Turbulence Read Online Free Page A

can do this.” She turned to Mitch. “I know I can.”
    Mitch frowned, pressed his mouth into a thoughtful line, then nodded. “Okay. Get moving. The sooner you both leave, the sooner you’ll come back.”
    “Now, hold on,” Micky protested, but his comment fell on deaf ears. Mitch had walked away.
    Dana motioned to the door with her arm. “Shall we go?”
    Micky hated everything about this picture, but what choice did he have? His frown deepened as he met her gaze. “If you want to be part of this mission, then understand that I’m in charge when it comes to flight decisions.”
    She nodded. “But on the ground, I’m the ranking member of this team, even if I’m not from Texas and haven’t lived through a hurricane before.”
    “You’re in charge of treating our victims, nothing more,” he countered. “If you can’t agree to my terms, then you can stay behind and I’ll manage without you.”
    “Fine,” she snapped. “When we’re in the air, you’re in charge, but I’m the one responsible for medical care, whether we’re in the air or on the ground. Are you happy now?”
    “Happy?” he drawled. “There’s only one thing that would make me happy right now, but it isn’t going to happen, so let’s go.” He grabbed a yellow slicker from the row of pegs near the entrance and started to open the door.
    When he crossed the threshold and warm humid air hit him along with a few droplets of rain, he realized that she hadn’t followed. He paused to turn and glower at her.
    “Are you coming or not, Red?”
    “Red?” she responded coolly as she dropped her case to tug on her own shin-length yellow slicker. “That’s not very original.”
    “I call it like I see it.”
    “The last person who called me that got a bloody nose. He learned not to repeat his mistake.”
    He chuckled. “Is that a threat?”
    She shrugged. “Take it for what it’s worth.”
    “If you say so.” He eyed the heavy chest she’d hoisted again. “You’re not bringing that along, are you?”
    “Unless you can carry medical supplies in your hip pocket, then yes, I am.”
    “Leave it,” he ordered.
    “Leave it?” she repeated, her voice rising. “Now, see here. We just decided that I was in charge of medical issues. I can’t treat these people without—”
    “I keep a fully stocked medical kit on the plane.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “How stocked? This isn’t a discount store first-aid kit, you know.”
    He bit back a pithy comment. Clearly a detailed explanation was in order. “Sometimes I flew our paramedic to the scene before the ambulance arrived, so to save time I kept his supplies on board. I’ve even used a few first-aid items from the box myself.”
    “Oh. Do you carry IV fluids and medications and—”
    “And more, all duly authorized by Dr. Holland, long before he suffered a heart attack and landed in a hospital in Houston.”
    “When?” she demanded. “For all I know, your kit hasn’t been updated in ages.”
    “Our paramedic checked everything before he moved to North Dakota two weeks ago.”
    “Are you sure nothing has become outdated?”
    “Positive.”
    “I still think I should take mine.”
    He raised one eyebrow. “Does your kit include the antidote to cottonmouth snake venom?”
    “No,” she said reluctantly.
    “I rest my case. Leave it. As the pilot, I say what goes on my plane and what doesn’t. I refuse to carry extra weight under these weather conditions.”
    “Okay,” she grudgingly acquiesced, “but heaven help you if I need something you don’t have.”
    He nodded. “So noted. Now, stow your gear so we can get moving. I’ll meet you outside.”
     
    M ICKY PULLED THE BILL of his black baseball cap out of his waistband at the small of his back and jammed it on his head. After a quick swipe of the Harley’s seat to remove the moisture, he straddled his bike to wait for his unwanted passenger. He’d already resigned himself to bringing Dana along, but that didn’t