A Kestrel Rising Read Online Free Page B

make her feel so weak and warm all at once. It seemed only a moment or two later that they were standing inside the gates of the airfield as the bus roared away into the night. Ilona felt the cold creep into her bones.
    “Back to the grind,” Ian sighed. “The war doesn’t stop even for Sundays.” He squeezed her hand. “Thank you for this evening. I really enjoyed it.”
    “So did I.” Ilona was aware that Faith was waiting somewhere beyond the gate. “Thank you.”
    “Good night.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning, ACW Lowe.”
    “That you will, Flight Lieutenant Carstairs.” She smiled. “Good night.” She turned and walked back toward where Faith waited.
    “Well?” Faith asked, as they strolled back toward the hut. “How was it?”
    “How was what?”
    “Your evening, you goose. Don’t tease.”
    “It was lovely.” Ilona sighed, still feeling the trace of his touch on her hand and the warmth of his lips on her cold cheek. “You’re right, Faith. He’s adorable.”
    “Ha! I knew it! You’ve fallen for him already, haven’t you?” Faith took her arm. “Haven’t you?”
    “I don’t know. If fallen for him means wanting to spend more and more time with him, then yes, even if it means just seeing him on the bus twice a day until next weekend.”
    “Did he ask you to the dance?”
    “Yes.”
    “That’s wonderful. I just knew that you two would hit it off. I’m so pleased for you both.”
    Ilona grinned. “You know what, Faith? I’m pleased too. I don’t know that I’ve felt this happy in ages, if ever. I know there’s a war on and that makes everything sharper and clearer and quicker and strange. I know that we can’t take anything for granted. My mother once said that war is a terrible thing. It breaks hearts. But I intend to enjoy every moment that I spend with Ian.”
    Her friend sighed. “I know what you mean. That’s how it is with Sandy and me. They have dangerous jobs. I know they haven’t really seen any action yet, so we’ve been lucky, but every day, I watch for his return. I count the planes when they come in, with my fingers crossed.”
     
    * * * *
     
    It seemed strange to be back to business as usual the following morning. The only difference was that the seat immediately behind Ilona’s was left empty. Ian slid into it and winked in the rear view mirror when she pulled out and headed toward the runway. Nothing else had changed. The men still chatted amongst themselves. They smiled and thanked her as she dropped them off by their planes.
    Ian was the last off the bus. “I’ll see you later. I’ll dip the wing of the old girl as I come back in, that way you’ll know it’s me and everything is all right.”
    “Won’t you get in trouble?”
    “Don’t worry. It will be a subtle dip. The squadron leader is too far up his own arse to notice things like that.”
    The cold winter sun was beginning to slide toward the west across the Old North Road before the planes returned. Ilona made it to the runway’s edge in time to see them circle before their final approach. The rumbling drone of their engines was the only sound in the afternoon silence. She shivered while she stood beside the bus, hands in the warm pockets of her airman’s jacket. One by one, the planes touched down. Ilona shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun and watched the final plane, because Ian always seemed to be the one bringing up the rear. When it descended toward the runway, the nearest wing dipped toward her like a bow. That simple, secret gesture touched her more than any kiss. She wanted to wave wildly—instead she waited until the crews began to emerge from their planes and started her drive to pick up her weary passengers.

Chapter Four
     
     
     
    “What a stupid bloody rule.” Faith straightened the skirt of her dress uniform. “Having to wear our uniforms while we’re on base. It’s a dance, for heaven’s sake.”
    Ilona fastened the final button of