Kyle's Modern Montana Bride (The New Montana Brides Book 6) (8 page)

chapter fifteen

Meet Your Grandson

On the way to the airport, Zach said, “I’ve never ridden in an airplane before. This is gonna be cool.”

“You don’t know how cool it’s going to be,” Susannah said.

They turned in the rental car at the Avis desk in the FBO. Kyle went to the phone and filed a flight plan and was briefed on the weather. When he came back, he said, “Smooth skies all of the way. “We’ll stop in Boise and top off the tanks,” he said.

They walked out of the terminal, each carrying a bag. Kyle pointed to the 310. “That’s our plane,” he said and walked over to the sleek yellow plane. He opened the hatch and stowed the bags. He helped Susannah up. She sat in one of the second row seats. “Come on son, let’s do the preflight inspection.”

“What are we looking for?” Zach asked.

“Anything that doesn’t look normal,” Kyle said. He tugged at the hatch, and moved the rudder and elevator. He said, “We have to make sure the tires are inflated, and there’s no sign of fluid leaks around the cylinders. He checked the latches on the cowling. “Okay, I think we’re good to go.”

“Where’s the pilot,” Zach asked.

“You’re looking at him, son.”

“This is way cool,” Zach said.

“You sit in the right hand seat. You can watch, but don’t touch anything.” He pointed to the instrument panel. “This is the airspeed indicator, and this is the altimeter. It tells how high we are above sea level. Kyle sat in the left seat and said, “Fasten your safety belts.” Zach did as directed. “Is our passenger all buckled in?” he asked.

“Yessir.”

Kyle keyed the mic identified himself and asked for permission to taxi to the active runway.

Over the speakers, The voice said, “Roger, 4694, you are cleared to the active, hold short. You’re number one for takeoff as soon as the Beech Baron clears the runway.

A small twin passed over them and touched down with a puff of blue smoke. When it had turned onto the taxiway, the voice came over the speakers and said, “4694, you are cleared for immediate takeoff.

Kyle said, “4694 rolling.” He turned onto the runway and lined the nose of the aircraft with the white centerline, and smoothly advanced the throttles to the stops.

With the nose dead on the centerline, the 310 picked up speed. The plane lifted smoothly off the runway. Kyle cycled the landing gear, keyed the mic and reported his tail number, and asked to have his flight plan activated. The Oakland ARTTC  controller cleared him to an intersection. “Just like the earth has roadways, the sky has airways,” he told his son. “You can’t see them, but the instruments tell you where they are. We fly the airway the controller tells us to fly. He can see us on radar.

Kyle pointed to an instrument. This is our distance measuring equipment or DME.I have it set to the next point the controller wants us to be. It tells us how far it is to that point. See it moving?”

“Cool,” Zach said.

After two hours, Kyle began letting down for his approach to the Boise Airport. Once they landed and taxied to the FBO, he shut the engine down and said, “Okay, everybody, potty break. We’re about an hour and a half from the TbarS, and there ain’t no restrooms in the sky.”

As they walked to the terminal, Susannah said, “You have made a conquest, he thinks you are Superman.”

“Oh, you’re talking about Zach, I thought you were talking about someone else,” he said.

She poked at his ribs. “I know where to hurt you, cowboy. You conquered me last night. I’m talking about today.”

He took her hand and squeezed it. “I’d better hold on to this, to keep you from reinjuring me.”

Airborne again, Kyle said, “We’re about 250 miles from home. That’s about an hour’s flying time. Forty minutes later, he began letting down for his approach to the TbarS landing strip. A few minutes later, he pointed out ahead of him and said, “Do you see that thin black line? That’s home. The TbarS landing strip.” He changed the radio, keyed the mic and said, “TbarS, this is Cessna 4694, we’re ten miles out. See you in a few.”

Kyle was lined up with the runway. “Zach, see the white Hummer over there?”

“That’s your Grandmama and Grandpa coming to meet us.”

“What do I call them, Dad?” he asked.

