The bright summer day was quickly fading away as the golden sun was turning into orange as it set. The runway was in sights as pilot, Alex “Boone” Ramsey, prepared the plane for landing. It was the last flight of the day though it was unscheduled. Didn’t matter to Boone though. Some hunters were in dire need of supplies and he and his plane were available to make the trip. Didn’t matter that he had been up in the air since seven that morning and it was nearing ten o’clock that night. When people needed something up in Alaska, the only way to get it was by bush plane.
Boone smoothly landed the Cessna 180. He followed the marshal’s signals and parked his baby. He hopped out of the plane, placing his aviator sunglasses on his nose, the wind ruffling his black hair.
“How’d the trip go?” Reyna Blackert, one of the station managers, asked as she opened the cargo hold. She was in her mid forties, plump and stocky, with as she frequently says, enough meat on her bones to last through the frigid Alaskan winter. Her black hair was long, streaked with gray, always covered under a trapper hat. Her black eyes never missed anything be it emotion or business. Sometimes that annoyed Boone. So far Reyna had respected his space; she had never questioned him or his abilities.
“It went great. Those hunters must’ve been starving,” he huffed as he placed a cooler full of fish on the pallet. “They nearly unloaded the whole plane for me as soon as the plane stopped.”
Once the wooden pallet was stacked with the three coolers full of meat, Boone pulled it towards the hanger with Reyna walking beside him. “How long have they been out there?”
“Twelve days. They were only prepared for about seven so they had to start eating what they had reeled in. Figured they better call in for some supplies. That and they needed coffee.” He quirked a smile.
“Nobody can live without coffee,” Reyna laughed.
Reyna opened the door to the hanger and they put the meat into a freezer for another worker who tomorrow would send the meat off to be packaged for the hunters. Not something the airport normally did but this was Alaska. It was also Boone’s company. Well not the airport but he paid a fee for operating out of the small airport. His company was Boone Outfitters. They catered to hunters, kayakers, rafters, and fishermen. Needless to say it was a booming business.
Reyna headed on home and he walked into the office where two lone employees were sitting at the desk.
“You guys still here?” He asked as he sank into a chair.
“Yep just waiting on you to get back in,” Leia, a receptionist/secretary replied dryly. Her shaggy blonde hair hid her face from Boone’s view. He couldn’t tell if she was teasing or being serious.
He exchanged a look with her brother, Lucas who was a pilot as well. Lucas shrugged his shoulders and twirled a finger around the side of his head. Boone stifled a chuckle.
“I am not crazy Luc,” Leia replied and shook the hair out of her eyes. “You forget that I have a wedding tomorrow and someone called in sick today leaving the station short handed. Then another pilot had to go out and rescue some stupid hunters.”
She was already wearing her jacket and hat so all she had to do was pickup her bag. “You going to be at the wedding tomorrow Boone?”
He had completely forgot that she was getting married tomorrow. The invitation had been hand delivered by her fiancé, Boone’s best friend, and after he read it, he threw it on the countertop never to be looked at again. That was a month ago. “Absolutely.”
“Good. Lucas take me home please.” With that being said she went outside to wait. It was August so it wasn’t too cold.
“Well buddy,” Lucas said as he stood up. “We better close ‘er up. We could have a potential bridezilla on our hands.”
The next morning Boone woke up at six thirty, just as he had every day for the past three years. He did a long workout; thirty minutes on the incline treadmill and thirty minutes lifting weights then another ten working on his abs. He had worked out almost every day of his life since he was a teenager and didn’t intend to quit anytime soon. He was an incredible athlete in high school playing baseball, wrestling, and football. In college though, after a football accident that broke his neck, literally, he decided to take another route instead of pursuing a career that could ruin him every time he stepped onto the field.
Day after day, he researched jobs. He talked to his parents, friends, and guidance counselor about it too and all the ideas they came up with didn’t seem right. Then one day everything changed. He was reading an outdoor magazine between classes at the library and there was a short article that talked about the need for bush pilots in Alaska and all the adventures and dangers of being one. He hadn’t even intended to pick out that magazine but it was the closest one to him. Didn’t even glance at anything other than the title. He returned it when it was time to go back to class, thinking nothing more about it. Over the next few days, the article continued to pop into his head. After much consideration, he felt like he had finally found a career to pursue.
He finished up his last year at college, graduating with a degree in business management and economics. Over the next few months, he took lessons and earned his private pilots license.
Boone stretched, snapping out of his reverie. He had fifteen minutes to take a shower and drink a protein shake before getting to work. He was going to really have to hustle today if he was going to make it to Leia and Royce’s wedding tonight.
“Morning, Reyna. You manning the phones this morning too?” Boone asked as he strolled through the door and leaned on the counter.
“Only half a day. You know we’re closing down at three right? No exceptions.” She looked sternly at him, knowing he most likely forgot they were only going until three on account of the wedding.
“Hm. How are Bill and Connie doing?”
