Page 25 of Relentless

Before the flight attendant could wheel her cart to the next row, Harper reached out to stop her. “Can I have just anotherlittlebottle?” she hinted, her voice going high, lifting her finger and thumb an inch apart. “I wouldn’t want to have to bother you again.”

“We’re not really supposed to—” the flight attendant trailed off.

“That’s fine,” Harper stressed, waving her away. “I’ll just call you over in a few minutes.”

The flight attendant offered a smile that noticeably didn’t reach her eyes. Reaching into her cart, she retrieved another bottle and discreetly slipped it into Harper’s outstretched grasp.

Harper cracked the lid and gently tipped it over her cocktail.

“On second thought,” she paused. Twisting the lid closed, she stowed it safely in her purse — just in case of an emergency. Before zipping it closed, she heard the clatter of pills and noticed she had remembered to pack her pain medication.

I always think of everything.

She was careful only to take one this time, washing it down with a sip of her drink.

Sensing a judgmental sideways glance from the meddling passenger beside her, her eyes darted away. “They’re prescription,” she clarified while turning aside to mutter, “as if I should care what some idiot in a cowboy hat thinks.”

“What was that?” he asked.

“I said —“ Harper cleared her throat loudly, forcing an artificial smile. “Thank you for your concern.”

“Ain’t no business of mine,” he drawled.

Harper turned away, hoping to keep from any more vapid small talk with the country rube. She felt her mind go blank, and her eyes close.

The remainder of the flight was thankfully a blur until she was rudely awakened again by the captain’s gargling voice over the loudspeaker.

“Thank you for flying with us today,” he announced. “Secure any loose items and buckle those seatbelts as we prepare for landing.”

“How can anyone get any sleep with all this racket,” she scowled.

“Well, you’ve seemed to do just fine, ma’am,” the cowboy articulated in a warm tone. “Just snoring away.”

“How dare you call mema’am,” Harper glared, her lip curling in disgust. “And I donotsnore.”

The cowboy offered her a wide grin. “It’s been a delight sitting next to you.”

When the wheels touched down on the runway with a gentle bounce, Harper lifted the window shade. Squinting through the bright setting sun, she noticed a tall mountain range covered with green pines.

“Tell me we’re in Aspen,” she stammered.

“Close, kind of,” the cowboy replied, taking a long glance past her out the window. “Montana.”

“Excuse me —” Harper faltered, her mouth suddenly dry again. “What did you just say?”

“Montana,” he repeated. “Big Sky country.”

Only then did she recognize the small country airport from her last visit to Montana. The only difference then was that she had the luxury of her own private jet, and dark, angry clouds were hanging low in the sky.

Harper tucked her arms across her chest and focused out the window, hoping to prevent any further conversation while the plane taxied around the small airport. She couldn’t decide if being alone with her thoughts was worse than enduring a few more minutes of small talk.

When the plane door opened, it ushered a burst of frozen air into the cabin. Harper briskly stood to her feet, causing the cabin to spin around her. Taking a hefty step back to steady herself, she grasped for the cowboy’s shoulder. “Excuse me,” she stammered, feeling another surge of embarrassment. Squeezing her purse to her side, she pulled the strap higher on her shoulder.

“You know,” she huffed. “If you’d just move your legs, I wouldn’t be tripping down the aisle.”

“Real pleasure,” he emphasized with an eye roll.

She pressed past the few travelers in front of her, who were pulling their items from the overhead compartments. Being in the packed cabin of passengers made her feel like she needed a long bath and maybe a trip to the spa. Going past the flight attendant waiting at the door, she paused to inquire.

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