Nothing But Sky by Amy Trueblood

Author:Amy Trueblood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / 20th Century / General / Action & Adventure / General
Publisher: Flux
Published: 2018-01-08T20:10:23+00:00

16

A Good Reminder

Lincoln, Nebraska

September 2, 1922

10 days until the World Aviation Expo

I snuck into the hangar every day before dawn to work on the new trick. The Showstopper still wasn’t ready, but this new maneuver would wow the crowds and bring us the last-minute money we needed. We didn’t need Rowland or his offer. I still cursed myself for even considering it.

After fine-tuning the stunt this morning, I decided it was time to present it to Uncle Warren. I paced back and forth in front of the hangar chewing on the skin around my thumb. My muddy boots clomped along the concrete floor. Every few minutes I glanced in the direction of his office.

The idea for the trick had come to me on our way home from Arkansas and I hadn’t been able to shake it. I’d played with the maneuver in my head until I’d figured out how we could pull off a loop while I was standing on the top wing.

Convinced it was the only way to get us to Chicago, I swiped my sweaty palms against my linen pants and marched toward the office. My footsteps echoed through the hangar and I stopped short, trying to compose my thoughts. Just as I was finally ready, the door swung open unexpectedly.

“Grace? Did you need something?” Uncle Warren grumbled.

“Mind if we test a new trick today?”

He gave me a long look that warned he wasn’t up for playing games. “What new trick?”

“There’s a maneuver I think will add to our crowds. Let me show you.”

After tucking back my curls and rolling my thin shirtsleeves to my elbows, I scrambled onto the frame of his Jenny. Uncle Warren hoisted himself up after me. Once up on the top wing, I secured two straps to the center struts. I moved my feet into position and explained my idea. How the force of gravity would keep me pinned to the wing during the double inverted loop. The way we could climb to a high enough altitude so the government couldn’t complain. And more importantly, what the stunt would mean to the future of The Soaring Eagles.

His mouth gaped open like a fish hooked on a line. “Now I know you’ve lost your mind!”

His shout brought Henry around the side of the plane. “What’s going on?”

“Another one of Grace’s harebrained ideas.” Uncle Warren jumped off the wing and headed back to his office.

I ignored Henry’s stare and tried to keep Uncle Warren’s focus on me. “Hear me out. Please!” While he was cautious, he was also a businessman. We needed to make more money, if not for the contest, than for the government’s surprise inspections. I continued to talk until he grew tired of my pleas.

“I swear Grace, I don’t know how I let you talk me into these things,” he huffed. “We’ll try it, but you’ll wear a parachute. No arguments.”

“Yes, sir!” I crowed. “You won’t regret this. Wait and see.”

Henry white-knuckled the edge of the wing. “Gracie, are you sure about this?”

“Yes, Henry.

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