Chapter Ten - Uncertainties
Sam climbed into the aircraft to find Tom already seated up front while Chris was in the cabin, going through the supplies and storage cabinet. The pilot frowned. "Inventory check?" he asked curiously as he pulled a few switches on the dashboard and reached for his belt.
Chris smiled. "Might as well," she said.
Sam returned the smile and pushed the levers to fire the props then put on his headset. "Flight service, this is Mike Sierra Foxtrot, taxing for runway one-two, course two-seven-five," he said.
"Flight Service Broken Hill, good morning Mike Sierra Foxtrot, you're clear for take-off on runway one-two. Heading confirmed, no other aircrafts in your area," a cheerful voice said over the channel. "Be advised of further weather reports. The storm front has not yet left your immediate area."
Sam taxied the Nomad out the length of the runway so to avoid the onslaught of the headwinds and pushed the brakes, waiting for the engines to rev up to full. "Thank you, Flight Service, Mike Sierra Foxtrot out," he said seriously as he released the brakes.
As the aircraft leveled out in the sky, the pilot glanced at the doctor next to him. "Any news on what's happened?" he asked.
Tom shook his head. "DJ hasn't been able to establish contact. He's been trying ever since Emma called it in. I don't like it," he replied darkly.
"Bit of a trouble in the family is it?" Sam wondered aloud.
Tom sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Larry's in a bad way," he explained cryptically, not knowing how much the pilot knew.
"He's been that for ages by the looks of things," Sam replied. "I thought he'd give in a year ago when he was rushed in for that liver failure."
Chris popped her head into the cockpit. "Larry has cancer, Sam, and it's an aggressive one. No one can really tell how long he's got left, best guess would be a month or two," she said seriously. "I tried to persuade him to go to Sydney for further treatment but he refused and took up the bottle again."
Tom snorted and shook his head. "He stuck his head in the sand again, you mean," he stated.
"So that's why Josh has fallen back into a life in the shadows," Sam mused. Seeing the doctor's confused look he added. "A while ago he had some trouble with the long arm of the law."
"Jack," Chris said with a wry smile.
Tom rolled his eyes.
The aircraft suddenly lurched. "You'd better strap yourself in, doc," Sam said softly with a nod toward Chris as he tapped in a few commands on the radar and scanned the rest of the instruments. "Flight Service, this is Mike Sierra Foxtrot, request immediate course change and flight level to avoid storm front."
"Flight Service to Mike Sierra Foxtrot, turn to two-seven-zero, which should give you a better angle. There are still no traffic in the area," the flight controller said.
"Rodger that," Sam replied seriously. "Adjusting to two-seven-zero and climbing to six-thousand feet."
Tom carefully let his eyes roam over the readers and gauges before them and took a deep breath. He didn't like flying in foul weather and he'd become much more aware of the effort it took to command an aircraft since he'd had to land David's rented Cessna. He turned slightly to study the pilot next to him and found himself relaxing somewhat as he saw Sam steer the aircraft with a vain hand with no traces of worry on his face.
"Mike Sierra Foxtrot, this is Victor Charlie Charlie," DJ's clear voice came through the line despite the static.
Sam smirked and reached to adjust the frequency somewhat. "Mike Sierra Foxtrot receiving DJ," he said.
"Good, how's the ride?" he asked cheerfully.
"Bumpy," the pilot returned sarcastically causing the good doctor next to him to roll his eyes. "I've climbed above the worst of it, for the moment, in an attempt to get a smoother ride and a faster approach."
"I've just received the new weather report. I'll get back to you on that. I am calling to let you know that I've got a hold on Joshua," DJ said.
Sam quickly hit the switch so that the radio operator was put on loud-speakers.
"-the battery is almost dead but he managed to tell me he that Larry has been slipping in and out of consciousness for most part of the night. He's seen blood on the sheet next to him."
"He's hemorrhaging," Tom deduced darkly as he listened in to the conversation and grabbed for the microphone. "DJ, its Tom. He's probably bleeding from the mouth. Can I speak to Joshua directly?"
"You can try, Tom, I'll patch you through, but the signal is pretty weak and with the electricity in the air and the rough weather in your area-," the radio operator let the sentence hang in the air.
"I appreciate the effort, DJ," the doctor said. "This is Mike Sierra Foxtrot calling Winters' Station, come in please."
Static filled the line.
"Mike Sierra Foxtrot calling Winters' Station, Joshua, it's Tom Callaghan. I don't know if you can hear me but we're approaching your area-" he trailed off and glanced at Sam for help.
The pilot quickly checked his wristwatch and then the instruments. "Approximately forty minutes," he answered.
