Free Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon Page A

of mail.
    “So, yours is the Bellanca?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    Mike headed for it and Kate followed, her stomach doing a dance.
    Mike stopped beside the craft and set the bags on the ground. He stood back and studied the name on the side. “Fearless Kate?”
    Embarrassed, Kate silently vowed that at the first opportunity she’d paint over the name. “That’s what I call her.” She added her mail to the pile beside the Pacemaker.
    “Good name.”
    “I’m going to change it, just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
    “Why? Aren’t you fearless? Isn’t that why you’re here?” He winked and then opened the rear door.
    Kate hated being made fun of. “I was young when I first got the plane.”
    Mike didn’t respond, but hefted in the mail and arranged it carefully. “When you’ve got a lot of weight, make sure you distribute it evenly so your tail end isn’t too heavy. Otherwise you’ll have a heck of a time coming out of a stall.”
    Kate knew that, but didn’t say anything.
    “I’ll crank her.”
    Mike moved to the side of the plane while Kate climbed into the pilot’s seat.
    Once in the air, Mike took out a map and pointed to the area they’d be flying through. “We’ll head down the peninsula and then cut across the inlet and back to Anchorage. We’ve got mail drops all the way—small towns, villages, homesteads.” Kate tried to relax, but her muscles felt like they were bunched up. She took a couple of slow, deep breaths.
    Mike settled back in his seat. “I’ll be glad to get this route off my hands.”
    “Why? Is there something wrong with it?”
    “No. It’s just that I make more money working for myself. I split the take with Sidney.”
    “Why do you split with him?”
    “He maintains the airport and helps bring in business. He’s got to make a living too.”
    “Sure. Of course.” Kate hoped it wasn’t too long before she could make trips of her own. She wondered how much this mail run paid. She’d been so excited to have the job she hadn’t even thought to ask.
    They flew along the Kenai Peninsula, making several stops, many of them on beaches. Some were soft and sandy, others rocky. There were a few grass airstrips, which Kate was more familiar with, but each stop required careful piloting. Mike was helpful but gave instruction only when needed. Kate appreciated that.
    As the morning progressed, she felt more competent but also understood that flying in Alaska meant nothing was ordinary. She was getting a glimpse at how naïve she’d been when she thought she could easily step into piloting in the territory. A mail run had sounded simple. It wasn’t. She was grateful Sidney hadn’t cut her loose. Delivering mail would be a good jumping-off place, providing much-needed experience.
    They stopped at places like Nikiski, Seldovia, and Ninil-chik. Although a bit overwhelmed by the unusual names and nonstop itinerary, Kate didn’t feel fatigued. The challenges and new discoveries kept up her interest. And Mike’s company wasn’t bad either. She liked the laid-back pilot.
    At first, Kate was nervous about how she’d be accepted, but she had nothing to worry about. Most people didn’t seem at all put off by a woman pilot, and only a handful were even curious.
    In Homer, Mike announced it was time for a break. They sat on a large sun-bleached log and shared lunch. A breeze touched Kate’s skin and ruffled her short hair. The sun felt almost warm. Some tide pools glistened like glass and others housed sea creatures whose bubbles gave away hiding places.
    Kate took in a deep breath, savoring the ocean’s sharp fragrance. “I like it here.” She unwrapped a sandwich and took a bite.
    “The beach has a way of getting the knots out, all right.”
    Kate couldn’t imagine that Mike had any knots. “How long have you been a pilot?”
    “Long enough to know better than to fly planes in Alaska.” He grinned.
    “Do you really mean that?”
    “I do.” He took two bites out of a