He lowers the blade, and for a moment it stops moving. But then, behind Pane, another log lifts slightly, raising the cedar he’s cutting through and releasing the stress on the chain saw.
Holy cow. The magic in the land just saved Pane Maddox’s butt. Wait ...the magic in the landisn’t here. It doesn’t existhereanymore.
What is going on? How did that happen?
Before there’s time to question what I just saw (perhaps it was my mind playing tricks on me?) the chain saw cuts all the way through the log, and I exhale, relieved. I glance over at Luke, who’s scowling. If nothing else good happens today, just seeing him annoyed that I’m winning, that I may have a shot at keeping the farm, is enough to boost my spirits.
Twenty minutes in, and half the logs are cut.
Forty minutes in, and Pane kills the saw, every log now a cedar post.
I’m biting my lower lip, I’m so nervous. Surely Coleman Barrier has to see how awesome this is, that Pane is deserving.
“Wonder what Coleman’s gonna make him do now?” Clarice says. “Swing from a tree?”
“Don’t joke,” Ron tells her, his tone serious. “I’ve seen him put new employees through a rigorous physical workout that included monkey bars.”
“He’s going to give him what we need,” I murmur. “He will.”
“Long as that Rowe Wadley bad luck doesn’t set in,” I hear someone in the crowd say.
Pane yanks the helmet off his head, and his eyes instantly latch on to mine. I smile and give him a double thumbs-up.
I must be losing my mind to congratulate such a pain in my butt.
He begins stalking forward, his gaze zeroed in on me, and it feels like the world’s shrinking, like Pane Maddox is the only person who exists. He’s even shut out thoughts of all my cute little piggycorns. Really, when they lick your feet it’s the best. Feeling. Ever.
Pane’s smiling now,reallysmiling, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man look so handsome. His eyes sparkle with joy. His lips are spread wide, revealing those perfect teeth.
He’s almost to the fence when Coleman steps out. “Finished, huh?” he says, all burly and manly, like he doesn’t take crap from nobody. “Let me have a look.”
“Yes, sir,” Pane says as Coleman sweeps past him and inspects his work, one painstaking log at a time.
The crowd remains quiet. All of us watch in anticipation as the hardware store owner’s gaze brushes up and down the logs in search of any nitpicky thing he can use to prove that Pane doesn’t deserve praise.
Even from this distance, it’s obvious the hotel magnate has done a fantastic job, one to be proud of.
When Coleman’s finished inspecting, he makes his way back to where Pane’s been standing quietly. He’s taken off his gear and piled it up beside him. Now he’s just in his jeans, a tight shirt, and my dad’s boots.
“Well? What do you think?” he asks.
Coleman slides a hand down his face in thought. “You did a pretty good job.”
“I cut on every mark.”
“Sure did. It almost makes up for the bar you broke.”
“Well, sometimes you must destroy in order to create. What I’m trying to do here in Mystic Meadows is new. Like I told you before, the project I’m working on will attract investors to the area.”
“How can you be sure?” Coleman taps his fingers on his belt impatiently. “That farm out there’s a mess. People pass by the Wadleys’ and head right on to Sally Ray’s because it’s nicer.”
Everyone in the crowd looks at me. My cheeks burn from shame. It’s one thing toknowmy farm’s a mess. It’s another to hear it from a local.
“Don’t you listen to him,” Clarice whispers. “He’s just a mean old coot whose wife only screws him when she wants something.”
I bite back a laugh. The thing is, Clarice is probably right. She knows a lotabout a lotin this town. I give her shoulder a friendly squeeze in thanks.
I feel eyes on me and look over to see Luke staring and scowling. Oh, does this not play into his plans to steal my life? How unfortunate for him.
