The crowd clapped and she let out a breath. She smiled at the audience and then stepped back for Eli to take a shot.
His face was serious and his shoulders tight as he lifted the bow and pulled back on the string. Memories from the night before, when she’d put her arms around him to show him how to stand, came flying back to her. Her cheeks filled with heat and she glanced around to see if anyone suspected her wayward thoughts and actions, but everyone had their eyes on Eli.
He cut a dashing figure in his summer suit as he poised to shoot and then released the arrow.
It landed on the left edge of the bull’s-eye, equidistant from the center as hers.
“After the first round, it looks as if we have a tie,” Mr. Walker said with a smile. “Come on, Miss Taylor. Show the competition what you’re made of.”
The crowd chuckled and Lucy took another deep breath. She had to forget about the audience and Eli, and just focus on what she was good at.
She aimed once again, and this time the arrow landed closer to the center of the bull’s-eye.
“Well done!” Mr. Walker said as the audience cheered.
“See if you can beat that, Boyer,” a young man heckled from the crowd.
Eli glanced at Lucy, and though he didn’t smile, his eyes suggested he was proud of her, too.
His second shot landed just outside the bull’s-eye, giving her the clear lead.
“One more shot,” Mr. Walker called out. “Make it count.”
Lucy felt more confident as she raised her third arrow and aimed it at the center of the bull’s-eye. The tension on the string pulled at her muscles, begging to be let go, so she did what the arrow desired, and released the string. The arrow landed with a thud on the outside of the bull’s-eye, close to Eli’s second shot.
The crowd was silent and Lucy blinked several times, shocked that it had not gone where she’d aimed.
“Well done, Miss Taylor,” Mr. Walker said. He offered congratulatory applause, and the crowd soon followed, though they didn’t cheer as loudly as before.
“One shot left,” Mr. Walker said to Eli. “Let’s see what you can do.”
Eli put his toe on the line and placed his arrow on the string. With beautiful form—suggesting that he didn’t need her help yesterday, after all—he lifted the bow and pulled back on the string. He closed one eye and let the arrow sail toward the target. It landed with a thud beside his second arrow—making Lucy the winner of the archery contest.
“Congratulations, Miss Taylor!” Mr. Walker said. “The archery points are awarded to your team.”
“Hip, hip, hooray!” the crowd chanted. “Hip, hip, hooray!”
Eli lowered the bow and turned to face Lucy. He extended his hand. “Congratulations, Lucy.”
“You were a formidable contender.” She took his hand and loved the feel of his touch.
“I had a good teacher.” He winked and then moved away, allowing the crowd to get a full view of her. She hoped her cheeks weren’t flaming with embarrassment as she smiled and accepted their well-wishes.
“The last competition of the day will take place in thirty minutes,” Mr. Walker called over the cheers of the crowd. “The automobile race.”
The audience only cheered louder and Lucy glanced at Eli. His face had grown very serious.
“Mr. Boyer will be competing against Mr. Lerke of Minneapolis,” Mr. Walker continued as the crowd quieted. “The race will start just outside the fairground entrance and continue for ten miles, ending back here.”
A young man raced up the steps onto the stage and gave Mr. Walker a piece of paper.
Mr. Walker looked at it for a moment and then lifted his hands to quiet the crowd. “It appears that the Alexander team has won the equestrian points. According to my calculations, the competition will come down to the race. If Eli wins, the Alexander team will walk away with the prize. If he loses, the Walker team wins the money.”
Lucy frowned, her heart sinking at the news. More than anything, she wanted the money for Margaret’s surgery—yet she also wanted Eli to win.
“May the best man win,” Mr. Walker said.
Eli offered Lucy a sad smile and then turned and left the stage.
Her shoulders sank and her excitement over winning the archery contest faded.
Eli walked across the fairgrounds as fast as he could. He’d only left the Duryea to compete in the archery contest. Other than that, he’d been with the automobile since he pulled it out of the barn early that morning.
