Captive Heart by Patti Beckman Read Free Book Online Page A

then you are interested?" A light danced in Miguel's eyes.
    "Well, of course," JoNell said. "I'm going to teach him to fly. The more I know about him, the better I can teach him."
    "The seňor is a good man. He has been good to me and to all who work for him. He pays me very well. He paid for an operation for my youngest child, Pachia, who would have been a cripple. I owe him much."
    Again Miguel fell silent. JoNell waited impatiently. When it was obvious Miguel had come to the end of what he was going to say, JoNell prompted him again.
    "Go on, please."
    "I think I should not. I have said too much already. The seňor would not like for me to tell you about his private life."
    JoNell fumed silently. Why did Miguel bring up the topic of Del Toro's private life if all he planned to do was tease her with it? No matter how she felt about the man, anyone would be eager to hear more about the private side of South America's most notorious lover. Maybe Miguel wanted to be persuaded. Perhaps he needed to feel important.
    She leaned forward until her arm rested on the back of the front seat. "Miguel, I'd really like to know more about seňor Del Toro. Please tell me—"
    The car careened at a dizzying angle as Miguel suddenly darted from a slower lane of traffic and sped even faster down the road. Having somehow averted the total destruction of their vehicle by a matter of inches, Miguel settled down and resumed his story. "Seňor Del Toro is really a man of the people. Don't let all his money fool you. Yes, he is very wealthy, but in his heart he is not truly happy in that big house day after day. So he goes to a little town in the mountains. I have relatives there. It is the seňor's retreat away from the world. You don't know him as I do. I have seen him many times working in the village side by side with the poorest of men. He puts on his old clothes and goes deep into the copper mines that he owns there. He visits many poor people in the village, and he tells me to take care of their needs. He sends food and clothing."
    "The happiest days the seňor spends are those in the village high in the mountains," Miguel continued. "I have heard him laugh and talk with the men. I have seen him play with the children and take care of the sick. Everyone there loves him for himself. They do not love him just because he is rich. They love him because he is a good man. The seňor has many charities. He has done much for the villagers. He gave money to build a school. He set up a medical clinic and pays doctors to visit the village and care for the sick. I tell you, the seňor is a good man. Ask anybody who works for him. They will all tell you of the good things he has done for them. But you must never tell the seňor I have told you this. He would be very unhappy with me."
    "Of course," JoNell answered.
    "Promise me, seňorita."
    "Yes, I promise, Miguel. Don't worry. I'll be here only a short time to give seňor Del Toro his flying lessons. Before you know it, I'll be gone. You needn't worry that I'll let any of what you told me slip out between now and then. But thanks for telling me."
    JoNell settled back in the seat. After a brief silence, Miguel began his usual stream of chatter. JoNell tuned him out for the most part, her mind busy puzzling over the things he had said about Jorge Del Toro. Did the notorious Latin playboy actually have a secret side to his character—one that included compassion and charity for the less fortunate? She ransacked her memory of the two times she had been exposed to the man, at the airport yesterday, and at dinner last night. She shook her head. The picture Miguel had drawn of him just did not fit the man she had seen. Arrogance and conceit were the only two facets of his nature he had exposed to her. If there was a human, decent side to him, he kept it well hidden.
    Or, was there really another side? Miguel was obviously the faithful servant, Del Toro his
patron
. Fierce loyalty often characterized such a