"-in forty minutes," Tom repeated into the microphone. "There is not much you can do for your father other than to make him comfortable at the moment."
Garbled words came over the line but no one could make out what was being said. Tom shared a concerned look with Sam and then Chris.
"Hold on Joshua, help is on the way," DJ spoke up from his end and then adjusted his focus on his colleagues.
Rain chose that moment to start pounding the aircraft and, getting no upward winds under its wings, the Nomad started to fall. Chris felt her stomach lurch back in the cabin as Tom briefly closed his eyes. However, Sam, took no notice of the doctors pale faces as he concentrated on the flying part. He quickly leveled out on another altitude, adjusted the gas and checked the pressure on the props in one swift moment.
"Leave the channel, DJ," Sam called seriously over the open line.
"Victor Charlie Charlie, acknowledged," he answered quickly.
"Mike Sierra Foxtrot to Flight Service. Adjusting course and speed, new course two-seven-one, leveling out on five-thousand feet, ETA destination forty-five minutes."
"New heading and flight level confirmed, Mike Sierra Foxtrot," a scratchy voice came over the line. "Be careful out there."
"Sure thing," Sam replied. "Mike Sierra Foxtrot out."
Chris groaned involuntarily at the time given. "If this is better than yesterday I don't want to know what that was like," she whined softly.
Sam chuckled. "Don't you like a challenge, doc?" he asked innocently. "You are a pilot too, maybe you want to take over?"
She chuckled and smirked at him. "Sure, I'm only licensed for a single engine and one passenger, remember?"
OOOOOO
"Geoff," Jack said politely as he spotted the clinical department head in the corridor.
The doctor nodded and made his way over to the policeman.
"I talked to DJ about the traffic accident but I really need a statement from you, about the victims," he explained. "Also, he said you thought the accident was caused by the lone male driver in the blue sedan."
Geoff nodded and ran a hand through his thick blonde hair. "It is the most likely cause," he admitted. "I had limited time at the site due to the injuries sustained by the man and woman we brought back with us and the weather conditions."
"I understand, doc, I wanted to go over myself but-" he left the sentence unfinished and shrugged.
The doctor made a face.
"Are they going to make it?" Jack asked curiously.
"Everything is looking good at the moment but the condition of the driver is still critical. As for the man who's believed to have caused the accident- I am sure DJ told you his life could not be saved," Geoff said.
Jack nodded. "I understand you left the body there," he said.
Geoff sighed wearily. "I didn't have much of a choice. There was no space in the aircraft. The truck driver who called in the accident offered to take him here when the storm had subsided."
"Thanks, doc, its good enough. I'll have to call in and talk to the police officers that passed the accident site after your departure but I'll have a talk with Sam first. Maybe he saw something else," Jack suggested and turned on his heels to leave.
"He's in the air," Geoff replied, causing the policeman to turn around again.
"Come again, doc?" he asked with a frown.
"Sam, Chris and Tom are on their way to Winters' place. Apparently, his son tried to call the base during the night but didn't get through. Larry has taken ill," he explained.
Jack rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Typical, everything just have to happen at the same time," he mused. "George is breathing down my neck about those cattle thieves, some kids go bush and tells me it's Baxter's people that steals the animals, and now this traffic accident. I wonder what will happen next?"
Geoff chuckled and shook his head.
"Anyway, I don't like that there are up there in this weather. Is it really safe to fly?" Jack asked worriedly.
"The worst of the storm has passed that area during the night," Geoff replied. "It's a mercy flight."
OOOOOO
One of the ranch-hands, Cray, carefully glanced over his shoulder and noted with satisfaction that Dale, Baxter's foreman, wasn't saddling up to join them on their ride over to Winters' Station. With a smirk he nodded toward the two others behind him and drew the raincoat tighter around himself before spurring the horse and setting off over the slippery and uneven ground.
Dale stepped out of the stable to watch them set off and pursed his lips into a thin line of displeasure. He had his doubts about Cray, he'd never liked the man and he also didn't believe in coincidences. A few cattle going astray was considered normal but to lose more than twenty, even if it had happened over a few weeks, was something else. Despite his harsh words when speaking to the neighbors in the area he actually respected them and considered them friendly. Winters had had his moments over the years but as Dale made his way over a few weeks ago, to collect a few animals his son had reported missing with Baxter's brand, he'd seen Larry Winters up close. He was no longer a man capable of robbing Baxter of a few animals every now and then, like he'd so boldly done in the past. Dale shook his head and sighed as he stared after the riders in the rain. The problem had to be local, very local indeed.
OOOOOO
Sam carefully helped Tom settle the older Winters on the stretcher as Chris gently squeezed Joshua's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.
