Page 5 of Dream Weaver

“I know it’s a lot,” Rich added. “But if anyone can do it, you can. I know it.”

That mound ofno pressuregrew into Everest, towering so high, clouds covered the peak.

My hold on my welding mask turned into a death grip as I did the math.

“Twenty axes…for this season? Which starts in…three weeks?”

“Officially,” Rich said quickly.

Ha. We both knew how meaninglessofficiallywas when it came to Mother Nature and climate change. The number of wildfires had skyrocketed over the years, and we’d endured longer fire seasons with record blazes.

Case in point: Rich’s crew had already returned from their first preseason fire. I’d read about it in the newspaper, but it showed just as clearly in the dark rings around his eyes.

Walt gave me a significant look.

I waved at the Volkswagen. “I’d love to make them, but the client who commissioned this project—”

“Has kindly agreed to put it on hold for a good cause,” Walt cut in.

I blinked. Oh.

Walt’s eyes twinkled. All in all, he was a fair boss who respected my skills and my desire to be left alone. He was also a good businessman and a keen supporter of firefighters, partly because it was the right thing to do, partly due to tax benefits. This project ticked both those boxes.

Still, twenty axes in three weeks would be tight. Really tight.

I rubbed my chin. “From scratch or refurbishments?”

Rich didn’t hesitate. “From scratch. Like last time.”

Oh. My. A man who believed in miracles.

“You know theluckypart was just…well, luck, right?” I tried.

Rich chuckled. “Sure. But we know we can count on you.”

My stomach twisted, and I could already see the headlines.Crew wielding “lucky” axes meets tragic end in unforeseen circumstances…

I’d come a long way since my younger, wilder days and prided myself on being a responsible person. But, hell.Thatkind of responsibility?

I did a quick calculation. “I can make an ax a day at best, and only a basic one. Kevin’s was much more intricate.”

Rich nodded, and I was sure his mind, like mine, was recalling every swirl I’d etched into the gleaming surface. Each of those artistic elements had taken hours.

“We want these to be just like Kevin’s,” he insisted.

I turned to Walt, praying for the voice of reason to speak.

But, ha.Prayers answeredversusignoredwas another ratio that tilted the wrong way in my life.

Walt thumped my shoulder. “I told Rich I’m confident you can do it.”

The subtext jumped out at me in neon subtitles.

“This is important, Abby,” Walt added gravely. “Our top priority.”

I stuck up my hands. “I can make twenty axes by…mid-May, maybe. You can phase them in gradually.”

Rich shook his head. “Our sponsor wants to present them in a ceremony in Kevin’s honor at the end of the month.”

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