Her Alaskan Pilot: An Alaskan Hero Novel Read online

“You do have a room for her for the weekend then?” Travis asked.

  “Yep. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are available. They're hers now.”

  “Perfect. I just need to ask if she’s got plans, but if for any reason she can’t make it, I’ll call you back. Otherwise, plan on Chryssa and I arriving tomorrow evening.”

  “Sounds great,” Zak said.

  Travis clicked off his phone and turned to his dog.

  Duke swiped at his front canines with his long tongue and tilted his head as though he understood the English language.

  “We’re headed to Gold Creek, buddy. And hopefully Chryssa will come along as well.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Chryssa dreaded the going away party. She didn’t want to leave Alaska. Not deep in her heart of hearts. But to protect her heart from further damage, she had to leave. Not to mention giving herself a chance at being a full-time artist. Some might say a move to Arizona was kind of drastic, but she needed this change. She needed it like she needed air to breathe. Being around Travis had become more difficult for her.

  She’d dated. In fact, for a while things had started to get serious with Andy, but when she compared him to how she felt about Travis he fell short.

  Chryssa pulled into the parking lot at Tundra Air. She flipped down the visor to check her appearance. For whatever reason, her “new” natural hair color had inspired her to put on more make-up. She’d searched “applying makeup” on YouTube and went a little crazy. She never imagined the existence of so many tutorials, but once she got started it was actually really fun.

  She never knew eyebrow gel existed. She never knew blush was now the equivalent of bronzer. She never knew to layer eye concealer over foundation. Nevertheless, the tutorials for beginners were just what she needed to give the boost of confidence she craved.

  The party would probably be the last time she’d see Travis, so she wanted to look good. She wanted to have an exit to remember. After searching the internet for ideas, she came up with skinny jeans, a white blouse, and for footwear—red pumps. Maybe the changes were a little radical. It wasn’t like she felt all that comfortable in three-inch high shoes, but somehow, making new decisions for her life made her want other changes. She was on a roll—why not go with it?

  She re-applied lip liner and red lip gloss. She checked her teeth for smudges, fluffed her wavy brunette tresses and decided she looked as good as she’d ever look. She was as ready as she’d ever be to face Travis and tell him goodbye forever.

  She slung her leather handbag over her shoulder and stepped out of her car with confidence she didn’t feel. Nearly tripping over a pothole, she righted herself. “Get ahold of yourself, Baros. You got this.”

  She pushed open the door to her soon-to-be-former office. A bouquet of pastel-colored balloons floated in one corner, and a cake covered in white frosting with the words “Congratulations” looped across the top in red sat on her desk. Paper plates, cups, and flatware covered her workspace. Daphne, Marjorie from HR, Lola from fueling, and pilots Fred, Russ, and Harry stood around the edges of the room.

  All at once, everyone talked and congratulated her on her upcoming move to Arizona. The room erupted and she felt a profound sense of gratitude. Someone, she thought it was Russ, even tooted a noisemaker. Talking commenced with questions about her new job, what day she was leaving the state, was she flying or driving, and the women commented on her hair. Then from the corner of her eye, she noticed Travis peering her from the doorway in his adjacent office.

  An invisible force she couldn’t name made her turn and lock eyes with him. It wasn’t as if he never looked at her, but somehow, she sensed he looked at her differently, with intensity. Was that interest she saw in his eyes?

  Impossible.

  She involuntarily shook her head, lifted her hand in a pathetic attempt at appearing relaxed and waved.

  Travis’ mouth hung open. He slowly closed it, narrowed his gaze, and stared at her for a moment before he seemed to recover himself. Stepping toward her, he said, “Chryssa, you look—you look…different.”

  She managed a smile. “Thanks. I think.”

  “I mean, your hair—you colored your hair, right?”

  Suddenly, she was like a bumbling teenager, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Actually, this is my natural color. I’m really not a blond.”

  Travis nodded. “Interesting.”

