Captain Heart Ch 7

After lunch, they split up again to their various tasks. Dan chose to go out with the group that would be using the chainsaw. Karen had to do paperwork. She made such a face that she got very little sympathy for it. Don felt bad for her. He knew all about paperwork. He grabbed a pair of leather gloves and set to work helping clear the pasture. There were some pretty big trees and he ended up helping the older boys with the cutting, because they were awkward on their feet. He was alarmed at their safety procedures. In short order, he was the one cutting and they were all trying to keep up with him. It felt good to see the fruits of their labors. Even Katie had come out to help and they were making an enormous pile of brush.

Don stopped to rest a moment and stretch his back. He had come so far that it was quite a hike back to the pit with the shrubbery. He had them make a second pile closer and figured they could move it later with all of them working on it. Laslo was shyly helping him clear what he could and seemed to want to talk to him, but wasn't sure how to go about it. Don made some cuts and allowed Laslo to finish them. The boy was quick and took direction well as long as there was no criticism inplied. His ego was very evident, especially when BB was near at hand. He was trying to sprout pin feathers, was a comment that came to Don in his grandmothers voice. He tried very hard not to smile when he realized that was what Laslo was doing. It was very unflattering to a young male ego.

His T-shirt was wet with sweat and his muscles were going to be sore tomorrow, but it felt good to do some physical labor. He turned off the saw and helped drag some of the largest trees to the pile. Katie was struggling with the smallest branches. She could do more, but BB kept giving her just the smallest ones. Don went over and got a bigger one before BB could do it and gave it to her. BB was surprised and Don smiled at her. "She's a strong girl."

He also made sure that BB was carrying her own weight. She was inclined to hand out the branches rather than do her share of dragging. He gave her bigger ones too than she'd been doing. She gave him a resentful look and took what he gave her. They were getting down to the last of the cut stuff when Karen drove up on the Gator. She was dressed for work including leather gloves. She pulled up close to the group and looked around. "Wow! I am impressed. Is anyone ready for a snack and some rest?" she asked.

"Yeah." was the chorus.

Don looked at his watch. It was only 2:00. He figured it was alot later than that. He came over to the Gator and accepted an ice cold bottle of water. It went down wonderfully. Karen handed him a sandwich with a wink and passed them out to everyone who wanted one. She sat down on the ground on a blanket she brought. The others gathered around it and sat down with her. Don sat down and leaned against the body of the machine. "I wish I had brought another set of clothes."

"I should have suggested it. How's it going?" she nodded toward the cleared area.

"It's going much faster than I expected. We're a real team here. Even Katie is doing a monster sized job and doing it well."

"Good. I came out to help. I can only take so much paperwork before I feel the urge to use my muscles. I brought a second saw. With two saws and two of us cutting, we can really do some damage."

"Sounds good. Did you get all your paperwork done?"

"Do you ever get it all done? I got as much done as I could stand for right now. I'm ready to do some serious damage to something. Is everyone done with their sandwiches?"

"Yeah." BB said glumly. She hadn't been a happy camper since Don had taken over the distribution of labor.

"Then, Laslo, you can hand out what else is in the cooler."

What was in the cooler was a box of ice cream sandwiches. Everyone got one and Don could not remember when he'd enjoyed a treat more. Katie ended up with a face full of chocolate and ice cream. Karen had brought a plastic bag with a wet washcloth for her face and hands. She washed the girl up and picked up her hat and gloves. "I'm going to get started. You guys can have a few more minutes before you get up. I'll get some cut for you. Don, only when you're ready."

"How come he gets special priviledges?" BB demanded.

"Because he is special. You can start as soon as you finish your sandwich. I wouldn't wait too long. The sun will help you if you don't finish it soon."

She put her hat on, pulled on her gloves. She pulled a smaller saw out of the back of the gator and gave it a couple of pulls and it started right up. She walked with a sure step over to the scrub brush and started to cut. She wasted no energy and was soon moving along at a quick pace, cutting everything in her path. One by one the kids got up and moved over to begin cleaning up the debris. Don got to his feet and picked up his saw as well. It started as well as Karens and he attacked a larger stand than the one she was working on. The two adults soon left the younger group in their wake. The brush they cut soon out stripped the second pile of brush and they had to start a third pile. Karens saw ran out of gas and she stood up stretching her back. Don saw her stretch backward and nearly tripped over some stumps when her breasts were strongly outlined under her wet shirt against the blue sky.

He hastily jerked his eyes back to where he was working so he didn't do something stupid. He hit a particularly dense tree and the saw cut out. "She has an impressive body for a woman of her age, huh?" Laslo said in a low voice.

"Excuse me?" Don demanded of the young man.

"I saw you looking. You need to make a move, man. She could use a good..." Laslo hastily swallowed the rest of the sentence when Don's cold look settled on him. "man, you know, around the house." he added, lamely.

But Don knew what he was going to say. As tired as he was, his body was attentive to that suggestion. No, he wasn't going to go there again. Not, especially, in front of the residents of the home. "I think she's doing fine."

"Yeah, she's cool. She just needs people her own age. I think Charlene will be leaving soon."

"What makes you say that?"

"She has a guy on the side. We aren't supposed to know that, but she gets all dressed up when she has the evening off and she always wears the same jewelry. I think they'll be announcing a wedding soon. Then Karen will need someone else around here. It might as well be you."

"I think that's her decision." Don said carefully.

"Sure, but I've seen how you look at her. And she looks at you the same way. You guys have the hots for each other. Don't hold back, man, you only have so many more innings before the end of the game."

