Wheels On The Truck Go

By Jenna Webster

Hear me out...Cat is a red haired wood nymph. -Heavy sigh- I am listening but I do have to tell you, so far it is does not sound like a terribly interesting or unique idea. Yes, I am very aware, here is the interesting part, Cat is also a lumberjack. -A lifted brow- A what? Alright you have my attention. Why a lumberjack of all things?
Because it will be entertaining and interesting for us to get to know a wood nymph who has chosen to be a lumberjack by profession. As one would expect of a wood nymph, Cat loves being in the forest, she respects and honors the woods. However, Cat does not tritely hug trees or sing with friendly woodland creatures. Instead Cat skillfully and gleefully slices trees with a chainsaw, when she is not running the big machines on the job sites. Do not worry, Cat does not use a chainsaw on any friendly woodland creatures, no real or imaginary woodland creatures were hurt in the making of this story.
-Shrug- I suppose it could be somewhat interesting, do go on. Now that I have your interest I will tell you there is still more, Cat has driving skills that would have any professional stunt driver weep in envy, a short temper and a fabulous left hook. -Nod- Well , it does actually seem like it could be an entertaining and engaging premise for a story.
Please, grab a drink, take a seat and get comfortable while you allow me take you to the somewhat tamed forest southeast of Seattle to meet our friend Cat.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jenna Webster
• Release date: Jan 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311644480

Jenna Webster

I live near Austin, TX with my husband and our little fluffy yippy dog, Sasha. I love to laugh and enjoy a good joke and I even enjoy bad jokes. I have been a long time fan of 9GAG and it is one of my favorite time wasters. I also enjoy watching documentaries, reality TV is something I can and at times do enjoy if there is more substance than drama.I have recently opened new Twitter and Facebook accounts. You are welcome to come say hi to me on Twitter or Facebook or e-mail me at [e-mail], please make my day by sharing me a funny joke with me.

Book preview

Wheels on the Truck Go...

By Jenna B. Webster

Book 01: Trucks and Trees

Copyright 2015 Jenna B. Webster

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 01

Moments after Cat had stopped the car of the yarder and she had lowered the lines down to the rigging crew, Mitch came over the radio and told Cat, some suit wanted to talk to the man in charge of the site. Cat looked down at her dog Timber and patted Timber's head as she asked, if Timber was ready to have some fun with the suit. Timber began thumbing her tail manically on the floor of the yarder. Cat opened the door to the yarder and Timber jumped out of the cab. Timber swiftly jumped down from the landing onto the ground. Timber began half barking and half snarling as she dashed toward the SUV. The door to the SUV that had been opening, quickly slammed closed. Cat softly chuckled as she made her slower progress out and down the steps of the yarder.

When Cat was about halfway to the SUV, she put her fingers in her mouth and let out a long whistle and called then she called Timber to her. Timber stopped barking and snarling at the driver's side door of the SUV and loped over to Cat's side. Timber looked very pleased and amused with herself. When Timber was at Cat’s side, she turned and matched Cat's pace staying at her side. Mitch bent half over and slapped his knee laughing as he mimicked and mocked the suit's very hasty retreat back into his SUV and unmanly screech even as he shared the entire encounter with the rest of the crew over the radio.

It took a great deal of hard won self control for Cat to manage not to join Mitch's laughter. When she got to the half rolled up window of the SUV, she had to swallow twice to ensure her tone would be reasonably serious and grave when she spoke to the suit. Cat did maintain her composure as she told the suit, he had about five minutes to say whatever it was he wanted to say before she would be needed back in the yarder. Then she waited a beat before she lifted her brows and she dryly added, she appreciated their work day being interrupted and her time being wasted even less than her dog did. If he was not going to get to his point then he should get off her job site.

