Love by Design. Christine Johnson

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СКАЧАТЬ that he kept locked in its hangar. But he hadn’t thought twice about agreeing to teach her to fly, and look what happened. Never again.

      He was not going to put Jen Fox in the cockpit of any airplane.

      Hunter pulled the plane into line with the runway and accelerated. The roar of the huge twin engines literally hurt. Dan was glad he’d stuffed cotton into his ears, but he’d need more than that for the long flight to the North Pole.

      The brake released, and they sped down the runway, bouncing and sliding on the skids. The plane was large and heavy. Was the runway long enough? Dan pressed back on the seat as the end loomed closer and closer. At the last second, Hunter nosed the plane up, and she cleared the snowbank and climbed into the crystal-blue sky.

      That’s when the exhilaration rushed in. That feeling of invincibility had driven Dan to the skies over and over. Up here, the world and its troubles looked small. Up here, he had control. The initial thrill of rising on nothing but cloth and wood soon wasn’t enough. He’d learned stunts from fellow aviators, watched them crash and bettered the trick. Daring Dan did not fail. He hadn’t until November’s crash.

      Today’s flight made him edgy. He had to write constantly to avoid the impulse to seize the wheel. Dan did not like giving the controls to anyone, but as they circled the tiny town and came back down for the landing, he had to admit Hunter knew his craft. He slowed their airspeed to just above what would send them into a stall. Then he dropped the plane to the runway. The skids hit, bounced and hit again. The claw brake dug in, jerking Dan forward, and they slid to a comfortable taxiing speed.

      When Hunter turned the plane for the taxi back to the barn, Dan saw her. With her arms waving in that ragged mackinaw, Jen Fox grinned wider than a country mile.

      * * *

      “That was perfect,” Jen crowed after Jack killed the engines and crawled out of the plane.

      She’d heard the plane take off on her way to the flight school to start her volunteer assignment and had run the three blocks so she didn’t miss a minute of the flight. The big bird had soared high against the rising sun, circled slowly overhead and then made a perfect landing. The engines didn’t hiccup once.

      It had coasted into the big barn that they were using as a work area this winter since the school’s hangar was full of training airplanes and other equipment. The barn was also smaller and easier to heat. She’d hurried up the shoveled path between the school and the barn, arriving just as the pilot and copilot disembarked.

      Jack hopped to the ground and removed his helmet, but instead of acknowledging her cheers, he met Wagner behind the tail. “Great run. A little touchy on takeoff, but she made it.”

      Wagner had peeled off his helmet, pulling his auburn hair into a mass of curls. “Takeoff? That was a breeze compared to landing. That runway’s not a foot too long. Had me grabbing for the brake.”

      Jack laughed. “Must feel strange not to have the controls.”

      “You’re right about that, but I was there for you if anything went wrong.”

      “I know you were.”

      The men chattered away as if she wasn’t even there. Just like at the dinner party. What was it with men, anyway? Get them together over something mechanical, and everyone else might as well not be there.

      Jen tromped across the barn, ignoring the poofs of years-old straw dust that rose with each step. A workbench and tables filled the extra space. Tools littered every tabletop. A handful of crates were stacked along the barn wall.

      She stopped within reach, but they still didn’t notice her.

      “Good flight!” she yelled.

      That drew their attention.

      “Jen.” Jack tugged off a glove and pushed back his jacket sleeve to check his wristwatch. “I didn’t expect to see you here this early.”

      “I saw the plane take off and had to watch. Great flight.”

      “Thanks.” Neither Jack nor Wagner was as jubilant as they’d been with each other.

      “Great day for flying, isn’t it?” she hinted. “Practically anyone could take a plane up on a day like today.”

      Wagner frowned. “Not a student.”

      That man was going to be a thorn in her side. If she didn’t change his negative opinion, he was going to convince Jack not to let her train until summer. “Why not?”

      “The field is solid ice,” Wagner shot back. “We’re fortunate we didn’t end up in the snowbank.”

      “You’re skilled. Between the two of you, there was never a doubt.” Though Jen knew her odds of flying the expedition plane were slim, she wasn’t about to let Wagner win the argument. “That’s why Jack is such a great teacher. He can handle any conditions. Besides, students start with grass cutting.” That first step used a governor on the motor to keep the student pilot on the ground. “They don’t even get into the air. An icy runway won’t make a bit of difference.”

      Wagner laughed. No, it was more like a derisive snort. “That shows how little you know, darling. On ice, you can do some serious damage grass cutting. I doubt Mr. Hunter is eager to lose one of his training planes before the season begins.”

      She could have stomped on his finely honed superiority. Darling, indeed. She was not and never would be his darling. “Since you know so much, Wagner, maybe you’d like to demonstrate the proper way to practice on ice.”

      His gaze narrowed.

      Jack chuckled. “Enough of this, you two. I’m not bringing any of the trainers out of storage, Jen, so you can forget that crazy idea of yours. Flight lessons can wait until the weather breaks, so you might as well go home.”

      She felt the disappointment clear to her bones. If she couldn’t get her license by April, she would have no chance at the backup spot for the polar attempt. Handling supplies might be a necessary part of an expedition’s success, but those people didn’t get their names in the record books. Her father wouldn’t be remembered as the source of her inspiration. No, she would not give up.

      “But I can’t go home. I’m here to start on the expedition preparations, just like I said I would.”

      “That work is back at the flight school.” Jack jerked a thumb in that direction and turned back to Wagner, who was looking at her with a very peculiar expression.

      “You’re going to have to show me what to do,” she pointed out.

      “To begin, I could sure use your help sorting out the supply orders. I brought Dan up to speed earlier this morning. He’ll show you what to do.”

      Jen’s stomach tightened. “You want me to work with Wagner?”

      “Actually, he’ll be a sort of supervisor,” Jack said.

      Jen balked. “But I know my way around the school. I’ve worked with suppliers and placed orders for years.”

      Jack gave her a dazzling smile. “That’s why we’re so glad you’re helping out. Thanks, Jen. СКАЧАТЬ