Texas Thunder

by R. Casteel

  “It looks liked Linda turned out all right,” Charles said.

  “After Diana left, Cynthia stepped in and helped with Linda,” he continued. “She was too young when her mother left to really remember her. Teenage years are so much more difficult now than they were when we were that age. So many more pressures from the world around them, so many more decisions they have to make. Any of which can lead to disaster if they make the wrong one.”

  Charles thought of Kristina, his baby sister at age twenty-six, single. She had seen the world. As a senior flight attendant with Trans World Airlines she had been around the world, literally, more times than she could remember. She was also a gorgeous knock-out beauty and guilty of leaving a string of broken hearts behind her.

  Kristina and the Doc…never happen.

  Even if she did like kids, she was one of those who like Diana, lived life on the edge. So far as anyone knew, that hadn’t changed.

  Sherry announced that she could use some help in the kitchen if they were all going to eat tonight. As the women headed to the kitchen Cynthia said, “The house is full with everyone here. Charles is staying at my place.”

  No one said a word, eyebrows raised; everybody was waiting for somebody to say something. As the women went through the kitchen door, that someone was Mother.

  “Just what do you mean, he can stay at your house? I’ll not have all the neighbors talking about you having a man at your place for one night, much less for as long as he might stay. Just because he saved your life in Colorado, doesn’t mean as soon as he shows up you have to throw yourself at him like…like some little hussy. We didn’t raise you that way and quite frankly, I am shocked that you would even think of it.”

  “Mother I am twenty five years old, I have my own place. I wasn’t going to sneak him in later. I love you very much, but I have made my decision.”

  Not happy with her daughter’s response, she changed course. The kitchen door flew open and out she came, straight towards Charles. He realized that it was the two of them against her mother. The rest of the family was awaiting the outcome.

  “Young man, I think I have the right to ask you what your intentions are towards my daughter.”

  The course of history had come to a crossroad by the name of Carol Petterson.

  The phone started ringing. It was for Charles.

  “Son, there has been an accident. Trans World flight eleven forty-two out of Honolulu hit some unexpected turbulence and Kristina was one of the injured…”

  The pain he had felt upon seeing his wife and unborn child lifeless under a pile of rubble hit him.

  “She’s in critical condition in Los Angeles, White Memorial Hospital. We’re booked out on the next flight out. See you as soon as you can make it. Can’t talk any more, the last call for the plane was announced, got to go.”

  Cynthia watched the look of shock spread across his body.

  His face turned ashen, and with trembling hand, he slowly hung up the phone. He reached blindly for a chair.

  “What’s the matter?” Cynthia asked, rushing to his side.

  “It’s Kristina…my sister, there’s been an accident. She’s in critical condition at White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles. Where is the nearest airport?”

  “Charles, how big and what type of plane?” Ron asked.

  “Six passenger . . . twin-engine jet.” The foggy daze he was in prohibited coherent thought.

  “I have a private strip behind the house I use with my twin engine Cessna. If you think it’s long enough?” he offered.

  Charles called Steven, and gave him the location of the field.

  “I’m going with you,” Cynthia stated.

  “Cynthia Lynn,” her mother bristled.

  “Mother, there are some things involved right now that you don’t understand and I haven’t got time to go into,” Cynthia flatly informed her, “Charles was there for me when I needed someone. Now it’s my turn, and I am going.”

  She turned to Charles, “It will just take a minute to pack a bag.”

  Chapter 8

  Cynthia’s arm was around him as they went through the door. Now came the hard part, the waiting.

  At Ron’s, they went inside to wait for Steven. The National News Network was doing a live special on the accident.

  “This is Orleana Kritenburg, reporting live from L.A. International Airport. Trans World Airlines flight eleven forty-two out of Honolulu was involved in an in-flight accident an hour out of L.A. The Boeing seven forty-seven jumbo jet plunged several thousand feet when it entered an area of upper atmospheric turbulence. Trans World Airlines is not releasing the names of the injured until all the families are notified.

  “I have with me Angela Moore who was on flight eleven forty-two. Angela, what was it like up there?”

  “It was just awful; I thought we were going to die. All of a sudden the plane bounced and then we fell. Oh! God! It was terrible! There was no warning, nothing! People were flying around, bouncing off the ceiling! I just knew we were going to crash!”

  “What about the injured?” the reporter asked. “Were you able to see how badly they were hurt?”

  “There were several with cuts and bruises, but I think the flight attendant was hurt the worst. Instead of trying to save herself, she kept a small child from harm. It all happened so fast.”

  “Thank you Angela. This is James McNiel. James can you describe for the viewers what went on in the cabin of flight eleven forty-two?”

  “It was chaos,” he lamented. “Anything that wasn’t tied down became a missile, people, books and luggage all flying around. Even if you were strapped in your seat as I was, with all the stuff in the air it was terrible.”

  “I understand that you’re an EMT in Hawaii,” the reporter interjected. “We have a report one of the flight attendants was seriously injured. Can you tell us anything?”

  “I tended her injuries with what equipment we had on board the aircraft.”

  James face stared at them on the screen.

