Chapter 16
After the fiasco downtown,Ian decided to lick his wounds out at the home place working on his plane. He'd let himself get lost in the moment. Thinking maybe he and Piper could work something out. Her comeback about lies had hit home with him. Since he was currently living one. Again, he mentally cursed Matt MacKenzie for the secrecy. Understandable that he wouldn't want the whole town knowing what was going on, but keeping his daughter in the dark was a big mistake. In his opinion.
He literally kicked the tires on the plane in frustration and discovered they needed air. Not a big surprise. Anything sitting for this long would need air. An easy fix. Easing the hopper doors open he held his breath and looked in. He didn't want to inhale anything. Chemical or dead animal. Luck was on his side. Both hoppers were completely empty. His daddy must've clean them out after his last job.
He'd need a tow bar to get the plane to the MacKenzie barn. Maybe Matt MacKenzie had one. And knew someone with a three-quarter ton truck to pull the plane.
As he wiped down the interior around the pilot seat, a small sound outside attracted his attention. Quietly he moved to the door, standing with his back to the wall to one side. Waiting. Slow footsteps progressed outside. So slow that he nearly stepped into the open doorway. That kind of move could be deadly in his business, though, so he remained still. More waiting. At last, a shadow fell across the door. Tensing his muscles he had nearly sprung at the person crossing the threshold when he realized it was his mama.
She screamed when she caught sight of him, arms raised right next to her. He pulled her into the shed, against the wall with him. "Did you notice anyone following you?" He asked quietly against her ear.
"Ian Andrew Elliott."
Her elbow jabbed deep into his gut. He didn't have his muscles tensed in preparation for taking a hit and so her jab hurt more than it would have otherwise. Her shoe jammed into his instep and he released his hold on her.
"You better tell me what’s going on with you. And I meannow."
She wagged her finger in his face.
"You're not so grown that I can't whip your tail right now."=
Catching her by the elbow he led her out of the shed, closed the doors, then pulled her along the newly created path.
"I don’t want to discuss it here."
She yanked loose from his grip.
"We're gonna stand right here until you give me some answers."
He looked around, trying to spot anything out of the usual. Anything that might indicate someone was watching. Shook his head.
"Come on, Mama. Let me buy you dinner. We'll talk about things then."
She gave him a slit-eyed look. He gave her his best pleading look. With a sign she started walking back toward the house.
"Thank you." He said quietly.
Once they were in his rental, riding down the gravel road with a cloud of red dust rising behind in the setting sun, he decided to blow his cover. At least to his mama.
