He let out a hearty laugh. “What can I say? You’ve bested me, and I doubt it will be the only time.”
Sam touched the sash as they left. Would he have taken her if she’d insisted on wearing it? They hadn’t actually talked about where he stood on the issue of women’s suffrage now, but they should. Surely James’s eyes had been opened or he wouldn’t be courting her. On their many lunch dates over the years, they’d always teasingly bantered about the topic. But what if he still held to an antiquated notion? Would he tell her the truth?
The drive to Fort Snelling took nearly half an hour, but Sam decided to put any suffrage discussion on the back burner for the time being. Instead, they discussed his speech that morning, their families, and a new education bill he was working on.
They were ushered to seats on an elevated platform to witness the military review. Another senator and his wife also attended and were seated beside them. How odd it felt to be there publicly as a couple. If she were going to do this regularly, she needed to say something to her family. She’d hate for them to learn she’d been keeping her relationship with James a secret from them but had let the rest of the world know.
Visitors lined the edges of the parade grounds. They grew quiet when the general and his staff galloped to the point of review.
James leaned close so she could hear him over the military band. “The first unit is the infantry corps.”
Sam watched the soldiers file onto the field in perfect rows and display the flags with great pageantry. When the military band began to play, the troops paraded in front of the general. Then the rifle drill team wowed the crowds with masterful twists and turns of their weapons.
“It looks like the cavalry has arrived.” James grinned. “Look at those mounts.”
Although she was no judge of horse flesh, she did find the soldiers’ mounts truly majestic as they rode across the review field. The sunlight glinted off the well-polished saber handles at the soldiers’ sides. Why did a man on a horse somehow seem stronger?
After almost an hour, the artillery troops rolled in with their horse-drawn rocket launchers, field guns, and mortars mounted on carts. They were followed by what Sam believed to be two field howitzers, but she didn’t recognize the odd-shaped thing to roll in at the end.
She leaned close to James. “What’s that?”
“I’m not sure.”
One of the lieutenants posted nearby turned to them. “Sir, ma’am, it’s a carbon arc searchlight. The largest searchlights are permanently mounted, but this mobile one weighs almost six thousand pounds. That special rig behind it powers the light. It weighs another six thousand–plus pounds.”
James leaned forward. “What kind of engine does it have?”
“A three-cylinder, water-cooled gas engine is connected to the generator, sir.”
On the commander’s signal, the artillery soldiers took their places and fired the rocket launchers into an open space. The display caused the spectators to erupt in applause, and then the general dismissed the troops for a late afternoon picnic.
After they’d eaten with the general, James directed her toward the fort’s hospital. As James sat and spoke to each of the soldiers, Sam found her heart filling with amazement. His genuine concern and easy laughter made each man feel special. When he turned to leave the ward, he gave the men a final salute.
Sam took a deep breath to still the feelings stirring within her. Everywhere they went and every time he spoke to others, James garnered respect, and she’d always respected him as well. Even when they disagreed on something, he didn’t resort to belittling her thoughts. But could she love him? Perhaps mutual respect was the seed of love that would eventually bloom. Still, if they couldn’t agree on something as simple as suffrage, would resentment eventually choke out anything that grew between them?
She laughed to herself. Tessa must be rubbing off on her.
With Tessa’s hand tucked in the crook of his arm, Reese walked with her along the back of the Noyeses’ garden. Amid colorful Chinese paper lanterns, the crowds continued their merriment on the lawn, but he’d had enough of sharing Tessa with those people. Right now he wanted her all to himself.
“We made great progress today.” Tessa slipped free and spun around. “When they vote on Monday, I’m sure Mr. Nussbaumer’s conservatory will be funded.”
He couldn’t share her excitement. “Yeah, that would be good, I guess.”
“What’s wrong?” She tipped her head to the side.
“How do you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Put on that charade.” He rubbed the kink in his neck. “Not only did you act like you’d been born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but you finagled those rich folks so that they’d end up having to side with you before they even saw what was happening.”
“Little old me?” She pressed her hand to her chest and added a thick Southern accent.
“Tessa, I’m serious.” He frowned. “I’m beginning to wonder if we’re all simply pawns in your game.”
She took his hands. “Remember, I was acting like when I’m in a play, but I never act when I’m with you. I’m always 110 percent Tessa Gregory with you.”
“One hundred and ten percent, huh?” He looked into her hazel eyes, alight with fun, and his ire faded. Getting these people to commit to the conservatory was a game to her, a challenge. It made alarm bells sound inside him, but was that her fault? No, Laura had put those doubts inside him a long time ago, and Tessa deserved to know the truth.
With her hand tucked against his side, they continued to walk while he considered his words. “Tessa, I need to tell you about someone.”
He felt her stiffen beside him.
“Back in Chicago, I fell for a girl named Laura. She was good at manipulation, and I was young. I didn’t see her for what she really was.”
“I’m not like that, Reese. I’d never trick you.”
“I want to believe that.” He covered her hand with his own. “Laura drove a wedge in my relationship with my parents. She made me believe they were against me.”
“How?”