Mr. Alexander stood by an unfamiliar automobile as he spoke with Mr. Caruthers and two of the other investors who had visited Little Falls before. A fifth gentleman, one Eli had not met, stood beside them, pointing out various aspects of the new vehicle.
“Ah, Mr. Boyer. So nice of you to join us again,” Mr. Caruthers said as Eli approached. “I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Lerke of Minneapolis. He’s only just arrived.”
The other man was about the same age as Eli, though he was much shorter. His black hair and eyes were his dominant features as he surveyed Eli from under his derby. “The roads were almost impossible to pass,” he said, extending his hand to Eli. “I didn’t think I’d make it.”
Eli shook his hand. “Is this your automobile?”
Lerke nodded, his eyes filled with pride. “Aye, it is,” he said with an Irish accent.
The body of the motor wagon was an old buggy, which Lerke had customized into a self-propelled vehicle. “I usually average about twenty-five miles an hour on long trips like the one I just made from Minneapolis—but I don’t think I went over ten miles an hour today.”
Eli lifted his boot, the mud sticking to it like clay. “These conditions are less than ideal, to be sure.”
“We’ve cleaned the wheels of me Lerkemobile as best as we can,” Lerke said, “but I’ll be hard-pressed to race her like I wanted today.”
“We understand these are difficult circumstances,” Mr. Caruthers said. “But we are confident that the man who wins today will be just the man we need to invest in.”
The other investors nodded in agreement.
Eli glanced at Lerke, who was also eying him.
“Good luck, gentlemen.” Mr. Caruthers shook their hands and then Eli left them to look over the Duryea one more time.
“Do you think you’ll be able to win?” Mr. Alexander asked quietly as he walked with Eli.
“As long as I don’t get stuck in the mud, I think I have a good chance.”
Mr. Alexander nodded. “I looked over the Lerkemobile and it’s a fine machine. He’ll be real competition for you.”
“Thank you for letting me use your automobile today.” He hated to admit he was envious that Lerke had already built his own vehicle.
“You’re welcome.”
“Have you changed your mind about placing your investment in Mr. Lerke should he win?”
Mr. Alexander shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head. “Unfortunately, as much as I like you, Eli, it would be foolish of me not to pool my resources with the others, though I feel I have a lot invested in you already and I don’t want to see that wasted.”
“I appreciate the opportunities you’ve given me, sir.”
“I believe in you, Eli.”
The words, coming from a mentor like Mr. Alexander, meant a great deal to Eli. “Then I’ll do my best to win, so you don’t have to make such a hard choice.”
Mr. Alexander grinned and slapped Eli’s shoulder. “I appreciate that. I’ll crank the engine.”
Lerke started his engine and it purred like a lion cub.
“Don’t let him get under your skin,” Mr. Alexander said as he turned the crank and the Duryea came to life. “Show him what you’re made of.”
Almost everyone at the picnic had moved to the starting line. The crowd was thick with bowler caps and bonnets—yet Eli located Lucy’s hair immediately. She stood with her mother and sisters, though Margaret was nowhere to be seen. He hoped she hadn’t been forced to
stay home because of her legs, though he suspected she had.
He caught Lucy’s eye and she smiled at him. She looked beautiful in a green summer gown, with the green bonnet she’d worn on their drive in the Duryea a couple of weeks ago. It had been fun to watch her shine during the archery competition and accept the praise from the audience. She had done her best, and he suspected she would want him to do his best, too, even if it meant winning the prize money. He just wished there was some way he could win and still help Margaret, though it seemed impossible.
Mr. Alexander moved away from the Duryea and Eli rotated the tiller handle to the right to put it in motion. The mud was slippery, and as he tried to turn the vehicle around to face the starting line, the wheels slid. He let up on the tiller and the vehicle came to a stop. His heart pounded a little harder, and he had to remind himself that these were not normal driving conditions.
Thoughts of his parents’ horrific accident suddenly blinded his view and he had to shake off the reminder. They had died because they couldn’t control their horse. He was driving an automobile. If he was smart, he could keep control of the Duryea at all times. The two were not the same.
Eli inched up to the starting line and glanced over at Lerke, who sat in his horseless carriage. The engines putted and the crowd cheered.
