Lorna Seilstad - [Lake Manawa Summers 03]

by The Ride of Her Life

  Nick ruffled Levi’s hair. “Why don’t you let me give these folks a quick tour, then we’ll see if I can shake the kite out of the tree? Mrs. Hart, care to join us?”

  She nodded. “Levi, you stay close while we look around, okay?”

  He sniffed. “Yes, Mama.”

  With a sweep of his hand, Nick motioned the group toward one end of the structure. “The coaster will be over a quarter mile in length, one of the longest in the West. We’re naming it the Velvet Roller Coaster, and she’ll be the jewel of Lake Manawa.” Nick walked to the center of the structure. “The car shed will sit here, and the depot over there.”

  “I can’t wait to ride on it.” Marguerite scanned the structure, seeming to envision the finished product. “I’ve read that it’s almost like flying.”

  Nick nodded. “Mark, ever ridden a coaster?”

  He leaned against one of the posts. “Not yet, but I’ll be one of the first in line.”

  “And how about you, Mrs. Hart? Can we count on your patronage? Can I give you the ride of your life?” Nick cocked an eyebrow in her direction.

  Lilly clasped her hands in front of her. “As a matter of fact, I like my feet on the ground, right where God intended them to be.”

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Nick teased. “Mind if I try to change your mind?”

  “Good luck doing so.” Marguerite gave Lilly a cheeky grin. “So, Mr. Perrin, how many people can ride at a time?”

  “Two cars on each run. They can hold up to eight people, but on some days it’s best to run only one car of four.” Nick scratched his eyebrow. “Brakemen aren’t needed on these coasters. The scenic railways have them, but my roller coaster is designed for the cars to be going fast enough for a thrill, yet slow enough to stay on the track.”

  “What happens if they aren’t slow enough?” Lilly asked.

  Mark chuckled. “I don’t think Mr. Perrin would let that happen.”

  “But what if it does?” Lilly fixed her eyes on Nick.

  He stiffened. Why did she want to hear this now? He held her gaze. “The cars could leave the track.”

  “Meaning they’d fly through the air, possibly killing those in the cars, correct?” She squared her shoulders. “And that’s exactly why my son and I will not be riding your Velvet Roller Coaster.”

  We’ll see about that, Mrs. Hart. I can be as stubborn as you.

  Nick turned and shielded his eyes with his hand. “Speaking of your son, where has Levi gotten off to?” He searched the area, and his gaze landed on the tree where the kite had lodged. At the base of the trunk lay Levi’s discarded jacket.

  He flashed a glance at Lilly, but she’d already hiked her skirts and was racing the short distance to the tree. What did she think she was going to do to get the boy down?

  Coming to a halt beside her, Nick scanned the tree for Levi. He spotted him near the top, lying on his stomach, clutching a thin tree branch. In a branch only yards away was the wedged kite. Impressive. He’d almost reached it.

  “Levi, come on down. We’ll get the kite later,” Nick called. If the boy had gotten up there, he could certainly get down.

  He didn’t move.

  “Sweetheart, we need you to come on down.” Lilly’s voice belied her concern.

  “I can’t, Mama. I’m stuck.”

  Nick’s chest tightened at the sob in the boy’s voice. “He’s too scared to move.”

  “Hang on, sweetheart. I’ll be right up.” Lilly removed her spring cape and handed it to Marguerite.

  Nick clasped her arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “To get my son.”

  “You stay here. I’ll get him.”

  “Those tree branches couldn’t possibly bear your weight. Look at the one Levi’s on now. See, it’s bowing like a rainbow.”

  He glanced upward. “But what do you know about climbing a tree?”

  “A whole lot more than you obviously think I do.”

  She shoved past him, and Nick stared wide-eyed after her. What did Lilly think she was doing? Ladies didn’t climb trees—even to get their precocious six-year-olds down from them. Then again, Lilly Hart wasn’t like any lady he’d ever met.

  “She can do it.” Marguerite pressed a hand to his arm.

  “She’s always been athletic,” Mark added. “She could outswim Marguerite any day. Besides, she’s right. Those branches wouldn’t hold you or me.”

