The Pride of the Prairie

She was a small town girl, she came from Yelm with her parents every year around the end of summer. They would load up the wagons and head to Tacoma to shop and get supplies for the winter months. Emily was just 10 the first time her family came into Tacoma. She was drawn to the sites and sounds of the town. In her little town of Yelm, there was one store, one church and one post office. The school was just a one room school and she was in the 4th grade level at the end of the school year.

Ma and Pa would go to the store in town but for the long time supplies they would go to Tacoma for those. Also, they would have packages delivered to the store from the Sears Catalog. Pa had bought farm equipment and ma had bought an apple corer as well as a new dress for the winter. Emily's siblings received new shoes and coats for the winter as well as school supplies. Ma and Pa expected all of their children to learn to read and write and were pleasantly surprised that Emily's older sister and brother were able to work on high school academics and were slated to take the test to go on to college. Martin wanted to be a doctor and Millie wanted to be a teacher. Emily was not sure what she wanted to be yet but her other siblings Cathy and Cheryl the twins were thinking of marriage, they were now 14 and both had an eye on a cou[leof boys. MIcky was more interested in farming like their pa.

Getting out of the wagon all the kids went to the general store to get their shoes and clothes. Once that was done, they were allowed to check out the town and keep an eye on their youngest sister. The two older girls were more interested in looking at all the men in town and forgot to check on Emily. Millie and Martin both went to the town library to study and Micky was 12 and was watching the horse trading at the livery stable. Emily, took her favorite doll and headed down one side of the street and another. She wasn't watching where she was going and bumped into a rather tall man with a nice smile and blue eyes.

"Oh, I am sorry sir." She said with a curtsy and a shy smile.

"No problem little miss, " the tall man with the striking blue eyes said and tipped his hat and was about to walk away when Emily blurted out:

"What's your name? Where Do you live? I think you are kind of cute!" She grinned and giggled.

The man stopped and smiled at her and said: "Well thank you! My name is Jeremy Bolt, and may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
"My name is Emily Schaffer. You have the bluest eyes I have ever seen!" she said

"Thank you, and you have the brownest eyes I have ever seen!" Jeremy smiled and then said: "Well, miss Emily Schaffer, I have to go, I need to go home now."
"Where do you live Mr. Jeremy Bolt?"
Jeremy smiled and said "Seattle!"

Emily was about to ask where Seattle was when her mother showed up.

"Emily Ann Schaffer! Why are you talking to a stranger?"

"He is not a stranger, his name is Jeremy Bolt!" Emily said with conviction.

Mrs. Schaffer looked at the young man. He was dressed in a rather nice grey suit and looked respectable, but talking to a 10 year old was kind of suspicious. She was about to take Emily's hand when Jeremy spoke.

"That is okay Ma'am! My name is Jeremy Bolt and I own a lumber company with my two brothers in seattle. Your daughter and I were just getting acquainted. Her mother took her by the hand and smiled and politely led Emily away.

"Mom, did you see that he had the bluest eyes!? And guess what he lives in Seattle, can we go to Seattle soon?"

Her mother just looked at her and shook her head. Some days, she thought Emily was not quite right. To think a young lady would ask all sorts of questions about a man that was a stranger.

For the next few years her family had many serious events, Micky married and continued the family farm, while Martin became a doctor and Millie a teacher in Seattle. Cathay and Cheryl both married twin brothers and were expecting any day. Emily would sit quite a lot daydreaming about the young man she had met at the store. She wanted to see if he was still there.

Time came that they needed to go to Tacoma for supplies. This time when they went to Tacoma she looked around and hoped she would see that young man again. After getting her things at the store. She took a walk along the street and looked around to see if she could see him.

Jason Bolt stepped out of the office and was about to go over for a cup of coffee and a little lunch when he inadvertently walked into MIss Emily.

"Oh, Pardon me miss!" Emily could not quite believe her eyes, was this the same man she had seen 5 years ago?

"Oh, no problem, you wouldn't happen to know a Jeremy Bolt would you?"

Jason looked at her a little stunned.
"How do you know Jeremy?" Jason asked suspiciously

"I don't really know him but we bumped into each other about 5 years ago and had a nice little conversation. I was wondering if he was here?"

Jason looked at the young girl, he smiled his winning smile and said:

"I am his older brother, he is at the hotel. Would you like to go see him?" Jason had a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he asked her. Emily thought for a minute and then said "Yes, that would be nice." Jason held out his arm and escorted her to the hotel. He found Jeremy and Candy sitting and talking at one of the tables in the restaurant. Jason walked over to the table with Emily.

"Jeremy, here is someone to see you!" He said with a twinkle in his eye

Jeremy looked up but did not recognize Emily. After all, she had been 10 and now she was 15 and looked quite grown up.

"I am sorry, Miss but I don't remember who you are?" Jeremy said, looking at Candy.

Emily, a little embarrassed, was about to run away when Candy said:

"Jeremy, is this the little girl you told me you had met on the street about 5 years ago?"

Jeremy nodded and then after recalling her name he said:

"Well, Miss Schaffer, you have grown to be quite a pretty lady!"

Emily stood there and swallowing she said:

"Thank you Mr. Bolt. Your eyes are still the bluest of blue eyes I have ever seen!"

Candy smiled and Jeremy was polite and said thank you. However, Emily realized that he was attached to another and she felt so embarrassed that she ran out the door and got to her parents wagon without anyone noticing where she had come from. She sat in the wagon waiting to go, with tears streaming down her cheek.

Back in the restaurant, Jason had done it only to embarrass Jeremy but instead after Candy lit into him and he did feel a bit ashamed of himself, but he was Jason Bolt!

"Candy, I was only trying to see what you would say if you thought Jeremy had another girl in town!"
"Jason Bolt, it was not funny, did you see her running out, she was so embarrassed. I am going to find her and talk to her. She is probably in tears!" Candy walked out just in time to see her parents leaving with her in the back of the wagon.

Candy went in and thought about what they could do to help the girl.

"But Candy, we can't do anything. She has gone home with her parents!" Jeremy said.

"There is something we can do, we can find out where they live and go talk to her!" said Candy emphatically. Both Jason and Jeremy looked at each other and were about to come up with excuses when in walked the girl and her parents.

"Mr. Bolt!" said Emily's father,: "I am Roger Schaffer, my wife Letitia has said that our daughter is crying because she was embarrassed here in Public and we want a public apology!"

"Excuse me Mr. Schaffer, I am the one who brought her in. It is my fault!" Jason said.

Mr. Schaffer looked at him and said: "Mr Bolt, our daughter does not have a lot of social abilities. She sometimes says things out without thinking where or who she is with. I do realize that we need to keep her closer at hand, but to take a child like this and put her in a situation where she has no idea how to act or behave is not what a gentleman does. Now sir, if you will apologize, we will leave you and your family alone."

Jason looked properly sorrowful and then taking Emily's hand, he held it and said:

"Miss Emily, I am truly sorry for putting you into a position that you were not quite ready for. Please forgive me?"

Emily looked up at Jason and thought for a moment. She then proceeded to say:

"Mr. Bolt, thank you for your apology. "

Emily looked up into his eyes and said:

" You also have the bluest eyes I have ever seen!" She smiled up at Jason…

"Emily, it is time for us to go!" Her father said.

Jason looked away and was slightly confused. Her mother saw the confused look and told him

" She is a child and will always remain a child. She is unable to comprehend social behavior. She does draw and write stories but her abilities are limited. Please do not encourage her. Thank you, All of you, Mr. Bolt, Mr. and Mrs. Bolt." with that they left.