Mr. Alexander stood near the starting line and held his hand in the air. He looked at his stopwatch, his face serious, and then he quickly lowered his hand.
Both vehicles lurched over the starting line and Eli glimpsed Lucy out of the corner of his eye as he moved past. She waved a handkerchief and he knew she was cheering him on to the finish line.
Mr. Alexander and Mr. Walker had marked out the course the day before and Eli had been told not to inspect it, so he wouldn’t have an unfair advantage. Both drivers had to follow the signs and markings to know which way to go. The only thing Eli knew was that it was a ten-mile course, which would take them out of town on a country road he was not familiar with.
He lifted the tiller to put the motor into second gear as the Duryea picked up speed. The road was as bad as he had anticipated, and he wasn’t going nearly as fast as he knew he could. Lerke stayed close beside him, though Eli tried not to pay him too much attention. He’d rather focus on what he needed to do to win the race.
They came to the outskirts of town and the road opened up before him. It was a long, narrow road that led to a small town called Pierz. Eli had only driven it once the summer before. Deep wagon ruts were dug into the mud, and Eli’s back wheels spun more than usual. He could only be going ten or twelve miles an hour.
He rotated the tiller, hoping to make the vehicle move faster. It inched ahead of Lerke, but not by much. Before long, they came to a red stake, which indicated they had reached the halfway mark. An arrow pointed at another country road that would take them south.
Eli turned right, just ahead of Lerke, and faced an even more treacherous road. Deep mud puddles caused the Duryea to bump and lurch, threatening to throw him off his seat.
Just up ahead it looked as if the road had been partially washed out. He let up on the tiller and the Duryea slowed as he approached. Lerke didn’t slow down. He moved past Eli and tipped his hat.
The Lerkemobile made it across the washed-out road with ease. Frustration burned deep in Eli’s chest as he watched his competitor move ahead. He couldn’t let the other man win. If he did, all his dreams would be gone.
Eli twisted the tiller and the Duryea jerked ahead at a much faster clip. He couldn’t play it safe anymore. The road looked dangerous, but not as dangerous as a future without his dream. He hit the washed-out portion of the road and, for a moment, he believed he would sail over it like Lerke had—but the Duryea spun out, and in that instant, Eli lost all control.
The automobile turned in a circle and Eli held on to the dashboard. He didn’t have time to think as the vehicle began to tip on its side.
“No.” He shook his head as he grabbed the tiller. “Please, God. No.” This couldn’t be happening. If he tipped, he would be out of the race for sure—and more than likely hurt.
At the last second, the Duryea righted itself and faced the way he had come.
His heart pounded and his hands shook. He briefly closed his eyes and whispered a prayer of thanks.
As fast as he could, he got the Duryea in motion again and turned around, facing the back of the Lerkemobile.
Lerke was two or three vehicle lengths ahead of him. Eli turned the tiller as fast as it would go.
Slowly, he gained speed and was soon right behind Lerke. Before too long, the fairgrounds were in sight and the crowd began to cheer. Eli was still behind Lerke. His pulse was racing so fast, he was afraid his heart would climb up his throat.
Putting the Duryea into third gear, the highest it had been during the entire race, Eli was able to pick up enough speed to come beside the Lerkemobile.
The man’s black eyes grew round when he saw Eli, and he also turned the tiller of his automobile.
Eli focused on the road ahead and pushed the Duryea as fast as it could go. All the weeks and months of racing with Mr. Alexander were beginning to pay off, and he found the confidence he needed to maneuver through the dense mud.
The crowd jumped and waved as Eli pulled ahead of Lerke by an inch, and then a foot, and then he was a whole vehicle length ahead when he crossed the finish line.
The crowd cheered.
Exhilaration like nothing he’d ever felt rushed through Eli’s veins. He hollered out a victory cry as he brought the Duryea to a stop. As soon as the engine died, he jumped out and was met with a mass of people surging toward him chanting, “Boyer! Boyer!”
