Touching the Clouds (13 page)

His mouth turned up in a lopsided grin. “I’ll do as I like.”

“I’ll put you off the plane.”

“You think so?” He tried to stand, but there wasn’t room to fit his full height. “You gonna make me?”

They stared at each other. Kate wasn’t a small woman, but she knew he had the upper hand. There was no way she could force him to do something he didn’t want to do. She felt powerless.

“Cut it out,” Ralph said. “I want to get home. I’ve had enough of the great outdoors.” He pulled on Carl’s arm and dragged him down to his seat.

Kate remained where she was for a few moments. That way it looked like she’d won the argument. She still had her teeth clenched when she took her place up front and pulled the starter. There was no response. She held back a moan and gave it another try. Still no luck.
I can’t be stuck here with these
baboons.
She turned it again, but it still didn’t respond.

“You got a problem with this crate?” Carl tried to stand but fell back into his seat.

Kate didn’t answer. Instead she climbed out and cranked the flywheel again, then tried the starter one more time, and the engine turned over, roaring to life. Relief whooshed out of Kate’s lungs in a big breath. She revved the engine, then readied for takeoff. When the plane lifted into the air, she turned toward Anchorage, thinking she couldn’t get there soon enough.

Even though Kate had said no drinking, Carl continued. His talk became more belligerent with each swallow. He kept moving from one seat to another.

“Sit down! And stay put!” Kate hollered.

He ignored her and crawled toward the back.

“Hey, leave that alone,” Ralph shouted just as a loud pop and a rush of air reverberated through the cabin.

He’d opened the door! Icy air blasted through the compartment. The sound was so loud it nearly drowned out the engine noise.

“The door’s open!” Ralph shrieked.

Carl grabbed for it. Kate’s stomach tightened. He wasn’t steady enough. He’d fall out. “Carl, sit down! The wind will keep it closed!” Hoping to get him away from the door, Kate banked the plane and he stumbled backward. Carl clambered to his seat.

“Stay put!” she yelled. The door banged from bursts of air.

“What do we do?” Norman asked, his voice quaking.

“Everyone stays away from the door and we fly home. We’ll be okay. Just stay in your seats.” Kate had never flown with a door ajar, but she’d heard it wouldn’t hurt the plane’s lift or maneuverability.

“It’s cold. Isn’t there something we can do?” Norman whined.

“No. There isn’t.” Kate gripped the stick, unable to believe what had happened. She glanced back at Carl. The color had drained from his face.

“I’m not feeling so good,” he said.

“If you upchuck on my plane, you’ll clean up after yourself.” Kate was furious. “There’s a bag under the seat . . . or you can use the can.”

Carl found the bag just in time. Looking limp, he slouched in his seat. He might have passed out. Kate hoped so.

Terror written on their faces, Ralph and Norman eyed the door. It continued to thump.

When Kate reached the airfield, she couldn’t remember ever feeling more relief. She put the plane down without difficulty and was already thinking about what she’d tell Sidney.

Her mind shouted at her, drowning out reasonable thought.
I failed. I couldn’t control my passengers. I’ll never be able to
do this. Thinking I could be a bush pilot was a cockamamie
idea.

Kate wrestled with the mental insurrection.
It was just one
unruly customer. It could happen to anyone.

She tried to focus on what she’d done right.
I managed to
get us back on the ground safely.
Feeling slightly better, she decided that after this, she’d set rules from the get-go and she’d carry a pistol.

S
he turned and faced her clients. “I want you out! Get your stuff and get out of my plane!”

Ralph and Norman managed to haul Carl to the truck and then did as Kate had told them. As they gathered their belongings, they looked more humiliated than angry.

Kate wondered how she’d keep the events of the trip to herself. The guys would have a heyday with it. She looked around the field. Thankfully, Mike’s plane was the only one on the ground.
He won’t say anything.
But Kate wondered about Sidney. This was too good a story to keep to himself. In spite of her frustration, Kate laughed to herself and walked toward the office.

10

K
ate leaned over the Plymouth Coupe and scraped ice off the windshield. She didn’t want to go to work. She knew Jack and Kenny would be waiting for her. They’d already razzed her about the nearly disastrous hunting excursion, and she was certain Jack wasn’t done with his taunting.

