Pippa reached up and patted her cheek. “Listen, girl. I’ve already heard the story of T.W.’s obstruction about a dozen times now, so it doesn’t matter what you say. I know for a fact you’re being too hard on yourself.”
“I’m not—”
“Girl, don’t deny it. I know you well enough.” A plane taking off roared above them.
Kinsey hesitated. Had she been too hard on herself? It was possible. The obstruction could have developed without any warning. Or it could have happened quickly. T.W. had assured her she hadn’t done anything wrong or missed any symptoms. So why was she blaming herself? “Maybe I am being a little too hard on myself.”
“Good, then you’ll go back and finish the job.” Pippa started toward the door of the helicopter.
“What?”
“You heard me. You’re not quitting on one of our best customers, especially when they offered to pay double your rate to have you stay and are giving a sizable donation to our agency once the job is complete.”
Kinsey could only stare after her friend as she tried to make sense of what the McQuaids were doing. They weren’t letting her quit. At the very least, they were making it difficult, especially for Premier, who stood to benefit if they made her cooperate.
“This is bribery,” Kinsey called out.
Kade just grinned as he fidgeted with something on the side of the helicopter.
“You knew about this?” she asked him.
He tipped up his hat to reveal his merry eyes. “Yep.”
“Does Tyler?”
“Nope. Not yet.”
“So Doreen isn’t coming?”
Pippa paused in climbing up into the helicopter. “I’ll be filling in for you during the next three days to give you a break. But then you’re finishing up instead of running off with your tail tucked between your legs.”
Kinsey folded her arms across her chest and glared at her friend. “Don’t I have a choice in the matter?”
“No, ma’am.”
She nodded at the airport terminal. “What about my flight?”
“It’s cancelled.” With that, Pippa plopped down into one of the back seats.
Kinsey wanted to be mad, but Pippa was right, as usual.
Slowly, Kinsey stepped up into the helicopter. She needed to finish the job she’d started. It was unprofessional for her not to,especially because she had the most insight into T.W.’s issues, and he would benefit from the consistency.
Yes, she’d go back, and she would get to see Tyler again.
Could she be brave enough to face him? And if she faced him, then what? The very real truth was that he might not want her. Not after she’d rejected him.
During the helicopter ride back to the ranch, Kinsey wanted to talk more with Pippa about the circumstances—whom exactly she’d talked to, and whether Tyler had been involved in the plan. But the noise prevented anything beyond a few shouted words.
When Kade finally began to descend, Kinsey’s pulse picked up speed. What would Tyler say when he saw she was back?
She glanced out the window to find unfamiliar terrain and a different landing pad.
Kade brought the helicopter to a halt and cut the engine, then hopped out at the approach of a young man and woman, both beaming. He gave them each a hug, then began chatting with them.
Maybe this was just a detour on the way back to the ranch. If so, it was a very pretty detour. They were in a narrow mountain valley with majestic cliffs rising all around. The granite was jagged and imposing, with thick pine trees growing out of the stone—or so it seemed. On one side of the grassy area where they’d landed, a lovely log cabin was nestled against a valley wall. On the other side, a dozen smaller rustic cabins overlooked a river that sparkled in the morning sunshine.
The place looked like a restful haven, a getaway from the busyness of life.
