His Duty to Protect. Lindsay McKenna

These squadrons stayed for three months and got to know the farmers. In knowing them, they could spot outsiders who were Taliban, sneaking through the area to attack American soldiers. And then they could be captured or killed.

      “Let’s saddle up,” Hamilton told her, walking up the ramp and into the helo.

      Following him, Rachel nodded to the two enlisted men in the rear. She saw no reason to be cold and standoffish with them. They had already secured the cargo with netting. She eased between the nylon seats on the side of the helo and the load. Hamilton climbed up the stairs and took the right seat, the pilot’s position.

      Her mind and focus were on her flying. Easing into the left-hand seat, Rachel picked up her new helmet and settled it on her head. Relieved that Hamilton was already busy, she got out her preflight cheat sheet and strapped it on her thigh. There was always a list of things to do before taking off. This was standard on any aircraft or helicopter. Plugging in the jack to the radio intercom, Rachel pulled the mike close to her lips. Hamilton had done the same.

      Within ten minutes, they’d completed their preflight check. Once they had harnessed up, Rachel wondered if he would allow her to take off.

      “I’ll do the lifting,” Hamilton told her as if reading her mind. “And once we’re in the air, I’ll hand the controls over to you.”

      “Okay,” Rachel said. They were going to a dangerous area. Taliban were known to hide in the scrub brush that peppered the outpost area and wait for the helo. Other Chinooks had been fired upon earlier, so this was no familiarization flight. Already, Rachel could feel the adrenaline pouring into her bloodstream. The moment they lifted off, they were targets. She felt horribly naked without an Apache strapped to her butt.

      She continued to find out what her copilot duties were as Hamilton fired up the first engine and then the second one. There was a sense of familiarity with the helo, and it made her relax to a degree. In no time, the crew was ready for takeoff.

      Ty had pulled down the dark shield from his helmet in order to protect his eyes from the rising sun’s rays. He noticed that Rachel had done the same. That didn’t stop him from being aware that her profile was clean, her nose straight and her lips full. She was beautiful, even if half her face was hidden. Trying to ignore his male reaction to her, he said, “We’re at the top end of weight limits with this cargo. And in the predawn hours, there’s more humidity in the air than when the sun is up. That means it’s harder for this helo to lift off. So, on days like this, I start her up by taxiing her the length of the airport runway. That way, by the time I hit the end of it, I’m applying full power, and it’s easier for the bird to lift off.”

      “Plus,” Rachel said, “it saves us fuel.” She was always taxiing the Apache the same way. It saved fuel. And when they were in a hot spot, they needed to keep all the fuel so that they could protect the soldiers and Marines on the ground.