  The guy seemed to have gained some kind of extra sensory x-ray vision or something because she suddenly felt exposed. Like wearing skinnies, pumps, and a white blouse was the dumbest thing she’d ever done. She wanted to lift her arm to make sure she put on deodorant or pull out a mirror to make sure she hadn’t gone too crazy with the eyebrow gel, but she resisted the urge and simply smiled at him.

  Daphne, Lola, and Marjorie converged on her.

  “She looks fabulous.”

  “You’re like a whole new woman.”

  “Love your new look!”

  The party was enjoyable. Some more pilots stopped by. Even staff from the competing cargo flights from farther down the east ramp came over. Everyone from Tundra Air’s office signed a card for her. “Oh, you guys are so sweet. I hardly know what to say.”

  “We don’t want you to leave,” Daphne said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “But you’ll be awesome at that gallery in Phoenix.”

  “Thanks, Daph.”

  The party made it all feel so real. She’d spent months making this decision, but it was crazy to think in a week she’d be leaving the only home she’d ever known. Her stomach knotted up. She couldn’t even eat a slice of the carrot cake, her favorite flavor.

  Sipping her coffee, she noticed that Travis was unusually quiet. He was usually right in the middle of any kind of party telling some corny joke. It wasn’t like him to stand away from the group.

  Russ must have noticed it too, because he called out, “Hey, boss. We’re overdue for a really bad joke.”

  Travis had been staring at the floor, but he looked up at the expectant faces. “Sure.” He always had plenty of jokes up his sleeve. “What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the closet?”

  “What did he say? I’m dying to know.” Russ chuckled.

  “Supplies!” Travis exclaimed.

  Everyone laughed.

  Daphne moved alongside her. “I think Travis is really sad that you’re leaving.”

  Chryssa shrugged. The agony of him never noticing her had killed her by small degrees for a long time. She had to take care and do what was best for herself. “He might be upset for a little bit, but he’ll get over it. Besides, he’s got you to do everything I ever did for Tundra Air and then some. I bet you’ll find more efficient ways of doing things. You’ll be better than I ever was.”

  “That’s not true and you know it.”

  “No, I mean it,” Chryssa replied. “I don’t have a business mind. I have an artistic mind. It worked well when I helped Travis get Tundra Air started. I found creative ways to get loans, but now that the company is established, there are accounting and tax write-offs that I know nothing about. You’ll find things to improve.”

  “I appreciate your faith in me,” Daphne said. “Travis is headed this way. He probably wants to say goodbye privately. I need to get back to work. I’m sure we’ll talk again before you leave.”

  “Yes, I’m sure we will.” Chryssa embraced Daphne. “Thank you for doing this. For putting all this together.”

  “You’re welcome. Although Travis had to remind me that you don’t like raisins in the carrot cake, so I made sure to order it without.” Daphne looked down at her paper plate with the full slice of cake sitting on it. “You still haven’t taken a bite.”

  Chryssa was stunned. Travis remembered such a small detail about her. She knew oddball types of things about him too, but hadn’t thought he’d noticed anything about her. They’d worked together a long time. In fact, they were together more hours a day than members of a family. Running and starting a business mad
e for some late nights.

  She knew he didn’t like celery in Almond Chicken take-out. She knew he loved Star Trek, but not Star Wars. She knew his favorite classic novel was Where the Red Fern Grows. She’d acquired a random compilation of odd facts about Travis over the years.

  “I’ll eat some cake. Don’t worry.” Chryssa automatically started cleaning things up. “But I might take it home and save some for later.”

  “I’ll clean this all up,” Daphne insisted. “You’re off the clock. You should go do whatever it is unemployed people do.”

  They both laughed. Chryssa realized the party was winding down and they all needed to get back to work. Their lunch hour was over. She had plenty of packing left to do, so she went toward the potted plant in the corner where she’d set her purse. Before she had a chance to put the strap over her shoulder, Travis appeared at her side. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”

  “Yes.” Chryssa crossed her arms.

