Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

The throbbing, high-pitched whine of the engine by the window wakened me from my restless nap. I shivered in the freezing cold as I unbuckled my seatbelt and leaned forward to touch Johnsons shoulder. He wouldve gone clear out of his seat if he hadnt been buckled in.

Yes, Maam?

Any possibility there might be blankets tucked away somewhere back here? Im freezing. You dont feel any too warm either.

Thats one of the reasons I dont like this plane. It doesnt have a heater fit for man or beast. We took it for the cargo space. There should be blankets folded up in the footlocker behind your seat. I dont remember how many there are, but the Duke could use one too. Been a long time since Ive seen him this bushed. Were getting a little old for this.

You want one too?

Yeah, except not too nice. I need to keep awake.

I struggled into the back, barking my shins on the icy cold metal fittings of the seats. In the metal locker, I found three blankets and several of my own quilts, probably packed from my possessions picked up at the Finch place. I carried the lightest blanket up for the Duke, hoping I could cover him without waking him. I dont think anything would have wakened him. He was in the middle of deep REM. Johnson got a warm lap quilt.

I carried two blankets to the back seat. Id been riding on the side with a single seat. Now, I looked with longing across the aisle where Michaels brother sat, crumpled around his seat belt and scowling, even as he slept. The seat was wide enough for three people. I unbuckled his seatbelt and settled him against the back of the seat.

I tucked a blanket around him and crawled under into the curve of his body as I whispered, Its just me. Im freezing. How about a trade, a blanket for a warm snuggle?

I was hoping he wouldnt waken and that I could get warm and then slip away before he knew Id been there. No such luck. He stretched out like a big cat, wrapped his arms around my waist and snuggled down beneath the blanket as he said, Thanks Sweetheart, sleep tight.

His quiet snoring harmonized with the Dukes as we headed across Nebraska toward Boise, Idaho. The men had worked around the clock the last four days and everyone was exhausted. Even I would be glad to get to some place where all I had to do was feed puppies and clean pens. I settled in closer to his warm body and joined the chorus.

Next time awake, we were losing altitude. The engines were running just enough to keep the plane under control during descent. I started to slip out from under the blanket but Cades arms were still around me.

He loosened his grip as he whispered, I thought youd never wake up. Im roasting, but I didnt want to waken you. Better go do your thing. I think the potty is in the back by the door. Where were going down they dont need stuff for girls, and the truck is parked pretty far away from the hanger. Itll take us at least a half hour to unload and get checked out, then a couple of hours to the ranch.

Were almost there, Sara; and Im mighty glad. This time Johnson sleeps and the Duke drives. Good planning on my part. My work begins tomorrow. The handler they let go left a lot of work to catch up. Twenty dogs were supposed to be shipped next week and their training is two weeks behind. Thats just about as bad as late delivery on a load of pipe and just about as expensive.

I rolled out of my cocoon and headed to the back. The nap had helped and I felt almost human. I dug my sweater out of my packsack and put it on. The cold night air of the desert would be a real shock after the heat and humidity of summertime St. Louis.

My body felt the need to get busy again after the trauma of the past few days. My fianc Michaels death just a few days ago was a shock to us all. I was glad his brother Cade would be with us at the ranch for a few weeks before he returned to Norway, since hed experienced a great loss too. Perhaps our grieving together would help us both.

Johnson was lowering the landing gear and the flaps. I could hear him talking her in. Easy down, girly. Let the boss sleep a few more minutes.

Then he was talking on the radio, checking on taxiways. We pulled up beside a brown Ford diesel truck. They must have trusted the desert climate as well as the neighbors on the tarmac because the back of the truck was already partially loaded with dog food and other mysterious bags and crates. They were pretty well covered with a brown tarp and tied down, but the bags still peeked out around the edges.

Johnson pulled up so close to the back of the truck that it looked like they were going to mate. Someone trotted under the belly of the plane and shoved in the chocks. He pushed a rolling ladder up next to the door and Johnson opened the side of the plane.

Long before the rest of the family made their choices, the pieces must have been taken to the plane. I watched, amazed, as all of Michaels office equipment, the desk, filing cabinets, computer and bookcases went to join the dog food in the back of the truck. Then I gasped as I watched the last piece loaded. It was wrapped in blankets.

It was Michaels library chair, the one we had spent so many happy hours in; making plans, courting, and napping, curled together in each others arms. When the Duke came to get me, I was trembling, cowered down on the seat at the far side of the plane.