  As if she’d been climbing trees all her life, Lilly swung onto the first branch. When she pushed off the lower one with her right foot, it cracked. Her foot slipped.

  Nick lunged toward the tree.

  Lilly caught the second branch and pulled herself up with great effort. She risked a glance below to see the lower branch now dangling against the trunk. She released the breath she’d been holding. Another way down would be in order upon her return, but she’d address that concern when the time came. Right now she needed to get to her son.

  “Sweetheart, are you doing okay?”

  “Mama?” He turned his head to see her, and his hold slipped. He clutched the branch again. “Hurry. I’m scared.”

  “I know, sweetheart.” Lilly moved faster from one branch to another. “Just hold on. I’m coming.” She reached for a thick branch, and her shoe slid on the bark. She sucked in a breath. Slow down. Falling would do Levi no good.

  “Careful, Lilly.” Nick’s words were laced with concern.

  Levi whimpered above her, and guilt pricked her heart. How had Levi climbed to the top of a tree in such a short period of time? She should have been keeping a closer eye on him instead of inspecting Nick’s Velvet Roller Coaster. No mother should become so distracted she lost sight of her child.

  “Listen to me now, Levi. I’m below you, but I can’t climb on the limb where you are. You’re gonna have to climb down from that branch.”

  “I can’t move, Mama. It’ll break. It’s creaking.” His chubby fists clinched the branch until his knuckles turned white.

  “No, it won’t break. Take it real slow.” She leaned forward as if her effort would help him move.

  “What’s going on?” Nick barked the question, and Lilly glanced below to see him pacing back and forth.

  “I think she’s gone as far as she can,” Marguerite said. “Levi needs to swing his legs down so she can get to him.”

  Lilly risked another glance downward.

  Nick cupped his hands to his mouth. “Levi, you need to do what your mama asks you to. Remember, she’s a smart lady.”

  “My tummy hurts.” Levi hiccuped.

  Despite her prodding, Levi refused to budge. Lilly let out a long sigh. What was she going to do?

  “Hey, Levi.” Nick’s voice filled with a sense of adventure. “Remember when you told me about that book that had all kinds of animals in it? Porcupines and squirrels and—”

  “Chipmunks.”

  “That’s right,” Nick said.

  Lilly moved closer and stumbled on a knot in the branch. She fought for leverage and slid hard against the tree’s massive trunk. She winced at the jab of pain but ignored the trickle of red on her white cotton shirtwaist. Scratches would wait. Her son would not.

  With more care, she eased herself onto the branch below her son and glanced at the ground. They had to be almost twenty feet off the ground.

  Nick’s voice rose upward again. “Levi, do you think you can pretend to be a chipmunk and move from branch to branch?”

  “I guess.” The bravado in his voice was clearly forced.

  “You can do it, Chipmunk.”

  “Okay, Levi.” Lilly braced her foot against the tree trunk and reached for her son.

  “Not Levi, Chipmunk.” This time a note of true bravery rang clear.

  Lilly shook her head. Chipmunk? How long would it take to get Levi over that one?

  “Scoot back a little at a time until you reach the trunk … Chipmunk. Turtle speed. I’m right here.”

  Wiggling his body like a giant caterp
illar, he inched back. The branch swayed as he moved, and each little crack sent a jolt of fear through Lilly.

  She continued to coax him until he had lowered one foot within reach of her. She touched his calf. “There you go. Put your foot right here.” Guiding his boot in place, she resisted the urge to tell him to hurry. “Now the other one.”

  He slipped the other foot over the branch and slowly eased it to the branch below.

  “That’s it.” Lilly held his waist as he moved beside her.

  “Good job, Levi!” Marguerite’s words brought a smile to his face, and Lilly hugged him to her side. She glanced below and spotted Nick, a smile playing across his beard-shadowed face.

  “Okay, Chipmunk,” he called. “You got up there, you can get down. Right?”

  Levi took a trembly breath, his shoulders shaking beneath her arm. “What if I fall?”

  “I’ll catch you.” Nick spoke with such sincerity even Lilly found herself believing the man’s words.

  “And what if Mama falls?”

