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Trey spotted the twin-engine cargo plane seconds later, making its descent. Later came the low drone of its engines. Not until its wheels touched down on the ranch’s private airstrip did Trey leave the relative warmth of the hangar office.
The plane taxied to a stop on the apron area not far from where Trey waited. By the time Gus Hanson got the chocks tucked behind the wheels, the plane’s door swung open, and its flight of steps was lowered. Trey moved forward when Quint ducked through the opening, carrying his young son all bundled in a hooded parka and bulky mittens.
One glimpse of his cousin’s high, hard cheekbones and glistening black hair that spoke of his Sioux ancestry and Trey broke into a wide smile. “Welcome home, Quint.” He caught hold of Quint’s hand and clamped his own onto Quint’s shoulder, in what served as a man-hug. “How was the flight?”
“Not bad.”
“Well, I’ve certainly been on smoother ones,” Dallas declared, emerging from the plane, the shiny copper color of her hair sharply contrasted by the dull gray of the fuselage.
Quint turned to offer her a steadying hand while she negotiated the steps. Her grandfather Empty Garner stood framed in the opening behind her, waiting his turn.
“I thought we were on a rodeo. ’Course it might be cause we had such a noisy passenger.”
“Had some turbulence,” Trey guessed as he gave Dallas a quick hug of greeting.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Quint insisted. “Especially when you consider that cargo planes aren’t exactly famous for giving smooth rides.”
“I’d ask why you chose it, but I suspect the reason is somehow connected to your request that I have a pickup and stock trailer waiting for you at the hangar area.” Trey hooked a thumb in the direction of the vehicle parked next to his SUV. “Something tells me you didn’t ask for it just to haul your luggage and Christmas presents.”
“Yes and no,” Quint said, being deliberately evasive. “Actually I need it for one special present that I’m delivering at Chase’s request.”
Trey raised an eyebrow. “What in God’s name did he ask you to buy?”
Quint only laughed. “Considering it’s for Jake, maybe it’s better if you don’t know yet.”
Gus stepped out of the hangar office and called to Trey. “Laura’s pilot just radioed in, asking for landing instructions. Can’t be more than ten minutes out.”
“Ten minutes.” Trey threw a questioning look at Quint. “Do you think we have enough time to get you loaded and dropped off at the Homestead and back up here before her plane lands? If not, I’ll have to cram her and Sebastian in the pickup. Which won’t exactly thrill my sister.”
“She’s a Calder. She’ll get over it. Still, we might make it. We won’t know until we try,” Quint replied and transferred his sleepy-eyed son to his wife. “Let’s get our luggage loaded.”
Before Gus disappeared back inside the hangar, Trey waved to him. “Come give us a hand with the luggage.”
As Gus trotted over, Quint suggested, “You might have whoever is driving the pickup back the trailer up to the cargo door. There’s a ramp with chutes inside that should reach.”
“A ramp? Just what are you hauling?”
“You’ll find out after we get all the bags loaded.”
With both Empty Garner and Gus to help, they managed all the suitcases and multiple sacks of Christmas gifts in one trip. By the time they had it all loaded in the back of the SUV, the stock trailer was positioned at the plane’s cargo door.
Empty climbed into the backseat to wait with Dallas and little Josh while Trey and Quint returned to the plane to unload Jake’s Christmas present. Trey took one look at the brown and white speckled calf as it exploded out of its confining transport stall and careened down the chute into the trailer, bucking and bawling the whole way.
“He bought Jake a calf?” Trey turned a dumbfounded look on Quint. “The Triple C has hundreds of them. Why couldn’t—”
“None of them are registered Longhorns,” Quint informed him, and before Trey could ask the next logical question, added, “Why a Longhorn? That’s a question you’ll have to take up with Gramps. In the meantime, you wait for Laura and I’ll take Dallas and Empty to the house. See you in a bit.”
True to his word, Quint pulled up to the hangar area about the time the private jet streaked into view. He climbed out of the passenger seat and joined Trey on the tarmac.
“Good timing.”
“For all of us,” Quint said and jerked his head at the looming dark clouds. “The White Wolf is inching closer. Probably be here around mid-afternoon.”
Trey nodded agreement as the jet swooped onto the runway. The high whine of its engines grew to a roar as they were switched to reverse thrust, and the aircraft slowed. Soon it was taxiing toward them.
Even after the plane rolled to a stop and cut its engines, neither Trey nor Quint approached it until the passenger door opened. A sandy-haired Sebastian stepped out first, his long overcoat hanging open unbuttoned, a plaid scarf looped around his neck. He threw them a saluting wave and glided down the steps, then turned to wait for Laura. As if on cue, she appeared in the opening, wrapped in a full-length sable coat, a matching fur hat covering her blonde head, and paused a beat.
Trey murmured an amused aside to Quint, “My sister, she always likes to make a grand entrance. Married life hasn’t changed that about her.”
