“Fine by me. Take the stick.”
“Wait — what?”
“You’d better grab it before we crash.”
She grabbed hold of the rubber grip with both hands, and the engine’s vibrations shuddered up her arms. “What do I do?”
“Bring the nose up — pull the stick toward you.”
She pulled and the plane responded with no more fuss than her old tractor, but with far more satisfaction. This was fun. “What now?”
“Level it out,” he said. “Push to make the nose go down, pull to get it up. Left, right—everything in between. I’ll handle the rest.”
She released a giddy laugh. “Am I really flying this thing?”
“Yep. How does it feel?”
“Invigorating!”
She turned the plane and went back, following the same landmarks he’d shown her and concentrating on keeping the wings level — not that it took much effort. Flying seemed easier than driving. No traffic to contend with. No stoplights or road construction. She just had to keep it level.
Before long, the small airport came into view. Fun time was about over, but a quick glance at the fuel gauge verified the fact that it was time to land.
“You ready to take over?” she asked.
“Nah. You’re doing good. Wake me up back at the hangar.”
She shot a glance over her shoulder. “You’re kidding! I can’t land this thing!”
“You’re right. I’m kidding.”
THAT EVENING, MITCH toasted her with his tea glass. “Not only can you catch them, you know what to do with them. Best fish dinner I’ve had in a long time.”
“You did the beans.” She shifted in her Adirondack chair in front of the fire pit and set her plastic plate on a wood-slat side table. He planned to spend the night and freshen up the place before his father returned for the weekend. She’d followed him from the city to the condo in her rental so she could leave whenever she got ready, but between the sounds of the lapping water and the singing crickets, she might never be ready.
“Correction,” he said. “I opened the can and nuked the beans. You did the hard stuff. Great fried fish. I even liked the coleslaw. My mom would’ve wanted your dressing recipe.”
Inside the condo, she’d seen pictures of the O’Hara family. Mitch and another young man with their parents. Mitch, striking in his uniform. The O’Hara men had towered over Mary Beth, but the love and respect they’d held for her seemed evident in each photo. The differences between his family and her own were legion, especially after G-pop and Daddy died.
“I would’ve liked to meet her.”
“You remind me of her.” He grabbed a stick and placed it in the fire. The breeze blowing off the lake added a chill to the night air and sent tiny sparks winking away into the darkness. “She would’ve liked your spunk.”
“Ha. Right. Wasn’t that long ago you were calling me hysterical. And you weren’t wrong.”
“Yeah, but you’re a trooper. Think of everything we’ve done the past couple of days. The only thing missing was the jet noise.”
“And the requirement to jump from the plane.”
“Well, yes, there’s that. Still, Mom would’ve liked you. Both my parents would.”
He grew quiet, his gaze fixed on the fire, his tea glass held in both hands between his knees. Whatever was going on in his mind seemed to have taken him miles away, and she suddenly felt like an intruder.
She shifted her focus to the flames. She couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. Who knew she’d like flying so much? Okay, yes — Mitch knew somehow, just like he’d known how to keep her calm, how to protect her from the others’ prying eyes after her episode on the Twin Otter. Just as he’d known to tease and compete with her on the water. His fish had been bigger, until she’d hauled in a whopper. He’d caught the most, until she landed two in a row and tied the score.
He’d gone from stranger to trusted friend in a matter of three days. An attractive, trusted friend whose touch she missed right now, but she hadn’t reached the comfort level required to stretch over and take his hand. Though she did feel comfortable digging a little.
“What happened to your mother? How did she die?”
He studied his hands so long, she was afraid he wouldn’t answer. Perhaps she shouldn’t have asked. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
He glanced at her. “No, it’s all right. It was a long time ago. This place just … reminds me of her, I guess. Makes me miss her.” He leaned back and set his tea glass on the side table. “The official verdict was complications due to pneumonia.”
“But you don’t agree with the official verdict.”
