A few hours later, Eli drove the Duryea back to Basswood Hill with Mr. Alexander on the seat beside him. Just behind them, Lerke drove Mr. Caruthers. The others came in a surrey with Mr. Walker. Since it was getting late, and the roads were still not ideal, Mrs. Walker had graciously invited all of them to stay the night.
Though Mr. Lerke was disappointed, and would have probably preferred to go home immediately after his defeat, he agreed to stay.
The thrill of victory was still fresh as Eli turned the Duryea into Basswood Hill and pulled up to the Walker mansion.
“Thank you again,” Eli said as Mr. Alexander exited the vehicle. “I look forward to discussing the details at your earliest convenience.”
Mr. Alexander stood near the Duryea and frowned. “Aren’t you coming in to join us?”
“I’ll be there after I put the Duryea in the barn and change into my footman’s garb.”
“Whatever for?” Mr. Alexander laughed. “Eli, consider yourself officially done with your position as footman. From this day forward, you are my business partner in racing and automobile manufacturing.” He motioned toward the Walker mansion. “Come inside and join us for supper. We have much to discuss.”
Eli swallowed hard and looked from the mansion to Mr. Alexander. Was he serious?
Mr. Caruthers and the other investors stood watching Eli and he knew that he had a choice to make. If he saw himself as their equal, they would view him that way. If he considered himself inferior to them, then that’s how they’d treat him.
“Thank you. I will,” he said.
“Good. Now leave the Duryea here for the time being and come inside to celebrate.” Mr. Alexander motioned for the others to follow and started toward the house.
Eli stalled the engine and sat for a moment. All his dreams were coming true, yet sadness niggled at his happiness. He had been so single-minded in his pursuit to build and race automobiles, he’d never paused to think about other things he wanted in life, like a home and family. Since meeting Lucy, those things were all he seemed to think about.
Now, the idea of pursuing his automobile dreams felt almost pointless without someone to share them with. He liked the idea of having Lucy by his side, sharing his joys and sorrows, his hopes and dreams. She was just as passionate and excited about his automobile as he was. In the four short weeks he’d known her, he had come to recognize that she was intelligent, kind, and witty. Life had thrown a few unexpected surprises her way, yet she had responded with honor and dignity. Her courage to participate in the picnic games in order to pay for her sister’s surgery was the most admirable thing he’d ever witnessed.
He sat back and shook his head in amazement. Somehow, in just a month’s time, he had fallen in love with Lucy Taylor.
“Are you coming, Eli?” Mr. Alexander held the door open and grinned. “We have some pretty important things we’d like to discuss with you.”
Eli stepped out of the Duryea and walked up to the front door, but his mind was not on the investors. His mind was on Lucy and all he wanted to tell her.
“Mr. Lerke has gone to his room until supper,” Mr. Alexander said to Eli as they walked onto the front porch and into the foyer. “I don’t blame him. It’s a difficult situation to be in.”
Eli had been working at Basswood Hill for over a year, and not once had he entered either mansion through the front door. He felt underdressed as they walked into the parlor. Mr. Walker was there already, sitting in his chair near the hearth. Mr. Caruthers and the others had also found seats.
Jack stood at attention near the door. He didn’t meet Eli’s eyes when they entered the room.
Mr. Alexander took a chair, but Eli still stood, holding his cap.
“Have a seat, Eli.” Mr. Walker pointed at a chair on the other side of the hearth. “Do you need anything? How about a drink? Jack, please get Mr. Boyer something to drink.”
Jack nodded and turned to leave the room.
“That won’t be necessary,” Eli said quickly.
“Nonsense,” Mr. Walker said. “We need to celebrate your victory.”
Eli took a deep breath and forced himself to relax as he lowered into a chair. This new lifestyle would take some getting used to.
“Now,” Mr. Alexander said as he leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. “We have a few things we’d like to discuss.”
“Mr. Alexander is right,” Mr. Caruthers said. “He’s told us that he shared the basic plans for our partnership, but until we knew which man would win, there were a few other details we couldn’t solidify.”
