Read Online White Pine by Caroline Akervik - Free Book Online Page B

and thick with muscle. “You’ll
work where I tell you to work. And no more fool talk about
quitting.”
    “He is a boy. He has no place here. Send him
home to his mama.”
    “That’s enough, Roget.” The Push’s tone was
ominous, but Roget was too worked up to care.
    “You keep this boy or keep Roget, the best
lumberjack in the Northwoods.” Roget shoved a thumb into his
chest.
    “Don’t talk like a fool, Roget. You know no
one will pay you what you get at this here camp.”
    Roget spun on his heel and stomped out,
muttering in French. On the way out, he slammed the door.
    Dob calmly adjusted his spectacles.
    “I don’t mean to make him quit,” I said,
knowing there really was no choice between an experienced woodsman
and a wet-behind-the-ears boy. “I’m not ready to take the long
walk, but I won’t make another mistake like that one. I’ve
learned.”
    The Push held up his hand. “Fabien won’t
quit. That Frenchman threatens quitting at least twice every
season... Still, it’d be a good idea to switch you to another
team.”
    “Since Grant broke his arm, those Swedish
boys have been short handed,” Dob offered. “They won’t care who you
send them.”
    I ignored the insult, too scared and
desperate to stay on.
    The Push nodded. “That’s what we’ll do then.
Take care of it, Dob. I’ll go talk to that bull-headed Frenchman.”
Then, the Push headed out, too. I was left alone with Dob.
    He peered at me through his spectacles, one
bushy eyebrow cocked. “Don’t let me down, Sevy.”
    “I won’t, Mr. O’Dwyer. I promise you, I
won’t. And thanks.”
    “Roget doesn’t like you and the Push is going
to be keeping an eagle eye on you. You have your fate in your own
hands. Don’t make another mistake. Do you understand me?”
    “Yes sir.” I headed out of that shack feeling
relieved and worried as all get out. I wanted desperately to talk
with someone about what had happened, but I wouldn’t. I was too
embarrassed. I decided I wouldn’t even write about it in my letters
home. Excuses and apologies weren’t worth the paper they were
written on. If I got fired, we would have to go through our savings
to pay for just livin’. The money Pa’d saved up to buy us a farm
gone once again. It was all up to me. I felt like I carried the
weight of the world on my two shoulders.
     

 

     

Chapter Eight
    ~ Frost Bit ~
     
    After the “incident,” the days flew past in a
blur of working, eating, and sleeping. Determined to prove my
worth, I worked harder than I ever had in my life. The crew I was
with was headed up by two Swedish brothers, Olaf and Johannes
Jensson. Big, blond, burly fellas, they went by Ole and Johan. They
didn’t say a whole lot, but they also didn’t give me any grief.
They were just glad to have an extra pair of hands out in the
woods.
    Christmas came and went and wasn’t like any
other Christmas I’d known. I didn’t even realize it was Christmas
Eve until midway through the morning. We got to head in early that
day and we had Christmas Day off. But I would have preferred to
have worked as usual. Sitting around camp, I felt like the
loneliest person in the whole world. Mr. Walker and Dob invited me
to play cards with them back at the bunkhouse, but I didn’t have
the heart for it. I missed my ma and pa, and Marta and Peter. I
missed Christmas treats and presents. I missed all of it; I was
homesick, real homesick. And for once I wasn’t the only one. There
were some other sorrowful-looking jacks wandering the camp,
thinking about their kinfolk who were far away. Harold put together
a special dinner for us, but it all tasted like sawdust to me.
    Thankfully, the next day was back to business
as usual. That morning, I was one of the first up. I hopped out of
my bunk, put on my gear, and headed over to the stove where a pair
of my Canadian greys was hanging from a rail. I pulled on those
thick wool socks that were nice and warm. Then, I grabbed my
boots.
    I shoved one