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

started to replace it on the sandwich.
    “Stop!” Lilly ordered as she picked up Mr. McGready’s plate. “Let me go get you some fresh bread on this. Then I’ll be back to fill your cups. Eugenia, come with me.”
    “Does this mean I can’t make the men breakfast?” Eugenia’s lower lip protruded.
    Lilly rolled her eyes and shook her head in disbelief. This was going to be a long, long summer.

    Sweet, rich, and creamy, the pudding slid over Nick’s tongue. Mrs. Hart could cook better than any woman he’d ever met. They were blessed to have her cooking for them, but he worried they were overworking her. At least it seemed she had some help now.
    He grinned. Would that girl be considered a help? From the little he’d seen, he wondered.
    He pushed back from the table. “Well, fellows, guess it’s time to get back to work.”
    The others grumbled but followed suit. A tug on his tan work pants made him look down. “Hello, Levi. Where have you been hiding?”
    “I was eating my lunch in the kitchen.”
    “With your mama?”
    He shook his head. “She gave hers to the new girl.”
    Nick glanced over the lunch counter into the kitchen and caught a glimpse of Mrs. Hart sitting on a stool, nursing a cup of coffee. The new girl, Eugenia, had a sandwich in hand. Concern made his gut twinge. Had he seen Levi’s mother eat anything in the last week?
    “Mr. Nick, can I still go see the stuff you’re building?”
    “If your mother says yes, I’ll be glad to take you. Why don’t you go ask her while I wait?”
    Levi rushed into the kitchen, and Nick remained even though the other workmen filed out. They knew what to do without him. He laughed when Levi dragged his mother around to the front of the lunch counter.
    She’d removed her apron, revealing a pleated rose-colored dress with lace placed in the most attractive places. Not the usual costume of a lady doing kitchen work. Must be one from her days in the rich in-laws’ house. He bristled. How could they turn their backs on the widow of their son? And why hadn’t her husband provided for her?
    “Tell her you said I could go, Mr. Nick.”
    Nick laughed and tapped Levi’s nose. “I said if your mother said yes, you could go.”
    “Do you, Mama? Do you?”
    “Levi, Mr. Perrin is a busy man.” She pushed a chestnut curl away from her temple.
    “I do have some time to spare this afternoon, and it would be my pleasure to show Mr. Levi the progress we’re making on the roller coaster. That is, if you can spare his assistance here.”
    “Please, Mama?”
    “Levi, you could pester a magpie to death.” Mrs. Hart rolled her eyes. “If Mr. Perrin is sure it isn’t too much of a bother. Just be back by supper time.”
    “Will do.” Nick tipped his hat and placed a hand on Levi’s shoulder. “Good day, Mrs. Hart.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Perrin.”
    She smiled. Pure sunshine, once again, and it warmed him more than he expected.

6
    Why hadn’t Nick Perrin returned with her son?
    Lilly quickly gathered the last of the workmen’s dinner plates and carried them to the kitchen, dropping them so hard into the washbasin the suds splashed onto her apron.
    “Would you like me to wash those while you go fetch your boy?” Eugenia brought in the coffee cups.
    Lilly started to decline but reconsidered. Washing dishes had nothing to do with cooking, so surely Eugenia could master the task. After untying her apron strings, Lilly slung the piece of clothing on a peg by the kitchen door. “Thank you. If you’ll wash them and let them air-dry, I’ll put them away in their places when I get back.”
    “You don’t need to do that. I’ll put them away too. Don’t worry about a thing.”
    But no one could take care of the worries growing inside Lilly. What if Levi was lost or injured? Her stomach rolled and churned more than Lake Manawa on a windy day, but Sean McGready had said Nick told him to let her know they’d be along shortly. Why had Mr. Perrin not returned with