Charon's Crossing

Only because Matthew had taunted her into it, that was why.

"Jason," she said, interrupting him in the middle of the not very funny punchline, and then she frowned.

No. It was better to let him fly back to New York. That would leave the field clear for her to go back to Charon's Crossing and tell Captain Matthew McDowell just what she thought of him.

Then she'd phone Olive, tell her what she should have told her right away, that when Amos decided to come wandering back to Elizabeth Island he could damn well phone her for authorization on each and every thing Hiram thought needed fixing. Then she'd pack, get on a plane even if she had to charter one, and put this whole disaster of a week behind her.

"Yes, Kathryn?"

She shook her head, smiled with all her teeth, and stomped down on the gas.

"Nothing," she said. "Absolutely nothing."

* * *

By the time they reached the airport, the VW was almost flying.

Kathryn stood on the brakes and tried not to wince as the little car bucked and stalled because she hadn't remembered to disengage the clutch and take it out of gear.

"Here we are," she said.

Jason heaved a sigh of relief. "Right. And in one piece." A small, propeller-driven aircraft was standing on the runway. He looked at it and laughed. "That must be my flight. I hope the rubber band is big enough."

Kathryn laughed, too. "Yeah, but you're lucky. You get to fly with a load of mail. I flew in with pigs and chickens for company."

He took his valise out of the back seat and they made their way through the knee-high grass. Butterflies and tiny birds fluttered up ahead of them. When they were a few yards from the plane, Jason put down his bag.

"I'm sorry this visit didn't work out," he said softly.

Kathryn sighed. "Me, too."

"Kathryn?" Dark tendrils of hair had come loose around her face. He reached out and took one between his fingers. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

She smiled and clasped his hand in hers. "You were right," she said. "My nerves are as tight as guitar strings. I'm better off just being by myself down here. That way, I can roil up my sleeves and finish what needs finishing."

"Cleaning Charon's Crossing?"

"Among other things."

He smiled, brought her hand to his mouth, and kissed the wrist.

"Don't work too hard, okay?"

"I won't."

"You'll remember about Miami?"

For a second, she looked at him blankly. Then she caught her lip between her teeth.

"The conference, you mean."

"Right. You're going to meet me, remember?"

"Uh huh."

"Promise?"

She smiled and held up her right hand in a three-finger salute.