Chance Of A Lifetime by Kelly Eileen Hake Read Free Book Online Page B

cabin.” Daisy spoke more to break the silence than to really contribute. This had her stumped.
    “And no doorway at all,” Bryce finished woefully.
    “Miz Willow and Jamie will be back in a couple hours,” Daisy fretted. “What are we going to do?”
    “If we can’t get the stove in,” Bryce said, “we’ll have to get the doorframe out. If you go to the far left corner of the barn, you’ll find the toolbox. Bring that and an ax from the wall. I’ll get back inside and start taking the door off its hinges to give us more work space.”
    Daisy watched as he carefully squeezed through the doorway, somehow managing not to bang his head on his way through. Then she hurried to the barn, found the tools, and brought them back.
    Bryce had already popped the door off its hinges and leaned it against the far wall. She passed him the saw. He squinted at the frame and placed the saw a few inches above where the stove stuck out.
    Daisy stepped back. The doorframe was made of three pieces; the two long ones connected by the short one at the top.
    “Wait a minute! Why don’t you try separating the door-jamb at the top? It’s gonna be awful hard to saw hunks out of that frame.”
    “Hmm.” Bryce stepped back and craned his neck upwards. “I see what you mean.” He pulled over one of the benches. “Would you give me a hammer?”
    She passed him one and watched as he pried loose the nails joining the wood together, then worked the top beam free. He clasped his hands around one of the sides and tugged.
    Cre–e–eak
. The wood protested ominously as Bryce tried to angle it a little. He hopped down from the bench.
    “Easiest thing to do will be using a chisel to split the board longways, then pull it apart.”
    “All right.” Daisy rummaged for a chisel and rubber mallet.
    “The stove being jammed in already started a crack.” Bryce ran his hand along the frame. “I’ll continue it.”
    He was as good as his word. After expanding the crack, he asked for the crowbar and pried the wood apart.
    “I’ll take care of it from this side, Bryce.” Daisy wielded the crowbar with precious little skill but more than enough determination. Soon she’d torn the last of the doorframe from around the stove.
    “I think,” Daisy panted, tossing the last fragment away, “this should be the first wood we burn.”
    Bryce’s laughter rumbled over her, the deep sound sweeping away her frustration and making her see the humor in the situation. She started to laugh, too.
    After they recovered, they managed to coax and shove the stove into the cabin. Daisy gathered the pie tins, and they pushed the cast-iron monster into place.
    “Ah,” Bryce drew out the appreciative sound, “the time and effort saved by modern technology.”
    Daisy was giggling again. They stood side by side, each with more splinters than they could count, surveying the ruined doorway.
    “I won’t be able to rebuild it tonight,” Bryce assessed. “You, Jamie, and Miz Willow will have to sleep in Hattie and Logan’s room tonight.”
    “Fine by me.” Daisy stretched her aching arms. “Doesn’t matter where I am. I’m shore I’ll sleep jist fine.”

eight
    The next morning, after a quick breakfast of day-old bread and butter with milk, they all headed to the school building for church.
    “Beautiful mornin’,” Daisy remarked, toting Jamie on her hip.
    “Yep.” Bryce, his stride shortened so he wouldn’t outpace her and Miz Willow, took in a deep, appreciative breath of the fresh mountain air. He held out his arms to take Jamie, giving her a much-needed rest.
    “We cain fix the door tomorra. I aim to enjoy the day.” Daisy hoped Bryce felt the same way. He might be used to hauling heavy loads—his broad shoulders and strong arms certainly attested to that—but she wasn’t. That stove had been far too heavy, and she, for one, was glad to have a day of rest before tackling the broken doorframe.
    “Right.”
    “Good thing we’re goin’ to the