“I think they would like to be called Grandmama and Grandpa,” Kyle said.

Kyle greased the landing and taxied to the hangar, and shut the engine down. He got out, and retrieved their luggage as Susannah and Zach deplaned.

Kyle’s mother and father came up. “Mom, Dad, this is your grandson, Zach.”

“You look exactly like your father did when he was your age.” She turned to her husband. “John, don’t you think he looks like Kyle did?”

His mother, as small as she was, enveloped Zach in a bear hug. When she released him, she had tears in her eyes.

Kyle’s father shook hands with his grandson. “Welcome home, Zach.”

“Mom, Dad, I’m sure you remember Susannah Stewart.

“Mrs. Thompson, it’s so good to see you again, you too, Mr. Thompson,” Susannah said.

“Susannah, call me Catherine. Mrs. Thompson makes me sound old. You were a grade ahead of Kyle weren’t you?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Well, welcome home. Thank you for taking care of our grandson.”

“It’s been my pleasure. He’s a good boy.”

“Zach, we’re not finished here yet,” Kyle said.

“Sir?”

“We have to put the plane in the hangar.”

“Yes sir. How do we do that?”

“We push it,” Kyle said. He indicated the part of the wing that was not connected to the flaps, and said “Push here.” He went to the hangar door and rolled it to the side, then went back and pushed the plane into the hangar.

“You have two airplanes,” Zach said, indicating the Cessna 182?”

“The ranch has two planes. I was about your age when Pop taught me to fly.”

“Really? Would you teach me?”

“Maybe someday,” Kyle said.

“Cool.”

On the way to the car, Kyle said to his father, “Pop, tell Mom to go easy on Susannah. She is Kyle’s legal guardian.”

“Wow, you have a big house, Grandpa. Do you have horses and cows here too?”

“We raise cattle to sell. We milk cows. And we use the horses to keep the cattle in place.”

“Cool.”

Out of the car, Kyle’s Dad said, “Let’s talk a minute, son.”

“Yes sir, what’s on your mind?

“Your mother and I talked about it. I imagine you and Susannah will want to share a room. We’re all right with it. I just wanted you to know.”

“Dad, I like Susannah a lot. In fact, I may love her, but we’re not engaged or anything. I’d like nothing better, but I don’t want to push her. Her home is in Phoenix, and so is Zach’s. My home is here. That’s the way it is, for now, at least.

Later…

Kyle and Susannah were sitting on the front porch talking.

“On the way in, Dad pulled me aside and told me they knew we would want to share a room while you were here. He said they had talked about it and were okay with it. They would never say anything about it, but I wouldn’t be comfortable with it, “

“I wouldn’t either,” she said.

“So we’re agreed?” he asked.

“Yes, reluctantly, we’re agreed,” she said.

chapter sixteen

The Return to Phoenix

After a whirlwind week, this was Susannah and Zach’s last night on the ranch. Susannah said, I need to talk to you about something. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I want to fly back commercial.”

“Why? Are you afraid to fly with me?”

“No, of course not, it’s nothing like that.” she said.

“I love to fly, and having you fly with me is icing on the cake.”

“I know, but I’m wondering if we’re moving too fast, you and I.” she said.

“I want to be a part of your life, and Zach’s too. I’m going to pay for Zach’s upkeep, but I want to see him. You too,” he said.

“I’ll accept your help with him, and it’s only right that you see him,” she said.

“Susannah, are you doing the same thing to me your sister did?” he asked.

“No,” she said furiously. “Don’t you dare compare me to her. I care for you. Too much, and that’s the problem. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I’m not sure I’m ready to give that up.”

“Would it make any difference if I lived in Phoenix?” he asked.

“It might. No. I don’t know. I’m really confused right now.”

“That’s exactly what Ashley did. She said if I went into the Army, then it was over.

“Now, you’re basically saying if I lived in Phoenix it would be different. Well, that’s not going to happen. This ranch is my home. It’s my business. Pop is going to retire in a few years, and it will be mine. I have to learn it and I can’t do that in Phoenix.”

