbies, doesn’t mean you can do nothing.”

“Grace, I have a broken leg, a broken arm, broken ribs, and I have a wound the size of a horse’s hoof on my back that I can’t reach. I hurt all over. Just what do you expect me to be doing?”

She frowned. “Anything but lying about in bed. The nurse will help you get back on your feet again. She’s arriving tomorrow. I already planned for your jet to take them to Bozeman and the helo to bring them to the ranch. So, don’t argue.”

She looked thoroughly pleased with herself.

“Do I have any choice?” he grumbled.

Grace chuckled. “None at all.”

“You know, if you weren’t a friend of my parents...and so darn good at your job...I’d fire you.”

She laughed. “Exactly. You have most of your employees hoodwinked into believing you’re this big, mean guy, but I know you’re a pussycat inside.”

He threw his right arm up and made a fist. “Ha! Little do you know. I am the big, mean guy.”

She lifted one brow. “The buckle bunnies don’t think so. They hang on you like moss on a willow.” She chuckled.

He grinned. “What can I say? I’m just too good-looking and they don’t seem to mind my temper.”

“Well, see that you control that temper around Willow and her daughter, Mindy.”

“Daughter?”

“Yes. Ten-year-old daughter. It will be nice to have a child in your house. You might decide you like it.”

“Not happening. Another reason I don’t need this...this...Willow to nurse me.”

Grace quickly lifted her brows. “I guarantee you’ll change your mind when you see her.”

He shot Grace a narrow-eyed look and then grinned. “Pretty, is she?”

“More like beautiful. But you’ll see soon enough. They’ll be there tomorrow.”

“I’m not ready for them tomorrow. I have to shower.”

“You have all day today to shower...and do anything else to prepare for their arrival. So, hop to it.” Grace turned off her transmission, ending the conversation.

Travis stared at the laptop, which showed only his home screen, a picture of this ranch house. He snapped the laptop shut, gritted his teeth, and got out of bed. Then he placed the plastic protectors over his left leg and left arm, before heading to the bathroom to take a shower. After getting out, he combed back his shoulder-length dark brown hair. The gold streaks were hardly visible when wet. He put on some Brut aftershave and dressed in a t-shirt and sweatpants. See? I can take care of myself. I don’t need a full-time nurse.

When he was done, he put the walking boot on his leg. Then he hobbled to the kitchen to see what wonders Claudia had whipped up. He walked into the most heavenly scent. Fresh baked bread.

“Ah, Claudia, you are my best girl. Starting my morning with fresh bread.”

The short redhead had a little gray spinning its way through the pretty red strands which she’d gathered into a messy bun on the back of her head. She smiled. “I know what my boss likes. You don’t always eat much for breakfast, but you’ll eat this.” She cut two slices from the bread, buttered them, and brought them to Travis, who sat at the round oak table.