Page 9 of An Uncertain Road

Mr. Harrison finally spoke up, twisting his fingers together in obvious agitation. “It’s partly my fault, Jensen. You were right at the racing shop. This is mostly because of Ronald Dorman. If he gets the upper hand in racing and the sport takes off as I believe it will, a good showing in races would cement his company as the sporting goods store of choice for teams. Harrison Goods will always be second after that. We’ll risk losing customers and contracts, everything that keeps us going.” He fixed Jensen with the gaze of a father, not the owner of a sports empire. “It would mean so much for our business—and our family—if you would help us.”

A throbbing pain started in the back of Jensen’s head, and he tried to relax the muscles he’d been clenching. He should explain why this was so hard for him, why he felt he was being forced into choosing between the family he loved and the sport he hated.

But they’d gone through the same loss he had and seemed to have healed far more easily. Would they understand that he was frozen in place by his own stupid actions? If he told them the entire truth, would they ever forgive him for his part in Gregory’s death?

Just like every other time he’d asked himself those questions for the last five years, the answer Jensen came to was no. He looked at his companions. “I doubt I’m going to be able to talk any of you out of this. But why are you set on involving me? I’m sure you could find another qualified and far more passionate mechanic.”

When his voice came out as a rough croak, Jensen wanted nothing more than to find a quiet space to be alone so he didn’t have to face this. But Fred wasn’t going to let it go. He stepped close and put one hand on Jensen’s shoulder. “Any good mechanic won’t do. We need the best. You may not admit it, but that’s you. When Gregory died, you promised me you’d be like the brother who was taken from me. Well, a brother would do this with me. My brother would do this.”

Jensen had to work to relax his hands, which had clenched into fists at the mention of Gregory’s name. Fred had some nerve, leveraging Jensen’s love for Gregory and guilt over his death to get his way, even if he didn’t know about the deep level of remorse Jensen lived with.

The worst part was that it was working.

Looking into the sincere, imploring eyes of the two men he loved most, Jensen’s resistance broke down. “How can I live with it if something happens to any of you, Fred?”

A grin broke out on his dear friend’s face, so much like Gregory’s that Jensen’s heart lurched. “That’s why you’ll be along with us. With you there, nothing will happen. If Mrs. Montfort agrees, we’ll be all set. You’ll see, Jensen. It’ll be the trip of a lifetime.”

Without waiting for further arguments, Fred stuck both hands in his pockets and ambled toward the house, where the rest of the family stood with their guests. He looked so pleased with himself that Jensen nearly rushed after him to refuse to do the race. But Mr. Harrison took the opportunity to clench the deal. “I know you’re opposed to this, Jensen. But I hope you see how much is riding on the team doing well in this tour. Events like this have the potential to make or break companies.”

Jensen was at his limit of being convinced. “Yes, in the automobile industry. This doesn’t have to have anything to do with a sporting goods company. We sell baseballs and football helmets and tennis rackets. What bearing does auto racing need to have on us?”

Running a hand through his hair, Mr. Harrison looked weary. “I didn’t want to burden Fred with the details, but it’s more than the desire not to come in second to Ronald Dorman. The truth is, he’s been stealing away our customers for months. Whole teams have switched to using his products because he somehow gives them lower prices than I can afford to give. Last week, we lost a bid to provide all the baseball gear for the Philadelphia Athletics next season. We need new sources of revenue, and there’s plenty of equipment I can stock related to racing. Driving gloves and goggles, dusters for the ladies, custom items like horns. I can see an entire industry opening up around it. And Harrison Goods needs to be involved.”

Against his better judgment, a thrill raced through Jensen. An industry supporting auto racing? To his younger self, that idea would have sounded like a dream.

Now? It was more like a nightmare he was being dragged into against his will.

Mr. Harrison, knowing Jensen as well as any father, must have sensed the war within him. “I know you swore you’d never race again after…after the accident. We’ve all watched you snub anything to do with cars altogether. But they’re going to be a large part of the future, like it or not. I won’t force you if you’re still opposed. I’ll even try to talk Fred out of it. But it seems to me, something like the Glidden Tour—with its focus on increasing safety for drivers—might be something you could support.”

Any fight left in Jensen fizzled into nothing. If he was going to have to accept that cars would become more and more popular for everyday driving—which seemed to be the case—then he also had to support efforts to promote safety. It was the least he could do to make up for what happened to Gregory. There was only one thing left to say.

“Fine. I’ll be your mechanic.”

CHAPTER 5

“I can’t understand why you want to race again, Flora.” Standing by the fireplace in his parlor, Owen wanted an explanation, one Flora had already tried to give twice.

Fighting to hold back her frustration, Flora rubbed her hand over the back of her neck. Lashing out would only halt the conversation and turn it into an argument. She had years of experience hiding her true feelings from the men in her life, but she hated having to do the same with Owen now. “It’s an opportunity for me to do what I love, Owen. Can’t you be happy for me and support what I want to do?”

She’d assumed he would. Since the moment Fred brought up the possibility of her driving, she’d gone over and over the facts so she would be ready to talk it over with her brother the moment they returned to his house. Joining the team for the Glidden Tour was a good choice for her. Owen usually championed her cause, no matter what it was. He was the one person in her life who saw and understood her. Clement had always been the one to shut the door on her dreams. Henri was kinder at times but no less controlling or more interested in her dreams than Clement had been.

Was Owen going to join their ranks?

Isabelle looked on from a chair by the large front window with her sewing in her lap, meeting Flora’s gaze with calm understanding. Flora had confided in Isabelle about her oldest brother’s cruel ways soon after marrying Henri. And Isabelle often admitted how selfish her son was, even if her tendency to spoil him was part of the problem. Her advice to Flora had always held peaceful, practical insight into the ways of men. Would she stand with Flora on this subject?

Clearing her throat, Isabelle glanced between Owen and Flora. “I hate to see siblings at odds like this. Flora, you should tell your brother why you must run this race. The true reason why.”

Flora’s first response was to shake her head. She didn’t want to admit why she needed to build a career in the first place. Owen would offer to give her the money she and Isabelle needed. He wouldn’t understand her desire to earn a living for herself, to be completely independent for the first time in her life, to make every choice on her own.

But Isabelle’s slight nod reminded Flora that the woman was usually quite wise. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to reveal her position to Owen. He’d always been the kindest man in her life. Would he accept her desire for a racing career, even if he didn’t understand it?

Sitting in one of the chairs near the fireplace, Flora gestured for Owen to join her. He dropped carelessly into the other chair, causing it to creak under his weight and bringing a smile to Flora’s lips. This was still her beloved brother, the one who made her feel loved and secure when they were children. He had even seen and understood her need to get away from Clement, even if her method was more impulsive than his. She could trust him.

“I don’t need to remind you what it was like for us growing up with Clement in charge of our family affairs. But I’m not sure you can ever know the fear I experienced as a female with no say in my life for all those years.”

Owen’s eyes softened, and he reached out to take her hand. “I always thought you had a worse time of it than I did. At least I had some options, even if they weren’t good ones. But what does that have to do with driving a race car?”

Flora shook her head. “Patience, Owen. I’m getting there. I’m sure you know by now that my marriage to Henri was, more than anything, a way to keep Clement from marrying me off to the next old man he needed a favor from.”