CHAPTER 1

The weather had turned slightly chilly, not all that surprising for the early Autumn season in Seattle. Yet, despite the heady winds that were blowing from the water, the young woman seemed oblivious to the plethora of activity was taking place throughout the town and at the docks. Absently, she knew that the flurry was in expectation of Captain Clancy's ship's imminent arrival, an event that would find everyone heady with the excitement of the new cargo that he would be bringing into the town and what new items would soon find their way onto the shelves of Ben Perkins' store. Normally, Jemma Bolt would be as excited at the rest of Seattle's population, however, she had much more on her mind than what new inventory Ben might have to offer the town or what news Captain Clancy might bring back from the Eastern half of the country, especially now that Reconstruction was in its full swing and the country was finally pulling itself back together after the devastation of the Civil War, something that seemed a distant event in the Washington Territory.

Even though she had been a lifelong resident of Seattle, Jemma easily stood out from crowds, even when she was among the other girls in town she was still easily discernible from the rest. Jemma was a sharp contrast of her brothers; Jason, Joshua, and Jeremy, even Joshua, with his blond hair that differed from Jason and Jeremy's dark and waving strands, was still easily identified as a Bolt. Jemma, on the other hand, with her petite stature, pale fairness, and eyes that could easily rival the brightest emeralds, not to mention the glorious crown of long, curling, and waving hair whose auburn color could rival a fine glass of Burgundy. However, despite the obvious differences in appearance between her and her brothers, the one familial trait that held true was the infamous temper and stubborn nature that could be found in all four of the Bolt siblings, even more so in Jemma.

Not only was she the only girl born to Jonathan and Juliet Bolt, but she was also the youngest, something that found her brothers becoming even more overly protective than what they normally would have been, especially her eldest brother, Jason. Although Jason took his responsibilities as the eldest sibling very seriously, when it came to his only sister those responsibilities seemed to go from being overly protective to being that of truly smothering. Proof of that tendency was in the fact that, despite the shortage of marriageable women that had been such an issue in Seattle almost a year ago, she remained unmarried. While she knew it wasn't solely her brother's reluctance to find any man acceptable, in his eyes at least, she still couldn't help but feel the flames of her ire rising at Jason's stubbornness.

The simple truth was that, even when she had been one of the few marriageable women in Seattle, she had no inclinations towards accepting any of the marriage proposals that she had received, except for one. However, the timing of that proposal could not have come at a worse time, especially given the one who had made the offer. Jemma had immediately squelched the proposal with a counter-proposal of her own; time to bring her brothers, especially Jason, to acceptance of the idea. However, that had been some months ago and her hope, at that time, had been that once the brides had arrived and her brothers had found their own loves, their over protectiveness and smothering of her would lessen and she would be freed to live her life. While Jeremy had seemed to follow that path, and even Joshua seemed determined to find love for himself, Jason seemed to remain the lone holdout, although everyone had thought that when the Amish girl, Dana, had managed to capture his attention that would change, it soon became evident that was not a path meant for the elder Bolt. Even though it would have made things much easier for her own hopes, Jemma's sadness over her brother's failed attempt at love was more for the pain in his heart that she knew he was suffering, even if he refused to allow that pain to show to anyone, even himself.

Despite the sadness of her brother's situation, Jemma couldn't help but find a subtle bit of amusement, although she kept it to herself, in Jason's observation that he believed his destiny was meant to be that of an old bachelor, as he believed was the same fate for one other in Seattle. She found her thoughts interrupted as she nearly collided with Seattle's version of the town crier; Biddie Cloom. Jemma had no qualms with Biddie's company, there were times that she even found the woman's presence enjoyable, yet, today was not that day, however, she also knew that she was could not avoid Biddie's companionship at the moment, especially as she chattered in her high pitched voice;

"Oh hi, Jemma! Isn't it exciting? Ben said that he will have a whole new batch of dress materials for his store in this shipment from the East, he even hinted at some French lace that might be in with the material."

Placing a smile of serenity on her face, Jemma nodded as she agreed;

"Yes, Biddie, that sounds very exciting. I know that you and the other girls have been looking forward to making some new dresses."

Nodding eagerly, Biddie gushed;

"Oh, yes, especially with the anniversary dance next week."

