Touch the Heavens (16 page)

She slid her arm around his neck, nuzzling close to him. “You make it sound like we’ll have to endure one night for two wonderful days at your uncle’s ranch.”

“Perhaps,” Dan said evasively. “Then you’ll go?”

Her violet eyes became warm. “More than anything, Dan, I’d love to meet the people who mean so much to you. No matter what you say, you’re still lucky to have a family.” She stopped, her voice betraying the feelings behind her words.

“Well,” he murmured against her ear, “my uncle and his wife, Melvina, are going to love you. They’re excited about meeting you.” He smiled, kissing her cheek. “So come on, my raven-haired beauty. Let’s go get suited up, and we’ll take off to the sky where everything is always all right.”

In no time they were airborne, the white skin of the needle-nosed Talon T-38 dancing with the brilliance of sunlight off it’s delta-shaped wings. Chris was content to sit in the second cockpit behind Dan and be the navigator for the flight. They climbed rapidly to thirty-nine thousand feet, and Dan pointed the bird in a southwesterly direction. Chris gazed around, pushing up her dark visor momentarily to drink in the deep blue of the sky that surrounded them.

“I love it up here,” she confided in a hushed voice.

She saw Dan nod his helmeted head. “Next to making love with you, this is the second greatest pleasure on earth,” he returned.

Chris smiled, although the oxygen mask strapped tightly to her face hid the fact. “Roger that,” she teased, remembering the few times that they had shared together since the trip to the sequoia region. She reached up, pushing the dark visor down to protect her eyes from the harsh sunlight. All pilots wore a helmet equipped with a visor to screen the sun’s rays. Her entire face was then protected in case she ever had to eject. Chris tried to push the ugly memory aside, unwillingly recalling the last time she had had to punch out. The force of the wind had slammed against her tightly strapped-in body, ripping the visor off her helmet and subjecting her eyes to over six hundred knots of wind blast during the initial seconds. She had sustained lacerations from the plastic visor snapping and flying back into her face.
I
was lucky
, she thought.
I
could have lost my eyesight
. It wasn’t uncommon to have that all-important, protective visor ripped away during ejection. She sighed trying to shake the memory away.

“Uncle Howard is going to fall in love with you,” Dan said, breaking into her morbid thoughts.

She rallied. “It’s either feast or famine, isn’t it?”

“Don’t kid yourself, Raven. There’s more than a couple of guys in that class that have their eye on you.”

“Jealous?”

“You’d better believe it,” he confirmed.

Chris smiled, knowing that he was teasing her. Rondo had approached her on more than one occasion to ask her to go over to the O’Club for drinks and dinner. She had gracefully declined the invitation. Julio Mendez idolized the ground she walked on. Despite the damage she had thought Brodie might wreak, Chris had been pleasantly surprised by the attitude of most of the pilots. They had been professional, refusing to accept Brodie’s gossip. A few of them had approached and queried her about the accident. Leaving out the personal part, Chris had told them the story. They seemed satisfied, trading stories with her of their own accounts of being forced to punch out. And always, there was Dan’s silent support. He had already qualified her in three different types of combat aircraft and helped her summon forth the ability to doggedly meet the severe demands of the school. Everyone needed someone going through TPS, she admitted. The husbands had their wives to support them. And with all the test-pilot-student families living on Sharon Street, it became a tight-knit, supportive community while the men labored under the demands of the harsh rigors.

Even Karen and Mark Hoffman. She smiled, pleased at their budding relationship. As much as Karen unmercifully teased her about Dan, Chris knew her best friend was in love with Hoffman. They were fortunate, though. They didn’t have to hide their feelings.

“You ever ride a horse?” Dan wanted to know.

“A couple of times.”

“Good. Ever been around a working ranch?”

“No. Will I have to work?”

Dan laughed. “Not unless you want to. I’m going to ride some fence, feel a good horse under me and share that time with you. You’ll probably be on a horse more than on the ground,” he promised.

“Just as long as I don’t come back bowlegged, McCord. And I don’t want a hot horse. Just find me something that will plod along at a nice, quiet gait.”

“What’s this? My Raven who can outfly me in an F-4 Phantom wants a
quiet
horse.”

She grinned. “I can’t outfly you in Double Ugly.”

