Chapter 2: Hunting for Jason

Josh drove the wagon up to Bridal Veil Mountain, with Jenny at his side and Jeremy sitting behind them. It was an unusually beautiful day, with bright sunshine peaking out between the branches of the trees and making the long, winding stream by the path glitter and twinkle. Jenny still remembered the names of all the tree species – the Douglas-firs with their yellow-green needles, the western hemlocks with their rounded needles and small cones. Jonathan Bolt had taught her and the boys well. She used to love going up to the mountain, listening to the loggers call to one another, sitting on a stump on a late autumn afternoon, examining the variety of needles on the ground and breathing in their fragrant scent as the sun started to descend and the air grew brisk.

The stories she now wrote were always set on a mountain – the story she had just published, the one the newspaper had just bought and scheduled to publish next month, and the countless others waiting in her desk to be revised, polished, and submitted. The editor of her first story told her that readers loved imagining they were with her characters, far away from the noise and the grime of San Francisco. In letters, he said, they wrote that her mountain setting sounded like heaven.

They reached the clearing, and Josh tied the reins, then hopped down and jogged toward a large tent with a shingle marked "Office" hanging from a post. Jeremy climbed down and helped Jenny from the wagon.

"It's so different!" Jenny said, looking around.

Jeremy looked at her questioningly. "Different? It's the same as it's always been."

"No, it's so busy. There must be two or three times as many loggers as when I left. I don't think I recognize any of them."

Jeremy laughed, putting his hands on his hips. "I don't know about two or three times. But we're doing well. Brought on more men. Still, I think there are a few old-timers you'd probably know."

Jenny turned to him. "Oh Jeremy, your father would be so proud of the three of you. You've all done so well.

"And Candy is lovely," she added. "Is it serious?"
He smiled shyly. "Very. We're engaged."

"That's wonderful. She's a lucky girl. She isn't from Seattle, is she? I'd remember her if she was."

"No, she's one of the brides – that's what we call the girls who moved here from New Bedford to get married. The men were lonely and threatened to leave if we didn't increase Seattle's female population. SO Jason, Josh and me – we went to Massachusetts to bring them back, one hundred of them. There've been plenty of weddings already. Bringing back the brides, it was one of the best things that ever happened to Seattle."

"Well, if Candy is any indication, it's been a good move for the brides, too," Jenny said. "She really seems to love you. And Josh? Has he found a bride?"

"Nope," Jeremy said with a laugh. "Not ready to get married. Although he's done a lot f courting, I'll give him that."

Jenny looked down. "And Jason?"

"Jason hasn't found a bride either. He stays pretty focused on the business these days. Although, there is…I mean, we've got a—"

"Jeremy – Jason's not here!" Josh called, emerging from the tent. "Didn't you say he wanted to finish that paperwork?"

"That's what he told me," Jeremy said. "Are you sure?"

"If he was in the tent, don't you think I'd have seen him?" Josh said. Then he grabbed the elbow of a short, stocky man walking by with an ax. "Corky, wait," he said. "You see Jason around?"

"Jason? Sure." The man pointed toward an uphill trail. "He went to scout out some areas near the northern ridge."

"The northern ridge? We're not scheduled to start there until next month. Are you sure?"
"That's what he said."

"Did he take a crew?"

"Nope. Just went by himself."

Josh sighed and turned to Jenny. He could see she was disappointed. "Sorry to have dragged you up here for nothing," he said.

She shook her head. "Don't worry, I loved coming up here anyway. I love this mountain. I'm sure I'll see Jason eventually."

"I guess I should have thought ahead and told him we might be coming," Jeremy said.

"Oh, he figured you'd be here," Corky told him. "He specifically told me to tell you not to go try to find him. He said he'd catch up with you back in town later." He tipped his hat and nodded at Jenny. "Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

"Oh, sorry – Jenny, Corky – Corky, Jenny," Jeremy said, sounding exasperated. He put his hands on his hips. "I don't get it. He thinks we're coming up here, and that's when he decides to go up to the northern ridge?" He shook his head. "I guess we may as well head back. I'm thinking that Lottie will be preparing a big welcome-home dinner. Jenny, you probably want to rest and get settled."

"You two go on ahead," Josh said. "I just realized, there are some contracts I need to take a look at. I'll see you back in town."

"Nice meeting you, Corky," Jenny said as Jeremy helped her back into the wagon.

Corky tipped his hat again, as Jeremy grabbed the reins. Josh waved and started for the tent. But once the horses took off and the wagon was out of sight, he turned around and went toward the uphill trail Corky had pointed to.

"Hey, I thought you were going to check out contracts," Corky said.

"Oh, mind your own business, Corky," Josh muttered and continued walking.

He was only about a half mile away from camp when he spotted the tall figure, sitting on a fallen tree trunk, one leg perched on a rock and his chin in his hand. Just as Josh had suspected, his older brother was really not interested in scouting new areas for logging.

"I heard you were going up the northern ridge," he said, coming up behind his brother. "At least that's what you told Corky."

Jason looked over his shoulder, startled. "Oh, Josh, it's you."

"The northern ridge is another three miles away," Josh continued, walking toward the tree trunk. "You won't make it before sundown if you take a rest every half mile."

Jason sighed and put his forehead in his head. "Ah, Josh, just go back, will you? Will you do me this favor and just go back?"

"Jenny's been here," Josh said.

"I figured. Some of the men said the boat came in."

"No, I mean, she was actually here at camp. She went back down with Jeremy when Corky said you weren't around." Josh picked up a thin branch from the ground and started breaking off the twigs.

"I'll see her back in town."

"She's been asking about you."

"I'll be back later."

"She really wants to see you."

"Josh, I said – "

"In fact, she's"

"Josh!" Jason said harshly. "Stop." He stood up and looked out over the forest. "I have work to do, we have deadlines to meet. I can't be spending afternoons entertaining fancy San Francisco ladies. We're half a day behind already on the newest contract with Stemple."

He turned to face Josh. "How does she look?" he said softly.

"Beautiful. Even prettier than when she left."

Jason grimaced and looked away. "Aaron says she's getting married."

"I don't think so," Josh said. "She said it's not true. Anyway, a girl doesn't hop a rickety old ship and set sail for hundreds of miles if she's just agreed to marry someone. Not if she's really in love."

He got up and placed his hand on his older brother's shoulder. "Look, I don't know what's going on with you, but she really wants to see you and I think she's starting to feel hurt. We were all close, but you meant the most to her. You were the one she always turned to after her mother died.

"I think she needs you," Josh added. "Jeremy says Lottie's got a big dinner planned. They're going to expect you. Don't just abandon her."

Jason sighed. Already, the sun was starting to go down. A fiery streak of reddish orange crossed the wide sky.

"Alright. You're right," he said. "I'll be back in time for dinner."

Josh started back down towards camp.

"And Josh –" Jason called. Josh looked over his shoulder. "Thanks."

Josh nodded. "See you later," he said.