Chapter 2

Chris stopped at the shipping office. The Golden West was leaving for parts unknown to Christopher Pruitt, and he wanted to go to sea. He was 14 and old enough to go. He had discussed this with Grandpa Pruitt, who himself was going to sail with Silas Hiram on the Golden West ship as well.

"Hello, Mr. Hiram!" Chris said as he entered the office.

"Well, hello Christopher, what can I do for you?"
"I would like to sign on to your ship and learn the shipping trade firsthand!"
Silas Hiram looked at Christopher and asked him:

"Are you prepared to be out on the open seas, traveling all around the continents and other places such as Tahiti and Australia? What does your sister say? You are still considered a minor!"

"Mr. Hiram, my grandfather has decided to be a passenger on your ship, I want to work my way and learn. My sister will probably not like it, but since Molly and I have now made sure that Jeremy and Candy are getting married, she wont object too much!" Chris said this with a smile on his face. Mr. Hiram just looked and thought about it for a while.

"Chris, let me talk to Clancy, and I will let you know tomorrow morning. We will not be setting sail for at least two weeks!"

Chris shook Mr. Hiram's hand and left. All he needed to do was to convince Candy that he would be safe and sound. He was walking back to the dormitory when he saw Jeremy and Candy walking from the church. He thought they had been setting the date for the wedding.

"Hello Christopher!" Candy said: "Why aren't you up at the camp working today?"

Chris did not answer the question right away. He was always caught in a lie every time he told Candy something, so he had to think what to say. Fortunately, Jeremy provided the answer.

"Candy, Josh gave Chris some time off today." Jeremy said smiling at Chris.

Chris smiled back and said: "Yes, Uncle Josh said I could take the day off. Later today, could we have a family meeting, you and me and Molly and Grandpa?"

Candy looked at him suspiciously and said: "Yes? What is this about?"

"I will tell you at the meeting. About 4 then?" Chris asked and then waved goodbye.

Molly was cooking something for dinner that night in the dormitory. Since she had turned 16, she was allowed to sleep in the dormitory since there were now several new 'teacher's and single ladies in the town of Seattle. Molly thought of this as a way to be independent from her sister and family.

"Molly," one of the girls said: "what are we having for dinner tonight?"

Molly looked over her shoulder as she said: "Well, Cindy, I think that I will keep that a secret until we have it!"

Cindy looked at Molly and smiled. She knew that Molly would tell everyone what was for dinner, they all knew what was for dessert when Molly cooked. That is what brought a young fellow named Richard over to the dormitory when he was here visiting his aunt Biddie.

"I take it Rich will be coming tonight?" Cindy said to tease Molly.

"I hope so, I haven't heard from him, so I don't know. He always kind of sneaks in when no one is looking!" both girls giggled. Richard was 18 and was planning on becoming a lawyer. His Uncle Barnabas helped him to get into Yale.

"Well, I know when to pop in!" a deep voice said as a tall young man walked into the dormitory. Immediately there was an uproar and some of the ladies were not too happy to see a young man come in.

"Really, Richard, you could have knocked on the door! Didn't your mother or at least your aunt teach you some manners?" Molly said as she hurried out of the kitchen to push him back out to the porch.

Richard just laughed and let himself be led out the door and onto the porch.
"Now what was all that fuss for? You know all those girls just love me!" he said with a silly grin on his face and teasing Molly.

Molly looked at him and shook her head. "Richard, you are a scoundrel! But I like you anyway."

Still grinning his silly grin, he said: "I love you and we are going to get married someday!"

"You sir have not proposed to me yet! Besides, it is time for Candy and Uncle Jeremy to get married. The wedding is planned, and they will be married next week!"

"We can make it a double wedding?"

Molly looked at him with a look that would kill if she dared to do that!

"Richard Allen Cloom! Candy and Jeremy have been waiting almost 6 years or more and it is time for them to have a wedding and nothing, no not even our happiness will spoil their wedding! So don't even think about it!" Molly was upset with Richard for even suggesting it. She often felt a little guilt for them not getting married right when they were planning it because of her and her brother's arrival! So, she was not going to spoil their wedding plans this time!

Richard looked at her and smiled and taking hold of her hands he said: "My dear Miss Molly, I do not have the intention of spoiling their wedding. In fact, my aunt Biddie has told me to come over here to stay out of her way. So, that is what I am doing!"

