Page 30 of You Were Invited
Julian came forward and patted her on the back. “You okay? Breathe.”
“I’m okay,” she choked out. She cleared her throat, her face thoroughly red now. Julian’s proposal had surprised her. Thoughts of work intruded her consciousness again as she tried tocome up with the words to tell him she had commitments of her own.
Well, you are right, Julian. I have work, too. Better get back to it! Say it... say it...
“I thought we were having a nice time,” Julian began. “And I wouldn’t mind having some company while I worked.” He then kicked at a rock on the ground. “I really only use the mill when someone’s up here. Just in case. You don’t have to stand with me, though. Just having anyone at all nearby is great.”
See? He just wants a job site manager… You’re basically OSHA.
Julian quickly clarified, “Not that you’re just an anyone.”
Annie blinked. She bit her lip. “I... really should do some work.”
“No pressure.” He smiled again, but looked slightly crestfallen. He grabbed the wheelbarrow again. “Work comes first. But it is pretty cool. At least I think so.” The front wheel rolled softly over the overgrown grass by the woodpile.
Grief filled her chest as he walked away. For someone she had only just met, he was already having an impact on her mood, which both intrigued and frustrated her. Before she could stop herself, she blurted. “Maybe I’ll come look at it. I think work can wait a few minutes.” She closed the gap between them. “If it’sthatcool?”
He looked down at her and grinned, a boyish look in his eye. “I might have hyped it up.”
“So it’s cool... but isn'tthatcool?”
“You’ll see.”
She had to admit that when she saw it, she didn’t really know what she was looking at. But Annie watched Julian lift a metal contraption that was attached to a chainsaw with a blade that ran parallel to the ground. The motor growled to life withthe yank of its cord, and he used the metal rods to guide his cuts straight through a long log. She covered her ears. Burnt fuel filled the air with blue-gray smoke. With several cuts, and some grunts as he rolled the log over on its flat sides, Julian transformed the trunk into a perfectly square beam. He turned off the special chainsaw and looked over at her with the biggest grin she’d yet to see on his face.
“So that’s my mill.”
She nodded. Her enthusiasm could never be quite as high as his, even if she tried, but his passionate energy made her smile. The look on his face told her that he was like a kid in a toy factory; he was very clearly at home and in his element. “What are you gonna do with it?” she asked.
Julian walked over to an unprocessed log. “Repair some stairs.” He wiped his brow before he tilted his head and pointed behind her. “Hey, look, some deer.”
Annie turned. Sure enough, there were four deer. They were strutting by Molly’s cabin. She guessed that they were somewhat tame, as they hadn’t been scared off by the noise. She smiled. “Cute.”
“I need to get this sawed up so I can take it for a kiln dry. It’s pretty wet after last night.” He leaned over the wood and squinted his eyes. “Looks a little knotty… Hope it’ll be alright...” he muttered to himself.
She would’ve been blind to not see that he was getting sucked into the task at hand. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she turned it back on to see what time it was while Julian picked up a standard saw and turned it on.
I should have plenty of time to work, even if I stay for a bit longer.
Chris has left her a voicemail, but she ignored it. Again the feeling of unease gnawed at her.What does hewant now?
“Just the other end left!” Julian yelled over the saw. “Promise I’m done showing you my toys!”
Annie smiled and covered her ears again. While she’d been busy with her phone, he’d cleaned up one end of the beam. She walked around the beam so she faced its full length.
Julian moved to the other end. He leaned down, his back to her.
For a moment the chainsaw made an odd noise. Julian struggled with it. Pulling the saw blade from the cut, he shifted his weight and stamped his feet before trying again. The chainsaw growled at what sounded like full power.
The saw jumped backwards, kicking up and out of the cut.
Julian screamed.
twelve
Julian flung the chainsaw aside, his left arm crushed against his stomach.
“W-what is it? What happened?” Annie jumped to his side as he doubled over.
