Chapter 13

"Oh dear, oh my, I just don't know what I am going to do? Yes indeedy, I just don't know!" Biddy sat at the kitchen table in the house that she and Barnabas shared. She was going over the recipe for the wedding cake when she realized she would need some special sugar for the frosting, and it would not be there for another week which is also when Clancy's ship would arrive.

"Oh, dear, I did it again, I seem to be losing my mind, Captain Clancy is gone now. May I could ask Christopher if he would go to Yelm or is it Tumwater? To get the sugar for me! Oh, not those places, Tumwater, or Olympia. I will visit him and Merilee and ask."

But she needed that now.

Jonathon and Elizabeth were sitting on the grass by the lake and were enjoying their conversation when along came Aaron. He was alone and wanted to 'check 'up on his niece.

"Well, hello there! Fancy meeting you here on this bright day!" Aaron said as he climbed down his horse and stood their smiling.

Jonathan and Elizabeth both looked at him. Jonathon whispered something in her ear and then proceeded to grab her just in the right way, she did not protest and planted a wonderful, smoochy kiss on her. They both laughed as Aaron stood there with a frown on his face and was ready to send Elizabeth back to town on his horse while he beat the living daylights out of Jonathan. Then thinking better, he said:

"Elizabeth, I would like you to ride home at this time. Jonathan. You will go to your father, and we will have a little talk!"

Elizabeth tried not to giggle, and Jonathan just grinned at Aaron.

"What are you two grinning about?" Aaron said not amused and very perturbed at this reaction of two young people who should know better than to mock their elders!

"Oh, Uncle Aaron," said Elizabeth who had stopped giggling in order to answer him,

"Mother told me what you did when Jonathan's father and she were 'dating'? then she started to giggle again.

Aaron looked at her and Jonathan, he remembered the day.

"Elizabeth, I still want you to go back to won and Jonathan we are going to speak to your father about this incident!"

Elizabeth, got on her uncle's horse and Jonathan grabbed the buggy, he got in and waited a little bit, just enough to be polite then he took off in the buggy and left Aaron with no way to get back to town except to walk.

"Oh Biddy, how nice to see you! would you come in?" Candy asked as she set the vase on the table next to the door. "What can I do for you?"

"Oh, Candy, this is just dreadful, I was getting ready to make the frosting for Jonathan's and Rose's wedding cake, but I forgot that the sugar I ordered won't be here for another week."

"Well, Biddy, why do you need Christopher?"
"I wanted to ask if he or his son would fetch the sugar from Yelm or Olympia or …I don't know, I am in such a mess right now. I don't know…."

"Biddy, why don't you sit down, and we can have a cup of tea. Molly is here and she can join us as well."

"But what about Chris? We only have 4 days to get it made?"

Candy took Biddy's hand and led her to the sofa, she then called Molly who was in helping with Merilee and the children and came out to see what was needed. She went in to make the tea and sit with Biddy. It seems that Biddy had been having trouble remembering things when she got too busy or overly excited.

"Now, Biddy" Candy said: "This is a new tea that Rachel made just a few years ago, remember, we tried it at her place one day. You seemed to like it. It calmed your nerves."

Just then Molly brought the tea in and poured it for all of them. Biddy drank the tea and slowly seemed to be calming down.

"Well, Candy, Molly, I was trying to make the cake for Jonathan and Rose and found I was out of a special kind of sugar. So, I thought I would come over and see if Chris and his son could go to Tacoma or Tumwater to get the sugar." Biddy took another sip of her tea.

Christopher walked in and was about to take a drink of tea when Candy looked at him and as he had done as a child, with his expressive face, he looked like he had been in trouble.

"Chris, I am sorry, but Biddy was having one of her more nervous days." Candy said to him as she watched Biddy sip her tea.

"Chris, could you and your son ride to Tumwater to get me some special sugar?"

