The Storks are Coming Chpt 9
Jason was on the new deck enjoying the trip home significantly more than the trip to San Francisco. Clancy had sworn that Jason was the source of the violent winds and rain which pelted the Kathleen for most of the stressful voyage to San Fran. Clancy informed his friend if his mood sunk any lower on the trip, he was going to be responsible for their sinking. Clancy was returning to Seattle on the ship with them, Jason thought that Clancy missed the old Shamus but appreciated the restored ship. Jason expected a large crowd to be waiting the arrival of the old Shamus, not so much for Jason but to discover the new name and see the improvements. The Shamus may have been a nightmare, but it was responsible for a turning point in Seattle's history.
As he stared determined to be the first to see the coastline, Kathleen squeezed under his left arm as she wrapped her right arm around his waist. He kissed her head and inquired about the triplets. She informed him that they were fed, changed, and sleeping. She peered up at Jason who was completely focused on seeing the coast and sheepishly asked "Are you upset about the carriages?" Jason smirked "I must be getting older because in the past I probably would have loudly informed you and everyone around that they were nonsense. Honestly, in town when it has rained which is a lot of the time, they will be useless but when the ground is dry my wife and our beautiful babies can strut about Seattle for all the world to admire." Kathleen gently strengthen her hug of her husband. Jason informed her that he had asked his men to put some wood planks down from the dock to Lottie's so she would be able to show off a bit when they docked.
Jeremy and Candy had arrived early at Lottie's for breakfast. The twins were tucked away in the back room awaiting the arrival of their new cousins. Candy kept asking Jeremy what the name of the ship was, but he claimed not to know. Jeremy finally said "Jason and Aaron asked if I wished to know but I was forbidden from telling you. If keeping it a secret from you would be impossible then I should not know it and I agreed." Candy protested that she would not have told everyone. Jeremy laughed but the one she would have told, would have told everyone, Biddie. Candy gave a little huff and slapped her hands in her lap. Lottie kept peering out the window as she had missed her husband was anxious to have him home. The crowd was larger than normal in the square as word had spread of the return of Jason and the new ship. Chris gripping Jason's telescope ran to Lottie's bell and ran it about six times. Through the telescope, he had first sight of the ship which should appear soon for all to see.
Jeremy, Candy, and Lottie bounded through the doors of the saloon practically knocking over Biddie and Rodger. Since they had been inside for quite a while, they were not aware of the crowd gathering. Aaron, Jemma and April pulled into stables and joined Candy, Jeremy and Lottie. Aaron also had purchased a fancy telescope. It seem like an eternity before the residents could see the two ships in the distance. Aaron lifted his telescope and smiled when he was able to see the figurehead and the name. He leaned over to Jeremy and suggested that he get the telescope from Chris. Once he had retrieved the telescope Jeremy lifted to his eye and said perfect. He turned to his wife who was rocking on her feet, gave her the telescope and told her to look but remain calm. Candy lifted the telescope and inspected the name, the lettering was fancy, she whispered to Jeremy "NB" and she stopped with large smile on her face. Jeremy asked if she had looked at the figurehead. She peered though the telescope once more, the figurehead was a full-figured woman with enough clothes to cover the essential areas, the hair was flowing but three colors. One side was blond, the middle was red, and the other side brunette. Candy called her best friend over to use the telescope, Biddie looked through the scope and started to scream "It is names after all of us. NB Brides." She screamed for all the brides to come over to use the telescope. Lottie had been aware of the changes, she stepped forward and said "Gather as many brides as you can. Bottles of liquor had been purchased so that every bride available can christen the new ship today. So spread the word to be back here by 5 PM.
Lottie had hoped to empty the square a bit so the babies could make it into Seattle without being terrified by the crowd. They were all well-wishers but today was meant to be a celebration and she was concerned about Jason's reaction to people crowding his infants. It took awhile but the two ships were pulling into the Puget Sound harbor. Many of the brides had since joined the crowds to greet the new ship named after them.
The gathering was cheering. Captain McHale told Jason he would have his crew line up along the path created to Lottie's to make sure no one harm the babies. Kathleen and Jason while on deck did lift the babies for everyone to see and one could tell the townspeople were genuinely happy for the Bolts. Once the Bolts were safely deposited at Lottie's, the crew swiftly returned to NB Brides as tours were being permitted. Outside of the Captain's cabin on the wall in a picture box hung the disarmed gun with which Candy threatened Jason, below it was a description of the mutiny. In the galley hung the cleaver, knives and broom with which the brides intimidated the crew. The poster and a copy of the contract which the Bolt brothers presented to the brides in New Bedford were framed and hung in the dining area. The brides loved the new ship
At five Jason, Jeremy and Aaron bought out the bottles of whiskey as the brides lined up to christen the ship. The first bride in line was Candy Pruitt Bolt. She smashed that bottle against the hull and the crowd cheered. Life had not necessarily been easy since that voyage but most agreed they had found their home in Seattle.