more from life. He wanted a big house, servants, an accommodating mistress, exotic travel, good whiskey. Those things would never come to him on a working man’s salary. As the owner of several profitable businesses, he could have everything he dreamed of.
Although Heidi Lester had a beautiful face and a fine, although delicate, figure, she held no appeal for him. Mousy, no backbone. Lester had made him agree to have a marriage in name only. He and his wife didn’t want their little girl to suffer the burden of a man’s attentions and the resulting pregnancies, which worked well for Clarence. Visions of her coughing and wheezing her head off as he attempted to bed her squelched any desire on his part to have the girl. And he had a woman more than willing to accommodate him.
Now with his dreams so close, the little twit had to grow a backbone. But he knew where her backbone had come from—Michael Henderson. Why the man had any interest in Heidi remained a mystery. Unless he knew of her father’s businesses and that Heidi’s husband would benefit enormously. Life must be mighty dreary working in a store every day, dealing with customers complaining about their illnesses. If Henderson thought to assume his place, he could forget it. Clarence wasn’t setting his little gold mine free.
The young whore—he didn’t remember her name even though she’d told him numerous times—sidled up to him and pressed her breasts against his arm. “I’ve been waitin’ for ya, Clarence.”
“Have you now?” He gulped a shot of whiskey and patted her bottom, leaving his hand there to massage and pinch.
She shot him a sultry grin. “Ya wanna go upstairs?”
He grabbed the whiskey bottle and waved in the direction of the steps. “Lead the way.”
Tomorrow he would deal with Miss Lester. Most irritating and inconvenient to race back and forth between Oklahoma City and Guthrie to ensure Henderson didn’t usurp his place.
He tucked his hand inside the whore’s bodice and tweaked her nipple as she ascended the stairs ahead of him. “I got something to put a smile on your face.”
“Me, too,” she said with a giggle, then opened the door to her room.
Michael looked up from the various jars and bottles in front of him at the sound of the doorbell. Mr. and Mrs. Lester entered with Mrs. Manfred on their heels. He sighed and continued to work, taking furtive glances at his employee as the three approached the counter where Heidi arranged packages of tobacco.
“Heidi, dear. Did you have breakfast this morning?” Mrs. Lester patted her daughter’s cheek as Mr. Lester positioned himself behind her, arms crossed, glaring at Michael.
“Yes, Mother. In fact, Mrs. Wilson, my landlady, allows me to cook breakfast in her kitchen and Michael, rather Mr. Henderson, and I eat in the back room here. Today I fixed scrambled eggs and biscuits.”
Mrs. Lester dabbed at the corner of her eye with a delicate linen handkerchief and shook her head slightly. “So much work for you. My poor girl will wear herself out.”
Mrs. Manfred stepped forward and took Heidi’s hand. “I promised Clarence I would look out for you while he is at work each day. You must know he is worried sick over this little adventure you’re having.”
Heidi chewed her lip, then sighed in relief when old Mrs. Benson entered the store. “Excuse me, Mother, Papa, Mrs. Manfred, but I must see to the customers.”
“Wait.” Mr. Lester took her by the arm. “We would like you to join us for the noon meal. We’ll be back at twelve. Is that when you close?”
“Yes. Noon is fine. I’ll see you then.” Heidi hurried around the counter and approached Mrs. Benson with a large smile. “Good morning, ma’am, how may I help you?”
The Lester party left, with Mrs. Lester leaning on her husband’s arm, sniffling.
Michael tried hard not to laugh at the picture the three of them made. No wonder Heidi was afraid of her own shadow. To be smothered all her life
Although Heidi Lester had a beautiful face and a fine, although delicate, figure, she held no appeal for him. Mousy, no backbone. Lester had made him agree to have a marriage in name only. He and his wife didn’t want their little girl to suffer the burden of a man’s attentions and the resulting pregnancies, which worked well for Clarence. Visions of her coughing and wheezing her head off as he attempted to bed her squelched any desire on his part to have the girl. And he had a woman more than willing to accommodate him.
Now with his dreams so close, the little twit had to grow a backbone. But he knew where her backbone had come from—Michael Henderson. Why the man had any interest in Heidi remained a mystery. Unless he knew of her father’s businesses and that Heidi’s husband would benefit enormously. Life must be mighty dreary working in a store every day, dealing with customers complaining about their illnesses. If Henderson thought to assume his place, he could forget it. Clarence wasn’t setting his little gold mine free.
The young whore—he didn’t remember her name even though she’d told him numerous times—sidled up to him and pressed her breasts against his arm. “I’ve been waitin’ for ya, Clarence.”
“Have you now?” He gulped a shot of whiskey and patted her bottom, leaving his hand there to massage and pinch.
She shot him a sultry grin. “Ya wanna go upstairs?”
He grabbed the whiskey bottle and waved in the direction of the steps. “Lead the way.”
Tomorrow he would deal with Miss Lester. Most irritating and inconvenient to race back and forth between Oklahoma City and Guthrie to ensure Henderson didn’t usurp his place.
He tucked his hand inside the whore’s bodice and tweaked her nipple as she ascended the stairs ahead of him. “I got something to put a smile on your face.”
“Me, too,” she said with a giggle, then opened the door to her room.
Michael looked up from the various jars and bottles in front of him at the sound of the doorbell. Mr. and Mrs. Lester entered with Mrs. Manfred on their heels. He sighed and continued to work, taking furtive glances at his employee as the three approached the counter where Heidi arranged packages of tobacco.
“Heidi, dear. Did you have breakfast this morning?” Mrs. Lester patted her daughter’s cheek as Mr. Lester positioned himself behind her, arms crossed, glaring at Michael.
“Yes, Mother. In fact, Mrs. Wilson, my landlady, allows me to cook breakfast in her kitchen and Michael, rather Mr. Henderson, and I eat in the back room here. Today I fixed scrambled eggs and biscuits.”
Mrs. Lester dabbed at the corner of her eye with a delicate linen handkerchief and shook her head slightly. “So much work for you. My poor girl will wear herself out.”
Mrs. Manfred stepped forward and took Heidi’s hand. “I promised Clarence I would look out for you while he is at work each day. You must know he is worried sick over this little adventure you’re having.”
Heidi chewed her lip, then sighed in relief when old Mrs. Benson entered the store. “Excuse me, Mother, Papa, Mrs. Manfred, but I must see to the customers.”
“Wait.” Mr. Lester took her by the arm. “We would like you to join us for the noon meal. We’ll be back at twelve. Is that when you close?”
“Yes. Noon is fine. I’ll see you then.” Heidi hurried around the counter and approached Mrs. Benson with a large smile. “Good morning, ma’am, how may I help you?”
The Lester party left, with Mrs. Lester leaning on her husband’s arm, sniffling.
Michael tried hard not to laugh at the picture the three of them made. No wonder Heidi was afraid of her own shadow. To be smothered all her life
Similar Books
