Piloting a helicopter must be the same as riding a bicycle, because Anne had no trouble remembering how to operate the machine and we were soon up and away.
As we neared the fire, I could see it was confined to the valley behind the rocky point that Rory and I had picnicked on. “The road’s cut off below us,” I yelled over the noise of the engine and pointed.
Mike radioed this information to the base for the incoming crews to use. “From the direction of the smoke, the wind is driving the fire up the gorge and away from the stand of dead pines. We might get lucky and trap it between the burned area and my firebreak. It will cut off the fuel supply.” He motioned past the spikes of flame flaring through the smoke. “Anne, put me down on that cut line.”
She nodded and landed the little helicopter smack in the middle of the cleared area as easily as she would park her car at the mall. Mike leaned over me and gave his wife a swift kiss. “Good luck.”
Anne appeared calm, too calm, and I suspected what was going through her mind. She needed to stay in the present, so I tried to distract her.
“Do you think the winch will be able to hoist Rory and me both up at once?”
She refocused. “What? Oh, the winch? It’ll be maxed but will work. The trick’s going to be keeping this jumpy thing steady.”
When we got to the ledge, Anne hovered the small helicopter. I could see Rory lying on the ground, not moving.
“The winds are unpredictable, Robin. Go as fast as you can.”
The warning in Anne’s voice was clear. I checked my harness and stepped out onto the landing rail. The wind whipped my face as panic squeezed me, like a python wrapped around my chest. I ignored it and activated the winch.
Swaying beneath the helicopter, I twisted and turned. Anne maneuvered to give me the safest landing possible. This meant moving close to the cliff face. I couldn’t imagine the skill and willpower it must have taken to do this. A burst of affection for this amazing woman made me realize how much I cared for her. I wished Gran could have met Anne. They’d have liked each other instantly.
The second my feet touched down, I unhooked the winch clip, ran to Rory, and buckled a harness on him. He screamed when I moved his leg, and he picked up a sizable rock. “Get away from me! We’ll both die on that thing!”
My patience was done with Mr. Rory Adams. “We don’t have time for your drama-king act!” I growled, and slapped him across the face.
His mouth fell open. “You hit me!”
“Yes, and I’ll do it again if you don’t shut up!”
He shut up.
I clipped the winch to our harnesses and pressed the switch to bring us back up to the helicopter. There was a hard gust of wind and the chopper swerved and dipped. We swung wildly out over the gorge, and my stomach leaped into my throat. Rory clung to me, and this time, I clung back.
Groaning under the strain, the winch finally stopped at the open door to the helicopter, and I shoved Rory inside. “Unhook your harness!” I yelled, my feet balancing precariously on the landing rail.
He did and I clambered up beside him, undoing my own winch clip. I was never so glad to be squished into an uncomfortable seat with a sweaty, smelly, sooty guy in my life. Rory was pale and shaky. “Relax. We made it!” I tried to comfort him.
Anne glanced over and handed me an airsickness bag.
“It’s okay. I feel fine,” I protested, then Rory heaved and I was glad I had the bag.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Home and Dry
Anne flew directly to Canmore Hospital, and they took Rory into surgery for his fractured leg. While Anne filled in the paperwork, I told her everything I knew about my ex-boyfriend and what he’d been up to.
“The police should be called.”
Anne took out her cell phone, and I swallowed nervously. “Do you think I’ll have to talk to them too?”
“Don’t worry. You haven’t done anything wrong, have you?” Anne asked pointedly.
“I didn’t have anything to do with Rory’s stupidity. Honest.” No, I thought, I had enough stupidity of my own.
I reached for the flame pendant and discovered it was gone. The chain must have broken during the rescue. Whichever bear, cougar, or moose found it, they could keep it! That thing had felt wrong since the beginning.
I pulled the blue pouch from the pocket of my jeans and put my own locket back on, knowing I’d never take it off again. I felt stronger with it on, and with the way I’d screwed up the last few weeks, I’d need all the strength I could get to face the future.
We went back to the hostel and were surprised later when Mike walked into the restaurant.
“There are my girls!” He greeted us cheerily, his face black with soot and his clothes reeking of smoke. “I stopped at the hospital, and you’ll be happy to know the police were busily charging Rory with multiple crimes.”
“Are you okay?” Anne asked anxiously.
“I’m fine, and I have some great news, ladies. The fire’s contained and on its way to being out, thanks to you and Robin.” His voice became serious. “Anne, if you hadn’t flown me there so quickly, it might not have turned out so well. I know what it took for you to get back into a helicopter. Thank you, sweetheart.” He pulled his hand out from behind his back and offered her a bunch of wildflowers, only slightly singed.
She took the flowers, sniffing them appreciatively. “Maybe it’s time we talked about me flying again. Since I have such a competent staff now, I can leave the place and know everything will be taken care of properly.”
