The Ride of Her Life (36 page)

“Mr. Nick said he has a present for me.”

With Levi’s hand clasped in her own, Lilly could almost feel his excitement like an electrical current.

“Sweetheart, please don’t ask to ride the roller coaster again today.”

“But, Mama—”

“Levi.” Her voice, stern, ended the discussion. All week she’d taken him to see Nick’s roller coaster in the afternoon, and without fail he asked to ride it every time. She had no doubt he pestered Nick some more when she wasn’t around.

This morning Nick had asked her to bring her son over again, as he had made him something that might help with his roller coaster obsession.

“Hurry, Mama.” Levi nearly dragged her down the paved walk to the coaster. When they reached the turnstile, Forest motioned them through, and Nick met them at the loading station.

“And why are you here, Chipmunk?” Nick winked at Lilly.

“My present!”

“Oh, yes. I do recall something about a present.” He rubbed his square jaw. “Hmmm. Where do you think I put that?”

Lilly giggled. “It looks like Nick has forgotten where it is. Maybe we should come back later.”

“No!” Levi hopped up and down. “Please, Mr. Nick. Please ’member.”

Nick lifted Levi and balanced him on his arm. “I think it may be in the engine shed. Let’s go see.”

“Mama too?”

“Posilutely.”

Lilly rolled her eyes at her two boys, her heart warming. In the days since the ball, her doubts had eased some, but they’d never truly abated. She guessed it was simply her nature. Trusting didn’t come easy.

As they approached, Percy came out of the engine shed. Nick’s brows drew together. “Is there a problem somewhere?”

“No, sir. Sean asked me to check something for him.”

Nick nodded. “Thanks.” After the young man departed, Nick tickled Levi’s belly. “Ready for your surprise?”

“Yes, sir!”

Nick held the door for Lilly. She entered, greeted by a strong odor. She pressed a handkerchief to her nose. “What’s that smell?”

“Mostly motor oil and the hot engine. Some of it may be Sean’s scent lingering here after a hard day.”

She laughed, and her gaze fell on something covered by a small tarp.

Levi spotted it too. “Is that my present?”

“Sure is, Chipmunk.” He set Levi down. “Now, you close your eyes while I take the tarp off.”

With a whoosh, he yanked the covering away. Lilly gasped, then pressed her fist to her mouth and bit her knuckle.

“Can I look?”

“You sure can.”

Levi squealed when he saw the replica of Lake Manawa’s Velvet Roller Coaster. “It’s my own roller coaster?”

“It sure is, and you can give your bugs a ride anytime you want.” Nick slipped his arm around Lilly’s waist.

“It’s amazing, Nick.” Lilly leaned in closer to get a better view. The tiny trestles, all mounted on one larger board, matched that of the large coaster perfectly, and even the cars had been painted with the same red paint with yellow curlicue designs. “You must have been working on this for weeks.”

He grinned. “Some of the boys helped. Especially Sean.”

“Can I take it back to the diner?” Levi let the first car go at the top of the lift hill and watched it follow the track, up and down, to the end.

“You better. I can’t keep it here or Sean might sneak in and start playing with it—again.”

Levi grabbed Nick’s legs, squeezing so hard Nick held on to Lilly’s shoulder to keep from toppling. “Easy there, Levi.”

“This is the bestest present ever.”

Lilly caught Nick’s gaze and smiled, hoping he could see the smile in her heart as well. Being people who believed toys were unnecessary, the Harts had refused to indulge their grandson’s fancies except for a few items like the wooden blocks. How many times had she watched her son eye the toys in the department store and wished she could purchase him one?

She laid her hand on Nick’s arm. “
Thank you
hardly seems adequate.”

He winked at her. “Then you can thank me personally—later.”

Hauling the wooden roller coaster toy back to the diner took Nick less time than he expected. It wasn’t so heavy that Levi couldn’t move it around or Lilly couldn’t carry it inside, but it was a bit too much for her to carry the distance of the Midway.

He set it down in the shade where Levi usually played and watched the boy immerse himself in a roller coaster play world. Although he’d hoped the toy would appease Levi’s desire to ride the real coaster, looking at the boy now, he guessed his plan had probably backfired.

“He loves it.” Lilly sat down on the bench not far from the front door. “I bet he’ll be playing with it until dark.”

“Nick!” a man’s voice shouted.

Nick turned and spotted Mark running toward him.

“I’ve been searching all over for you. Ruby fell off the vaudeville stage and got hurt. She’s asking for you.”

“Hurt? How bad?” A strange mixture of concern and doubt tumbled inside him.

“I don’t know.” Out of breath, Mark paused before he continued. “The doctor is on his way. I happened to be there dropping off some contracts.”

Nick glanced at Lilly. What would she think if he went racing off to his former fiancée?

Lilly tipped her head in the direction of the theater. “Go. She needs you. She doesn’t have anyone else here.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

She flashed him a cheeky grin. “You can thank me personally—later.”

He squeezed her hand and took off with Mark. When they arrived at the theater, they were directed to Ruby’s dressing room. Mark knocked on the door, and the woman who’d had the trained poodles in the show opened the door. “Are you Nick?”

