Page 19 of An Uncertain Road

Another good point. Flora forced her neck and shoulders to relax. She had a long day of driving ahead and couldn’t waste time on a headache from worrying about something she had no control over. What mattered now was proving that she had every right to drive with these men—and that she could keep up with the best of them.

Hopping into the car, she opened the packet and began studying the route descriptions, maps, and rules. There were windows of time for the cars to arrive at each stop. While Flora didn’t know the northeast well, she could tell consistent speed—not a breakneck pace—would be essential. That would help the safety factor and ease Jensen’s mind. But they still couldn’t afford any mistakes if they were to meet the expected times every day.

It wasn’t long before the teams started moving toward their vehicles and getting settled inside. Fred and Beth returned and climbed into the back together. Jensen came to stand by Flora. “Are you ready?”

She swallowed the lump of doubt that formed in her throat. She hadn’t started a race since the one before Henri died. Before their last fight. Before she discovered his debt and her world was turned upside down and shaken to pieces.

But there wasn’t much choice now. Racing was all she had, and she needed to show she could still do it. She nodded with all the confidence she could muster.

Jensen looked grim as he patted the car’s hood. “Then let’s go.”

He walked around to the passenger side of the car and climbed in. Flora didn’t check to see if any of those around them were looking their way, commenting under their breaths about a female driver. It didn’t matter what they thought right now. They’d see soon enough that she could drive as well as any of them. Better than a lot of them.

The air stilled as the teams all got into place. The crowds which now lined the street quieted. At the front of the line, a representative from the American Automobile Association raised a megaphone almost as tall as he was to make several announcements, outlining what the packet contained and a few important rules. Then he told the drivers to start their cars.

Flora went through the familiar procedure along with the other drivers. The air vibrated with the sound of so many engines roaring to life at once.

After a few moments to ensure all the cars had started, the announcer once again put the megaphone to his lips and shouted, “Group one, let’s race!”

At once, the sound changed as the front engines shifted into gear. The first cars in line took off while the rest moved up to the line to await their staggered start times, which only varied by a few minutes each. When her turn came, Flora eased into driving, watching the five cars around them to ensure they didn’t hit anyone before they even left the starting line.

Clumps of wagons and carriages held up the drivers for some time on the city streets. Flora’s fingers grew numb on the steering wheel from gripping it so tightly. Finally, after an hour or so of creeping along with cars getting shuffled around in the traffic, the Decauville emerged onto an open road with several other racers.

Flora drew a deep breath and forced her body to relax. They’d made it out of the city. Now there were ten days of racing in unknown conditions to contend with.

Nothing to worry about there.

* * *

As Flora navigated the road out of New York City, Jensen pored over the map for the first leg, trying to become as familiar as possible with the route they would be taking. His job as the mechanic also included watching out for other cars and hazards, and for a long race like this, keeping them on the right path. Thankfully, the first part of the route had been well marked with confetti by the tour officials. Flora hadn’t needed one bit of direction yet, so he could focus on what they would face the rest of the day.

Once they got on a long stretch of open road and he was confident in the route, Jensen finally leaned back and let himself take in the scenery. He’d never made time to travel much and thus had never been to this part of New England. By mid-morning, when they crossed into Connecticut, he was enthralled with the glimpses of Long Island Sound from the winding coastal road. The tension that had built in his chest since they left Philadelphia drained a bit, leaving him more relaxed than he’d felt in a long time. As long as he kept a vigilant focus on their safety, he might enjoy the experience along the way.

Their current route was an easy enough drive. The hard-packed dirt was even and mostly free of ruts. They made good time all morning. As they entered a town called New Haven, confetti marked a turn from the coastal road to one that headed straight north.

Fred leaned forward and tapped Flora on the shoulder, holding up a basket of picnic food they’d purchased from the hotel. “Should we stop for a bite of lunch now?”

Emotions warred in Flora’s eyes. She seemed torn between pushing on and making sure everyone was comfortable. But soon enough, comfort won out, and she slowed the car, turning off the road by an open pasture.

Fred swung himself out of the vehicle and helped Beth out, then lifted the basket from the back. As they all settled on a blanket Flora had pulled from under the seat, Beth exclaimed over the contents of the basket. “Oh, look at this food. There are even the most darling petite fours. I can’t wait until the girls hear about this. Cakes from the Waldorf-Astoria.”

They all seemed content enough setting up the picnic, so Jensen opened the car’s hood to check everything inside. But it wasn’t long before he felt Flora’s presence at his side. Without looking at her, he asked, “How does the car feel when you’re driving?”

A pause made him turn to look at her. She leaned against the front of the car, arms crossed over her waist, her gaze focused on the fluffy clouds overhead. “It’s handling fine. Feels light enough to be fast while still holding the road well.”

The way her chin tilted up and the far-off expression on her face brought to mind that moment under the lights at Luna Park when he realized how much he enjoyed having her at his side. It felt the same now, as they stood together by the open car.

If he didn’t already know she was the type of woman he had to save from herself, he might slide over close to her right now. Even reach for her hand, if she seemed to welcome it.

The sound of a car horn split the peaceful country air, startling both of them. They leaned around the Decauville to see a White steam car race by, the three men inside waving. Jensen had been too focused on making sure the car was ready earlier to look for Sam Kelly at the starting line, but there he was, in the car careening past them.

That wasn’t what caused the shock that jolted Jensen out of his relaxation, though. The all-too-familiar sneer of the driver did that. Archie Franklin. The rival he and Gregory had raced neck and neck with for years. The only person who knew why Jensen hadn’t been in the race car with Gregory the day he died. The one man who could destroy the Harrison family’s trust in Jensen.

Trying to stop his hands from shaking, Jensen stepped out into the road and watched the car disappear over a hill up ahead, a whoop from Sam echoing back to them. He turned to find Flora smiling at Sam’s antics. “He’s such a fun fellow. How can you look so miserable after that display of pure joy?”

“There’s nothing joyful about being a fool. He’s not taking the risks seriously. There are real consequences for mistakes out here. Lives can be changed—even lost. There’s no room for silliness.”

Flora threw up her hands. “That again. Jensen, you know as well as anyone that life is too short to live in fear of what’s around the corner. I’m aware of the risks, as I’m certain the other teams are, including Sam. But every moment of our lives contains some element of risk. Why should that mean there can’t be any fun in the midst of it?”