We need Firewood

"All right." I shook my head, "Real subject change. You any good with an axe?"

"What, we off to slay trolls or something, browncoat boy?" Helen rolled her eyes, but I could tell she was just playing. Or at least I hoped she was.

"No, but I'll keep you in mind next time I see my boss. Seriously, though, we're out of firewood." I pointed to the small metal rack next to the fireplace, along with the lone piece of wood sitting on it.

"Naah, I think I'll let you do the masculine, grunty chores." She stood, and stretched in a motion that showed off the exquisite lines of her body.

"Okay, suits me fine, when you're the one freezing your ass off out here tonight." I stood as well, heading for the front door.

"Ok, twist my arm." She sighed.

I opened the door, and ushered her out of the house into the bright light of the day. We walked down off the porch, and headed around the side of the house to a large, tarp-covered woodpile.

With Helen's help, I removed the damp fabric, causing a slight shower of water to cascade over us both. It wasn't enough to cause more than a surprised shout from Helen, but it was fairly amusing.

Lying on the revealed pile of pine logs was an old, single-bladed axe. I picked it up, and looked over at Helen.

"You stack, I smack?" I asked, hefting the axe in both my hands.

"How bout we switch off?" she suggested, grasping one of the logs with both hands and placing it on the ground, one end up.

Waiting until she had stepped back, I swung the axe overhand, neatly cleaving the small log in half with a splintering noise. Helen moved forward, setting one of the halves upright again, and tossing the other nearby.

We continued like that. I would take a swing, and she would quickly make the wood move into a proper position. I actually had built up a light sweat by the time she called for a break.

"Ok, now I get to hit things." She laughed, taking the axe from me. For a moment, our hands touched, and I felt myself lost in her eyes again. She stared back at me, her soft gray irises reminding me of the last wisps of cloud that still flew across the sky. Holy shit, I thought, I'm having a moment.

The realization must have come to both of us, since we looked away rapidly. I immediately busied myself setting the wood for her strikes, which fell precisely and quickly after my motions. Soon, the small pile of split wood was a good size, and I held up my hand.

"That should be enough."

"Ok. Get carrying." She moved towards the house, dropping the axe in the wet soil.

"HEY!" I sputtered.

"Yes?" She turned, smirking at me. Her white t-shirt was slightly mud spattered, with small bits of wood and the obvious residue of sweat on it as well.

"Please help?" I asked nicely, retrieving the axe and placing it back on the woodpile. I grabbed at one corner of the tarp, and waited patiently.

Helen tromped to the other corner, and together we pulled the wet tarp over the woodpile again, finishing by replacing the stones at the corners. We each ferried a portion of the firewood into the house, getting pinesap and mud over our arms, as well as further soiling our clothes.

With a final heave, I dropped the last piece of wood onto the rack, and turned to face Helen. She was dirty, sweaty and wearing an expression of exhilaration on her face.

"Whew. I need a shower and a change of clothes." She said, brushing at a small mud stain on her shirt.

"Join the club." I nodded. "Dibs."

"Hey, no way. I said it first." She complained.

"My cabin." I countered.

"Ok, I'll Roe-Sham-Bo you for it. First, I'll kick you in the nuts as hard as I can..."

I groaned at the joke, before extending my fist. "Two out of three?"

We counted off three, and then both of us threw our hands down, each with a closed fist.

"Crap, Tie." Helen sighed. "Again."

This time I decided to try a double fake, and threw rock again. Staring at her closed fist after the count, I guessed that she had thought the same thing.

"Last chance, buster." She narrowed her eyes. "One... Two... THREE!"