He stared at him, the words dropping through him like a stone. “What?”

His father met his gaze. “I want to . . . but I can’t.”

“You can’t.”

“No.”

Something dark and hot threaded through him. “Of course not. What is it, Dad? Another lesson about trust? Letting God be in charge?”

His father was shaking his head.

“Then you simply don’t want to help me. Again.”

And the truth of that burrowed deep, turned to acid. No wonder he always had to find his own way out.

“I’m going blind, son.”

Dodge stared at him. “What did you say?”

He sighed, looked away, then back to Dodge. “I can’t see. Or it’s getting that way. I have big black spots in my eyes, and my peripheral vision is gone.”

Dodge reached for a stool, then slid onto it.

“It’s called macular degeneration, and it’s hereditary. Your grandfather had it, only it hit him much later.”

He remembered that—his grandfather had slowly gone blind. Dodge had always thought it was old age. “When did it start?”

“About a year ago now, but it’s gotten worse recently.”

“It’s why you crashed into a tree.”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so, but after hearing the NATB report, it’s possible. It’s getting too dangerous for me to fly.”

“No doubt.” Dodge ran a hand behind his neck, letting the words sink in. And then—wait. “That’s why you’re selling the ranch.”

“Mmhmm.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? You know I would have stayed.”

“I do.” His dad met his gaze. “But I didn’t want to get in the way of what God wanted for you. This ranch was my life. It doesn’t have to be yours.”

His own words to Moose filtered back. “Are you saying Air One could have a northern branch?”

“Or it could be, Dad.” He put his hand on his dad’s shoulder. “I’m sorry about what I said. Maybe God answered your prayers, after all.”

He smiled. “Oh, son. God always answers. It’s just a matter of how.”

Right. “Stay by the radio.”

Dodge walked out and rolled the chopper into the runway area, unhooked the wheels, did his walk-around, and started it up.

Quick math told him that yes, he had enough fuel for a trip out to Echo’s PLB location and back.

If she wasn’t there . . .

He powered up the chopper, tested the radio, and his father confirmed, then waved to him from the office.

Blind.

He couldn’t think about it now, but the word sat inside him like a rock.

He ran a final check on his instruments, then set his course for her PLB location and lifted off.