Lorna Seilstad - [Lake Manawa Summers 03]

by The Ride of Her Life

  “Absolutely, sir. This arrangement has been stellar. Mrs. Hart is an excellent cook, and as I told you, good food makes for good workers.”

  Mr. Thorton patted his round belly. “We men do like our food.”

  Nick chuckled and reached for his wallet tucked in his jacket pocket. “But I’d like to pay you extra to see to it Mrs. Hart and her son are both given meals.”

  “You don’t need to pay me. Their meals are included.” A deep scowl marred Mr. Thorton’s usually jovial face. “You don’t think I’d do otherwise, do you?”

  “I didn’t mean to imply you wouldn’t take care of them. Mrs. Hart said three meals a day are included in her salary.”

  “That’s right, and I expect her to eat them.”

  “What about her son?”

  “Well, of course, I thought she’d feed him. I said she could keep him there with her, and she isn’t going to let him starve.”

  Nick shook his head. “No, she’d starve herself before she’d keep her son from eating.”

  “Are you saying … ?”

  “I don’t know anything for sure, but I’ve noticed her not eating on a few occasions, and Levi shared a couple of other things that had me thinking. I believe she’s a proud woman and an honest one. If you told her three meals, she’d take no more. At least my own mother wouldn’t, and I think Mrs. Hart may be a lot like her.” Nick opened his wallet. “So I want to pay you for Levi’s meals. You shouldn’t have to bear the burden.”

  “That’s generous of you, but not necessary. She’s the best cook I’ve ever had. I’ll treat her right.” Mr. Thorton rubbed his hand over his beard. “Tell you what. I’ll make it clear to her today that both her and her son’s meals are included in her salary.”

  “But you won’t mention I spoke to you?”

  “It’ll be our secret.” Mr. Thorton held out his hand.

  Nick shook it. “Thank you, Mr. Thorton. My men would be mighty upset if she fainted dead away from malnutrition.”

  A chuckle rumbled from Mr. Thorton. “And what about you, Mr. Perrin?”

  “Naturally, so would I.” Even if she is treating me like yesterday’s wash water.

  “Levi!” Lilly stood on the stoop of the lunch counter, shielding her eyes from the afternoon sun. After she’d washed up the dishes from the noon meal, Levi had helped her mix some cookies. She’d promised him one when they came out of the oven. “Levi! I’ve got your cookie.”

  She waited, but he didn’t appear. Scanning the area, she spotted the cast-iron hook and ladder wagon toy he’d been playing with lying overturned near the crate where he kept Flower. Stepping closer, she eased the board off Flower’s crate and peeked inside to see if the snake still remained. The only thing visible was one of the diner’s checkered napkins. Would Levi have covered Flower up? He had been worried about how cold the snake was at night.

  Not wanting to check but afraid not to, Lilly leaned forward and took hold of the corner of the napkin. She lifted it an inch, but no hiss greeted her. She eased the cloth back. Relief washed over her. No Flower.

  As quickly as the relief came, it vanished, replaced by growing fear. Where had Levi taken the snake? He’d never wandered beyond hearing distance before, but he had this time.

  She glanced around at the Midway surrounding them. A long row of ghostly booths sat under wide-arched entrances. Still absent of wares and hawkers since the season had yet to begin, they almost begged to be explored. Perhaps he’d gone to do that.

  The roller skating rink, shooting gallery, and bowling alley were open on the weekends, but not today. Even the carousel horses had yet to begin their endless circle of trotting. Levi might find any of these places a fascinating adventure.

  Why hadn’t she checked on him earlier?

  She opened the lunch counter’s screen door. “Eugenia, I can’t find Levi. I need to go look for him.”

  Eugenia hurried out. “I know he was out here ten minutes ago when I came out to hang up the wet dish towels in back.”

  “Then he can’t have gone far.” Lilly called for him again. No answer. A lump the size of a dumpling formed in her throat, panic making it grow more each minute. “Why don’t you check in the Midway, and I’ll check that grove of trees he’s so fond of?”

  The girl nodded, and Lilly hurried off. She wound her way through the grove of cottonwoods and oaks, calling his name over and over. She crossed the top of a fallen log and snagged her dress. Yanking it free, she paused to stick her finger through the tear in the calico print. One more thing to mend.

