Touching the Clouds (38 page)

As the lake disappeared behind them and the canopy overhead thickened, Paul imagined Kate and Nena . . . lost in the wilderness. Which one of them was injured? He couldn’t imagine Nena pulling a litter with Kate on it. She was a tiny woman. Kate must be pulling Nena.

“This must be really hard on Kate,” Mike said. “After what happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“I figured she’d told you.” Mike turned quiet.

“Told me what?”

“Maybe she didn’t mean for anyone else to know.”

“Know what?” Paul hated that he’d been left out of something important in Kate’s life.

Mike didn’t answer right away, then sounding reluctant, he said, “She had a crack-up once . . . in a lake. A friend of hers died in the accident.”

“I didn’t know.” Paul kept walking, wishing he had known, wishing Kate had trusted him with her secret. But why should she? He’d never told her about his past.

As the men moved through the forest, flies and mosquitoes descended, finding their way beneath their hats and inside their coat collars. It only reminded them of how miserable the women must be.

Occasionally they’d stop and call Kate’s name. Then Nena’s. The only answer was an occasional chirp of a bird and the buzz of insects.

Several times they lost the trail and had to backtrack to pick it up again. When darkness enveloped the woods, they were forced to stop. Paul built a fire, his mind on Kate. Did she have anything to hold back the darkness or to keep her warm? He looked into the forest. It was black as ink.
Lord,
I know I haven’t talked to you much these past years, but
that’s not Kate’s fault. She loves you. Please help us find her.
I know she’s praying—please don’t let her down.

The following morning the men set out at daybreak.

“They’ve come a long way,” Paul said. “Must have set out a full day ahead of us.”

“Even though it’s Kate, I wouldn’t figure she’d come so far so fast.”

Midmorning they crested a hill and Mike stopped suddenly. Kate’s footprints disappeared amongst fallen leaves. The ground was disturbed and torn up.

“Looks like something happened here. She might have fallen,” said Mike.

Paul hollered. “Kate!”

“Here. I’m here,” she called back.

Shocked to hear her voice, he gazed down the steep incline. He couldn’t believe what he saw—Kate waving her arms and smiling. “I’m here.”

Angel stood up, tail wagging.

Paul hustled down the hill, planting his feet in the soft soil. He could hear Mike close behind him.

Angel sprinted toward Paul. He gave her a pat and headed for Kate.

Mike rushed past him. “Kate! Thank God, girl, it’s good to see you.” Mike pulled her into an embrace and held her. She clung to him.

Paul held back, feeling awkward and wishing it were his arms that held her.

Finally Mike took a step back from Kate. “You all right?”

“Yeah. I took a tumble down the hill and got a good bump on my head, but I’m all right. I brought Nena down here next to the stream. We’ve had to stay put for a day.” She looked at Paul. “I can’t believe you guys found us. I was beginning to give up hope.”

“You left a good trail,” Mike said, wearing a grin.

Paul’s attention turned to Nena. He pulled off his gloves and knelt beside her. He felt her pulse, lifted one eyelid and then the other. He rested a hand on her chest to feel her respirations. “How long has she been like this?”

“Since the accident.”

“We need to get her to a hospital. She’s badly dehydrated and at the very least has a severe concussion—could be a brain injury.”

Mike opened up the stretcher. He glanced at the one lying beside Nena. “Pretty creative of you, Kate. But I figure this one will be easier to use.”

“You did a good job taking care of her,” Paul said, removing his coat. “Put this on. How you feeling?”

“I’m worn out and hungry, but I’m all right.”

He nodded and put his hands on her cheeks, looking closely at her eyes, then traced the bloodstain on her forehead. “Looks like you’ve got a good knot there. Any trouble with your vision? Headache?”

“My vision’s fine, but I do have a headache.”

He examined the cut on her head. “Pretty good gash. Probably too late for stitches, though. You’ll have a scar.”

Her hands shaking, Kate buttoned up the coat.

“I’ve got something for you.” Mike pulled a container out of his pack. “Helen sent these along . . .” His voice caught. “They’re for when we found you.” He lifted the lid and the smell of cinnamon wafted into the air.

“Oatmeal raisin?” Tears filled Kate’s eyes and she took a cookie, biting into it. Stuffing the rest of it into her mouth, she said, “I’ve never tasted anything so good in all my life.” She grabbed another one and took a bite.