"Oh! I see! So, she sent you to get into my way, is it?" Molly said with a slight grin.

"Well, it is between spending time with you or with my uncle Barnabas. I decided you were definitely prettier!" He grinned again as she threw a towel at him.

"Okay, come in you can help some of the other ladies here as well!" So, he came in and soon he was sitting with his hands up and letting one of the ladies wind her yarn on his hands. Molly glanced over at Richard. He was infuriating at times, but she was falling for him. She knew that it would have to be a few more years before she said yes, so that Jeremy and Candy would have a good start to their marriage.

Chris came into the Bolt Brother's cabin and waited for Jeremy, Candy, Grandpa Pruitt, Molly and Silas Hiram. Josh and Aaron were about to leave but Jeremy said they could stay.

"Well, I have made a decision and have checked all resources except for you Candy and Molly." Candy looked at Molly then at Mr. Hiram, she wondered why he was here. She was about to ask Christopher what he had to say when Christopher said:

"I am putting out to sea in two weeks with Mr. Silas Hiram!" Chris said, his brown eyes glistening with excitement.

Molly had understood something like that was going to happen, Grandpa Pruitt knew it. Jeremy knew it but his brothers did not so there was a lot of whispering and questioning.

"Christopher, you are not old enough to do that yet!" Candy said in alarm. Jeremy held her hand and whispered: "yes he is!" Candy shot him a look and Molly applauded.

Joshua and Aaron were happy for him, Christopher was like a little brother to them as well as Jeremy.

"But how can I get married with you gone?" Candy said with fear in her voice.

Fear that was born of the other times her engagement to Jeremy had been longer than expected.

Christopher laughed and smiled at his sister and said:

"Sis, I want you to know, that I won't be leaving until the two of you are safely on a ship on a honeymoon, which I think Captain Clancy has arranged for you. If not, we all will do our best to get you married and out of here!" he said with a laugh.

"Poppit, you needn't worry. I will be with him for some of his journey. He will be working on the ship, whereas I will be a passenger." Said Grandpa Pruitt.

Candy looked at Grandpa, looked at Christopher, with his smile and his eyes all lit up about the adventure he was going to go on. She looked at Jeremy, and when she looked into his loving blue eyes, she knew she could not say no to Christopher. Since she was considered his guardian, she had to give written permission for him to travel on the ship and work.

"I suppose you will be a first mate, when you get back then, won't you Christopher?"

"I hope so! And I hope to see a couple of nieces and nephews when I return!" Chris smiled as he looked at his sister."

Mr. Hiram was looking at Christopher, he was a strong young fellow, someone who would make a good shipmate. He was happy that Christopher had decided to join him on his second journey around the world.

"Mr. Hiram1" Candy said: "I expect that Christopher will be able to send letters frequently back and forth?"

"Why of course Miss Pruitt, we will always pull into a port of call. But mind you the letters may not reach you for 6 months to a year, so you may not be informed as easily as just getting a letter from Tacoma."
"Mr. Hiram, I came from New Bedford, we have received letters twice a year, so I expect at least something in that time period!" Candy said to Mr. Hiram, with a meaningful look at Grandpa Pruitt as well.

"Well, Poppit, I will be sending a letter to you at least once a month, so you will be received something from me about young Mr. Pruitt as well." Grandpa Pruitt said with a wink to Christopher.

Everything was settled then, and Christopher went to Lottie's. With Mr. Hiram and met Clancy on the way. As they walked into the saloon, he looked at Lottie and said:

"Ms. Lottie, I would like a beer!"

Lottie looked at Christopher and said: "You are not old enough!"

Clancy and Silas both said: "Miss Lottie, we would like a bottle of whiskey, we have a young'un to indoctrinate!"

Lottie stared at the two men then at Christopher and said:
"No, he cannot have a drink in here!" She looked at them and expected them to adhere to the rules.

Clancy and Silas both looked at her and at Christopher and then Clancy said:

"Lottie, me girl, could I have two bottles of your whiskey please!"

Lottie looked at Clancy and said: "Fish face, if you are planning to do what I think you are going to do, you better get your whisky and get out quick!"

Clancy and Silas looked at each other and said okay. Christopher looked at them and

they motioned to him to remain there and drink a sarsaparilla then they would see him later that night.