Even Sidney had made a few digs, although he didn’t neglect
to congratulate her on bringing the flight in safely. Mike stood up for her, applauding her levelheadedness. She liked Mike and warmed at the memory of his chivalry.

With the engine running, she walked around to the back and cleared the rear window. Mike had made her a sweet deal on the car, and Kate was grateful for a comfortable ride to work.

It was a short trip to the airfield. When Kate spotted Jack’s plane, she figured she was in for it. Stepping out of the coupe, she tried to think of a snappy comeback, but her mind was blank. She could never get ahold of a good answer when she needed it. Later she’d think of something that would put him in his place, but by then it didn’t matter. She wished he’d go to work for another outfit so she wouldn’t have to deal with his horrible moods and cutting remarks.

Kate stepped into the shop, and warm air blasted her. It felt good. Looking around, she was surprised Sidney was the only one there. She relaxed a little.

He smiled and pushed away from his desk. “You’re just the person I’m looking for.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Jack’s down with a bug.”

“Oh, too bad,” Kate said, unable to keep sarcasm out of her voice.

“Yeah, well, I was hoping you could take a run for him.”

“He’ll hate that.”

“Yep. He will.” Sidney grinned.

Acquiring one of Jack’s assignments felt a little like retribution. “What do you have?”

“There’s a guy with business in Kotzebue. He’s picking up reindeer antlers.”

“Kotzebue?” Kate had never flown that far north. The idea triggered excitement as well as anxiety. “Glad to help Jack out anytime,” she said with a smile.

“I’ll get you a map.” Sidney moved to a wooden cabinet standing against the wall behind the desk. He fingered through files, then pulled out a chart and pushed the drawer closed. “It’s a long flight.” He opened the map and spread it out on his desk. “You might have to make adjustments for weather, and the wind can get bad. You never know when a storm’s brewing out in the Bering Sea.”

Using a pencil he’d tucked behind his ear, he marked a route as he talked. “Your best bet is to head up Cook Inlet to the Skwentna River, then duck in through Rainy Pass. You can follow the Kuskokwim River to McGrath. If you need to, you can rest there. After that, head for Unalakleet.” He circled the village on the map. “It’s a good place to fuel up and stay over. You can make Kotzebue the next day.”

Kate studied the map. Kotzebue was way north. “Will there be enough daylight? Nights are getting longer and more so up north.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem. October’s not bad, even up there. Just no lollygagging. At first light get into the air and set down before dark.” He returned to the map and made additional notations. “If it takes you longer, I’ve marked places you can stay.”

Kate nodded, charting Sidney’s instructions in her mind. “I’ll take extra fuel . . . just in case.”

“Good idea.” Sidney folded the map and handed it to her.

“What about my mail run?”

“I’ll get one of the other fellas to do it. Frank ought to be back tomorrow.”

“Okay. So when do I leave?”

“Right now.”

“Oh.” Unsteadiness rolled over Kate. She wasn’t prepared. “I’ll need to make a trip back to my place to get some gear.”

“No problem. I’ll tell Mr. Brinks to be here in thirty minutes?”

“Okay.” Kate headed for the door, making a mental list of the things she’d need.

“The plane will be ready when you get back,” Sidney said.

At her place, Kate stuffed clothing into a pack, then grabbed a couple of apples, a loaf of bread and peanut butter, a tin of crackers, and two cans of sardines. Mentally, she went over the survival gear she kept stowed in the plane. It ought to be adequate.

She slung the pack over her shoulder and headed into the store. Albert was stocking a shelf of canned goods. “I’ll be gone four or five days. Hope this doesn’t put you in a bind.”

“We’ll be fine.” Albert set a can of carrots on the shelf. “Where’d you say you’re going?”

“Kotzebue.”

He looked at her from beneath raised eyebrows. “Long trip. Likely winter’s already set in up there. Isolated country.”

“It’ll be a first for me, but Sidney wouldn’t ask if he didn’t think I was ready.” The idea swelled inside Kate—she was proving herself to the best in Alaska. “See you in a few days,” she said, taking a step toward the door. She stopped and impulsively planted a kiss on Albert’s cheek. “Don’t worry about me.”

He smiled kindly. “You’ll be in my prayers.”