“Slow down. You don’t want it to come back up,” Paul said. “How about something more substantial?” He offered her half a peanut butter sandwich.

“This is the best meal in my entire life.” Kate laughed. “I’ll never look at peanut butter the same way.”

Kate gave Angel half of her sandwich, then sat while Mike and Paul transferred Nena to the stretcher. After tucking blankets tightly around her, Paul asked, “You think you’re strong enough to make it back to the plane?”

Kate nodded. She rested a hand on Nena’s shoulder. “She looks so sick. Will she be all right?”

“The sooner we get her to a hospital, the better.”

“Well, let’s go then,” Kate said.

Mike picked up one end of the gurney and Paul the other, and they headed toward the lake with Kate and Angel following.

30

K
ate stood at the door of Nena’s hospital room. It had been five days since their rescue. Nena was still unconscious. Kate studied Joe who had remained at his wife’s side since she’d been brought in to the Anchorage hospital. Kate’s heart squeezed.
Lord, please let her wake
up.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. Startled, she turned to see Mike. “You scared me.”

He smiled. “Sorry.” His eyes went to Nena. “She any better?”

“No change.” Kate’s gaze returned to Joe and she let out a heavy sigh. “He never leaves her.”

“If you were the one lying there, I wouldn’t leave either.” Gentle eyes rested on her. “I’m thankful it’s not you.”

“I wish it was. I wouldn’t feel so guilty.”

“There’s nothing to feel guilty about.” He dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Come on. You’ve been here almost nonstop.” He took her hand. “You need rest.”

“I can’t, not until I know she’s all right.”

“How about a walk? Maybe a change of scenery will help you relax a little.” He started down the hall, Kate in tow.

Mike opened the hospital door for Kate and followed her out. He caught her arm. “Kate, can we talk?”

“Sure. What is it?”

“I want to ask you something.” He faced her and took hold of her hands.

Instinctively Kate knew what he was about to ask. She stepped back. “Mike . . . I . . .”

“Please hear me out.” He glanced at the sky, his eyes tearing. “When you were out there . . . I thought I’d die if we didn’t find you. I promised myself if you were okay that I wouldn’t wait any longer to ask you . . . to . . . marry me.” His eyes implored.

Kate gazed at him, warming toward this fine man. He was the best friend she’d had since Alison. But she didn’t love him . . . not the way he needed her to.

“You know how much I care for you, Mike. You’re a true friend. I don’t want that to change.” She squeezed his hands. “And I love you . . . like I would a brother.” She stared at her feet. She didn’t want to hurt him. Looking at him squarely, she said, “I can’t marry you. It wouldn’t be right. You deserve someone who’s crazy for you.”

Mike couldn’t disguise his grief when he finally spoke. “Sure . . . I understand . . . Friends. I figured.” He glanced at the road. With a shrug, he released her hands. “Well, I gotta go. Have a lot to do. See ya.” He walked away, hands in his pockets.

Kate watched him go, wishing she loved him enough. Maybe they were right for each other, but she couldn’t make herself feel something that wasn’t there.

Paul stood in the shadow of a doorway. His heart wrenched at the sight of Mike and Kate, their clasped hands. They were a perfect couple, the way he and Susan had once been.

They talked for a few minutes, then Mike walked away. He seemed upset. Kate looked bereaved. Something was wrong. Paul wondered what it could be.

Although he hadn’t heard a word of what had been said, Paul felt like an eavesdropper. He forced his mind back to Nena, the reason he was there, and walked down the hallway to her room.

He put on a smile as he stepped inside. “Joe. How are you?”

“Okay. I guess.”

“Any change?”

He shrugged. “She’s the same.”

Tempted to examine her, Paul studied the native woman.

“Do you think she’ll wake up?” Joe asked.

Paul knew that each day she remained unconscious, her chances of coming back were less likely. “We can’t know exactly what’s going on inside her head—she obviously has some sort of injury, possibly bleeding in the brain. Sometimes all a person needs is rest. Have you talked to her doctor?”

“He has no answers.” Joe sounded angry. He stood and walked to the window where he stared out at the city street.

“Try to be patient. I’m sure he’s doing all he can. In situations like this, all we can do is wait.” Paul hated these kinds of cases. He’d seen too many that didn’t have happy endings.

