Free Joy Takes Flight by Bonnie Leon Page A

stub clenched between his teeth. There was no avoiding him. She headed for the shop.
    â€œOne of these days you’re not going to make it back.” Jack took the stogie out of his mouth and studied it, then looked at her from beneath his heavy brows. “What happened?”
    â€œA loose ignition wire. Nothing I couldn’t take care of,” Kate said, concentrating on keeping her tone casual.
    â€œHow’d you miss it?” His voice was heavy with accusation.
    â€œI . . . I don’t know.” Kate hedged.
    â€œDid you do a thorough inspection before takeoff?”
    Watching her feet, Kate tapped the heel of one boot against the toe of the other. She licked dry lips. “I guess I forgot. It won’t happen again.”
    â€œYou bet it won’t.” He puffed on the cigar and the stink drifted into Kate’s nostrils. “If it does, you’re out—fired. You could have gone down. Pilots don’t always get a second chance. You of all people should know that.”
    Beneath his ire, Kate heard concern. He was afraid . . . for her. The thought made her dislike him a little less.
    Jack stuck his cigar back in his mouth, turned on his heel, and marched into the shop, slamming the door behind him.
    Kate stared at the building. She didn’t want to go inside, but she had to sign in. If she didn’t, Jack might use it as an excuse to fire her. With determination, she walked into the shop. Jack sat at the desk, studying a map. He didn’t look up.
    Kate crossed to the ledger and signed it. “I’ll be at the homestead. You can contact me on the house radio if you have a run for me.”
    Jack acted as if he hadn’t heard. Kate wasn’t about to defend herself—there was nothing she could say.
    Now, she’d have to face Paul.

    Letting out a sigh of relief, Paul watched Kate’s Bellanca touch down on the frozen creek. She’d radioed and told him she’d be late, explaining she’d had engine trouble. His stomach turned at the thought. Would her life end like so many others—one fatal mistake, one last flight?
    When he’d married Kate, he thought he would be able to deal with the dangers she faced. Now he wasn’t so sure. Every time she went out, he couldn’t stop thinking about her and worrying whether she’d make it home.
    He walked down the path toward the creek, Angel at his side. The malamute/husky mix had her tail flagging. When she spotted Kate, she dashed across the frozen stream toward her. Paul watched Kate kneel and pull the dog into her arms. When Kate stood, she gazed at Paul, then with a wave she moved toward him.
    Paul’s heart skipped a beat as he watched the long-legged beauty. He doubted he’d ever get used to how beautiful she was—not just how she looked, but the way she moved and the way she loved him. He stepped onto the ice and met her.
    â€œKate,” he said, opening his arms and gathering her against him. He held her tightly, almost afraid to release her. “Thank God you’re all right.”
    Kate snuggled closer. “It wasn’t bad. I even had a landing strip to set down on. And the problem was easy to fix.”
    â€œWhat was it?”
    â€œA loose wire. I should have spotted it.” Kate stepped back with a shrug and smiled at him with a glint of mischief in her eyes. “I guess my mind was on something else.”
    â€œOh? What?”
    â€œIt’s more like who .” She grinned and hugged him again. “I couldn’t wait to get home to you.”
    Paul held her more tightly. Oh how he loved her. He dropped a kiss on her forehead, then hefted her pack and circled an arm around her as they walked toward the trail that led to the house. “I have dinner ready. How does roast with carrots and fresh bread sound?”
    â€œDelicious. I’m starved.”
    Jasper sat on his perch near the back door. “Hello there, Jasper.