  “All I can tell you is she suffered multiple injuries in the accident. But she was awake and responding to questions when she was taken off the plane.”

  “Can you give any further detail to her injuries?"

  “No, you will have to check with the hospital.” He turned and walked away.

  “This is Orleana Kritenburg, reporting live from L.A. International Airport. Rodger, back to you in the studio.”

  A half-hour later, they heard Steven calling on the radio. He was preparing to land.

  As Steven taxied the company jet to where they stood, Charles turned to Ron and clasped his hand with both of his. No words were necessary.

  By the time they were buckled in, Steven was already rolling down the grass strip picking up speed.

  They had the cabin to themselves. Karen was in the co-pilot’s seat helping Steven.

  As soon as the wheels were up, Charles headed to the cockpit to see if there was any new information on Kristina.

  Karen was just getting out of her seat, she looked worn out, and this was just starting. Charles gave her a big hug. “You doing okay?”

  “Just tired.” She stretched and rubbed the back of her neck.

  He introduced Karen to Cynthia and went to join Steven.

  As he sat in the co-pilot’s seat waiting for Steven to get to higher altitude Charles watched his face under the dim glow of the instrument lights. Steven looked like he felt. He was reliving the same nightmare from six years ago. Right now, his mind was busy with the plane. Soon he would be switching to autopilot for the trip to L.A.

  He looked over at Charles and slowly shook his head. He had heard nothing new.

  “Who is our other passenger?” Steven inquired.

  Charles looked at him and smiled, “She’s the reason I came back to Dallas.”

  “Figured as much, now get the young lady up here so I can meet her.”

  After introductions were made, Karen booted Charles out of the seat he was
in. “There’s nothing we can do for Kristina right now, she’s in the best hands possible. Find something to take your mind off things for a while. After all, we’re flying at six thousand feet.” With a wink, and a sexy smile towards Steven, she took her seat.

  Charles looked around the cabin. He did need something to take his mind off the trip and what was waiting at the other end. Whenever Karen came up with ideas, they were usually good ones. This was her best yet.

  Charles went over and sat down on the couch; Cynthia followed and sat next to him.

  He raised her head and softly kissed her. “Thanks, for being here.”

  She gave him another kiss and said against his lips, “I’m here for as long as you need me.”

  The next kiss was aflame with desire. He palmed her breast and she jerked back, “Steven,” she said.

  “Flying the plane.”

  “Karen?”

  He chuckled, “Who do you think closed the door?”

  He kissed her again and his hand found its way underneath her blouse. She wasn’t wearing a bra, one less article of clothing to bother with. He liked how this girl dressed.

  “I need you,” Charles whispered against her mouth.

  She responded by giving a kiss that sent lightening bolts of joy and desire to every nerve in his body.

  Their clothes were hastily tossed on the floor, as they undressed each other.

  Cynthia was as exquisite as he had remembered. Her breasts, firm, responsive to his touch, her skin, like smooth satin. His hand glided down her stomach to rest upon her mound of hair. As his finger sought entrance, he found her moist and ready. All of a sudden, the couch became too small. Charles pulled her to the floor and rolled her on top.

  She knew what he wanted. Her hand found him and guided him in. As she lowered herself, they both groaned in pleasure. Rocking slowly back and forth, she savored his fullness and warmth inside her. Guiding his hands up her body, she placed them over her breasts.

  His gentle kneading and squeezing nearly drove her mad. Frustration mounted within her. Placing her hands on top of his, she began to pinch and roll the dusky rose-colored nipples.

  Leaning her head back on her shoulders, Cynthia watched the overhead lights blur and sway. Soft guttural moans and sighs rushed from her throat with each ragged breath. Control shattered as the sensations of emotions raged.

  Each driving thrust of her hips filled her with a heightened sense of euphoria.

  Charles felt her body tighten. The muscles of her hot core clamped around him in the final ecstasy. A deep shudder coursed its way through him. Her thirsty body stroked and milked his shaft as he emptied himself deep inside her.

  This was Christmas and the Fourth of July with all the fireworks they would ever need going off inside the plane, six thousand feet over Arizona.

  “Welcome, to the mile high club.” Charles grinned as he pulled her down on top of him.

  “We’re on final approach to LA International. Be landing in fifteen minutes,” Steve’s voice crackled over the load speaker.

  Reluctantly they separated and began putting on clothes.

  Steve taxied to a spot on the ramp for visiting planes and shut the engines down. Karen was the first through the cockpit door. “Well did you two enjoy the flight?”

  Cynthia blushed.

  “Best trip I’ve ever had.”

  Cynthia hit him on the arm.

  A rental car was waiting at the airport compliments of Trans World Airlines. They were soon threading their way through traffic.

  It was a quiet and somber ride. The reason they were here and the severity of it became greater the closer they got to the hospital where Kristina’s life was being held, by a very thin cord of hope.

  There were news vans parked out front of the hospital. Someone from the airport must have tipped them off. As soon as they were out of the car, the bloodhounds were on them.

  “Are you the family of the flight attendant that was injured?” one reporter asked.

