Joy Takes Flight by Bonnie Leon Page A

day, but he was no worse. When Kate was ready to leave, she wasn’t sure she ought to go. What if the boy took a turn for the worse?
    She made a stop in his room and told him she’d be back within a week and that she expected him to be feeling much better by then. He promised he’d try.
    Paul followed her out to the plane.
    With a glance at the cabin, Kate said, “Caleb’s not looking good. Are you sure he won’t need to go to the hospital?”
    â€œHe’s holding his own. I doubt he’ll get any worse. You take care of yourself. Don’t get careless, Kate.”
    She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ll be fine.”
    Paul’s expression remained stern. “Even though there’s a trooper with you, you’ve got to stay on your toes.”
    Kate smiled and kissed him. “Don’t worry about me—you have a boy in there to think about.” She gazed at clouds scuttling across a hazy sky. The first light of day touched them with pink. “Hope the weather holds out. I won’t be gone long. With the longer days I’ll be able to get in more flying hours.”
    Paul pulled her close. “I wish you weren’t going.”
    Kate stepped back. “I know. I’ll be careful. And I’ll pray for you and poor Caleb. I hope he gets better soon.”
    â€œRheumatic fever hangs on. Caleb will be sick for a long while.” He glanced at the cabin. “I wish they’d agreed to hospitalization. I’ll stay as long as he’s in danger. By the time you get back we ought to know how he’s going to fare.”
    â€œOkay.” Kate stepped forward and hugged Paul again, realizing this would be the longest they’d be separated since they’d been married. “I’ll miss you.”
    â€œI’ll miss you too. Please be cautious.”
    â€œI will.”
    â€œAnd use your gun if you have to.”
    â€œYou worry too much.” She dropped one more kiss on his lips and then climbed into the plane.
    Paul watched her taxi down the airstrip. Kate waved to him and lifted off, forcing her mind away from thoughts of how far she’d be from Paul, and instead turned her mind to Kotzebue.
    Transporting prisoners always made her nervous. Most were jailed on petty charges, but some were violent and dangerous. Which would it be this time?

- 8 -
    T he sun glowed from the midst of a deep blue sky as Kate watched the small village of Candle slip by below. “We’re nearly there, Angel.” She gave the dog a pat. Kotzebue wasn’t far now.
    The trip had gone smoothly. The weather had held, there’d been no mechanical problems, and long April days had provided Kate with plenty of flying time. She’d reach Kotzebue long before dark, which meant there’d be time for a visit with the Turchiks. The following morning she’d be on her way back to Paul. She smiled, thinking of him and feeling the warmth of his embrace before she’d left him. She ran a finger over her lips, remembering his passionate kiss.
    This trip would be better if he was with her. She’d rather be on a medical run than carrying a prisoner to Anchorage. She felt a stir of apprehension. Her only instructions were to show up at the jail. She wouldn’t know what kind of crime had been committed or who she was transporting until she got to Kotzebue. And she guessed that Paul’s fears had stirred some of her own.
    Finally she spotted Kotzebue resting on a small peninsula along the edge of Kotzebue Sound. She felt as if she were home. The Turchiks were like family. Happiness bubbled up inside of her.
    She hadn’t always felt that way. She remembered her first visit to the region, which had seemed inhospitable and foreign. She’d nearly lost her way in the winter darkness and had even questioned why she’d foolishly taken on the challenge of flying the bush. Over time, the people and the territory had changed