“Not entirely.” He took a deep breath through his nose and stared off into the night sky. “I believe she died of a broken heart.”
JoJo waited for him to continue. Studied him. The crease in his brow, the sad droop of his lips. She’d known him only a short time, but seeing his sorrow so plainly written in the lines of his face hurt her heart.
Finally, he cut his eyes her way. “I had an older brother, Randall. He moved to Dallas after he graduated. Rand and Connie — his wife — were driving to Amarillo for Mom’s birthday. Some teenager veered into his lane with one hand on the wheel of her daddy’s Volvo and the other tapping a text on her cell phone. He swerved in front of a truck, the truck clipped them and sent them spinning into oncoming traffic. Connie was eight months pregnant.”
JoJo winced. “Oh, wow. I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah, me too. They’d planned to move back to Amarillo. Mom had been fixing up a nursery at home, thinking she’d be called on to babysit my nephew — the baby was going to be a boy. After they died, she did too, in a way. Just checked out mentally before she finally checked out physically. But, like I said, that was a few years ago.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “All right, mystery woman, it’s time.”
She laughed. “Mystery woman, huh? Okay, what is it time for?”
“Time for you to let me in on some of the mystery. You have yet to tell me anything substantial about yourself. I know you’re a vet, that you don’t want to jump, and you like to fish. Tell me something new.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Start with how you came to be a large animal vet. No fluffy poodles for you, right? Bovine and equine all the way.”
“And goats. Don’t forget the goats.”
“And donkeys?”
“Of course. They’re my favorite.” She chuckled. “They were G-pop’s favorite too. My grandfather was the reason I went into the field. He was a large-animal vet, James Herriot-style. When the ranchers couldn’t bring their sick animals to him, he went to them. I spent a lot of time tramping through pastures, lugging whatever equipment and instruments I was big enough to carry, so I could watch G-pop work his magic.”
“Did he raise you?”
That would’ve been great. “No.”
He looked at her expectantly, studying her as she’d studied him. But she’d said as much as she dared, and now there was nothing left but awkward silence.
She didn’t owe him anything, anyway — not like that. Not letting him in to her past and her secrets. After this week, she’d never see him again. After tonight, in fact. She could cut her vacation short and go home. She’d seen all she wanted of San Antonio.
She grabbed their plastic plates and rose. “Let me help you clean up.”
He gave her a quizzical look as he stood. “There’s not much to clean up.”
He took the plates from her and tossed them into the fire, then took her hands. “Did I say something wrong?”
She looked at her hands enveloped in his. She’d spent the evening missing his touch, but now … “No, it’s just getting late. We’ve had a long day. I’m afraid it’s catching up with me.”
Skepticism clouded his eyes, but he kissed her softly on the cheek and draped his arm around her shoulders. “At least I can walk you to your car.”
She fished her keys from
her pocket as they walked, then stopped at the car door. “I’ve had a great time, Mitch. You’ve made my vacation special.”
“It’s not over yet, is it? You’re here till Friday, right?”
“I’ve taken enough of your time, haven’t I? I was thinking I’d head home tomorrow.”
“You’re going to leave without giving skydiving another chance?”
She shrugged. “I’d have to conjure up another two hundred dollars. Not in my budget.”
“Why don’t you let me handle that?”
“I couldn’t ask you to—”
“It’s nothing.” He waved away her protests. “Chad owes me. Why don’t I set it up tomorrow and give you a call?”
She shuddered. “Tomorrow?”
“No? Okay, when, then?”
“Can I think about it?”
He kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
JOJO PACED THE LIMITED space of her hotel room, rolling her eyes at the gushing from the phone. She’d expected this kind of romanticism out of Annie, but Arabel? She’d always seemed more level-headed.
“He has a great car, his own plane, a condo on the lake, and enough clout in the city to treat you to a catered, rooftop dinner in the moonlight.” Arabel sighed. “What a man.”