After another belief pause the suit stuttered as he hesitantly asked, if she was in charge of the site. Cat kept her dry tone as she countered by asking, what he had been told already. There were easier and less dangerous places and times for him to accomplish his goal, if his only purpose was to intentionally try to irritate her. It was beyond ridiculous for him to be wasting her time on a jobsite by asking questions she knew he had already been given answers to. She was not delaying the next run on his account, if he had something he thought was important to say he best get to it. He took in several breaths before he nervously asked, if they had a leash or something.

Cat allowed herself to smile as she nodded toward Mitch and she answered, it was hard enough keeping clothes on Mitch. The suit did not need to worry too much, even though Mitch was not quite house broken, it was not such a concern in the woods. Mitch had not humped anyone's leg in at least a few days. There were rumors he had some backsliding that past Friday. However, she had not been there to see it she could not know for sure. She lifted her brows and as seriously as she could manage she asked Mitch, if he thought he could restrain himself or if they needed to get his leash from the truck before the suit would be safe in his company.

Mitch laughed harder as gleefully said, it would be difficult but he would restrain himself. There was no need for Cat to take out his leash because he liked his ladies just a little less girly and a great deal less citified. Cat smiled and turned her attention back to the suit before she said, she would smack Mitch's nose if he started humping the suit's leg. That was as close as anyone could get for a guarantee as far as Mitch's behavior.

It took the suit three stuttering tries to get out that had been sent to inspect their job site for a legal settlement. Cat found it vastly amusing that he was actually reading from a piece of paper as if he was in a high school play and he was reading the script to say the rest of what he wished to say. He did manage to convey, he was there to ensure their crew was holding to the logging contract they had in that state park to clear only the trees leaning that had been blown over ten degrees as well as the invasive non native species. He had an overly elaborate sounding title that Cat did not entirely catch but she did hear that had environmental and conservation in it.

Cat strongly suspected the suit had no practical knowledge of logging or even of forest management. She also suspected the majority of his experience with trees of any sort was very probably with pushing paper. When he finally finished his prepared speech, Cat did not bother trying to hide her irritation as she told the suit, everyone of them on the crew camped, hunted and fished in that forest. They had a great deal more invested in maintaining a healthy forest than any city eco suit, especially one who did not even have sense enough not to wear dress shoes on a job site. He could and should be on his way and stop wasting their time.

She shook her head and condescendingly asked, if he had anything else to do with his time and energies because if so he should go along and did it, she had actual work to do. Her work did not include impotently wasting other people's time to satisfy her social conscious or buying carbon offsets or whatever the newest eco fad city folks were buying into was to justify and feel superior about a wasteful and decadent life style. As Cat was just beginning to get into her set down of the suit, Ryan pulled up in his truck and rolled down the window. He smiled and winked at Cat before he made his face and tone serious as he said, he was sorry he had been delayed leaving the office and had not been able to meet the suit at the jobsite.

Cat inclined her head as she told Ryan, he had been volunteered to bring pizza for football at her dad's place and he best not be tardy with that. Ryan smiled and said, he would have the pizza there and on time for the game. She used a great deal of overdone gravity as she told him, he better because pizza was actually important. Then Cat tapped her leg, turned on her heel and she and Timber walked back into the cab of the yarder without further comment.

By the time Cat and Timber got themselves settled into the cab of the yarder Mitch was still laughing as he relayed over the radio to the rest of the crew Cat's response to the suit and his amusing reactions to her beginning to set him in his place. When Mitch finished his rather amusing recounting, Lee came over the radio laughing as he said, Cat was definitely his girl and he was proud of her.

About an hour and a half later Mitch called out, it was the last run for the day and for everyone to make their way back up to the landing. The three guys in the rigging started on up as soon as the load was hooked. Lee and Dwayne waited to get the all clear from Cat before they started up toward the landing on the ATV from where they had been felling trees. Guys on foot could easily enough hear and jump out of the way if something started down the hill in their direction. It was somewhat harder for guys on an ATV to see and hear something coming down the hill to react in time to avoid injury.