Don stared at him and laughed at the baseball analogy. "Thanks for the advice. I'll take it into consideration."

Laslo looked at him like he'd lost his mind and drug away a large tree. Don headed for the Gator where Karen was standing looking back at what they'd accomplished. "I think we're done here for today. I've had enough."

"It will be here another day. I'm going to need to go back to work to rest." Don sighed. He really was tired.

"I'm sorry. Is it your shoulders?"

"Everywhere. A hot shower will feel good tonight."

"I hear you. Hey, guys, just leave what you didn't get. We'll get it later. Let's go back to the house. Does anyone want pizza for supper? I'm buying."

"Yeah." Laslo said. "I'll go get it."

"As soon as you learn to drive, get your license, and drive for four or five years without a speeding ticket or an accident, sure be glad to let you drive." she said. "I think I have enough energy to go get it while you all take a shower."

"Aw, Karen." BB said. "That'll take forever."

"So will the pizza. No one eats dinner when they smell as bad as this crew. You know that. Get aboard and lets head back to the house."

Karen drove the Gator and Don drove the other beast and they pulled up into the yard. Charlene came out of the house. "Karen, I have to leave. Is that okay?"

"Of course. Is everything alright?"

"Yes. I just need to do something." she seemed excited.

Laslo gave Don a significant look and grabbed the saws out of the quads. BB grabbed the gas cans and Katie took the bar oil can and proudly lugged it to the barn. Dan put the saws away and backed both quads into the building. Karen was on the phone when they traipsed in. She had a wet washcloth and was wiping her red face down with it. "Yes, I want fourteen of them. Is there a problem with that? Yes, I'm paying cash. Karen. I'll be there in half an hour. Thank you." she hung up the phone. "Twerp."

"Problems?" he asked amused.

"Nothing time won't cure. So who's going to go with me to get it?"

"Not me. By the time we get back and get a shower it's cold." Laslo said immediately.

"I'd go but who's going to keep an eye on these guys." Don said.

"Barry, BB and Laslo can step in. They're old enough and they've done it before. I'm taking you up on that offer."

"Never volunteer, man. She's serious about taking people up on those kinds of things." Barry informed him.

"I never volunteer unless I mean it."

"Okay, Katie bug, you are responsible for setting the table. Las, you help her get the plates down, enough for everyone. Katie, you can do the silverware all by yourself. BB, supervise her shower and take one yourself. You boys know the drill and I will be checking before you eat. We'll be back in a bit. Do not let me down."

"We won't," they chorused.

Don smiled at the weary voices. Karla grabbed her purse and they left the house. "We'll take my car."

"Your seats will get all stinky."

"I'm not worried about it. Do you order pizza often?"

"We keep it for days when we've been working hard and for special occasions. With Charlene gone for the evening it's a survival technique, Can you see that bunch waiting for me to cook something for dinner?"

"No." he snorted.

"Exactly. So far as I'm concerned Pizza places are one of the greatest inventions of modern man. Much more important than the lightbulb."

"Especially if you have a house full of starving people." he added.

"Spoken like a man who's done this before."

"Pizza and Chinese Food. There are days we live on that."

Karen laughed. "Three cheers for two modern inventions."

He grinned. He grabbed her hand and they went out to his car. Karla got in and sat down with a sigh. "I'm really getting out of shape for this stuff." she said."I'm just glad they don't realize that. By the time they're over the 'I'm the most important person in the world ' stage, they've gone out on their own."

"'We need all the advantages we can get, huh?" Don agreed, settling in under the steering wheel.

"Yes. How are you? I have a days to rest up after this, you don't."

"Don't worry about me. Most of my work is mental. Physical labor feels good for a change and we could actually see some progress. That's so satisfying."

"That is so appreciated. It gives everyone fresh air, exercise and an excuse to take out their energy on something besides each other. And it's something that has to be done to keep the pasture clear. Can you put your thinking cap on?"

"Thinking cap?"

"Sorry old term. I spend too much time with the kids. Telling them that triggers the response I want. I'm looking for ideas on things to do at a picnic that they can do. I'm thinking things like the three legged race, pie eating, dizzy stick, corn husking, any ideas?"

"Egg and spoon race?"

"Good one. I need to find something that Katie has a chance of winning too. My aim is to have everyone win an event legitimately."

"How about a climbing contest? Katie is small and fast."

"Good one. I need to find something she can climb. Maybe a jungle gym and she can reach the bell first. Good idea. Now all I need is a place for her to climb. I'll have to think about that."

"How long until the picnic?"

"It's just in the early stages. I haven't set a date yet. They don't even know about it. I wanted to have the ideas all set before I said anything to them in case it didn't happen."

"Can I help? With the picnic, I mean?"

"That would be so appreciated. I was going to ask if you wanted to come. I'm hoping I can have you be a judge for some of the events. I can't be everywhere."

"Are you letting anyone in from the outside?"

"I might let some of the kids parents come if they want. It's a family thing. Do you, okay maybe I'm being presumptuous, I don't mean to be, would some of your officers like to come? It's not like we're doing anything that's exactly private. We'd have plenty of things for the kids to do, lots of food and good conversation. They could bring their kids and we'd have alot of fun."

"Stabler has four kids and some of the others have families. I'll ask them."

"I don't allow alcohol, though, and I really discourage smoking. I have such impressionable kids."

"I'll pass that along. That may cut down on the attendance, some."

"It's necessary."

"Tell me where we need to go."