"Did I lose?" She looked agonized and more than ever he wanted to shake her, as her father watched from the distance with a look of fascination. And as he watched Nick's face, he realized that he was seeing something there he had never seen before. He wondered if Nick even knew it.

"Did you lose lose?" Nick raged on, holding firmly to her arm. "Are you nuts nuts? You almost lost your life up there, and killed about a hundred people."

"I'm sorry, Nick." She looked suddenly contrite. "I thought I could get away with it."

"You did. d.a.m.n you. And it was the finest piece of flying I've ever seen, but if you ever do anything like that again, I'm going to kill you."

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now get out of that d.a.m.n plane, and go apologize to your father."

But surprisingly, he was much kinder to her, although he had been as scared as Nick, and he was grateful that Oona wasn't there to see it. She had stayed home with Glynnis, who was pregnant again, and all five of her young ones had the measles. But Fat had seen what Nick had done, and he thought there had been enough said. Instead, he complimented her on her style and her courage.

"I guess Nick was right after all," he said almost humbly. "You're quite a flier, Ca.s.s."

"Thank you, Dad." He gave her a hug, and it was the greatest moment of her life as he held her.

They watched Billy Nolan fly again after that, and he won first prize in his last race too. Ca.s.sie had won a second and three firsts, which was better than she'd dreamed. And the newspaper kept taking her picture.

They were all standing around drinking beer and watching the last event, when suddenly Ca.s.sie saw Nick's jaw tighten as he stood beside her. She followed his eyes high into the sky, and saw smoke, and suddenly, like everyone else there, she looked frightened.

"He's in trouble," Nick whispered to her. They all knew who it was. It was a young pilot named Jim Brad, shaw. He had two babies and a young wife, and a plane that wasn't worth spit, but more than anything in life, he loved air shows.

"Oh, my Cod," Ca.s.sie mouthed the words, as they all watched in horror, as he began to spiral lazily, just as she had, but this was for real, and the plumes of smoke from his fuselage told them all that this was no stunt. This was a disaster. The crowd began to run away from where the plane appeared to be, and people started screaming. But Ca.s.sie found she couldn't move, all she could do was stare at it, the lazy bird falling head over heels, into the ground, and then suddenly it hit with a tremendous crash and an explosion. People ran from everywhere, and Nick and Billy were among the first there, trying to pull Jim from the wreckage, but it was too late. He was inhumanly burned, and it was obvious that he had died on impact. His wife was sobbing hysterically, and two of the women held her, as her mother held onto the children.

The ambulances were already there, but it was a somber end to an exciting day, a reminder to all of them of the danger they constantly courted.

"I guess we'd better go home," Nick said quietly, and Fat nodded. Earlier that day, Pat had feared that Ca.s.sie might meet the same fate and he was ashamed to admit now how grateful he was that it had been someone else and not his daughter.

Billy came to say good-bye to them, as they loaded their three planes onto flatbeds, and tied them up firmly.

"I'd like to come out and see you at the airport before I go," he said to Fat after they shook hands.

"Anytime. You going back to San Francisco?"

"Actually, I was wondering... I was kind of hoping maybe you could use another pair of hands... I... I wouldn't mind sticking around and doing some flying."

"We could use a flier like you, lad. Come by and see me tomorrow morning."

Billy thanked him profusely, and they all said goodbye again. His friends were all going home the next day, and Billy looked thrilled to be staying.

"What do we need another hotshot kid for?" Nick asked Fat, with a look of annoyance.

"You planning to spend the rest of your life flying nights?" Pat asked with a look of amus.e.m.e.nt. "Don't worry. I don't think he's her type." Her father grinned ruefully and for the first time in years, Nick blushed, and turned away from his old friend. "I might remind you though, Nick Calvin, she's engaged to the Strong boy, and sh.e.l.l marry him eventually, if I have anything to say about it. She needs a man firmly planted on the ground, not up in the sky, like the two of us." He meant what he said, but what he'd seen in Nick's eyes that day intrigued him. There was something very powerful there, between the two of them, though he suspected that Ca.s.sie was too young to know it. But he also knew that Nick was wise enough not to be carried away by his own emotions.

They headed for the O'Malley home then, where Oona had promised to cook them dinner.