“They didn’t approve of her.” He drew in a long breath. “She told me I had to choose, and I chose her. I’ll never forget the look of anguish on my mother’s face when I told them, or the disappointment in my father’s eyes. In truth, my parents saw things in her that I didn’t. In the end, I found out from an acquaintance that she was telling all of her friends how she had me under her thumb, and she’d keep me around until something better came along.”
“Oh, Reese, I’m so sorry.” She stopped and cupped his cheek, her voice thick with emotion. “I hate that you had to go through something like that, but I’m glad she didn’t realize the treasure she had in you.” She let her hand slide down to his chest. “I’m sure it will be hard, but please don’t compare us. That isn’t fair to me.”
He smiled and settled his hands on her waist. “You’re right.”
“Besides, I rather like to fancy myself as unique.” She slipped from his arms and walked backwards in front of him. “A one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable, distinctive soul.”
She hiked her skirt and hopped onto the brick edge of a planter. With her arms extended, she began to skirt the edge.
“Tessa, what are you doing?”
“Living on the edge. You should try it. You could use more adventure in your life.”
“With you, every day is an adventure.”
She giggled. “Do you know what my favorite part of today was?”
He raised his shoulders.
“Having you talk to me tonight. Really talk to me. And—” She pirouetted and wobbled. “Dancing with you.”
Reese hurried over and placed his hands on her waist to steady her. Catching Tessa was his job now, a full-time task he didn’t mind one bit. “You can hardly call what I did dancing.”
“Really? All I remember was the way you looked at me.” She placed her hands on his shoulders. “Like you’re doing now. It�
�s as if—”
“As if I love you?” He lowered her to the ground. “That’s because I do.”
“But Reese, there are a thousand reasons why you shouldn’t. I’m too impulsive, too dramatic, too—”
Reese pressed a finger to her lips. “God planted this seed of love, and I intend to nurture it”—he drew his finger along her bottom lip—“with infinite care.”
Then he did something he would have previously thought impossible. He kissed Tessa Gregory speechless.
Tessa stepped off the streetcar and checked the address in her hand for Joe Walker’s workshop. Since the streetcar stopped quite a distance from the address, she began what she guessed would be a ten-minute walk. Hopefully, Edward would already be there when she arrived. She’d never spent much time in the warehouse district, but she knew it was no place for young ladies.
Like fireworks on Independence Day, excitement burst inside her. She quickened her pace as she grew closer. Today she was going to learn to ride a motorcycle.
A twinge of guilt nudged her. When she’d left the park yesterday, she’d been careful to evade Reese’s not-so-subtle questions as to where she was going. After all, a girl—even a girl in love—deserved a few secrets.
And she was most surely in love. A head-spinning, heart-pounding, mind-reeling love. At least she thought that was what she was feeling. She’d never been in love before, so how was a girl to know?
Since Memorial Day, she and Reese had been inseparable. Throughout the week, they’d talked at length about the garden party, the conservatory, his possible advancement, and Edward. Although Reese didn’t like it, he said he understood her reason for needing Edward’s connections, and after speaking with Edward, he was convinced the man’s heart was held by the girl back at college like Tessa had said. She was almost certain, however, that Reese would have second thoughts about letting her learn to ride a motorcycle.
Then again, it wasn’t up to him to let her do anything.
She turned at the corner and scanned the area. Edward stepped from one of the open doors and waved a dingy yellow rag in her direction before disappearing back inside. By the time she reached him, he had wheeled the motorcycle out of Mr. Walker’s workshop. Tessa almost giggled at the loving way Edward drew his hand along the gas tank, where the word Orbit had been painted with a flourish.
Tessa placed her hand on the nickel-plated handlebar. “Where do I start? Do I just climb on?”
“No!” Edward’s eyes widened in horror. “Tessa, there’s a lot you need to know.”
“Like what? I can ride a bicycle. How much harder can this be?”
“A lot.” He placed his hand on the bicycle-type leather seat. “First, you need to understand how an engine works.”
“Why? I want to ride a motorcycle, not build it.”
He scowled.
“Cheese and crackers, then go ahead and tell me, Edward.”
After five minutes of hearing about pistons, compression, belt drives, and other such nonsense, Tessa’s ears hurt. She moaned. “Can we please start the first lesson now?”
“The second lesson.” He pressed his lips firmly together, and his brows drew close. “What I was trying to explain was the first lesson, and I’m not sure you were even listening.”
She covered her heart with her hand. “I promise I’ll do better with the actual riding part.” Then, for added effect, she dipped her chin and batted her eyelashes a few times. That usually worked on most men.
“Oh, all right.” He motioned her to join him on the other side of the motorcycle. “We’ll begin with how to start it.” He showed her the lever to turn the gas on, the way to pump the oil into the crank case, and how to set the oil dripper. “You want two drops to fall about every seven seconds.”
Tessa squatted to watch the oil drip inside the glass cylinder, then spotted a lever attached to the gas tank. “What’s that lever for?”
