"Wow, sir, she's a beauty."
Bud walked around the bright yellow Stearman plane with a look of admiration.
"My grandfather used to fly one just like her," Harm said with pride. He nodded towards the passenger seat. "You want to fly?"
"Me? Fly?" Bud looked up at the sky in wonder. "Up there?"
"That's usually where planes fly, Bud."
Bud's face lit up with excitement. "Absolutely, sir!"
It didn't take long for Harm to get them airborne. Bud could barely contain himself as he felt the plane lift off the runway, and he let out a whoop as they picked up speed and the wind whipped against his face.
"You have a strong stomach, Bud?"
Harm didn't wait for an answer as he spun the plane through a pattern of upside-down loops in the open air.
"What a thrill, sir!" Bud exclaimed. Harm had always told him that flying was an incredible adrenaline rush.
The plane swooped down in a graceful dive and then Harm pulled her back and climbed steadily again.
"Come on, Sarah."
"Uh...Sarah, sir?" Bud wasn't sure he heard the right name over the roar of the engine.
"The plane, Bud."
"You named her Sarah?"
"After my grandmother."
"Not after the Major?"
Harm laughed. "No, not after the Major, Bud."
"You ever think about taking her flying, sir?"
"Major MacKenzie?" Harm sounded as if he had never even considered the idea. "I guess if she wants to."
Bud chuckled. "I bet she wasn't the jarhead partner you were expecting, was she, sir?"
Bud looked out among the passing trees below as he waited for Harm to answer.
"Uh...sir?"
Bud could swear the trees were getting closer.
"Commander?"
Suddenly, the plane was plummeting in a downwards spiral similar to what was happening inside Bud's stomach.
"Harm!"
At the very last second, Harm lifted the front end of the plane skywards, barely skimming the tops of the trees. Bud had closed his eyes tightly, and he wasn't so sure he didn't feel a few leaves spattering on his face.
He let out a sigh of relief as the plane quickly climbed in altitude. Daring to open one eye to peek out at the earth below, Bud decided that he wouldn't ask his pilot about the pretty Marine major until they were safely on the ground again.