Not an Easy Truce by Sarah Kades

Author:Sarah Kades
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stark Publishing
Published: 2022-06-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Three

Jason hadn’t been quadding in ages. The path they were on was a well-worn double track. The tall grasses on either side of the dirt trail had long turned to golden brown. In the distance Chimney Creek was visible only by the tell-tale clusters of bushy willow. The gently rolling terrain made easy riding and despite everything, he caught himself enjoying the moment.

While they had been picking up the second quad, dark clouds had rolled in. The arid foothills of southern Alberta were at an elevation that was rather responsive to the sun. No matter the season, direct sunshine added significant warmth. Conversely, when you were in the shade the temperature dropped noticeably. Jason eyed the building clouds. If they were lucky, the temperature would stay cold enough to snow. If it warmed up much more, they would likely be getting wet.

Jason didn’t mention precipitation to Becca. The woman was strung pretty tight and if anyone needed to get outside, it was her. That’s how he remembered her most. When they were kids, she had always been the one who wanted to be outside.

They were just pulling up to the back of Becca’s inn. She slowed to a stop at the trail head, a short distance from the back of her ranch yard. She shut off her quad and pulled off her helmet, setting it on the gear rack behind her seat. Jason did the same.

Becca pointed to a spot to the right of the trial head. “I want to get the posts in today and collect the waypoints for the map. This will be our first one.”

Jason started unloading the auger and a post. He hesitated. “You called first, right?”

Becca looked up from her phone. “Yes, Officer, I got the appropriate line locates. We are free to dig.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Relax, neither did I. In this case your diligence is appreciated.”

Jason paused. “When hasn’t my diligence been appreciated?”

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want to hear the answers to.”

“I’ll try to remember that.” Jason got to work auguring.

Becca resumed typing on her phone and said, “It’s easier if I name the waypoints out here.” She looked up a minute later. “Wow, you’re fast.”

Jason shrugged, oddly pleased. “I worked a couple summers fencing when I was younger.” He eyed the extra-long posts. “How high do you want these?”

“Deep enough they won’t topple without a concrete base and tall enough I can attach a sign that will be visible from the top of a horse. I got clearance to dig up to five feet, so you have plenty of wiggle room.”

“I can work with that math.” Jason augured a few more feet before sliding a post in.

“Perfect.” Becca pocketed her phone and grabbed a shovel and the level.

Jason took the shovel from her. “I can shovel.”

Becca held the post level while Jason backfilled the hole, tightly packing the dirt around the post.

They quadded to the next spot on Becca’s list. This time there was a fork in the trail. “After we place one here, we’ll head up the north fork first,” Becca said.

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