A Flying Affair by Carla Stewart Page A

sound she first took for the gnawing hunger in her belly, but as the rumble became a roar and filled her ears, she knew different. Mittie shielded her eyes from the glare. The flash of red could only mean one thing—Ames was back in the Oriole. The plane swooped until it was only a few hundred feet above the ground, then passed and disappeared over the distant trees. Mittie waited, hoping he’d circle around or even touch down on the open meadow.
    When the air stilled and nothing appeared, she reined Gypsy hard to the right and let her gallop, both their hearts wide open.
    Mittie was tempted to hop in her roadster and drive straight to Bowman Field, but Toby wanted her to watch the horses for the upcoming show as he put them through their paces. They both performed at top level, and she was pleased when her daddy joined her and nodded his approval.
    “You had a phone call earlier—that bright young man from the wedding. Ames Dewberry, I believe.”
     Her heart leapt. “I think I just saw him fly over. Did he leave a number for me to call back?”
    “No, but I invited him to come for lunch. Told him we ate around one.”
    “Does he need a ride?”
    “No, he said he’d borrow a car from someone.”
    “What did Mother say?”
    “Nothing. She’s gone for the day—over at the church putting together boxes for the Mississippi flood victims.”
    “I’m glad it will just be the three of us. I’d like you to get to know Ames better.”
    “Me, too. I consider it my duty to keep abreast of the gentlemen my daughter is sweet on.” He regarded her with raised eyebrows.
    “Gentlemen? Is there someone I don’t know about?”
    “Well, there is young York as well.”
    “He’s my flight instructor, but I have a sneaking suspicion you knew more about Bobby than you let on when you invited him here.”
    “A bit.”
    “Did you know he was a pilot?”
    He shook his head. “I wasn’t certain, but after I invited him, I remembered Robert Sr. mentioning that his son was interested in flying. I didn’t know he was an instructor.”
    “And Mother? Did you tell her?”
    “I thought it best to see if my memory was correct. What’s important is that you’re showing an interest in young men. You will keep an open mind, won’t you?”
    “That sounds like a trick question, but thank you for inviting Ames. And for agreeing to my taking lessons from Bobby.”
    “My pleasure.”
      
    Ames wore linen trousers and a white open-necked shirt with a gold-and-black-patterned cravat at the neck. “Thank you, sir, for inviting me.”
    Her daddy clapped Ames on the shoulder like they were old friends and invited him to the gentleman’s parlor, nodding for Mittie to join them. “Mittie tells me you’ve been barnstorming in Kansas.”
    “Yes, sir. I tried to get Mittie to join us, but she’s quite dedicated to her work here.”
    “That she is. It’s our busy season with training and upcoming shows.”
    They chatted about it being the peak for flying as well, taking advantage of the long summer hours and giving folks good, clean entertainment.
    Mittie asked if anything new had been added to the show.
    “Every show is different. You get a bead on the crowd, what you think they’d like. In Kansas, Buster jumped from the back of a moving car onto the ladder I was telling you about. He’s quite an aerialist, and the crowd couldn’t get enough.”
    Mittie’s dad chuckled and offered Ames a sherry.
    “No, thanks. I like to keep a clear head.”
    “Smart boy.” Her daddy nodded when Ruby appeared in the doorway and announced lunch.
    After saying grace, Mittie’s dad said, “You mentioned you were in aeronautical design. Anything I might have heard of?”
    Ames swallowed his bite of meat loaf. “Depends on how well you know engines and carburetors.”
    “Not much, I’m afraid. I leave the maintenance on our vehicles to Moses or the mechanic in town. But I’m always interested in how young people today are contributing to