Reckless Rogue

by Davis, Mary

  Lizzie nodded in understanding. “Daddy’s the same way. He only tolerates the Ford because it’s too hard for him to walk.”

  Lizzie helped Pete all afternoon until it was time for her to pick up her dad. He watched her drive away, wishing she could stay and missing her before she was out of sight. Why did this doll cause him pause?

  ❧

  Lizzie drove the familiar road toward the farm. Daddy sat in the passenger seat as usual. She hoped he assumed she’d started at the warehouse packing apples. Daddy just knew that when it came time for apples to be packed, she’d be at the warehouse and then in the Liberty Orchard kitchen. He never asked her, so she hadn’t had to tell him the truth. . .or lie.

  When she stopped the Model T in front of the house, Finn got up from where he sat on the steps. What was he doing here?

  “We don’t take in no beggars,” Daddy called as he opened the door and swung his good leg out. “Be off with you.”

  “Daddy, he’s not a beggar.” Lizzie got out and came around to the front stoop. “Finn, what are you doing here?”

  He squinted at her. “You live here?”

  She nodded.

  “You a Carter?”

  She nodded again.

  “You know this vagabond?” Daddy asked, hobbling up to the steps.

  “He’s just an old traveler looking for his family.” She took Finn’s hand. “Let’s go inside, and I’ll fix supper.”

  Finn smiled at her, then gave a concerned look to Daddy. Daddy nodded. “Sure. You’re welcome to share our table.”

  Had Finn come looking for her for some reason? Did he need help after all finding whoever it was he was looking for? And how had he found her?

  ❧

  Pete had just thrown out the sludge in the bottom of his coffeepot and was getting ready to turn in for the night when he heard an automobile across the field, heading toward him at a reckless speed. It had to be Lizzie. He ran over before she got out.

  “Oh, Pete.” She threw her arms around his neck. “It was awful.”

  He held her for a moment as she cried on his shoulder. He found he liked holding her, comforting her. “Lizzie, what is it?”

  She pulled away and dried her cheeks with her palms. “It’s Finn.”

  Concern knotted his gut. “Is he hurt?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t find him.”

  “Don’t worry about him. He goes off all the time. He comes and goes as he pleases.”

  She shook her head harder. “You don’t understand. He’s my grandpa.”

  “What?”

  “He came to the house and had supper with us. Then he asked Daddy to forgive him. Daddy threw him out and told him never to come back. It’s my family he was looking for.”

  Finn was family to Pete. Not by blood, but he’d been around off and on since Pete was five. “Mind if I borrow your automobile?”

  “I’m coming, too.”

  “Can I drive?” Her heightened emotions and her carelessness behind the wheel were not a good combination.

  She nodded, then climbed in through the driver-side door and slid over. He got in and drove toward town. After an hour of driving around, including a trip up the road toward Wenatchee, they still had found no sign of Finn.

  “Where do you live?”

  “Up that way.”

  Pete headed the Ford in the direction she’d pointed, not too awfully far from the field he occupied.

  “I don’t think he’d go back there. Daddy was very firm when he told him to leave.”

  “I’m taking you home. We aren’t going to find him tonight.”

  “I don’t want to go back. Daddy’s being unfair.” Her voice was laced with defiance and anger.

  “You have to go back.” Her dad was probably worried about her, and Finn had always taken care of himself just fine.

  “That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

  He pulled up to the house and got out, handing her the keys. “I’ll see you tomorrow, and we’ll find him.” As he started to walk away, the front door opened.

  “Lizzie, is that you?” said a concerned male voice. Probably her dad.

  Pete instinctively stepped back into the shadow of a nearby tree. Lizzie went inside without saying a word to her dad. He watched the light and shadows move inside.

  So Finn was related to Lizzie. Pete somehow had always known that his bond with Finn had been orchestrated by God. Because of that, he felt a responsibility to look out for Finn.

  ❧

  The next morning, Lizzie worked extra hard at avoiding Daddy. She made his breakfast but left the kitchen when he came in to eat. Then she sat in the Model T until he was ready for her to drive him to work.

