Fingers tightened around the worn wood of the hammer's handle once more and with a heave, Juliane swung the sledge back past her shoulder and let it arc towards the wall so that hit solid with a resounding thunk. Plaster and dust rained down like confetti and she swiped her face with her forearm. She'd arrived early, in hopes to see progress made before the workmen arrived. Instead she had found her sketches and instructions bastardized and ignored. Her ire piqued, she'd taken matters in her own hands.
Luckily the boulevard and New Haven was still mostly deserted in the hours before the shops would open for commerce. Muscles long under-utilized came to life, remembering quick the exertion and movement of farm life and labor. Additional swings created more results, until soon raw beams peeked through the gashes and holes in the plaster and lathe.
Bert Raintree had seen more buildings up and down in his time than lined Benson Boulevard. He had a mind of how things went, and those frou-frou fannies that pranced their ways about could just keep out of his business and he'd keep out of theirs.
Building was going to be a fine one, but he'd have to reign in that fool woman's notions of what was to be done when and how. With that set in his mind, having made the changes he thought right, he walked to the building in the early morning with his crew around him and ready to set to work. Only it seemed someone had a notion to start earlier. That set his mustached mouth into a surly frown. The door was unlocked and he pushed his way inside, pointing for the men to set down their stuff and get to work, while he strode his stocky body over to stand near the tall woman who must have been a good head taller than he. Didn't matter. Arms across his chest, he grunted. "Just what do you think you're up to, sugar" That there wall has it's time and place."
Another swing knocked a hole through the opposite side of wall and opening a window of space between the two buildings. Sledge rested to the floor, Juliane's hand leaned against the butt of the handle like one might use a cane. "Should be real obvious what I'm up ta, Mr. Raintree. Seein' as how ya were left explicit instructions that this was ta be done already." She bristled a bit at his manner of address. "Th' wall's time and place have passed and it's time ta open all this up proper."
"Now listen here, missy, I don't go flopping around in your artwork, and don't you come telling me when which walls coming down when. I've been doing this more years than you've been alive," so he keeps telling everyone, "and if you want a building that's gonna last, you better keep to your paints before you hurt yourself and let me do my job." He reached for the sledge hammer to try and rest it from her grasp. The crew were stirring behind them, trying to get to their work, but unable to not keep watching.
Green eyes flashed and narrowed, her fingers tightening around the wood and knuckles blanching white. "Is it or is it not your job, Mr. Raintree.." Her voice lost all inflection when saying his name. "...to do things the way I wished?" Juliane's posture was rod straight, her shoulders squared. Before getting started, she'd pulled her hair back in a tall ponytail and it made her features look angular and erased most of her easygoing jovial appearance. It only added to the emotion charging off of her.
"It is my job, Miss Smith," spittle pranced onto his lips, "to see the job done right and proper. You've got some hair brained idea that you know how a building like this one with its age needs to be transformed, you've got another think coming. That wall will come down when I say." He stepped around her to put himself between her and the wall. "Now, you run along and I'll let you know if there's anything you need to see." He swatted at her bottom like a filly he was sending out to pasture.
The dismissive swat went through her like a hot knife through butter. She lifted the sledge and dropped it back to the floor like one would bang a gavel."If I were you, I would watch very carefully what you say to me and how you say it, sir." Her gaze was dark and displeased. She took a breath, nostrils flaring. "Or th' wall will not be th' only thing ta leave th' premises and never return, yeah?"
He folded his arms across his chest. "Listen, you're new around this parts. I was recommended to ya, wasn't I" I get the job done, on time and right, don't I" Why is it you gotta poke your nose in when you've got all ya need to know that this job is going to be right. I got more references than you, missy, and it's gonna be your word against mine. I don't wrangle with the folks, they know to stay outta my way. That's what I'm telling ya, since you seem to have a notion that you belong here. Ya don't."
"It is real clear that yer idea of done right is done ta suit ya and not the one payin' ya." A hand jammed into her pocket and withdrew the plans she'd sketched with the alterations drawn above. "And it seems I've got more'n proof of words, Mr. Raintree. Unless of course it's yer practice ta willfully alter and hedge around yer instructions." Juliane's chin lifted defiantly. "An' if ya think ta tell me one more time what I know or where I should be, I'll be more'n happy ta invite Mr. Mallorek ta have a long, legal discussion with ya on th' matter. Do I make m'self clear ta ya, Mr. Raintree?"
"Mr. Mallorek, is it?" Bert wanted to spit. He hated lawyers. Not that he'd ever been on the wrong side of one, nor did he have a hankering to be. They just made what was plain and simple into a swallowing whale of trouble. He hated troublemakers. "Fine, Miss Smith. We'll do it your way and on your head if the roof comes tumbling down." He whistled sharp. "Men! Come on then. This damn wall's gotta come down. Our employer says she wants it down first." The workers clamped mouths that had been hanging open shut and took up their tools to support the main beams while others began to thunder against the wall with hammers.
Juliane released the handle of the hammer so that it toppled over to the floor. "Might as well be on my head if it's on my dime, yeah?" Not saying another word, Juliane crossed to an exposed wall that was to stay and dug a large marker from her bag. Unfolding the crumpled orders in her hand, she transferred the image to the span of the wall making clear notations.
