Broken Wings, Soaring Hearts

by Beverly A. Rogers

  Hurrying to the kitchen, Hailey closed the door behind her. She stood, hands on hips, her face twisted into a warning grimace.

  “What is wrong with you two?” she half whispered, her tone agitated enough to get her point across. “He could have turned around and seen you both acting like a couple of loony tunes.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry I’m such a wreck,” her sister fawned. “If I’d only known you were such a hottie I would have dressed up in my best coveralls, or at least brushed my ratty hair … ” Her sister fell over her mom in a fit of giggles.

  Rinnie pushed her youngest daughter away. “Well, I don’t think it’s funny. Stop wasting that young man’s time. His services aren’t needed here, and if you don’t tell him, I’ll tell him right now.”

  Hailey shushed her mother as she hurried to pour Jack’s tea, giving it a quick squirt of lemon. Without thinking, she aimed the lemon at Felicia and issued an ultimatum. “You either keep Mom quiet, or you get this again.”

  Felicia let out a louder cackle at Hailey’s threat. “Well, I’ll just go in and tell that man that you want to give him a big fat kiss on the lips.” She directed a loud smacking sound at Hailey. “So are you gonna ask him to marry you? Can I go in and ask him to marry you?”

  Hailey gathered Jack’s glass along with the watered-down glass she’d poured for herself earlier. “First of all, stop acting like a sixteen year old. And second, you just do that, Miss Diva, and I’ll tell him that those cheerleading sweaters that you so amply fill out aren’t totally, shall we say, you.”

  Felicia gasped. “You wouldn’t!” Her mouth gaped open. “And they’re only lightly padded.” She gripped her mother’s arm. “Aren’t they, Mom? And I am sixteen, so I can act sixteen if I want.”

  Hailey turned to leave the kitchen, issuing one last order with a stern frown. “You two behave and stay here in the kitchen where you belong.” She closed the door between the kitchen and living room with her foot and made her way into the living room with a tall glass balanced in each hand.

  She handed Jack his tea. “Here. Let’s go,” she said hurriedly.

  “Is everything all right?” He cast a curious look over his shoulder, toward the kitchen.

  “All right? Oh, sure, fine. Everything’s great.” She took a long, deliberate sip of tea, retrieved the résumé from the coffee table where she’d left it, and headed for the front door. Maybe her mother wouldn’t follow them outside and try to scare him off. Maybe if they worked fast …

  Jack followed her, briefcase and glass of tea in hand, back out onto the porch.

  “This is better,” she insisted. “Much roomier, don’t you think? Lots of fresh air out here.”

  He glanced at the vast outdoors around them.

  “Pick a swing, any swing.” She motioned to the two swings facing each other, and without waiting for his choice, plopped herself on the swing facing the front door. Just in case.

  He seated himself opposite her on the empty swing and set his briefcase beside him on the seat.

  She held the paper before her and let her eyes scan the lines quickly. Born on … graduated from … worked for … ah. There it was. The million-dollar question. With the million-dollar answer sitting right beside it.

  Single.

  She raised her eyes and found him watching her with intent patience. She gave her swing a slight push with her work boot. Any self respecting boss would need to know that. For insurance purposes. Yeah, uh-huh, insurance.

  “Your resume looks really good. Let me tell you more about our operation.”

  He settled back intently as she continued.

  “We have two crafts, both of which you’re familiar with, since your company designs and manufactures the Skycats.” She smiled at him. “I love that plane, by the way. My dad thought it was the best.”

  She went on. “As we discussed on the phone, I need a certified A & P who can do routine maintenance and repairs. It helps that you’re a pilot, too, even though according to your résumé, you’re not up on your hours. We’ll have to recertify you so you can help me with the flying. My father and I stayed unbelievably busy. When I left for school, he had to turn down quite a bit of work. I want to make that up to him.”

  She set the résumé in her lap, suddenly aware but pleasantly surprised, at how well she’d regained her business sense. Somewhere during the conversation her brain had recovered and she felt decidedly more in control. As she was supposed to be.

  “It’ll take both of us working hard. We’ll be the nearest reputable base station in a sixty mile radius.” She decided to hold off telling him about the irreputable station for now. Neal and Paul Watson. Why spoil a perfectly good interview before she absolutely had to? It was enough that she’d have to tell him that her mom wasn’t thrilled about reopening.

  Not thrilled. Understatement.

  Obviously, neither situation was something she’d be able to keep from him, for obvious reasons. Nor would she want to. But she couldn’t help but dread the thought of it.

  She gave herself another giant push and tucked her legs underneath her. “We rent hourly to individuals, or we pilot the crafts ourselves for business and pleasure trips.” She let her eyes follow a hummingbird to a feeder at the other end of the porch, and then fixed her gaze back on his face.

  “You and I would be the only staff pilots, so as my father and I did, we would try to book clients so that one of us could be here at all times for refueling and to take calls.” She stopped to let her words sink in. “Sound good so far?”

  Jack gave a firm nod of his head. “We discussed salary and hours on the phone, so I’m clear on everything, I believe. This job sounds like exactly what I’m looking for. I’m sure you’ll want to check my references.”

