How in the world would that help? “Surely there is something more I can—”
“Do it!”
There was no ignoring that command. She hunkered low, making herself as small as possible, which was absurd, really. Sprawled spread-eagle or curled in the fetal position wouldn’t make a whit of difference when the balloon collided with the ground.
God,please hear myprayer. I don’t deserve Your help,and yet Iplead for it.
A great hiss arose. She lifted her face toward Bram, his feet planted wide, his arms overhead—and an increasing orange glow casting a heavenly halo atop his loose hair. The freefalling sensation in her belly eased somewhat, creeping away in increments. Were they leveling off?
She rose an inch at a time and peeked over the basket’s edge. Far back to one side, a red dot glowed—the Royston bonfire, she could only assume. Ahead, a dark bank of trees hovered just below them. Wait a minute. Trees didn’t hover.
The balloon was hovering!
She rose to full height, smiling broadly at Bram. “We’re not dropping anymore.”
“True, but neither have we landed yet, and I need that help you wanted to give. I know it will be hard for you, but I dare not leave this flame. You must look over the edge and find us a clearing to land in.”
“But I—”
“You can do this, Eva.” He pulled his gaze away from the flame and looked directly into her eyes. “I know you can.”
Encouragement radiated off him as tangibly as the reddish glow from the flame. He believed in her. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—disappoint him.
“All right.” Summoning the remaining shreds of her courage, she set down the coil of rope and padded to the side of the basket. Sure enough, they slowly floated just above the bank of trees. At least she assumed they were trees. What else could such a black abyss be?
She clutched the rough edge of the basket, wicker splinters digging into the palms of her hands. Ahead, the inkiness gave way somewhat. “I think there is a field coming up.”
“Youthink?”
He was right. She’d better be certain. She narrowed her eyes,and there, just beyond the dark tree line, was a large grey area with two dark blotches near the center. Four orange dots glowed on the smaller of the two shapes. A house, perhaps. Her gaze drifted to the larger outline next to it, the distinct black line of a cross atop the roof.
She’d clap her hands were she not clutching the edge of the basket in a death grip. “It is a glebe! And we may even get some help from the vicar for there are lights in the house.”
“Very good. Let me know when you feel the slightest bump beneath your feet.”
The flame hiss lessened. The balloon sank lower, but this time the descent was at a more controlled speed. Eventually something scraped beneath her feet. “I feel it.”
“How many more trees to clear?”
La. She’d never been good at distance. “Twenty feet, maybe?”
“Tell me the instant we clear them.”
The scraping grew louder. Sucking in a big breath, Eva looked directly down into grey instead of black. “Cleared!”
“And where is the church and vicarage?”
She went back to scanning the horizon. “Not far. To the left.”
“Then here we go.”
This time they descended gracefully, the burner’s angry hiss softening to a steady whisper. The basket bumped the ground once, twice, then landed with a soft bounce hardly ten yards from the vicarage’s front door, the balloon just inflated enough to keep aloft, but not enough to lift off again.
Bram let out a whoop, a grin as wide as a summer day flashing on his face.
They’d landed. Oh, how good it was to be on solid ground.
Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “You did it!”