  “Levi!” Scanning the woods, she tried to think like him. Where had Levi said he found the snake? Maybe he’d returned Flower home so she could visit her family.

  Home.

  Flower’s new home.

  The snake cage.

  Nick.

  She hiked up her skirt and ran. Her ankle twisted on a root, but she didn’t fall or let the pain stop her. Finally she reached the path leading to the roller coaster. She pressed her hand to the stitch in her side, trying to fight off the fear threatening to consume her. Please, Lord, let him be safe. Let Nick have him.

  But if Levi were there, why hadn’t Nick brought him back?

  Even from a distance, Nick recognized Levi Hart’s sure-footed skip. The boy looked happy as a lark as he made his way down the long, narrow path between the diner and the roller coaster site. Did he have a snake in his hand?

  Laughter rumbled in Nick’s chest. Only Levi would carry a snake around like a pull toy. The boy paused to watch a duck waddle across the path toward the lake. Then he tried to emulate the duck’s waddle for several yards.

  Nick’s chest warmed at the sight. He’d missed the little character and couldn’t wait to show him the shiny hinges he’d picked up for Flower’s cage.

  When Levi spotted him, he broke into a run, the snake’s body swinging like a piece of rope from the boy’s fist. Thankfully, Levi held the snake just below its head.

  “Hey, Levi.” Nick squatted down to eye level with the six-year-old. He adjusted the collar on Levi’s brown tweed jacket. “Does your mama know you’re here?”

  “Yep.”

  “You sure?”

  He nodded. “Got to get Flower in her new house. Mama says having a house is ’portant.”

  “I suppose it is to some folks.”

  “What about you, Mr. Nick?”

  “Not so much.” He stood and took Levi’s hand. “But I’m sure Flower is going to love her new home. I put the hinges on the door, but I saved putting the latch on for us to do together.” Nick led Levi behind the woodpile to the small work area and showed him the cage, now covered in a fresh coat of red paint with the name “Flower” lettered in yellow. Nick had even added a single bud, albeit slightly imperfect. He was certainly no Michelangelo.

  Levi squealed. “It’s so pretty!”

  Nick lifted the cage from the table and lowered it to the ground. “Why don’t you give Flower a tour of her new home?”

  After lifting the hinged lid, Levi dropped the snake in with a thud. It slithered around with an angry hiss.

  Levi frowned. “I don’t think she likes it.”

  “Buddy, I think she might be a little upset from her trip here.”

  “It’s the duck’s fault.”

  “Really?” Nick picked the cage up, snake and all, and repositioned it on the table. “Why is that?”

  “Honking. Snakes don’t speak honk. They don’t like those loud, honking ducks. They talk hiss. Like this.” Levi pressed his nose against the chicken wire. “Hissssssss. Hiss. Hisssss.”

  Nick pulled the boy back. “Hey, buddy, let’s not give Flower a chance to bite your nose. Your mama would feed me to the snakes if you come home with fang marks on your face.”

  “Mr. Nick, Flower couldn’t eat you. You’re too big.” He patted the cage. “Flower likes worms and lizards.”

  “And I bet she’d love a nice plump mouse. Any of those at the lunch counter?”

  Levi g
rinned. “I wish there was, but Mama would scream for days if she saw one.”

  Nick laughed. “Ready to put the latch on?” He lifted Levi onto the table and showed him how the padlock would work.

  “And I get my own key?” Levi’s soft blue eyes lit up.

  Nick slipped a length of leather through the end of a key, tied it in a knot, and dropped the loop over Levi’s head. “You keep the key right around your neck so you don’t lose it. Now, let’s get to work.”

  For the next ten minutes, Nick let Levi help him put the latch on. Once he’d attached the two pieces, he demonstrated how to lower the hasp and then snap the padlock in place. “Let’s see you open it, buddy.”

  Levi slid the key from around his neck. The tip of his tongue stuck out from between his lips as he concentrated on poking the key into the hole of the padlock. He twisted the key, but the lock didn’t give.

  “Turn it a little more. Use your muscles.”

  Forehead scrunched, Levi clenched the key and turned it. Finally the lock clicked open. “I did it!”

