"TIMBER" The tree cracked loudly and collapsed onto the field with ease. I smiled triumphantly and swung my axe onto my shoulder. This was my third tree today yet when I looked at my field, I had several more pine trees to get through. I never thought taking over a run-down farm would be so hard, not to mention that Echo Village isn't exactly the liveliest place. To get the farm running successfully I had to help the village and helping the village meant getting more people to live here. I'm not even twenty yet and I already have more adult responsibilities than I could handle.

I heard a whistle behind me and Rod was walking towards me with Pepper skipping happily with him. My 'guard' dog wasn't very protective once Rod showed up. Rod was one of the villagers I had managed to bring to Echo Village along with Allen, the hairdresser and Tina, the papergirl. He was wearing his signature yellow puffy vest even though the temperature was in the high 30s. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and waved to him. He and I had become fast friends when he first moved to Echo Village. He sold me Pepper and my barn cat Napoleon. I enjoyed his happy-go-lucky personality and the constant smile on his face. It made me feel like everything would be okay if he continued to smile.

"Hey Rachel!" Rod smiled as he came to me. He tossed me a bottle of water, which I caught with ease. I put down my axe and dumped the water on my head. The cool liquid ran over my hair and down my back, giving me fast relief from the heat. It was my first summer in Echo Village and the summer was practically a drought. I'm still amazed my tomatoes and onions aren't dead from heat.

"Hey Rod." I smiled back.

"Cutting down Christmas trees already?" He eyed the pine tree lying near us.

I rolled my eyes at him, "No of course not. I'm trying to clear the field. This place is a mess." Rod looked around my farm and only shrugged. I know he didn't see what I saw. He saw a spacious piece of land that had access to the river along with a barn and a chicken coop as well as a large house but I only saw the years of abandonment the farm had gone through. Most of the field was overgrown with trees and bramble. It would take me the rest of the summer just to clear the trees.

"Well I think you're doing a marvellous job! Speaking of which, I was wondering if you could do me a favour?"

"Sure! What's up?" I took a drink from my bottle.

Rod's face lit up, "Wow you said yes before I even told you! Okay I need you to ask Neil out on a date!"

I almost spat out my water, "Wait, what?"

"You need to ask Neil out on a date!" Rod repeated himself, his large smile growing ever larger and happier.

"No!"

"But you said yes already!"

"Before I knew what you wanted from me! I'm not going to ask Neil out. He doesn't even like me. Besides I'm too busy. I have a farm to salvage and a town to save." I picked up my axe.

"Okay sure, he's a little rough around the edges but he's a really great guy and honestly I just need you to bring him out of his shell. You don't have to go on a second date with him or anything, but you asking him on a date will hopefully make him less…" Rod paused "mean. Look he's my friend and I'm just trying to help him."

I sighed loudly, "Fine. One date. If he says yes that is. I doubt he even wants to be alone with me."

"I think he would rather be with you than Tina." Rod laughed uneasily, "I considered asking her if you turned me down but I think she would just scare him."

I chuckled lightly, "She is pretty outgoing. Maybe a bit too outgoing."

Rod nodded, "Yeah just a bit. Anyways that's what I came to talk to you about. Thanks a lot Rachel, this means a lot to me. Neil's over at his place today so sometime this afternoon, you should go see him! I'll stop by tomorrow and bring Pepper some treats." He waved before disappearing back into town. I swung my axe at another tree in frustration. I didn't come to Echo Village to find a boyfriend. It was to make something worthwhile. I wasn't Lillian running off to a distant land to find a husband like her best friend Chelsea. I always had the idea to come to Echo Village, where dad grew up. He said he had the best memories of his childhood in Echo Village. But he moved to the city for the summer to find better work and then never came back. He would tell me tales of the countryside and the family farm and I always knew I would come here and work hard. But my cousin Lillian, who is only older by one year, moved to the farm lifestyle before I could and now everyone back home just thinks I'm trying to copy her. Typical Rachel, always trying to be like her cousin Lillian. But we were never alike. She had boys, dresses, and makeup on her mind while I've never even worn a dress. I played sports and practically lived outside. I think that's why it was such a shock to the family that Lillian gave up all her worldly possessions and moved to a little village in the mountains. But she got what she wanted; she got married earlier this year to a guy who sells flowers for a living. It's unbelievable. Love is for suckers. All I want is to make Echo Farm the best it can be, like dad used to tell me it was and I can't do that if I'm thinking about boys all the time.

I continued to chop trees for the next few hours but I could feel my arms grow heavy and tense. The sun was starting to set, which meant it was time to put Betsy, my cow, back in the barn. Pepper seemed to know what time it was too and barked happily at Betsy who only mooed loudly at the little dog. Pepper may be a small dog, but she knew how to get Betsy back in the barn. Pepper barked louder and chased Betsy back into the barn. I walked into the village as the street lamps flickered on. I walked slowly to Neil's house. I can't believe I'm about to do this. But it was only one date, I can do that. One date then I never have to do it again. I can focus on the farm. I raised my hand slowly and knocked loudly. I suddenly felt very self-conscious of my appearance, I hope soil covered overalls would be okay. Oh God, why is my heart pounding. I shouldn't be this nervous, right?