High Impact (9 page)

Emery’s heart hammered from the abrupt and exhilarating touchdown, but she tried to keep her voice steady. “Sure thing.”

They found a large rock a few feet from the water’s edge to serve as their bench and picnic table, the surface smooth and warm from the sun. Emery snapped photos in between bites of her sandwich. In every direction, majestic peaks, most still tipped with snow, dominated the landscape. “They all look so much alike. And so endless,” she said as she adjusted her settings to take a panoramic shot of the vast range. “I haven’t seen you consult a map or even use your GPS. How do you keep from losing your way?”

“We’re still in my backyard. Very little around here I don’t know, I’ve crisscrossed it so long.”

“You said you’d been flying for more than twenty-five years? You don’t seem old enough.”

Bryson grinned. “Learned to fly before I learned to drive. Dad taught me—never a better pilot or teacher than him.”

“Is he glad you’re following in his footsteps or does he worry about you?”

Bryson’s smile faded as she stared off to the north. “He worried,” she finally said in a soft voice. “But he was proud I shared his passion for flying.”

“I’m sorry if I hit a nerve.”

“All good. Miss him, that’s all. We were close.”

“Sorry for your loss. I empathize. Both my folks are gone.”

Bryson picked up a smooth stone and tried to skip it across the river, but it hopped only twice before a rogue wave snagged it and dragged it under. “So, you got some of my story and a bit about my friends. Why don’t you tell me about yourself? Not many outsiders come up for so long.”

“Well, I’m here for a few months because I’ve always wanted to visit Alaska, and I like to spend time really getting to know a place. What else do you want to know?”

“Whatever you want to share. Where you from?”

“That’s not starting with an easy one.” Emery chewed her sandwich as she thought about her answer. The pat one she’d been giving seemed too flippant for Bryson. “Some months ago, I’d have said Detroit. But I’m in a kind of vagabond place right now. I sold my place, put my few things in storage, and hit the road. I have no idea where I’ll finally end up.”

“No ties anywhere?”

“None to speak of, no.”

“What do you do?”

“Nothing right now. I made a good living as an international courier and got around the world a good bit, but never with time to see much of anything.” She ate more of her sandwich, marveling at how simple corned beef could taste so wonderful in such a setting. “You know the deal. Working hard, saving up, always living for the future. One day I decided to just quit and start living the life I’d always wanted to.”

“Lot of folks, especially after they come up here and get some time to put things in perspective, vow to do that, but most never will. Why, do you think?”

“Too afraid of the unknown, maybe. It’s hard to chuck a job that pays well and isn’t half-bad to chase a dream, especially with the way the economy’s been the last few years. Or responsibilities to their loved ones tie them where they are.”

“You didn’t have that?” Bryson asked. When Emery didn’t immediately answer, she added, “Or is that too personal a question?”

“No, it’s all right.” She still felt a deep sense of guilt about breaking it off with Lisa, because Lisa hadn’t yet moved on. Every now and then, Emery called to check up on her and tell her she was well and safe. But that might only prolong Lisa’s period of healing. Did Emery make the hurt all raw and fresh again every time they connected? “I was involved and living with someone,” she told Bryson.

She’d made a lot of friends in her journey, but had opened up to none of them about her relationship. Easy to talk to, Bryson emitted such a trustworthy air Emery knew she’d be a good sounding board. Though she knew in her heart she’d made the right decisions about her life, she always valued an objective opinion. “We were very compatible. Lisa’s sweet and down-to-earth, and has such a dry sense of humor she made me laugh several times a day. The sex was still great, after three years. But I always knew she was more, well, you know…she really loved me a lot. And I couldn’t return the intensity.” She glanced at Bryson, gauging her reaction by her facial expressions and body language. “Finally I realized I was holding her back from finding the kind of deep, mutual commitment she wanted, and needed. So I broke it off. I hurt her pretty badly.”

Bryson nodded thoughtfully. “Tough thing to do, when you care about someone.” She looked over at Emery. “Pretty much the same story with Geneva and me. I couldn’t return her feelings. But we only dated three months or so.”

“That explains why you sound protective about her.”

Bryson grinned shyly in acknowledgment.

“Sometimes I think I should have walked away from Lisa early on,” Emery said. “As soon as I realized it was off-balance and always would be.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it. You were true to yourself, which everyone has to be. And you took her long-term well-being into account, even if it maybe happened later than it should’ve.” Bryson’s tone held no judgment or criticism. “We move on. It took Geneva a while, but she’s in a good place now, open to the right person coming along.”

“I really hope Lisa is able to, soon. She deserves to be happy.”

Bryson got to her feet and brushed crumbs from her jeans. “Everyone deserves to be happy. Ready to see more?”

“Absolutely.”

She helped Bryson clear some of the lighter debris from her gravel-bar runway, then they were on their way again.

For the next ninety minutes, they flew through canyons and over mountain passes in the Gates of the Arctic National Park, which, Bryson informed her, was roughly the size of Switzerland. They landed briefly in the places where her trips would commence, and each and every spot seemed more breathtaking than the last. She took hundreds of photos, grateful for her 16GB memory card and extra batteries.

They spotted two grizzlies, a small herd of caribou, and several more moose. For these, she set the adjustment to the camera’s HDVideo setting, and shot moving footage as Bryson swooped low. She was having the time of her life, and she liked and admired Bryson more by the minute, but the experience ended too soon.

“We need to head back.” Bryson banked sharply right over a wide plain of tundra so thick with wildflowers it looked like a colorful patchwork quilt.

“Do we have to?”

Bryson laughed. “Getting low on fuel.”

“Well, I’ve had an amazing day, Bryson. I hope I can hire you again soon. I don’t have anything going on until the photography trip.”