She handed him his flight schedule for the day. “As good as can be considering their one and only daughter is getting married. Connie was going to stay all day but she was getting called so many times about this and that. I just told her to go home and get stuff done. She’s not any good here if she’s on the phone.”
“You’re an old softy, you know that? And why are you giving me my flight schedule? Where is my assistant?”
Reyna looked at him like he was going senile. “She’s the matron of honor Boone. She told you that she needed off for the day a long time ago and reminded you last week.”
He vaguely remembered that. Maybe he was going senile. “What is with this wedding? Is everyone at this station related to the bride and groom?”
He laughed because well, they were almost all related to either the bride or the groom, albeit some distantly.
Reyna looked annoyed. “Did you forget your name today too?”
He laughed harder. “Nah, still remember that. I’ll surprise you with this one too. I remember that I’m flying in family.”
“Good. First flight is in?”
The phone started ringing and Reyna moved to answer it.
“Thirty minutes. See you later Reyna.” He waved and walked out to ready his plane.
Soon enough, Boone’s passengers started to file out to the plane. Two women, who were flying to Anchorage to pick up flowers. No wonder they were leaving so early, they had a flight back this afternoon at two o’clock to have them all back in time to decorate.
All day long the flights were going smoothly, people were loading up and off just fine. Boone thought he might even get to take a nice long shower before the wedding to ease his muscles. Then on his last stop a wrench got thrown into his plans.
He had just finished loading up all the cargo for Royce’s grandparents from Wasilla when a petite brunette ran up to the plane pulling one giant suitcase with a smaller bag sitting on top of it. Her brown hair was flying free of the loose side braid she had and her cheeks were red from exertion.
“Wait, wait a minute,” she huffed out. “I need to catch a flight please.” She breathed in and out quickly, catching her breath. She finally stood up and her honey colored eyes shone brightly in the sunlight.
Boone’s heart started beating faster at the sight of her.
“Are you part of the wedding?” He sincerely hoped she wasn’t. Not that he didn’t mind, he just didn't think she and her luggage would all fit on board. Too much weight. Not that she was overweight. She was slender. Man, he hoped he wouldn't let anything that thought slip.
“No.”
“Did you buy a ticket?”
She frowned. “Well yes. I’m not trying to get a free ride or anything.”
He scratched his head, dreading giving her the bad news. “We’re going to have to leave one of your suitcases.”
“What? Are you serious? This plane surely can hold my little bitty suitcases.” She put her hands on her hips.
Boone snorted. “Little bitty? Honey, those aren’t little bitty. One is average and the other is the size of a six year old.”
“I’m not your honey,” she snapped. She glared at him for half a second, stopped, then squeezed her eyes shut. Was that a flash of remorse he saw in those pretty eyes before she closed them?
“Fine,” she said quietly. She opened up the large suitcase, quickly pulling out some clothing and stuffing them into the smaller one. After handing the large suitcase to an airport employee, who assured her it would get sent up to Sitka on the next flight out, she looked at Boone and gently placed her bag into the cargo hold.
“Well that was easy enough,” Boone muttered under his breath, half hoping she heard him. She might be fun to verbally spar with.
He walked around the plane to do a final inspection then made his flight plan. When he got the go ahead, they took off up into the air.
His favorite part of flying was getting to talk to all the people he flew, finding out what their stories were and how they came to be in Alaska. He already knew about Royce’s parents. They were from Sitka but were out of town picking up some last minute things for the wedding reception, mostly flatware and plates, along with those little vials of bubbles. Why they couldn’t get those in town he didn’t know.
That left Little Miss’ story. He didn’t even ask her name when she boarded. Royce’s parents had already introduced themselves but he missed her name on account of focusing on the takeoff.
“So I already know Roy and Anne. What’s your name darlin’?” Boone wasn’t sure why he called her darlin’ except it was kind of fun to get her riled up and she sure looked cute when her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.
“Kai,” she replied barely sparing him a look. Looking at the scenery seemed to hold her attention more than the handsome pilot next to her. He couldn’t blame her though. Alaska was breathtaking. The tree covered mountains and valleys. The blue lakes and rivers. It was hard to take your eyes off of the place let alone leave it.
“What are you doing here in Alaska?”
“I’m a photographer.”
“What exactly do you photograph? Weddings?” He joked but she didn’t smile.
“Sometimes,” she replied, trying very hard not to get snappy with him again. What was it about him that made her that way? Maybe because he made her pick only one bag and that bag would have to be her camera equipment. Good thing God quieted her tongue before she got too worked up about it. At least she had grabbed a few clothing necessities to put in her camera bag. It would only be a couple days until she got her other suitcase. She could make it just fine for that long. No big deal.
She looked at him and he winked at her, feeling her face flush again, the slight annoyance puddling in her stomach. It definitely wasn’t because he made her leave a suitcase behind.
Was it because he was way too good looking for his own good? She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye once more, noting the strong, square jaw line covered in a little scruff that matched his disheveled reddish-brown hair. She already knew that his celery colored eyes were dangerous to look into.