As if a sudden thought had penetrated her excitement, Biddie tilted her head to the side as she studied her companion before demanding in her direct manner of nosiness;

"Why, Jemma, you don't seem excited at all. I mean think about it, we've all been here a year now and look how far all of us and Seattle has come in that time. And I just know that there will be more weddings happening soon."

Biddie's face seemed to become a mask of apology as she offered;

"Oh, Jemma, I'm sorry. I mean, I just know that you'll find a husband, I'm sure that you'll find a sweetheart at the dance, I mean you're just so pretty that all of the nice, single men will be eager to dance with you."

The mask of irritated sarcasm filling the depths of Jemma's eyes, she quipped;

"If Jason will let any of them get anywhere near me, you mean. Right, Biddie?"

Seeing the look of embarrassed concern on the girl's face, Jemma shook her head as she offered;

"Biddie, it's alright, I promise. I know that there's a vast difference between me and the rest of you girls. You girls don't have three very large and overly protective brothers standing on your porch when a gentleman comes to call."

Despite her feelings on the matter, Jemma couldn't help but find a slight bit of amusement at Biddie's speechlessness, her amusement increased as Biddie offered in polite embarrassment;

"I'm sorry, Jemma, but if you'd like, I'll look at the new material with you and help you with a dress for the dance."

With that, she turned and hurried toward the dock as Clancy's ship was spotted, leaving Jemma to resume her earlier thoughts. However, she found herself pausing once more when she found herself surprised as a hand gently touched her elbow as Aaron Stempel stepped up on the wooden walkway to stand next to her as he offered;

"I'm sorry, Jemma, I didn't mean to frighten you."

She found the corners of her mouth turning up in a gentle smile as she shook her head before admitting;

"You may well surprise and even shock me, Aaron, but I can assure you that frightening me would not be something that I would not attribute to you."

Despite his usually stoic demeanor and temperament, Aaron chuckled as he informed her;

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Motioning towards Clancy's vessel, he asked;

"Are you as excited as the rest of the girls about the new shipment of dress materials and the idea of a new gown for the dance next Saturday?"

Aaron couldn't help but notice as her emerald eyes clouded a bit as she demanded;

"And what good does it do me to become excited over such a thing? I'm not like the 'rest of the girls' as you put it and you and I both know that the extent of my good time will more than likely be listening to the music and taking part in a handful of dances, mind you that's only if anyone can get past their aversion to raising my brothers' ire."

The look in his own eyes softened as he offered quietly;

"Jemma, you know good and well that I'm going to be claiming at least most if not ALL of your dances. And you know something, you're right, you're nothing like the rest of the girls, but then again you never have been like anybody else. I could search the world over and never find anyone else like you."

Discreetly, he gently placed his hand on her arm as his voice softened;

"Nor would I want to find another like you because they wouldn't be you, you're one of a kind and a copy would never be able to compare."

Pleadingly, Jemma ordered quietly;

"Aaron, don't."

Glancing about to make sure no one was paying attention to their conversation, he noticed that everyone was at the dock as Clancy was approaching the slip. Noticing a quiet, shadowed discreet area next to Ben's store, he took her hand in his and led her to the spot as he begged;

"And why not, Jemma, you know how I feel about you, I've made no bones about it and if you had any doubts previously I would have thought that my proposal had eliminated any that you might have harbored."

Releasing a deep pent up sigh, she explained;

"A proposal that could not have come at a worse time, surely you must realize that."

Offering a slight nod, he agreed;

"Alright, so my timing wasn't the best in the world, I'm more than aware of that now. But, surely there can't be an argument now, the bet is over and Jason won, so what argument can there be?"

Seeing that most of the population of Seattle were now scattering about with Clancy's arrival, which also meant that Jason, Joshua, and Jeremy would soon be making an appearance,

Jemma placed her hands on his shirt front as she pleaded softly;

"And again, your timing is not the best in the world, not with all of Seattle just a few feet away from us and my brothers about to be included in that group."

She wasn't surprised when his eyes darkened considerably with his stubbornness as he ventured;

"Alright then, let's put an end to it and I'll talk to Jason about it the second I see him."

Jemma's eyes widened in concern as she exclaimed;

"You know that you can't do that, Aaron."