“Yes, but I didn’t come here to score a man.” Especially not one who wanted to know everything about her.
“But you did score a man — and it doesn’t hurt that he’s rich. You’d never have to worry about money again. That college loan? Poof! It’s gone!”
“You make me sound like a gold digger.” Even if she were to see him again after this week — which was doubtful — there was no poof in her future. She wouldn’t let him pay her debts.
“Anyone who knows you knows better than that. But it doesn’t hurt,” she said again. “So are you seeing him tomorrow?”
JoJo flopped across the bed and fiddled open the mint that had been left on the pillow. “I don’t know. He’s already calling me mystery woman. Wants to know more about me.”
“That’s great!”
“With my past?”
“Oh, honey.” Compassion oozed from her voice. “There’s nothing in your past to be ashamed of.”
“There’s nothing in my past I want to share with a stranger, either.” Besides, once he got to know her that well, he would lose interest right fast. She was too poor, from too rough of a background to hold a rich man’s interest for long. Her home was far more humble than the condo she’d seen. And it suited her.
Arabel huffed. “Maybe you’re chasing the wrong bucket-list item. Instead of jumping from a plane — something you never wanted to do anyway — you should be jumping into a relationship with a man you can confide in. He sounds like a great guy, maybe even the one God has planned for you.”
“Oh, that’s going a bit far, isn’t it? I’ve known him less than a week!”
“Don’t dismiss the idea entirely. Stranger things have happened — miraculous things.” She took a sip of something, then continued. “Look, everything you’ve told me about him makes me believe you can trust him with your heart. Don’t shut him out.”
She was right to a certain extent. Mitch had a sense about him, a way of letting her know she could trust him. But how long would that hold true?
She popped the mint in her mouth and sat up, looking out the window at the skyline. Her bedroom window at home overlooked the pasture and the animals grazing there. “It doesn’t matter anyway. He lives and works in the city. I live and work in the country eight hours away. It’s not like I’ll see him again after this.”
“You never know. Have faith.”
“Arabel—”
“Just promise me you’ll give him a chance. It’s only Wednesday. You’ll never know what could happen if you turn tail and run now.”
She shook her head. “Fine. Can we talk about you now?”
Chapter 9
The sugar had probably dissolved long ago, but JoJo kept idly stirring her coffee and staring at the water rippling in the hotel swimming pool. She missed her stock pond at home, the quiet lapping of waves against the boat yesterday, the rolling current of the river. But this was available without her having to put on her makeup this morning or dress up in anything more formal than her shorts and tee. And it worked. Even chlorinated water in a concrete pond could offer peace to a frazzled mind.
The opening bars to the chorus of “Stronger” erupted from her cell phone, the tune she’d designated for Kat. She grabbed the phone and answered.
“So,” Kat said, “Arabel tells me you’re getting cold feet about your honey-bunny.”
“He’s not my honey-bunny.”
“But he wants to be.”
JoJo huffed her bangs from her eyes. “I can’t believe Arabel called the reinforcements.”
“You’d better believe it.” From the noises coming through the ear piece, it sounded like Kat had poured herself some coffee. “But you are changing the subject. What about this Mitch guy?”
“What about him?”
“He sounds great. You like him, don’t you?”
“About as much as you like that hunk you’re seeing right now.”
When Kat grew silent, JoJo laughed. “The shoe’s on the other foot now, isn’t it? You’re as hesitant about your guy as I am about Mitch.”
“Yes, but that’s different.”
“Not much different. We’re both wounded warriors with our own set of baggage.”
“And you don’t think Mitch can handle yours?”
Could the king of surprises and you’ll see handle a control-freak with more debt than time? Could a man with his happy family background handle her morbid history? Could anyone?
“That’s not even an issue,” she said. “Didn’t Arabel tell you how far away I live from San Antonio? You do remember Texas, don’t you? It’s huge. Hours of driving and you never leave the state.”
