Gladioli in August by Clare Revell Read Free Book Online Page A

agreed without arguing, Jael shoved the tent pegs into her pack, along with a first aid kit, spare scrubs, scissors, and rope. Then, she sat with the clipboard and ran her finger down the flight order. She changed a few around.
    Steve laughed. “They won’t stay like it.”
    “You’d be surprised.”
    Micah came in with the flask. “Is that the schedule?”
    “Yes. I made a couple of changes.” Jael ignored Steve’s smirk.
    “That’s fine.” Micah took the box, balancing the flask on top. “Let’s go and get this loaded.”
    Jael grinned at Steve. “Told you,” she mouthed as she followed Micah from the building onto the landing strip.
    Micah said nothing as he loaded the plane and did his usual walk around.
    “Did you sleep at all?” she asked.
    He hesitated, then shook his head. “No.”
    “I didn’t think so.” She kept her tone non-judgmental and soft. “You haven’t eaten either, so you need to drink something. Please.”
    “Are you going to ground me if I don’t?” he asked roughly.
    Jael drew in a deep breath. The idea had crossed her mind, yes, but she couldn’t come right out and say as much. “Only if I have to. I just don’t fancy crashing out there today.”
    “All right.” He grabbed one of the cups and filled it to the brim with steaming coffee.
    As he drank, Jael read the list of calls to him, pausing as his stomach growled.
    Micah pressed a hand to his middle. “Sorry. The coffee reminded my stomach I’d skipped breakfast.”
    “I’ll go see if I can find you something to eat.”
    He shook his head. “They won’t fix anything now breakfast is finished. It was hard enough getting the flask of coffee.”
    She winked. “It doesn’t hurt to check. Be right back.” She trotted across the compound to the kitchen just as they were clearing up. “Philippe, I don’t suppose you have any bacon left do you?”
    “Not still hungry?” he asked. His chef’s hat was at its usual jaunty angle, his apron already dirty.
    “My brother wrote me this morning, reminding me to eat lunch rather than skip it. So I figured I’d take something with me to keep him happy.”
    “All the bacon is gone, but I can do you some cheese rolls if you can wait a minute.”
    “That would be wonderful. Thank you.” She leaned against the door frame. All perfectly true. Kyle was always nagging her to eat lunch, and she had received a letter in with the parcel.
    Philippe handed her over a bag. “Plenty of rolls and some juice and fruit as well.”
    She smiled. “Thank you.” She headed back to the plane and found Micah at the controls. “Here you go.”
    “Thanks.” He pulled out one of the rolls and started eating slowly.
    Jael grabbed the clipboard, checking the list against the supplies she knew she had. “Are you really OK?”
    “I’m not sick if that’s what you mean,” he snapped.
    “I didn’t mean that. I meant, you’re not eating, not sleeping, and last night…”
    “It’s a long story and right now we’re running late.” He finished the roll. “So I suggest we get on.”
    She took the hint and pulled on the straps. “Then let’s go. Time’s a’wasting.”
    But even stealing his line didn’t raise a smile. Something was very wrong. But what?
    ****
    Micah yawned as he took off after the sixth visit of the day. Despite the coffee Jael kept insisting he drink, he was tired. The frequent tremors were also starting to get on his nerves a little, but hopefully whatever plates were moving would either do it properly or just give up and go back to sleep. Now that he knew they were earthquake related, he could relax a little—assuming the earth stopped moving long enough for him to do so. “I was thinking.”
    “Oh?” Jael shifted in her seat to look at him.
    “Maybe you should help with the schedule tomorrow.”
    She raised one eyebrow in that incredibly cute way she had. Despite his best intentions, she’d grown on him in a way he hadn’t expected. “Oh?”
    “I mean,