Chapter 1

It was another windy and rainy day in November. In Seattle, sometimes this meant that the rivers nearby would probably overflow and some farms would be flooded as well. Jeremy was just coming in from a day on the mountain. They could not log any trees today since the wind was so strong and Jason would not hear of anyone being hurt because of the storm. In fact, since most of his loggers had married and now had children, he sent them to their homes early. Joshua was on Clancy's ship heading home sometime in the next week so he had kept Jeremy at the camp an extra hour or so to go over the books and see if they could get an extension for a couple of contracts. Jason would wire two of the contracts while Jeremy would talk to Aaron the next morning.

Candy was in the kitchen preparing soup and homemade bread for dinner. Jeremy loved her soup and bread; it had all the good things veggies in it. Her bread was excellent, it was so light and fluffy that it felt as if it had been baked in heaven. She was just finishing setting the table when Molly and Christopher came in and said they saw Jeremy coming from the store.

"He is coming early Candy!" said Molly as she took her hat and coat off, Chris had his off and missed the wooden peg that was by the door, and he was hurrying over to the bread to grab a piece.

"Christopher Pruitt! Hang up your coat and hat and wash your hands!" Candy said without turning around. Chris looked at her as if she could see right through him, he looked at the door and saw that his coat and hat had fallen on the floor in a crumpled mess. He was about to go fix it when the door opened. Both Molly and Christopher stopped in their tracks. Candy said without looking up "Chris, close that door…." She turned around and saw someone very tall standing in the doorway. When he stepped in, she saw it was one of the Indians holding a child, and a baby, crying in his arms. Wiping her hands, she told Molly to get some more blankest and Christopher to close the door and hang the clothes.

"Mother is dead, children out in rain all night!" said Wakanado "Baby may be sick they need help!"

Candy took the baby and the other child and brought them by the fire. She nodded a silent yes and asked Molly to get one of the small cups out of the cupboard and the milk that had been left over from baking. Holding the baby, she unwrapped the baby to find it was a white child. So too was the older one who was only 3 years old. Molly helped by wrapping the older one while Candy rocked the baby and fed it some milk. Jeremy came in just then and hanging up his hat and coat he said:

"Well, we have some visitors tonight. Wakanado, how are you? "Jeremy said as he went over to shake the Indian's hand.

"Not so good, found these children and their mother near our burial grounds. The mother was dead, the children I picked them up and brought them to you. I knew that you and your brothers would know what to do."

Jeremy looked at him and at the children. He would have to get Jason later but now they needed help to warm up. He took Wakanado over a way by the stairway and asked:

"Was there anything that could give us an idea of who they are so we can find someone to care for them?"
"Wakanado looked but rain and wind so heavy could not find anything. Too dark as well."

"MMM…." Jeremy said, thinking of what to do. "Well, they will be safe here tonight. We can find out more in the morning. Would you like to stay and have supper with us Wakanado?"
"Yes, I will stay. Perhaps the wind will die down and make it easier to see my way home later."

Candy put the baby in Molly's care and got up and set the table for another person. The child who was about 3 seemed to have fallen asleep by the fire. She would let him sleep until the morning.

Jason had a good night's sleep; he was the only one in the cabin and it felt good being by himself. He mused on that and kind of felt guilty but was secretly glad that he was alone for a little while to gather his thoughts. As he got out of bed, he realized that it was very cold, he was about to call Jeremy or Joshua and ask why the fire wasn't started yet, then he remembered that they were not there. Jeremy lived with Candy now and Joshua was on his way home with Clancy with all the Christmas gifts and other supplies that were needed.

He made himself a cup of coffee and sat down to read one of his books when Jeremy came in and asked him to come over to the house.

"Jeremy, can't' this wait, I have just started my cup of coffee!"

"J-J-Jason, you can get a cup of c-c-coffee from Candy, you need to come now!"

Jason grabbed his coat and left the warm cabin to go out and see what was happening. When he arrived, he saw Wakanado waiting to talk to him outside of Jeremy's house.

"Jason, you will need help to find these children people!" Jason looked at Jeremy with a question Jeremy just nodded and told him to go inside.

Once inside, Candy gave him a cup of coffee and holding the baby while the 3-year-old sat at the table eating some oatmeal.

"You are telling me that these children and their mother were out in all that weather, and that their mother is dead?" He looked at Wakanado and then at Jeremy and Candy. He stood there and thought for a minute and then asked:

"Wakanado, is it possible there might be some thing near where you found these children that would be helpful for us to know who they are?"

Wakanado said "Not sure but perhaps there may be a something in the woman's dead body. But Indian won't go near burial ground so you may have to go look!" Jason nodded and said to Jeremy,

"Wakanado, can you show Jeremy and a couple of our men where you found them?"

Wakanado nodded yes and so Jeremy and WAkanado left to get some men to go searching.

"Candy, get Biddie and a couple of other ladies to help take care of these children until we find out who they are. I am going into town to send a couple of wires and talk to Aaron Stemple as well."

"Molly, you and Christopher go get Biddie and a couple of others as well as ask if Emily can come with some baby things." Candy said this just as the baby started to wake up: "and hurry, the baby needs to be changed and fed!"

Wakanado guided Jeremy and the men to where the body of the mother was. He had buried it so that not animals would disturb the body. They searched around the area. Being careful to not step into the burial ground. Wakanado, helped them.

"Hey, Jeremy, I found something" big Swede said as he hurried down a hill that was very muddy almost slipping and sliding. There at the bottom was a small chest made of wood. It looked as if it had seen better days. The wind and the rain and the slide down the hill had taken its toll on the box, but when Big Swede picked it up, and opened it, the contents spilled out on the ground.

Jeremy and the others caught up to Big Swede and looked at what had fallen out. A pocket watch, with pictures and a name, two small pieces of jewelry and a wedding ring. Just then someone else found a wagon that had tipped over. Another body lay inside but was so mangled they could not tell who it was. After further searching Corky found something that had bounced out of the wagon,

"Jeremy, Jason, come here1" shouted Corky When they arrived, he handed them the rolled leather bag. Jason opened the bag and found a deed, some old necklaces and a hastily written note that said, 'To my dear Millie.'