Touching the Clouds

by Bonnie Leon

  She returned to her bed, the warmest place in the room, and briefly fell back to sleep. She woke to a hush. The wind had stopped. She scraped away enough ice from the window to see outside. The alley had been transformed into a sparkling white world. There was only an inch or two of snow, but like a frozen cape, it clung to everything.

  She heard the door to the store open and wondered who had come in so early. No one usually showed up until 10:00 on Saturdays. A few moments later, a knock sounded at her door.

  “Just a minute,” she said, pulling a quilt around her.

  She opened the door to Albert, who was bundled in an oversized parka, his face barely visible in the midst of a heavy fur fringe. His expression was serious.

  “Is something wrong?” Kate asked.

  “Got a call from Sidney.”

  Kate’s stomach tightened.

  “Says he needs you at the airfield.”

  “Did he say why?”

  “Nope. Just that he wants you there quick.”

  “Okay.”

  Kate started to close the door, but Albert caught it. “You be careful. It’s not a good day to be out. The wind’s quieted down, but it’s frozen out there and the snow could start coming down again.” Albert gripped the door. “Don’t do anything foolish.”

  “I’ll be careful.”

  With a nod, he walked back into the store and called over his shoulder, “I’ll give you a ride to the airfield.”

  Kate closed the door, and as she dressed, she prayed—for Mike and Frank and for Kenny and Jack too. She grabbed her gear and hurried out of the room. When she stepped outside, the cold hit her hard, sucking oxygen from her lungs. With her hood pulled over her face, she put her head down, stuck gloved hands in her pockets, and tramped toward Albert’s Model A sedan.

  Sliding onto the front seat, she said, “Time I got my own car.”

  “I’ll keep an eye out for one.” Albert pulled away from the curb. He gripped the steering wheel and peered through a space he’d cleared on the windshield.

  When they reached the airstrip, the only planes on the field were Kenny’s Stinson and Kate’s Bellanca, which had already been started.

  “I’ll wait,” Albert said.

  Kate hurried toward the office, hoping Sidney didn’t have bad news.

  When she stepped inside he was bent over a map on his desk. He looked up. “Good. You’re here.”

  “Is something wrong? Are the fellas okay?”

  “Yeah, they’re all right. But I got a call about some hikers at McKinley Park. They set out early yesterday, before the storm hit. They were supposed to be on a one-day hike, but no one’s heard from them. They weren’t set up for bad weather.” He shook his head. “Tourists.” Settling serious eyes on Kate, he said, “I need a pilot to have a look-see. You up to it?”

  Kate felt a pulse of excitement. “I’m ready, but what about Kenny?”

  “I’d rather you went. They got hit pretty good by snow up that way and the weather’s still bad.” He leaned back in his chair. “You don’t have to go. I can call him.”

  “No. I’ll do it,” Kate said, ignoring the alarms going off in her head. This was her chance. And obviously Sidney thought she was up to the challenge.

  Sidney grinned. “Didn’t think you’d turn down the opportunity. I’ve got your plane ready. Even got the skis on for you.” His brow furrowed. “You can land with skis, right?”

  “Sure. No problem. Tell me where I need to go.”

  Armed with survival gear, a map, and hopes of finding the lost hikers, Kate flew over McKinley Park. Light snow swirled at her, pelting the windshield. Gusting winds bombarded the plane.

  She caught sight of the camp at McKinley Park Station where the hikers had been staying. It wasn’t much, just a cabin and a few tents, now barely visible among the trees piled with fresh snow.

  Kate gazed out at the rugged countryside and figured the tourists couldn’t have traveled too far from camp. She turned in the direction they’d reportedly headed and scanned the terrain. Anchorage had gotten very little snow, but it had dumped here.

  The mountains were hidden behind low-lying clouds, but Kate knew they were there and she dare not fly too close. The fresh snowfall made changes in altitude hard to distinguish. Dwarfed spruce were piled with what looked like white pillows, and bare-limbed aspen reminded her of frozen white skeletons.