He nodded. “And this is Mark Westing.”

The woman opened the door. “I’ll let you two be alone with her.”

Nick frowned and glanced at Mark, who merely shrugged. Stepping into the dressing room, he eyed Ruby lying on a fainting couch and did his own visual examination. Her right foot lay propped on two pillows, and a wet cloth had been draped across her forehead.

Mark cleared his throat. “Remember those contracts? I need to take care of them. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Wait, Mark—” Nick hadn’t wanted to be alone with Ruby, but his words came out too late. At least Mark had left the door open.

Ruby’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you for coming.”

Compassion nudged him forward. “How badly are you hurt?”

“I sprained my ankle, and I have an awful headache.”

Pain etched her face, but he imagined she could act that part without even trying. “The doctor will have you fixed up in no time.”

“I can’t walk. How will I get back to my hotel room?”

“I’m sure something can be arranged.”
But I’m not volunteering.

She patted an empty spot on the fainting couch. “Why don’t you sit down? I don’t want to be alone.”

He glanced around for another seat and decided his options were to sit next to her on the fainting couch or to sit on the pink ruffled stool at her dressing table. Then again, he didn’t need to sit at all. “Ruby, I’m glad it’s not more serious. I’d better be going.”

“No, you can’t go yet. I’m scared. I don’t know if it’s—” She moaned and pressed a hand to her head.

Nick sighed and chose the ruffled chair. If he were lucky, maybe the flimsy stool would break and he’d get a concussion.

The doctor arrived, and Nick stepped out of the room. Where had Mark gone? Smart fellow probably saw his opportunity and took off. Nick could leave now too, but it seemed a little cowardly. Leaning against the doorjamb, he waited, counting the chipped paint spots on the pea-green walls.

When he reached forty-three, the door opened. “You can come in now.”

Nick stepped inside as the doctor began to put his stethoscope back into his bag. “She’ll be fine. Two days of bed rest for the ankle should take care of the headache too.” He placed his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “A little time and attention will do wonders.”

Time and attention? From him? That was not going to happen.

“Do you have a carriage?”

Nick nodded. “But, Doctor—”

“Good. I don’t think she should be riding on the streetcar.” The doctor glanced at Ruby. “My, your color is improving already. This young man appears to be just the medicine you needed.”

Ruby smiled. “I think so too, Doctor.”

He’d taken her to a hotel room?

Lilly’s heart hammered at Mark’s news. He’d said Nick seemed quite concerned over the whole matter. Not only had he fetched his rented carriage, but he’d also carried Ruby to it, and then he’d whisked her off to her hotel room in the city to convalesce.

“You’d be proud of him, Lilly. He was quite attentive. He’s probably there now, making sure she’s all tucked in for the day.” Mark took a swig of coffee. “Like you said, she doesn’t have anyone else around here. I’d have stayed and helped him get her settled, but he seemed to have it all in hand.”

She gave him a halfhearted smile. “Nick’s very thoughtful.”

“And who wouldn’t be to someone who looks like Ruby Rawlins?” He stopped. “Sorry, Lilly, that didn’t come out right.”

“I understand. She is a beautiful lady.” She pushed the jealousy down. Nick had no choice but to take care of Ruby. “Speaking of ladies, I believe there’s a special lady in the kitchen who just pulled another batch of cinnamon rolls from the oven. They’re so popular, Eugenia can’t make enough of them. Would you like one? That is why you’re here, right?”

“Why I’m here?”

“To see Eugenia.”

“Oh, yes.” Mark grinned. “Sure, I’d love a roll. Can she join me for a few minutes?”

“I think that can be arranged.” With coffeepot in hand, Lilly slipped into the kitchen. “Eugenia, guess who’s here?”

To her credit, Eugenia didn’t shriek or faint. In the last two weeks since Eugenia had dumped the pie on Mark, she’d made an amazing turnaround. Nora had helped her fashion her hair in a much more attractive manner, and Lilly had helped her go shopping for a couple of suitable work outfits in appropriate colors. “Does he want a cinnamon roll?”

“Two, actually. One for you and one for him.”

A smile bloomed on Eugenia’s face. “It will be my pleasure.”

Lilly smiled. “I’m sure it will.”

“Nick, will you please bring me a copy of
The Delineator
this evening?”

A deep sigh slipped through Nick’s lips. A day of running back and forth seeing to Ruby’s needs had taken its toll on him. Lilly seemed to understand he had no choice but to assist his former fiancée, but he didn’t know how long Lilly’s generous nature would hold out.

His own was certainly fading fast.

“I told you I wouldn’t be back today. I’ve arranged for one of the hotel’s maids to deliver your supper and check on you before bed to see if you need anything. She’ll also tend to you tomorrow.”

Ruby’s lip jutted out. “I’d rather have you come check on me.”

“And I’d rather spend the evening with Lilly and Levi.” He placed his hand on the crystal doorknob of the hotel room. “And on Sunday, I attend church services with them.”

“But I’ll be so lonesome.”

“Perhaps I can stop by briefly.”

“The doctor said I could be up and around on Monday. Will you come take me to the lake?”

“Ruby—”