Forbidden Contract (The Birmingham Brothers Series) by L. A. Miller Read Free Book Online Page B

placed him somewhere in his mid to late forties with a mischievous grin that won her over immediately.
    “If you will all be so kind as to get in, your grandmother will not be joining us.” He said and Bailey turned to see her getting into another car with Graham. Helping the kids in she slid in behind them and Gibbons closed the door. He had cookies, juice and milk for the kids, water for Bailey and a Disney video to keep them entertained on their drive. Bailey was exhausted and sat back closing her eyes as the kids watched the small screen while they ate their cookies in silence. She must have dozed because she was awoken by Alexis pulling on her arm.
    “Bailey look….horses !”
    Opening her eyes she blinked a few times before focusing. They were driving down a dirt highway with white fencing separating the road and the field beyond. A group of 7 stallions galloped freely across the field and as if sensing they were being watched made a point of running parallel along the fencing.
    “Are those Nana’s horses ?” Alexis asked and it was Gibbons who replied.
    “Yes…she has over 20 horses in her stables .”
    “Wow” Tristan said . “Can we ride ‘em?” He asked. “Like him?”
    Bailey turned to see a lone rider now coming up fast across the field. She couldn’t tell if he was trying to catch up to the stallions or if he was just trying to exercise the horse he was on. By the way he rode and handled the horse there was no doubt in her mind the man was experienced around horses. He rode low hunched over the neck allowing him to feel the animal and anticipate its move. Even at this distance she could see he controlled the horse with both his legs and the reins. He was ruggedly handsome in his faded jeans and black t-shirt, his black hair flying carelessly in the wind.
    “ We’ll ask if you can ride but that man has been riding for a long time Tristan...you will have to be content to just let me walk the horse at first.”
    “Awww…..but he ’s going fast.”
    “Yes he is .” She agreed continuing to watch him. He had to be one of her grandmothers stable hands because she knew from her father none of his siblings rode. They were afraid of the horses and she assumed their kids would be the same. Plus while they had gone over the paperwork Graham had given her short run down of her cousins and by his description she anticipated soft stuffed men too used to sitting behind a desk or chasing a skirt around the office. Any strenuous work was left to the staff.
    The limo rounded the bend leaving the horses and the rider behind. As it passed beyond the row of trees Bailey got a glimpse of the mansion for the first time. Now she understood where Hollywood got its ideas for the Southern mansions. The home was two stories with a large porch that ran across the entire length of the house. Large white pillars held up the balcony above that also ran the full length of the house. Surrounded by large oak trees draped in Spanish moss Riley felt she had entered another world. Dogwoods dotted the side of the house and jasmine grew along the base. Large pots of colorful blooms were scattered about and wisteria plants ran along the porch railing climbing up the pillars to the balcony above. She counted at least 10 windows upstairs and 8 down along with a massive double door that stood at least 8 feet tall. Wicker furniture along the porch invited guests to sit under the shade and enjoy a glass of sweet tea. As the limo parked she noticed a large black woman come out to greet them followed by two younger blacks. She couldn’t help but think not much has changed in the South. She waited till Gibbons opened the door before she exited followed by Tristan and Alexis. The large elderly black woman reminded Bailey of Aunt Jemima minus the costume and when she smiled her whole face lit up.
    “ Miss Bailey, my name is Mimmie and I run the staff her at Briar Rose, this is Trixie and she will be your hand maid, anything you need you