  There’d be no footprints to follow, unless the hikers were moving, which she hoped they weren’t. Of course prints left by predators might lead her to them. Word had gotten around about what had happened to Paul, and she thought about wolves being enticed by easy prey. A tremor of revulsion rippled through her.

  Kate flew back and forth over the countryside, following a grid laid out in her mind. When she didn’t find anything, she widened the search, careful to keep watch on her gauges. Even if she located the hikers, she’d need enough fuel to take off and get home again.

  Her nerves prickled with tension as time ticked by and there was still no sign of the park visitors. How could she face Sidney if she didn’t find them? How could she face herself?

  The snow had stopped and the wind had quieted, which gave Kate hope. With her fuel measuring low, she dove down over a broad valley with a frozen stream winding through it. Maybe they decided to follow the creek.

  Scanning the white mantle, she watched for anything unusual as she moved up the basin. Lord, show me where they are.

  The sun cut through thinning clouds, turning the landscape brilliantly white. Everything glistened, reminding Kate how cold it was down there. She wondered how anyone exposed to the storm could have survived.

  Her fuel dwindling, Kate knew she’d have to head back soon. She pushed on. They might be alive. She couldn’t let them down.

  She saw a flash of red. Was it blood? Wolves had likely made a kill. She told herself it was probably a moose.

  Turning the plane toward the splotch of crimson, Kate pushed the stick forward and headed down, just above the trees. As she approached the place with the scarlet stain, she steeled herself against what she’d find.

  And then she saw it.

  “It’s a jacket!” Kate laughed. “A plaid jacket!”

  A shadow appeared from beneath a white mound. An arm waved. Someone was signaling her! “They’re alive!” Kate could barely believe her good luck.

  She tipped the wings to acknowledge that she’d seen them, then made a broad turn and searched for a place to put down. Everything looked the same—white. Kate knew dangers lurked beneath the snow—snags, rocks, hollows. Her skin bristled with alarm.

  She spotted an open section of ground. There didn’t seem to be any trees or other obstacles so she made a pass over it. Things looked good. She took one more run by the area and then lined up for a landing.

  Three people tromped through the snow, waving their arms and looking up at her. Kate gripped the stick and rested her feet on the pedals. She’d have to finesse this one. Realizing she’d been holding her breath, she let it out and then breathed in slowly. She moved downward, squinting against the brightness of sun reflecting off snow.

  A white world rushed at her and then disappeared beneath the plane. She felt the touch of skis and held the Bellanca steady, nose up slightly. And then she was down, rushing toward a limb she hadn’t seen from the air, sticking up out of the crude runway. Kate held tight, hoping it would give instead of gouge. She passed over it without difficulty, slowed the plane, and stopped.

  With a rush of relief, she pressed her forehead against the control panel. She didn’t know whether to cry or to cheer. She heard shouts from outside and saw the three lost hikers hurrying toward her, floundering through deep snow. Elation swept through Kate and she climbed to the back of the plane and pushed open the door.

  She’d barely stepped out when the grateful hikers rushed her, swamping her with hugs, pats on the back, handshakes, and words of gratitude. Kate laughed and then giving them a closer look, asked, “You all right?”<
br />
  “We are now,” the smaller of the three said, his chapped lips spreading into a grin.

  “It was a humdinger of a storm. I was afraid I wouldn’t find you.”

  “It was Mark who saved us. He knew what to do.” The small man turned to one of the others who sported a heavy beard. “He showed us how to build a snow cave. We climbed in and kept each other warm.” Extending his hand, he said, “I’m Tom Sheffield. And it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Mark moved forward and grabbed hold of her hand, shaking it hard. “Figured we were done for.”

  The last of the three nodded at Kate. “Steve Jones. Thanks, ma’am. We were watching the skies, but didn’t see nothin’ all morning.”

  “I’m the best they had today.” She grinned, feeling a sense of euphoria at having proven herself capable.

  Tom rested a hand on her arm. “How ’bout that—saved by a woman.” He laughed. “Wait ’til I tell my wife. She’ll be saying she told me so and rubbing it in the rest of my days. But that’s okay by me.”