“She told me, and I do remember. But she also told me about the plane. He owns one, right?”
“Doesn’t mean he’d use it to fly to a podunk place like Hereford.”
“You never know.” A door opened and closed on Kat’s end, keys jingled, and the background sounds changed. “I’ve got to get to the gym, but I wish you’d consider giving Mitch a chance. Even if nothing comes out of it, you could at least enjoy more time with him during the next couple of days.”
“Have fun at the gym.”
Kat laughed. “Fine. Be that way. Catch you later.”
JoJo ended the call and tapped her phone against her palm. Jump in, Arabel had said. You never know, Kat had said. They made it sound so easy. But there was too much to overcome. Just too much … Besides, she hadn’t known Mitch long enough to see his own warts. What if the too-good-to-be-true adage fit? What if the skeletons in his closet were worse than the ones in hers?
She doubted it.
The girls did have a point though. She’d be here a few more days. Might as well make the most of them.
She checked the time. Only seven. The hotel would be hopping soon with more visitors checking out or going down to take advantage of the breakfast or gym, and she had no inclination to do either. But flipping through morning news shows sounded less appealing. Mitch hadn’t indicated when he’d call, but surely not this early. She grabbed a fresh cup of coffee from the bar inside and headed out the front for a walk.
The hotel’s doors swished open, and she strolled through just as Mitch pulled his Audi into the circle drive. He’d ridden with the top down, and the wind through his hair had given him a casual, boyish look. Her heart pounded like a schoolgirl’s.
Arabel and Kat were right. She’d been nuts to think she’d go home and miss out on another day with him.
He put the car in park. “Just who I came to see.”
She propped her fist on her hip and shot him a mock scowl. “I thought you were going to let me think about it. Maybe call first.”
“Didn’t want to give you a chance to b
ack out.”
“You didn’t arrange something this early, did you?”
“By the time we get there, it won’t be early.” He killed the engine and stretched his arm across the back of the passenger seat. “Go get ready. I’ll wait.”
“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” She shook her head. “Okay. I’ll be down in a sec.”
She retraced her steps back inside the hotel, dumped her coffee — there were no bathrooms on the Twin Otter — and headed for the elevator. The door slid open, she stepped in, poked her floor number, and slumped against the wall.
This was it. Could she do it?
The door opened on her floor. She pulled her keycard from her pocket as she walked down the hall.
Mitch had proven she had nothing to be afraid of. She didn’t have vertigo — she could’ve told him that — wasn’t afraid of heights, didn’t get dizzy when looking down. Flying in his sweet little put-put plane yesterday had actually been relaxing. The Twin Otter had two propellers, so it was a little louder, but that was a good thing. It had more power. It wouldn’t crash. And she hadn’t been sucked out when the door opened. Another good thing. Those fears were irrational.
Right?
Inside her room, she changed from her summer casuals to something more suitable for jumping from a plane. Her skinny jeans and a snug shirt to fit under the jumpsuit, and some socks to wear with her jogging shoes. She sat on the ottoman to lace up her shoes.
Mitch had said that once the canopy opened, it was like flying in the Piper Cub, but much quieter. Wind noise without engine noise. And no oil or plane fuel smells. She’d liked the Piper Cub. She needed to remember that.
A couple of minutes in front of the mirror to yank her hair into a ponytail and settle a cap on top, and she was ready to go.
But she stopped on her way out, with her hand on the doorknob.
She wanted to do this. She needed to do this. She’d told everyone she would, so she was obligated to do this. But could she do it?
She raised her chin. Yes. She could. If Kat could climb a mountain, if Annie could crash a famous wedding, she could jump from a plane.
Her shoulders slumped. That little pep talk sounded familiar, and it hadn’t worked the first time. If only she could talk to Annie this morning to be fortified by her strength. What would she tell her to do? Take a breath, say a prayer, step out on faith.
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