  “Would you come into my office?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Dread crept up her spine as she followed him into his office. Was he angry that she’d cut her last week of work short? Did she forget to tell Daphne the combination for the safe? A million things went through her mind in those split seconds before he closed the door behind her.

  He gestured for her to take a seat adjacent to his desk. “I wanted to get you something special as a parting gift. I had a hard time coming up with something. I looked around at the paintings you’ve done that you won’t allow me to pay for.”

  Is that what this was about? Him paying her for her paintings? “You’re right. I will not take any money for them. They’re yours. They’re for this office.”

  “Landscapes seem to be your specialty,” he stated.

  “They are what I feel most comfortable drawing and painting, yes.”

  “I’d like to give you the opportunity to paint and draw more. In another area of the state. At my family’s lodge in Gold Creek.”

  She was flabbergasted. She’d love nothing more, but could she really take the time with everything she still had to pack? “I’m flattered. I’ve always wanted to go there. I know from the photos you’ve show me that it’s beautiful.”

  “Well, it’s a done deal then. I’ll fly us up there just as soon as you’re ready.”

  “Us?” she asked.

  “Yes, I’ll fly you up there.”

  But buying a ticket at the last minute into Gold Creek would be expensive. “Today? Right now?”

  “Yes, I called my brother and they have a room for you for the next three days.”

  “Three days?” How could she manage all the packing she had left to do if she took three days off? But the scenery in the northern part of the state near the Brooks Range was magnificent. She could only imagine the sketches she could do.

  “Yes,” he replied simply. “I’m taking my private plane, not one from the fleet, but there will be room for whatever sketchpads or canvasses you’d like to bring, along with a duffle bag or suitcase with your personal items.”

  “You’ll drop me off at Gold Creek today, then pick me up on Sunday?”

  Travis scrunched his eyebrows inward. “No. I’ll stay there the entire weekend too. I’ve been promising my brother and sister-in-law I’d repair the deck, so I’m finally going to get it done.”

  “Oh.” She stared at him. He was going too. He’d be with her at the lodge the entire weekend. This unsettled her. She couldn’t explain exactly why, but maybe because she’d be with him in a different environment than the office. “So it will be a working retreat—kind of.”

  He scooted closer to the edge of the desk. “It can be whatever you’d like it to be, Chryssa.”

  If he knew the whatever she’d like it to be, he’d never take her to the lodge. “Um…well, when you put it like that, how can I say no?”

  “My thoughts exactly.” He placed his hands on the desk’s surface and pushed back against the wheels of his chair. “We better get to packing. Duke will be coming along as well. How long do you need? An hour?”

  Was she really doing this? Going to Travis’ family lodge out in the middle of nowhere? Get a grip. It’s not like it means anything to him, not really. She was reading way too much into this and told herself to stop. “I need to make sure I have someone to check on Niles while I’m gone. Better make it two hours.”

  “Two hours it is.”

  CHAPTER 5

  Travis double-checked the seat belt and shoulder harness he’d secured around Chryssa. He tried his best not to let his eyes linger. He couldn’t get over how different she looked. Her brunette hair brought out the unique color of her eyes. He needed to focus on his task and quit staring at her. Women colored their hair all the time. It wasn’t anything new.

  But, he thought, Chryssa, his longtime assistant, leaving the state for another job was new. And despite of everything, like knowing it was probably the best for her, he selfishly wanted her to stay working for him.

  Duke sat in the back seat, his panting fogging up the window.

  He buckled into his seat in the Cessna 185, donned the headphones, and adjusted his mic. “Can you hear me okay?”

  She nodded, her eyes round, luminous, and dare he say, sparkly. He always thought she had the most intelligent eyes.

  Reaching over, he moved the mic closer to her mouth. Their hands touched, and Travis could have sworn she looked nervous. “You can talk to me via the mic.” He twisted the knob on the edge of the left earpiece. “This is your volume.” She moved her hand on top of his, to feel for the location of the knob.

