The Ride of Her Life (14 page)

“But they named their son Benjamin. It’s a biblical name. And you two followed suit with Levi.”

Lilly giggled. “Benjamin Hart was named after Ben Franklin. His parents wanted him to become a great man like his namesake. His middle name, Davis, was his mother’s maiden name. But we did choose Levi because it’s biblical. It means
joined
. Ben wanted to remind his parents that we’d been joined together by God.”

“And they shouldn’t try to separate you two.” He nodded. “Smart man.”

She brushed a curl from her forehead. “Now it’s your turn. How did you become a roller coaster designer? Is there a school for that?”

Nick chuckled. “Not that I know of.” He explained that he’d met Sean McGready soon after graduating from high school. “Sean brought me to Mr. Ingersoll and told him he’d never regret hiring me. Talk about pressure. I never wanted to let Sean down, so I worked twice as hard as anyone in the company.”

“But you must have shown a bent for the work.”

“I’ve always been good at putting things together and solving problems.” He turned the horse to the right at the far end of the lake and paused for a pair of geese to waddle across the road. “After a while, Mr. Ingersoll gave me the chance to start trying some of my own ideas.”

“And you’ve been designing roller coasters ever since?”

“Not exactly.”

“Pardon?”

“This is the first one I’ve designed solely on my own. I’ve been in charge of Ingersoll’s plans on a half dozen coasters. But this is the first one I can call my own, and it’s only the beginning.”

“Beginning of what?”

“My own company, eventually. Perrin’s Park Amusements.” His eyes lit up as he spoke.

“Does Mr. Ingersoll realize he’s training his competitor?”

“Probably, but I still have a great deal to learn before I can venture out on my own. Besides, he has Luna Parks going up all over the country right now, so I’m not the only one he’s been training.”

“This company you want to build means a lot to you?”

“I’ve been poor, Lilly. No-food-for-days poor. I won’t ever let that happen again to myself or those I care about.” He looked at her, held her gaze for a moment, and then snapped the reins. The horse switched to a steady, clopping gallop.

For several minutes, Levi chattered about the trees and birds, and Lilly risked a glance at Nick as he drove. Wearing a pair of tan trousers, a striped jacket, and a fashionable straw hat, he looked as if he could have been any one of Ben’s wealthy friends. He was certainly as intelligent and driven as those men had been. But his calloused and rough hands told another story. As much as she loved Ben, she doubted he’d ever touched a piece of wood or known a night of hunger. Nick knew both intimately.

A warmth grew inside her, and she fought to push it away. She shouldn’t be comparing him to Ben. She’d given her heart to Ben, and it still belonged to him. He’d given her five wonderful years and a son she loved more than she’d ever dreamed.

But why was she thinking about this now? Could Emily be right about the way Nick looked at her?

No, he’d said they were friends. Maybe she was simply lonely. A friendship with Nick wouldn’t hurt. He’d leave at the end of the summer, but meanwhile, she’d have a few mornings of companionship to lighten her days—as long as Levi didn’t get hurt in the process.

“Mama, look!” Levi pointed to the familiar mansion on one of the city’s bluffs. “We used to live there.”

“That’s the Hart estate?” Nick let out a low whistle. “Was the gate to keep you in or keep others out?”

She smiled. “Probably both.”

“Want to stop and say hi?”

“I’d rather eat Eugenia’s cooking.”

Nick laughed, and the sound of it made her relax.

Friends.

She liked that.

For the rest of the journey, Nick asked Lilly to tell him about the city. She explained how Council Bluffs had gotten its name from the time when the Otoe Indian tribe had a council on the bluffs with explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. She pointed out where Ben had practiced law with his father, her favorite stores in which to shop, and Bayliss Park in the center of the city. Lilly pointed to her right. “And Fairmont Park is in those hills.”

“It has lots of deerses in it.” Levi wiggled. “And there’s a boy with a leaky boot.”

“A leaky boot?”

“It’s a fountain sculpture in the park with a little boy holding his boot in the air.” Lilly straightened the bow on her son’s sailor collar. “Levi loves how the water comes out of the bottom of the boot.”

“We’ll have to make a day of it and go there.” Nick cast a glance at Lilly.

She’d not contradict him, but as nice as the morning was, she couldn’t let these forays occur at regular intervals.

Nick made a left turn down the street toward the Kiel Hotel and pulled the carriage to a stop. “Breakfast is served.”

“Here?” Lilly stared at him as he hopped down.

He plucked Levi from the seat and then came around the carriage to assist her. “You don’t like it? Sorry, it’s the only place I’ve eaten besides your diner.”

“No, it’s a fine place. Too fine.” She spoke the last words softly, intending them for only her own ears. She placed her hands on his shoulders.

He held her waist and swung her to the ground, holding her a bit longer than necessary. “Nothing is too fine for my friends.”

Friends. Yes. That’s all this was. Breakfast with friends. She could not—would not—let the feelings stirring inside her fan into flame.

Levi needed a man like Nick in his life. She did not.

“Ready for those pancakes, Chipmunk?” Nick took Levi’s hand and gave Lilly one of his lilting grins. “And we’ll order a nice hard-boiled egg for your mama.”

15

After breakfast, Lilly’s stomach was satisfied, but her mind remained starving for answers. Following the meal with Nick, she’d gone to see her mother, but it had done little to help make sense of the nagging turmoil in her heart.

Now that she and Levi had returned to the diner, she needed to push her ponderings aside. She glanced around the kitchen and spotted only one pan on the stove. After tying her apron, she lifted the spoon from the oatmeal and watched the congealed blob plop back in the pot. She glanced at Levi, and they shared a giggle. If the men had left this much oatmeal after breakfast, they were sure to be famished when they arrived for lunch.

