by Sioux Dallas
She neatly sidestepped and looked coldly at him. Daniel was surprised and embarrassed to feel jealous of the man who was smirking and looking pleased with himself.
The man stood with spread legs and hands on his hips. “I heard about you nearly going down with your plane. It’s fortunate you landed on the beach instead of in the water. You might have tangled in your chute and drowned,” he said with a distinct drawl.
“Aren’t you the cheerful one,” Daniel sneered stepping beside Amanda. “I assume you’re pretending to be a friend of Amanda’s,” he said drawing himself up to full height and glaring.
“It’s okay, Daniel. This is Warren Gooding. His father opened a flying service on the other side of the city soon after Dad did. His father’s older and isn’t able to work as he used to, so, Warren is keeping the business going. Warren, this is a very dear friend, Daniel Cortland.”
“Daniel Cortland! Are you related to the Cortlands of oil, cattle, shipping and rolling in money?”
“Do they live around here?” Daniel frowned and stood with arms akimbo. Amanda was slightly amused to observe that Warren and Daniel had taken an instant dislike to each other. Daniel’s height and stern expression didn’t faze Warren. He fought, as the old saying goes, at the drop of a hat. At five-ten Warren was built like a wrestler and had an ego as big as all outdoors. His aggressive manner and willingness to use his fists had kept other men back from him, so, he didn’t expect Daniel to stand so firm. His boots, worn down at the heels, baggy jeans, denim jacket, blue plaid shirt and dirty western straw did nothing to help his appearance. His lank brown hair hung down over his brown eyes.
Warren sneered, “Then Amanda’s lucky to have you for a friend. It won’t matter how much financial difficulties she has, you’ll be able to bail her out.”
“Excuse me,” Amanda spoke firmly. “Warren, why would you be interested in my finances? And furthermore, it wouldn’t matter if Daniel is the richest man in the world, I don’t rely on anyone else to pay my bills. What is your real reason for being here?”
He shuffled his feet and began to look as if he had gotten into something unpleasant. He swung his arms back and forth and then put his hands in his back pockets. His eyes were snapping even though he was smiling. His brown hair, which needed combing, was hanging down over one eye. “Now calm down, Amanda. I don’t mean any harm. I just came by to extend my sympathies and to ask if you need any help.”
Daniel narrowed his eyes. “What kind of help did you have in mind to offer?”
Daniel’s attitude wasn’t lost on Warren. “Well, forgive me for caring. I’ll leave and take my obviously unwelcome presence back to my own business. Humph. Can’t even be friendly without someone taking offense,” he said looking directly at Daniel. Looking at the still, silent people around him he sauntered out with a smirk. At the door he turned and looked back as if he were going to say more, but then he left.
“Does he generally come around here?” Daniel asked with a thoughtful expression. “Forgive me for giving him the impression that you and I are old friends, but he made my skin crawl!”
Jeff Dorton gave a slight nod as Mike explained. “I’m surprised to see him here. Wonder what he really wanted. I’ve never known of him showing care or interest in someone else’s troubles.”
Amanda shrugged. “Oh, well. I have enough to occupy my mind without thinking about the likes of him. And Daniel, you needn’t apologize for saying you’re my friend. You certainly deserve the title. Funny. You seemed to size him up as soon as you saw him.”
Daniel lifted one shoulder and dropped it as if to say this was nothing to discuss. He turned to Mike. “Did I understand you to say that there had been other problems here at the hangar?”
Mike looked quickly at Amanda, looked down, took a deep breath and said, “Yes, we’ve had some strange things happen that we chalked up to one of us forgetting or maybe teens hanging out because they’re bored.”
“What things are you talking about, and did they cause a financial strain?”
“We had a rusty, old truck parked at one end that we used to haul things around here on the grounds, or to haul trash off. Just an old “knock-around” type of vehicle that wasn’t worth anything except it was handy for us. Someone took it off one night. It was no loss except we hoped no one would get hurt in it or by it. We’ve had some tools, paint and combustible materials disappear. Nothing that amounted to much at one time, but it is a nuisance to have to replace them. Too, since Amanda’s father has been unable to work, it seems as if something happens often to cause loss of money or a great big headache.”
