Read Online No Limits by Katherine Garbera - Free Book Online

to do that.”
    â€œNASA. I’m part of a team preparing for long-term missions designed as precursors to the Mars missions we hope will happen one day. Much like Project Mercury was preparation for the moon landing. These missions would set up a way station between Earth and Mars. And they are looking to develop a dedicated training facility.”
    â€œHow would that work?”
    â€œWell, the facility would be developed and paid for by a company that we agreed to work with. We’re close enough to Houston for it to be a good fit. What do you think?” he asked.
    * * *
    M OLLY LOVED HIS IDEA . From what Jason said, it would bring in money for the ranch without too much disruption. The financing would come through the government and private companies. Jason’s plan was for her to be a director of the facility along with him. As an experienced astronaut, he’d provide the NASA expertise and with her management skills and some additional training, Molly would be a good candidate for handling many of the day-to-day operational details.
    â€œSo you’d be here on the ranch?”
    â€œFor now. Once I get cleared for missions it’s my intention to go back into training for the Cronus program,” he said. “At that point, NASA could hire another qualified person to take on any hands-on responsibilities I would have to give up.”
    He wasn’t going to stay forever because his place was up there, but she could have him for a little while. She was tied to the land. She couldn’t imagine living in the stars, but he did. He wanted it.
    To agree to this idea of his. “How good do you think our chances are?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou said bid . That means there are other potential places they could use, right?” she asked.
    â€œYes. I don’t know how many, but I can go to Houston and talk to my boss. If Dennis likes the idea, then I will ask him for some contacts with a company that wins a lot of bids.”
    â€œLike the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Right? They built the Mars Rover and do a lot of work for NASA.”
    â€œYes. Like JPL, but smaller. This is a newer program and while everyone is excited about going to Mars one day and doing more long-term exploration, the risks are high. Many companies aren’t sure they want to invest in what could be a very short-term project if something goes wrong. But we’ve got nothing to lose and a good shot at winning the bid. I think my involvement will help. I’m one of only a handful of people who’ve spent a year in orbit.”
    She knew he was kind of a big deal with NASA. They’d invested a lot in him and she imagined his knowledge of the training requirements would be a boon. “Okay. I guess we owe it to ourselves to give this a shot, don’t we?”
    â€œWe do,” he said. “How should we word this on the form?”
    She looked down at the papers Rupert had given them, tucking a stubborn lock of hair behind her ear as she read. She tried to focus, but she was very aware of Jason standing close. Watching her.
    She’d made a decision... She wasn’t sure when but there was a surety in her now that hadn’t been there before they’d walked into Rupert’s office. She was going to take this time with him and not look back. She had thought she’d have her dad with her forever and if his death had shown her anything, it was that she couldn’t wait to say and do the things she wanted. Time would keep moving on, of course, and the people who came into her life might move on, too. She had no guarantees of anything with Jason. Even if he never went back to active duty he might leave.
    â€œI’m not sure,” she said at last. “You want to read it over? I’ll go get Shirley and see if she can help us.”
    He came closer and she caught a whiff of his aftershave, remembered how she’d breathed it in when they’d laid on the grass and