LITMIR.BIZ

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ranch duties to drive in to the hangar Saturday morning. He had been working since six but was invigorated thinking of seeing Amanda and checking the plane. It took a little more than half an hour to drive from the Cortland Ranch to the Wescott Hangar. He was curious as to why the plane went down but never stopped saying a prayer of thankfulness for Amanda’s safety.

      Mike had been at work for a long time but was delighted to see Daniel and have someone to discuss his findings with. His concern for Amanda was fatherly. “I wish she had told her dad about these problems, but she can be mighty stubborn when she is being protective toward someone she loves. He’s going to be livid when he finds that she has kept this from him and he doesn’t need more stress on his heart.”

      Daniel nodded in agreement but before he could comment, he heard a vehicle drive up and stop outside the big sliding doors. “Who’s this?” he asked as the driver opened the door of a blue van and got out of the vehicle.

      “He’s a stranger to me,” Amanda said as she strolled out to meet the man.

      “Good morning,” the man smiled pleasantly. “I assume you’re Miss Wescott.”

      “Yes,” she answered guardedly.

      “My name is Jeff Dorton. Here’s my identification. Your insurance company has instructed me to inspect your plane and try to determine the cause of your problems. My duties also include checking on the theft of a vehicle and tools.”

      “You’ve had other problems?” Daniel spoke softly in surprise to Mike.

      Mike nodded but didn’t answer. With narrowed eyes he was listening intently to the conversation between Amanda and Jeff Dorton.

      “My goodness! Thank you, Mr. Dorton. I expected someone to come by, but never dreamed it would be so soon, and on Saturday at that. Let’s go inside and I’ll introduce you to our mechanic. He’s started his inspection, but he’ll be glad to have your input.”

      Amanda introduced Mike and Jeff Dorton and then Daniel. Mike and Jeff discussed how they would go about their business of checking and keeping records. While they were talking, a man swaggered in. Audaciously he walked to Amanda with the obvious intention of hugging her.

      She neatly sidestepped and looked coldly at him. Daniel was surprised and embarrassed to feel jealous of the man who was smirking and looking pleased with himself.

      The man stood with spread legs and hands on his hips. “I heard about you nearly going down with your plane. It’s fortunate you landed on the beach instead of in the water. You might have tangled in your chute and drowned,” he said with a distinct drawl.

      “Aren’t you the cheerful one,” Daniel sneered stepping beside Amanda. “I assume you’re pretending to be a friend of Amanda’s,” he said drawing himself up to full height and glaring.

      “It’s okay, Daniel. This is Warren Gooding. His father opened a flying service on the other side of the city soon after Dad did. His father’s older and isn’t able to work as he used to, so, Warren is keeping the business going. Warren, this is a very dear friend, Daniel Cortland.”

      “Daniel Cortland! Are you related to the Cortlands of oil, cattle, shipping and rolling in money?”

      “Do they live around here?” Daniel frowned and stood with arms akimbo. Amanda was slightly amused to observe that Warren and Daniel had taken an instant dislike to each other. Daniel’s height and stern expression didn’t faze Warren. He fought, as the old saying goes, at the drop of a hat. At five-ten Warren was built like a wrestler and had an ego as big as all outdoors. His aggressive manner and willingness to use his fists had kept other men back from him, so, he didn’t expect Daniel to stand so firm. His boots, worn down at the heels, baggy jeans, denim jacket, blue plaid shirt and dirty western straw did nothing to help his appearance. His lank brown hair hung down over his brown eyes.

      Warren sneered, “Then Amanda’s lucky to have you for a friend. It won’t matter how much financial difficulties she has, you’ll be able to bail her out.”

      “Excuse me,” Amanda spoke firmly. “Warren, why would you be interested in my finances? And furthermore, it wouldn’t matter if Daniel is the richest man in the world, I don’t rely on anyone else to pay my bills. What is your real reason for being here?”

      He shuffled his feet and began to look as if he had gotten into something unpleasant. He swung his arms back and forth and then put his hands in his back pockets. His eyes were snapping even though he was smiling. His brown hair, which needed combing, was hanging down over one eye. “Now calm down, Amanda. I don’t mean any harm. I just came by to extend my sympathies and to ask if you need any help.”

      Daniel narrowed his eyes. “What kind of help did you have in mind to offer?”

      Daniel’s attitude wasn’t lost on Warren. “Well, forgive me for caring. I’ll leave and take my obviously unwelcome presence back to my own business. Humph. Can’t even be friendly without someone taking offense,” he said looking directly at Daniel. Looking at the still, silent people around him he sauntered out with a smirk. At the door he turned and looked back as if he were going to say more, but then he left.

      “Does he generally come around here?” Daniel asked with a thoughtful expression. “Forgive me for giving him the impression that you and I are old friends, but he made my skin crawl!”

      Jeff Dorton gave a slight nod as Mike explained. “I’m surprised to see him here. Wonder what he really wanted. I’ve never known of him showing care or interest in someone else’s troubles.”

      Amanda shrugged. “Oh, well. I have enough to occupy my mind without thinking about the likes of him. And Daniel, you needn’t apologize for saying you’re my friend. You certainly deserve the title. Funny. You seemed to size him up as soon as you saw him.”

      Daniel lifted one shoulder and dropped it as if to say this was nothing to discuss. He turned to Mike. “Did I understand you to say that there had been other problems here at the hangar?”

      Mike looked quickly at Amanda, looked down, took a deep breath and said, “Yes, we’ve had some strange things happen that we chalked up to one of us forgetting or maybe teens hanging out because they’re bored.”

      “What things are you talking about, and did they cause a financial strain?”

      “We had a rusty, old truck parked at one end that we used to haul things around here on the grounds, or to haul trash off. Just an old “knock-around” type of vehicle that wasn’t worth anything except it was handy for us. Someone took it off one night. It was no loss except we hoped no one would get hurt in it or by it. We’ve had some tools, paint and combustible materials disappear. Nothing that amounted to much at one time, but it is a nuisance to have to replace them. Too, since Amanda’s father has been unable to work, it seems as if something happens often to cause loss of money or a great big headache.”

      Jeff Dorton interjected, “The truck wasn’t worth more than a few hundred dollars, but, as Mike said, we hoped it wasn’t being used to commit a crime or hurt someone if they wrecked it. The value of the tools was negligible but the nuisance of replacing them gets to be something you get angry about. When several losses occur to the same client, we get suspicious of foul play.”

      “We haven’t told Dad about these losses because he’s worried enough about his health and is far too concerned about me being responsible for his business.” She sighed, walked around the floor and returned to where the men were going over the plane and discussing what they were finding.

      Daniel wondered if the insurance company was suspecting Amanda of causing her own losses just to get money for the claim. He mentally shook himself and decided to keep a close eye on all that was going on as much as he could.

      “I see I’d better tell Dad most of what has gone on the last two or three days. It’s obvious that the news has gotten out and someone will approach him tomorrow at church and want to talk about it. I’d better tell him before he hears it and takes it the wrong way.” Amanda sighed.

      Jeff

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