Swaying in the swing her dad made, enjoying the comfort of the porch he’d built, Hailey closed the Bible in her lap.
A smile touched her lips. This was the best part of the day. I love it when I can get up early and have the beginning of the day all to myself.
Her quiet time was especially good this morning. She’d gotten up even earlier than usual and settled herself on the front porch swing, sipping hot raspberry herb tea and reveling in her quiet time. She certainly felt calmer than she had the night before.
She reached down to run a gentle hand through the hair on Kisses’s back. “Hey old boy. Sleepy head.” It was an added comfort to have her dear friend snooze at her feet. “Lazy dog,” she chuckled. “What’d you do? Stay out all night last night chasing fireflies or patrolling the property for stray cats?” She tousled his head. “Okay, sleep then, lazy bones. But tonight you’re going to bed early.”
Hailey rose from the swing, stepping over the big pile of chocolate colored dog. Tiptoeing back through the living room and to the kitchen, she set her Bible on the counter top and rinsed her tea cup, setting it in the sink. A little spark of excitement made its way through her.
She walked from the sink to the back door. I’m not gonna be uncomfortable about that friendly little show of affection.
She let the heavy storm door close behind her and started down the back porch steps. It was going to be another scorcher, no doubt about it, she knew that already.
Last night was last night. Over and done. Today’s a brand new day. She paused to gaze up into the cloudless blue sky.
There was nothing as peaceful as the clean freshness of a brand new day, especially one when she hadn’t had to face her mom’s unhappy face yet.
She stole a look at the cottage as she tread up the yellow brick pathway. As peaceful as it looked outside, she could imagine what it was like inside. Jack must be scurrying around readying himself for work. Probably just now shaving. Or rolling up his shirt sleeves. She shook her head softly. Oh, good grief. Gotta stop thinking about him.
She turned her face away. Silly putting so much into a simple kiss on the forehead. He’s probably thinking no wonder Mark went into the priesthood.
Okay, Lord. Remember what we talked about this morning? You and I decided to put last night behind me and push forward. And You’re going to help me.
She stopped before the hangar doors and gave herself a good mental shaking. I am glad that I told Jack more about my dad. Because now he understands my determination. Maybe we’d even work as more of a team. Like dad and I were. The Blue Yonder Flyers.
With a wide smile tipping her lips, she reached for the hangar doors and pulled back the latch that held the doors secure.
Flinging the doors wide, she let out a gasp that sucked every ounce of breath from her body. Hailey felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach with a bowling ball. Her knees buckled and she caught herself against one of the doors. The scene before her eyes was way beyond her wildest comprehension.
Someone somehow had taken something and smashed her planes to death.
Supporting herself against the door, Hailey struggled to find her breath.
She didn’t hear Jack coming up behind her.
“Good morning, boss … ” His voice trailed at the sight of her face. He walked up beside her, gaping in amazement at what he saw. “What in the — ”
Hailey barely heard him. She looked at one windshield, smashed but still hanging in the frame like a million microscopic spider webs. The rudder was ripped completely off, and the door leading to the cockpit now bore deep pits as if it had been crushed with a sledge hammer. It was now nearly impossible to read the carefully scripted lettering on the side of the Skycat III through all the damage.
Jack touched her shoulder. “Hailey.”
She brushed his hand aside numbly and wheeled around to face him, beating her clenched fists against his chest. “Tell me you don’t know anything about this.”
Tears found their way to her stunned eyes and her whole body shook uncontrollably. All reason escaped her and she lashed out at the closest target. “Why? Why?”
He eyed her in astonishment. “You can’t possibly think … ” He grasped her firmly by the shoulders. “Hailey, listen to me. How on earth could you think I even remotely had anything to do with this? I’ve given you no reason to even suspect … this is ridiculous!”
She twisted her body from side to side, writhing to free herself from his grip. “I don’t want your hands on me. I don’t want anything to do with you!”
“What? Hailey — ”
“Get away from me! Do you hear?” She spoke through teeth clenched so tightly that searing pain raced through her jaw. “I want you out of here and don’t you ever come near me or my aircraft again!”
He struggled to hold her still. “Stop it,” he commanded. “Stop it right now and talk some sense to me.”
She kicked at him. “I’ll never forgive you. Let me go and get off my property or I’ll have you arrested.”
He dodged her angry kicks and pulled her tight against him to stop her struggles. “You’re going to listen to me, do you hear me, Hailey?”
One foot connected with his shin bone and he grimaced, tightening his grip on her. “You’re something else, you know that?”
She sucked in a shaky breath and stopped struggling. “Let me go.” If her voice was venom, he would have dropped dead where he stood.
He refused to loosen his grip. “No. I won’t let you go. Not until you listen to me.” He examined her face. “I don’t know what happened here, but I’m not responsible for it,” he stated firmly. “Why would I do something like this? I have no motive, not an inkling of a reason.”
She stood glaring at him, her jagged breath escaping through clenched teeth. “I don’t know. Why would you?”
“Think about it. What would I gain? In fact, I’d be out of a job, now wouldn’t I?”
“No. You’d be more needed than ever.”
He dropped his hands from her shoulders and propped them on his hips. “You beat all I’ve ever seen, do you know that?”
Her gaze remained steady on his. “It’s the only explanation I have right now.” She fought the urge to beat on his chest again. “You’re the only logical choice. You and — ” She shook her head from side to side.
“Say it,” he demanded. “Me and?”
“You and my mom.”
He raised his hands in disgust. “Now I know you’ve lost it.” He paced away from her in exasperation and then turned back to face her, drawing a handkerchief from his pocket. “Here.” He held it out to her and she reluctantly took it. “Can we talk rationally now?”