  She gave him an incredulous look. “You think you’re sitting on my family’s porch without being checked out first?” But until he stepped out of his vehicle and she got a look at him, it hadn’t occurred to her to check his marital status.

  He gave a slow, knowing nod. “Of course. I should have guessed you’d already have done that.”

  “So, you’re ready to start today? After lunch?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Just point me to the nearest hotel where I can plant my stuff and get a bite to eat, and I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

  “You could drive into town and eat at my Uncle Frank’s diner, they have the best sweet tea and chicken fried steak you’ve ever had. But I’m sure you’re exhausted from the drive and lunch is already cooked and ready here.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “And the only hotel within forty miles is the Barnes Roach Motel.” She waited for a chuckle but he only nodded.

  “It’s not really called that, by the way. In case you were wondering, I was making one of my famous jokes.” She hesitated again and let it go. “I’d hate to send you there.”

  She hadn’t intended to offer, but something told her it was the right thing to do. “We have a nice cottage near the hangar. You’re welcome to bunk there until you find a place.” Her mouth twisted into a wry smile. “It’s either that or the aforementioned Barnes Motel.” She gave an exaggerated shudder. “Want to see the cottage?”

  “Gratefully. If your family doesn’t mind.” She folded his résumé and tucked it into her shirt pocket as she rose from her seat. “No, of course not! Why would they mind? You’re more than welcome to stay here.” Not a total fib. She was glad he was there. And as far as the rest of the family goes, they’d definitely be on board once they got on board with all the rest of the stuff they weren’t crazy about right now.

  “I’ll stay in my sister Lindsey’s room. She’s off at college right now. Except for some weekends.” She made her way down the porch steps with Jack matching her step for step on their way to the back side of the house. She stopped midway on the gravel drive. “There it is. Isn’t it great?”r />
  He let out a low whistle and gave a nod of agreement. “This is the little cottage you mentioned? It’s a miniature country estate!”

  She tipped her face to the blue sky, basking in the compliment as well as the rays of the warm Texas sun. “My father and I built it.”

  His mouth gaped open and he looked from her to the cottage and back to her. “Are you serious?”

  She nodded, her thoughts filtering back to the first day when she walked arm-in-arm with her dad as they followed the brick path around the house, surveying their handiwork. It was to be her own home, and the two of them had designed the plans together.

  The wrap-around porch was her idea. The double doors into the kitchen were his. She hated to let anyone else move into her home, but it made more sense than expecting Jack to find a place in Barnes right away. The roach-infested Barnes Motel was out of the question. Besides, she wanted the person she hired to be close to the aircraft. This was the best she could do for now. It was worth the sacrifice. She knew her father would agree.

  Jack broke her thoughts as he marveled again at the intricate woodwork across the front of the house. Before she could respond with another thank you, the ear-piercing roar of an old mufflerless pickup zoomed past the house, shattering the peaceful countryside. In an instant, a longneck beer bottle flew from the passenger’s side window, soaring the long distance from road to Jack’s Jeep, where it smacked fiercely against the rear headlight. The hit was followed by the outrageous wild yelps of the truck’s occupants.

  The unexpected ruckus hung in the humid April air like an ominous cloud. Hailey turned her stormy eyes to face the utter shock on Jack’s face. Even from where they were standing, there was no question about the damage to his Jeep.

  “I guess I should tell you about the Watson brothers.” She choked the words out between clinched lips. “Our competition.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Both of Hailey’s fists were clenched tightly at her sides. “Kisses can’t stand those boys.” She attempted to keep an even tone. “He can hear them coming from ten miles down the road. You should see how crazy he gets when they have the audacity to actually drive into our driveway! I can’t even tell you how upset that poor dog … ”

  Jack held up a hand to silence her, feeling his ebb of calm slowly fade. “The competition? Those … those … ” He couldn’t seem to find a word. “They threw a bottle!” He proclaimed it as though she hadn’t witnessed the assault with her own eyes.

  She offered him an apologetic grimace. “They did.”

  They stepped back toward the Jeep and eyed the shattered tail light. Jack felt a rush of blood through swelling veins course through his neck and up to the top of his head. Of all the crazy outbursts he’d ever witnessed, this one had to be the most thoughtless, reckless — his mind scrambled for the perfect word — idiotic. As Kisses slowly regained his composure inside the house, Jack wondered how long he’d be able to maintain his.

  The non-threatening existence he thought he’d found? Shattered. Just like the broken glass at their feet.

  He worked to keep his cool on the outside, but his insides boiled. His eyebrows arched in Hailey’s direction. Her words finally registered. “What do you mean, they’re the competition?”

  She didn’t look any calmer than he felt as she dug her hands into the pockets of her jeans.

  She gave an angry shake of her head. “Those boys make me furious! Remember I told you we’re the only reputable base station within a sixty-mile radius? Well,” her lightning blue eyes followed weaving tire tracks down the dusty country road. “There went the unreputables.”

  He studied her face. “Those guys?”

  Her disgruntled nod answered the question.

  Without waiting for further explanation, he did a closer damage inspection, the annoying crunch of gravel beneath his shoes echoing the irritation he was sure both of them felt.

