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“I know, I’m just teasing.” Jared pointed up ahead. “I think I see our Huckleberry. Just a little bit further.”
“Great.” Anna Beth eyed the chainsaw warily as Jared made a beeline toward a gorgeous noble fir. “I’ve never used a chainsaw before.”
“I’ll show you how to do it. When you cut the tree, you’ll need to be on the ground to cut low enough.”
Anna Beth looked around the trees they passed. Where there wasn’t snow, there was dirt. “On my stomach?”
“Or squat, but it’s easier when you lay down. How about this one?”
At least seven-foot-tall, the full tree flared out at the bottom with thick needles. It was beautiful.
Anna Beth followed Jared around the tree as he inspected it. “No holes. You like?”
“I like.”
“Then, let’s do this.” Jared picked up Rip’s leash and led the dog off to the side. “Stay.” Rip lay down and watched his master walk back.
Jared held the chainsaw out for her to take and Anna Beth hesitated. “Here, I’ll come behind you and go through how to get it going together.”
When Jared wrapped his arms around her from behind, the front of his body pressed along her back. The contact created instant electricity between them, although he seemed oblivious. While her heart raced, he calmly spoke in her ear, his warm breath tickling the sensitive spot on her neck.
“Is this okay?”
The shiver that shot through her body had nothing to do with the cold. “Mmmmhmm.”
“Good. Take the chainsaw from me.”
She did what he said and he continued, “Now, we’re going to flip it to full choke, here, by pressing this lever up. Then, pull the cord until it starts and dies. After that, flip the lever to half choke like this and pull the cord till the saw starts. Once it’s running, flip the choke off and hold the blades against the trunk. When you’re ready, pull the trigger.”
“What’s the trigger?”
“This handle here.” He covered her hand with his and moved it over the end. “Feel it?”
The motion brought his body tighter against hers and her breath rushed out. “Yes.”
“Then let her rip.”
Jared stepped back and to the side to watch her. Anna Beth went through his instructions again, and when the chainsaw came to life, it vibrated all the way down her arms. Her stomach fluttered nervously.
“Do I need safety goggles for this?”
Jared laughed. “You’ll be fine. Now, turn it off by flipping the choke lever and get into position. I th
ink you’ll have more control on your stomach.”
Anna Beth lay down on the ground and crawled under the tree. The scent of moldy earth hit her nose and she wiggled under the lower branches Jared held up for her.
With a deep breath, she went through the steps and pressed the rotating blades against the trunk. A fine shower of sawdust sprayed the ground in the opposite direction as the blade slid through the wood. When the tree disappeared above her, she shut off the chainsaw and stood.
Jared held the tree a few feet away, grinning. “Look at you.”
“I did it!”
“You sure did. Next, you can come over and help me split wood for my fireplace.”
“Not a chance. My arms feel like they’re going to fall off.”
“It’s like that the first time, but you get used to it. Should we carry it back and get this baby ready for travel?”
