Her Mistletoe Miracle. Roz Fox Denny
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any aircraft other than the Huey. Of course, had he been flying either of his light planes, or Wylie’s, he couldn’t have set down on the mountain.
It was just now eleven, which meant the rangers hiking up to rescue the stranded may have arrived. No telling how long it’d take them to trek out.
He rolled his head to ease the tension building between his shoulder blades, and listened to the controller issue directions for landing. Mick could barely make out the tower lights. Wind slammed him one way and just as fast jerked him back the other direction. He had to cut more power to fight a spin.
There wasn’t a peep from the back, though some offensive language certainly left his mouth. Old habits formed in the military died hard.
It seemed to take a long time, but at last he corrected the spin. However, he was very near the ground. So near he was blinded by flashing lights from the emergency vehicle mere seconds before the Huey’s runners smacked the snowy tarmac.
A sigh of relief rushed from his lungs. Mick had rarely had such a bad landing.
He shut down the rotors and jumped from the cockpit, grimacing from the pain that clutched his bad hip. His limp was so pronounced, one of the emergency crew assumed he was one of the injured. “Old war wound,” Mick muttered, opening the door to give the medics access to the real patients.
The women didn’t look good. Even in the diffused light flickering sporadically through whorls of blowing snow, Mick saw tracks from their tears marring their cheeks.
The medics got the women out and onto gurneys. Mick felt relief knowing a qualified attendant was caring for Hana and Kari.
Once the emergency vehicle had disappeared through the main gate, he hobbled to the office and left orders to refuel the Huey. “I won’t be flying out again tonight,” he told the clerk. He needed to know the extent of Hana’s injuries. And whether or not in his zeal to rescue her he’d caused more damage.
CHAPTER FOUR
ON THE SHORT WALK to the lot where he kept Pappy’s old Cadillac for just such trips to town, Mick opened his cell to call his twin.
Marlee answered so fast, Mick knew she must’ve been holding her phone. “Mick! I’m so relieved. You can’t imagine how much worse the weather’s gotten here—and on the mountain, according to Wylie.”
“I’m sorry to leave you stuck there. Are you okay? How about the kids and the dogs?”
“We’re fine. The dogs, too. We’re all bunking with Ellen Russell. Wylie’s decided to borrow one of the park’s four-wheel SUVs tomorrow and drive home. Forecasters predict this storm’s going to hang around. Wylie said there’s no sense for you to risk your neck flying back up here. Sorry as I am to cut your visit short, I agree. I guess you know Dean’s happy enough to keep Wingman.”
“Did he mention I asked him to dog-sit while I go on vacation?”
“He did. But if you change your mind, we’d still love to have you come for the holidays.”
“I know. I’ll give it some thought. Right now I have other things on my mind. I’m on my way to the hospital to check on the climbers I brought in.”
“Trudy said you were transporting two women. She said they had multiple injuries.”
“Yeah.” He was hesitant to tell his pregnant sister about Jess. On the other hand, he needed her to contact Wylie and let him know the situation.
“What aren’t you telling me, Mick?”
Marlee had always had a sixth sense when it came to things he didn’t want to spill. “One man died in the fall,” he said. “Another, a young guy, went ballistic when he found out I couldn’t carry everyone out. Chuck Hutton decked him. The kid’s liable to try to cause trouble for Chuck and me. Will you alert Wylie?”
“I’ll get him on the radio right now. Oh, Mick, I’m so sorry. How well did you know the man who died?” Her voice dropped in sympathy.
“We weren’t friends. He’s worked for Len Martin the longest, though. The thing is, I think he and one of the injured women were more than coworkers.” Linking Hana and Jess left Mick with a sinking feeling. “Uh, Hana doesn’t know Jess didn’t make it out. I’m probably going to have to break the news to her.”
WHY DID THE NAME HANA sound familiar? Marlee couldn’t place it. “You sound… Mick, it hasn’t been that long since you found Pappy Jack dead in his bed. Has this triggered post-traumatic stress?”
“I’m fine. I’m sick for Hana. As soon as the doctors get her pain under control, I know she’ll start thinking straight and she’ll be asking about Jess.”
“Shouldn’t you phone Captain Martin and let him handle telling her? I realize this climb was something his crew did on their own, but since they all worked for him, isn’t he the logical one to notify next of kin?”
“I suppose he should be told. They were all set to leave Montana for the winter…” Mick hesitated again. “Hana doesn’t have family anywhere.”
“Mick,” his sister said slowly, “am I missing something? Lord knows nobody has a bigger, softer heart than you, but…this injured woman who’s just lost her boyfriend must have other friends. Closer friends.”
“I didn’t say Jess Hargitay was her boyfriend.”
“No, but you did say they were more than coworkers.”
“Listen, Marlee, I want to get to the hospital. So, I’ll talk to you later. You just need to get on the two-way and tell Wylie what went on with the kid. His name’s Roger Dorn.”
“All right,” she said. “But we’re not done with this conversation. Call me tomorrow.”
“So you can find a dozen more ways to call me a pushover?”
“I didn’t. Mick, why are you so touchy?”
He heaved a sigh. “It’s been a stressful day. Bye, Marlee.” He hung up.
AS HE LEFT THE AIRPARK, Mick shut off his phone and tucked it in his pocket. Marlee wasn’t his mother or his conscience. She was two or three minutes older. And since the age of nine, when they’d learned this fact, she’d reminded him of it.
He exited the freeway and soon pulled into a snow-covered hospital parking lot. It looked like a Christmas card, with snow slanting past the brightly lit building. This was where he’d had his surgery last year. Mick remembered it had rained the day Marlee had checked him out.
As he approached the reception desk to ask about Hana, his mind flashed over the good times and bad ones he and Marlee had weathered together. Even before he asked the whereabouts of Hana and Kari, Mick’s annoyance with his sister had begun to fade. She worried about the people she loved. She worried about him.
“And are you related to Hana Egan or Kari Dombroski?” The middle-aged woman behind the desk pulled down a pair of half glasses and studied Mick.
He flipped out his ID, which included his volunteer pilot status with Angel Fleet. He knew that would gain him entry even though the organization wasn’t involved. “I rescued the women off a mountaintop, and I’d like an update on their conditions.”
Impressed, the clerk flipped through a set of cards that hadn’t yet been filed. “They’ve both gone to the orthopedic floor for evaluation. Are you familiar with the hospital?” She set a map on the counter.
“Yes, thank you.” Mick collected his ID and put his wallet away. He took off, not bothering to respond to the receptionist’s casual comment about how grateful Hana and Kari must be. Kari, maybe. Hana, not necessarily.
He passed a brightly lit gift shop with a glass vase filled with greenery and miniature yellow roses in the window. Mick stopped and pushed open the etched-glass door.
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