The young man fought to keep his tears at bay and sighed. "I know something was up but he refuses to tell me anything," he whispered. "I can't run this place on my own with the school and everything. The animals-"
"One thing at a time," Chris cautioned. "Forget about the farm for a moment. "Help is on the way. A few ranch-hands from Baxter's place is coming over to round them up for you."
The young man snorted. "So he can steal some? Or does he hope to spot his own with dads and bring them back home?"
Sam popped his head in and nodded at them to get into the car while he took the seat behind the wheel.
Chris got up and moved over to Tom and the patient at the back of the truck while Joshua hopped in next to Sam up front. He shuddered slightly as he saw the ominous clouds far away in the distance as the pilot put the car into gear and headed out to the airstrip.
OOOOOO
"Thanks for the lift," Paula said as she jumped out of the tow-truck outside the flying doctor base.
"Thanks for the company," she countered. "Sorry for being so testy and lost yesterday."
"Don't mention it," Paula said kindly. "Everyone is entitled to, every now and then. But I really think you should consider what I said."
"I have been doing that the whole night," Emma confessed. "See you around later?"
"You bet," the radiographer returned as she waved her off.
Emma sighed as she began to drive the last few meters toward the garage and hoped Nick was there.
The young man didn't disappoint her as he popped his head out of the spare room. "Hi, how did it go?" he asked carefully.
Emma gave him an embarrassed look. "Nick," she began slowly. "I think I owe you an apology."
He frowned and absentmindedly scratched the back of his head.
"For yesterday," she clarified. "My temper got the better of me. I'm sorry."
He chuckled and shook his head. "Forget it, Emma. Anyway, I've fixed Hodges' tractor and he seemed pretty happy about. So happy that he paid me in cash on location."
"You beauty," Emma exclaimed as he handed her the money.
"So, what do you want me to do today?" he asked.
She crossed her arms over her chest and turned to study him for a moment. "Would you consider staying at the Crossing for a time?" the mechanic asked curiously.
Nick shrugged. "That depends-" he let the sentence hang in the air. "Why?"
"I've been thinking, Nick," she let on. "I can't do everything on my own and it's time that I realize that."
He waited for her to continue.
"I need someone at the garage permanently. Someone I can trust," she explained.
Nick raised a curious eyebrow at the statement. "And you think that might be me?" he asked.
"If you'd like it," she offered with a wry grin, then her eyes twinkled as she continued. "Of course, the salary wouldn't be much but the responsibility would be great."
Nick laughed softly. "I'll accept but only on one condition."
Emma narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.
"I'm happy to help out if you promise me to take it easier, eat and sleep properly," he reasoned.
"Yes, dad," she smirked. "Now, would you please get out of here and fetch the cars involved in the accident yesterday, I suspect Jack would be here any minute."
He nodded happily at her and then at the door. "I think there's someone who wants a word with you."
Emma turned around to see her husband walk toward her and quickly closed the distance between them. They embraced each other in a comforting hug, no words were necessary for their affection.
"I've missed you," Emma finally whispered as she breathed in the scent of his cologne.
"I wasn't so sure about that after our conversation last night," he admitted softly.
"I was tired, wet, hungry, exasperated and very miserable at the time," she confessed.
"And you were right," he mused thoughtfully.
Emma straightened to look at him with curious concern. "Are you all right?" She asked.
"Come on, let's go for a walk, now that I don't need to fly back to the accident site and bring back that corpse," he suggested.
Emma shuddered. "Poor man, I've only heard rumors, did he cause the accident?" she asked.
He made a face. "I don't know. Doc's going to cut him up-"
"Shush," she whined and leaned into him. "Thanks for that gruesome picture."
Without words he slipped his hand into hers as they began to stroll down the main street of the Crossing.
They walked in silence for several minutes before Sam finally sighed and turned to her seriously.
"We've been touching the subject every now and then for the last couple of months," he began.
Emma swallowed. "About selling the property," she said and nodded. "I didn't sleep well last night with the wind howling outside the window. I had a lot of time to think."
"I'm sorry for not realizing it sooner," he apologized sheepishly. "That you hated living there. You've been trying to tell me on several occasions and I've just-"
"Sam," Emma said kindly. "I don't hate it. I've never hated it. I've been proud of us and what we've achieved, especially when Baxter and Maggie claimed we would never be able to make a living out there."
They shared a smile and then Sam leaned in to give her a soft kiss on the forehead before he gently draped his arm around her shoulders. They began to walk again, both deep in thought.
"I don't know what I really want, Sam," Emma finally managed. "All I do know is that I want to see more of you. I didn't marry you just to get your surname."
He laughed and squeezed her shoulder lightly. "Are you sure about that?" he teased.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
OOOOOO
To be continued