Read Online Moonlight Plains by Barbara Hannay - Free Book Online Page B

losing daylight fast. Lift that light a little higher, will you?’
    This man was clearly used to giving orders and being instantly obeyed. Lifting the lantern as instructed, Kitty pushed the potato sack back from her face so she could see better.
    The airman stopped in his tracks, staring at her, his gaze taking in her trousers, her gun. His dark eyes widened with surprise and then dismay.
    ‘What’s the matter?’ Kitty asked.
    ‘You’re a girl?’
    He seemed so stunned she almost giggled. ‘Yes, I’m afraid I am.’
    To his credit, he recovered quickly. ‘Forgive me, madam. I thought you were a boy. No offence.’
    ‘None taken.’
    He slanted an approving smile her way and as his gaze rested on her for a moment longer, she had the distinct impression that under other circumstances he might have said something charming, even flirtatious.
    Instead he said, ‘Where are your menfolk?’
    ‘I – er – they’re away.’
    Kitty wondered what her grandfather would think if he could see her now. After her reckless behaviour with Andy Mathieson she’d been banished from Townsville to be kept clear of American servicemen.
    Now, despite her grandfather’s efforts, the Americans had arrived on her doorstep. Seemed there was no avoiding them.
    The pilot held out his hand. ‘The name’s Ed Langley. United States Army Air Force.’
    His hand was warm and strong as he gripped Kitty’s.
    ‘Pleased to meet you, Captain Langley.’
    ‘Please, call me Ed.’
    ‘All right. I’m Kitty Martin.’
    ‘I’m in your debt, Miss Martin.’
    It was her turn to smile. ‘Please . . . call me Kitty.’
    Momentary warmth glowed in his dark-brown eyes before he remembered his mission and hurried forward again.
    ‘Are we anywhere near Townsville?’ Ed shot the question over his shoulder.
    ‘Not really. You’re about eighty miles to the west.’
    He made a low sound that might have been a curse. Just then, in the darkness ahead of them, Kitty’s lantern caught another gleam of metal.
    The second plane was spreadeagled on its stomach in the middle of a small clearing. It had lost a wing and it looked defeated, like a slain silvery monster.
    The sight of it made her throat sore.
    ‘Keep the lantern back, well out of the way,’ Ed warned.’
    Kitty smelled the pungent odour of petrol, and she set the lantern down, but followed at a careful distance as Ed continued forward.
    In no time, he was wrestling with the metal door above the gaping hole where the wing had been.
    ‘Is there any way I can help?’
    ‘This goddamned cockpit hatch is stuck. Bobby should have ejected it,’ he grunted. ‘I’ll need something to lever it open.’
    ‘A piece of timber? Like a tree branch?’
    ‘That might do the trick.’ Ed shot an assessing glance at the surrounding gum trees. ‘An axe would be handy.’
    Kitty smiled. This was one problem she could solve. Now she was grateful for her great-uncle’s lesson about the power of shotguns at close range. She would put it to good use.
    Holding the barrel close to the base of a sapling’s trunk, just as her great-uncle had demonstrated, she closed her eyes and pulled the butt hard into her shoulder, then she fired a blast and the young tree fell instantly.
    ‘Nice work, Annie Oakley,’ Ed drawled close behind her, and without wasting a moment, he grabbed the sapling and hurried with it to the plane.
    By the time Kitty caught up with him, he was already prising it beneath the cockpit’s latch.
    ‘Keep back!’ he ordered her. ‘We were low on fuel, but there’s still a good chance this could go up with a bang.’
    Kitty stepped away smartly, watching Ed work. Perhaps she should have prayed again, but she was too fascinated. Too scared.
    Ed’s face pulled into a grimace as he used the broken sapling to lever the door free. It took several tries. One end of the sapling snapped, but Ed persevered and it eventually worked, thank heavens. As soon as he’d yanked the door aside, Ed leaned