The Ride of Her Life by Lorna Seilstad Page A

looks like we have an audience.”
    “Mama! Look at the kite we made!” Levi pointed toward the sky. “It’s flying.”
    Lilly beamed. “It certainly is. Well done, Levi.”
    “Do I have to stop now?” His bottom lip jutted out.
    “No, you keep going. I want to introduce Mr. Perrin to Aunt Marguerite’s brother.” After introductions had been made, Nick offered to show Marguerite and Mark what progress had been made on the coaster’s construction.
    “It’s falling!” Levi frantically pumped the string. Still, the kite continued its nosedive.
    Nick spun and grabbed the string. He pumped it hard. The string snapped, and the kite dove into an oak tree near the lake.
    Tears sprang to Levi’s eyes. “My kite.”
    “Sorry, buddy, kites are fickle. Sometimes they seem like they could keep flying high forever, and other times they come down on you without warning.”
    “Kind of like a woman,” Mark said under his breath.
    Marguerite shot him a glare, but Nick couldn’t keep the corners of his lips from curling. He glanced at Lilly, who seemed to have missed the exchange because she was focused on wiping her son’s tears.
    Nick ruffled Levi’s hair. “Why don’t you let me give these folks a quick tour, then we’ll see if I can shake the kite out of the tree? Mrs. Hart, care to join us?”
    She nodded. “Levi, you stay close while we look around, okay?”
    He sniffed. “Yes, Mama.”
    With a sweep of his hand, Nick motioned the group toward one end of the structure. “The coaster will be over a quarter mile in length, one of the longest in the West. We’re naming it the Velvet Roller Coaster, and she’ll be the jewel of Lake Manawa.” Nick walked to the center of the structure. “The car shed will sit here, and the depot over there.”
    “I can’t wait to ride on it.” Marguerite scanned the structure, seeming to envision the finished product. “I’ve read that it’s almost like flying.”
    Nick nodded. “Mark, ever ridden a coaster?”
    He leaned against one of the posts. “Not yet, but I’ll be one of the first in line.”
    “And how about you, Mrs. Hart? Can we count on your patronage? Can I give you the ride of your life?” Nick cocked an eyebrow in her direction.
    Lilly clasped her hands in front of her. “As a matter of fact, I like my feet on the ground, right where God intended them to be.”
    “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Nick teased. “Mind if I try to change your mind?”
    “Good luck doing so.” Marguerite gave Lilly a cheeky grin. “So, Mr. Perrin, how many people can ride at a time?”
    “Two cars on each run. They can hold up to eight people, but on some days it’s best to run only one car of four.” Nick scratched his eyebrow. “Brakemen aren’t needed on these coasters. The scenic railways have them, but my roller coaster is designed for the cars to be going fast enough for a thrill, yet slow enough to stay on the track.”
    “What happens if they aren’t slow enough?” Lilly asked.
    Mark chuckled. “I don’t think Mr. Perrin would let that happen.”
    “But what if it does?” Lilly fixed her eyes on Nick.
    He stiffened. Why did she want to hear this now? He held her gaze. “The cars could leave the track.”
    “Meaning they’d fly through the air, possibly killing those in the cars, correct?” She squared her shoulders. “And that’s exactly why my son and I will not be riding your Velvet Roller Coaster.”
    We’ll see about that, Mrs. Hart. I can be as stubborn as you.
    Nick turned and shielded his eyes with his hand. “Speaking of your son, where has Levi gotten off to?” He searched the area, and his gaze landed on the tree where the kite had lodged. At the base of the trunk lay Levi’s discarded jacket.
    He flashed a glance at Lilly, but she’d already hiked her skirts and was racing the short distance to the tree. What did she think she was going to do to get the boy down?
    Coming to a halt beside her, Nick scanned the tree for Levi.