  “Elizabeth, I hate you being mad at me. I’m trying to protect you. He’ll only hurt you. You don’t know how heartless he is. He’s a cruel man.”

  She couldn’t look at him, and she ignored his pleas all the way into town. Daddy got out at the post office, and when he shut the car door, she said, “I’m going looking for him.”

  Daddy’s voice got hard. “I’m ordering you not to. He’s not worth it. It’s better this way.”

  “He’s family.”

  “He gave up that right when he got Mom pregnant, refused to marry her, and left town with Grandfather’s money. That’s not the kind of family we need.”

  Finn didn’t seem like he was the kind of man to do any of those things. “I have to find him.” She drove off before Daddy could protest any further.

  Tears stung her eyes. She really needed to talk to Finn. She wasn’t naive. She knew that looks could be deceiving, but she also realized that people could change. Maybe Grandpa had been everything Daddy said, but she didn’t believe he was that way now.

  Lizzie spent the whole morning looking for Finn with Pete to no avail. Pete had convinced her that Finn would be all right. That he’d turn up in a week or so.

  She spent Friday helping Pete repair his aeroplane. The camshaft worked, and Pete took her flying after he’d taken a solo test flight. Then on Saturday she and Pete went to Bill’s Garage to work on her aeroplane. Her excitement to see her aeroplane come along was dampened by Finn’s disappearance.

  Bill gave her a gummy smile. “It’s about time you came ’round.”

  “If you’ve been expecting me, then where are your teeth?”

  He ducked his head shyly, then said, “I have somethin’ for you.”

  She followed Bill, and Pete followed her inside and upstairs to his living flat. He motioned toward his bed. Finn lay across it with a whiskey bottle on the floor near his hand. “He’s been pretty canned up for two days.”

  Lizzie ran over to him and took his hand. “Is he all right?”

  “Once he sleeps it off, he’ll be fine if I can keep a bottle out of his hand.”

  Pete came over and put his fingers on Finn’s throat. “There’s nothing you can do until he wakes up. Let’s get that fabric on your aeroplane.”

  They’d covered the nose and part of one wing by mid-afternoon when Bill strolled out with Finn. “He’s had a good, strong cup of coffee and some food.”

  Lizzie ran over and hugged Finn. “I was so worried about you.”

  Finn gave her a little smile. “It’s been a very long time since anyone’s been worried about me.”

  “I don’t understand why Daddy hates you so much. He said you wouldn’t marry Grandma.”

  Finn frowned. “Lilly and I were married! Her father didn’t approve and kept Lilly from me. He said he was going to dissolve the marriage. Lilly was pregnant. After she had the baby, we were going to run away.” A tear slipped from Finn’s eye. He turned to Bill. “Where’s she buried? I couldn’t find her.”

  Lizzie believed Finn. She had one dim memory of her great-grandfather. Scary man. “I’ll take you.”

  The four climbed into the Model T and drove to the cemetery. Finn wept at the grave of Lillian Carter. Beloved daughter. No reference to being a wife or mother.

 
; Great-grandfather hadn’t given Daddy his father’s name.

  Next to Lilly’s grave was a joint grave: Robert and Esther Carter.

  Now she knew why Daddy was so bitter. Great-grandfather had raised him that way. Then her mother’s actions had hardened that feeling in place.

  ❧

  Pete was getting too wrapped up in Lizzie. He hadn’t thought about leaving in three days. He had to fly into the horizon and not look back before roots took hold and tethered him to the ground. But there was one thing he had to do first, or he’d always look back.

  He helped Lizzie get her helmet on, then assisted her up onto the wing. Lizzie climbed into the front seat without fussing about wanting to fly. He grabbed a wire and jumped up onto the wing. “I think you’re in my seat.”

  She smiled up at him. “No, I’m—” She sucked in a breath. “You’re going to let me fly her?”

  “I think I’m crazy, but yes.”

  She scrambled out of the front and into the pilot seat. It suited her. She had more flying knowledge than some pilots he knew. Why hadn’t he let her fly it before? He knew. Letting her fly was his farewell to her.

