Turbulence Read Online Free

wear is that Texas-size gear, then we’re in danger of losing you before you leave the building.”
    Cheryl laughed. “Those waterproof trousers are a little big, aren’t they?”
    “Big? They’re huge. We could have fit two of you in there and still had room to spare.”
    Dana glanced up and saw that both the fire chief and the pilot had disappeared. “Whoops. I’d better go. Can’t make my new partner wait on me. See you soon.”
     
    “S HE DOESN’T HAVE ANY business going along, Mitch,” Micky stated in no uncertain terms. “It’s not a smart idea to take a greenhorn into this type of situation. She should stay here where she’ll be out of the way.”
    “I might agree with you, but she’s the only one I can send and you can’t go alone. We don’t know how banged up the car is or what will be involved in extricating the victims, which means Dana is more qualified for that part of the rescue than either the nurse or doctor. She comes highly recommended, so don’t sell her short so quickly.”
    “She may have proven herself in California, but this is Texas.”
    Suddenly a distinctly feminine voice interrupted. “Is there a problem?”
    Micky discovered Dana standing near his elbow. “Yes,” he began.
    “No, there isn’t.” Mitch directed a frown in Micky’s direction.
    “For the record,” Dana said coolly, her arms crossed, “I’m a ten-year fire department veteran. That doesn’t make me a greenhorn, Mr. Flynn.” Her gaze dared him to comment.
    “I don’t care how many years you have under your belt,” he said brusquely. “Whatever you’ve done before doesn’t apply here in Texas.”
    “Oh, really? Somehow I thought injured people were thesame all over. They still bleed red, no matter what state they live in.”
    He couldn’t argue with that. “I’m not saying you can’t handle the medical aspect,” he said, opting to placate her. “I’m sure you can splint a broken bone with the best of them. The thing is, the situation we’re heading into calls for people with Texas ingenuity.”
    She’d obviously heard his emphasis on Texas because her jaw suddenly squared as if she’d ground her teeth together. “If you’re implying that Texans have cornered the market on common sense, then I beg to differ.”
    He ran his hands through his hair, exasperated. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. What I am saying is that you’re not familiar with reading the weather. Can you look at the clouds and detect any rotation that indicates a possible tornado? Do you know which creeks have a tendency to flood over which roads? Which bridges sometimes wash out and which ones don’t?”
    She started to protest, then stopped as if she realized that she had no grounds. “I may not know much about hurricanes or tornadoes,” she admitted, “but can you start an IV? Do you know what certain drugs can do to a person, especially one with a head injury? Do you know how to run an EKG strip, or defibrillate a patient if necessary?”
    Micky grudgingly conceded the point to her.
    “I didn’t think so,” she replied smugly. “You need me, so now what?”
    “What if brute force is called for to free those people? What if we have to lift several hundred pounds to accomplish the mission?” He eyed her slim frame. “I don’t think you’re the right man for the job.”
    “I’m stronger than I look,” she insisted. “You may not believe this, but I pull my own weight.”
    He heaved a sigh. Logic wasn’t getting through to her, but maybe he could get through if he took another tack.
    “Maybe you can and maybe you can’t.” As she sputtered a protest, he raised both hands. “The point is, I need someone to be an asset, not a liability. Someone who won’t need me holding their hand or looking over their shoulder. For both of our sakes, I need someone I can trust to watch my back and vice versa. This isn’t personal. It’s a safety issue.”
    She squared her shoulders. “I understand, but I