  Lights were blinding them and Charles was trying to be polite and still make his way through the reporters. The crowd surrounding them was getting larger.

  “Is it true she may not live?” asked another.

  “Is the family going to sue the airline?” enquired a third reporter.

  “They still haven’t released her name yet. Can you give us the woman’s name?” The first reporter badgered them.

  Cynthia saw a hole in the circle of reporters that surrounded them. Stepping around Charles, she ducked under one camera and elbowed the operator in the side giving him a shove. She was still wearing her boots and she put them to use stomping down on another reporter’s toes as hard as she could. The hole opened up like Moses had just parted the Red Sea and the four of them made it into the hospital.

  Mom and Dad met them inside.

  “She’s still in surgery and there has been no word as to when she might be out,” his Dad related. “When the seven-forty-seven jumbo jet hit turbulence Kristina and several others were thrown around the cabin like rag dolls in a clothes dryer. Only the sheer determination and experience of the flight crew kept the plane in the air.”

  “Kristina was the most seriously injured. She has internal injuries. There was blood in her urine, also a broken rib and a punctured lung.”

  Cynthia held Charles’s hand. It was like holding a cold steel spring, ready to fly apart if she let go.

  Charles Senior choked back a sob, “She suffered a severe blow to the head. Kristina is in a coma. If she does come out of it, she may have permanent brain damage. Right now there was just no way of knowing.”

  They sat in the waiting room, drinking lukewarm coffee, holding hands, and trying their best to be brave for Mom. Minutes ticked by like hours, everything was in slow motion. Mom and Dad welcomed Cynthia, but with their baby in the other room fighting for her life, it was difficult to focus on any thing else.

  The longer they waited the worse it got. If any hard decisions concerning Kristina had to be made Charles knew it would be up to him. Mom and Dad weren’t able to decide anything right now. They were devastated. Charles knew the feeling only too well. His only lifeline to sanity right now was sitting beside him with a tight grip on his hand.

  She was so afraid to let Charles out of her sight; she followed him to the men’s room and went in.

  He locked the door and collapsed in her arms, weeping uncontrollably from all the pain and anguish that was within. He had to be strong for Mom and Dad. He had to be strong for Kristina; right now he didn’t have to be strong for Cynthia. She was his strength, somehow in the way they connected, she understood. She gave him her strength to lean on, just as she had given him her body, freely, openly without any hesitations and with no reservations.

  No words were needed as they held onto one another. They were of one mind, one body, united. Together, they would face whatever came. Together, they would be strong. He washed his face and they walked hand-in-hand back to the waiting room.

  After four hours of waiting, a man wearing surgical greens can into the waiting room.

  “I’m Doctor William Davidson. I am one of the doctors that have been working on Kristina since she came. I am sorry I couldn’t get out here any quicker but there no way any of us could leave her side until now. She took quite a beating up there.

  “She is undergoing surgical procedures for three life-threatening situations. The procedure for the punctured lung is just being finished. We had to remove one rib. It was shattered, beyond hope of rebuilding. The other two procedures are still in process. We had to remove a kidney but that procedure should be done very shortly.

  “It is the last one that has us all worried. She hit her head with such force that it caused a blood vessel inside her brain to tear. This resulted in an increased intracranial pressure, which caused her to go into a seizure in the Air Ambulance. She went into a coma almost as soon as she arrived at the hospital.

  “We had no choice but to go in at once if we wer
e going to save her life. If she lives, we will owe a big part of it to the paramedic on the Life Flight from the Airport. He recognized the symptoms and relayed them to us. We agreed and he administered two drugs that reduce the amount of fluid in the brain.

  “One slows the fluid going to the brain the other increases the amount of fluid leaving the brain.

  “As I left surgery they were just getting to the torn vein. It is going to be four or five more hours before she is in ICU. You will only get to see her for a few minutes. Her life will still be hanging by a thread. The next seventy-two hours will be critical. We’ll know more then about her condition. It may be a while before we can start taking her off some of the monitors and life support. I said maybe, there’s no guarantee.”

  The doctor paused for a moment and then continued, “As I said, Kristina took a beating. That she is alive is in itself a miracle. Once she is out of the woods and off the critical list, she is going to be looking at one or two more operations.

  “She has a broken tibia in her left leg that will be put in traction for now but we will need to go in and pin the bone and remove any bone fragments.

  “She had a bone broken in her face. It is a minor injury, but it also will have to be repaired in surgery, there is also a broken arm, we haven’t made the decision yet if we’re going to pin that break or just cast. There were just too many other serious injuries to take care of to worry about the broken bones at this time.

  “All we can do is our best; the rest is in God’s hands.”

  Charles thanked the doc for giving them what news he could, they shook hands and the doctor went back through the double doors of surgery.

  The only thing holding Charles together was the vise like grip of Cynthia’s hand. He looked around, everyone was in a state of shock, Mother worst of all. He knew something had to be done or she might collapse. He motioned Cynthia to follow and they went to find a nurse. Ten minutes later, a doctor and a nurse were there giving Mother a strong sedative, ordering her to bed for a much-needed rest.