“It tightens the belt and engages the engine.” He paused and studied her apparel. “Good thing you wore those overalls. A skirt would get caught in the belt.” He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a leather cap much like some motorists wore. “Here. Put this on. It will keep your hair from blowing. Now, I’ll start the cycle the first time to make it easier for you to do on your own.”
Tessa tugged the leather cap in place, tucked her hair beneath the flaps, and buckled the strap under her chin. Then, while Edward spoke, she kept a close eye on his hands. He explained how the rider turned the grip on the left handlebar all the way and snapped it into place to lift the exhaust valve and release the compression. “This left grip controls both the compression release and the spark advance.”
“Sparking?”
He frowned. “See? I knew you weren’t listening. The engine needs an ignition spark to start.”
“Oh, that spark.”
He rolled his eyes and mounted the cycle. With the kickstand lifting the back wheel about two inches off the ground, the motorcycle went nowhere when he began pedaling. “As I’m pedaling, Tessa, I’m going to tension the belt, then I’ll move this left grip back so I’ll have compression to start the engine and turn it for the spark. The right grip is the throttle.”
“The throttle makes it go faster, right? See, I was listening.”
“Naturally, you heard that part.” He pumped his legs. The belt around the rear wheel turned the pulley on the engine, and the machine sprang to life.
The steady putt-putt-putt reverberated off the buildings. “It’s quieter than I expected.”
“I can change that.” He grinned and flipped another lever. The putt-putt changed to a rumble, then he switched it back. “It has one setting for city driving and one for the country, where folks don’t mind the noise.”
To turn it off, he told her to release the throttle and then turn the left hand grip to discharge the engine’s pressure. The thrumming of the engine died away. “Isn’t she amazing? As quiet as a Harley, as fast as the Indian, and as dependable as the Excelsior.”
“How fast can I go?”
“You can’t go fast. Not yet anyway.” He sighed. “Tessa, I’m not so sure this is a good idea. What if you get hurt?”
“A deal’s a deal, and don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” he muttered. He swept his hand toward the machine. “Go ahead and get on.”
Pulse pounding, Tessa mounted the motorcycle. It felt more bulky beneath her hands than a bicycle, and infinitely more powerful. “Can I take off and go now?”
“If you can start it.” He chuckled.
Was this some kind of trick? She’d seen him do it with ease, but he didn’t appear to believe she could do it. Maybe he’d kept some important piece of information from her?
She set her mind on the task at hand and followed each step. Turn left grip until you hear a click. Get on. Release left grip. Start pedaling. Ease tension lever forward to engage the belt. Turn right-hand throttle to give the engine gas.
Her heart jumped when the engine roared to life, vibrating her body. “Now what?”
“I’ll lift it off the stand, and you can take it slow.” He stepped into place. “Ease into it. Make a nice little loop. Got it?”
She nodded. Behind her, she felt the back end of the motorcycle raise and then touch the ground. She jerked the throttle to the right and the bike darted forward. The front wheel wobbled, and she struggled to keep the machine upright while maintaining the speed she needed.
“Easy, Tessa!”
After a few tries, she figured out how to manage speed, turning, and balance. Exhilaration fired through her as she upped the speed on her way back to Edward. What a heady feeling of freedom! No one could tell her what to do now.
“Slow down, Tessa.” Edward’s voice rose above the sound of the engine.
She eased back the throttle. No sense in upsetting him.
An automobile flew around the corner and drove in front of her. She gasped.
Lord, help me!<
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If Reese had not given in to that second cup of coffee, he wouldn’t be standing here in the boardinghouse facing the Henderson brothers. Then again, he’d been praying for opportunities to show the young men Christ’s love, so maybe this was the answer to his prayers.
Clem shoved his arms into the sleeves of his jacket. “Honest, Reese, we’ve got jobs, and we don’t want to miss the first day. You want us to pay Mrs. Baxter, don’t you?”
Reese frowned. They should have paid her weeks ago.
“And don’t look down your nose at us.” Albert put his cap on. “We need a ride this one time. We’re not used to the morning streetcar schedule.”
Of course they weren’t used to the schedule. Neither of them had risen before noon for almost a month. Reese sighed. It was certainly much easier showing God’s love to more lovable people, but he didn’t recall reading any conditions on Christ’s directions, so he might as well give the Henderson brothers a lift. Tessa had told him she was going to be delayed, and he’d already arranged with Mr. Nussbaumer to work later than usual to accommodate for a late arrival.
“Come on then.” Reese opened the screen door and held it for the two brothers. “I’ll drop you off on my way to work.”
Riding with Albert and Clem was far from Reese’s favorite way to start the day, but he did his best to keep a civil conversation going. By the time they reached the warehouse district, he had learned the young men had lofty ambitions to make a fortune in the city, and they had no intention of returning home to their father’s farm.
From the beatings they mentioned, he didn’t blame them, but he also had his previous observation confirmed. The brothers might want to make a mint, but they didn’t plan on working hard to get it. Despite the compassion he felt for them regarding their upbringing, he couldn’t let go of the frustration these two made him feel. Lord, fill me with your love. Help me show them there’s another way.
“Take the next right,” Clem said from the backseat.
As Love Blooms Page 18
