Kate’s voice caught as she ran off the elevator. “Mom? Is she going to die?”

“I don’t know, honey. I really don’t know.”

Sprinting to her car, Kate could hear the tears in her mother’s voice. “I’m coming. Don’t let her die.” While battling the downtown Nashville traffic, Kate grew more frantic when she called every airline that flew into Providence only to learn nothing was available for the rest of the day. Without a moment’s hesitation, she called Reid’s cell phone.

“Kate?” He sounded shocked to hear from her.

She was having trouble seeing through her tears to drive.

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

“Are you in town?”

“I’m at my office.”

“I need help. My sister’s hurt, and the airlines are booked.” She choked on a sob. “Can you fly me home?”

“Go to my house. I’m on my way.”

“Thank you.”

Thirty minutes later, he came tearing down the dirt road in the Mercedes, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. He got out of the car and rushed over to hug her. “Are you okay?”

Tears slid down her cheeks as she looked up at him. “It’s bad. We need to hurry.”

He opened the hangar doors and got the plane ready. “We’ve got to stop for fuel at Nashville International, but I called ahead. They’re expecting us. Let’s go.”

Forty-five endless minutes later, they were cleared for takeoff from Nashville International.

“There’s an airport in Newport,” Kate said. “Can we go there?”

“No, I checked. It’s too small for the plane. How far is it to Newport from the airport in Providence?”

“About forty minutes.”

“My office is arranging for a car to meet you.”

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“What happened to your sister?”

Kate told him what she knew. “I should call my mother to let her know I’m on my way. How long will it take?”

“About two and a half hours.”

She whimpered.

He reached for her hand and linked their fingers. “Hang in there, baby. I’ll get you there as fast as I can.”

After flying through some rough weather that slowed them down, Reid and Kate landed at T. F. Green Airport almost three hours later. The latest report from her mother was that Maggie still hadn’t regained consciousness. Hearing that, Kate was in tears again as Reid taxied the plane in from the runway.

“The car’s meeting you at the hangar. Just a few more minutes.”

“Will you come with me to Newport?”

“I don’t think your dad needs to see me right now. Not with your sister in the hospital.”

“Just for the ride? I don’t want to be alone right now.”

“Okay.”

The limo was waiting for them. Reid secured the plane and held her hand as they ran across the tarmac to the car.