I thought of. Dad is so worried about Mom, and he’s disgusted with his own illness. Too, he worries about me being alone with the work even if we do have an excellent mechanic who is a dear friend and has been with us for years.”
“You’re not alone. I’m here. I can’t explain it, but I feel as if there’s a master plan for us to meet and become friends.”
“Just like a man,” she smiled. “I’m not going to question that statement because I’m grateful for your assistance. Let’s get this over with,” she said as they stopped in front of the building where they were going. In the Port Authorities office, the officer taking the information asked for names, home address, phone number, social security number, birth date and place of birth. Amanda had to give her business license number and her pilot’s number, the address of the hangar and the purpose of the Eagle Flying Service. She then had to fill in a form concerning the purpose of her flying trip that day.
This took longer than Amanda had anticipated. She walked out of the office on wobbly legs.
Daniel placed his arm around her waist, and led her to the jeep.
“Daniel, I’m honestly grateful for your support even though it’s a little embarrassing. I don’t know why, but I feel comfortable with you. I don’t usually take up with anyone this easily and go with a person without question as soon as I meet them. Forgive me I’m babbling. I always babble when I’m nervous, and I’m so whipped. A hot shower and a short rest will do wonders.” She nodded as if convincing herself that it was the thing to do.
Following Amanda’s directions, Daniel was at the Wescott hangar in about twenty minutes. “Do you need me to wait and take you somewhere else?”
“No thanks. I have my car here. If I can ever do anything for you, just let me know.”
“You can.”
“What?”
“Have dinner with me tonight.”
“Tonight! But we just met.”
“So?”
“I don’t know anything about you except that you’re courteous and kind, and a gentleman. As far as that goes, you don’t know me.”
“So much better. We need to eat and what better way to get acquainted than to eat, relax and talk.”
She stared at him as if she were trying to read his mind. “I honestly do appreciate your help, but I have obligations to meet and I need to get better acquainted before making plans to socialize. Forgive me and try to understand. By the way, how did you plan to help me?”
“I’ll bring one of the ranch trucks and we’ll get duplicate supplies for your orders. Then I’ll drive you to Port Arthur, and when we return, I’ll dive to your plane and see if anything can be salvaged.”
“Are you really a diver?”
“It’s just a hobby, but I am experienced and I’ll be willing to do whatever I can to help you.”
“To reiterate, we just met. Why would you volunteer to do so much for me - a stranger?”
“A stranger is a friend we have yet to meet,” Daniel quoted.
“What time do you want me here tomorrow morning?”
She hesitated before answering him. “Is eight o’clock too early for you?”
“Not at all. You forget I live on a ranch and we have to rise early to start our work.”
As Daniel drove away from the hangar, Amanda’s thoughts were whirling. What is it about this man that makes me let down my guard? He may be as nice as he seems, but I don’t know him . Why is he being so helpful? It could be that he is bored and is just, how do the kids say it, he’s marking time with me?
She walked into the hangar to tell the mechanic about the day. “I dread to tell Dad. He’s faced so many troubles in the last two years.”
“Your dad has a strong intestinal fortitude. He’ll be thankful that you’re safe and alive, and he’ll know insurance will cover the loss of the plane. The premiums are high enough,” Michael Stallard reassured her, “but you can expect them to be higher after this loss.”
“I don’t know, Mike. Let me think about it. Promise me that you won’t say anything about this to my parents until I think about it. Too, there’s no need to tell him until the insurance company investigates and we have more to tell him. Please, promise me.”
“Reluctantly I promise. I don’t completely agree with you, but I understand what you’re saying.”
Amanda quickly attended to writing out the records for the day and the financial statement.
“Mike, if you don’t need me for anything I’ll go home. I haven’t decided what to tell my parents. The man I told you about, Daniel, asked me out to dinner tonight.”
“Hey! Fast worker, but I’m not surprised. We’ve all known what a prize you are.”
“Cut it out, Mike. Keep that up and I might start believing you. No, I turned him down because I just met him and I’m shot because of the day’s happenings.”
She grinned and left hearing the comforting sound of Mike’s laughter.
Please God. Let me pull this off. I don’t want to lie to my parents, but neither do I want to worry them, especially when they’re both so sick. I want to have more facts and more information on the how and why before Dad is burdened with what’s happening.
Chapter Three
Daniel pulled the big ranch truck in front of the Wescott hangar at five until eight the next morning. Amanda waved as he got out and walked to where she was standing with a clipboard in her hand. Daniel thought she looked cute in her pale green skirt, a white peasant blouse, and white sandals. She had her hair in a ponytail making her look like a teenager.
Amanda watched him walking toward her with sure, confident strides in his western boots. She thought the jeans and blue work shirt looked just right on him. The open throat of the shirt showed a strong, brown throat and chest.
“You made it. I can’t explain it, but for some reason, I feel better knowing you’re going to be with me. Did your family object to you taking off instead of working? After all Fridays are usually full of chores to be done for the weekend.”
“I told them the whole story, and they agree that I should help where I can. I told you I have a good feeling about our encounter.” She was shocked when he kissed her cheek.
He turned when a man walked over to them looking as if Daniel had better be on his best behavior. “Daniel, this is our mechanic, and good friend, Michael Stallard. He’s called Mike.”
The two men took each other’s measure as they shook hands. Daniel seemed to be a foot taller than Mike, but Mike spread his feet and stood in a pugnacious manner.
“I’m happy to meet you,” Daniel said honestly. “Amanda thinks highly of you and has sung your praises. I would have been happier if circumstances hadn’t dictated that we meet under the condition that we did.” Amanda hurried into the office to answer the phone.
“I’m very thankful that you were on the scene,” Mike said quietly. He took several deep breaths and finally decided to accept Daniel, for the moment.
“I checked that plane myself and would have gone up in it feeling it was top notch. Mandy tells me you’re going with her to make her deliveries and then dive to the plane.” Mike looked troubled. “I’m anxious to know the cause of the - whatever it was. Are you qualified to dive? We don’t want, or need, any more accidents.”
“I’ve passed all tests with flying colors to dive, and I also fly a plane. We’ll soon know what the condition of your plane is in and hopefully learn what happened.