Page 1 of Worshiped By the Lumberjack

Chapter One

Liam

The recurring thwacks echo in the surrounding timber, creating a familiar symphony. Both the sound and the rhythm of my axe hitting the log I am practicing on are a soothing, familiar comfort. One I desperately need at the moment. The physical exertion from swinging the heavy blade repeatedly is also helping to work out the aggression simmering in me.

Even the thought of the ultimatum from my main sponsor has my blood boiling. Do the interview or they will not renew my contract and I will have to payback a good portion of the last year's money.

Money I already spent. Leaving me no choice but to do the damn interview.

I hate fucking interviews.

With a passion.

I'd rather be strung out naked over a fire ant colony than do an interview. But here I am, backed into a corner.

Fatigue is overcoming my muscles. Every swing is getting a little slower, taking out a smaller chunk of wood with each hit.Sweat pours down my face. My shirt was so soaking wet from it, I peeled it off a while ago.

One last hit has the top of the log tumbling to the ground with a thud. The axe I am wielding hits the ground, sounding much the same. I rest my arm on the end of the handle as I attempt to catch my breath after the punishing workout I just put myself through.

The high-pitched whine of an ATV engine has me scanning the surrounding forest. There are no trespassing signs posted clearly and frequently around the perimeter of my property. They are usually enough to keep people off my land and out of my hair.

I relax when my buddy, Lucas, drives into view in his side by side. His son, Mark, sitting next to him, waves with his whole body when he sees me. I return his wave, though not quite as enthusiastically due to the current jello state of my arms.

The little dude is one of my best buddies, and seeing him helps pull me out of my funk just a bit. Lucas comes to a stop next to me. Mark is bailing out of the vehicle, launching himself at me almost before I can react. Fortunately, I catch the flying five-year-old mid leap, even with limp noodle arms.

"Uncle Liam, you'll never guess what." He shouts in my face, excitement pouring out of him.

A raspy chuckle escapes. Mark is one of only a few people who can pull such a sound from me. "You're right, I'll never guess, so you'll have to tell me."

"We're going to have another baby!"

My eyes shoot to Lucas. The grin splitting his face leaves no doubt of the validity of the statement. "Are you now? Now that's a pretty big deal. Are you getting a little brother or another sister?"

He shrugs his little shoulders, blowing out a huff and looking quite perturbed, "Don't know."

Another rough chuckle, only this kid. "Well, which do you want?"

"A brother!"

"I'll keep my fingers crossed for you then."

"Okay." He squirms to be let down when he sees my lab amble into view. "Spruce!" He runs to the geriatric dog, who plops his old ass down to be showered with attention.

My eyes turn to Lucas. "You sure you're ready for another one?"

"Hell yeah, gotta keep things interesting."

"Well, congratulations then."

"Thanks." His smile turns into a frown as he takes notice of the abnormally large piles of wood chunks haphazardly lying around the area. "I see you've been busy. You do all this just this morning?"

A scoff leaves me with a huff, "Yep. Needed to work off some steam."

His eyes bore into me as if he's can discern what's wrong from studying me. "Anything I can do?"

My head shakes. "I wish there was. Unless I want to lose my sponsorship and pay back a shit ton of money, I have to do the interview."

His face puckers as if he's just smelled one of his kid's dirty diapers as he shudders. "Fuck that. Good thing about being your own boss, no one to tell you what you have to do. Word has gotten around I don't do interviews, so they don't even try anymore. Make enough money to keep us all clothed and fed as it is, so there's no need for the publicity shit they try to sell."

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