“Oh, yes you can,” he said seriously. “You have a great touch with that fighter. Few pilots have taken to the F-4 like you have, Chris. They either love or hate it. We need good people who can handle that touchy bird.”

She warmed to his praise. That was another wonderful quality about Dan: he was quick to give sincere compliments. He had done more to boost her ego and confidence than anyone else in her life. “I’m looking forward to doing more complicated testing with the Phantom when we get back.”

“You’ll do fine,” he returned. “Well,” he said, “in another hour we’ll be at Carswell.”

“I can hardly wait, Dan.”

“Just remember, Vanessa will probably appear upset. Don’t take it personally.”

Chris frowned. She noticed Dan didn’t call her “mother,” and that puzzled her greatly. Everyone should be thankful they had parents. If she had had parents, she would have called them mom and dad, not by their first names. “Okay, I’ll remember,” she answered softly.

It was near eight in the evening when they landed the T-38 at Carswell. After they climbed down the ladders and exchanged a few pleasantries with the ground crew, Dan led her to Operations. The wind was hot, the sun setting low on the western horizon, giving the sky a blood-red cast. She noticed Dan’s step seemed lighter. His smile devastated her as he checked his stride for her sake.

“You look absolutely beautiful,” he murmured.

“Quit looking like a wolf ready to pounce.”

Dan raised an eyebrow. “Is it that obvious?”

She suppressed a smile, trying to remain serious. “You’d better believe it.”

“I’m having a hell of a time keeping my hands off you.”

She glanced up at him, her violet eyes dancing with happiness. “I am, too,” she admitted, meeting his dazzling smile.

All too soon they were in Ops, traversing the highly polished tiled halls. Chris received several startled looks from those who manned the flight and meteorology desks. Out of some twenty-three-thousand Air Force pilots, only one hundred seventy-five were women. She was always an oddity and novelty wherever she went. But after seven years, she tended to disregard the amazed stares of the passersby.

“There’s Vanessa,” Dan suddenly warned.

Chris lifted her chin from her reverie, looking toward the front doors of the Ops building. A tall regal woman with gray hair stopped pacing after consulting her gold watch. Her hair was coiffed in the latest fashion, and a designer dress of pale beige was tastefully draped on her slender body. Vanessa moved like a queen, Chris thought, immediately impressed with the woman’s entire aura of control.

“Daniel! I thought you’d never arrive,” she chided in exchange for a greeting.

Chris curbed a smile. She never thought of Dan as “Daniel.”

“Actually, Vanessa,” he said, coming to a halt and putting his arm around Chris’s waist, “we had a good tail wind and we’re fifteen minutes early. I’d like you to meet Captain Chris Mallory. Chris, this is my mother, Vanessa McCord.”

Chris smiled warmly, extending her hand. “Mrs. McCord, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Vanessa eyed her coolly. “My, you are a tall one, aren’t you?” she murmured, taking Chris’s hand and shaking it weakly. Vanessa glanced over at her son. “Well, come along dear. I’ve got to get back to supervise the setting up of the party in your honor tonight.”

Dan groaned. “Vanessa, I told you, I didn’t want a party.”

She gave an eloquent shrug of her shoulders, waiting for Dan to open the door. “Daniel, it’s the least I could do for you. I know how bored you get around home, and I thought a party would bring out some of the lovely women who are just waiting for you to drop by.” Vanessa gave Chris an apologetic look. “Sorry, Captain Mallory, we didn’t know you were coming. Daniel is terrible about telling us all the details. He just drops in without warning and then leaves us a few days later.” Vanessa walked primly down the steps toward the awaiting black limousine.

Chris felt Dan tense beside her as they caught up with Vanessa. “I told you Chris was coming,” he growled, giving his mother a black look.

With a wave of her elegant, carefully lacquered fingernails, Vanessa glided like a swan into the limo. “All these details! Really, Daniel. You can’t expect me to remember everything, dear. Come, come. We must hurry, or I’ll miss Dee Dee’s transatlantic phone call.” She consulted her watch again. “She’s to call in forty minutes.”

Chris got in, glad to be sitting next to Dan. She tried not to allow the sense of awe to become apparent on her features as she gazed around the richly appointed car. The limo looked almost two car lengths long and came with a lavishly stocked bar. Dan gripped Chris’s hand, holding it in his lap. “We’ll make it in plenty of time,” he growled, staring across the aisle at his mother.

