Rich Man's Daughter

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Book excerpt

Chapter One

Birmingham, Alabama

Carol Bilton pulled her gold-trimmed brush through her red curls. The lavish suite, with its beautiful ivory canopy bed and matching curtains and carpet, had been hers since childhood. All around were signs of her father’s wealth. She was oblivious to these things as she sat in stunned silence.

A half-hour earlier, Carol was happy and carefree while preparing for bed. At twenty-one years of age, she lived for little else besides fun. With her father’s money financing the way, she traveled often, making friends everywhere she went. She especially experienced no lack of male companionship. She was aware that many people were friendly because of her father’s wealth, but that didn’t matter to her. She let no one fool her for long.

Then she stopped being carefree and gay when forced to stop and think about her father, whom she loved dearly. She thought he loved her, too. But thirty minutes earlier, before going to bed, Carol decided she was hungry. Halfway down the stairs, on the way to the kitchen, she halted at yelling coming from her father’s study. He wasn’t an easy man to rile, so something had to be wrong. Carol crept several feet from the door to the study and heard her mother pleading with her father to lower his voice. This only seemed to make him angrier.

“Carol has been running free long enough,” James Bilton roared. “She’s been running around like a spoiled brat, spending money like it’s water, paling up with those cold fishes they call society chicks. Then there are the moonstruck Romeos that can’t see Carol for the dollar marks in their eyes. There’s not one in the bunch that wouldn’t drop her tomorrow if she didn’t have my money backing her.”

“Now, James,” Melinda Bilton said, “calm down. I know how you feel, but after all, Carol does have a right to her own friends.”

“Friends,” James scoffed. “Friends like young Dalton? He asked me how much allowance I was going to give Carol when she married. I almost punched him in the nose right then and there. As it was, I sent him on his way with the information that there would be no going through life on my coattails. He slinked away like the hanger-on that he is. Good riddance if he’s gone for good, but that’s probably too much to hope for.”

Carol winced at the mention of Hal Dalton. She enjoyed his courtship. Even thought she might be falling in love with him. It hurt to find out what he was really like.

“I know how you feel,” Melinda whispered, “but what can we do about it?”

“I’d make her get a job if I thought she could get one. But let’s face it, the only things she has going for her are her looks and being a rich man’s daughter. No, I’ve thought it over and I’ve decided there’s only one thing she can do.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m going to arrange for her and Craig Marten to get married.”

“I don’t think she’s going to like that idea very much.”

“She won’t have any choice. I’ll cut off her allowance, and if she tries to marry any of these fortune hunters, I’ll disinherit her.”

“What about Craig? Do you think he’ll go along with your plan?”

“I’ve had my eye on Craig for some time and have been training him so that he’ll be able to take over at the factory someday. He’ll jump at the chance to be head man, even if he has to take Carol in the deal.”

“You’re not worried about Carol,” Melinda snapped. “You just don’t want the control of the factory to leave the family. That’s all you’ve been thinking about all along.”

“That’s not true. Craig will be a good husband to Carol. He’ll take care of her and see that no one takes advantage of her.”

“You don’t know our daughter very well if you think she’ll take this quietly.”

“Oh, I expect that she’ll cry, storm, and rage all over the place for a few days, but she’ll come around in the end. You’ll see.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing. But I think you’re going to be sorry.”

“Everything’s going to be fine. Wait and see.”

When Carol heard her father’s footsteps coming toward the door, she tiptoed back to her room and closed the door just as the door to the study opened. She strode to her dressing table, sat on the stool and began brushing her hair. She was fuming and couldn’t cry. How could her father scheme to have her marry a man she didn’t love? Even if she had been using bad judgment with the people around her, that was no reason to force a marriage on her.

“This isn’t the middle ages,” Carol whispered. “It’s the ‘60s. Parents can’t marry their children off anymore.”

She thought about having it out with him, but that would only prove him right about her throwing a temper tantrum and would give him the upper hand. I’ll show him.

But she couldn’t get a job here. She needed to go to a place where no one knew James Bilton’s daughter. So, she tried to think of the last place her father would look for her. When her grandparents were alive, they lived in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for a while. It had been a long time since she’d visited them, but at least she could find her way around there. If it didn’t work out, she would try some place else.

Carol looked at herself in the mirror. Her red curls, cut in a short style, set off her heart-shaped face and large brown eyes. She smiled wryly at her reflection. So, her father didn’t think she could make it without her looks, huh. She stepped over to her closet and opened one of the large sliding doors. The closet was filled with an abundance of expensive clothes, but she ignored these and went to the shelves at one end, which were stacked with different sized boxes. She rummaged around on the bottom shelf and finally came up with the one she was looking for. She moved back to her dressing table and began to empty the box. Inside was a brown straight wig, makeup, an artificial scar, and a pair of horn-rimmed glasses. She took out the wig and placed it over her curls. It hung to her shoulders. Next, she put the scar on one side of her face, applied the makeup, then put on the glasses and studied herself in the mirror. She chuckled. Very much the plain Jane, she was. This would do fine. It was lucky she still had them on hand. She’d bought them the year before for a Halloween party, and changed her mind about using them.

After pulling a couple suitcases from the closet and opening them on her bed, she looked around, trying to decide what to take. All her clothes were expensive, but there was nothing she could do about that. So, she packed three dresses with simple stripes. While looking over her suits, she found four that were simple enough to work in, she hoped. She added three pairs of jeans and several t-shirts. Then after packing underwear, night clothes, she snapped her cases shut. Filled a vanity case with makeup and grooming articles, then dumped everything out of her purse onto the bed. She sorted her money and counted it—$532.72. After studying her bank book, she discovered she had $2,012 more. Well, at least I won’t starve for a while. She scooped everything back into her purse and then began writing a note to her parents.

Mom and Dad,

I’ve decided to disappear for a while. I’m going to get a job and see how the other half lives. I’m going to a place where no one knows I’m Carol Bilton. I’ll keep in touch. Please don’t try to trace me. I’ll be all right.

Love,

Carol.

She folded the note, slipped it into an envelope, and placed it on her pillow. That would give her a some more time before they found it. She looked at her watch and discovered it was almost 2:00 a.m. Well, she would have several hours until daylight, at which time her father would probably alert his security team to her absence.

Carol looked out into the hallway and saw that it was clear. She grabbed her bags and crept out of the house. Stacked her bags in the trunk of her light blue Toyota, thankful she’d stuck with it instead of getting that new convertible she’d considered buying. The Toyota would be less conspicuous. She cranked the car and pulled out of the drive, praying her parents wouldn’t hear her. Once clear of the drive, she looked back. No lighted windows. She sighed from relief and suppressed excitement. Despite the disappointment from knowing her father’s opinion of her, she was ready for an adventure. Maybe this would be the beginning of a new life for her and her parents.

After a quick stop to fill the tank, I’ll be on my way. She looked at the deserted road ahead. The way looked long and lonely.

“I’ll make it. I have to.”