As Love Blooms (20 page)

Tessa caught bits and pieces of their plan. Apparently they’d met at the Motordrome after Edward had come with his motorcycle to race for the first time. He’d been an abysmal failure, but he’d fallen in love with this new sport and, more importantly, the motorcycle itself.

Joe had not only taught him about racing, but he’d taught him about how to maintain and care for his new two-wheeler. When Joe had mentioned the desire to go into business, Edward had encouraged him and promised his support. Edward had offered to put up one-third of the start-up money. Joe had saved one-third already, but they’d not found a third investor for what remained.

“Maybe I could take out a loan for the rest,” Joe offered.

Edward frowned. “And what collateral would you put up? Give me a chance to see what I can do. I’m sure I can think of something”—he glanced at Tessa—“else.”

“What do you mean by that?” Tessa’s fork slipped and banged against the plate. “It is not my fault that you haven’t thought this plan through. Why don’t you ask your father or grandfather to invest? They both have money.”

Joe looked at Marjorie, then they both looked down at their plates.

“Don’t they?”

“Lower your voice,” Edward hissed. “Yes, they have money. But my parents said that if they ever catch me on a motorcycle again, they’ll disinherit me. They do not condone what they refer to as ‘dangerous and base’ behavior.”

“But you still ride?”

“Not where they can see me.”

What were Edward’s parents like? His grandfather, the senator, had seemed amiable enough. While she supposed a lot of messengers and delivery people had taken up the motorcycles, and obviously quite a few risk takers, that hardly made them immoral.

Edward dabbed his lips with the linen napkin. “Because your aunt is so vocal about her thoughts, I thought perhaps she would
be more open, but I understand you’re not willing to speak with her. I’m sure that given some time, I’ll find another way.”

“Good.” She leaned back in her chair and folded her hands in her lap. She refused to feel guilty about this.

“But if you were to change your mind—”

“Enough.” She held up her hand and turned to Joe and Marjorie. “I apologize if my decision affects your plans, and I do wish you well in this endeavor. Personally, I find motorcycles to be fascinating, and you appear to know what you’re doing with them. In time, I’m certain you’ll find the right investors. It’s been a pleasure to meet you both, and Mr. Walker, it’s been an even greater pleasure to watch you race.”

She stood and, without a word to Edward, marched away.

 17 

Reese drew his paintbrush down the length of one of the porch’s balusters, then paused when the screen door banged open. The Henderson brothers, Albert and Clem, strode out.

“Boys,” Mrs. Baxter called from inside. “A minute, please.”

“We’re in a hurry, Mrs. B.” Albert elbowed his brother’s side and chuckled.

Reese dropped the paintbrush in the bucket and stepped into Albert’s path, stopping the two young men. “Gentlemen, I think Mrs. Baxter wants to speak with you.”

Out of breath, the older woman waddled through the door. “Oh good, you’re still here, boys. I’m sure it slipped your mind, but your rent was due on the tenth.”

“Is that so?” Clem glanced at his brother and grinned. “How could we forget to give you our rent?”

“Then, you do have the money?” The wrinkles around her eyes deepened with her smile. “Did you both find employment?”

Albert shoved his hands in his pocket. “We’ve . . . uh . . . got some possibilities.”

Her smile slid away, and her brow creased. “Now, boys, I try to be understanding, but I do need the rent as soon as possible. All right?”

The Henderson brothers both gave her a halfhearted agreement,
then turned to leave, but Reese didn’t budge. “Gentlemen, let’s sit on the porch and have a chat about those possibilities. Maybe I can help.”

Mrs. Baxter clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! If anyone can help you secure a position, it will be Reese. I’ll let you boys be so you can have a nice chat.”

As soon as she’d gone, Reese pointed to the two rocking chairs. “Have a seat.”

Albert and Clem glared at him and then sat down. “Say your piece, King. We have places to go.”

“Oh, I know what kind of places you are going to, and they can certainly wait.”

Albert stood, took off his hat, and hit it against his leg before putting it back on. “Is that all?”

“No.” Reese crossed his arms over his chest. “Mrs. Baxter may not send you packing, but I wouldn’t hesitate to do it, so I suggest you stop frequenting those places you mentioned and put your money toward rent instead.”

“And?” Anger sparked in Albert’s eyes.

“If you do want a job, I can talk to Mr. Nussbaumer.” He tried to soften his tone. They wouldn’t hear a word if he continued down this path. The Henderson brothers might be young men, but they were still men, and he needed to treat them with as much respect as he could muster. “With the summer coming, he’ll need some men to do general maintenance. You know, keep things looking neat.”

