Redwood Bend (Virgin River #18)(31)

“How would I know a marijuana patch?”

“Bright, bright green, greener than any green you’ve ever seen. Deer? Self-explanatory. Wanna have some fun?”

“What kind of fun?” she asked suspiciously.

“Want to see the map float?”

Oh, that grin! “Yes!” she said. It was just like the bike—she really liked the sharp turns, the speed.

He took it to a higher altitude, then dropped the plane into a rapid descent and the map floated for a moment, making her giggle. So he made a sharp turn and pulled back on the yoke, loading some G’s on them and she laughed as if he was holding her down and tickling her.

An epiphany was coming into focus. Everyone he dated, briefly dated, was so easy to please. They thought he was the catch of the century—he picked the best restaurants, was the best date ever, sharpest dresser (even covered with motor oil from some airplane engine), and they’d sure been willing to give it up right away. He just realized it hadn’t felt real. They always knew him as the owner of a small aircraft operation or an actor. Celebrity.

Katie was tougher and yet, completely authentic. She had fun on the bike; the flying thrilled her. But she didn’t give in to him. She had rules and held to them.

“Can I try?” she asked.

“Gently,” he said. “Pull back, the plane goes up. Push forward, down. Let’s not turn.”

“Oh, thank you,” she said, and she gave it a try. At first she was careful, gently moving the yoke. But then she got a little more aggressive, laughing as she pulled back, pushed forward.

“Okay, okay, you don’t want to put us into a stall.”

“A stall?”

“As in no engine.”

She let go at once. “You fly. I’ll ride.”

“Good idea,” he said with a laugh. “Let’s look at some boats, look for some dolphins.” And he turned out to sea. They saw birds flying under the airplane, a bunch of dolphins jumping, a few fishing boats and a big yacht. And then the plane started to bounce.

“What’s that?”

“Just a little choppy out here, that’s all,” he said.

She was unusually quiet for a moment and Dylan didn’t really notice anything; he was used to turbulence. It was usually especially bad over the Montana mountains. But then he heard that telltale sound from his passenger. “Whoa,” she said. Then, “Ew.”

He glanced over at Katie. She was white as a sheet. He didn’t waste a second. “Katie! Bag!” He pointed to the side pocket. “Bag, bag, bag!”

She turned to look at him, glassy-eyed, confused. He reached across her and pointed closer to the side pocket. “There’s a bag in there if you don’t feel right!”

Weakly, she slipped her hand into the side pocket and pulled out a sick sack. She just held it, like that was the last thing she wanted to think about. And Dylan turned back toward the airport.

He didn’t make it far before she was holding the bag up to her face, retching.

“That a girl,” he said approvingly. “You’ll be fine when we’re on the ground. Ten minutes, tops.”

And she retched again.

Poor kid, he thought. She liked speed and tight turns, but apparently her inner ear wasn’t crazy about turbulence. Now that he considered it, that probably was a little more than she’d have been used to. Certainly not the first candidate for Dramamine....

“Ew,” she said again. “Oh, God.” Then she reached into her purse with a trembling hand for a tissue. While she wiped her mouth, he was on final approach.

He landed smoothly, taxied in and checked his passenger frequently, noting that her color was slowly coming back. He parked the little plane, jumped out and went around to her side to help her.

She held on to that sack protectively, embarrassed. Her head was down, her hair falling in a canopy, hiding her face.

“It’ll be okay, babe,” he said gently. “Happens sometimes. Even to big tough guys.”

Finally she looked up at him, her eyes watering, her face pale. “Now that,” she said, “was a date.”

After a little time in the restroom, splashing her face, braiding her hair and generally putting herself back together, Katie made a miraculous recovery. When she walked outside, she found Dylan leaning against his bike.

“You look a lot better,” he said with a smile.

“It seems to have left me as fast as it arrived. Whew, that was perfectly awful. I’m so sorry. Probably not what you were expecting, huh?”

“It happens,” he said. “Jump on.”

And away they went. He took a side trip through Arcata and stopped first at a drugstore. He left her on the bike and promised to return quickly. When he came back he handed her a small bag. Inside was a toothbrush, paste, mouthwash, disposable wipes and antiseptic hand wash. “I couldn’t think of another thing you might need,” he said. “I’m taking you to a restaurant—we’ll get you some tea and something mild, like mac and cheese.”

“You act like a man who has had a lot of experience with this,” she said.

“You’re my first,” he said. “Not the first passenger or student to get sick, but the first time a girl I was trying to impress… Well, I wanted it to be memorable.”