She was amazed to hear of Ca.s.sie's wins when they got home. In most ways, it had been a good day. But the death of Jim Bradshaw had spoiled it it for all of them, and then in the midst of dinner, Bobby had arrived, looking crazed. He burst into their living room, and apologized when he saw them all eating dinner. His eyes went to Ca.s.sie first, and he looked as though he were going to burst into tears. He looked for all of them, and then in the midst of dinner, Bobby had arrived, looking crazed. He burst into their living room, and apologized when he saw them all eating dinner. His eyes went to Ca.s.sie first, and he looked as though he were going to burst into tears. He looked so so distressed that Oona rose as though to go to him, but he backed out of the room apologetically and stood in the doorway. distressed that Oona rose as though to go to him, but he backed out of the room apologetically and stood in the doorway.

"I'm sorry... I... they told me there was an accident..." His eyes filled with tears again, and they all felt sorry for him. It was easy to see what he'd thought, and Ca.s.sie got up and went to him.

"I'm sorry. It was Jim Bradshaw," she said softly.

"Oh, my G.o.d. Poor Peggy." She was a widow at nineteen and alone with two children. Bobby seemed overcome at the thought of it, but what had upset him so terribly was the fear that it could have been Ca.s.sie who was killed. And no one he talked to seemed to know what had happened.

They went out to sit on the porch quietly, and Ca.s.sie closed the door. You couldn't hear anything from inside the room, but they could still see how distressed he looked, as he talked to her. And she just sat there and nodded.

He was telling her that he couldn't live like this anymore, just being engaged to her, not going anywhere, not getting married, and never being entirely sure if they even had a future. He knew that she wanted to finish school, but he wasn't sure he could wait two more years. His father was so ill now, and his mother was so dependent on him. He seemed overwhelmed by all of it, and it was obvious to her that he needed her to help him. But it was equally obvious to both of them that she wasn't prepared to give up everything, and be what he needed.

"And this flying thing." He looked at her, his eyes filled with anguish. "I can't live like this. I keep thinking you're going to be killed... and today... you could have been... you could have been..." He started to cry and she put her arms around him and held him.

"Oh, poor Bobby... poor Bobby... it's all right... shhh..." It was like consoling one of her nephews. But she understood now that there was too much on his shoulders and she was only part of that burden. He desperately needed someone to help. He was only twenty-one, barely more than a boy himself, and he deserved so much more than she had to give, and they both knew it. As she comforted him, she gently slipped his ring off her finger, and pressed it into his hand. 'You deserve so much," she whispered to him, "you deserve everything, and I have a long, long road ahead of me. I know that now. I was never sure of it before, but I am now." She wanted life and freedom and flying. And now that her father accepted her, maybe she could have all those things. But she couldn't give Bobby Strong what he deserved, and in truth it was the last thing she wanted.

"Are you going to keep flying, Ca.s.s?" he asked miserably, sniffing like a small child, while the members of her family in the main room tried to ignore them.

"I am," she nodded at him. "I have to. It's my life."

"Don't get hurt... oh G.o.d, Ca.s.sie... don't get hurt... I love you... I thought you were dead today." He was sobbing again and she felt terrible for him. She could only imagine what it must have been like. Just as it had been for Peggy Bradshaw.

"I'm okay... I'm fine..." She smiled up at him with tears in her own eyes. "You deserve wonderful things, Bobby, not someone like me. Find yourself a good wife, Bobby Strong. You deserve it."

"Will you stay here?" he asked curiously, and it seemed an odd question to her. She had nowhere else to go, and she had always lived there.

"Where else would I go?"

"I don't know," he smiled sadly, holding her ring. He missed her already. "You seem so free to me. Sometimes I hate our d.a.m.n grocery store, and all the problems that go with it."

"You're going to do great things," she said confidently, sure that it was a lie, but he deserved all the encouragement she could give him.

"Do you really think so, Ca.s.s?" He sighed then, thinking of his life. "The funny thing is I just want to be married and have kids."

"And I don't." She grinned. "That's the trouble."

"I hope you do one day. Maybe well find each other again," he said hopefully, wanting to pursue the dream again. She had always seemed so exciting to him, maybe even too much so.

But she shook her head as she looked at him. She was wiser than he was.