  “You sure did.” Nick snapped the padlock closed. “Now, try again.”

  “Aw, Mr. Nick. Why?”

  “’Cause Flower might get hungry if you can’t open her cage every time you need to feed her.”

  “Or hug her.” Levi stuck the key into the lock again. “She gets lonely sometimes. Like Mama.”

  At the mention of Lilly, Nick’s chest warmed. He started to ask Levi about his father but clamped his lips closed. Now wasn’t the time. Not yet.

  Shouting in the distance drew his attention. He cocked his head to the side and listened for the sound again.

  “Levi!” The sound was faint but closer. The voice belonged to Lilly. She shouted again, sounding winded and distraught. Why was she running?

  Nick’s heart rammed against his ribs. He grabbed the six-year-old’s shoulders. “Levi, tell me the truth. Did your mama give you permission to come see me?”

  Levi hung his head. “No, sir.”

  Poor Lilly. She had to be beside herself with worry.

  Nick released Levi and jogged to Lilly on the path. “He’s here, Mrs. Hart.”

  Visible relief cascaded over her face, and she wobbled. He took hold of her arm. “He’s fine. He’s not hurt.”

  She tossed his hand away. “How could you? Why didn’t you bring him back to the diner? You knew he didn’t belong here!”

  Taking a step back, Nick held up his hands. “Whoa, ma’am. He told me he had permission to come see me. I only found out—”

  “But I would never let him walk here alone.” Tears trailed down her cheeks, and she swiped them away with the back of her hand.

  Nick swallowed. Of course she wouldn’t, only he hadn’t considered that. “I’m sorry. I thought—”

  “You didn’t think. That’s why I can’t let him be with you. You don’t think about the consequences.”

  Nick’s mind whirled in confusion. Why did he feel like the conversation had suddenly made a sharp turn and he’d been left without a map? What consequences was she talking about?

  Chest still heaving, Lilly glared at him, her amber eyes filled with fire. “Show me where he is so I can take him home.”

  “Of course. He’s at the worktable.” Nick turned, motioning for her to precede him.

  With her back ramrod stiff, Lilly stomped down the path. She rounded the woodpile and jammed her fists onto her hips. “Where is he? You said he was here.”

  “He was.” Nick leaned over to look under the table. The cage was gone. Levi couldn’t go far lugging it, but he had probably hid out of fear. He searched around the pile. “Levi, this isn’t funny. Come on out. Your mama won’t be mad.”

  Lilly shot a fierce look at him.

  At least she won’t be mad at you because she’s too busy being furious with me.

  10

  “Let go of me!”

  Lilly whirled at the sound of the familiar small voice, and her heart beat double time.

  “Easy, laddie. Yer mum is lookin’ fer ya. I heard her calling yer name.” With his beefy hand clamped around Levi’s shirt collar, Sean McGready gently pushed the boy forward. “Caught him sneaking under the trestles, lugging that cage.”

  “Thanks, Sean.” Nick lifted the cage from Levi’s arms and set it on the table.

  “Goodbye, laddie.” Sean took off his bowler hat and ran a hand over his bald head. “Hope we can still be friends.” He nodded toward Lilly. “Ma’am, sorry for manhandlin’ your boy.”

  She’d already dropped to her knees in front of Levi and pulled him to her, showering kisses on his head and face. “Thank you for bringing him to me.”

  Levi twisted and wriggled free enough to step back in her arms. He wiped his cheek with his sleeve. “Mama, Mr. Nick is gonna think I’m a baby.”

  With a smile, she kissed the same cheek again and loosened her hold. Still, she didn’t release him entirely. She couldn’t. She needed to touch him in order to believe he was truly all right.

  “Levi, you frightened me out of my wits.” She glanced at Nick, wanting him to see the pain he’d caused. “Why did you sneak off?”

  “And, Levi, why did you lie to me about having permission to come here?” Nick asked. “You told me your mother said you could be here. Twice.”

  Levi’s lower lip quivered, and tears filled his eyes. He crumpled into sobs.

  Wrapping her arms around him, Lilly stroked him until his sobs softened. “Levi, we want to understand why you did what you did.”

