Chance Of A Lifetime by Kelly Eileen Hake

Author:Kelly Eileen Hake [Hake, Kelly Eileen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-60742-902-9
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2005-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

“And the winner is …,” Otis Nye bellowed grandly, “Team Two! Ed, Ted, Fred, and Asa win the pony!”

“Yea!” Ted jumped in the air while Fred whooped. The rest of the men grumbled good-naturedly and threw a few overblown glowers toward the winners.

“That don’t mean yore done, men!” Otis squawked. “Everybody get back to work!”

Ted and Fred joined Logan and Bryce, who lagged far behind, in part because it was just the two of them but also because they’d taken on the wall with the door, which made things more complicated. With the extra help, they began to catch up. The twins proved to be nimble climbers and swift workers as they poured all their considerable energy into the task at hand.

The scent of fresh sawdust coated the air as hammers rang and saws scraped. Men yelled back and forth for whatever they happened to need at the moment. Occasional “ow’s” punctuated the rhythm of hard work. The women drifted around the work site with fresh water to drink and cool rags to mop overheated brows.

“Nails.” Bryce took the small pouch from Jamie’s hand and traded him an empty one. Daisy filled the small pouches so Jamie didn’t ever touch the sharp points of the nails. “Thanks, buddy. We make a good team.”

He rushed back to lift a heavy piece of timber with Logan. They’d nearly finished constructing the bents; now they’d need to raise the skeleton of the wall. He looped a strong rope around the topmost bar while Logan did the same. The twins were ready with the long, spiked stockades to brace the fledgling structure while Logan and Bryce pulled it upright.

His muscles strained at the weight. If this barn were any bigger, he and Logan couldn’t have raised this wall even with the twins’ assistance. Nate Rucker ambled over and grabbed an extra rope Bryce had thought to tie in case one gave way. With the help of the burly blacksmith, the frame rose far more quickly.

“Thanks, Nate.” Bryce grinned at the enormous man, affectionately called “Li’l Nate” because his father, the blacksmith of the holler before him, was “Big Nate.” Bryce had been in the holler for just a few days when Li’l Nate’s wife, Abigail, bore him a son. Bitty Nate looked to be taking after his pa already.

“Any time,” Nate grunted, holding tight while others rushed over to help secure the frame. Finally, they could let go.

Bryce gave a mighty stretch to work out the kinks. He took a few deep breaths, fanning himself with his hat.

“Have some water.” Daisy’s voice floated to his ears as she walked toward him.

“Much obliged.” Bryce took the cool drink and downed it in three gulps. “Ah. That’s better.”

“I cain get some more,” she offered. “Yore working terrible fast.”

“I’m fine.” He grinned at her. She’s been watching me. The thought took his mind off his weary muscles.

“I wanted to thank you.” Daisy leaned close enough that he could smell the fancy soap she used. “For includin’ Jamie. It meant a lot that he got to holp the men instead of only watching.

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