Page 45 of Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire

“Alex. Alex.” Michele’s voice was soothing and calm. “Put him on his horse and let’s go back to the palace. Sergei will help you get the…criminal…mounted.”I want to say so much worse,doso much worse, but I have Erin to think about.

They put Nicolai on his horse.

As they returned to the palace, the only sounds heard over the clop of the horses’ hooves were Erin’s questions and Michele’s answers.

“Mommy, when are we going home?” Erin twisted in the saddle so she could see Michele.

Silence.

Finally, Michele looked down at her daughter. “I don’t know, sweet pea.”

“I want to go home.”

“I know. Let’s talk about this later. For now, let’s just be happy this episode is over, and we can go back to the palace.”

“Okay.” Erin used her right index finger to scratch at the saddle. “Mommy, are you going to marry Alex? Will he be my new daddy?”

Michele rubbed the ring with her left thumb. “Would you like for him to be your daddy?”

Erin nodded vigorously. “Oh, yes. He’s the nicest man, and he likes you and me. That Steve guy didn’t like me at all.”

“Well, Mommy didn’t like that Steve guy at all.”He was such a jerk.I don’t like the idea that she knew he didn’t like her, but maybe it’s a good thing. I can’t protect her and promise her that everyone will like her.

“Can Alex come home with us and live with us?”

“I don’t know, sweet pea. Alex and Mommy have a lot of things to discuss.”Yeah, like, are we getting married at all? I can’t live here and he can’t live there. Where does that leave us?

CHAPTER11

Eventually, Erin ran out of questions, which was a good thing, because Michele was completely out of answers.

She looked down at the beautiful ring that had been his grandmother’s. Was she worthy of wearing it? Had she ever been? She closed her eyes as sadness threatened to overwhelm her. Michele knew she couldn’t marry Alex. The Alex she fell in love with was not the King of Batrovia. He was Alex Fedorov, Montana rancher and cowboy.

Tears filled her eyes, and she hated she was so emotional. Why couldn’t she look at this like a business decision? Why did it have to be so hard?

They arrived back at the palace stables. Stable boys were there immediately to help them dismount and to take the horses to be cared for. She’d noticed how well Alex’s horses were kept. The animals were feisty with shiny coats. They held their heads high and were definitely well cared for.

Michele walked hand in hand with Erin. She wasn’t ready to part with her little girl just yet. And it kept her hands from shaking. She would tell Alex she wanted to go home. She didn’t want to be the Queen of Batrovia.How will I tell him that? I love him, but I want to live in Montana? The palace intrigue is something that I don't want. I don’t want my baby girl to be subjected to the envy and jealousy of the other children. I want her to win her ribbons and, later, trophies. I want her to make friends and have a BFF. To go to slumber parties. To go to college. To be normal.

They walked to their suite alone.

Alex had to deal with Nicolai.

Michele ran a bath for Erin. She wanted her to rid herself of Nicolai’s stench. Leaving the door open while her daughter bathed, Michele moved into the bedroom and packed.

When Erin was dry, and in her pajamas, she walked to stand close to Michele. “Mommy, when are we going home?”

“Soon, baby. Soon. I have to talk to Alex. Are you hungry? Did they feed you?”

“Sergei brought me a sandwich and some milk. I’m not hungry.”

“Okay, you get into bed and go to sleep while I go find Alex and Sergei. I’ll have Sergei come back here if he’s not already out there. Okay?”

Erin yawned. “Okay.” She turned over on her side and was asleep almost immediately.

“You’ve had a big day, sweet pea.” Michele leaned down and kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Sleep well, my little love.”

Michele exited the bedroom, but left the door open. Then she left the suite.