Taking her hands in his, he demanded;

"And just why can't I? Wouldn't it be the honorable thing to do, present my case to your oldest brother?"

Finally, seeking to defuse a situation before it arose, Jemma offered;

"If I agree to discuss this at a better time and in a more appropriate place, do you promise not to say anything to Jason or anyone else, at least until then?"

Seeing that he had the upper hand at the moment, Aaron smiled devilishly as he crossed his arms over his chest before leaning his shoulder against the building to demand;

"I want all of your dances Saturday night."

Staring at him in disbelief, she exclaimed;

"Aaron, that's blackmail!"

Shaking his head defiantly, he corrected;

"No, Jemma, it's negotiating terms."

Her eyes sparkling with fire, she quipped;

"I wasn't aware that this was a business deal to be negotiated."

Chuckling slightly he lightly touched the tip of her nose as he agreed;

"You're right, it's not, it's much more important."

Hearing the uproarious sound of the loggers, including her brothers approaching on the path from the logging camp, she quickly capitulated;

"Alright, agreed. You're the only one stubborn enough to buck Jason's over protectiveness anyway."

As she was turning to leave the space, Aaron took her hand to pull her close to him as he placed a kiss on her cheek before whispering in her ear;

"And just in case you'd like my opinion, I happen to think that emerald green to match your eyes would be a nice color."

With that he made his way around the back of the building as she stepped back out onto the wooden walkway, just in time to run into her eldest brother who placed his arm around her shoulders protectively as he demanded;

"So tell me, baby sister, are you going to see about a new dress for Saturday night?"

Offering a small secret smile, Jemma nodded;

"You know something, Jason? I think that I just might."

Nodding his approval, he observed;

"And I suppose that you have a color all picked out too, don't you?"

Tilting her head to the side in a somewhat impish manner, the smile still in place on her features as she confessed;

"As a matter of fact, I was just thinking that a nice emerald green would be perfect."

With that, she hurried into Ben's store to see to a new dress for the upcoming celebration.

Lottie Hatfield sat at the table in her saloon going over her books as she studied the young girl taking inventory of her liquor supply and realized, not for the first time, that the girl seemed as if she were carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders at that moment. Taking the direct approach, as had always been her want, Lottie rose from her chair to approach the bar to produce two teacups as she called;

"Jemma, we've been working hard all morning, let's have a cup of tea."

Motioning to the table, Lottie placed the girl's cup in front of her as she took her seat once more to take a sip of her cup as she demanded;

"So when will Aaron talk to Jason?"

Having just taken a sip of her tea, Jemma found herself coughing and sputtering as she set the cup back on the table with a slight rattle as she turned to Lottie, shocked;

"How did you know?"

Offering a soft, short laugh as she placed her hand over the hand of the girl that she considered as an adopted daughter, Lottie explained;

"Well, it wasn't difficult for me to figure out. I've noticed, for a while now, just how he looks at you when he doesn't think anyone is paying attention and you're the same way with him."

Lottie was able to see how relieved Jemma was to be able to relax her guard, although she stared into her cup as she confessed in a quiet tone;

"I don't know when Lottie."

Sipping from her cup, Lottie pointed out;

"It will be soon if I'm any judge and you know that he'll be asking for your hand in marriage."

Lottie found her jaw dropping in shock as the girl confessed;

"He already has asked, Lottie. Actually, he asked quite some time ago?"

Disbelief lighting her features as she placed her cup on the table, Lottie placed the flat of her hands on the table as she brought her face closer to Jemma's to demand in shock;

"In Heaven's name, Jemma why haven't you, or Aaron for that matter, said anything before now? Despite the way they act towards each other sometimes, Jason and Aaron both respect each other and I'm sure that Aaron could make Jason see his sincerity in wanting to marry you."

Folding her arms across each other on the tabletop, Jemma sighed heavily as she explained;

"Lottie, he asked a little more than a year ago now, to be exact he asked me just before Jason left for New Bedford."

Her eyes widening in comprehension, Lottie exclaimed;

"The bet!"

Nodding, Jemma confirmed;

"The bet."

Shaking her head, Lottie sighed;

"His timing was definitely not the greatest in the world."

Then, as a thought occurred to her, Lottie ventured;

"But the bet has come to term now and Jason and your brothers have won, Bridal Veil Mountain is secured in their and your possession again so there shouldn't be a problem."