Holding the handkerchief against throbbing eyes, she shook her head. “No. No, I can’t be rational. Dad’s planes … ” She felt the panic boil from the pit of her stomach and she trembled as she looked at him. “My poor Dad.”
A muscle in his jaw tensed. “You know who did this, don’t you? It was those Watson boys.”
She shook her head. “No. It couldn’t have been. They were my first thought, but … but I ruled them out pretty quickly.” She wiped her eyes. “You know how Kisses goes crazy whenever they’re around. I would have heard something.”
He surveyed the damage from his position at the hangar door. “Who in the world would have done something like this?”
“I thought maybe … well, it entered my mind that, maybe you were … ” She threw her hands up in irritation. “Oh, I don’t know. It doesn’t make much sense now that I think about it.”
She took a closer step toward him and let her head fall against his chest.
“Actually, it makes no sense.” Jack was pensive for a moment before putting a protective arm around her shoulders. He stroked her hair. “Don’t worry, Hailey. We’ll find out who did this. We’ll find out.”
“Jack, I have to face facts.” She raised tear filled eyes to his. “I know in my heart who did this. And it hurts to even say it, but I suspect it was my mother.”
“Absolutely not. You can’t even think it. Your mother would never do anything so violent. This is something a crazed psycho would do.”
“Normally, I’d agree. But how many times has she said she’d do anything to keep me from flying again? She’s gone too far this time, Jack.” She flashed her eyes at him, but this time the anger she felt was fused with pity. “And it’s going to take more than I have in me to ever forgive her.”
“I do not believe it, Hailey.”
“Think about it. She’s been behaving so coldly toward you. She’s desperate to keep me from reopening the business. Kisses would have barked if a stranger had been prowling around last night. Especially Neal or Paul. We both know that.”
“And you didn’t hear barking or growling or anything all night? You’re positive?”
“No. Not a peep.”
He clasped her arm firmly. “Come on, we’re going to get something straightened out right now. And then we’ll call the sheriff and let him find out who did this.”
She wasn’t sure why, but she allowed him to lead her from the hangar doors, along the yellow brick road and to the back door.
She didn’t even try to stop the tears. Or the hurt ripping through her heart. Down to the pit of her stomach she felt sick. The last thing she wanted right now was to look at her mother. I want my dad. Oh, Father, help. Set things right. Help my mom. She’s lost it. Please.
Hailey was suddenly grateful for the strong arm leading her up the back steps. How could she have lashed out at him, thinking he’d done it? I’m grateful for Jack. I really am.
• • •
“Mother, I have something to say to you.” The suffocating tightness in Hailey’s chest made her stop to catch her breath. This was almost too much to endure.
Jack took a step toward Rinnie, who sat at the kitchen table, running a needle and thread through the hem of a white lacy apron. She glanced up, a scowl on her lined face.
“Mrs. Holman, Hailey has some disturbing news. It seems that some time during the night — ”
“Somebody busted up the planes,” Hailey interrupted, her arms crossed rigidly across her chest. “And I think you had something to — ”
Jack placed a steady hand on Hailey’s shoulder. “Mrs. Holman, did you hear any strange noises last night?”
“Mother,” Hailey shoved Jack to the side and recrossed her arms.
“Hailey!” The outburst from Jack turned her head, and she opened her mouth to speak but closed it again.
Rinnie tied a knot in the thread and bit the end off with her teeth before folding the apron calmly. She set it on the table and rose to her feet. “I don’t have to listen to this. I’m weary of the whole mess. I told you it was a big mistake to reopen this business, but you wouldn’t listen.”
Hailey’s face fell. Her mother’s calmness was the last thing she expected. As her mom walked stiffly from the room, she turned to face Jack, anguish resurfacing in her eyes.
“What did I tell you? She all but admitted she did it.” She gave her head an unbelieving shake. “Can this really be happening? I feel like I’m in the middle of a horrible nightmare, and no one will awaken me.”
She ran trembling fingers through her bangs. “I can’t believe this.”
Jack puckered his lips in annoyance and shook his head. “I don’t know. The whole thing is too strange. I still don’t believe it.”
“Well, believe it.”
“She was just so calm.”
“Sure she’s calm, Jack. She took all of her frustrations out last night while she was smashing up the planes.”
“No, Hailey. I’ll admit her reaction is a bit strange. She doesn’t seem surprised at all. Like maybe she’s even … ”
“Glad?” Hailey finished his sentence. Do you think I want to believe it? I don’t! But I do believe that my mother … ”
“Don’t say it anymore. Just take a deep breath and let’s think this through. I know you’re in shock.”
“Yes! I am in shock, Jack. My own mother.” She choked on a sob. “Where did all that rage come from? She’s ill, Jack. We have to get her help.” Pain rippled through her. “To be opposed is one thing, but to actually … I never saw it coming.” She sank down onto one of the kitchen chairs. “I never saw it coming.”
“Like I said, we don’t know that it was her, Hailey. For one thing, how could she have the physical strength to do that much damage? That took a lot.”
“Heard of adrenaline? If she’s that desperate, she’d be able to move this house if she wanted to.”
“Well, whoever did it — and I’m not saying that I’m at all convinced it was your mother — certainly wanted those planes out of commission.”
Hailey’s jaw tensed and she narrowed her eyes at him. She banged a determined fist on the table. “Maybe she did put us out of commission.” She stood and leaned firm palms across the tabletop. “For the time being, anyway. But this is not going to stop me.”