“Them leaving makes me nervous,” Renee admitted.
“You realize they might be innocent tourists,” Dakota said.
Renee grunted as they approached the heliport. “Acting paranoid has kept me alive. I don’t want to end up like Hunter.”
Kansas handed her the food, and once she accepted the bags with her free hand, he stole a kiss. It wasn’t an innocent one either. He used tongue and nipped her lower lip. His eyes glowed a golden brown when he pulled back.
“My turn,” Dakota whispered in a husky voice. He claimed a kiss that was every bit as suggestive as the one Kansas had given her. “Later.” He pulled away without haste and opened the front door of the offices for her.
Renee stared after them as the twins strode away. A cheerful whistle floated in their wake.
“Who are they?” Janet asked.
“Friends.” Renee knew better than to offer more information. “They’ll be back later for a ride over the tundra.”
Renee kept busy as usual, which was the way she liked it. The Taktuq brothers arrived for their flight at two and conditions were perfect.
“I spoke to Sax Hallsten,” Calian said. “He suggested we land near the lodge they’re building and check it out. He told us you’d know where he meant.”
“It will eat into your tour,” Renee warned.
“No problem. We can book for another one. Let’s do the lodge first and fit in what you can once we’re done,” Calian said. “Have you seen the building? Sax told us the exterior is done, and they had completed most of the interior.”
Interest piqued in Renee. “I’ve seen it from the air and moved in freight and passengers for them. Are you going to walk around?” She seated three of the brothers in the back of her chopper, supervising their seat belts and headphones before guiding Calian to the seat in the front with her.
After making certain they could hear over the headphones, she settled behind the controls and checked in with the office. Given the all-clear, Renee moved the cyclic stick in her right hand while increasing the power with the collective lever in her left. The helicopter climbed for long seconds before she leveled off and used the rotor pedals to turn.
The town of Churchill grew small beneath them as Renee ran through her after-takeoff checklist. Satisfied all was in order, she settled into her flight and the familiar vibration of her chopper.
“You’re good,” Calian said.
“I should be. I’ve had plenty of experience. My stepfather taught me to fly when I was a teenager.”
“Bears at three o’clock,” Calian said.
“Looks like a mother and cubs.” Renee smiled. “I never get tired of seeing the bears. The beluga whales are awesome too. I got to go kayaking, and a beluga pushed my kayak along. It was magical.”
“I guess we’ll get to try that once we sort out our newest hotel,” Matto said from the rear.
They flew for a time, and since they didn’t expect the tourist thing, Renee relaxed and enjoyed the flying and the sights on the tundra below. Myriad lakes covered the landscape, most shallow and a few of them frozen over, judging by the animal prints she spotted on the surface.
Stubby trees, most of them bare on the side of the prevailing wind, grew in patches and she spotted the rough roads the tundra buggies drove along in their search for bears. The massive wheels kept the vehicles off the ground and the tourist passengers safe from the bears.
“That’s the Tundra Hotel,” Renee explained when they passed over the linked train of six tundra buggies. “I’ve heard the hotel is very expensive and guests stay there for three or four nights.”
“Might be worth booking in—if we can at this late stage,” Calian commented. “It never hurts to check out the competition.”
“Did Sax mind you guys visiting their lodge?” she asked, curiosity grabbing her.
“He suggested it. He also proposed we work together with our advertising since we’re going after the same luxury market. I like him,” Calian said.
“Sax and his brothers are great guys,” Renee agreed. “They’re professional and the locals like the fact they’re from around here. I’ve heard some of the older ladies discussing the Hallsten brothers and the Swenson brothers. Evidently, they were all considered losers and no-hopers. They have a high approval rating now, and they’re used as an example for the local teenagers.”
“I heard the brothers found partners from outside the community. The brothers share one woman. Well, one woman for each set of brothers,” Kansas corrected himself.
“Real subtle, bro,” came Dakota’s voice.
Renee laughed. “I’ve met Kendall and Fiona at the café. I’ve had coffee with them a couple of times.” She checked her instruments and scanned the horizon. “That’s the lodge. At nine o’clock.”