"Don't wait for that. Go get what you want."

"I love you, Ca.s.s."

"I love you too," she whispered as she hugged him again and then stood up. "Do you want to come inside?" she asked, but he shook his head, tears bright in his eyes.

"I guess I better go." She nodded, and he slipped the ring into his pocket. He stopped for a long moment, and looked at her again, and then he turned and hurried off the porch before he started crying again. And Ca.s.sie went hack inside and sat down. No one asked her anything, but they could all guess what had just happened. Nick glanced at her finger, and he wasn't surprised not to see the ring. In fact, he was relieved not to see it. Now all he had to worry about was Billy Nolan.

9.

The next morning, as Ca.s.sie lay in bed, thinking of the day before, she realized with a start that she was no longer engaged. She wasn't sure it changed anything, but suddenly she felt as though she didn't belong to anyone. It was partially very exciting, and in some ways suddenly very lonely.

But she had known all along it was wrong, she just hadn't had the courage to say it. But that night, it had seemed so cruel to go on torturing him, to make him wait another two years, and then tell him she still wasn't ready. She didn't think she ever would be, not for a life like his or for him, and now she really knew that.

She made herself breakfast, and saw a note from her mother, saying she had gone to take care of Glynnis's kids again, and she doubted if she'd be home in time to make dinner. Chris had left another note saying he'd be out with friends, and half an hour later, Ca.s.sie had showered, dressed, and gotten herself to the airport. She put on a clean pair of overalls and fueled some planes, and it was noon before she saw either Nick or her father.

"Sleeping till noon these days, Ca.s.s?" Nick teased. "Or just resting on your laurels?"

"Oh don't be such a smarta.s.s. I was here at nine. I was just doing some work in the back hangar."

"Yeah? Well, I've got a run for you today, if you want it."

"Where to?" She was intrigued.

"Indiana. A little cargo, and some mail, and a quick stop in Chicago on the way back. It shouldn't take too long. You should be home in time for dinner. You can fly the Handley."

"Sounds good to me," she grinned. He told her where to pick up the log, and her father came out of his office just then, and told Billy to load the cargo. He had appeared out of nowhere, and he had been working hard all day. And her father surprised her by telling him to go with her.

"I can go alone, Dad."

"Sure you can. But he needs to learn our routes, and I don't like the idea of your flying into Chicago." She rolled her eyes at him, and he made a face, but at least he wasn't objecting to her flying. Things were looking up, and Nick looked wamingly at her and Billy, as though they were both naughty children.

"Behave yourselves, you two. No stunts, no rolls." He turned to Billy then, "And watch out for her double loops."

"If she tries anything, I'll toss her out on her ear," Billy grinned, looking more than ever like everyone's brother.

And as they took off toward the plane, Nick stood for a minute and watched them. They looked as though they were enjoying themselves, but they looked like two kids. He couldn't imagine her falling for him, but stranger things had happened. And in fact, even if she didn't, it didn't change anything for him. He had no right to be chasing a girl her age, and he would never have done it. She deserved a lot more than life in a lean-to shack at O'Malley's Airport, and he knew it.

They had just taken off when a brand-new green Lincoln Zephyr pulled up, and a man in a gray double-breasted suit stepped out and looked around the airport. He looked pleasantly at Nick, and at the small building which housed their offices and was the airport.

"Do you know where I might find Ca.s.sie O'Malley?" he asked smoothly. He had wavy blond hair, and movie-star good looks. And suddenly, Nick wondered if someone was going to offer Ca.s.sie a movie career. This was the man he'd seen the day before at the air show, in the blazer and white trousers. And he didn't look like a reporter now. He looked like a businessman of some kind, or maybe an agent.

Nick pointed up at the sky. "She just took off on a mail run. Can I help you?"

"I'd like to talk to her. Do you know when sh.e.l.l be back?"

"Maybe seven or eight hours. Not before. I'd say sh.e.l.l be back sometime tonight. Can I give her a message?"

He handed Nick a card. His name was Desmond Williams. And the card said "Williams Aircraft," with an address in Newport Beach, California. Nick knew exactly who he was. He was the young tyc.o.o.n who had inherited a fortune and an aircraft company from his father. And he wasn't all that young, Nick decided, looking at him. He was pretty close to his own age. In fact, he was thirty-four. A lot too old for Ca.s.sie, according to Nick anyway.

