Page 30 of Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire

“Yes, I think so.”

As they approached, a man opened the door of the building and aimed a pistol at Mindy. “If you don’t want to see her die, you’ll bring Willow to me before the end of the day. We’ll be here. Girl, you get off that horse and come over to me, or I’ll shoot this cowboy now.”

Travis raised his hands into the air. This was the stalker. The man was average height, had blond hair and wore glasses with black plastic frames. To look at him, he seemed harmless until Travis considered the pistol in his steady right hand. “Look. I’ll pay you whatever you want. You don’t have to do this.”

The man frowned. “Oh, but I do. I don’t want your money. I want my woman. I want Willow.” He snarled.

Mindy looked at Travis with tears in her eyes. “This is the man that made us move so much.” Then she whispered. “The bad man.”

“I know, little firefly. It’s okay. I’ll get your mother and we’ll be back.”

“Just the two of you, understand? I’ll exchange the girl for Willow. An even trade. And nothing will happen to her in the meantime. But if you don’t bring Willow back in, say, two hours, the girl will die.” He waved the gun at Mindy. “Get down, now.”

Mindy dismounted like she’d been born in the saddle. “I’ll take care of Lacey.” She looked up at the man. “Can I put her in the lean-to?”

“After Travis, here, has left.”

“I’ll be back.” Then he turned and let Jet have his head. He needed to get to the ranch as soon as possible. He had plans to make before he returned with Willow.

Chapter 7

When Travis arrived at the ranch, Roy was still mucking the stalls in the barn. Travis slid from the saddle. “Roy, find the other men working in the buildings and gather them here. And saddle Sage, I need her ready to go. And send out a red alert. I want everyone that can make it back here, pronto.”

“Yes, sir. There are only three of us today. Joe and Sam are in the ring.”

“Get them. Now.”

“Yes, sir.” Roy took off running toward the riding arena.

Travis limped to the house as fast as he could go. In the kitchen, he saw Claudia. “Where is Willow?”

Claudia looked up from the noodles she was making. “In the living room. What’s the matter? Where is Mindy?”

“Can’t talk now. Get your weapon. And meet me in the barn.”

“Yes, sir.”

She was a trained bodyguard, just like all of Travis’s employees on the ranch.

Claudia turned and grabbed her Glock from the locked drawer in the kitchen where she kept it during the day. Then she ran out the door.

Travis hurried to the living room where Willow sat reading in front of the windows. “Willow. Come with me now. Don’t ask questions, just come. Please.”

Willow looked up with a smile. She looked around Travis. The smile faded. “Where’s Mindy?”

Travis’s heart was pounding and his pulse raced as he tried to get her to hurry. He didn’t have much time. “Come with me. I’ll explain everything at the barn.” He held his hand out to her.

She snatched her hand away. “No. Where is Mindy? Tell me now.”

He took a deep breath, knowing that, of course, she needed the details. “Simmons has her. He was waiting at the line shack and wants you in exchange.”

She closed her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. She swiped at them with her palms and she stiffened her back and lifted her chin. “Let’s go get my daughter back.”

“Good. Let’s go.” He turned and hurried the way he’d come.

When they arrived at the barn, Claudia, Roy and two additional cowboys were present.

Suddenly, he heard horses galloping across the pasture to the ranch.