Free Wings of Promise by Bonnie Leon

blinked, slow and resolute, then looked at Kate, as if seeing her for the first time. Furrows creased his brow, and he looked like he’d aged ten years. He took a drag off the half-burned cigarette. Ashes spilled onto his flannel shirt, but he didn’t seem to notice.
    “Sidney, what’s wrong?”
    Tears swamped his eyes. “My dad had a stroke.”
    “Oh!” Kate pressed fingertips to her lips. “I’m so sorry. Is he all right?”
    “Doctor says he’ll live.” Sidney’s tone was somber. “But he’s not himself anymore.”
    “What do you mean?”
    Sidney studied the cigarette, drew smoke into his lungs and then slowly blew it out. “Can’t talk—can’t walk—can’t do much of anything.”
    “He’ll get better though, won’t he?”
    “Not likely.” He shrugged. “But you never know. The doctor might be wrong.” He smashed the cigarette butt into an ashtray. “My mom’s not doing so good.”
    “I’m truly sorry.”
    Sidney dropped his feet to the floor and walked to the window. Hands in his pockets, he gazed out at swirling white crystals. “Soon as this stinkin’ weather clears, I’ll be leaving. Family needs me.”
    Kate sat in a chair near the stove. “Do you know how long you’ll be gone?”
    He turned and settled a troubled gaze on Kate. “Could be a long while.” He let out a breath that sounded like a wheeze.
    Kate wondered just what that meant, but she didn’t ask. She pressed her elbows on her thighs and rested her chin in her hands, allowing her eyes to graze over the men in the room. What would happen to the business?
    “He offered me the airfield,” Jack said, wearing a syrupy smile.
    “That’s not true. I didn’t offer it to you .”
    At that moment, Kate thought she actually hated Jack. He was so full of himself. And he’d given her nothing but trouble from her first day at the airfield. He’d harassed her and made life miserable for just about everyone else on the team. And now, when Sidney was facing a family tragedy, all he could think about was himself.
    Sidney looked at Kate. “It is for sale . . . to anyone with the money. You want to make an offer?” He tried to smile. “I need the money. It’ll take awhile to find a job—not a lot of work in Kenai.”
    Kate’s mind reeled. Jack had spoken the truth. He was the only one with any money, so for all intents and purposes the business had been offered to him. “Maybe one of us could manage the airfield until you come back.”
    “Wish I could do that, but my dad’s going to need extra care and that takes cash. Mom doesn’t have any. Everyone in the family’s strapped right now.”
    Kate mentally calculated her own finances. She had barely had enough funds to see her through the winter, let alone buy the airfield. Every cent she’d set aside had gone to purchasing her new plane. She looked at Mike.
    He shrugged. “I don’t have it.”
    “There must be someone.”
    “Me.” Jack smirked.
    Sidney pulled on his coat. “Figure I’ll be here ’til tomorrow. Kate . . . Mike.” His eyes scanned the room. “If any of you come up with the dough, call me. Or maybe you know someone else who might want the business.” His eyes moved reluctantly to Jack. “Otherwise . . . it’s his.”
    “I’ll take good care of the place.” Jack puffed out his chest. “Make a first-rate airfield out of it.”
    Kate’s stomach tumbled. Working for Jack would be torture. Of course, she probably wouldn’t have to worry about it—he’d fire her the first chance he got. Her eyes locked with his. She couldn’t just let it go to him. “I’ll see what I can come up with,” she said.
    Kenny and Alan weren’t concerned about who took over the airport, so it was up to Kate and Mike. They spent the rest of the day trying to find someone who would either loan them the money or buy the airport outright. They talked to everyone they knew and some they didn’t. There was no one willing to buy it. Some didn’t want to