The Ride of Her Life (16 page)

Levi bounced on his toes until his mother finally nodded her permission. He reached for the snake, tentatively at first, and finally touched its skin. “You want to pet her, Mr. Nick? See, she’s nice. Smooth and cold. Not slimy. You too, Mama. You gotta pet her. You have to.”

Nick felt another shiver shake Lilly’s body. Poor thing. She’d do anything for her son, but this? He locked his gaze on her. Her amber eyes, wide with fear, begged him to bail her out of this. Did he want to bail her out? Maybe he should, but then again, it might be fun to face this challenge together. He tightened his hold on her hand. “We can do this.”

Ever so slowly, he raised her hand in his own. He felt the resistance, but she finally gave in to his lead and let him place her fingers on the snake’s thick hide. He covered her small hand with his much larger one. With his fingers so much longer than Lilly’s, he was able to touch the cool, almost silky snake flesh. It contrasted sharply with Lilly’s supple, warm hand tucked beneath his own.

Like a dance, he drew her hand along the path of mahogany stripes on the snake’s back. Warmth pooled in his chest, and his heart pounded like a kettledrum. Was she learning to trust him? Did she realize he’d die before he’d let this snake—or anything else—harm her or her son?

All too soon, she withdrew her hand from beneath his. “It’s . . . a . . . a . . . rather cold.”

“Snakes are cold-blooded animals.” Jethro eyed Nick and kicked up the side of his mouth. “Unlike us.”

Nick cleared his throat. “Do you have any alligators? Levi was hoping to see those too.”

“Sure I do. Let me put Delilah away, and we’ll head outside.” Jethro gently uncoiled the snake’s lower body and laid it in the cage. As if Delilah understood what was happening, she withdrew the rest of her body from around Jethro’s torso and slithered to a resting place.

Jethro tugged on his collar. “She likes it warm and humid, but it gets to me. Ready to head out where it’s cooler?”

He led them out the back door. The open pen area surrounding the barn was divided into several sections—one for sheep, one for a milk cow, and another for pigs. For a moment, Nick thought he spotted a camel chomping hay inside the barn. Jethro passed that fenced area and said they’d come back. He motioned them toward a solid brick fence several yards from the barn.

“Welcome to the home of Smiley.” Jethro swept his arm over the enclosure. Nick looked over the solid wall and found an alligator sunning himself on a boulder in the center of the area. Around him, a small pond had been dug for his swimming pleasure.

Jethro reached over the edge and poked the animal with a long pole. Smiley opened his jaws, revealing rows of sharp teeth. He snapped his jaw shut with lightning speed.

“Oh my,” Lilly breathed. “And this thing is practically my neighbor. Imagine if he got loose.”

Levi clutched at Nick’s leg, so Nick picked him up.

“Can he get out?” Levi asked.

Jethro patted the brick wall. “No, that’s why I built these. It’s not like an alligator can climb with those stubby legs and all. And Smiley’s not so bad, but he likes to show me who’s really the boss.”

Levi relaxed in Nick’s arms. “Can we see him eat something?”

“Hmmm.” Jethro rubbed his chin and pointed to a shack. “You see that cabbage over there? Go get it for me, and we’ll see if Smiley feels like playing.”

Nick set Levi on the ground, and the boy raced off. He returned seconds later with the head of a cabbage and passed it to Jethro.

Jethro poked the alligator. “Smiley, want to play?” He held the cabbage for the creature to see.

Opening his cavernous mouth, Smiley made a move forward. Jethro tossed the cabbage toward the alligator’s nose. His jaw snapped down on the cabbage, shredding it in an instant.

Levi jumped up and down and applauded. When Smiley wheeled in his direction, Levi hurried behind Nick’s legs. “I agitatored the alligator. Don’t let him get me.”

“He’s not going anywhere, but you ought to see him eat watermelon. He smashes those into bits.” Jethro tapped Levi’s nose. “Now, young man, I’ve got a surprise for you.”

17

What was that noise? Lilly listened again. It wasn’t the sound of a cow bawling or a horse neighing, but it had to be an animal. A sick donkey maybe? They hadn’t seen a donkey in the little zoo, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one in the barn.

What if Mr. Tallman was in trouble? She glanced at Nick, who gave no indication that the strange noise alarmed him.

“What do you think the surprise is, Mama?” Levi’s eyes danced.