  There was something about her eyes that momentarily transported him to another time when he lived his life more carefree than he did now. His mom reminded him that she’d worked at the concession stand at his high school, but honestly, he hadn’t noticed. Back then, winning hockey games and keeping his grades up were all that mattered. He’d worried about making his mom smile and made sure he did everything right, so she’d be proud of him.

  Now he ran Tundra Air Inc. and was part-owner of the family-owned Forrester Lodge in Gold Creek, with all the responsibilities that went along with both.

  He secured his headset. “Are you ready?”

  She nodded.

  “I won’t be able to talk to you again until we’ve cleared the runway and we’re farther north. I’ll be set to a different frequency to talk to the tower, but you’ll be able to hear everything.”

  “Okay.” She gave him a “thumbs up” and smiled.

  He turned the key. The front propeller sped to life. He slipped the throttle forward and taxied down the runway. After a smooth take-off, they angled north. Travis pointed out the Fairbanks landmarks—Creamer’s field, the Chena River, and the University. Though she knew Fairbanks just as well as he did, he didn’t think she’d ever seen this view of it.

  Then they rode in companionable silence. Duke fell asleep.

  Something about Chryssa was off and it wasn’t her new look. They’d worked together late at the office many times, but this was the first time they’d done something non-work related.

  Ten miles out of Fairbanks, he said, “I’m happy for you. Even though I don’t want you to leave. It’s important to go after what you want.”

  “Yes.” She clasped and unclasped her hands in her lap.

  Travis checked all his instrument settings. “Your dream to be a working artist can happen better in this new city, right?”

  “That’s the idea.” She shrugged as though she might be uncomfortable in talking about herself. “I hope to have my own showing some day. With any luck, this weekend I’ll get some good sketches to add to my portfolio.”

  “It’s really relaxing at the lodge. I bet you’ll be surprised how much you get done and how you’ll be inspired. Hopefully the weather will be good.” He kept his gaze forward. The winding rivers, hills, and valleys never got old. He loved flying.

  Although, he reminded himself that some people got an upset stomach flying in a small
aircraft. “Let me know if you’re not feeling well. We can land if you’d like a break.”

  “Where would we land?”

  “There’s a place a couple miles ahead on the Chandalar river with a good gravel bar for landing. Should we stop there?”

  She smiled. “I feel fine, but sure. Why not? Let’s land, if we have time.”

  Travis adjusted his hand on the throttle. “Hang on.”

  The plane descended. He took it slow and caught a glimpse of her expression before she turned to look out the opposite window. She hadn’t hesitated about making this trip. He liked that about her. In business, she was always game to try something new or learn a different strategy. He realized that must also be true in her personal life.

  Taking in his surroundings, adjusting for wind speed and direction, he settled the Cessna a few hundred feet over the river and followed its winding path in search of a natural landing strip. His Supercub allowed for landing in a number of places, but his Cessna required a longer strip of gravel to make the landing successful.

  “Wow, this is amazing,” Chryssa said.

  The sun angled in through the windshield and splayed across Chryssa’s face. Diamond studded earrings perched on her ear lobes. Her thick dark hair lay loosely on her shoulders.

  “Look.” Chryssa pointed her finger against the glass. “A moose.”

  He descended toward a good place to land, one with wildlife built-in on the sides. Alaska at its finest.

  The crosswind presented a bit of a tricky landing scenario. Against or with the wind was easiest, but with a little maneuvering, the Cessna’s wheels hit the gravel with barely a ripple.

  The propeller slowed and stopped. Travis loved the hush of the woods immediately after the engine died. He removed his headset and unbuckled his shoulder harness. Except for a few birds chirping and the sound of water rushing over rocks, the world was peaceful. Walking around the front of the plane, he opened Chryssa’s door. “Duke, you stay.”

  “He probably wants to get out and run around,” Chryssa said.

  “Probably, but he’ll scare off the moose. He’ll be fine. We’re only stopping for a minute. We’re lucky to have a nice breeze. Otherwise, we’d be carried off by mosquitoes and harvested for dinner.”