  “We better get you home,” Kate said, stepping toward the plane.

  While her passengers piled in, she gave the craft a quick check to make sure everything was intact. Satisfied all was well, she climbed in.

  After a perfect takeoff, she soared over the trees and headed toward home. She’d never felt such exultation. This was her first real Alaska rescue, a dream come true. Her mind flashed to Alison and she wished she could tell her about the day. They’d always shared everything. She would have been proud of me.

  And Richard . . . well, Kate knew now that she couldn’t return to Yakima. And he wanted a traditional wife, whether it was in the states or in Alaska. That wasn’t her. Kate’s life had changed forever. She was meant to be a bush pilot and an Alaskan.

  9

  Kate looked out the window of her plane. Her passengers were late. Hunters from the states, big-money types from New York, had scheduled a flight into the Talkeetna Mountains for a sheep hunt. All Kate had to do was drop them off and return to pick them up in a week.

  She hadn’t flown since rescuing the hikers. Compared to that, this was easy duty. Still, her nerves hummed along the surface of her skin at the thought of her first booked riders. She gazed at the sky where wisps of clouds looked like filigree against a pale blue background. Fear of failure niggled its way into her good mood. What if something went wrong? What if she botched things? As guilt from the past reached for her, she turned her attention to a map Mike had given her, along with instructions for the best spot to put down.

  Kate studied the flight plan. She trusted Mike and figured there shouldn’t be any difficulties. Folding the map so she could read it more easily, she set it on the passenger seat, then picked up her grandmother’s Bible and opened it to Jeremiah 29. The leather was well worn and the pages yellowed.

  She found the eleventh verse. It was underlined. “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you, ’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’ ”

  Kate soaked in the promise and closed her eyes. Watch over me, Lord. Help me do this right.

  Her prayer was interrupted by the sound of a pickup. It stopped in front of the office. Kate set her Bible back on the seat. Must be my guys. She climbed out of the plane and walked toward the building.

  By the time she reached the shop, the men were already inside. She stopped at the door, sucked in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “This’ll be a breeze,” she told herself and then stepped into the office.

  Three men, dressed for the outdoors, stood in a half circle around Sidney’s desk. When Kate shut the door, they turned and stared at her. They didn’t look happy. Kate’s stomach did a flip.

  “Hey, Kate.” Sidney pushed to his feet. “I was just telling these gentlemen about you.”

  Hand extended, she stepped toward the man closest to her.

  Ignoring the gesture, he turned to Sidney. “I paid good money. And I didn’t sign on for a woman pilot. You get one of your guys down here. Now.”

  Kate awkwardly withdrew her hand and tucked it inside her coat pocket. Anger heated up inside.

  Sidney stayed calm. He raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled. Kate had seen him do this before when he needed to cool down a hot situation. “She’s all we got today, fellas. If you want to fly, it’s her or no one.”

  All three men sized up Kate. Finally the one who’d demanded that someone else be called said, “All right. But I’ll never buy a ride from you again.” He compressed his lips, crumpling his mustache into what resembled a crawling caterpillar.

  Ignoring his comment, Sidney said, “We’ll get you loaded up, but first I’d like to introduce you to your pilot.” He moved to Kate’s side and put an arm around her shoulders. “This is Kate Evans, one of my best.”

  Kate felt a jolt of surprise, but figured Sidney was just trying to make her look good. She wouldn’t let him down.

  He nodded at the man who’d spoken. “This is Carl Brown.” Carl barely looked at Kate. “And his brothers Ralph and Norman.”

  Ralph, the shortest and roundest of the three, almost smiled before following Carl and Norman out the door. “Our gear’s in the truck,” Carl said, then glanced at Kate and asked, “Your plane the red one?”

  “That’s it,” Kate said nonchalantly. Inside she fumed, but she wasn’t about to give these guys the satisfaction of knowing they’d gotten under her skin. Besides, starting a war before getting in the air was ill-advised.

  Carl led the way to the Bellanca, leaving Kate to get the provisions.

