“Not too bad then,” Aaron said. “We should have it back well beforelunch.”
“Easily,” Greg agreed. “But let’s get moving before it getstoohot.”
The group of six traipsed through the woods, laughing and joking with each other along the way. When they reached the bus, Aaronwhistled.
“Psychedelic,” he murmured as he ran his hand over the paint job. “Did dad see this yet? He’s going toflipout.”
“He saw it,”Gregsaid.
“And he didn’t go ape shit?” Aaronasked.
“He knows mom needs help with canning and we need help harvesting. We were going to have to hire help anyway,”Gregsaid.
“Right on,” Aaron said. “I guess you didn’t want to hit up the midnight autosupply?”
“They’re not thieves,” Greg said, exasperated. His kid brother never knew when to keep histrapshut.
“I know, man. I was just kidding,”Aaronsaid.
Greg glanced at Daisy, who frowned at Aaron. Hopefully she understood his brother’s need to rebel. He was still trying to find his place in the world, unlike Greg. He knew exactly where he belonged—on the farm with hisfamily.
“I’ll steer,” Daisy opened the driver’s side andhoppedin.
Aaron, Greg, Andy, and River took positions at the rear of the bus while Meadow stood to the side twirling a strand of long, black hair around her finger. Greg shrugged. A girl couldn’t do this kind of work anyway. It was better that she walked along beside them rather than get into the bus with Daisy. It would be less weighttopush.
“You ready, Daisy?” Gregcalled.
“Yep.” She stuck her head out of the window. “If you guys need a rest, just letmeknow.”
“It should be easy enough,” hecalled.
“Allright.”
“Let’s go on three,” he said. “One, two,three.”
All four men pushed against the bus. For a second, it didn’t budge. Greg glanced at Aaron who grinned knowingly. They’d have to summon their bear’s strength without unleashing the creature. It wasn’t hard for someone who’d had years of practice, but Aaron’s first shift had happened less than two yearsearlier.
Greg shot him a warning look. They couldn’t risk revealing their secret to humans. But he was even more concerned about Daisy finding out. She’d never look at him the same way if she knew what he was capable of doingtoher.
As he called to his bear, the pulsing, building energy of brute strength flowed through his veins. His bear chuffed with excitement, thinking he was about to be free. When the beast figured out Greg was only using him for extra power, the creature snarled inprotest.
Greg gritted his teeth and shoved with all of his might. Standing beside him, Aaron grunted and pushed. Fine strands of fur sprouted onhisarm.
“Watch it,” Gregmurmured.
“I know,” Aaronwhispered.
They propelled the bus forward until they reached a slight incline. At that point, the combination of gravity and their forcefulness drove the bus forward at a faster pace. When they rounded the final bend in the road, Greg glanced around the side ofthebus.
The fence was tooclose.
“Daisy, brake and turn right more,” heyelled.
She braked and missed the fence by mere inches. Greg’s elbow dinged the post, sending a shock of pain up his arm. He gasped and shook his hand to try to stop the sensation. It dissipated after a few seconds, leaving a dull ache in its place. Ever since he’d fallen out of the hay loft, his elbow had given him problems. He’d probably fractured it slightly, but not enough to require more than a whupping from his dad for horsingaround.
“Pull up next to the barn,” hecalled.
Daisy positioned the bus parallel to the barn, then slammed on the brakes. Greg smacked against the back of the bus along with his brother, Andy, andRiver.