Before he knew what was happening, he was lifted onto the shoulders of several mill workers and they were bringing him back to the finish line where Mr. Alexander stood waiting with the other investors.
“We have a clear winner!” Mr. Alexander yelled over the shouts and cheers of the crowd.
They let Eli down in front of Mr. Alexander and the man reached out and shook his hand. “Well, done, Eli. Congratulations.”
The other investors offered their hands and their congratulations as well. Each one beamed with the same excitement and energy Eli felt.
In one moment, his entire life had changed—yet it could have ended so differently if the Duryea had turned over. It had been a miracle that the vehicle had stayed upright.
The realization that he couldn’t control an automobile at all times hit him hard. His smile slipped and, at that moment, he caught sight of Lucy. She stood back with her mother and sisters, a sad smile on her face.
And then he realized there were other things, more important things, out of his control, as well. One was a future with Lucy.
Chapter Seven
A few hours later, Eli drove the Duryea back to Basswood Hill with Mr. Alexander on the seat beside him. Just behind them, Lerke drove Mr. Caruthers. The others came in a surrey with Mr. Walker. Since it was getting late, and the roads were still not ideal, Mrs. Walker had graciously invited all of them to stay the night.
Though Mr. Lerke was disappointed, and would have probably preferred to go home immediately after his defeat, he agreed to stay.
The thrill of victory was still fresh as Eli turned the Duryea into Basswood Hill and pulled up to the Walker mansion.
“Thank you again,” Eli said as Mr. Alexander exited the vehicle. “I look forward to discussing the details at your earliest convenience.”
Mr. Alexander stood near the Duryea and frowned. “Aren’t you coming in to join us?”
“I’ll be there after I put the Duryea in the barn and change into my footman’s garb.”
“Whatever for?” Mr. Alexander laughed. “Eli, consider yourself officially done with your position as footman. From this day forward, you are my business partner in racing and automobile manufacturing.” He motioned toward the Walker mansion. “Come inside and join us for supper. We have much to discuss.”
Eli swall
owed hard and looked from the mansion to Mr. Alexander. Was he serious?
Mr. Caruthers and the other investors stood watching Eli and he knew that he had a choice to make. If he saw himself as their equal, they would view him that way. If he considered himself inferior to them, then that’s how they’d treat him.
“Thank you. I will,” he said.
“Good. Now leave the Duryea here for the time being and come inside to celebrate.” Mr. Alexander motioned for the others to follow and started toward the house.
Eli stalled the engine and sat for a moment. All his dreams were coming true, yet sadness niggled at his happiness. He had been so single-minded in his pursuit to build and race automobiles, he’d never paused to think about other things he wanted in life, like a home and family. Since meeting Lucy, those things were all he seemed to think about.
Now, the idea of pursuing his automobile dreams felt almost pointless without someone to share them with. He liked the idea of having Lucy by his side, sharing his joys and sorrows, his hopes and dreams. She was just as passionate and excited about his automobile as he was. In the four short weeks he’d known her, he had come to recognize that she was intelligent, kind, and witty. Life had thrown a few unexpected surprises her way, yet she had responded with honor and dignity. Her courage to participate in the picnic games in order to pay for her sister’s surgery was the most admirable thing he’d ever witnessed.
He sat back and shook his head in amazement. Somehow, in just a month’s time, he had fallen in love with Lucy Taylor.
“Are you coming, Eli?” Mr. Alexander held the door open and grinned. “We have some pretty important things we’d like to discuss with you.”
Eli stepped out of the Duryea and walked up to the front door, but his mind was not on the investors. His mind was on Lucy and all he wanted to tell her.
“Mr. Lerke has gone to his room until supper,” Mr. Alexander said to Eli as they walked onto the front porch and into the foyer. “I don’t blame him. It’s a difficult situation to be in.”
Eli had been working at Basswood Hill for over a year, and not once had he entered either mansion through the front door. He felt underdressed as they walked into the parlor. Mr. Walker was there already, sitting in his chair near the hearth. Mr. Caruthers and the others had also found seats.
Of Rags and Riches Romance Collection Page 61