“That’s not what I’m saying at all. I would never ask you to give up the ranch.” She was crying now.

“Do you want to see me?” he asked.

“Yes, but I need for you to give me some time,” she said.

“Take all of the time you need,” he said. “I’ll just sit here and twiddle my thumbs while you decide.”

“Why don’t you just jump in your little airplane and go fly off somewhere,” she said. She was bawling as she ran into the house.

Five minutes later, his mother came out. “What in the world did you do to that girl? She’s crying her eyes out.”

“She’s doing the same thing Ashley did. She doesn’t want me to fly them home. She wants me to give her some time.”

“Well, what’s wrong with that?” his mother said. “You’ve really only known her for a week Forget all the time before. It doesn’t count. You go in there and make it right. I mean it. Right now. Go.”

Zach came out on the porch. “Did you and Aunt Susannah have a fight?”

“No, we had a disagreement, that’s all,” Kyle said.

“Then why is she crying? It was about me, wasn’t it? I wish you hadn’t found me.”

“Zach, wait. I promise it wasn’t about you. Come on, I’ll prove it.” He led the way to Susannah’s room and knocked. “Susannah, we need to talk. It’s important. This time it’s me asking for your help. Would you please open the door?”

The door opened, and she stood there, her beautiful eyes, all puffy and red from the crying. “What do you want?”

“Zach thinks we argued because of him. He thinks it’s all his fault. He told me he wishes we hadn’t found him. Help me here, honey, please,” he pleaded.

“Zach, we didn’t fight and the argument wasn’t because of you.” she said.

“Can we talk again?” Kyle asked. “Zach, can you give us a few minutes?”

“Susannah, I guess I overreacted. I do want to be a part of your life,” he said.

“I opened myself to you in a way I have never in my life done,” she said. “It scared me. I want to think it through. I don’t want to rush into something that won’t work. When I marry, I want it to be forever.

“I agree with what you’re saying,” he said. “What are your ground rules?”

“How much time do you need?” he asked

“Give me a week, but I may need two. I need to do some thinking I need to decide if I’m ready to relocate again. I have an obligation to my clients. As far as that goes, what do I want to do about the business? Don’t you see? It’s not a snap decision. It requires some thought.”

“Can I call you? Will I see Zach? Will I ever see you? I need answers to those questions,” he said.

“Okay, here’s the deal; you give me a week to ten days, don’t call me and don’t come see me. At the end of the ten days, I’ll call you and see where we are,”

““Not see, call?” he asked.

“That’s right.”

That’s the way you want it?”

“That’s the way I want it.” she said.

“What about Zach, Can I call him?

“Yes, call him on his cell phone and you won’t get me.”

“If that’s my only option, then it’s what I have to do. I don’t want to push you. This is too important.”

“I agree,” she said. “Will you take us to the airport?”

“I would like to,” he said.

“Zach, are you satisfied?”

“Yes sir.”

“Susannah, we’ll pay for the tickets. You wouldn’t have been here if I hadn’t asked. Will that be all right?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Well, good night,” he said.

“Goodnight..

He hugged Zach. “By the way, you’re in my old room,” he said to his son.

“I figured that with all of the models. Did you build all of them or buy them?” Zach asked.

“I built them from kits,” Kyle answered.

After the conversation with Susannah, Kyle went online and made two first class flight reservations from Helena to Phoenix for the next day. He printed out the boarding passes, gave them to her, and said, “You’re all set. We should leave here by ten to give you time to get through security.”

She looked at the passes. “Why did you do first class? Coach would have been fine.”

“It’s the way we travel. Zach is one of us. I figured you’d want to sit with him,” he said with a big grin.

The next morning…

Callie fixed a large breakfast as usual. She liked to see people eat heartily. As usual, Zach didn’t disappoint her, but Susannah picked at her food. Catherine asked, “You’re not hungry?”

“I’m a little down this morning. I want to go home, but I’m going to miss you guys,” Susanna said.