“She never wanted to fly.” Tears brimmed in Joe’s eyes. “I convinced her it was safe. If I’d just left things as they were.” He returned to the chair beside her bed, picked up Nena’s hand, and pressed his lips to the back of her fingers. He rested her palm against his cheek and closed his eyes.

“Joe, you need some rest.”

His eyes full of sorrow, he looked at Paul. “I’m afraid if I leave . . . she’ll be gone when I get back.”

Paul nodded and moved to the door. He stood watching and willed Nena to wake up. Without warning the past sprang at him, like a stalking lion leaping on its prey. He’d lived this. And Susan had never come back to him.

“Paul,” Kate said.

He turned. “I was just leaving.”

“Please don’t go. I wanted to ask you some questions. Could you stay for a few minutes?”

“Sure.”

Joe glanced at Kate.

She approached him. “Joe, how long has it been since you had a break?”

He shrugged.

“Why don’t you get something to eat, maybe take a walk or a nap. I’ll stay with her.”

Joe stared at Nena, uncertainty on his face.

“You won’t be any good to her if you collapse,” Paul said.

“I won’t be long,” he told Nena, then pushed to his feet. He shuffled out of the room, stopping at the door for one last glance before stepping into the corridor.

Kate took Joe’s place. She gazed at Nena. “I just want her to wake up.”

Paul crossed to the window.

“Do you believe God does miracles?” Kate asked.

“He never answered one for me.”

“Never?”

“Not when it counted.”

He stared down at a streetlight blazing in the darkness and wondered why life was so unjust. A couple, clutching one another, walked across the parking lot. The woman looked like she was crying. He wondered what kind of tragedy they were experiencing—hospitals were full of all kinds.

“It’s my fault she’s here, like this,” Kate said.

“It was an accident.”

“Like before—an accident.” Kate’s insides churned.

“Before?”

“That’s right. I never told you about my past.”

“Mike did. What happened doesn’t have anything to do with now.”

“My best friend died because of me.”

“Nena’s not dead. And you couldn’t have known about the engine. That wasn’t your fault.”

“I shouldn’t have been sightseeing.”

“It was an oil leak. And it would have happened no matter where you were.” He faced her. “Nena’s alive
because
of you. You risked your life to save hers. You could have abandoned her in that plane. Some would have.”

Kate heard the conviction in his voice. His words chipped away a piece of the armor she’d worn all these years.

“I’d fly with you any day.”

Deep affection and gratitude bloomed inside Kate. Paul always seemed to know what she needed. “Thank you. But . . . first Alison, now Nena. I don’t know how to forgive myself.”

A sigh or was it a moan escaped Nena’s lips. Had she imagined it? Kate stepped closer. “Did you hear that?”

“I heard something.” Paul moved to the bed. “Nena. Nena. Wake up.”

She remained unresponsive.

Kate picked up her hand. “Nena. I’m here. Everything’s all right. Please, wake up.”

Her fingers closed and then opened. “She moved!” Kate laughed. “That’s right. Come on. Now open your eyes.” She squeezed Nena’s hand. “It’s time to wake up.”

Nena weakly gripped Kate’s hand. Her eyelids fluttered.

“That-a-girl. You can do it,” Paul said, standing over her.

“I know you can hear me,” said Kate. “Just open your eyes and look at me.”

Nena lifted heavy lids and settled dark brown eyes on Kate. She stared at her as if trying to figure out who she was looking at. Then understanding dawned. “Kate?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

“Yes! It’s me!” Kate laughed. “You’re back!”

“Have I . . . been somewhere?”

“Have you been somewhere?” Kate giggled.

Nena put a hand to her forehead. “My head hurts.”

“You had an accident.”

Nena closed her eyes, then opened them again and glanced around the room. “Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital. The plane went into the lake. Do you remember?”

Nena’s eyes widened. “Yes. I remember.”

“I’ll get a nurse,” Paul said. “And Joe.” Wearing a smile, he crossed to the door, but stopped before stepping into the hallway. “I guess maybe I do believe in miracles.”

Two days later, Paul met Kate as she walked out of the hospital. “Good morning. How’s Nena?”

“She had some breakfast and sat up in a chair for a little while. The doctors think she’ll be able to go home in a week or so. She seems fine, just weak. She doesn’t remember any of our ordeal except right before we went into the water. But it’s incredible. I was so afraid—I thought she was going to die.”