Bert scoffed inside a grunt and picked up the hammer to hand off to one of the crew. He took out his measuring tape and set to his own work. Seeing the marks were made in just the right places on the floor and along walls that remained. He kept to himself and to his workers. Most of all, he kept his thoughts in his head about busy body womenfolk.
Luckily the boulevard and New Haven was still mostly deserted in the hours before the shops would open for commerce. Muscles long under-utilized came to life, remembering quick the exertion and movement of farm life and labor. Additional swings created more results, until soon raw beams peeked through the gashes and holes in the plaster and lathe.
Bert Raintree had seen more buildings up and down in his time than lined Benson Boulevard. He had a mind of how things went, and those frou-frou fannies that pranced their ways about could just keep out of his business and he'd keep out of theirs.
Building was going to be a fine one, but he'd have to reign in that fool woman's notions of what was to be done when and how. With that set in his mind, having made the changes he thought right, he walked to the building in the early morning with his crew around him and ready to set to work. Only it seemed someone had a notion to start earlier. That set his mustached mouth into a surly frown. The door was unlocked and he pushed his way inside, pointing for the men to set down their stuff and get to work, while he strode his stocky body over to stand near the tall woman who must have been a good head taller than he. Didn't matter. Arms across his chest, he grunted. "Just what do you think you're up to, sugar" That there wall has it's time and place."
Another swing knocked a hole through the opposite side of wall and opening a window of space between the two buildings. Sledge rested to the floor, Juliane's hand leaned against the butt of the handle like one might use a cane. "Should be real obvious what I'm up ta, Mr. Raintree. Seein' as how ya were left explicit instructions that this was ta be done already." She bristled a bit at his manner of address. "Th' wall's time and place have passed and it's time ta open all this up proper."
"Now listen here, missy, I don't go flopping around in your artwork, and don't you come telling me when which walls coming down when. I've been doing this more years than you've been alive," so he keeps telling everyone, "and if you want a building that's gonna last, you better keep to your paints before you hurt yourself and let me do my job." He reached for the sledge hammer to try and rest it from her grasp. The crew were stirring behind them, trying to get to their work, but unable to not keep watching.
Green eyes flashed and narrowed, her fingers tightening around the wood and knuckles blanching white. "Is it or is it not your job, Mr. Raintree.." Her voice lost all inflection when saying his name. "...to do things the way I wished?" Juliane's posture was rod straight, her shoulders squared. Before getting started, she'd pulled her hair back in a tall ponytail and it made her features look angular and erased most of her easygoing jovial appearance. It only added to the emotion charging off of her.
"It is my job, Miss Smith," spittle pranced onto his lips, "to see the job done right and proper. You've got some hair brained idea that you know how a building like this one with its age needs to be transformed, you've got another think coming. That wall will come down when I say." He stepped around her to put himself between her and the wall. "Now, you run along and I'll let you know if there's anything you need to see." He swatted at her bottom like a filly he was sending out to pasture.
The dismissive swat went through her like a hot knife through butter. She lifted the sledge and dropped it back to the floor like one would bang a gavel."If I were you, I would watch very carefully what you say to me and how you say it, sir." Her gaze was dark and displeased. She took a breath, nostrils flaring. "Or th' wall will not be th' only thing ta leave th' premises and never return, yeah?"
He folded his arms across his chest. "Listen, you're new around this parts. I was recommended to ya, wasn't I" I get the job done, on time and right, don't I" Why is it you gotta poke your nose in when you've got all ya need to know that this job is going to be right. I got more references than you, missy, and it's gonna be your word against mine. I don't wrangle with the folks, they know to stay outta my way. That's what I'm telling ya, since you seem to have a notion that you belong here. Ya don't."
"It is real clear that yer idea of done right is done ta suit ya and not the one payin' ya." A hand jammed into her pocket and withdrew the plans she'd sketched with the alterations drawn above. "And it seems I've got more'n proof of words, Mr. Raintree. Unless of course it's yer practice ta willfully alter and hedge around yer instructions." Juliane's chin lifted defiantly. "An' if ya think ta tell me one more time what I know or where I should be, I'll be more'n happy ta invite Mr. Mallorek ta have a long, legal discussion with ya on th' matter. Do I make m'self clear ta ya, Mr. Raintree?"
"Mr. Mallorek, is it?" Bert wanted to spit. He hated lawyers. Not that he'd ever been on the wrong side of one, nor did he have a hankering to be. They just made what was plain and simple into a swallowing whale of trouble. He hated troublemakers. "Fine, Miss Smith. We'll do it your way and on your head if the roof comes tumbling down." He whistled sharp. "Men! Come on then. This damn wall's gotta come down. Our employer says she wants it down first." The workers clamped mouths that had been hanging open shut and took up their tools to support the main beams while others began to thunder against the wall with hammers.
Juliane released the handle of the hammer so that it toppled over to the floor. "Might as well be on my head if it's on my dime, yeah?" Not saying another word, Juliane crossed to an exposed wall that was to stay and dug a large marker from her bag. Unfolding the crumpled orders in her hand, she transferred the image to the span of the wall making clear notations.
Bert scoffed inside a grunt and picked up the hammer to hand off to one of the crew. He took out his measuring tape and set to his own work. Seeing the marks were made in just the right places on the floor and along walls that remained. He kept to himself and to his workers. Most of all, he kept his thoughts in his head about busy body womenfolk.