  “Let me go over a few things.”

  “I know what I’m doing.”

  “What you think you know up here,” he tapped her head, “is not all you need when you’re in the air. You have to be smart and make decisions no one has told you about. Your real learning will come from Jenny herself. She’s a good machine. Trust her.”

  “I will.”

  Pete had her explain what every instrument told her, what it meant, and what everything was for. “I think you’re forgetting something.”

  She shook her head. “No, that’s everything.”

  He reached in and pulled up the loose end of her belt.

  “Oops. I’m just so excited to get to fly.”

  “Carelessness up there,” he pointed toward the sky, “will get you killed.” He’d seen her drive.

  “I’ll be careful. I promise.”

  “If you aren’t, I’ll climb back here and land her myself.” He could do it, too. “And don’t try any stunts.”

  “I promise. Don’t look so glum. I’m not going to crash her.”

  “I know.” He was glum because he wouldn’t see Lizzie after today. He climbed in the front. He was going to miss Lizzie. He buckled his belt and pulled on his helmet. This was strange—being in front and not having the controls at hand.

  Lizzie rolled Jenny forward and ran her down the field. He gripped the sides of the opening. He didn’t like this loss of control one bit. He wanted to yell for her to stop, but it was too late. If they didn’t take off now, they would never stop before hitting the trees. Now he knew what his passengers felt like. Out of control and petrified.

  He braced himself and felt Jenny leave the ground behind. Usually that was a glorious feeling, but not being in control made it a mite uncomfortable.

  Lizzie flew up over the trees. He drew in a relieved breath. She circled the field. Three times. Each circle larger than the last. He’d told her to circle only once, then land. But he couldn’t blame her. Once you were airborne, you never wanted to come down.

  He pointed out across the buildings of Cashmere. She nodded and flew over the town. He made a U with his finger, and she turned back. He expected her to land, but she circled the field three more times. He finally pointed toward the ground. She stuck out her bottom lip but complied when he pointed more firmly.

  This would be the tricky part. Landing was harder than taking off or flying. But Jenny was built to handle inexperienced pilots. She was a training machine. And Lizzie was not the type of doll to panic. He hoped she remembered everything he’d told her about how to approach the field and land. He wished the engine and wind weren’t so loud so he could remind her.

  Lord, please have her remember everything and make a controlled landing.

  She made a wobbly approach over the orchard but came down over the trees at a good descent. Once beyond the apple trees, she dropped Jenny nearly to the ground, then pulled up. He held his breath. Down, and the wheels barely touched the ground. He exhaled, but then they were up again. Then the jerk of the wheels grabbing for the ground. Then back in the air.

  Just keep it down. It didn’t have brakes like an automobile. It had to stop on its own, whether by the pull of the ground or the push of the oncoming trees.

  The wheels finally stayed on the ground, and Jenny rolled to a stop a bit closer to the trees than he was comfortable with but in no danger of hitting them.

  He heard Lizzie climbing out as he took several deep breaths. Not too bad for a first flight. Any flight that ended with everyone and the aeroplane in one piece was not too bad. He climbed out and joined Lizzie on the ground.

  Lizzie grinned from ear to ear. “I felt like I died and went to heaven.”

  He knew the feeling.

  “Is that how it feels every time? It was so thrilling. I have to go tell Ivan that I flew your Jenny. He’s going to be green with envy.” She ran to her Ford and opened the door, then turned and ran back. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” She ran off and jumped into her Tin Lizzie.

  He caught up to her as she started her engine. “One more thing.” He leaned inside the Ford, unhooked her helmet, and took it off. For half a second, he thought about stealing that kiss, but it wouldn’t be fair when he was leaving without telling her.

  “Oops. Sorry.” She waved and drove away.

  “Good-bye, Lizzie,” he said when she was almost out of sight. He would miss her, but now he was free to leave.

  He packed his few belongings, fueled Jenny with his spare tank, put Fred in his harness, and climbed in. It was best if he left now and found another field to sleep in rather than wait until dawn. He didn’t want to risk Lizzie returning.