While Cat waited for the last load to be unhooked she started doing the shut down check list her dad had taught her to ensure she would be able to jump into the yarder the next morning and start working right away. It was a great deal more pleasant and intelligent to attend to the basic upkeep and maintenance needs for the equipment at the end of a work day than need to start a day with it. Also if the yarder needed something it could be brought up with them in the morning, rather than the next day's work being held up while parts were brought up.

Most of the crew got paid by the hour even for down time but they also all got very generous bonuses for jobs finished before the projected deadlines. There were also very important bragging rights involved, they had seven work crews working for them and there was a long standing competition between the separate crews. Cat was determined to maintain her dad's record of not having down time because of a preventable equipment malfunction or failure.

Cat completely shut down the yarder when the last of the logs were un-bailed from the chokers. She climbed out of the yarder to see to the last of her check list. Her dad and Dwayne made it up to the landing a few moments later. Lee hopped off the back of the ATV and helped Cat finish out her check list on the yarder.

She was glad for her dad's company and help. She had been in truth running the yarder just about solo for the past six years but her dad was usually at least on the landing to help her out but that day because Tim had called out sick her dad had gone down to fell trees with Dwayne. While Lee helped her finish out the checklist, he gave Cat physical and metaphorical pats on the back for running the yarder flawlessly throughout the day. As far as Mondays went it had been a good one.

Just as Lee and Cat had finished up the checklist Ryan came over to them with the suit introducing them to the suit and introducing the suit as Jose. Ryan explained, Jose admitted it was his first job out of college and he only had academic knowledge of logging and wished to come back the for the rest of the job to observe their crew. Jose wished to do so both, for his report and his own education.

Jose smiled as he added, maybe he could also look around the job site and find at least some of the pieces his lost manhood. Jose understood and appreciated the hazing Cat and Timber had put him through. He had grown up in Phoenix working on yard crews with his father and brothers, he was familiar with outdoor and real work. He also understood the irritation and frustration of having someone, who had absolutely no clue about what he was doing, interrupt his work for something he did not believe was important. If he got their approval to return he would come dressed more appropriately to be on the site for the next few days.

Cat and Lee exchanged a quick look before Cat turned her attention back to Jose and lifted her brows as she asked, how he felt about football. Jose smiled winningly as he hopefully answered, he liked football enough to enjoy catching a game when he could but he was not fanatic enough to cheer for an unpopular team. He also did like football and disliked eating alone enough pay for and bring the pizza she had mentioned before, as a peace offering if there was an invitation.

She told Jose, it was an invitation and she would call in the order for him to pick up if he did not show up at their house in a suit. They did not need or want the neighbors to start gossiping about them having someone in a suit being allowed in their home. MJ called out to Cat holding out his hand with a water bottle in it. She nodded as she took off her hardhat and tossed it toward MJ as he tossed her the bottle of water he had been holding out in his hand.

Cat passed the water bottle to her dad and snagged off his hardhat and did another tossing trade with MJ, who was loading up all the gear that could possibly walk off into the truck. She held out her hand asking Jose for his borrowed hardhat and she exchanged it for the water bottle in her hand before she tossed it MJ's way as well. She called out to MJ for him to toss her two more. She handed the third bottle to Ryan telling him she knew he had been a desk jockey too long and he did not have the sense to pack his own drinks or go into the cooler since being there either.

Ryan shook his head and sighed heavily as he said, he wished he could righteously tell her off for that bit of snarky insubordination but unfortunately she was right at least about him not having brought water or taking any out of the cooler since being there. Tim's wife had called and he would not be in the next day. Ryan took a long drink and then he smiled as he told Cat, he had just then decided he would be felling trees with Dwayne the next morning to reclaim some of his own lost manhood. She did have an unerring talent for the motivational put down.

