do you hav

d a satisfied expression on his face as if he had examined every inch of the cat that had caught the canary. Carly, who stood behi

ohn said as he came

site side of the road. "I've been planning on expanding that big field across the road, and I've

h me. Did you inten

my asking? I assumed it'd be something different tha

hovel. "How many posts

iedly, waving his hand behind him

out loud as t

good idea? I have nothing against her,

out the difficulties you've had when doing the hay. Trouble like that breeds rage, and rage breeds negl

n't on my side," John stated gently. "She se

ng. I believe we made some progress on it." Paul turned to face his daughter, still poutin

toward Carly. Her eyes remained red with

n muttered softly, putting t

"Paul said. "Why don't you go over

n the back of the truck behind him as he drove them over to the field. It was challenging to focus

the grass to indicate where each post's hole would be excavated, and his last orders were to drill holes three feet deep an

he old fence. Because each post was roughly 10 feet apart, they wouldn't be too far apart

there was no squabbling, and they worked on their holes in quiet. But it was too lovely t

ar my hole?" she said furiously, giving him

ftly, not far from his first hole. Another five minutes pass

murmured as he turned to face her

. It didn't take long for him to see she was pitching it on top

simply have to dig harder on the fol

les?" she sassed as she cam

have a lot of things to accompl

et me dig the way I wan

along out here," he said firmly. "Since we're going

be nice to you?" she que

g every time. If she wanted to be grumpy all day, he'd let her. She did, however, stop putting

nty minutes each hole, sometimes longer depending on whether or not they s

d, and she'd complete hers before jumping to the next one just next to him. The regularity with which she did it seemed too

ckly because he saw a chanc

qui

d speed. He observed Carly make an expression out of the corner of his eye, most likely one of despair at realizing h

chuckle as their little ga

incredible t

stop the wry grin that had arisen in response to their quiet acknowledgment of wh

he would frown at first. She'd create a proud look after completing her hole, often sticking her tongue out

me now," John remarked as he

you are eating those w

uld keep up with me,"

hands become burned, and then I'll win for su

h hands. "There are no blisters here, and my sensi

vered waist. John couldn't help but appreciate her shape as he retur

ar his face. When he glanced over at her, she giggle

huh?" he said, bending down to

t me from this distanc

across the short field, but it d

ssume they don't train you to t

o toss on the farm," John r

rged forward with another mound, eager to repay the favor. Her pitcher's arm fired three rapid pitches, striking him in th

ecall you doing sports in high school," he

n; working here is plenty for

me those firea

She flexed a muscle, revealing a modest bicep to

fore pouring himself one. "It

led her eyes. "Please, I believe

time working it by pulling

ghing. "Stop it; yo

there are a lot of hol

r hand. "Seri

r gaze to him. John could see a pleasant grin on her face, and

etter than you stack hay," she even

then," he said. "Don't think I ha

k hay?" she inquired. "And here I th

tter be prepared to get it b

before smiling. "Absol

urface-level taunting for a good reason. Just getting her to this stage appeared to John to be a breakthrough. If they could at least have fun toge

be the first to finish. John had a significant edge since he had been leading all day. But

d his shovel high, the final heap of earth dumped behind him

inder of her hole. "Is that all you've

ny success I can have

suppose I'll jus

final triumph is

singly. "Of co

grinning. "You know, this

ng holes all day? Are you sure living in th

you know, turning it into a game l

nt. "Yeah, I suppose you're rig

like old

ame out of his lips. Carly tensed immediat

gain," she grumbled, moving from

o you mean?" He was perplexe

If things were like old times, Logan wo

ckly turned around and began marching down the slope. Even the

y foot so rapid

eler and began riding toward her. A hundred yards

t I said; I simply meant it was grea

she glanced across at him for the

on purpose; I'm not trying to do any

ack to normal, not now; I thought it wouldn't hur

ing. "I'm sorry. It was nice to be friends again, like it used to

on him. "Perhaps we aren't

ssing the road and making her way u

king progress, but n