Page 49 of Axe Marks the Spot

“Are you going to teach us speed pole climbing?”

I point to the ropes course that was set up. Part of it is vertical ropes that are only eight feet high. That way, no harness is required, but they can start building their upper body strength by climbing them.

“That’s where we’ll start.”

“Those aren’t poles,” Moira responds.

“It’s a good place to start, trust me.” The last thing we need is a bunch of eight-to-ten-year-olds climbing poles in gear and getting injured. This is a very beginner course intended for the kids to have fun and learn some basics, not to get them jobs as loggers in the future. It’s honest work, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s not exactly the easiest path in life.

“Can we try climbing now? It looks soooo easy,” Max says.

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Have you done it before?” I challenge. This kid is a know-it-all. He kind of reminds me of Levi. Maybe he has a kid I don’t know about, too.

“No, but I go on the monkey bars all the time,” he throws right back.

“Yeah, and you fell on your stomach last week.” Tyler snickers.

Kas giggles the loudest of all the girls at Tyler’s comment. I noticed earlier that she kept looking at him. It’s clear now that she’s crushing on the boy. I wonder if Lindsey knows…I push that thought out. Not going there.

“Alight, alright. Follow me. We’ll do the ropes, and then we’ll move on to the log balance section.”

The kids all nod, and I buckle up for what I know is going to be an interesting rest of class. At least this will distract me from thoughts of Lindsey and what we need to talk about later. And the fact that she called me Sir in public. And that I called her a good girl right back.

All the kids have been picked up but one: Kas. I nearly messaged Lindsey, but it’s only seven minutes past three. The rest of the parents besides Mandy stayed for the entire two hours, but Mandy picked up her kid on time.

Thankfully, the rest of the class went smoothly, and nobody got hurt on any of the obstacles we went over today. The parents seemed happy with what I did, too, so I’m going to call it a success.

“She’ll be here,” Kas says from her place beside me. “She probably was napping because she’s gotta work tonight and is on her way now.”

I nod, putting my hands in my pockets as we stare out at the parking lot. The warm afternoon breeze ruffles Kas’s hair, and I wonder what to say. It was easier when I had something to talk about—the course—but now, we’re just standing here. I don’t have siblings, and my experience with children is zero.

“Do you live here, Logger Dane?”

I almost laugh at her name for me, one that’s now stuck with all the kids—minus Max, of course, who insists on calling me Lumberjack Dane.

“At the park?” I ask.

Kas puts her hands on her hips and stares up at me, the sun shining in her eyes. I notice her nose is a little pink from the sun. I wonder what the SPF was on the sunscreen Lindsey put on her and if she needs a higher one.

She rolls her eyes. “No. Do you live in Starlight Haven?”

“I do.”

“How come I’ve never seen you before?” she asks.

I was asked this question multiple times today by the parents and now by her, but I answer the kid. “I don’t come to town often.”

“Why?”

“Because I like my privacy.”

“Why? Don’t you like people?”

I press my lips together. Do all kids ask this many questions? “Depends on who the people are,” I say.

Her brow squishes together before she nods. “I can respect that. People are annoying sometimes, like Max.”

It’s difficult, but I manage to keep in my laugh. I like this kid. I debate what to say next, but I’m saved by a truck pulling into the parking lot. It’s not the same car I saw Lindsey leave in, but I know whose truck it is. Fox’s. My hackles rise, and I hope nothing happened to Lindsey to prevent her from picking up Kas. Worry builds in my stomach, but when I look down at Kas, she doesn’t look worried at all.