“Like where we would manufacture the automobiles,” Mr. Alexander added.
“Since you’re the winner,” Mr. Caruthers said, “we have decided the best place to establish the company is right here in Little Falls. Mr. Alexander and Mr. Walker have an empty building on the east side of the river, so we will rent that space and set everything up there.”
Mr. Caruthers went through some of the logistics of the company and Eli listened attentively. He had a few ideas of his own and shared them freely, though he kept one eye on the front window, watching for Lucy’s arrival.
“Now, for the most important part,” Mr. Alexander said. “We have all agreed that you will be a full partner in this venture and will be the manager and main representative of the company. As such, you will earn a handsome income and will be required to travel around the country, taking our automobiles to races, fairs, and exhibitions.” He grinned. “We plan to take our auto to Paris for the World’s Fair and you will come with us.”
Paris? The World’s Fair? It sounded too good to be true.
“There are several races already planned”—Mr. Alexander continued, forcing Eli to keep up with the conversation—“and I’ve entered you in many of them. You will begin work immediately on the first prototype. We hope to have the manufacturing company in full force by the end of this year.”
Eli’s mind spun with all the possibilities. He’d finally be able to provide for Jessie and she could leave domestic service in Minneapolis. He couldn’t wait to tell her.
“For now, you are more than welcome to stay in your old room,” Mr. Alexander said. “But I’m sure you’ll be anxious to find a home of your own as soon as possible.”
A home. The thought of looking for a home filled him with eager anticipation, but he couldn’t imagine having a home without a wife to share it with—without Lucy. Would she even consider his proposal? They hadn’t known each other long, yet he sensed that she cared for him as much as he cared for her. Would she have him?
“So?” Mr. Caruthers asked. “What do you think of all that, Mr. Boyer?”
Eli looked around the room at the eager faces, and nodded. “I think we’re onto something big, gentlemen.”
The room erupted with laughter and good-natured excitement.
They were onto something big, but Eli had something even bigger in mind.
Late afternoon sunshine filtered through the shiny green leaves, making patches of light dance on the street as Lucy walked back to Basswood Hill. She had taken her mother and sisters home after the picnic and stayed for a couple of hours to visit with Margaret. They had filled her sister in on all the activities and Mama had shared Lucy’s victories. Margaret’s eyes had shone with pride over Lucy’s accomplishments, but a deep sadness lingered there at having missed all the fun.
Lucy lifted her hand and ran it along the bottom of a tree branch, allowing the leaves to tickle her fingers. A deep melancholy had settled over her and she couldn’t make herself move any faster. She was thankful she hadn’t told her mother or sisters that she had hoped to win the money for Margaret’s surgery. Her loss would have been even harder if her family’s hope had been dashed, just as her own had been.
She turned into Basswood Hill and faced the long, winding drive that would take her back to her servant’s life. She didn’t mind the work and was thankful she had a job, but she wished she could do more for her family. Where would she get the extra money for Margaret’s surgery now? Every penny she made went for daily expenses.
The Duryea and the Lerkemobile were parked in front of the Walker mansion, just as Lucy had expected. There would be a fine supper that evening for their guests, and Lucy would be expected to help Mrs. Walker dress for the meal, but that was still an hour off. She wasn’t expected back yet, but had wanted some time to herself after her disappointment.
Sunlight sparkled off the Mississippi like a million little diamonds, beckoning Lucy to come and sit a while. She skirted the mansion and took the drive down the hill to the lower grounds. Mr. Walker had built a beautiful gazebo there for Mrs. Walker. It was an octagon-shaped structure with thick pillars painted the same dark green as the mansion. A bench ran along the perimeter inside, a perfect place to sit and contemplate what she could do to help Margaret.
She stepped into the gazebo and let the screen door close behind her. The Mississippi was not too far away, with the large paper mill across the river on the opposite bank. A train trestle stood off in the distance and a train rushed by, blowing its whistle and puffing steam into the clear blue sky.
Lucy let out a long, weary sigh as she sank to the bench and stared at the Mississippi. She hated knowing that she had failed Margaret, and her sister would continue to suffer.