  Despite all the branches, Nick held her gaze. “I’ll catch her too.”

  13

  Lilly could not believe Nick Perrin would have to catch her after all. Without the tree branch at the bottom, she would have to let Nick lift her down or risk a sprained ankle. Why had the branch broken when she’d made her ascent?

  The thought of his hands on her waist made her cheeks flame hot as a soup pot. Maybe a sprained ankle wouldn’t be so bad.

  “Your turn, Mrs. Hart.” Nick held up his arms. “Just like Chipmunk.”

  “You jump, Mama.” Levi demonstrated the effort from beside Marguerite. “It’s fun. Don’t worry. Mr. Nick will catch you. You’ll be Chipmunk Mama.”

  Ten minutes ago her son was scared witless, and now he couldn’t wait until she launched herself into the arms of Nick Perrin.

  “I think I could shimmy down the trunk.”

  “Don’t be silly.” Nick moved his extended arms. “Take a leap of faith. It’s not far, and I’ll catch you. I promise.”

  Heart dancing in her chest, Lilly studied Nick’s sapphire eyes—such a contrast to his almost coal-colored hair. And while his grin teased her, his eyes made promises that scared her almost as much as discovering Levi in the top branches of a tree.

  If she leapt, would he truly catch her?

  Pride alone wouldn’t allow her to remain perched on a branch like a wild turkey, six feet from the ground, but this was asking too much. She tried to imagine how Levi felt earlier, but she was clinging to her branch for a different reason entirely. Lord, I’m too scared to do this.

  She shook her head. This was only getting down from a tree, not making a lifetime commitment. Taking a deep breath, Lilly counted to three aloud and pushed herself from the branch.

  Falling through the air lasted only a split second.

  Nick Perrin caught her, just as he’d promised. His hands spanned her waist, and she clasped his well-toned arms as he lowered her to the ground.

  He kept one hand firmly on her elbow and glanced at the bloodied tear in her shirtwaist. “You okay?”

  “It’s only a scratch.”

  Marguerite draped an arm around her shoulders. “Now that everyone is safely on the ground again, Mark and I had better get going. Trip will be wondering why we’ve been gone so long.”

  “Glad you and your son are all right.” Mark tipped his hat to Lilly. “And thank you for the tour, Mr. Perrin. I enjoyed hearing about the coaster.”

  “Come back anytime.”

  “I may do that.” He motioned Marguerite toward the path.

  “And, Lilly.” Marguerite turned one last time, her eyes twinkling. “We need to have a long talk tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow’s your morning off.” Nick kept his tone deliberately casual as he walked beside Lilly. Even though she and Levi were fine, he intended to see them both safely home.

  They made their way down the path to the cottages with Levi skipping ahead of them. The trees began to cast long shadows on the lawn as the sun dipped behind the bluffs.

  “So, will you be heading to town?”

  Lilly kept her eyes on the path. “I like to visit my mother on Wednesdays. She works for Marguerite’s parents as their cook.”

  “So culinary talents run in your family?”

  Her lips curled in a smile. “Taught me everything I know.”

  Levi stopped and poked a stick under a rock off to the side of the path. He pried the rock loose and it rolled over. Sitting on his haunches, he stared at the creepy crawlies beneath it as they scrambled in protest at the disturbance.

  Nick placed a hand on Lilly’s arm to slow her. Levi was so intent on his bug studies, Nick hated to interrupt. Inhaling a lungful of the tangy air coming off the lake, he turned to Lilly. “I have some errands to run in town tomorrow as well. Would you and Levi care to join me for breakfast?”

  Lilly raised her eyebrows. “Eugenia is serving your breakfast at the lunch counter.”

  “Eugenia is cooking? Are you trying to kill my men?” He chuckled.

  “She’s improving.” Lilly gave him a sidelong glance, then giggled. “Besides, it’s hard to ruin oatmeal.”

  He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “As I said, would you two like to join me for breakfast—in the city?”

  “Nick …” She dropped her gaze to the ground and pulled her shawl tight about her shoulders.

  “It’s breakfast, Lilly.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from lifting her chin. “Nothing more. Three friends eating scrambled eggs you didn’t have to cook.”