Pinning Lottie with her eyes, Jemma asked in a sarcastic tone;

"Lottie, you've known me since I was a little girl and you've been the mother figure that I never had. Plus, you've been that for Jason, Joshua and Jeremy too, now, knowing what you know and how overprotective he's been since Mother and Father died, what reaction do you see Jason having when Aaron approaches him about this?"

Remembering some of the Stempel/Bolt 'conversations' that she had seen in the past Lottie nodded as she admitted;

"I think I see your point."

Searching the younger girl's face, Lottie speculated;

"Are you sure that's the only concern you have about all of this, Jemma?"

Offering a slight shrug, Jemma asked;

"What do you mean, Lottie?"

Placing a knowing look on her features, Lottie prodded;

"Jemma, are you sure that, in the back of your mind, there isn't the thought that, just maybe, part of why Aaron Stempel wants to marry you is because owning a quarter of Bridal Veil Mountain is better than owning none of it?"

Lottie knew that she had accomplished her goal as the fire in the girl's eyes made her eyes glow like emeralds, something that she knew from experience, meant Jemma's temper was fired up. Any doubts as to how fired up the girl's ire was were soon squelched as she stood abruptly to place her hands on the table to lean over to stare at Lottie as she exploded;

"I can't believe that you, of all people, Lottie Hatfield, think that the only worth I have is a piece of that giant hill. You know good and well that thought never entered Aaron's mind, he just chose the wrong time for his proposal, that's all."

Leaning back in her chair as she crossed her arms over her chest, Lottie smiled smugly as she replied;

"Oh, I know that Jemma, I always have, but I just thought that you should know it too."

Placing her hands on her hips, Jemma emitted a soft laugh of amusement as she admitted;

"Alright, Lottie, point well taken. I guess we better get back to work."

With that, she came around the table and placed a gentle kiss on the older woman's cheek. Lottie placed her hand on the spot on her cheek before demanding;

"Now just what was that for?"

Offering a gentle smile, Jemma explained;

"Because, Lottie, you've always been like a mother to me. I was too little to really remember our Mama when she died, but you've always been there to fill in those voids in my education when it came to being a girl that Jason never knew how to explain."

Watching as Jemma went back to her inventory and figures, Lottie sat, quietly, watching the girl that she had considered to be like a daughter to her since she was little. Lottie couldn't help but remember how, when she was a little girl, she had watched and worried about what sort of a woman Jemma would grow up to be, especially after Jason's own admissions of concern over how his sister was growing up. Although he took his role as the eldest very seriously and did everything above and beyond to ensure that his younger siblings were well cared for and loved, a little girl was not something that he was prepared for. There was no doubt that he doted, as did Joshua and Jeremy, on Jemma, but with no feminine influence in the Bolt family, it seemed only natural that she tagged along behind her brothers. The result was that she began emulating what she saw, something that found her acquiring the abilities to rival and surpass her brothers in several areas, including the use of firearms, hunting and fishing, and, despite her petite stature, she could swing an ax that even made Big Swede stare in awe. The final straw that found Jason realizing just how much of a feminine influence his sister truly needed came when there had been a big fuss about the logging camp.

Jason had been working on the books for the logging camp when he heard the commotion. Rushing out of the office tent, he soon located the source of the ruckus and found himself staring in horror at the top of a large pine tree as he watched his sister chopping away. He knew that he must have lost five years off his life expectancy as the top fell away and Jemma tossed her ax to the ground before descending the remainder of the tree to reach the ground. All three Bolt brothers were

there to meet her as Jason demanded;

"Young lady, what in the world do you think you're doing? I left you in the tent, studying your lessons."

Her eyes wide with innocence, she offered;

"I did, Jason, I finished my lessons. I just wanted to help out, you always say that this is my mountain too, I didn't think it was fair for you and Joshua and Jeremy to do ALL the work."

Despite his anger, which had been spurred by fear, at her actions, Jason couldn't help but feel touched by the fact that her actions were prompted by her desire to do her share as opposed to creating mischief. Taking a moment to notice, really notice, his sister, Jason realize that, at fourteen, she was no longer the thin little wisp that he was used to. Somewhere along the way, Jemma had turned into a young lady and needed the help of other ladies to make that transition as smooth as possible. His earlier anger abetting somewhat, Jason placed his arm around his sister's shoulders as he advised;

"Jemma, come with me."