Jeff Dorton interjected, “The truck wasn’t worth more than a few hundred dollars, but, as Mike said, we hoped it wasn’t being used to commit a crime or hurt someone if they wrecked it. The value of the tools was negligible but the nuisance of replacing them gets to be something you get angry about. When several losses occur to the same client, we get suspicious of foul play.”
“We haven’t told Dad about these losses because he’s worried enough about his health and is far too concerned about me being responsible for his business.” She sighed, walked around the floor and returned to where the men were going over the plane and discussing what they were finding.
Daniel wondered if the insurance company was suspecting Amanda of causing her own losses just to get money for the claim. He mentally shook himself and decided to keep a close eye on all that was going on as much as he could.
“I see I’d better tell Dad most of what has gone on the last two or three days. It’s obvious that the news has gotten out and someone will approach him tomorrow at church and want to talk about it. I’d better tell him before he hears it and takes it the wrong way.” Amanda sighed.
Jeff and Mike continued working on the plane and Amanda went into the office to work on records and the quarterly IRS statement. Daniel walked around the huge room curious to see what was in there. He observed that the room was almost large enough for a football field. It would have to be to hold planes, tools and work space. Everything was neatly arranged and as clean as any work place could be.
He looked with great interest at pictures and memorabilia posted on a corkboard at one end of the hangar. He assumed that the little girl was Amanda several years ago. Her dad was there in an army uniform and her mother with a saucy hairstyle that was popular several years before. The family was gathered with obvious great pride around an airplane when Amanda was a little older. He didn’t recognize a lot of the people, but thought they might be relatives.
Near the bottom of the board was a picture of Mike. Daniel smiled looking at a Mike that was much slimmer, with a pompadour hairstyle and a grin from ear to ear. There was a pretty young woman standing with her arm around a small boy. Had Mike ever been married? Could that be Mike’s wife and son?
Amanda came out of the office and called to Daniel. “I’m taking two separate students up this afternoon. I’m sorry I can’t take you with us, but it’s only a two-passenger plane. Will you stay here while I’m gone?”
“Yes. I might learn something. This looks like someone coming in now.”
Amanda hurried to greet a girl in her late twenties dressed in typical Texas jeans, green western-cut shirt and boots. Her black hair was cut short and curled perkily so that it framed her small oval face in a becoming fashion. Her dark blue eyes were constantly darting around and making Daniel uneasy. Her small bow-shaped mouth looked almost cruel. She wasn’t tall; didn’t even come to Daniel’s shoulder. He was surprised to see that she had several expensive looking rings on her fingers, and earrings that must have cost a fortune.
“Daniel, this is Melinda Pedrell. Her father is Judge Jason Pedrell here in Galveston. The scuttlebutt is that he may be running for the U. S. Senate in the next election. Melinda, this is a friend, Daniel Cortland.”
Melinda almost skipped forward with a big grin. “How nice. Are you related to the Cortlands in Sugar Land?” She placed her hand possessively on Daniel’s ar
m.
Amanda gasped. “Does everyone in the country know you, or rather your family? Where have I been that I didn’t recognize the name?” she said dismayed.
“I’m not surprised that you don’t know the name, but Miss Pedrell probably has heard the name because my dad is strong in Texas politics. He never wants to run for an office, but he supports candidates if he feels they will be good for the people of the state.”
Melinda batted her eyes and stepped close to Daniel putting her hand on his shoulder.
“Please call me Melinda I think we might become friends, don’t you?” Amanda was ashamed that hot anger rushed through her. She took deep breaths and turned to go out. “Come on, Melinda. I do have other students and we need to get your lesson in.”
Melinda reluctantly sauntered out behind Amanda looking back at Daniel and wiggling the fingers of one hand as she smiled a smile that promised more encounters.
