Lucky Thirteen Read Online Free PDF Page A

slipped into the driver’s seat and started the engine which purred contentedly. The solid vehicle rode smoothly as he pulled away from the curb.   A sliding glass door in the panel between the passenger’s and driver’s compartments had been left open.
    “Charles, this is the most beautiful car I’ve ever ridden in. Does Miss Hightower always ride in such style?”
    “Always, madam.”
    Charles accelerated smoothly onto the freeway and continued to drive at a moderate speed in the slow lane. Meanwhile, cars sped past us, surely exceeding the speed limit. I rode in comfort and silence for a time before my curiosity got the better of me.
    “So, tell me something about Miss Hightower,” I prompted.
    “What is it you need to be knowing ?”
    I thought it interesting that he used the word need instead of want . I decided that I’d better be careful in how I phrased my questions.
    “She never mentioned a husband. Is she married?”
    The pause before Charles’ response was telling.
    “A tragic story, I’m sorry to have to say, but far be it from me to tell of it.”
    Feeling rebuffed, I was about to stop with the questions all together when Charles spoke up again.
    “Jilted at the altar,” he clarified.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. She’s such a wonderful woman.”
    “You don’t know the half of it,” he agreed. “I suppose you’ll have noticed that she’ll always be wearin ’ white. And she has since the day her beau left her waitin ’ in the church that day.”
    “That’s terrible.”
    “Aye. And I’d be beholden to you if you failed to mention it in her presence.”
    “Of course. So, does she live alone then?”
    “If only that were the case,” Charles snarled. “No, she’d be livin ’ with a houseful, includin ’ her niece, the most spoiled of lasses, and her drunk of a brother and his timid mouse of a wife. Then there’s her head trainer. Aye, that would be the lot of them.”
    “Well, at least it’s nice that she’s not alone.”
    “If you say so, madam. Not a silver shilling between ’ em , if you ask me. But there I go talkin ’ out of turn again.”
    And here I appreciated getting the lowdown on what I was stepping into from a reliable source. I had to admit, I was beginning to appreciate Charles and his protective attitude toward Miss Hightower, a woman I liked a great deal.
    “By the way, I’m sorry,” Charles added.
    “For what?”
    “For cuttin ’ into the bettin ’ line before yah.”
    “Oh that.” I tried to sound like it was no big deal, though it was at the time.
    “I was in a hurry, you see. I had to get back to ma’lady before she found out.”
    “Didn’t she know you were laying down a bet for her?”
    “No, that was my bet.”
    I see.
    “So, you managed to win thirty thousand dollars that day.”
    “Yes, madam. I’ve managed to sock away a few quid over the years,” he said with a smile and conspiratorial wink in the rear view mirror.
    The remainder of our drive was spent in silence. I laid my head back against the leather upholstery and admired the changing scenery outside the window as we drove further into the countryside. Soon we were surrounded by brush and woodlands, a stark contrast to the tall buildings, open air, and scattered palms imposed by man on the coast. At times I would wake with a start having no idea how long I’d been asleep. For a time I rolled my window down a crack and let the crisp fresh air blow on my face in an attempt to stay awake.
    Eventually we drove between two stone pillars supporting an arch over a gravel drive, proclaiming our destination as the High Tower Horse Breeding and Training Facility. The facility looked to be huge. We passed horses running free in large paddocks as we drove across the property. No more than a quarter of a mile into the facility we came upon the mansion.
    Three stories tall and nestled in amongst the shade of a grove of oak, tall elm, and beech trees, the mansion was built to look