Free Joy Takes Flight by Bonnie Leon

to tell the truth.

- 6 -
    W ith a glance at John and Norman, who stood huddled against a cold March breeze, Kate reluctantly put in a call to Jack. The radio crackled to life. “Anchorage airport, this is Pacemaker 221. Over.”
    â€œTwo-twenty-one, this is Anchorage. Go ahead. Over.”
    â€œJack, I had engine trouble and put down just out of Talkeetna.”
    â€œWhat’s the problem?”
    â€œLoss of engine power.”
    â€œWhat the heck happened?”
    â€œI don’t know yet. I’ll check the engine and get back to you.”
    â€œCrud, Kate, will it never end? You’re always in some kind of trouble.” There was a long pause. “You all right?”
    â€œYes. No injuries.”
    â€œDo you need assistance?”
    â€œI’ll let you know.”
    â€œI’ll be here.”
    Kate smiled. Maybe she was mistaken, but she thought she’d heard concern in Jack’s voice. “Copy. Over and out.”
    The radio went dead. Kate stared at it. First time out since her injury and she’d muffed up. At this rate, she’d have trouble maintaining a good reputation as a pilot. She glanced up to see Norman and John climbing inside the plane. “Too cold for you?” she asked, trying to keep a happy lilt to her voice. She didn’t want them upset.
    â€œIt’s freezin’ out there,” John said, dropping into a seat and huddling deeper into his coat. “Sure could use some heat.”
    â€œWith any luck we’ll be back in the air soon,” Kate said, her mind going to the plane. What had gone wrong? She went to work while the two men ate biscuits and jerky. They offered her some, but she wasn’t hungry. She needed to get her plane back in the air.
    She lifted the engine cowling and searched for mechanical clues.
    There’d been no odor of oil or smoke. And she couldn’t see any sign of an oil leak. Methodically she examined the engine. And then when she touched one of the ignition wires, it fell free. It had barely been attached. How had she missed it?
    You didn’t even check—that’s how. She thought back to her preflight check. Her mind had been on Paul and her new status as a married woman. This was nothing more than carelessness. And her negligence could have cost her life and that of her passengers. They’d want to know what had gone wrong. What should she say?
    Norman climbed out of the plane and called up to Kate, “So, you find the trouble?”
    â€œSure did. And it’s an easy fix. We’ll be in Anchorage before you know it.”
    â€œWhat was wrong?”
    â€œJust a loose wire,” Kate said, reattaching it and making sure it was snug. She closed the engine hood.
    â€œYou know what you’re doing?” Norman eyed her suspiciously.
    Kate blew out an exasperated breath. Why was it that men never trusted a woman to do anything mechanical? “I’ve been working on planes since I was a kid.”
    Norman nodded but didn’t look completely convinced. He climbed back inside the plane.
    Once they were in the air, Kate tried to figure out what she’d say to Jack. He’d have her hide when he found out what had gone wrong. She’d radioed him with a brief message that she’d corrected the problem and was on her way. He’d want more when she reached the airfield. She’d just have to be honest with him. People make mistakes.
    Her stomach tumbling, Kate brought the plane into the field. It pitched from side to side and the skis shuddered over scars in the snow. She couldn’t concentrate. Once on the ground, she opened the door and climbed down. Pasting on a smile, she shook John and Norman’s hands as they left the plane. “Have a good time.”
    â€œThanks for getting us here in one piece,” Norman said.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” She turned to see Jack standing in the doorway of the shop, arms folded over his chest, cigar