  “I’ll give you a hand,” Sidney said, glowering at the hunters’ backs.

  The men watched passively while Sidney and Kate worked. Carl leaned against the craft, smoking a cigarette. He talked about the trophy he’d be bringing back.

  With the last bag in hand, Kate walked toward the plane, trying to convince herself that once they were in the air things would improve. They’d see she was a competent pilot and behave appropriately. She imagined their surprise at her skill and the apology that would follow.

  Ralph approached her. “So, how long a flight is it?”

  “Not far. I’ll drop you outside of Palmer, along the Mata-nuska River.” The odor of liquor hung in the air.

  He looked at the plane. “Ever have any trouble?”

  “No, never.” Kate hefted the bag into the back, thinking about Rimrock Lake. It didn’t count—she’d been barely more than a kid then.

  With everything loaded, Sidney said, “You’re set.” He eyed Carl. “Better watch out for bears. The sound of a rifle will bring them in.”

  “How do you mean?” Ralph asked, his eyes widening slightly.

  Sidney smiled. Kate knew he was playing with them. “A downed animal is an easy meal, and the bears know what it means when a rifle is fired off.”

  “Really?”

  Carl smacked his brother between the shoulder blades. “He’s pulling your leg. Bears are hibernating now.”

  “That’s partly true. Some of the females are denned up, but those big males are still roaming around.” He set a hard stare on Carl. “If you get a sheep, you’d better bag it good and hang it in a tree. And camp away from the game.” He headed for the office, wearing a smirk.

  Kate smiled while she cranked the plane. The men piled in and found their seats. She boarded, closed the door, and made her way to the front, careful not to let her legs touch her passengers. Wearing slacks among this group made her feel exposed. After tucking the hand crank in its place, she dropped into her seat and started the engine. It whined and then caught, rumbling.

  “It’s freezing in here,” Carl griped.

  “When the engine warms up, we’ll warm up,” Kate hollered back, checking the gauges. Everything looked good. She turned and called over her shoulder, “Stay in your seats while we’re in the air. It can get bumpy.”

  “W
here ya think we’re gonna walk to?” Norman asked, with a snicker.

  Kate ignored the jibe.

  Ralph leaned toward Kate. “Is there supposed to be foul weather?”

  “No. But you never know what to expect when you’re in the air.” Kate glanced at the pudgy man. He looked nervous. She grinned and revved the engine.

  While the Bellanca rolled down the runway and lifted off, the men were quiet. Kate turned northeast and headed toward the Talkeetna Mountains. “If you look out your windows you can see Cook Inlet,” she called over the thrum of the engine.

  “Hey, look there,” Norman shouted. “A ship’s coming into the harbor.”

  “You never seen a boat before?” Carl taunted.

  Kate ignored her passengers and focused on flying. Once on course, she picked up the map and looked it over. It wouldn’t be too difficult to find her way. She’d follow the Matanuska River until she reached the glacier and then she’d look for the landmarks Sidney had noted.

  Unexpectedly, a sharp wind punched the plane in the side. The Bellanca shuddered and dipped.

  “What’s wrong?” Carl hollered.

  “Just a little turbulence. Gets up under the wings and makes her vibrate. It’s normal.” Kate glanced back, unable to conceal a smile when she saw that Carl’s complexion had turned pallid.

  Kate flew north over forests of spruce, birch, and alder, now mostly bare. A broad valley emerged and the forests fell away. Trees stood in clusters amidst a patchwork of farmlands, and green earth could be seen where the snow had melted. The Talkeetna Mountains angled up from the valley floor. They weren’t as impressive as the Chugach, but they were still stunning.

  “Looks like farms down there,” Ralph said.

  “Yeah. They’re colonists from the Midwest.”

  “Read about that,” Carl said. “It’ll never work. The government’s got things fouled up.”

  “Nothing worthwhile is easy,” Kate said, barely able to keep her voice congenial. “The valley’s got good farmland and the colonists are hard workers. They grow some fearsome vegetables. Biggest cabbages produced anywhere.”