Chapter One
Brody
Icarefully adjusted my position in the too-hard community center chair, and winced as pain lanced through my lower back. This Chamber of Commerce meeting had been going on far too long as it was, and the long-winded mayor showed no signs of shutting up any time soon.
I clenched my teeth, not ready to give up and limp out the door just yet. I ran a business in this town. Granted, I couldn’t actuallydothe work my company did at the moment thanks to an ill-timed lower back injury, but it still affected my bottom line.
“And that brings us to the biggest item for discussion. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the official establishment of the city of Springwood. As we discussed at the last meeting, we will be showcasing the best that this town has to offer, both past and present.”
If we already discussed it, then why the hell was he droning onnow?
“We received a small grant from the British Columbia Forestry Association, and thought we could use the money to put on a display about forestry in Springwood.”
My ears perked up. I was a tree faller by trade, a job that had been around for a hell of a long time. I did everything from removing trees that threatened power lines to building wildfire guards to beautifying people’s properties. Having my business front and center on a display like that could do more for marketing than a year’s worth of radio ads.
“I’ll need a few volunteers to get the display together fast, since this is a last-minute addition.”
I moved to raise my hand, but before I could, there was a shuffle behind me and a clear but quiet voice spoke. “I’ll do it.”
“Thank you, Ms…”
“Hall. Rachel Hall. I’m a sustainability researcher at Springwood Technical Institute.”
I carefully turned in my chair to get a look at the woman speaking. I could barely turn far enough to really see her. She had shoulder-length blonde hair falling out of a loose ponytail. She wore beige khaki pants, a tank top, and a blue button-down shirt left open over top. Hiking boots covered her feet, a notebook rested in her hand, and a pair of oversized glasses slid down her nose.
I couldn’t help but notice that all the outdoor weekend-hiking clothes she wore were spotless. She gave off Jane Goodall–if-she-never-went-outside vibes.
“Excellent. Thank you, Ms. Hall. Anyone else?”
I stood, forgetting about the bulged disc in my back, and my legs nearly gave out. “I’ll do it,” I said, my voice betraying the pain I’d just caused myself.
Mayor Caldwell frowned.
Okay, so maybe I’d caused a scene at these meetings a few times in the past. I was passionate about what I did, and anything that resulted in more paperwork just pissed me off.
Bureaucratic bullshit.
But no one knew these forests like I did. I turned my back to Mayor Caldwell, and spoke to her instead.
“I’m Brody Brosseau. I own Two Rivers Tree Falling.”
I felt more like a figurehead than a lumberjack these days, since I was stuck behind a desk. Luckily, I have three great guys working for me, Finn, Reid and Caleb, to keep the money rolling in.
“Do you have time to undertake something like this, Mr. Brosseau?” The Mayor asked tentatively. Clearly not wanting me anywhere near his precious event.
Jackass.
“I’ll make the time.”
******
“Do you have plain black coffee, not a cup of whipped cream?” I asked, leaning heavily on the counter as my back screamed at me. The redhead behind the counter at Oh, Beans! Café rolled her eyes.
“I’m sure I can figure it out. Large, I assume?” I nodded.
“And whatever she wants.”
Rachel had just come through the door and blinked a few times before asking the barista for a chamomile tea with honey. I paid with a crumpled ten-dollar bill, then waited for the drinks. It was Rachel and I’s first meeting to discuss things, and I was looking forward to it about as much as a chainsaw to the shin.
