The Flyer (36 page)

M
r. McIntyre and Bully climbed out of the wagon. Helen examined the back and nodded her approval. A mattress had been laid in the center with no fewer than a dozen pillows lining the edges. A fluffy blanket would make a good enough bed for the new mother, while the babies could be tucked into the basket Doc had thoughtfully provided. It would be a bumpy trip, but if they kept the pace slow, they should be able to travel without Emily experiencing too much discomfort.

“Where’s Doc?” she asked when the two men circled the wagon and came to stand next to her.

“He’s waiting at the clinic. Wanted to stay with that blackfella in case anything happened at home.”

“I see. Well, that’s fine. I’m here for the time being, and I can take care of Emily fine on my own, I suppose.”

“That’s what he said,” Bully commented with a wink.

Mr. McIntyre frowned. “Are you going somewhere, Doc?”

Hearing the question from someone other than herself or anyone else involved suddenly made her decision sound so … real. Her heart ached at the thought, but she’d made up her mind.

Rather, Paul had made it up for her. He might be having second thoughts at the moment, but that didn’t mean he really wanted her. It only meant that his heart, always too big for his own good, had made him think twice. Guilt was a horrible thing. She should know. She lived with it every day.

But it didn’t change anything. He didn’t want her. He’d made that decision before he’d flown to Perth. How could she accept that he’d changed his mind, and believe in him, when she’d spend the rest of her life doubting his feelings for her? She’d rather be alone and miserable, than with him and miserable. Worse, he’d be miserable, too, and she couldn’t live with that, either.

No. She’d go back to America with her parents and take her medicine like a good little girl. It was the only way that Paul would ever be truly happy.

“Emily’s awake, Doc,” Tim announced. “She says she’s ready to go whenever you are.”

“I’m sure she is. If you’ll have Dale help her into the wagon, I’ll get the little ones.”

Tim left to find Dale, and Helen went straight to the tent. Emily was propped up on a pillow supported by the post that held the back wall of the tent in place. She looked tired, with deep circles beneath her eyes, but otherwise she seemed well, considering all she’d been through. “Did you sleep well?”

“As well as I could with these two howling for a meal every two hours,” she quipped with a smile. “They are beautiful, aren’t they?”

“They’re perfect. A little small, but I’m sure they’ll grow to be as large as their father someday.”

“I want to thank you, Helen. I was so frightened, and you came along and I knew everything was going to be just fine.”

Heat filled Helen’s cheeks. “I was only doing my job.”

“No, don’t say that. You have a gift. You have an uncanny ability to make a person feel comfortable. No offense to old Doc, but having a woman around for this sort of thing is a little different. I’m sure you’ll understand someday, when you have a family of your own.”

“I doubt that will ever happen.” She hadn’t meant to say it aloud. Suddenly unable to look Emily in the eye, she gathered the first of the babies into her arms.

Her heart broke. Shattered into a million pieces of starlight and broken promises. It was true. She’d never have a family, never feel the delight of holding her own child. But if she couldn’t have it with Paul, she didn’t want it, anyway.

“Is something wrong?” Emily asked, shifting slightly on the thin mat her husband had made for her.

“No. I’m just feeling a little sorry for myself, that’s all. Forget I said anything. It’s time to get you and your beautiful new children to a safer place. The wagon’s here to take us on to Port Hedland, where you can have a real bed for a few weeks before you go back to the station.”

“I’m looking forward to it. It seems the only time I get to rest is after I’ve given birth.” Emily laughed at her own jest before wincing slightly.

“Let me get these two settled, then Dale and I will come back for you.”

Emily nodded while Helen took the baby and placed him in the wagon. Doc had only sent one basket, but it was large enough for both children. She wrapped the baby tightly before collecting the second newborn and resting him beside the first.

Two peas in a pod. They looked like little angels.

Ignoring the weeping in her own heart, she helped Dale relocate Emily onto the fluffy mattress in the back of the wagon, as well. Once she was comfortably situated, Helen returned to the tent for her medical bag.

She ducked under the flap and gasped. Paul was inside the tent. Had he been waiting for her? “You shouldn’t scare people like that,” she muttered, trying not to look at his face.

She couldn’t risk losing her heart, and if she fell into the soft grace of those wide, perfect blue eyes…

It didn’t bear thinking on. She simply wouldn’t look. “I just came in for my bag and I’ll be on my way. I’m … I’m not sure when the next sailing is, but it shouldn’t be too long. Then I’ll be gone for good, and you can get back to your life.”

“I don’t want my life. I want our life. I want you next to me when I wake up in the morning, and lying next to me when I fall asleep. I don’t care about your parents or your work … I mean, I do care about your work, but you can do that here, can’t you?”

“No, Paul. You only think you care. I appreciate how honorable you’re trying to be, really. But I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself.”

“Crikey, woman. Will you listen to reason?!”

She grabbed her bag and stormed out of the tent. Why did he have to make it so hard? Didn’t he know how much she loved him, how desperately she wished they could be together? His damn sense of goodness was going to destroy him!

“I’m ready to go!” she hollered to Bully, who was sitting on the bench of the buckboard. “Where’s Mr. McIntyre?”

“Here I am,” the man answered, then climbed up next to Bully.

That only left Dale. The sooner they left, the sooner she would be able to put Paul out of her mind. She hated the pain in his eyes, the way he looked at her like his heart would break any moment. She never should have opened herself up to her own pain, but seeing him suffer…

It was so much worse.

She finally found Dale in the tent, gathering his wife’s valise and the last pillow. Of course, he’d see to his wife’s comfort. He’d spent all night by her side, tending to her every need, and those of his newest children.