Chris withdrew into her shell, fully aware of the tension that eddied and swirled between Dan and his mother. If it weren’t for Dan’s reassuring grip, she would have broken out into a sweat. Vanessa was truly beautiful. If she was in her mid-fifties, it wasn’t obvious. Her dark gray hair did nothing but enhance her aristocratic bearing. Chris glanced discreetly at the number of emeralds, diamonds and rubies that adorned Vanessa’s slender, artistic fingers. Swallowing nervously, Chris tried to appear calm despite her rolling stomach.

Vanessa looked sharply at Chris, her dark blue eyes penetrating. “So Daniel tells me you’re a woman pilot,” she drawled.

Chris managed a smile. “There’s a few of us around, Mrs. McCord.”

Vanessa managed a cutting smile, her eyes skimming over Chris, missing no detail. “Well, in my personal opinion, women don’t belong in the military.”

Dan’s hand tightened. “You didn’t think I belonged there, either,” he replied coolly. “So it’s a moot point, isn’t it, Vanessa?”

Chris breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for Dan’s protective presence. She sensed Vanessa’s displeasure that she was with Dan. Why? Had she planned to parade several eligible females in front of Dan at the party to tempt him into marrying and perhaps getting out of the disgusting Air Force? Suddenly Chris understood what Dan had said all along. He belonged in the Air Force doing what he loved best—instructing and flying. She could not picture Dan at the head of any major corporation. His need of freedom and space was stamped all over him, as it was over her. Those thoughts warmed her heart, and Chris looked over at Dan, sharing a tender smile with him.

“Your father’s health is deteriorating, Daniel. I would think you would give some serious thought to leaving the Air Force and coming home to pick up your duties.”

Dan scowled. “My home is the Air Force. Has Preston been having more heart pains than usual?”

Vanessa set her petulant lips. “The fool doesn’t slow down. And the cardiologist has warned him so many times. Maybe
you
can talk some sense into him, Daniel. Unfortunately he won’t be home tonight. He’s in Europe completing another oil transaction.”

Dan gave a twisted smile; one that did not reach his eyes. “When has he ever listened to me, Vanessa?

She clucked her tongue. “Or me, for that matter!”

“I guess all McCords are hardheaded,” Dan returned, sharing a warmer smile with Chris.

“Humph! You got a double dose of it, Daniel, if you ask me.”

“Just because I don’t see life your way, Vanessa, doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”

Chris breathed a sigh of relief once they arrived at the luxurious home outside of Fort Worth. The home reminded her of a Southern mansion with its six white fluted columns. The lawn and rose gardens surrounding it were stunning. Vanessa waited impatiently until the driver came around to open the door.

“Daniel, have the maid show Chris to her room. I’ll see you two later.” Vanessa halted, looking directly at Chris. “Captain Mallory, I presume you have something to wear tonight other than a dress military uniform?”

Chris allowed the stinging comment to pass. “I think so, Mrs. McCord.”

Semisatisfied, Vanessa fled up the white marble steps like some exotic bird who was fully aware of her royal plumage. Dan lifted out their individual bags. “Come on,” he murmured, grinning. “I’ll show you around myself.”

Chris followed Dan into the mansion. The maid was courteous, murmuring the proper greetings as they walked into the highly polished foyer of pale-pink marble. Dan grabbed Chris’s hand, pulling her up the long flight of stairs.

He opened a door halfway down the hall and placed his bag on the beige carpet of the bedroom. Chris entered, looking around. It was a decidedly masculine room with antique mahogany furniture. The balcony doors had been opened, allowing the evening breeze to waft through, carrying the scent of oranges with it.

“This is fantastic,” Chris whispered, her eyes widening with awe.

Dan shook his head. “Give me a nice little home with the woman I love and I’ll be happy. Follow me—your room is next door.”

Chris gave him a hesitant look. “Next door?”

Dan opened it. “Yeah. Any problem with that?” he asked, smiling.

Chris carefully stepped across the expanse. “From the leer in your eyes, jet jockey, I’d say there is.”

“I don’t have a problem with it,” he said, ushering her into the next room.

“I don’t, either. But your mother might.”

Dan snorted softly, pulling her to a halt in the center of the feminine bedroom. “The crowd Vanessa runs with wouldn’t bat an eyelash, believe me.”