Cat poured part of her water into her hand offering it to Timber and grinned as she said, she had learned from the very best. Her dad was still the reigning champ as far as motivational yelling went. She was still a complete amateur compared to him. She put more water in her hand for Timber as she added, they all knew her dad just subcontracted the easier cases to her to allow her to practice.

Justin came over and asked, if his father was going back to the office or to the house. Before Ryan could answer Cat said, the first thing the two of them were doing was to pick up game munchies since Ryan was out of cigarettes it would not be too much of a hardship. Justin was to go with his father to make sure there were Oreos. She would nick two of her father's cigarettes out of his truck for them if they did not argue with her arranging.

Ryan charmingly smiled as he asked, only two. It was a long drive to get her Oreos. She shook her head as she answered, it would keep him motivated to stop at the convenience store rather than make a detour at the office and forget himself and her Oreos like he had done the last time he had been charged with picking up their game munchies. They were out of Oreos at the house and it was more critical than it had been the week before. She might be talked into four if there was a promise of more than one package of Oreos for her.

After a few moments of negotiations Ryan got the six cigarettes left in the pack Lee was carrying for the promise of buying out the convenience store of Oreos and Doritos. They walked to where the other guys were hanging out at the back of Lee's truck. Cat went it the cab got out a half full gallon of water and Timber's water dish. She filled up the water dish and as she returned the gallon jug to the truck she snagged a full pack of cigarettes for her dad out of the center console.

Cat knew by the way Dwayne and Mitch were leaning on the bed of the truck, neither of them were in any sort of hurry to get off the site. When she got to the bed of the truck she heard Mitch ask how her dad and Ryan felt about letting the kids drive back to town for them. Ryan handed his keys to Justin as he answered if there was beer in the cooler to hand one over before anyone got hurt. Lee handed Cat the keys to his truck as he said, he knew there was beer in the cooler and for Mitch to stop acting coy. He was not anywhere near pretty enough to pull it off.

Timber pressed herself against Cat's leg and let out a low pitiful pleading whimper. Cat patted the top of Timber's head and said, Timber was not driving and she could have beer. Cat picked up the water bowl she had just filled, dumped out the water and set the bowl onto the tailgate of her dad's truck and asked each of those having a beer to donate to the cause. When Timber's bowl was about half full, Cat put it back on the ground for her. Timber let out a happy woof of thanks before she began drinking her portion of the beer.

Chapter 02

Cat leaned into her dad’s side, he looped his arm around her shoulder and they stood together like that as they all talked and drank their respective drinks until her cell phone vibrated in the pocket of her cargo jeans. She fished out her phone looked at the display and saw it was a number not programmed into her phone. She wondered at it for a half a second but an unknown number was not completely odd she was the unofficial receptionist for their crew and everyone who had a legitimate need to reach the guys during the work day had her cell number.

It was the vice principle at the elementary school Dwayne’s two youngest children attended. Cat’s number was one of the emergency contact numbers for Dwayne’s two youngest children. Dwayne's wife, Melinda, had not shown up to pick up their children. The vice principle had called Cat, because Melinda was late picking up the Franny and Hank and the people at the school could not reach her. The school nurse was concerned because Franny was wheezing and she did not have an inhaler with her. Cat tapped the back of Dwayne’s head to get his attention as she told the vice principle, they had an extra inhaler for Franny inside the truck and she knew Melinda also had one inside her van. Someone would be there very soon with an inhaler for Franny.

Before Cat disconnected the call with the vice principle Dwayne was already climbing into the back of her dad’s truck and he had Ryan’s phone in his hand dialing Melinda’s cell number. Cat tapped the side of the truck and told Timber, ride. Lee closed the tailgate and asked Ryan if he had his light. Ryan nodded as he answered, he had his light, he and Justin would lead the caravan to ensure they all got there quickly without any issues. Ryan was the chief of their volunteer fire department and their town was small enough that he probably did not need the light on his truck flashing to be recognized and not to be stopped for any traffic infractions but it would be easier