Helen choked back a sob. At least someone was happy. Someone would live their life in bliss and contentment.

She returned to the wagon and tossed her bag into the back, then reached for the sideboards to haul herself up.

Strong hands snatched her waist and yanked. She fell back against a thickly muscled chest she’d recognize anywhere. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“You’re coming with me. You’re going to hear me out, and that’s final!”

“Paul!”

He lifted her into the air, the force of his movements pushing the air out of her lungs. She struggled, kicking her legs but making contact with nothing while he took her … somewhere. She managed a quick breath and screamed, “Let me go!”

“Sorry, love. Can’t do that.”

“Emily! Dale!”

“Coming, Doc.” Dale appeared, but made no attempt to free her. Instead, he grinned.

“Dale,” she growled. “This is not amusing! Don’t just stand there like a giant buffoon! Tell him to release me!”

If it were possible, Dale’s smile grew wider. He shook his head slightly with a certain measure of disbelief. “This isn’t exactly what I meant, mate.”

Helen froze with shock for as long as it took the full meaning of Dale’s comment to sift through her mind. “What do you mean? Paul? What are you doing?!”

Paul tightened his grip, holding her with arms like bands of steel. Yet, he didn’t harm her. It was as if he somehow knew his own strength so well, he applied only enough to bend her to his will and not an ounce more. The thought served only to enrage her more.

“Let me go!”

Paul dragged her, still kicking and demanding release, to his plane. With effort, he maneuvered her onto the wing and then into the seating compartment. As soon as he released her, she forced herself upward.

He pointed a finger at her nose and quietly whispered, “No.”

“What are you doing?”

“We’re going someplace where we can talk.”

“You can’t just kidnap someone, Paul.”

“Watch me.”

He leapt into the seat behind her and nodded to Dale. Dale hauled down on the propeller, and the engine roared to life. She could have leapt free, but she doubted she could make her way out with the heavy folds of her skirt in the way before the plane began to move. Instead, she released a huff and threw herself against the back of the seat while Dale pulled the blocks free.

They’d been in the air for just less than an hour. From his position behind her, Paul watched Helen for any sign that she’d calmed down.

Apparently, she hadn’t. She was facing front, ignoring him. From the tilt of her head, he could picture her entire posture. Determined. Angry. Arms folded over her chest as much as the harness would allow. Her knees pressed tightly together.

He had no doubt that she would be difficult to talk to when they landed, but since she had absolutely nowhere to go, and he was perfectly willing to keep them at the falls all night, she would have to settle down eventually. He wouldn’t let her leave until she admitted that she loved him as much as he loved her.

Until she accepted his apology and agreed to marry him the minute they returned to Port Hedland.

It could easily be a very long night.

So be it.

He banked the plane to the north and frowned. A black storm cloud formed ahead of them. Where the bloody hell had it come from? Crikey, he’d been so concerned with figuring out how to make Helen fall back in love with him, he’d been oblivious to his surroundings. That might be fine on the ground, but it posed a little problem at a thousand feet above ground level with an imposing gust front moving in.

Lightning flashed, too close. He banked slightly, looking for somewhere to land. They’d have to wait out the storm.

The earth turned blood red as the light quickly vanished. He turned into the wind, slipping the plane down faster than he normally would. This part of the desert was rocky and posed more of a risk to landing than the various strips he’d cut out for himself over the past few years. He’d had no reason to land here before, and the danger was very real.

Helen spun in her seat, her eyes wide circles of fright. He schooled his expression into one of calm and a confidence he didn’t feel. “Everything’s fine, love. Don’t you worry about it!” he shouted over the roar of the engine. She couldn’t hear him. He knew it. But maybe, just maybe, his words would make it through anyway.

Another bolt of lightning ripped out of the clouds, snaking through the black sky as though it barely moved. The tip of the bright light struck the top right wing, igniting the wing fabric in an explosion of sparking fire.

Helen’s scream pierced the raging storm. She panicked, ripping at her harness. She struggled as though she looked for a way out. Human nature and sheer panic controlled her flurry of movements. He had to get them out of the sky. Now.

Paul shoved the stick forward and leaned the engine, bringing the plane into a risky maneuver that sent them straight down while they still flew at nearly eighty miles per hour directly into the wind. It was a dangerous maneuver, and rarely ended well, but it was the only way to keep the flames from sneaking up the highly flammable wings. The force of the wind kept the huge flames pointed away from them. And it brought them closer to the ground at breakneck speed.

Helen gripped the sides of the cockpit as though she would keep them in the air with sheer strength. How could he have placed her in such a perilous situation? How could he have made such a foolish, life-threatening mistake?

If they died, it would be his fault. Worse. What if she died and he survived? A thousand different scenarios flashed through his mind like the lightning that might have already killed them. The earth loomed dark and large beneath them, coming at them faster and faster. Threatening. Deadly.

And lifesaving.

He put all of the horrible nightmares out of his mind.

Concentrate on the ground. Closer. Closer…

Not yet.

Closer!

Now!

Paul shifted the stick toward his groin gently, gradually. The nose lifted. He leaned off the engine and whispered a silent prayer.

With a severe jolt, the wheels touched down. To his right, the blinding flames hurried along the wing, slithering with menacing determination to the cockpit. The engine. The fuel.

The plane bounced and veered over the uneven, rocky terrain. The skid dug into the dry, hard earth like a plow, cutting a furrow that would save their lives. A wicked wind sliced in a tempest bent upon utter destruction.

The plane shuddered and jerked, coming to an immediate halt that strained every muscle in Paul’s neck. The plow must have hit a trench or a rock. The world ceased spinning. The sky, black and threatening, tilted on its ear. The plane turned over.