“Must say, I wish we could stay out, too. Had a real nice day having you along. In fact, since I get to charge Dita for my gas for this trip, I’m going to give you this freebie. My welcome to Bettles. Next time, you can get my special-friend’s rate. We can look at my calendar for the next few days if you join us for dinner tonight.”

“That’s incredibly generous, Bryson. I can’t thank you enough. And yes, I’d love to meet your friends and firm up our next outing.”

Pasha tried to force herself to stop glancing at the clock. Every time she did, her heart sank, and she’d already checked the computer readout to make sure the clock was correct. Barely four. Again. Still. The last half hour had crept, and the surreal time distortion increased. She couldn’t wait to put the nonstop calls to voice mail and start on the paperwork that had taunted her all day, but she had another hour before the magic deadline.

At least the demands of the day had prevented her from dwelling on Emery Lawson. Well, she
had
found herself spacing out a few times while a client droned on about some insignificant matter, imagining instead that she was out with Bryson and Emery in the Cub. Of course, in her daydream she acted relaxed and eloquent around Emery, not like the bumbling idiot she’d been that morning.

They must be having a great time, she concluded, because they’d been gone four hours, instead of two or three. Pasha couldn’t dwell on the possibility that trouble might have delayed them. She believed that projecting “bad karma” only drew it to you, while staying upbeat helped keep things in a positive balance.

Relieved, she spotted Bryson through the big picture windows jogging toward the office. Pasha glared at the phone, demanding its silence for at least a few minutes so she could ask about the flightseeing excursion. Happily, at least for the moment, it cooperated.

“You’re back!” She greeted Bryson as soon as she came through the door. “How’d it go?”

“Great! Perfect day for flying.” Bryson shed her jacket over a chair. “Gonna grab a soda. Want anything?”

“Nope, I’m good.”

Bryson returned from the backroom fridge with a Diet Coke and settled into a big, comfy chair in the waiting area. “Made it to most all the trip drop-off points,” she reported, after taking a long swig of her drink. “Everything looked pretty good. Some debris on the gravel bars from spring breakup, but we got in and cleared away what we needed. Emery helped a lot. Had to bypass the one at the base of Eekayruk Mountain, though. I’ll have to borrow Skeeter’s floatplane to clean it up.”

Happy to learn their summer landing sites had no problems, Pasha especially wanted to hear Bryson’s opinion of Emery. But she hesitated to reveal her inexplicable draw toward the newcomer, especially since her power seemed to have short-circuited. And something might have already developed between Emery and Geneva. “That’s good news. Dita will be happy to hear it.”

“Say, did you add anything to my calendar today?”

“Yup, sure did.” Pasha called up the flight schedule on the computer and isolated Bryson’s bookings. “Phone’s been crazy. Added a big freight delivery in a couple weeks to Prudhoe Bay, a handful of custom air-taxi runs in July and August—”

“Anything the next few days?”

“No. Nothing firm. Though I did get a call from a couple in Evansville asking about your availability this week. The wife’s due date is coming up and they want to reach Fairbanks before she goes into labor. I told them I’d pass on their number so you can talk to them directly.” She fished through the pink message notes from the day until she found the right one and handed it to Bryson.

“Thanks. Can you print out an updated schedule for me? Emery wants to book another flightseeing trip.”

“Sure.” Pasha felt herself blushing at the mention of Emery’s name. Cursing to herself, she turned away from Bryson to retrieve the document as the printer spit it out. She apparently couldn’t control how her body and psyche dealt with this insane but undeniable attraction, and her powerlessness frustrated her.

“She’s joining us for dinner,” Bryson said. “She should fit in great with the group.”

Pasha’s spirits lifted at the prospect of seeing Emery, but then she remembered the big stack of bills and client inquiries she still had to sort through. “Hope I can make it. I’ve got a lot to do here before I can think about leaving.”

“Even if you miss eating with us, you should come by. You know we’ll all hang around.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Geneva’s got the night off so I’ll ask her, too. They might have some mutual interest, and I like Emery a lot. She seems very centered. Mature. Got a good head on her shoulders.”

“Sounds like she made a deep impression. You can really read people.”

Bryson grinned. “Yeah, she’s good company. An interesting woman.”

“How so?”

“Seen a lot, done a lot. Bit of an adrenaline junkie.” Bryson chuckled. “Probably why I like her. But I’ll let you judge for yourself.” She checked her watch. “Better run. Promised Karla I’d meet her back at the room. We’re moving our things to Chaz and Megan’s rental cabin.”

“I’d offer to help, but—” The phone rang.

At her frown, Bryson shrugged in sympathy. “You’re swamped. And we don’t have much, anyway.” She grabbed her coat and headed for the door. “See you later.”

“Hope so.” Pasha answered the phone with her standard greeting, but had to repeat it a second and then third time when it became apparent the Japanese caller on the other end couldn’t understand, especially with the static-filled connection. Would this tiresome workday never end?

*

Emery spent an hour in her room with her laptop reviewing the photos she’d taken with Bryson, then transferred them onto her portable hard drive. Most were damn good shots when viewed full screen, a lasting, vivid reminder of a perfect day. She looked forward to spending more time with Bryson and getting to know her friends.

But still adjusting to the time change, she struggled against the urge for a quick nap. She was meeting everyone in less than an hour, so if she allowed herself some shut-eye, she’d only become groggy and less apt to sleep tonight. She chose a shower instead and ordered coffee, hoping the combination would kick-start a second wind. The hot water and a Percocet would also help dispel the nagging aches that had resurfaced from sitting so long in the cramped cockpit and helping Bryson move debris.

Wrapping her body in a large towel while she used another as a turban, she emerged from the steamy bathroom and lingered before the closet, mulling over her clothing choices. A knock at the door told her the coffee had arrived, so she half hid behind the door because she expected to see Grizz.