Part 93 (2/2)

drop some hints with Leah too while I'm at it. She seems to

listen to me.”

Although they'd never been a demonstrative family,

Maggie threw her arms around her mother. ”Thanks so

*much, Mom!”

*Audrey drove Maggie to the airport the next morning,

*waiting to see the small twin-engine plane take off with only

Maggie and Cohn Byers' company pilot inside. Maggie was

glad the pilot didn't seem to want to talk, and instead she

looked out the window and enjoyed the scenery below. Pine-

covered mountains with clear blue lakes spotted here and

there, and then on to the browns and tans of the barren

desert. After just a few hours they were landing on an

airstrip.

The pilot helped her to climb from the little plane, and

then they crossed the tarmac toward a small metal building

that said ”Desert Winds” over the door.

”Does this airstrip belong to the development?” asked

Maggie as they walked in the door.

”Yes. Some of our homeowners have their own planes.”

He set her bag inside the door and glanced around. ”Mr.

Byers is supposed to pick you up here, but I don't see him

just yet. Why don't you wait over there?” He pointed to

some chairs by a window. ”I have to fly over to Vegas to get

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