Finn's Fantasy (Maine Men #1) - K.C. Wells Page 0,30
out here because there are going to be nails and stuff.” Laura grabbed Bramble by the collar and tugged him toward the door, Bramble doing his best to resist. Carrie held the door for her, then closed it behind them, giving Joel a sympathetic smile.
“Can’t I help?” Nate asked.
Joel narrowed his gaze. “What you really mean is, can I stay so I can watch Dad make an ass of himself?”
Nate laughed. “Hey, you said it, not me.”
Finn reached into one of the toolboxes and pulled out a crowbar. “Here. Have at it. And if it’s okay with your dad, I’ll let you do some chopping too.”
Nate beamed. “Great.” He glanced at Joel. “That would be okay, wouldn’t it?”
As if Joel was about to kill the mood. “Sure. Just let me get the hang of it first?”
Finn cleared his throat. “Can I have your full attention, please?” He opened the other toolbox and removed its contents. “Okay, this is a Sawzall. It can cut through just about anything. I’ve chosen this blade because it’ll go through wood and nails.” He tapped it with his fingertip. “Quick rule of thumb. The fewer the teeth per inch, the faster and rougher the cuts.”
“If my dad is doing it, it’ll be rough,” Nate called out.
Joel gave him a mock glare. “I’ve changed my mind. Don’t you have a puppy to pet, or something?”
Nate grinned. “This is much more fun.”
“Give it up, Dad,” Finn said with a chuckle. “I need all your attention.”
Joel peered at the saw. “Don’t you have to plug it in?”
Finn bit his lip. “Er, Joel? It’s cordless.” He tapped the squat base beneath the handle. “This is a heavy-duty battery.” He held the saw out to Joel. “Wanna hold it?”
“Not really.”
Finn laughed. “Okay, one hand on the handle, the other around here.” He indicated the molded black section behind the blade.
Joel took it from him. “It’s heavier than I thought.”
“And it has some kick. You need to hold tight with both hands, and use some pressure to keep in control.” Finn pointed to the railings around the deck. “You’re going to cut through the base of that railing. Use the shoe—that’s this guard here—to steady it. That’ll cut back on the vibration.”
Joel turned the power tool onto its side, laying the blade flat against the deck, the shoe snug up against the edge. Finn nodded approvingly. “Okay, you’re ready. Go for it.”
The second he turned it on, Joel understood what Finn had meant by vibration. He slid the blade across the base of the railing, and it went through like butter. Joel grinned. “Hey, I did it.”
“Yes you did. Easy, right? And now I’ll show you how to make a plunge cut.” Finn glanced at Joel’s body. “I’m just checking you’re not wearing anything loose. You don’t wanna get your clothing caught up in this.” He pointed to the middle of the deck. “You’re going to aim the tip of the blade here, at an angle. Just be careful when you cut through, because there’s no guard on this thing. Don’t pull it toward your body.”
“I think I know what I’m doing.” Well, he had an idea, but with Nate standing there, Joel wasn’t about to admit the tool intimidated him.
“Good, but I think I’ll stick around a while longer and watch you in action,” Finn told him. “At least until I feel you’re comfortable with it.”
Joel said nothing, but secretly he was pleased. He didn’t want to take up too much of Finn’s afternoon, but he hoped Finn would stay.
“Come on, Dad,” Laura yelled. “Finn has run out of things to cut up.”
Joel had no idea how it had happened, but chopping up the deck had somehow become a race. His job was to cut through the boards with the Sawzall, Finn would chop them into smaller pieces with the Skil saw, and the kids carried them to Finn’s truck.
The only problem was Finn was working a hell of a lot faster than Joel.
“Yeah, Joel,” Finn said with a grin. “Give me something else to chop up.”
Joel speared him with a look. “You weren’t even supposed to be here. Not that I mind, but doesn’t this defeat the purpose? I mean, I was supposed to be doing this so that you could start work? And yet here you are…”
Finn laughed. “Okay, so I’m spending a little longer than I intended.”
Carrie laughed. “You’ve been here for three hours. Dinner will be ready in about forty minutes.” She glanced at Joel. “There’s