With the engine warming, Kate stowed her provisions. When Mr. Brinks arrived, Sidney walked the tall, thin man across the field.

“Kate, I’d like you to meet James Brinks.”

“Good morning,” Kate said.

Removing one of his heavy gloves, he grasped her outstretched hand. “I appreciate you taking me on such short notice. Need to get this done before winter sets in.”

“Not a problem. Glad to do it.”

Sidney passed the man’s bag to Kate. “Have a good flight.”

“Thanks.” Kate set the satchel in the back of the plane and turned to Mr. Brinks. “Climb in and we’ll be on our way. You can sit up front with me if you like.”

He moved forward and folded himself into the front passenger seat. His long legs barely fit. “It’ll be nice to see where we’re going. Better view from up here.”

Kate latched the door, then moved to the cockpit and settled into her place up front. After a final check of the instruments, she referred to the map once more. Her hands shook slightly. Maybe Sidney believed in her, but she still had qualms.
Relax. It’s just another flight.

“Have you made this run before?” Mr. Brinks asked.

Kate was tempted to lie. Instead she looked straight at him and said, “No. This is my first time. But I’ve been doing a lot of flying for Sidney. I’m very experienced. We’ll be fine.”

“Oh, I’m not worried.” He leaned back and folded his arms over his chest. “Just curious is all.”

“The weather’s good.”
At least it is here
, Kate thought, hoping a storm wasn’t building in the Bering Sea. The last reports had been fine, but in Alaska you could never count on the weather. “Do you have any other questions?”

“No. I’ve made this trip before. Though I must say your company is an improvement over Jack’s.” He grinned and a deep dimple appeared in his right cheek. “You can call me James.”

“Okay, James, you ready?”

“I am.” He settled deeper into his seat, which pushed his legs almost up against his flat stomach.

Her nervousness abating a little, Kate felt excitement build. Kotzebue was part of the “real” Alaska she’d been dying to see.

While she taxied toward the runway, her mind wandered to her mail run and then to Paul. She’d miss seeing him this week. She didn’t understand why, but thoughts of him popped into her mind at will. He was intriguing.
And not bad looking
either.
She forced her mind back to her present task.

Once in the air, Kate’s instincts took over and her butterflies disappeared. Taking one more look at the map, she headed up Cook Inlet. With a glance at James, she shouted over the engine, “Sidney said you were buying reindeer antlers?”

“Uh huh.”

“What do you do with them?”

“I buy pieces of antlers and ship them to a buyer in China.”

“What does he do with them?”

James gave her a discomfited look, then said, “Well . . . they’re used to . . . they’re supposed to increase . . . sexual urges.”

“Oh.” Kate felt the heat of embarrassment creep up her neck and into her face. She kept her eyes forward and didn’t say anything more.

As Sidney had suggested, she followed the Skwentna River and then made her way through a pass and over a succession of mountains. The weather held, but the mountain ranges created their own winds. The Bellanca shuddered as it was tossed and pitched by unseen currents. James seemed unperturbed.

All in all, the day passed pleasantly. Fall sunshine warmed the interior of the plane and cast golden hues over the landscape.

Alaska’s diversity thrilled Kate. In just a few hours she’d flown over the steel gray waters of Cook Inlet and had cast a shadow over a montage of forests. Some were deep green, while others looked like tapestries of yellow and orange, the last of the fall leaves still clinging to trees. Silver rivers served as highways, and mountains, some broad and buried in snow, reached into the heavens while others rolled like waves across broad expanses of burnished tundra. The solitude was staggering.

An occasional gold mining camp or homesteader’s cabin emerged from the wilderness. Kate wondered what it would be like to winter in a tiny cabin, cut off from the world. She decided she’d rather not know.

With mountain ranges ahead and behind, Kate tried to rein in worrisome thoughts of what could happen if the plane went down. She’d be like the proverbial needle in a haystack. She glanced at James. His arms were folded over his chest and his mouth was slack in sleep. He wasn’t worried; why should she be?

Still, when the Eskimo village of Unalakleet came into view, she felt a rush of relief. In the growing gloom of dusk, it huddled on the shore of the Bering Sea like a beacon of hope in a wasteland.

James sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. Gazing down at the village, he said, “Good, I need to get out and walk. I’m beginning to feel like a pretzel.”