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broke.”
    Spared from having to confront the man herself, she let out her breath in a whoosh. Maybe there were a few things that Josiah could take care of for her.
    He lifted the board to the window and held it against the log wall. “I think about here,” he said.
    â€œYou don’t want to measure?”
    â€œI don’t need to measure. I’ll start here and work my way down.”
    â€œBut what if you get to the end and see there was a better way—”
    â€œThis is how I’m doing it.” He lowered the board, pulled the hammer out of his waistband, and offered it to her. “You want to do the honors?”
    Low thunder rumbled over the mountains, but no gust of wind disturbed the rain falling straight out of the blanket of clouds overhead. Katie Ellen took the hammer. Josiah positioned the board over the window and spread his arms wide, holding it flat against both sides.
    â€œWhere are the nails?” she asked.
    He smirked. “In my pocket.”
    The thunder rolled again. He laughed. “Just joshing. I dropped them in the flowerpot so they wouldn’t roll away.”
    If she didn’t need him to keep Silas in his place, Katie Ellen would’ve clobbered him on the head with the hammer. Instead she found a nail, brushed the soil off of it, and reached for the board.
    But Josiah’s arms were in the way.
    â€œHow am I supposed to reach it?” she asked.
    He lifted his elbow. “Duck under, I reckon.”
    She lowered the hammer. The front door opened and Silas stepped outside. A yellow toenail peeked from the hole in his sock. “Lookee here,” he said. “The happy couple finally working together.”
    And somehow he sounded genuinely happy about it. If she didn’t know better, she might think he and Josiah were in cahoots.
    â€œCan you move your hand over?” she asked Josiah.
    â€œI’ll try.” And he did try, but it wasn’t far enough. She took the hammer in her left hand to try a different angle but couldn’t bring herself to smash the nail being held in her right hand. This wasn’t going to work.
    â€œMaybe the happy couple don’t work so well together, after all,” Silas pouted.
    Katie Ellen stepped back. Driving a nail was child’s play compared to the skills she’d developed. She could do this. Squaring her shoulders, she bent at the knees and ever so carefully ducked beneath Josiah’s arm. Slowly she straightened, fearful of any accidental contact. He widened his span to give her more space. Even with all the rain, the air felt as combustible as a kerosene tin. She cleared her throat and tried to place the nail. Her hand brushed his. She jerked it away and shot a guilty look at Silas, who’d caught the whole exchange.
    Josiah leaned forward until he brushed against her back. Hiswords tickled her neck. “Let me hold the nail.” She couldn’t move. Gradually her eyes focused and she realized that although his palm was still holding the board in place, his fingers were opened. She slid the nail into his grasp. He closed his fingers around it. The hammer had never felt so heavy or her wrist so wobbly. With her face almost against his forearm, she took a practice swing, stopping just above his fingers. Without a guide, she’d hit him for sure. Biting the inside of her cheek, she laid her hand on his to steady her aim. Still damp, he felt warm to her touch. The rhythmic movement of his chestagainst her back was going to mess up her aim, and then he’d be sorry. Maybe if she could time it right.
    â€œFor crying aloud,” Silas said. “Can’t you swing a hammer?”
    With a marksman’s focus Katie Ellen swung for the nail. Whack! She peeked through one eye. Josiah’s fingers were whole. The nail stood a half inch shorter than it had before. Another hit, and another. The air between them had warmed. A fine perspiration broke out on the back of