“Levi, you want something to eat before I feed the workers?”

He scowled at her from the stool where he perched. “You wouldn’t make me eat that, would you?”

She laughed. “No, I was thinking of an apple.”

“I’m still full to the brim with pancakes.” He scampered off the stool. “Can I help you?”

“Sure, why don’t you fetch me some potatoes from the bin and put them on the counter for tonight’s dinner?”

While Lilly sliced roast beef for sandwiches, Levi gathered the potatoes in his shirttails and carried them to his mother. He set them on the counter, and one rolled off. After chasing it down, he plopped it back in place. “Where’s Miss Eugenia?”

“She should be here any minute.” Lilly removed two bowls of strawberry Jell-O filled with preserved pears from the icebox. The men loved this wiggly treat almost as much as Levi did. Maybe she should have Eugenia make the next batch. Even she should be able to boil water. Then again, maybe not. Bless her heart, that poor girl’s engine was not connected to the rest of the train.

“You like Mr. Nick now, Mama?”

“Of course I like Mr. Nick. He’s a kind man.” Her stomach fluttered, betraying the rush of feelings the mention of Nick’s name caused in her. But she knew any decisions she made concerning Nick couldn’t be based on feelings. One look at her son reminded her there was simply too much at stake.

“I’m glad you like him.” He dropped the last potato from his load into the sink. “’Cause I do too. He makes you smile.”

“I smile all the time.”

“More when you’re with Mr. Nick.”

She tickled his belly. “Now look who’s smiling.”

The back door opened, and Lilly turned. Eugenia walked in the kitchen, worry etching her face.

“Eugenia, what’s wrong?”

“They hated the oatmeal. It was lumpy.”

“They’ll live.”

“But
he
was here.”

Lilly stopped measuring coffee grounds. “Who?”

“Mr. Westing, the man you introduced me to yesterday.”

“Mark?” How odd. Why would Mark stop by again? “Did he want anything?”

“He asked where you’d gone and where Mr. Perrin was. I told him you had the morning off and I had no idea about Mr. Perrin, but that’s not the problem.” Eugenia twisted her handkerchief into a knot.

“Let me guess. You fed him breakfast.”

“Lumps and all.” Tears filled Eugenia’s pale green eyes.

“Oh, Eugenia, you’re sweet on him, aren’t you?” Lilly covered the girl’s hands with her own. “He’ll be back. You’ll have another chance to impress him.”

“Do you really think I can, Miss Lilly?”

Good grief. How did Lilly answer without lying? Sure, a man would be fortunate to have someone as loving as Eugenia, but would Mark see beyond her nervous tendencies?

“Eugenia, you’re a sweet, kind, giving young lady, and I’m certain you’re full of many surprises.”

Nick wanted to hit something, but the frail freight clerk with the long face would hardly do.

“What do you mean my building materials were shipped to Columbus, Ohio? Do you think I can build a roller coaster without wood?”

“Apparently someone misread Council Bluffs and directed it to Columbus. Iowa and Ohio are similar.” The clerk fiddled with his pencil.

“Similar? How?”

“They both have four letters and three vowels—not that it really makes any difference, Mr. Perrin.”

Nick took off his hat and plopped it on the clerk’s counter. “This is the second time this has happened.”

“I can assure you I’ve tracked down your order, and it will be here the day after tomorrow.”

“Two days!”

The nervous clerk snapped the pencil in two. “I apologize for the inconvenience. I’ll have the supplies delivered to you at no extra charge, sir.”

Nick sighed. Taking his frustration out on this poor man was no way for a Christian to act. “I’m the one who should apologize. I’m sorry for my outburst. So you’ll send them out as soon as they arrive?”

“The very hour.”

“Thank you, Mr. . . .” Nick held out his hand.

The clerk shook it. “Snodgrass. P. J. Snodgrass.”

“I appreciate your tracking the order down. And your first ride on the roller coaster is on me, Mr. Snodgrass.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“I insist.”

“Really, it’s not necessary.” Mr. Snodgrass whipped out his handkerchief and wiped his beaded brow. “You won’t catch me near your contraption.”

“But you’re a railroad man.”

“I ship freight on them, but I don’t ride them. Not a bit safe.”

“Well, if you change your mind, Mr. Snodgrass, let me know.” He tipped his hat. “And thanks for sending the supplies out.”

Nick exited the depot and shielded his face from the noonday sun. Not only would he miss lunch at the diner, but he’d also miss seeing Lilly again.

Climbing into his rented rig, Nick turned his thoughts toward the roller coaster. If those supplies didn’t come on Friday there would be nothing for his men to do. How would they ever make the opening-season deadline of May 27?

And what would Lilly think of him if he failed? It would be hard to convince her how serious he was about building his own company if he couldn’t meet his first obligation.

He turned down the street leading out of the city and snapped the reins. How had that stubborn woman taken his thoughts captive? He’d been to different places all over the country, and not since Ruby had anyone turned his insides to jelly like Lilly. When he was with her, he felt like he was on one of his roller coasters—a thrill one minute and a death-defying plunge the next. And he was only along for the ride.

What made her worth the stomach-lurching trip? Her smile of pure sunshine? The way her amber eyes told what she was thinking even when she tried so hard to remain tough? That stubborn streak that had made her strong enough to handle difficult circumstances?

Perhaps all of those.

Still, she wasn’t ready. After the way she talked about her deceased husband, he wondered if she would ever be.

He gave the horse the freedom to run along the last stretch toward the lake. As with the horse, maybe he should simply let Lilly feel in control. Perhaps then her shell would crack, and she’d let him in.

But how long would it take? Because he didn’t want to crack her shell if he couldn’t stay around to pick up the pieces.