Clem’s eyes widened. “You want us to pick up trash?”

“That might be part of your job, but not all of it.” Reese sat on the section of the railing he’d yet to paint and leaned against the newel post. “It’s honest work, and it will keep a roof over your head.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. We’ll find our own work.”

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged. “But if you don’t have Mrs. Baxter’s money by next week, you’d better pack your bags or I’ll pack them for you. Do I make myself clear?”

“Abundantly,” Albert growled.

Clem followed Albert to the porch steps. “What happened to all that Christian charity you and Mrs. Baxter are always preaching about?”

“The Bible says if a man isn’t willing to work, he shouldn’t eat.” And they’d certainly done their fair share of the latter at Mrs. Baxter’s table. “My dad always said that without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.”

Shoes pounding against the sidewalk, Tessa steamed past the storefronts toward Edward’s parked automobile.

“Tessa, wait!”

She ignored Edward’s pleas. Didn’t the man realize she needed some time to cool off?

He caught her arm. “Why did you leave like that?”

She whirled toward him. “Why? You don’t know?”

“It was a business deal, Tessa. That’s all.”

“That’s all it is to you, but to the Walkers, it’s their dream.”

“It’s my dream too. If Joe and I can make a go of this, I won’t have to get my parents’ blessing to marry Eve. They’ll never approve of her, so I know they’ll cut me off when I tell them I want to marry her.”

Tessa wasn’t ready to let her ire soften. A few other patrons on the street turned to watch them, but thankfully continued on their way. “Do you realize what an awkward position you put me in?”

“I’m sorry.” He dipped his head and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

“Is this why you befriended me and offered to help me? Because you wanted to use me to get to my aunt’s money?”

“No!”

Tessa refused to let it go. She’d sensed no romantic sparks between them, so that couldn’t be it. “Then why?”

He lowered his voice. “Well, maybe your aunt’s money was part of it, but you have to hear me out.”

She tapped her foot. “I’m listening.”

“You were the most unconventional young lady I’d met. I knew the motorcycles were certainly something not everyone could appreciate, especially my parents, but I thought you would understand my desire to be part of something like this. It’s new. It’s different. It’s not predictable like the law.”

“Go on.”

“I also knew that I couldn’t go to anyone my parents might know to secure the financing or it would get back to them. You were a safe person to go to.”

“So, let me get this straight. You used me because, one”—she counted off the number on her gloved fingers—“my aunt has money, two, because I’m unconventional, and three, because you’re too cowardly to tell your parents about your fascination with motorcycles or about this girl you want to marry. That sure makes you a stellar individual, Edward.”

“Tessa, let me explain.”

“I’m done with your explanations.” She started for the motorcar again.

“Then let me apologize.” His voice was soft, genuine.

She turned. “I want the truth.”

“Okay, yes, at first I may have befriended you with the intention of getting your aunt to invest in this business. After all, she is even more unconventional than you. But as I got to know you, I truly wanted to help you. There’s another big society thing on Memorial Day, and you should be there. I’d already planned to ask you.” He held his hands out, palms upward. “What can I do to make it up to you?”

Tessa studied him. He did seem genuinely contrite now, but her own anger had barely ebbed. Make it up to her? He had to be kidding. What would make her forget an experience like this?

On the other hand, one thing might.

Her lips began to curl. “Are you serious about making this up to me?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, anything.”

“Then teach me how to ride your motorcycle.”

Laughter, loud and hard, rumbled from his chest. After a few seconds, he looked at her and suddenly stopped. “You mean it. You want me to teach you how to ride a motorcycle.”

“I do.” She’d obviously caught him off guard. “A lot of adventurous women have tried them.”

“But not the proper young ladies of society. If any of them saw you—”

“Then we won’t let them see me.”

“What would your aunt say?”

She cocked an eyebrow. “Really? That’s the best you can do to dissuade me?”

“No, I mean yes.” He took her elbow and directed her toward the automobile. “Even if she applauded you, I doubt Lincoln would appreciate it.” He gave an exasperated sigh. “Tessa, this is crazy.”

“But you’ll do it?”

“Do I have a choice?” He opened her car door. “But this is going to make us more than even, Tessa. If I do this, you’re going to have to help me get that financing.”

Stepping onto the running board, she said, “I won’t ask my aunt.”

“I know, but if I need your assistance in some other way, you have to do what I ask. Agreed?”

Excitement zinged through her. She was going to learn to ride a motorcycle.

She nodded to Edward. “It’s a deal.”