“I don’t know, but Mr. Tallman told us to wait patiently, and that’s exactly what we’re gonna do.” Lilly knelt in front of Levi to adjust his jacket as a cool breeze ruffled the trees. The raspy, belching sound came again, and this time Nick looked at her and smiled. Did he recognize the source of the noise? She started to ask, but he pressed a finger to his lips, silencing her questions.

Lilly stood still as the barn door opened, then turned to see Mr. Tallman leading a camel. Draped over the camel’s back was a blanket of bright, rich colors. On top of that was what appeared to be a saddle of sorts, which was covered in additional layers of blankets. As the camel lumbered toward them, thick, gold tassels swung from the corners of the multicolored blanket.

Levi stared at the beast towering above him. “What’s his name, and do I get to ride him?”

Mr. Tallman stopped the camel beside a wooden tack box and patted the camel’s neck. “This is my old friend Ali Baba. He’s another one of my partners from my time with the circus.” Mr. Tallman placed his hand on Ali Baba’s front flank and gave him the directive to sit.

The camel folded his legs beneath his massive body until he was sitting on the ground. Still, the top of Ali Baba’s hump reached over Lilly’s head.

Mr. Tallman tapped Levi’s cap. “Ready to ride one of the ships of the desert?”

Levi looked around. “I don’t see a ship.”

“That’s what they call camels.” Nick picked up Levi and turned to Mr. Tallman. “You want him right here?”

Lilly put her arm out to block the way. “Wait a minute. Are you certain it’s safe for my little boy to ride this thing?”

“My Baba’s a gentleman. We’ve been giving camel rides to folks at the lake for almost ten years now. Haven’t you seen him? No one’s been bitten or maimed in any way. But since you’re worried, why don’t you and Mr. Perrin ride first?”

Lilly stepped back and hurried to fold her hands in front of her. “No, that won’t be necessary.”

“I don’t know about that.” Nick raised his eyebrows in Levi’s direction. “What do you think? Should your mama and I go for a ride, then let you have a turn?”

“Yes!” Levi clapped his hands. “Go, Mama. It’ll be fun.”

Lilly burned Nick with a glare, but he merely chuckled. “Besides, Lilly, I’ll feel safer with you next to me.”

“You shouldn’t, because I’m gonna kill you the first chance I get,” she hissed.

Nick grinned and motioned toward the camel. “It’ll probably be easier for you to . . . um . . . ride astride.”

“I’ll manage to ride sidesaddle.”

“That’s the spirit.” Mr. Tallman offered Ali Baba a treat from his coat pocket.

“Where’s the stirrup?” Lilly looked on both sides of Ali Baba and lifted the blankets over the saddle.

“There’s not one. You direct a camel with your toes, so a stirrup isn’t necessary.”

Lilly’s eyes grew wide. “My toes?”

Mr. Tallman’s belly shook when he laughed. “You won’t have to do that because I’ll be leading him on the rope.”

“And I’ll make sure you don’t slide off.” Nick patted the saddle. “Need help getting on?”

“I can manage.” Lilly sat down on the tack box, then tucked her legs beneath her. She stood gracefully before attempting to lift herself into place on the saddle, but she couldn’t fully get on. She slid off, her fingers running along the animal’s wiry hide. She tried three times.

Nick chuckled, hopped on the crate, and nudged her out of the way. He grabbed the horn and pulled himself up. After swinging his leg over the side, he scooted to the back half of the saddle.

“Maybe Levi should accompany you instead of me.” Lilly turned to find her son.

Before she knew what Nick was doing, he’d hooked an arm around her waist and drew her upward onto the camel’s back. In one smooth motion, he deposited her on the front half of the long saddle.

“Well done, Mr. Perrin.” Mr. Tallman stroked Ali Baba’s head. “Now, here’s what you two have to do. When Ali Baba stands, he raises his back legs first, so you’ll be tilted this way.” He demonstrated the steep inclined plane with his hand. “So you need to lean backward at that point. Then, when he raises his front legs, you both lean forward. See that horn in the front of the saddle and the one in the back? Hold on to those so you don’t fall off.”

After making sure the two riders were ready, Mr. Tallman signaled Ali Baba to stand. The camel raised his long back legs, and because Lilly was seated sidesaddle, instead of leaning straight back, she leaned to her left. Her shoulder came into contact with Nick’s solid chest. She sucked in a breath and started to pull away. When she did, she slid forward a bit. Nick snaked his arm around her waist and secured her against him.

He smelled of pine and outdoors, the scent stirring something deep inside her, long forgotten. The warmth in her stomach mixed with the raw fear coursing through her. How had she let herself get in this intimate of a position with a man? She was a married woman.