  He hiccuped. “I wanted to finish Flower’s home, Mama, but you kept saying no when Mr. Nick asked.”

  Recalling all the times Nick had offered to take Levi, Lilly felt her stomach knot. She couldn’t let her son get attached to Nick, but how could she explain that to a six-year-old? Nick would leave at the end of the summer, and they’d be devastated.

  They? She shook her head. She meant he. All this excitement had her as addle-brained as Eugenia.

  Nick laid his hand on Levi’s head. “No matter what, you need to obey your mama. She’s a good lady, and she deserves your respect even if you don’t like what she tells you.”

  “But—”

  “No buts, Levi. Listen to her, you hear?”

  The authority in Nick’s voice declared the matter closed, but Lilly wasn’t done yet. At least not with Mr. Perrin. Besides, he had no right to scold her son.

  She stood. “Mr. Perrin, I find your part—”

  “Wait, Mrs. Hart.”

  “—in all of this—”

  “Lilly.”

  She stared at him, the sound of her Christian name on his lips echoing in her ears. How dare he?

  His gaze dropped to Levi, and he raised his dark eyebrows. “Can we speak privately about this?”

  Perhaps he was right. Levi didn’t need to hear the things she planned on saying. She touched her son’s shoulder. “Mr. Perrin and I need to talk alone. You stay right here, and I mean it.”

  “I’ll obey.”

  “Good boy.” Nick winked at him. “We’ll be back in a minute.”

  Lilly led the way to a grove of trees, blood pumping so loudly in her ears she could scarcely hear the rustling of the branches above. Thoughts shot at her like bullets. The nerve of Nick Perrin correcting her son when he was the one who had let this whole fiasco unfold. And who did he think he was, using her Christian name without her permission? Even if he was the boss of this project, it didn’t mean he could do whatever he pleased. Even if Mr. Thorton caught wind of it, she was going to give Nick Perrin a tongue-lashing he’d not soon forget.

  She took a deep breath. She was being too harsh, but how else could she keep Nick away from her son—before they became too attached? Emotions churning like the waters of Lake Manawa on a windy day, she whirled toward him.

  “You accused me of not thinking of the consequences?” Nick’s blue eyes, dark and livid, pierced her.

  Shocked, Lilly took a step back.

  “Have you eve
n considered that if you’d let him come with me, this wouldn’t have happened?” He grabbed a stick from the ground and broke it in half. “Levi’s a boy, and he needs a man around. Lord knows he can’t count on his grandfather, and I was trying to be a friend, but you—” He cut his words off and hurled half the stick into the lake. His shoulders heaved with his rapid breathing, his jaw locked in anger.

  “But I what?”

  He spun toward her. “You deliberately kept him away from me. And why? Am I some kind of monster? Did I not wash your dishes well enough?”

  She blinked. Nick a monster? Hardly. The expression on his honest face and his words tickled her. She fought the tug at the corner of her lips. “As a matter of fact, your dish washing could use some work.”

  A smile began to form on his face as well, and he shook his head. “You could drive a good man to drink.”

  Her eyes widened.

  “Not literally.” He sighed and shook his head. “Mrs. Hart, I’m out of line. I’m sorry. Levi’s your son. I’m sure you only want what’s best for him. I won’t bother either of you again.” He turned to go.

  Her breath caught. “Wait.”

  “What?” He stopped and faced her.

  “I need to apologize to you. I’m sorry I accused you.” Lilly forced the words out. Apologizing wasn’t her favorite thing to do, not that she had to do it often. “You are certainly not a monster, and you’ve only been kind to Levi.”

  “And about my dish washing?” He gave a lopsided grin.

  “You just need more practice.”

  “Is that a fact?” He grew quiet and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “If I’m no monster, why are you keeping Levi away from me?”

  When she finally spoke, Lilly’s voice sounded soft even to her own ears. “He’ll become attached to you more and more, and then you’ll leave at the end of the summer.”

  “You can’t protect him from everything.”

  Lilly’s heart constricted. If only she could. “But he’s already lost so much.”

  As if he were trying to see into her thoughts, Nick studied her for a long moment. He pulled his hands from his pockets and crossed them over his broad chest. “You know, he’ll only keep sneaking off to visit. He’s fascinated with the roller coaster.”