Page 41 of Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire

If you wish to see the American child alive again, you will come to the stone house at the center of the hunting woods. You know the place; you used to play there. If you come, I will tell you the truth. You can have your satisfaction.

Come with the child’s mother so they can leave together. You will remain. Be there at seven o’clock tonight. ~~ Nicolai

Alex crumpled the paper in his hand. “Damn him to hell. I don’t want you to go.”

Michele looked up at him. “You can’t stop me. She’s my child and I will see her safe. Will he be alone? Will he check us for weapons? I’m capable with many weapons and deadly with some. I learned after I left Ed and he began stalking me. He took me by surprise the other night. Nicolai won’t, and he won’t be expecting me.”

Alex raised one eyebrow. “Am I marrying Wonder Woman?”

“Nearly.” She smiled, but it was only a movement of her lips. She wasn’t lying. With a pistol and a blade, she was deadly. She could hide the knives in her riding boots. Maybe they wouldn’t check her there. She wouldn’t wear her pants over them so they could see she had no weapon. A pat down would be different. She would have to try to take down the guard and still throw. It would be dicey and it would depend on where Erin was in the room.

“Then let’s go, Miss Prince.”

Now she laughed. “I’m surprised you know the story of Wonder Woman.”

“Why would I not after two major motion pictures, seen globally? And the old television show was one of the few things I could watch when I moved to Montana and had no cable. Nothing but local programming.” He took her in his arms and kissed her quickly. “You better change your clothes. The stone house is a two-hour ride. I don’t know if Sergei is in on it or was duped. Either way, do not look to him for help.”

“I won’t. Sergei and I will have words when this is over. I can’t imagine what Erin is going through. If Nicolai’s hurt her—” her voice broke. She clenched her jaw and closed her eyes for a moment.Oh, God, what will I do?

CHAPTER10

Michele dressed in her riding clothes—jeans, tucked into her cowboy boots and a western plaid shirt with a plain leather coat, worn until it was almost as soft as suede, but many times stronger. Strong enough to protect from barbed wire fences and a swipe by a bull’s horn in greeting, not anger.

She put her hair into a high ponytail and wore her leather gloves.

Alex was at her door ten minutes after he dropped her off.

Michele was ready. “Let’s go get my daughter.”

They hurried down to the stables.

Alex’s stable was huge. He had enough room for twenty animals. Two horses were saddled and ready to go. They stood in the middle of the stable. He walked up to a big black with four white socks. “This is Satan and believe me, he is Hell to ride. I’ve given you my second best horse. You can handle him, and we need his speed and endurance for the two-hour ride there and another two hours back.”

She walked up to the gray stallion. He was a beauty with sleek lines and four black socks. “Great. I don’t want to be put on a mare gentle enough for anyone to ride.” She mounted and watched him mount.

Alex checked his saddle and then mounted. “Knowing you as I do, I would never put you on such a horse.”

“What’s this horse’s name?” She reached down and patted the horse’s neck.

“He is Griffin. I guarantee you will like him.”

“You’re a good boy, aren’t you, Griffin?” She patted him again and then sat straight again. “What will happen when we reach the stone house? Will Nicolai keep his word? Will he harm Erin to hurt you? If he’s hurt her…he’s a dead man.” No laughter colored her voice. She was deadly serious.

Alex nodded. “I know he is. You are my Valkyrie.”

She smiled. “Nope, I’m Wonder Woman, remember? Let’s go.”

He chuckled, then led the way out of the stables, galloping over the meadows to the woods in the distance.

The hunting woods, as they were called because Gregor liked to hunt there, were twenty minutes from the palace. They spent the rest of the time following a path to the stone house.

They slowed and walked the horses into the forest. The trees were thick. Beech, maple, oak and various conifers surrounded them. The trail was not a road by any stretch of the imagination. Having been made by the horses, or deer, going back and forth was all there was. It was wide enough for two horses, so they rode side-by-side and talked. “You came out here alone as a child?”

“I was never alone. I always had guards. The most freedom I have ever had was being a cowboy in Montana.”

“If Erin and I stay, will we ever go back there…to live?”

He sighed, and his usually strong shoulders dipped. “I do not believe so. We will visit for months at a time, but not to live permanently. I have a kingdom to run. Mother will do it for a time, while I am in Montana under the pretense that my bride is homesick.”