Southern Seduction Read Online Free PDF Page B

coming harvest of sugarcane would finally free Moss Grove, and by extension himself, from the strangling debts under which he’d found the plantation upon his arrival.
    When his father had banished him and his mother to Moss Grove, Travis had sworn then that he would make the plantation a success. He had meant to show his father that he was man enough to do the job, but Jackson Montgomery had died before Travis had gotten the chance. Damn him. And to make things worse, the old codger continued to torture him from the grave by giving half the plantation to a perfect stranger.
    She has no right to anything.
    Just what was this woman to his father? His mistress? Surely Mrs. Hammond was a bit young for even the old man’s taste. He guessed the woman’s age to be somewhere around twenty, and the thought of the two of them together turned his stomach.
    Not having the answer at hand, but swearing he’d find out, Travis headed across the yard toward the stables. He was determined to forget about the perplexing Mrs. Hammond and get some work done, but he reluctantly had to admit the woman intrigued him. One more reason to get her off the plantation and out of his sight as quickly as possible.
    “Hold up there.”
    Travis whirled around to find Mr. Jeffries scurrying after him, huffing and out of breath as he struggled to catch up. Impatiently, Travis stopped and waited for the elderly man to join him. He wondered what other wonderful news his solicitor had forgotten to tell him.
    When Jeffries reached him he , blew out his breath in a long, jagged puff, jerked a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed his damp brow. That’s when Travis realized he was taking out his frustrations on the messenger when he really wanted to rant and rave at his father. The poor old sod couldn’t help what Jackson had assigned him to do. Travis set his mind to try to tolerate the old man.
    “I--I want you to know that I’m truly sorry about your father,” Jeffries said, folding his handkerchief and stuffing it back in his pocket. “I sent word of what happened immediately after His Grace passed away. I hope you received the message,” he said.
    “Actually, I didn’t. I learned of my father’s demise from someone else.” Travis noticed the man’s surprise, so he continued, “Let me explain what happened.”
    Travis still remembered how he’d found out about his father. He’d gone to see his banker . . .
     
    “Should I remind you that the final mortgage on Moss Grove is past due?” Harvey Midway had said from behind his desk. “I must admit that you’ve taken a failing plantation and turned it into a profitable one. However, that land is valuable and could be sold for a hefty profit. I’ve tried contacting His Grace--“
    “I do not want any help from my father,” Travis snapped.
    Harvey held up his hand. “If you’ll let me finish,” he paused, looking a little ill at ease. “I received a letter yesterday from your father’s solicitor, a Mr. Jeffries.”
    Travis nodded. “I know of the man.”
    “It says that your father has passed away.” Harvey reached for the letter and glanced at it. “The letter was dated two months ago.” The man faltered, then went on. “I take it from the look on your face that you didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
    Travis remembered vividly. Harvey’s flushed face, his embarrassment.
     
    Travis recalled he hadn’t responded. At the time, he hadn’t been certain how he’d felt. He’d just been told that the man who was his father had died. Travis knew he should have felt something--yet he felt nothing. The man had never shown him any kind of love or affection, so how could he have expected any feelings in return? Of course, some fathers never acknowledge their bastard children, so maybe Travis should be grateful, but he wasn’t.
    His father might have educated him, but only because there was no one left but Travis to carry on the Montgomery name. Then he’d shipped him off to America to