  She glanced toward Levi. “I’d better get him home.”

  The wait for her answer dragged on as they walked in silence. He didn’t want to push her, but surely breakfast wouldn’t be threatening to the ironclad barrier she’d erected around her heart.

  “Well?” he asked when they reached Emily’s cottage.

  “See what I got, Mama?” Levi held up a toad and delivered a kiss to the creature’s mouth.

  Lilly reached for her son. “Levi! What are you doing?”

  “It’s not a princess, Mama. It’s only an old toad.”

  “What am I gonna do with you?” She shook her head, and a smile blossomed on her face. It slid away when she looked at Nick. “What if Levi gets the wrong idea?”

  “The wrong idea about what? Toads or scrambled eggs?” He flashed her a roguish grin and crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn’t giving up so easily. “I can set him straight on the toads, and if you prefer, I can tell him hard-boiled eggs are best—even if they’re a little tough to get out of their shells.”

  “Are you calling me an egghead?” The breeze whipped the soft curls falling free from her bun. One appeared to tickle her cheek, and she pushed it away. She smiled, but a sigh escaped. “I guess we do have to eat, and we might as well do it with you. Where do you want us to meet you?”

  “I’ll pick you both up at seven thirty.”

  Before she could protest, he lifted Levi, toad and all, into his arms. “See you in the morning, Chipmunk. We’re having breakfast in town.”

  “Chipmunk Mama too?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Adjusting the lace collar on her green-checked day dress, Lilly worried her bottom lip between her teeth. Did the dress send the wrong message? She didn’t want to wear one of her nicest dresses, but this one was still a far cry from her white shirtwaist and serviceable dark skirts she normally wore at the diner.

  “Here’s your hat.” Emily handed her the matching straw hat with the large peacock plume and trailing satin ribbons. “You look lovely. You can stop fussing.”

  “I’m not fussing. I simply want to appear presentable.” Lilly pinned her hat in place and splayed her hand over the belt cinched around her waist, attempting to quell the flutters in her stomach. At least the silver buckle wasn’t tarnished.

  A smile widened across Emily’s face. “In that case, you are quite presentable, and so is Levi trussed up in his sailor
suit—except for the dirt on his chin.”

  “Dirt? Where?”

  Emily giggled. “I’m teasing you. He looks adorable.”

  “Why do I feel so strange doing this? It’s only breakfast between friends.” She pinned her watch to her bodice.

  “Because you and I both know the way Nick Perrin looks at you does not say ‘friend.’” Emily patted her arm. “But that is not a bad thing.”

  A knock sounded on the door, and Levi scrambled to answer it.

  Lilly gripped the back of a chair. “This is a mistake.”

  “No.” Emily draped Lilly’s spring cape around her friend. “The only mistake would be not to go.”

  Levi swung the door open. “Morning, Mr. Nick.”

  “My, don’t you look dapper.” He looked to find Lilly in the doorway. “And doesn’t your mama look pretty as a daisy.”

  “Not daisy. Daffodil.” Levi hopped down the steps. “That’s her favorite flower, but her dress is green, so I guess she’s pretty as a toad.”

  Nick chuckled. “Only you would think toads are pretty.”

  “Toads are beautiful.” Levi spun in a circle. “Let’s go. I’m hungry. I want a stack of pancakes this high.” He held his hands a foot apart.

  “Well, Lilly, shall we go feed this starving boy?”

  She nodded, and they started down the path toward the service road. Lilly stopped at the sight of a waiting carriage. “You brought a rig.”

  “Sure. I told you I had errands. I rented this one when I arrived and keep it at one of the farms nearby.”

  “I thought we’d be riding the streetcar.”

  He shrugged and plopped Levi in the seat. “Same difference. We’ll get there either way.”

  Except this way, she’d have to sit beside him alone all the way to town. What if someone saw them?

  “Mrs. Hart?” He held out his hand to assist her.

  She took it and sucked in a breath at the roughness of his hand as he helped her in. Of course his hands would be calloused with all of the manual work he did, but she hadn’t expected it.

  Levi bounced on the leather seat and growled. “I’m hungry as a bear, Mr. Nick.”