  Hailey followed closely behind, the frown on her own face deepening with each step they took around the vehicle.

  Jack bent to run a hand along the backside of his Jeep. He straightened his back, hands firmly placed on his hips. “They have good aim, I can say that for ‘em.”

  “Not hardly.” Her dark eyebrows slanted in a frown. “They were aiming for your head.”

  “They were what?” Before she could answer, he held up his hands to stop her. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.” He dropped his hands in disgust.

  “Well, don’t take it personally. It’s me they’re mad at. I know that’s small comfort … ”

  He interrupted. “No comfort.”

  “Okay,” she conceded. “No comfort. But the deal is, Neal and Paul don’t want me to reopen this base station.” She kept her eyes on the broken bottle lying at their feet and added under her breath, “That seems to be a running theme around here.”

  “I may regret asking,” I’m sure I’ll regret asking, he thought warily, “but what in the world is going on around here?”

  He looked at her as if he actually expected an answer.

  “Well, Jack, it’s a really long story, and one you really don’t need to concern yourself with. I really can take care of all of this.” She added under her breath, “Hopefully.”

  “Listen, if I’m going to be associated with this business, I need to know what’s going on.”

  She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. “Alright, I guess we should have this talk. But I’ll give you the abbreviated version.” She gazed across the meadow to the other side of the road, prolonging the inevitable.

  “When we were in the fourth grade, Neal and Paul’s daddy died.”

  He halted her with a raised hand. “First, if you’re starting all the way back to the fourth grade, this sounds like it’s gonna turn into the unabbreviated version. And second, all three of ya’ll were in the fourth grade together? So they’re twins?”

  She shook her head. “No. Just … well, that’s a long story, too.”

  He gave the back of his head a rough scratching and urged her to continue. “All I have right now is time, so. Go for it.”

  “Mr. Watson to that point had kept as tight a rein on those boys as possible, but after he was gone, they nearly ran poor Ms. Carleen to her own grave.”

  “Hard to imagine.” She met his sarcasm with a knowing nod.

  “Right. Anyway … ” her voice died away as she took a deep breath and continued. “The family had been struggling financially for some time.” Her eyes grew misty and she struggled to keep her voice calm. “My dad gave Mr. Watson odd jobs here and there to help out when he could.” She shrugged sadly at the memory. “But he was proud, you know? There was only so much he’d allow my dad to do. One morning my dad gave him some work trying to pull a flatbed out of the mud in our back pasture. Later that evening he had a heart attack.”

  Hailey worked to recover her previous composure as her mouth twisted into a frustrated frown. She transferred her gaze between Jack and the battered Jeep. “Anyway, Neal and Paul were nothing but bullies to me and my sisters, even before they thought we caused their dad’s death. But after … ” She gave a long, exhausted sigh. “It’s been torture.”

  “I know what you’re thinking,” she said at his silence. You wanna run. “But it really did get better until just recently. Both boys left for a while and worked as crop dusters for a small outfit on the other side of Houston.”

  “A Watson brothers break for Barnes.”

  She nodded adamantly. “You’d better believe it. That was the most peaceful this county has been since they were born, I think.” She stooped to begin carefully picking up glass. “Of course, that job fell through. You can’t stay smashed and pick fights with your customers and still keep a job.”

  Jack dropped to one knee and cautiously helped with the cleanup. “So the boys blamed your dad for losing the
ir dad since your dad had given him the work to do in the first place.”

  She offered him a thankful smile. “Exactly. When they came back home, Dad had his business going, and they insisted he owed them a job, but of course, my dad turned them down. They vowed to get even, so they sold every bit of property they had left except for the small plot under their home, and now they’re trying to open a base station of their own.”

  “Hailey, this is crazy.”

  “I know. But I’m telling you, you don’t have to worry about them. I don’t see how they’ll pass inspection, anyway.” Her eyes carefully canvassed the ground for any stray slivers of glass that may have escaped their notice. Finding none, she straightened her back.

  Jack stood too, opening the passenger side door and retrieving a small trash bag from beneath the seat. He emptied the glass from his hands and then held the bag open for her. “Here, make a deposit.”

  She obliged, carefully transferring the sharp pieces to the plastic bag.

  “So, to recap, Neal and Paul have been nothing but trouble since birth and we’re not going to worry about them.”

  He looked doubtful. “That’s not a recap. That’s your personal opinion.”

  “Educated opinion. From a lifetime of experience with those two.”

  “Okay, ‘educated opinion.’ And you’re missing the point here. Forget about them passing inspection. Don’t you think they’re dangerous?”

  She squared her shoulders, intending to end this conversation and get back on a positive topic. “Let me put your mind at ease. Everybody knows the Watson boys start drinking about the same time their eyes open in the morning. One time they even had the nerve to try to rent one of our planes. My dad refused, of course. That added fuel to the fire, let me tell you.” She dusted her hands against her jeans. “But, Jack, I’ve known them forever, and they’re basically a lot of hot air. They’ve let off steam now, they’ve let you know they’re around, so they should be fine for a while. That’s the way they are.” She met his gaze head on. “So that’s the story.”