Page 46 of The Rancher's Cinderella Bride

“Ah, Meg, come here,” he said.

Her heart thudded while she walked into his arms eagerly and raised her face for his kiss. It felt like coming home.

It took a few moments before she realized her phone was buzzing in her pocket.

“Gabe, wait,” she said. “My phone.” She pulled it out and frowned. “It’s my dad, and he doesn’t call when I’m at work, which is where he thinks I am. I better take it.”

She walked away and talked softly and in minutes returned. “Gabe, I have to go right now. Last week my grandfather fell and he broke his arm and two ribs. The doctors in Colorado said he could travel. My parents want to bring him back here where all his doctors are. Dad and Mom are leaving to go get him as soon as they can get ready. I told them I’d go with them. Mom doesn’t like highway driving and it’s stormy all through western Kansas and into Colorado.”

“Meg, let me fly all of you there. My plane is big enough to get him and bring him back here. Where in Colorado?”

“It’s Colorado Springs. But we can’t go in your plane.”

“Yes, you can. It’ll be easier on him and save at least a day of driving. All of you can go. My plane isn’t little until you compare it with a Boeing 747.”

“I can’t do that, Gabe. I can’t fly.” Already she could feel her heart pounding, just at the thought.

He must have seen the fear in her eyes because he nodded. “You don’t have to go. Your folks can come with me. Let me call the airport and get some information and get things ready.”

She frowned, staring at him. She didn’t want to fly and she didn’t want to risk her family, either. On the other hand, Gabe was right. It would be easier on all of them.

In a few minutes, Gabe returned. “The weather is stormy, but it’s okay to fly. The plane will be ready shortly. I’m flying and I have a copilot who works for me. He’ll meet me at the airport. Call your folks and tell them I have a limo to take us to the airport. They won’t object to flying with me, will they? If they do, let me talk to your dad.”

“I’ll call and you can talk to Dad.” In minutes she handed the phone to Gabe and walked away as he began to tell her father about his pilot qualifications. She stood by a window. It was sunny and a clear day without wind in Dallas. How far could they go before they hit stormy weather? She wound her fingers together and dreaded the flight, but made her decision. She wanted to go along.

Gabe turned to her and held out her phone. “Your folks are going. As soon as the limo gets here, I’ll leave and pick them up.” Gabe walked to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You don’t have to go, Meg, but there’s something you need to know. You’re too vibrant to go through life being afraid. Life is full of risks, but some are bigger than others. You have to take some risks. You do when you go to work. You do when you fall in love.” He dropped his hands and turned away. “I’ve got to get ready.”

“Wait,” she called out. “I’m coming.”

She saw the smile he tried to hide before he went to pack his things.

A few minutes later she saw a black limo coming up his drive. They went outside and as soon as it stopped, the driver stepped out.

“Thanks, Gene, for getting here so quickly. Meg, this is our driver, Gene Gray. Gene, this is Miss Aldridge. She can give you her parents’ address.”

By the time they’d picked up her parents and made it to the airport, her heart was pounding so hard she thought it’d burst. But she felt remotely better when she saw the size of the plane.

“Gabe, this plane is a lot bigger than what Hank flew.”

“I have two planes. This one is the bigger one. I have one like Hank’s that I fly to the ranch.”

She felt slightly better that she wasn’t flying in a tin can. As Gabe took charge, she followed his directions and in no time she and her parents were on board, seated and comfortable in a plush lounge.

Gabe turned to her. “Okay?”

“So far.” She even managed a small smile. “I have to tell you, you’ve impressed my dad.”

“Good,” he said. “Once we’re up, the flight attendant will pass out drinks, pillows and magazines,” he told her. “Just relax.”

Meg buckled up as Gabe made his way to the cockpit. Minutes later she gripped the seat with white knuckles as the plane picked up speed going down the runway. She held her breath until they were finally airborne, lifting quickly, making a wide circle and heading north.

They had good weather until they were over Kansas. Gabe kept them posted at regular intervals and they were making good time when they flew into clouds. Cold fear gripped her and she couldn’t relax. Her parents had fallen asleep and Meg wished she was able to do the same.

The flight became bumpy and she hated every jolt. She couldn’t see out the window because of the thick gray clouds surrounding them and she couldn’t imagine how Gabe could tell where he was flying, even with instruments and electronics and everything else he had. And how would they land?

Her mother woke up and looked at her, wide-eyed as she glanced outside. She looked at Meg’s dad and then leaned toward Meg. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Meg lied. She hated the flight and wanted it to be over and dreaded having to go back. They weren’t flying back until the next day and she prayed the weather would be better then.

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