The Ride of Her Life (28 page)

27

Nick dropped into a wicker chair outside Emily’s cottage. He rubbed his face with his hands. Lilly was pulling away again. He knew it as surely as he understood how fast the cars of his coaster had to go to make it through the whole figure eight. What did he have to do to convince her they had a real chance?

The incessant chirping of crickets annoyed him. He needed to think. No, he needed to pray.
Dear Lord, show me what to do.

The screen door opened, and she stepped out of the cottage. The sweet scent of her rose cologne greeted him first, making him want to pull her into his arms and kiss the daylights out of her.

“That didn’t take long.” Nick patted the wicker chair beside him.

“All the excitement must have worn him out.” She buttoned her spring cape around her neck. “I can’t sit. Remember, I have to do some additional work at the diner. Emily said she’d watch Levi.”

“You’re going back tonight?”

She shrugged. “I have to. Care to walk me over?” She started down the path that led to the Midway, and he fell in step beside her.

“You’ll be there alone.” The thought made his neck prickle. That spidery feeling had been niggling at him all night. He glanced around.

“I’ve been alone before.”

“But you’ve already worked a full day, and I know you’re tired. Why don’t I stay and help?”

She stopped and faced him. “Absolutely not. The last thing we need is for my former father-in-law to get wind of you and me spending time alone together at night. Can you imagine what he’d do with that information? He’d have Levi taken away by morning.”

“I would never let that happen, Lilly.” He swallowed hard. “A child belongs with his mother.”

He took her elbow, and they began walking again. The lapping of the lake and the whir of cicadas filled the silence between them. He didn’t like the idea of her being in the diner by herself, but he liked the idea of causing her more heartache even less.

“Nick, when you said that a child belongs with his mother, it sounded—personal.” Her voice was soft and gentle. “Why is that?”

“Maybe I should tell you another time. I don’t want you to have to work even later.”

“I can spare a few moments, and I’d like to hear now.”

Having reached the Midway, he motioned toward a park bench lit by the lights emanating from the shooting gallery. Even though he was concerned about the lateness of the hour, she was reaching out to him, and he wanted to encourage that more than ever. Perhaps this was the chance he’d been praying for.

They sat down, and he drew in a long breath. “You know I’m from a large family.”

She nodded.

“And you know we didn’t have a lot of money.” He shifted on the bench and watched a frog hop by in the dim light. “Things got real bad one winter. My dad lost his job, and we were living on the money my mother made washing clothes and ironing for other folks.”

Lilly touched his arm. “What else?”

He sighed. “When I say bad, I mean worse than anything you can imagine. We were starving. They couldn’t afford to feed all ten of us, so they took the four oldest of us to an orphanage.”

She gasped. “They sent you away? How could they? How old were you?”

“I was twelve, and Lilly, you’ve got to understand, my parents were good, hardworking folks, but a storm was upon them.” He met her gaze. Her eyes filmed with tears. He drew in a deep breath. “When my parents took us there, I remember my father squeezing my shoulder and telling me I had to be strong for my younger brothers.”

“And your mama?”

“She kissed me and cried. She said she’d be back for us as soon as they could come.” His voice cracked. “I believed her that day, but soon the other orphans made it clear to me that parents never returned like they promised. I still remember seeing her walk away and turning to blow me a kiss. I held on to that memory and tried to recall it every night. I was afraid I’d forget what she looked like.” He stopped. He couldn’t tell her he’d cried himself to sleep every night for months—a twelve-year-old boy, crying like a baby for his mama. “Then one couple came and decided they wanted to adopt me.”

“Oh no. What did you do?”

“I pitched such a fit the couple changed their minds.” He chuckled. “After they left, the matron beat me.”

“And that was your last chance at a home?” she whispered.

He squeezed her hand. “No. After a year, my parents did come back.”

“What a horrible thing for a child to go through. Not knowing if they’d return. Not knowing if you’d ever see them again. Nick, I’m so sorry.”

“I only told you this so you’d believe me when I say I won’t let those people take your son from you. I know how much a boy needs his mother.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Now, I guess we’d better get you inside. I’ll be waiting right here to walk you home.”

“You’ll be bored silly. I’m perfectly capable of walking back to the cottage.”

“It’ll give me some time to pray.” He cupped her cheek, brushing the creamy softness with the pad of his thumb. “I have some people I’d like to talk to the Lord about.”

The iron bed squeaked every time Lilly rolled over. Front, side, back—no position gave her body rest, let alone her thoughts. She could still taste Nick’s good-night kiss, his breath fresh from the clove-flavored Necco wafers Levi had shared with him. She could feel the cool touch of his calloused hand against her cheek, and after the story he’d shared with her about his childhood, she’d ached to comfort him in a tangible way.

And he’d waited for her to finish her work.

The thought sent another wave of emotion coursing through her. Better than that, he’d sat in the dark and prayed for her. Had Ben ever brought her name before the Lord? For that matter, when was the last time she’d prayed for Nick or anyone else?

She scrunched the feather pillow beneath her head. What had Nick said about his parents? A storm was upon them?

The wind sent a branch tapping on her cabin window. She jolted. Her heart pounding, she rolled over and sat up. Perhaps a glass of water would help her get back to sleep.

After pulling on her wrap and slippers, she padded down the hall to the parlor. Carter’s snores echoed from the room he and Emily shared. She stopped when she found Emily sitting in the parlor, nursing Kate.

