Read Online Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon - Free Book Online

jagged ridges. “Fly right through that canyon.” He folded his arms over his chest, as if daring her to handle the unpredictable.
    Kate kept her eyes on the mountains, but her mind puzzled over Sidney. Would he purposely put them in danger? Or did he trust her experience?
    Although Kate was careful to stay on the upwind side of the canyon, the plane shivered and rattled. It dropped into an air pocket and was then tossed upward. As Kate met the challenge, she gained confidence. She knew how to deal with turbulent conditions.
    She made her way up the gorge and the pitching increased. Her plane bounced as if it were a kite being tossed in a brisk wind. The walls of the mountains closed in. She waited for Sidney’s instructions, knowing that if she didn’t head back soon, there wouldn’t be enough room to make the turn.
    “All right, I want you to go back the way we came and then cruise over Cook Inlet.”
    Kate obeyed, happily. Sidney certainly couldn’t doubt her abilities now. However, as she approached the inlet, she tightened her grip on the stick. Clouds had moved in, creating a low ceiling. She couldn’t fly above the gray stacks—she’d have to maneuver beneath them.
    Approaching the layer of black and gray, she calculated the distance between sea and sky. She was fine; there was plenty of space . . . or just enough. She ducked beneath the cloud bank, so low she could see birds fishing in the choppy waters below.
    “Good, now follow the coast along the peninsula.”
    Kate relaxed a little and held a course that followed the shore. Some beaches were sandy, others rocky. All were littered with driftwood and other debris, some were barely visible beneath a confusion of logs and sea life.
    “Have you ever made a beach landing?”
    “Once, on my way up the coast from Washington. It was a little dicey, but I got down all right.”
    “You see that piece of sand down there?” He pointed at a stretch of shoreline.
    “The one with the rock outcropping?”
    “Yep, that’s the one. Can you put us down on it?”
    “I think so. I’ll have to check it out.”
    Kate pushed the stick forward and decreased altitude. The beach looked unstable. There were rivulets of water running into the bay—which most likely meant mud or soft sand. She circled the proposed landing site, flying low enough to note obstacles. “It should be all right, maybe a little soft.”
    She looked at Sidney. “Are you familiar with this beach?”
    “Yeah. It’s not too bad, but you’re right, the sand can get mushy. When you come in, keep the nose up a little, otherwise you’re liable to plant it in the dirt.”
    Feeling both delight and apprehension, Kate made one more flyover, then set up for her run. She figured it would be best to descend on the end of the beach with the rocks. That way she could take off toward them and into the wind.
    Keeping a gentle touch on the stick, she gradually descended. The earth rushed past her below the plane; she continued to decelerate and then felt the wheels touch down. Wet sand pulled at them. She remembered what Sidney had said and made sure to keep the nose up, then eased back on the throttle and rolled to a smooth stop.
    “Not bad,” Sidney said.
    Feeling gratified at his compliment, Kate sat back and dropped her shoulders, easing the tension in her muscles.
    “Now, do you have a plan for getting us home?” He grinned.
    Kate knew better than to take off without making an inspection of the beach, but didn’t want Sidney to think she was insecure or inexperienced. She decided caution was the best choice and said as boldly as she could manage, “I want to walk the beach first, to plan the best strategy for takeoff.” She watched for irritation or disappointment on his face. There was none.
    “Good idea.”
    Feeling almost lighthearted, Kate climbed out of the plane and headed up the beach. Sidney left the cockpit but stayed with the aircraft, leaning against it while he smoked a cigarette. Kate