“Care if I join you?” Eli stood outside the screen door, his dear face filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
She hadn’t expected him, and found her emotions in turmoil at his appearance. His win had prevented her from her goal, but she couldn’t fault him for doing his best. More than anything, she didn’t want this to come between them. “If you’d like.”
He opened the door and took a seat on the bench across the way from her. “I was in the middle of a meeting when I saw you walk down the drive.”
She tore her gaze off him and watched the train rattle by. “Won’t the others be upset that you left?”
“I don’t think so. We have more to discuss, but I told them it needed to wait.”
She looked back at him and loved the way the sunlight made his blue eyes sparkle. “I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you after the race. I’m happy you won.”
“Are you?”
“Very much.”
He was quiet for a minute. “I’m sorry your team didn’t win. You did a fine job today.”
“Thank you.”
Eli stood and walked across the gazebo to stare out at the river. “The investors have made an offer I can’t refuse.”
“Oh?”
“They want to make me a partner and begin manufacturing my automobile immediately.”
Lucy stood. “Eli! That’s wonderful.”
He turned, but there was no smile on his face.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy with the offer?”
“I would be.” He took a tentative step toward her. “If I knew you were happy.”
She smiled and shook her head. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll find some way to help Margaret. Mama and I will save enough money, somehow.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
She looked up into his beautiful eyes. No one had ever looked at her the way he did right now. “Wh—what do you mean?”
Ever so gently, he reached out and took her hand in his. “I mean I want to know you’re going to be happy every day, for the rest of your life.”
Lucy swallowed. “No one knows that for sure.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss on her knuckles.
She caught her breath at the touch.
“You’re right,” he said, “but if you’d allow me the honor, I’d like to try.”
Her lips parted. “What are you saying, Eli?”
“I love you, Lucy. I’ve never met a woman I respect and admire as much as I do you.” He smiled and the skin around the edges of his eyes crinkled. “I’m excited for the future, but only if you’re by my side as we pursue our dreams together.”
He loved her? Tears gathered at the back of her eyes. A part of her had hoped—yet she hadn’t wanted to believe it was possible. “I love you, too, Eli. I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you fidgeting in your footman’s attire. I knew then that you weren’t made like anyone else.”
Eli laughed. “And I think I fell in love with you the moment you stood up to the other staff and defended a woman’s right to compete in the Olympics.” He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Speaking of the Olympics, how would you like to see them in Paris on our honeymoon?”
Olympics? Paris? Honeymoon? She could barely wrap her mind around what he was saying.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“What do I think?” She laughed. “I don’t know what to think.”
“Will you marry me, Lucy? And spend the rest of our lives on the greatest adventure God offers in this lifetime?”
Hope and joy filled her chest—but then it felt as if a bucket of water was tossed against her and she came fully awake. “What about Mama and my sisters? I can’t go off and leave them to fend for themselves. What about Margaret and her surgery? If I’m not working, who will provide—?”
“We will. Together.”
“How?”
“With my income. And we will live here in Little Falls, so you can care for all of them, as much as you’d like.”
The thought of having another person to help her carry the burden was more than she could have ever hoped for. “Truly?”
“Truly.”
She bit her bottom lip and forced back the tears of happiness that wanted to flow. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned into his strength.
Eli lowered his head and captured her mouth in a beautiful kiss. His lips were tender and his passion evident. She melted into his embrace and thrilled at the love in his touch.
When he pulled away, her mind swam with all the things that had just happened—but one question remained. “What did you mean when you asked if I’d like to see the Olympics in Paris?”
He smiled as he ran his thumb over her cheek. “I will be taking our automobile to the World’s Fair in Paris next year. It’s being held at the same time as the Olympics. I was wondering if you’d like to join me.”
It was Lucy’s turn to smile. “I would be honored.”
Eli grinned and then he kissed her again, offering her more than a lifetime of happiness. He had given her back her hopes and dreams, and made her family his own. But more than that, he had given her his heart, a priceless gift she would cherish for the rest of her life.