“I thought I heard you.” Emily smiled and nodded toward the empty chair. “Can’t sleep?”

“I was thinking about storms.”

“I didn’t see a cloud in the sky today, but I can hear the wind picking up. Do you think we’re in for a storm?” Emily stroked Kate’s face with her thumb.

“No. Nick was telling me about a storm his parents faced. They fell on hard times and sent him and three of his brothers to an orphanage to live.”

“How horrible.”

“I know. They did come back for them, but Nick didn’t know if they would. Can you imagine living with that uncertainty? Nick says they are good people, but—”

“Lilly, we mustn’t judge them.”

“I know.” Lilly understood storms—both the ones in nature and the ones in life. How a person dealt with them said a lot about him or her. Making a decision like that had to be the hardest thing Nick’s parents had ever done. She sighed. “I can’t help but wonder why his parents hadn’t given their storm to the Lord.”

“Maybe they had. Maybe taking Nick to the orphanage was the answer God had given them.”

“But how can God rip parents and their children apart?”

“Or a wife and a husband?” Emily met Lilly’s gaze and held it. “Isn’t that what you really want to know?”

“You think I blame God for Ben’s death?”

“No, but I think you stopped trusting Him then.”

Lilly stiffened. “I trust God. I have my whole life.”

“You have in the past, but are you sure you trust Him now?”

A prick of guilt stabbed Lilly’s heart. It was a good question, and one that had been in the back of her thoughts. What Emily didn’t understand was there were different kinds of trust. Before Ben died, Lilly had believed trust to be simple too. But now—well, she was more cautious. She had to be.

“Emily, you’re becoming more like your grandma Kate every day.”

“Thank you.”

Lilly rolled her eyes and yawned. “I think I should go back to bed. Tomorrow’s a big day.”

“Sleep well, my friend.” Emily shifted Katie to her other side to nurse. “And be sure to say a prayer about those storms.”

Crowds circled the fence outside the roller coaster. It seemed that every person in Council Bluffs had taken the streetcar to Lake Manawa as soon as church services concluded.

With powder-blue skies and a bright sun, opening day promised to be perfect. Nick shielded his eyes with his hand and glanced at the myriad of curious onlookers. When this roller coaster was up and running, there’d certainly be no shortage of patrons.

“Forest,” Nick called, “help Sean get those sandbags in the cars. I need them to weigh as much as four people.”

He turned and spotted all five feet nothing of Mr. Nash marching toward him. “Mr. Perrin, where have you been?”

“At the tent church services.”

“But it’s opening day.”

Nick nodded. “And we need God’s blessing for that more than anything.”

Mr. Nash flung his hand toward the ride. “Why isn’t this coaster running? Look at all those people. I told you it needed to be done today. I even advertised it in the newspaper.”

“If guests are disappointed, that’s your problem. I told you it wouldn’t be ready. Today I have safety checks to do and adjustments to make accordingly.” Nick pointed to the sandbags. “First we check her out with sand. If everything goes okay, then I ride at least twenty times. The only person I’m taking any chances with is myself. Unless, of course, you care to join me.”

Mr. Nash stepped backward. “No, that won’t be necessary. I hope you realize the investors will not be happy. They will be notifying Mr. Ingersoll.”

“Neither the investors nor Mr. Ingersoll would be happy if someone got hurt.” Nick glanced around, and his gaze fell on Lilly and Levi. His chest swelled. After church, he’d told them the coaster would have its first trip at two o’clock, and now they’d made it to witness the occasion. “Mr. Nash, if you’ll excuse me, we’re about to make the inaugural run of Lake Manawa’s Velvet Roller Coaster.” He left Mr. Nash standing there, mouth gaping at the dismissal, and strode over to the fence. “Want to see things close-up, Levi?”

“Yes!” Levi clapped his hands, and Lilly laughed.

“Follow me then.” He led Levi and Lilly along the fence until they came to the turnstile. He motioned to Milt Hawkins to let them through. Scooping Levi into his arms, he said, “We’re going inside the loading station. Soon as we get everything set, I’m going to let you pull the lever and start the whole thing.”

Levi clapped again.

“You spoil him.” Lilly laughed. “But I suppose everyone needs a little spoiling now and then.”

“Does that include you?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m much too practical for that.”

“We’ll see.” He motioned for her to climb the steps into the loading station. “Patrons will give their tickets to the clerk here and then line up in that section.” They swung a half door open and passed through. Nick helped Lilly step down onto the track, cross it, and step back onto the other side where some of his men stood.

Nick set Levi down and turned to Sean. “Let’s get a car on these tracks, Mr. McGready.”

“I’d be honored.” Sean snapped his suspenders.

“What’s he doing?” Levi tugged on Nick’s hand.

Lilly drew him back. “Levi, Mr. Nick is busy.”

“No, he’s fine.” Nick squatted down beside Levi. They watched as Sean flipped two latches on a six-foot section of track and pushed it beneath the walkway. “We have to have a way to change cars to do maintenance and to store them. That section of track is movable so we can wheel in our cart section.”

Next, Sean pushed a second wheeled section of track down the walkway from the car storage area. Two more men assisted him in angling it into the open slot.

“The section Mr. McGready is moving now is built on wheels. It slides right into the empty space. See?” Nick pointed to Sean’s area.

“But how did the roller coaster car get on it?” Levi stood on tiptoe to see into the car storage area.