Lifting her up into the wagon, he took her to the center of Seattle to Lottie's. Motioning towards Ben's store, Jason offered;

"Sweetie, why don't you go and tell Ben that I said it was alright to give you some jellybeans. I need to talk to Lottie for a few minutes."

Once he was certain that she would do as told, Jason entered Lottie's and found himself eagerly greeted;

"Why, Jason, what brings you here during the middle of a workday?"

Motioning to the coffee pot, he asked;

"Could we discuss this over a cup of coffee?"

Seeing the intense seriousness on his face, Lottie hurried to the table to pour him a cup as he explained;

"Lottie, I need your help."

Lottie sat and listened to Jason's explanation of his predicament. When he had finished he admitted;

"Lottie, I was so busy making certain that they were all three taken care of that I failed to notice that Jemma needed more than what Joshua and Jeremy needed."

Placing her hand over his, Lottie offered;

"Jason, it's not that Jemma needs more than what your brothers need, she just needs something different than what they need. Not to mention that you aren't exactly certain as to what that something is."

Nodding his agreement, he confirmed;

"That's why I came to you, Lottie. She needs some feminine instruction and it's not something that I can teach her, and I don't want to send her to a finishing school because she's simply too naturally full of grace and manners. All a finishing school would do would be to teach her a bunch of fancy airs that would dim what she has naturally. Lottie, I think that you're the best person to teach her what she needs to know as a woman. I think that, between you and Miss Essie, she can learn everything that she needs to learn."

Lottie sat for a moment considering his request before she took a sip of her coffee as she ventured;

"Jason, you realize that living up on that mountain with you three and in a logging camp to boot, isn't exactly providing a 'female' education for her, don't you? Especially given what she obviously learned today, I think that it would be a good idea if you let her stay with me, here in town and she needs to go to school with Miss Essie. She needs to be exposed to females Jason and she needs to learn to socialize with people other than loggers."

Jemma chose that moment to walk in the door and eagerly greet Lottie with a hug as Jason, nodded;

"You're right, Lottie."

Motioning to the chair next to him, Jason ordered;

"Jemma, Lottie and I want to talk to you about something."

Lottie couldn't help but remember the stricken look on Jemma's face as tears swam in her eyes as she pleaded;

"I promise I won't be in the way anymore, Jason."

Brushing the tears that had begun to fall from her cheeks, Jason shook his head as he explained;

"Jemma, sweetie, it's not that you're in the way, I promise. But a lumber camp is a very rough place for a girl to live, and as much as I hate to admit it, there are parts of your education that I've neglected that I think it best you learn from Lottie and Miss Essie. It's not as if you're not going to still see us, it's just that, now, you'll be staying with Lottie while we're at the camp. But, when we're at the cabin then you'll be there with us."

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Jemma nodded as she capitulated;

"Alright, I'll stay with Lottie, if you and she think that's a good idea."

Although Lottie had known that Jemma was smart, she wasn't prepared for just how intelligent the girl was or the extent of the education that Jason had given her. After her first week of a proper schooling in Miss Essie's class, the teacher had come to Lottie and stated her amazement as she confessed;

"Lottie, I gave Jemma a test because she seemed to know more than each grade level I tried to place her in and, I have to tell you, technically, she could be considered a graduate."

Bewildered, Lottie asked;

"So what do we do, Miss Essie?"

Placing her finger against her lips in consideration, Essie's eyes lit up as she ventured;

"Well, of course, I wouldn't be able to give her a degree, but, she could easily help me teach the younger children and assist me. And, in the process, I can teach her material that I learned in college if she would like that."

As Lottie had expected, Jemma eagerly seized the opportunity that Miss Essie had offered and soon helped ease the teacher's workload, as well as acquiring more education herself. Bringing her thoughts back to the present, Lottie couldn't help but realize and be proud of just what type of lady, and more importantly, woman, Jemma had become. She couldn't help but wonder if Aaron Stempel had any idea as to just how lucky he would be if he managed to marry such a treasure. Turning her attention back to the books on the table she went back to work on her task at hand and silently wondered what Saturday night would bring to Seattle.