This is an excerpt from the literary prize winning Francesca of Lost Nation: The story relates the adventures-of-a-lifetime shared by Francesca and best friend/granddaughter Sarah during which they enchant barnstorming pilots, confront an escaped felon, conquer the skies and demonstrate to one another the greatest truth about love. For added spice, there’s also a sweeping July-October romance between the widow and a dashing and injured pilot that sends the tongues of the many quirky small-town residents wagging at double time.