Page 3 of A Miracle for the Reserved Flyboy

“Yes.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“C-Could you take me back to the airport?”

“No. Get out.”

“Huh?”

“I didn’t stutter—get outta my car, Casanova, and live up to your call sign.”

“You know it’s a joke.”

“Aren’t they all, brother,” Caboose chuckled, grinning widely before leaning over and opening Gary’s door, pointing emphatically. “Out—and go say ‘hello’ to the wives.”

“They’re all your wives?” Gary asked, staring at him in shock. Caboose glanced at the line of women and burst out laughing, his laughter ringing through the air like a beacon of insanity.

“Them?!Heck, no…my wife is amazing. Those are the other pilots’ wives—and nobody has more than one. We’re a little out in the country, I’ll give you that, but that’s where the line is drawn, buddy. We wear shoes, have all our teeth, and nobody lives in a ‘holler’ or has multiple wives. Got me?”

“I understand,” Gary replied, still reeling.

“Now…out?” Caboose asked, grinning wider than ever.

As soon as Gary stepped out of the vehicle, the catcalls began, echoing across the empty airstrip.

“Awww! What a cutie-patootie!”

“Some woman is gonna have her hands full with that one…”

“That man sure fills out a uniform—but not like my husband, you know, and it was me being nice. Nobody tell my husband I said that.”

“Relax, I was thinking the same thing.”

“He looks…soft. Is that a good thing?”

“He looks like Glory would eat him alive.”

“Rawwwr and chomp, ladies! I’m kinda jealous that Cajun is going to have to handle this bit of fun. Are you sure we can’t keephim here, Harley? Please? Pretty please? I can dig up a few girls from my list and?—”

“No, Logan wants that list, and I’ve already told you twice that you cannot have it.”

“Do you want it back then?”

“Did you take it out of my office?”

“Maaaaybe?”

“You think Cajun has a certain little filly in mind?”

“Psst…do y’all think he’s mute or deaf? I mean, I’m cool with that, but he hasn’t said a word and is hanging around the car like it’s a life raft. Does anyone know sign language?”

“I think he’s actually shy…”

And to Gary’s utter horror, all seven women clasped their hands over their chests in unison and exclaimed, “AWWWW!” in a drawn-out chorus that made his cheeks flame with embarrassment.

“How freakin’ cute is that?” one of them cooed.

“That’s it!—I wanna see this fall into place.”

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