Дебби Макомбер - Starry Night

“I’m so sorry,” Carrie said.

“I wish I knew the man Finn has become,” Joan whispered.

“If I find him and have a chance to talk to him, I’ll tell him about meeting you. I can give him a message from you, even if it’s just to remind him that you love him and want to hear from him.”

Joan glanced up and her eyes brightened with what could be described only as ragged hope. “You’d do that?”

“Of course.” As close as she was to her own family, Carrie’s heart went out to Finn’s mother, still looking to connect with her son. Although she didn’t know him beyond the pages of his book, she couldn’t help wonder about a man who would turn his back on his mother.

“Then perhaps there’s a small way I can help,” Joan said, her eyes twinkling now.

“There is?” She had Carrie’s full attention.

Joan left the room and returned a few moments later with a simple gold ring. “This was Paul’s wedding band. When we divorced … he was angry and bitter, and he returned the ring to me. I’ve saved it all these years, and now that Paul is dead I would like Finn to have it.”

“You want me to give Finn his father’s ring?”

Joan nodded. “Finn has a friend named Sawyer. He’s a bush pilot who is often in Fairbanks. I could see Sawyer felt bad for the way Finn spoke to me at his father’s funeral, and I think he might be willing to help you find my son if you give him a good enough reason.”

Carrie smiled and held the gold band between her index finger and thumb. This ring could very well be her ticket to reaching the elusive Finn Dalton.

“You found him?” Sophie shouted from the other end of the cell phone. “You actually found Finn Dalton?”

Carrie meandered through the Fairbanks airport, dragging her carry-on behind her with one hand and holding the cell phone to her ear with the other. Her high-heeled boots made tapping sounds against the floor as she left the baggage-claim area. “I haven’t found him yet,” Carrie corrected. “But I’m close.”

“Where are you?”

“Fairbanks. I just landed.” Carrie had caught the first available flight out of Seattle after meeting with Joan. “So, listen, if I’m not back in Chicago on Monday, make up an excuse, will you?”

“You don’t want me to tell Nash you’re hot on the trail of Finn Dalton?”

“Not yet. I want to present the article as a done deal.”

“I can’t believe you were actually able to track him down,” Sophie said excitedly.

“Don’t get ahead of me; I still don’t have that interview. Sorry, I need to go.”

“Good luck. I’ve got my fingers crossed for you.”

“Thanks.” After ending the call, she stuck her cell phone in the outside pocket of her purse and made her way through the small airport, looking for the hangar where the bush pilots parked. All she had was Sawyer’s name, and she wasn’t even sure if it was his first or last. It took her awhile to locate the hangar. She asked around until she found someone willing to talk to her.

Clearly she looked enough like a city girl with her full-length double-breasted gray wool coat, fashionable boots, and earmuffs for the pilots and mechanics to recognize she was another pesky reporter in search of the elusive Finn Dalton. She was barely able to get two words out of her mouth before she got the cold shoulder.

“I’m looking for a pilot named Sawyer,” she asked a man inside the hangar, doing her best to hide her frustration. He looked like a mechanic, dressed in greasy coveralls. If bush pilots weren’t willing to talk to her, then perhaps he would. No one seemed to want to help.

The mechanic’s eyes pierced her, slowly taking her in. “What do you want Sawyer for?” he demanded.

Carrie straightened her shoulders and stood her full five feet ten inches, meeting him almost eye to eye. “I would like to hire him.”

“For what?”

“A job.”

With his hands braced against his hips, the mechanic regarded her skeptically. “You’re another one of them reporters, aren’t you?”

Carrie decided to sidestep the question. “I have something to deliver to a friend of Sawyer’s, so if you’d kindly point me in his direction, I’d be most appreciative.”

“A friend of his named …” He left it for her to fill in the blank.

Carrie’s shoulders relaxed. “Finn Dalton.”

“That’s what I thought.” Turning his back on her, he walked completely around the outside of his plane, running his hand over the structure as though checking for something, although Carrie couldn’t imagine what.

She wasn’t giving up. “Can you tell me if Mr. Sawyer is in the area now, or when I can expect to find him?”

“Ah, so it’s Mr. Sawyer now?”

Carrie ignored his tone and the question.

“I have something to give Finn Dalton.”

“Do you, now? And what might that be? A headache?”

Very funny . She ignored that comment, although her patience was wearing thin. “It’s something from his mother.”

“And his mother’s name is?” he asked, whirling around unexpectedly and almost colliding with her.

“Joan,” she said quickly. “Joan Finnegan Dalton Reese.”

The mechanic regarded her for several moments, studying her, his eyes boring into hers. “I’m Sawyer O’Halloran.”

“You’re Sawyer?”

“In the flesh.”

After a long flight, Carrie was tired and hungry and anxious. “I want to hire you to take me to Finn Dalton.”

Shaking his head, Sawyer muttered something indecipherable and walked away. “You and every other reporter who has been nosing around here.”

Carrie hurried after him. “I’m serious, and I’ll pay you anything reasonable if you’ll take me to him. You can wait while I talk to Finn. I won’t be long, I promise.”

“Just as I thought. When will you people give it up? Although I have to admit you’re cleverer than most, bringing up his mother.”

“I’m telling you the truth. I have something to give him from her.”

“Sure you do,” Sawyer commented, continuing to walk away from her.

Carrie chased after him, dragging her suitcase. She had to duck her head in order to walk beneath the Cessna’s wing. “It’s his father’s wedding band. Joan asked me to deliver it to Finn.” She hated the desperate pleading quality to her voice, but she had to convince Sawyer she was legitimate.

Sawyer hesitated. “Show me the ring.”

“Okay.” She slid the purse strap off her shoulder and dug inside for the ring, which was wrapped in a tissue inside a plastic bag. Once it was free, she handed it to Sawyer. “His name, Paul Dalton, is engraved on the inside, along with Joan’s name and the date of their wedding.”

Sawyer carefully examined the gold band, and then Carrie, before returning the ring. “There’s a storm due. I’m heading back to Hard Luck in fifteen minutes. I’ll land on the lake outside Finn’s cabin and return in the morning or whenever, depending on this storm. Is that agreeable?”

“Yes, perfect.” At this point, Carrie would have agreed to practically anything.

“Finn isn’t going to like this, so I’ll radio him you’re coming.”

“I don’t expect he’ll have the welcome mat out.”

“You’ve got two things against you.”

“Is that all?”

“First, you’re a woman, and second, you’re a reporter. Make that three things.”

“Three?”

“Yes. You’re bringing him something from his mother. He doesn’t want any reminders of her.”

“So she said.” Curiosity got the best of her. “Not that I want you to change your mind, but can you tell me why you’re helping me?”

The bush pilot shrugged. “I’ll probably regret it. Finn’s a good friend, but it’s time he broadened his horizons some, and you, pretty lady, might be just the ticket.”