They both smiled at me, and I was about to say something when I glanced past Mike and saw two RCMP officers striding toward us. It was the same two I’d met the morning after the robbery. I remembered the way the big guy had scrutinized me, filing my face in his own personal database. They weren’t delivering good news.
“Kai Hunter?” the big one asked.
The jig was up and I was tired of lying. “Yes, I’m Kai Hunter. Please don’t take me back! There’s nothing left for me on the reservation. My Gran was all I had, and she’s gone.” I was pleading.
The constable wasn’t sympathetic. “You’ll have to come with us. Social services is waiting to take you into custody. A sixteen-year-old alone on the streets won’t last long.”
“Officer,” Anne interrupted, “she’s not alone and she’s not on the streets. I suspected she was underage and made sure she was taken care of and supervised, or at least as supervised as possible.”
I frowned, confused. “How—”
Anne shook her head as if to say, “nice try, but it ain’t gonna fly.”
“Robin, or should I say Kai, you’re not a good liar. When you arrived, you said you didn’t have any ID because your wallet was stolen, but you had your wallet. You put those twenties back in it when I was taking you to the staff quarters. The tribal police visited not long after you came and asked about a runaway with a distinctive dragonfly tattoo on her wrist. I had a hunch what was under your bandage. I decided to watch over you until you trusted me enough to explain what was going on.”
“I do trust you!” I protested. “Both of you!” My eyes swept desperately from Anne to Mike. “I’m sorry I lied. I was going to tell you, except I thought it would screw everything up. I don’t want to learn Navajo!”
They exchanged an intense look, and it was as if some mental message passed between them. Anne put her hand gently on my shoulder.
“Kai, in the past you’ve made some bad choices.” Her tone was stern, and I dreaded what was coming next. “We want to help you make better ones in the future.”
Mike stepped forward and addressed the policemen. “We’ll speak to social services about fostering Kai. She’ll live with us, and we’ll make sure she goes to school, eats her vegetables, and doesn’t stay out too late. We’ll also make sure she stays in touch with her First Nation’s roots. We’ll take her to visit the elders on the reserve and go to as many powwows as she wants.”
My heart knew this
was so right. Gran would want me to stay connected to my culture, and truthfully, I wanted it too. I was proud to be Indian. We rocked!
Mike’s next words made me stop breathing for a minute.
“Then, if she decides we pass muster, we’ll apply to formally adopt her. That is, if Kai wants us to.”
They turned to me, waiting.
“Me? Live with you? Here?” I couldn’t believe it.
“Actually, you should move into our house. There’s a room waiting.” Anne brushed a lock of my garish hair out of my eyes. “We both want you to stay.”
“And I can help with your application for firefighting school when you turn eighteen. You’re a shoo-in,” Mike added with a wink.
The RCMP officers were speechless, something I’d never seen before. And this was, after all, not my first rodeo.
I imagined what it would be like to have Anne and Mike for parents. “I’d like that. A lot.” I smiled.
All at once we were talking, hugging, and laughing, and when I listened closely, I thought I could hear Gran laughing too.
I was home.
Resources
United States
1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929)
Call this hotline if you’re a teenager who’s thinking of running away from home or know someone who is, you have a friend who has run and is seeking help, or you are a runaway ready to go home.
nationalsafeplace.org
Safe Place is a national youth outreach program that educates thousands of young people every year about the dangers of running away or trying to resolve difficult, threatening situations on their own. The 24-hour crisis line has an experienced frontline team of members ready to help. If you’re not ready to call, you can post to the bulletin board, send an email, or start a live chat. It’s anonymous, confidential, and free.
TXT 4 HELP
TXT 4 HELP is a nationwide 24-hour text-support service for teens in crisis. If you’re in trouble or need immediate help, text “safe” and your current location (address/city/state) to 69866. Within seconds you’ll receive a message with the closest Safe Place location and contact number for the local youth shelter. You will then have the option to text interactively with a mental health professional for more help. It’s quick, confidential, and safe.
teen.fightforzero.org
[email protected]
724-656-STOP
Fight for Zero works to stop sexual assault, date rape, and domestic violence and provides help and support for teens, parents, and schools.
Canada
kidshelpphone.ca
1-800-668-6868
Kids Help Phone offers free, 24/7, anonymous, confidential, and nonjudgmental phone counseling and web counseling for anyone age twenty and younger.
Canada Hotlines
Crisis Intervention Centre: 1-800-757-7766
Parents Help Line: 1-888-603-9100
Sexual Assault Support and Crisis: 1-800-909-7007
S.O.S. Femmes: 1-800-387-8603
About the Author
Jacqueline Guest is a Métis writer who lives in a log cabin nestled in the pinewoods of the Rocky Mountain foothills of Alberta, Canada. She is the current Creator in Residence for the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers and the proud recipient of the 2013 Indspire Award for the Arts. Her award-winning books feature main characters from different ethnic backgrounds, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Her well-drawn characters face issues common to every young person, such as bullying, blended families, and physical challenges, providing strong role models for today’s youth.
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