The Wild Belle by Lora Thomas Read Free Book Online Page B

was five-thirty. He sighed and looked at his attire. His clothing wasn’t soiled, but it was not clean enough for dining either. He quickly changed into a dark green dining jacket and brown pants. He donned his boots and walked out the door.
    As he descended the steps, he could hear voices. He followed the voices to a room beside the study. Entering, he found Amanda talking to another woman. When the women noticed him, their conversation stopped.
    “Michael, please come in. I would like to introduce you to one of my daughters, Ashton,” Amanda presented.
    Michael bowed, picked up Ashton’s hand and placed a gentle kiss upon her knuckles. “Pleasure.”
    Ashton batted her eyes flirtatiously at Michael. “Why, it’s so nice to meet you, Mr. St. John,” she purred in a seductive tone.
    Michael was taken aback by her bold nature. He studied her for a moment. She batted her eyes at him again and licked her sensuous pink lips. He watched as she adjusted her posture to make her breasts stand out and tilted her head to give her neck a more elongated appearance. She was a very attractive woman. She had the poise and features that many women would give anything to possess. She was as pretty as an angel, but she was definitely not one. Michael knew instinctively what type of woman she was, and she was far from being innocent. If Michael had to guess, she had many suitors who came to visit at all hours of the day and night. He would have to remember to lock both doors in his room with her around. It wouldn’t surprise him if he woke up one night to find her in his room, offering him a sample of what she had to offer.
    He turned to Amanda. “Am I early?”
    “No, not at all. You’re just in time. The others should be down momentarily,” Mandy replied. She took Michael’s arm and walked him over to the large oak dining table.
    “Now, Mandy,” Ott said from the doorway, watching his wife escort Michael to the table. “Don’t you be matchmaking our guest just yet. He hasn’t even had time to get settled in.”
    “Ott Craycraft! I would do no such thing!” Mandy fumed at her husband.
    “Just making sure,” he said with a small chuckle. He looked at his guest’s shocked expression. “Don’t worry, Michael, I was just teasing. But with four single daughters, I had to get the notion out of her head.”
    “Understandable. But I can assure you that marriage is the furthest thing from my mind.”
    “Really?” Amanda gave him an incredulous look.
    “Yes. I travel almost year round. If I were married, my wife would be subjected to months, even years alone.” Seeing Amanda’s mortified look, he elaborated, “I am quite happy being a bachelor. Besides, I have yet to find a woman who interests me enough to even consider marriage.”
    Ott could sense that Amanda would belabor Michael’s chosen lifestyle. He quickly changed the subject. “So, where are my other girls?”
    “Oh, Pappy,” Ashton began. The beautiful blond walked over to her father, making sure as she walked to overly sway her hips in an attempt to tantalize their guest. “You know Alyssa, she’ll be down promptly at six and Abigail is making sure her appearance is acceptable just in case Stephen drops by. Annabel and Ben will be by as soon as she can get her brood together, which will be say . . . midnight,” she said with a flirtatious laugh.
    “What about Andrea?” Ott asked.
    “Who knows with a girl like that,” Ashton seethed with hatred, flipping her wrist outward in a dismissive manner.
    “Ashton,” her mother scolded. “We have guests.”
    “Sorry, Mammy,” she said, looking flirtatiously over her shoulder at Michael. “Andrea is tending to Nellie.”
    “Oh, did her rheumatism flare up again?” Amanda asked, the concern apparent in her tone.
    “How should I know,” Ashton replied with obvious annoyance. “She’s just a slave. I really don’t know what all the fuss is about.”
    Before Amanda could reprimand her daughter