Time To Laugh by Kelly Eileen Hake

Author:Kelly Eileen Hake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-04-26T04:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Everybody ready to go?” Isaac asked as they stood beside the freshly refueled cars. “We’ll reach Mammoth Hot Springs before dark.”

“Wonderful,” Clementine cooed. “I can’t wait to freshen up. I feel so. . .disheveled.” She gave a moue of distaste.

“You look pretty as a picture,” Isaac disagreed. He told the truth, as she’d smoothed her hair and shaken the wrinkles from her cream linen dress. She’d donned her bonnet before stepping foot outside the closed automobile, her skin milky white.

“It’s so exciting!” Nessa’s grin stretched from ear to ear. A breeze teased the soft tendrils of her hair, lifting them into a sort of blurry frame about her face. Her simple blue calico dress looked distinctly rumpled, and her hat hung askew from the ribbon about her neck. The sun had lingered on her face, leaving its ruddy kiss on the tip of her nose and the apples of her cheeks. Much more, and she’d burn.

“Nessa, it seems you’ve caught some sun.” He cast a glance at Lawrence’s open-air Model T. “Perhaps you’d like to ride in my closed-top for the rest of the day?”

“No, thank you.” Nessa remarked coolly. “I like riding alongside Lawrence, with the wind in our hair and the road before us.”

“We’ve had a good time of it,” Lawrence agreed. “A man can’t ask for more than enjoying a drive with two lovely ladies.” His smile included Mrs. MacLean, who smiled back.

“And we’ve plenty of those to go around.” Isaac looked down at Clementine. For the first time, he realized how short she was. The tip of her hat all but brushed his nose.

“We should get on our way.” Julia got him back on track. She and Michael climbed into the back of Isaac’s car, where they’d ridden for the entire trip.

Isaac gave Clementine an arm up, noticing Lawrence do the same for Nessa and Mrs. MacLean. He moved to the front of the automobile, grasped the lever, and began cranking it until he judged it long enough.

Isaac slid into the seat, turned the key, and listened with satisfaction as the car spluttered to life. Whhhrrr, whhrrrr gave way to a loud growl as it started, the force of the engine making the car vibrate. With a low rumble, the car was ready to go.

Isaac made sure Lawrence was prepared, released the brake lever, and then eased his Ford back onto the road. For a while, he lost himself in the pleasure of driving, the power and speed he controlled.

Clementine fanned herself, so Isaac reached forward and opened the windshield. The inch-thick panes of glass tilted outward, allowing a welcome rush of summer air.

They passed lodgepole pines, catching a glimpse of the occasional coyote, as they approached their destination. When they passed Fort Yellowstone on their left, Isaac knew the impressive structure ahead must be the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

“I hear it’s built right where the National Hotel used to be,” Michael observed.

“Supposedly it’s been remodeled entirely in the past few years,” Clementine added. “I wonder what type of improvements they’ve made.

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