  ❧

  Ivan was sitting on the porch when Lizzie drove up. “I flew, Ivan, I flew.”

  Ivan shrugged. “So did I.”

  “No, I mean I actually piloted the aeroplane.”

  “No way.”

  “Pete let me.”

  “You what?” Daddy’s soft voice behind her made the hair on the back of her neck rise.

  She spun around. There was no sense denying it. “I flew a JN-4D aeroplane.”

  “I heard that gypsy pilot was still hanging around town. And you’ve been going to see him?”

  “Daddy, he’s not a bad person.”

  “Just like you think my father isn’t a bad person?” Tears pooled in Daddy’s eyes. “That flyboy’s going to steal you away from me, and I’ll never see you again.”

  “Daddy, don’t. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Daddy hung his head and trod up the five steps. He turned at the door. “Just promise me one thing: that you’ll never, ever touch a flying contraption or ride in one again. I couldn’t handle it if anything were to happen to you.” Daddy looked so sad.

  “Nothing bad is going to happen.”

  Daddy’s eyes drooped. “We’ll see.” He turned and walked inside.

  She looked to Ivan.

  “I’d hate to be you.”

  “Why?”

  “Come on. You know. Dad’s playing you like he always does. He looks sad, so you feel guilty and do whatever he wants to make him happy again.”

  She did feel responsible for Daddy’s happiness. She just wished there was a switch like for electric lights and she could turn Daddy’s happiness on and keep it on. If she left Daddy, she wasn’t sure he would really be all right.

  She climbed the steps and went inside. Daddy sat at the table with his hands folded and his head resting on them. She couldn’t tell if he was praying or just thinking. “I’ll start supper.”

  Daddy raised his head slowly. “I’m not hungry.”

  “You need to eat.”

  “I’m just going to turn in.” Daddy rose slowly and shuffled his good foot toward his bedroom.

  She slumped into a straight-backed chair. Daddy sure knew how to dampen her s
pirits. Even if he was manipulating her to keep her close, what was she to do? She couldn’t just abandon him. Like Mom. Who else would care for him and make sure he ate well? Wash and mend his clothes? He needed her.

  She sighed.

  Eight

  The next day, Lizzie dropped Daddy off at work without a word from him about the previous night. He said nothing at all. He just looked out the passenger window and ignored her.

  “Daddy, I’m sorry.” She wasn’t sure why she said that for she hadn’t done anything to be sorry for. Daddy was mad she’d ridden in an aeroplane, but she’d never be sorry for that ride. She was sorry that it hurt Daddy. “Daddy. Please don’t be mad at me.”

  He let out a heavy breath. “I work my fingers to the bones. My leg hurts from this hunk of wood. My hip and back hurt, too, because of it. My shin hurts where it was crushed. I don’t know how that’s possible when it’s been gone for years. And the thanks I get from you is betrayal.”

  “I’m not betraying you. He’s a good, decent, honest man.”

  “He’s not right for you, Elizabeth.”

  “How do you know? You haven’t even met him.”

  “I know his kind. He’s a gypsy. Gypsies always leave.” Daddy climbed out and hobbled with more of a limp than usual.

  Was he really hurting today? Or was the limp for her benefit? She could never tell. She really needed to see Pete, so she drove out to Johnson’s field. The yellow bi-plane wasn’t there. Her heart sank.

  Every day for the past two weeks, it had been right there. She drove to the end of the field Pete usually camped at. Nothing. She set the brake and climbed out of the Tin Lizzie, then walked over to the ring of rocks he’d used for his fire pit. The rocks were kicked over and out of place. She bent down and felt the ashes. Cold as the rocks around them. There hadn’t been a fire here all night. She looked to the sky. A single tear slipped down her cheek.

  Pete was gone.

  She hated that Daddy was right. She went back to the Ford and climbed in. Why hadn’t Pete told her he was leaving? Had he known he was leaving when he’d let her fly?

  Just then, she heard the distant rumble of the familiar OX5 engine and Jenny came into view.