Free Fire Girl Part 1 by Alivia Anderson Page B

money!” Grandpa
snapped.
    “Dad.” Uncle Bill protested.
    “I’ll take over.” Chance’s face looked
steady, determined.
    With a start of realization I understood what
he meant. He would quit the football team.
    A sinking feeling shot into my heart, like in
a dream where you do something really, really bad, and you try to
wake yourself up, but you can’t. Chance couldn’t quit.
    All at once Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle Bill
protested.
    The look on Chance’s face told me this was
how it would be. “It’s not like I’m going pro or anything. You need me. And I can do it.”
    Uncle Bill shook his head vehemently. “That’s not gonna happen, Chance.”
    Grandma pinched her lips into a straight
line. “If you don’t think your Grandma knows how to operate a
tractor, you’re wrong. I’ve been doing farm work since before you
were a twinkle in your Daddy’s eye. We’ll be fine.” The bottom of
her lip trembled, but her voice sounded resolute.
    I hated the way my eyes burned with emotion.
Grandma would do it, too. She would run herself ragged doing it all
to take the pressure off Grandpa.
    Grandpa grumbled from the hospital bed. “I’m
fine! Nobody ain’t quittin’ nothing!”
    “I’ll do it.”
     
    Chapter 8 Decision

    They all turned to me.
    I abruptly wanted to take it back. I couldn’t
do that. I didn’t even know how to do it.
    Doctor Hunt’s face cracked into a wide smile.
He stood. “Well, guess that little problem worked itself out.”
    Chance’s eyes connected with mine. Then, in
one super-fast motion, he rushed forward and lifted me into the
air.
    Grandma smiled. “Maddie.”
    The spot in my chest that I’d guarded with a
perfectly mortared wall begged for reinforcement.
    Chance crushed me even harder for a second,
and then lowered me down in one swift drop. He blinked back the
glistening emotion in his eyes. “I knew we could always count on
ya, Madds.”
    Dr. Hunt moved for the door. “I’ll check on
ya in the morning, Frank. If all is well, you can go on home.”
    Grandma’s arms surrounded me and the smell of
her hair spray smothered any protests. “Thank you.”
    Grandpa’s rickety voice sounded into the air.
“Hold up.”
    I stared at his pale, sagging cheeks.
    His lips puckered like he’d tasted something
sour. “I don’t know if she can do it.”
    Chance put an arm around my shoulders
resolutely. “Have you forgotten what they say?”
    Grandpa lifted an un-amused eyebrow.
    Chance didn’t give him time to reply. “When a
lemonade stand stares you in the face, don’t shut it down.”
    Uncle Bill laughed.
    Grandpa frowned.
    “He’s got a point, Dad.”
    Grandpa took a deep breath. “You’re in for
the long haul, Madds.”
    I stared into his wrinkled, tired eyes, and
wondered if I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.
    ***
    “The rows aren’t that long, but you do have
to pay attention to what you’re doing. And, believe me, Grandpa is
a stickler about making sure things are done the right way.” Chance
paused and glanced over at me. He’d been prattling on and on about
the ins and outs of farm work the entire way to school.
    I nodded absently. I hadn’t responded to
Carrie’s initial text last night, and she’d sent five more
demanding that I call her.
    “Madds, are you listening to me?” Chance
turned into the front parking lot of the high school.
    I turned my full attention to him. “Yes.”
    He turned off the truck and gave me the same
goofy, happy look he’d been giving me since I said I’d do the farm
work. “Thanks, Madds. I—” Moisture filled his eyes and he took a
breath. “I don’t know what possessed you to do it. After reading
that ridiculous letter of yours, I figured you’d be as good as
gone.”
    I shrugged. “You didn’t tell anyone about
that, did you?”
    “No.” His face turned sad. “Were you really
going to leave? Not even say goodbye to me?”
    My chest tightened. I didn’t want to have
this discussion. “I—” I