"Aunt Biddy, I would be delighted to do that for you, but I won't be riding, I will take the train. I will bring Mark along as well. What kind of sugar is it?" Christopher asked.

"Oh, it is confectioners' sugar." Christopher nodded and then excused himself as he went in to wash up.

"Biddy, are you feeling any better?"

"Well, yes and no, it seems that this tea is very good, but it is missing something, my mother used to give me some tea to calm me down at night and it would have a little extra something, but I can't recall what it is?"
Candy and Molly knew Biddy very well and understood what she was talking about the little extra something.

Chapter 14

Jonathan and Rose were sitting out on the back porch gazing at the view they had. The trees, the hills, and the mountain itself, all bathed in the brilliant sunlit afternoon. They sat for a long time just comfortable to be near each other, when they heard footsteps coming from around the front.

Jonathan showed up first, with Aaron who was out of breath from walking some of the way back to town.

"Father, how are you and Rose today?" Jonathan said as he winked at his dad.

Jason looked at Jonathan and then looked at Aaron. Roes got up and said:

"I will get you all something to drink and eat. Enjoy your conversation." She said as she gently kissed Jason.

"Aaron, sit down, please. You look like you had a long walk? What can I do for you?"

Aaron sat on the chair and rested his feet on the stool in front of the chair. Trying to look as stern and in charge as possible, he said:

"Jason, I know you don't have any manners, but did you have to teach your son bad manners as well!"

Jason looked at him and said: "What did he do? "

Aaron, as firmly as he could said: "I was just checking on my niece and your son who were supposed to be having a picnic by the lake. When I got there, I saw him grab my niece and kiss her. Not just a nice peck on the cheek mind you but a full-blown kiss, that only married couples should do behind closed doors!"

Jason sat there and looked at Aaron for a few minutes. Then Rose came out with drinks and gave them each a drink. When she was done, she was about to leave when Jason said:

"Rose, please stay, Aaron and I may have words and I don't want to do or say anything out of turn." Rose stayed and sat next to Jason, she looked at Jonathan and saw a twinkle in his eye. She wondered what he had been up to.

"Now Aaron, you said my son kissed your niece boldly in front of you? I should say, good for him and her!" He looked at Aaron and then said:

"As I recall, a certain young lady was visiting me and was so upset that I took her out for a ride, and she fell in the pond and as she was drying her clothes, you came upon us. Do you remember that event Aaron?' Jason asked

Aaron was about to say something when Jonathan burst into laughter

Jason and Aaron both looked at Jonathan and he stopped especially after the look his father gave to him.

"Jason, who was different! She is my sister and I had to protect her. But Elizabeth is my niece and I think that they should stay away from each other until they are married." Aaron said with a look of disdain on his face.

"I only agreed to let her marry Jonathan because of Julia. I really do not look forward to being related to the Bolts!"

Jason, and Jonathan both looked at Aaron. Then Jason spoke

"Jonathan, what made you kiss Elizabeth like that?"

Jonathan looked at his father. He took a moment to think of a proper answer, and when he could not, he just looked at his father straight in the eye and said:

"I do apologize Mr. Stemple, I do know the story of dad and your sister so I thought it would be a great joke. Elizabeth was in on it as well. Besides, we are getting married, I think it will be a few months from now. After dad and Miss rose are married."

Jason looked at his son and then at Aaron. He could not help but smile. Aaron was about to say something when both Elizabeth and Sarah came around to the back porch as well.

"See Aunt Sarah" Elizabeth said, "I knew Uncle would be here. He seems to get so upset if I even try to be myself!"
Sarah took the scene in and then said to Aaron:

"I hope that your business here is completed. I would like to have you home now. "

Aaron looked at Sarah, he could not say no to her, so he said:

"Jason, we will have to come up with some ground rules if your son will be courting my niece! "

Sarah took his arm and said: "Elizabeth don't stay too long. I will need help getting supper ready." Aaron was not too happy, but he trusted Sarah and put his hand on her hand that was holding his arm.