"Will you be sure and give her my card? I'm staying at the Portsmouth." It was the finest hotel in town, which wasn't saying much. But it was the best Good Hope had to offer.

"I'll tell her," Nick a.s.sured him, dying of curiosity. "Anything else?" Williams shook his head, and looked Nick over with interest. "How did you like the air show?" Nick couldn't resist asking him. "Not bad for a small town, eh?"

"Very interesting." Williams conceded with a smile, and then sized Nick up again, and decided to ask him a question. Williams's whole style was very cool, everything about him was perfect and manicured, totally calculated and planned. He was a man who never made mistakes, or allowed himself to be swayed by emotions. "Are you her instructor?"

Nick nodded with pride. "I was. She could teach me to fly now."

"I doubt that," Desmond Williams said politely. He had an Eastern accent despite his Los Angeles address. And twelve years before, he had graduated from Princeton. "She's very good. She's done you proud."

"Thank you," Nick said quietly, wondering what this man wanted with her. There was something faintly ominous about him, incredibly cool, and strangely exciting. He was very good-looking and very aristocratic, but everything about him said that he meant business.

He didn't say another word to Nick then, but got back into the car he'd just bought in Detroit a few days before, and drove swiftly away from the airport.

"Who was that?" Pat asked as he came outside. "He certainly kicked up enough dust. Can he go any faster?" The car was the latest wonder by Ford, with a V-12 engine.

"That's Desmond Williams." Nick answered his question with a look of concern at his old friend. 'They're after her, Pat. I never thought it would happen, but I think it may now. She made just enough noise at the air show."

"I was afraid of that." Fit looked unhappily at Nick. He didn't want her exploited or used, and he knew how easy it would be for that to happen to her. She was beautiful and young and innocent, and an incredible flier. It was a dangerous combination, and they both knew it. "Where is she?" Pat asked.

"She's gone. She and the Nolan kid took off just as he got here," Nick explained.

"Good." Fat glanced at the card in his hand, took it and tore it in half. "Forget him."

"You're not going to tell her?" Nick looked at him in amazement. No matter what he thought, he wouldn't have had the guts to do that. But on the other hand, he wasn't her father.

"No, I'm not," Pat answered him, "and neither are you. Right, Stick?"

"Yes, sir." Nick saluted with a grin, and they both went back to work with a vengeance.

On the way back from Chicago Ca.s.sie turned the controls over to Billy, to see how he handled them. She was impressed by how good he was. He said his father had taught him at fourteen, and he had flown for ten years now. And from the way he flew, it was easy to believe him. He had sure hands, and a good eye, he flew steadily and well, and she knew her father would be pleased. Billy was going to be a great a.s.set to the airport. And besides that, he was a nice guy, easygoing and intelligent, and very pleasant to be with. They'd had a good time that day, on the flight, trading stories.

"I noticed yesterday that you were engaged," he mentioned conversationally on the leg home. "But I don't see the ring today. You getting married soon?"

"Nope," she said, thinking of Bobby. "I'm not engaged anymore. Gave back the ring last night." She wasn't sure why she was telling him, but he was there, and they were almost the same age, and she liked him. Besides, she didn't get the feeling he was interested in her. He just wanted to be friends, and that seemed comfortable and easy.

"Are you upset? Think you'll get back together?"

"Nope," she said again, almost feeling sorry for herself now. "He's a great guy, but he hates my flying. He's in a hurry to get married, I want to finish school. I don't know... it wasn't right, never was, I just never had the guts to say it."

"I know what that's like. I've been engaged twice, scared the h.e.l.l out of me both times."

"What did you do about it?"

"The first time I ran," he admitted honestly with his boyish grin and his face full of freckles.

"And the last time? You got married?" Ca.s.sie looked surprised, he didn't look like someone who'd been married.

"No," he said quietly, "she died, at the San Diego Air Show last year." He said it very calmly but she could see the pain in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." There was nothing else to say. They had all lost friends at air shows. And it was terrible, but worse for him if he had loved her.

"So am I. But I've learned to live with it, more or less. I haven't really gone out with anyone since, and I don't think I want to."

"Is that a warning?" she grinned.