Page 70 of Confessions of an Apache Pilot

The top of the ridge didn’t exactly flatten out, it was still rolling hills, but the jagged rocks disappeared. I found a smooth enough place and hovered over it, slowly lowering down until Mark and Artie were on the ground. I slid to the side a few feet and kept coming down, making sure I didn’t land on top of them.

They quickly got inside the helicopter. I could hear them shouting to Ricochet and Karolyn. There wasn’t enough time for me to stop and check on them, to see how they were. There were still hostiles in the area, and unless the Beards had gotten to them they’d be heading up our way. I didn’t plan on being here when they arrived. The Beards, A-10s, UAVs, and Laura and Brady would make sure the assholes were taken care of quickly and efficiently. My job was to get these two back to the base so they could be checked out by the medics.

Before taking off, I looked over my shoulder to make sure they were strapped in. It was too loud to say anything to them, but I needed to at least see him. Mark leaned forward and put his hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. He smiled and the look he was giving me was filled with gratitude. A wave of heat rolled through my body, melting my heart. His smile said it all. Just seeing him again was enough, but I knew we had so much more in store for us.

EPILOGUE

Jen

Ijumped as arms wrapped around me from behind. It would take some getting used to, having Mark here with me in my home. He’d been true to his word and after we’d gotten home from deployment, he’d come out to Texas.

His voice was a deep rumble next to my ear. “Why are you up so early?”

I sucked in a deep breath, enjoying the cooler morning air mixing with the scent of the coffee I held. Mark’s front was pressed to my back and the warmth from his body was spreading throughout mine. He was like a furnace and despite standing out here in sleep shorts and a tank top, I knew I could stay longer thanks to his heat.

“Just enjoying the sunrise,” I told him.

“We’re on vacation,” he grumbled. “You’re supposed to sleep in on vacation.”

I laughed and swatted at him. We stood quietly and watched the sun coming up over the horizon. Snuggling back into him, I sighed.

“What’s wrong?” When I shot him a curious look over my shoulder he asked, “Why are you sighing?”

“Oh. It’s a happy sigh. It’s...been really nice having you here.” I frowned. “I sort of don’t want you to leave,” I admitted.

He chuckled and kissed my temple. “I’m glad you feel that way. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Okay,” I said. Wariness crept in, and I turned in his arms to face him.

“According to the Army we can’t be together. Not to mention we live so far apart it isn’t ideal.” His dark eyes searched mine. He must have liked what he found there because he continued, “So I was thinking about retiring.”

I gasped and my eyes widened. I’d have never asked him to do something like that for me, to end his career. The fact that he was offering it stunned me. “But you love flying.”

He nodded. “I didn’t say anything about not flying. I said I was thinking about retiring.” He cupped my cheek.

“You love being a combat pilot, what on earth could you do that would compare?”

“Well, I have this friend…”

I cut him off, “Let me guess, you deployed together? Iraq?”

He laughed “Yup. Anyway, after that deployment he got out of the army, started his own hedge fund, became a big wig investor. Now he’s investing in businesses all over the country. He wants to start a hunting business, charge people to hunt wild boar in Texas. Hunt them from helicopters.”

“You have got to be joking.”

“Nope, the wild boars are a big problem out here, and rich hunters from all over the world will pay big money to hunt from a helicopter. He’s been asking me to take the lead on this for a while, and now seems like the perfect opportunity.”

“Mark…you’d do that for me?”

“If this job wasn’t available I’d find something else. The only thing that matters is being here with you. I’ve had my share of Army fun. Now it’s your turn. I want every possible minute I can have with you. I love you Jen.

My heart beat picked up as we stood there silently while I gathered my wits. “I love you, Mark,” I finally told him. “This is so much more than I could have asked for. More than I ever hoped.

His smile was wide and brilliant. “Thought you were going to leave me hanging there for a minute.”

I laughed and shook my head. “I’m always a step behind you it seems. So that means you’ll move here to Texas?” I asked, hope permeating every word.

“Yeah. We can live here or find a bigger place together. Whatever you’d like.”

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