The Ride of Her Life by Lorna Seilstad Read Free Book Online

counter is going to be too much for you to handle alone once the season starts, and as I told you, I plan to add two to three more workers by then.”
    “That’s mighty thoughtful of you, Mr. Thorton, but it’s still early May, and I’m doing fine by myself.”
    “Yes, you certainly are, but Eugenia’s mother and I were talking, and we both thought she might need some extra instruction.”
    Lilly glanced at the girl, who stood staring wide-eyed around the kitchen. “Let me guess, she doesn’t cook a lick.”
    Mr. Thorton seemed to take an interest in his pocket watch. “If anyone can teach her, I’m sure you can.”
    “But, Mr. Thorton—”
    “I have to meet an old friend. You two can work out the details of Eugenia’s duties.” He kissed his niece’s cheek. “Eugenia, you listen to Mrs. Hart and do exactly what she says.”
    “I will, Uncle Clyde.” She wiggled her fingers at him as he departed.
    Lilly took a deep breath and looked at Eugenia’s hopeful face. She smiled again. It would be nice to have some company. “Have you ever worked in a kitchen, Eugenia?”
    The girl shook her head. “I’m not sure I’ve even been in one, ma’am, except when I snuck cookies, but I’ve been reading up on cooking. I’ve learned a lot.”
    Reading had its place in the world. Folks could learn a lot from books, but Lilly doubted cooking was one of them. “The men will be in soon, but I want to get this pudding done. Since you’ve been reading, have you learned how to separate eggs?”
    A smile blossomed across Eugenia’s face. “Of course. I can do that.”
    “Good. We’ll need twelve eggs separated. The eggs are over there.” Lilly pointed to the Hoosier cabinet with a crate on top of the porcelain counter. Then, humming to herself, she returned to stirring her scalding milk. Yes, this could work out fine.
    “I’m done, Miss Lilly,” Eugenia said.
    “Already?” Lilly poured the sugar into the pan and turned. On the surface of the cabinet, Eugenia had certainly separated eggs—five brown ones on the right, seven white ones on the left.
    Lilly shook her head. Now she didn’t have one child to raise, she had two.
    The bell jingled above the door, announcing the arrival of the roller coaster crew. Did she dare use Eugenia to serve? Maybe she could do something simple. “Eugenia, why don’t you pour coffee for the men while I bring out their food? The pot is on the stove.”
    The girl bounced away, the silly peach flowers on her hat bobbing as she walked. Lilly grabbed the tray of sandwiches, removed the towel from the top, and carried it through the doorway. The men grinned when she approached.
    “I’m as hungry as a horse, Mrs. Hart.” The worker she’d learned was Percy Leonard wrapped his fingers around a thick sandwich. He was the youngest but also had the biggest appetite. Tall and thin, Percy made her wonder where the young man put all the food he consumed. “Those doughnuts you left us were delicious, but they didn’t stick to my ribs long enough.”
    “We’re lucky she did that.” Nick Perrin took his own sandwich from the tray. “My agreement was there’d be no breakfast on Wednesdays. Mrs. Hart deserves a morning off.”
    “But we can’t make it without breakfast,” the worker with the broadest girth whined.
    “Frank, I don’t think you need to worry about fainting dead away.”
    Eugenia approached with the coffeepot in hand. Thank the Lord she had the good sense to use a towel over the handle to protect her hand.
    She reached for Sean McGready’s coffee cup and smiled. “Maybe I can make you all breakfast on Wednesdays.”
    Lilly offered the tray of sandwiches to Mr. McGready. He selected one and set it on his plate. “I don’t think you’re ready for that yet, Eugenia,” Lilly said.
    The girl jerked when Lilly spoke and spilled coffee on Mr. McGready’s sandwich. Eugenia grabbed for it, and the top slice of bread fell onto the floor. She quickly scooped it up and