No encounters if I can help it, Daniel thought I don’t want to risk losing Amanda’s friendship. I meant it when I told her that I felt it was meant for us to meet. And as far as I’m concerned, our friendship will be permanent, hopefully a stable relationship.
Daniel made sure he was out of sight when Amanda and Melinda returned from the lesson. In a few minutes a young man of about thirty came for his lesson. “Daniel, this is Eric Freedman. He’s had enough lessons that he’s almost ready for his final test. Eric, this is Daniel Cortland, a friend of mine.”
Daniel was relieved when Eric acknowledged the introduction but made no comments about his name or family connection. Daniel immediately liked the tall, slender young man. His black hair had been cut until he almost looked bald. Black eyes sparkled with the joy of living. His ebony skin was so clean he seemed to shine. His laugh was infectious and he laughed a lot. Daniel smiled to see Amanda and the friendly young man walking briskly to the plane.
“Fellows,” Daniel called to Mike and Jeff, “I’m hungry. I’m going into town and get something to bring back here. Can I get anything for you?”
Mike answered that he usually brought a sandwich, but Jeff said he needed something.
“Mike, what do you think Amanda would like? I might as well get for her also.”
“She usually brings a sandwich, but I think she would love a pizza. In fact, if Jeff doesn’t object, we could all eat pizza.” Jeff was agreeable.
Jeff explained, “My wife’s a health freak and she doesn’t think pizza is good for our children more than once a month. I love it but I won’t argue with her, at least not in front of the children.
Daniel refused to take any money from them. Being asked what they would like, they decided on anything but anchovies. By the time Amanda returned, Daniel had come back with two large pizzas, one with everything, one half of the other with pepperoni and mushrooms and half with sausage. He had purchased a quart of Pistachio ice cream, paper bowls, plastic tableware and a carton of Coke and one of Seven Up. He knew there was ice in the refrigerator in the office.
Amanda had brought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but was delighted with the pizza.
They spread paper towels on her desk and ate. Jeff wanted to know what each one liked to do either as a hobby or free time activities. He then told them he loved to travel and had ten-year-old twin boys that were in a little league baseball team. He helped their coach and loved working with the children. Jeff also taught a youth group at his church. He proudly informed them that he and his wife were expecting again. They hoped for a girl but would love whatever they got.
Daniel volunteered to clean up while everyone went back to their respective work. He was happy to just be in Amanda’s company and hoped she would become more comfortable with him, enough to go on dates.
As they worked, Mike called to Amanda “Mandy, come here, please. You’ll be interested to know what we’ve found. You can listen, too, Daniel.”
She and Daniel hurried to where the two men were standing by the plane. Her heart dropped when she saw the expressions on the two men’s faces.
Jeff took a deep breath, his expression showing that he was angry. “There will be more as we do further inspecting, but we’ve found one thing so far. Your plane going down was no accident. A tiny, sharp object was used to punch holes in the fuel line. The holes were on the underside making it next to impossible to spot the damage. The fuel gauge has been tampered with so that the loss of fuel would not be noticed until it was too late. It took an expert mechanic to do this dirty deed.”
Amanda gasped. “Are you saying that someone wanted me to go down?”
“Facts speak for themselves. We’ll continue checking; meanwhile try to think of anything disturbing that might have occurred recently that you passed over as coincidence. Or maybe someone came around who was acting differently. It’s too early to make assumptions, except those holes didn’t put themselves there; and it’s never too early to be extra cautious and alert,” Jeff finished.
“Mike, you’re going to tell Dad, aren’t you?” Amanda asked worriedly.
“He’s the boss and he’d have my head if he heard the facts that his beloved only child was in danger and he wasn’t informed. Amanda, he does own the place and he deserves to know.”
“He doesn’t complain, but I know how worried he is. I’m trying very hard to make things easier for him. A lot of money has gone out with only a fraction of it coming in and he and Mom have both been so ill I just -” Her voice dropped as she stood dejectedly.
