Then noticed the enormous rusted drum protruding above the tailgate.
Her eyebrows rose.
Wy parked near the equipment shed.
Hazel climbed out.
"Grandma!"
Pearl looked from her granddaughter to the truck.
Then back again.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Finally, she asked, "What have you brought home?"
Hazel smiled.
"Three pea shellers."
Pearl stared.
Then looked toward Wy.
"Three?"
He nodded.
"For three dollars."
Pearl closed her eyes.
For a moment, Hazel thought her grandmother was angry.
Then Pearl began laughing.
Not mocking laughter.
The deep, delighted laughter Hazel remembered from childhood, when her grandfather used to come home with some impractical bargain and insist it would become useful one day.
Pearl walked toward the pickup.
She examined the large drum sheller.
Then the wooden hand-crank model.
Then the perforated cylinder.
Her laughter faded.
For several minutes, she studied them quietly.
Hazel waited.
Finally, Pearl looked toward her.
"Why these three?"
Hazel took a breath.
"The wooden one's frame is damaged, but the rollers might still be usable. The big one's housing is cracked, but parts of the drive may be worth saving. And the little drum..."
She hesitated.
Pearl leaned closer.
"What about it?"
Hazel smiled.
"I think somebody stopped using it because they couldn't get the crank to turn smoothly."
Her grandmother studied the small sheller.
Then asked, "And you think you can fix it?"
Hazel shrugged.
"I think I can find out why it stopped."
Pearl stared at her.
For a moment, her expression softened.
Then she looked toward Wy.
"Help her put them under the roof."
He nodded.
"Already planning to."
Hazel smiled.
But Pearl wasn't finished.
She turned toward her granddaughter.
"One condition."
Hazel looked up.
"What?"
Her grandmother pointed toward the machines.
"You don't turn a single one of those things until you've checked them properly. Rusted metal, loose parts, and old belts can hurt you faster than you can blink."
Hazel nodded.
"I know."
Pearl studied her.
Then smiled.
"Good."
She looked toward the garden.
"And when you're finished playing mechanic, there are six rows of peas that need weeding."
Hazel laughed.
"Yes, ma'am."
They unloaded the equipment.
Wy placed the machines on a sturdy work platform beneath the shed roof.
Hazel arranged the detached pieces beside them and took photographs before beginning any disassembly.
Pearl watched for a while.
Then returned to the garden.
But as she walked away, she glanced back once more.
And something in her face changed.