Now was not the time to get into a relationship. God please, not right now.
She sighed.
My how she jumped from just meeting a guy to being in a relationship with one. She didn’t even know his name.
“My name’s Boone,” his deep voice sounded in her headset before she could ask. He had a smooth southern drawl like honey coming off of a honeycomb.
“Boone? That’s interesting. That a nickname?”
“What do you think?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Definitely a nickname. What’s your real name?”
They hit a patch of turbulence and she nearly shrieked.
He smiled at her playfully. “You’ll just have to see me again to find out.”
Chapter Two
Kai walked around the spacious hotel room, wondering why her father paid for such an expensive room. It wasn’t like she needed it. A small room in the hotel would’ve been just fine. The room was too large, like there needed to be another person in there with her. Which there should’ve been…
She shook her head. She didn’t need to go down that road. She was here to recollect herself, to get back on track and grow closer to God.
The phone in her room rang and she jumped on the bed, reached over to the phone and answered it.
“Hi sweetie, how’s your room?”
“It’s great Mom, tell Dad I said thank you.”
“I will. How was the flight?”
She hesitated. “It was good.”
“O-kay. What happened?”
She rolled over on to her back. “I’ve just had a long day. I almost missed my flight out to Sitka and then I had to leave my luggage-”
“What?” Her mother sounded as bewildered as she did when Boone first told her she had to leave a suitcase.
“Yes. Apparently there wasn’t enough space on the plane because of some wedding decorations-”
“Wedding decorations? In a plane?” The only places her mother shopped were Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby. She couldn’t travel and not be within a twenty-five mile radius of Wal-mart most of the time.
“Mom up here the only way to get some things is by plane. Anyway, I had to leave a suitcase with all my clothes.”
Kai could just see her mother rolling her eyes. “You and your cameras.”
“I know.”
“Honey are you okay? Do you want to come back home?”
“No mom I’m fine. Did I mention that I got invited to the wedding?”
“Really?” Her mom perked up at the information. “Are you going to go?”
Boone’s image popped into her mind, his overly-confident grin making her want to smile right then and there. Even if he was annoying. “I’m not sure…”
“Well why don’t you go to some little boutique there in Sitka and buy a cute dress and go. It might take your mind off…things,” her voice stumbled over the word things. Even Kai’s mother had a problem saying broken engagement.
“I’ll pray about it,” Kai answered honestly. In the past she wouldn’t have bothered but that was when she had put God in the co-pilot’s spot instead of the pilot. She was done trying to lead her life without God being number one. Part of her coming to Alaska was putting God first in all things, and that meant all. Including going to a wedding where she wouldn’t know anyone except the parents of the groom.
“Alright sweetheart, that’s sound thinking. Call me when you get a chance in a couple days or whenever. We love you,” her mom said reassuringly.
“Love you too Mom.”
Well, looks like she better go shopping.
a
b
Walking into the small chapel, the first thought that popped into Boone’s head was he should’ve hurried his shower up. The wedding had already started. The lights were dimmed leaving only the candelabra’s at the front and the ones in holders lighting the way down the aisle. He tipped his head once toward Royce, who chuckled until Leia gave him a look then sent an annoyed look towards Boone. Her mouth slightly tipped up at the corners though so she wasn’t too annoyed. He bowed and took a seat in the last row.
“Of course you would show up late for your best friend’s wedding,” a woman next to him whispered. He turned to give the woman a witty reply but found himself speechless when he saw who it was.
Kai. Her long dark hair fell in loose waves down past her shoulders and she was wearing a halter strap black and gray patterned dress that fell to her toes, her shoulders covered in a black wrap. What was that dress called? Leia had called it a maxi dress. Well whatever it was it looked good on her. Her tan seemed to fairly glow and she smelled really good.
“What are you doing here?” Boone whispered.
“I was invited,” she murmured, eyes transfixed on the bride and groom.
He leaned closer, her face mere inches away. “Who invited you?”
She shushed him.
Boone smirked, seeing a small dimple in her cheek form as she tried to hold in a smile. He remained silent for the rest of the ceremony. Not that he paid much attention. The preacher was droning on about how God made marriage for this reason and that reason. Oh he believed there was a God. He just didn’t rely on him for much. Boone would rather talk to God when he was in a major crisis, which wasn’t very often if hardly at all.
The reception was held in the banquet room next to the small chapel. It was decorated nicely with twinkling lights everywhere and more candles. A mix of country and big band music played in the background. Boone was happy for his friend though he wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to marry someone like Leia. She could be kind of uptight and snobby. Oh well, maybe she was different around Royce. For his friend’s sake he hoped so.
Boone made his way towards the happy couple but was stopped several times on the way. Everyone knew Boone, everyone loved Boone from the littlest toddler to the oldest lady. Who wouldn’t though? He was witty, incredibly nice, and well he was quite the charmer.
“There you are Boone, you backslider. Late for your best friend’s wedding,” Leia admonished.
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