Mike and Daniel exchanged a conspiratorial look. “That’s right, but I feel badly holding this from him. He took me in when I desperately needed work and now he’s willing to let my nephew help here. I sure owe him a lot, and Mandy, I love you and it makes me angry to know that you’re in danger. Why is this happening?” Mike angrily beat a fist against his thigh.
“Mike, Dad doesn’t feel that you owe him at all. He’s said many times how fortunate he is that you came to work with him and what a treasure you are. He trusts you with me and his business.”
“I know and I refuse to let him down. All of you are like family to me, too.”
Daniel had placed an arm around Amanda’s shoulders to reason with her when he noticed a tall, thin teen shuffled in and stood inside the door. The boy wore a ragged long white t-shirt with ‘Remember the Alamo’ printed on it. His jeans were baggy and his dirty tennis shoes had about seen their day. He grinned at Amanda and ran a less than clean hand through thick, dark hair.
His beautiful chocolate eyes were framed by long lashes too pretty for a boy. His tanned skin and beautiful high cheekbones showed Indian heritage. He seemed to be in great physical shape even if he was skinny.
“Hey, son,” Mike called looking pleased. “Daniel, this is my nephew, Jimmy. This is Mandy’s friend, Daniel Cortland. Jimmy comes by to help clean up and do odd jobs. His dad died when he was nine and his mom, my sister, works two jobs to take care of them and keep her son in school.” Mike slapped him affectionately on the shoulder. “Jimmy helps her by earning money working here and doing lawns for people. He’s a good boy and we’re all proud of him. I expect he’ll be heading for college when school is out. His grades are good and I’m going to help all that I can to help him achieve whatever he wants to train for.”
“I’m glad to meet you, Jimmy,” Daniel smiled as they shook hands. “I’ve heard some good things about you.” Jimmy seemed very shy. “It’s great that you can work with your Uncle Mike. A lot of boys would resent working with relatives. Are you as good a mechanic as Mike?” So this is the boy in the picture. That must be his mother with him.
“He’s getting there,” Mike said proudly. “I teach him what and when I can. Jimmy, this is Mr. Dorton. He’s an insurance investigator and is finding out why and how Amanda’s plane went down, nearly killing her.”
Jimmy spun around in surprise. “Aw Mandy, you weren’t in danger were you?”
“She sure was,” Jeff informed him. “She’s lucky the fuel gave out in such a way that she could parach
ute on the beach. The plane went down in the Gulf. If this had happened over land, it might have been another story, or if she had gone out over deeper water, it sure would have been a different story.” Daniel was interested to know why Jimmy turned so pale and shakily made his way to the supply closet where he took out a push broom. He noticed that Jeff was looking closely at Jimmy, also. It could be that Jimmy felt close to Amanda and feared for her safety.
Trying to take Amanda’s mind off these horrifying developments, Daniel spoke low to her.
“Amanda, please have dinner with me tonight.”
“I’d love nothing better, Daniel, and some day we will, but I have to do some bookkeeping for Dad tonight and I promised a neighbor that I’d give her a home permanent.”
“Well, gee. I’ve never been dumped for a home permanent before,” he said, looking like a little boy who had been denied something he wanted badly.
“You’ll get over it,” Amanda chuckled, patting his cheek. “Seriously, I’ve loved being with you and look forward to some outings. I’m more appreciative of your help than I can say, but don’t you think we’re rushing this friendship? I’ve had wonderful times and you’ve made me feel special. The mold was really broken when you were made. You’re one of a kind, a real special kind.”
“When I see something I like, I go for it. You’re one of a kind yourself. Home permanent! You can still give one of those things? Are they hard to do?”
“Yes and no. This woman is a widow trying to raise three children on her own and has little income. She has been so good to help with my mother that I try to help her however I can. Her husband was a truck driver and didn’t have much income. They didn’t have insurance either. He was killed when he went to sleep at the wheel and wrecked.”
Daniel reluctantly told everyone goodbye and started out. Amanda called for him to wait up. “Daniel, do you care if I change my mind? I think I’d better tell my parents tonight what is going on. I would appreciate it if you came to meet them and we can go out to dinner from there.”