Page 113 of Mountain Grump

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Ethan sighs again. Like he’s annoyed. “Because the engine stopped.”

Because. The engine. Stopped.

I look back out the front. “But… the propeller…”

It’s still spinning. I can see it.

“The air is pushing it.”

My next breath is choppy.

The air…

It’s just spinning.

The engine stopped.

I clutch at my seat belt, gripping the straps over my chest tightly. “We’re going to crash?”

“No.” His tone is stern, and I focus on his mouth. “We’re going to land.”

My throat feels so tight it hurts to swallow. “Ethan.”

“Starlight. Remember what I told you?”

I shake my head.

“I’m a good pilot. Remember?”

I nod. “I remember.”

But remembering doesn’t stop my hands from trembling.

“Relax.” He holds his hand out. “Breathe.” I force my fingers to release the seat belt and put my hand in his. “I’m going to land us smoothly.” He sets my hand on his thigh. “Now you say it.”

I press my palm down against the warm denim. “You’re going to land us smoothly.”

I repeat that sentence in my mind. Over and over.

And I try to tell myself to be calm.

I try to keep my breathing even.

But then Ethan pushes the control forward, and the nose of the plane angles down.

Toward the ground.

My pulse feels too loud.

I dig my fingertips into Ethan’s thigh and curl my other hand tighter around my seat belt.

I hold my breath.

“Breathe.” Ethan’s voice speaks directly into my ears.

I inhale.

The ground is getting closer.

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