Was.

A sob stuck in her throat as the single word pulsated in her thoughts.

No. No. No. She loved Ben. He would hate seeing her leaning against another man. She shouldn’t be here. She belonged to Ben. At the very least, she should ask Nick to remove his protective arm immediately. And she would—if she could discover any other way to stay on the camel.

Finally, Ali Baba began to rise to his front legs. This time Lilly was ready and leaned forward when she felt the camel move beneath her. As soon as they were almost upright, Nick’s hand slipped away. Good. She wouldn’t have to ask him to remove it. That’s what she wanted, right?

When Ali Baba reached his full height, Lilly sucked in her breath again. She had to be nearly eight feet off the ground. What if Levi fell from this height?

“What do you think of the view?” Nick asked.

Lilly glanced at the trees as they passed. A robin swooped in with more fodder for her nest, and a black squirrel bounded from one tree to another. Lilly peered between the branches and caught a glimpse of the lake where a couple of sailboats dotted the water.

Levi skipped beside Mr. Tallman. “Can you see forever and ever and ever? I ain’t never been that high.”

“You haven’t ever been this high.” Lilly gripped the pommel as the beast swayed beneath her.

“’Course not, Mama. It’s not my turn yet.”

Nick touched Lilly’s arm. “What do you think of Ali Baba?”

“I think it would take me a long time to become accustomed to such a beast as my only form of transportation.”

“Riding a camel is all about balance.” Mr. Tallman led them down the center of his zoo and around the alligator pen. “Sit confidently and stay firmly planted.”

Lilly tried to concentrate on doing that, but inch by inch, she felt herself slipping off the side. Maybe riding sidesaddle wasn’t such a good choice. “How much farther are we gonna go?”

“Not far. To that fence and back.”

Nick cleared his throat. “You okay?”

“Fine.” Lilly sat up straighter.
Or as fine as I can be when I’ve been hoodwinked into riding a camel.

“I won’t let you fall, Lilly.” Nick must have leaned close because she felt his breath on her ear. Shivers rippled along her spine. She glanced at Mr. Tallman. If he’d heard Nick, he gave no indication.

The camel continued to sway to his own clumsy rhythm as he followed Mr. Tallman. Lilly slid a bit more and hugged the pommel. Only a few more yards. She could hold on until then.

“Lilly?” Nick touched her arm. “Are you having trouble staying on?”

“Heavens no. I merely need to reposition myself.” Lilly attempted to use the pommel horn to hoist herself back in place. It didn’t work well, but it should suffice. “I’m good now.”

The last few yards, Levi bounced in front of them, declaring this had to be better than riding a horse. Lilly had her doubts. Maybe the ships of the desert sailed better on sand than on Iowa’s rich soil.

Mr. Tallman led the camel back to the area in front of the barn and stopped. “I’m going to have Ali Baba sit down so you two can dismount, but this can be the trickiest of all. Remember, for a minute it might feel like you’re falling off. He has to fold his front feet under first, so pretend you’re going down a steep mountain.”

Lilly glanced at Nick. He kept his gaze fixed on her as the camel began to lower himself. Her stomach jumped when his right front leg dipped. Despite her iron grip, she lurched forward on the fabric of her skirt. Her ankles showed. If this continued, who knew how much Nick would see before the camel came to a stop? But if she fell . . .

The blankets beneath her slid sideways. She lost her hold and gasped.

As if he’d been expecting it, Nick slid his arm around her waist and pulled her toward him. His muscled arm remained firmly around her, burning her skin through her shirtwaist, as the camel lowered first his front and then his hind legs to the earth.

Nick’s hand remained in place this time. “Sidesaddle didn’t work so well, huh?”

Mr. Tallman chuckled. “Well, it works better when I have my mounting scaffold ready. I apologize for not having it yet this year. Good thing you were there to catch her, Mr. Perrin.”

“Hmmm. That’s twice now.” A self-satisfied grin tugged at Nick’s mouth. “What would you have done without me?”

“Well, for starters, I wouldn’t have gotten on the creature in the first place.” She tipped her chin up, and Ali Baba made his strangled-donkey noise. Lilly quirked an eyebrow. “See, Ali agrees.”

“He just wants us off.” Nick released her, swung his leg over, and dropped to the ground.

Before he could assist her again, Lilly slid off the side in a most unladylike fashion, and Mr. Tallman grabbed her arm to steady her. Nick scowled.