CHAPTER 6
Jason sat at the table, drinking his coffee as he watched Aaron pace back and forth at the foot of the staircase, pausing to glance up in the hopes of seeing Lottie, Candy, or the doctor. When no such event occurred he resumed his well-practiced path once more. Pouring a strong cup, Jason advised;
"Aaron, your pacing isn't going to speed them up any more than if you were to sit down and drink your coffee."
Reluctantly, he took the chair across from Jason as he took a sip from the cup before glancing in the direction of the stairs. Frustrated, he demanded;
"Just how long does it take?"
Before Jason could answer, Jeremy hurried in with Josh as Josh offered;
"We saw to the horses, yours too, Aaron."
Sparing him a quick glance, Aaron nodded as he offered;
"Thank you, Josh, you too Jeremy."
Hearing the sound of a door opening and closing, Aaron and Jason rose from their chairs as Dr. Wright came down the staircase to demand;
"Just whose idea was it to ride in the night with her, in the condition that she's in."
Swallowing the lump of fear that had worked its way into his throat, Aaron admitted;
"It was mine, I didn't think that she would survive if we didn't get her back here as fast as possible."
Nodding, she confirmed;
"Mr. Stempel, you were absolutely right. As cold as it is out there tonight, she could well have died from exposure."
Relief showing on his face, Aaron demanded;
"Will she be alright?"
Offering a tender smile as she nodded, Dr. Wright offered;
"Yes, now that she is dry, warm and comfortable. I checked her shoulder and she will have to take it easy with it for a few days, but it will be just fine. Her breathing has even cleared up, and her fever has come down, she's very tired and she'll be weak for a few days, but she will be just fine."
Jason, seeing the look of anxiousness written so clearly on his face, placed his hand on Aaron's shoulder as he motioned towards the staircase before ordering;
"Go on."
Without a word, he took the steps two at a time as he raced upstairs. Shaking his head, Jeremy observed;
"He sure is anxious, isn't he?"
Shaking his head, Jason corrected;
"No, Jeremy, what he is is a man in love."
Turning to face his brothers, Jason continued;
"And we had better learn to accept the fact that it just so happens to be with our sister."
Aaron stood just outside the door before knocking timidly and waited until Candy opened the door. He could see that she was somewhat shocked as she greeted;
"Mr. Stempel."
Before standing to the side as Lottie ordered;
"Come in, Aaron, I don't want to lose the heat out of this room."
Doing as she had been instructed, Aaron entered the room as Candy left, pulling it closed behind her. Approaching the bed as Lottie was tucking quilts around her, Aaron couldn't help but feel relieved as he noticed how much healthier she seemed to appear then she did just a few hours beforehand. Seeing his hesitancy, Lottie admonished;
"For Heaven's sake, Aaron, it's alright, she won't break, I promise."
Seeing the look of concern on his face as he studied Jemma to assure himself that she would, truly, be alright, Lottie relented as she offered;
"Aaron, why don't you sit in the chair, if she wakes up and sees you standing over her bed she's liable to think that she's dying."
His face taking on a look of deadly seriousness, he chastised;
"Don't ever say anything like that, Lottie, not even jokingly."
Doing as she had suggested, he pulled the chair closer to the bedside as Lottie placed her hand on his shoulder before offering comfort;
"Aaron, she's going to be just fine you know?"
Nodding, he reached up to take the hand she had placed on his shoulder before asking;
"Lottie, how long have you known?"
Making certain that she wouldn't disturb Jemma, she brought a chair closer to Aaron's as she asked;
"How long have I known for sure, or how long have I suspected?"
Offering a slight chuckle of amusement at her statement, he gave a slight shrug as he clarified;
"Both, I guess."
A warm smile lighting her face, Lottie offered;
"I suspected after I no longer had to guilt you into teaching her how to dance, I started suspecting a little bit more when you began making excuses to be around whenever you knew she would be. I thought it when you volunteered to teach her bookkeeping and had her help you with YOUR books. But when did I know for sure? When I saw how you looked at her when you didn't think anyone else was looking."
When she rose from her chair, he was afraid that she would chase him out as well until she placed her hand on his shoulder before suggesting;
"You know something? I think that what she will need most when she wakes up is to see a friendly face."
As she turned to leave, Aaron called out;
"Lottie."
When she turned to look at him in question, he nodded;
"Thank you, for everything."
Offering her own nod, she left the room, pulling the door closed behind her. Lottie stood outside the door, trying desperately hard to forget the sight of Aaron and the Bolt brothers rushing through her door as he hurried up the staircase to the room she specified to place Jemma on the bed before she, Candy and Dr. Wright had ushered him and the Bolt brothers from the room. Lottie couldn't deny that she had felt her heart sink at the sight of Jemma looking so ill, but, gradually, she felt her fears ebbing away as Dr. Wright was able to help Jemma, although she couldn't help but hurt for Aaron, Jason, Joshua, and Jeremy as she could only imagine the worry that they must have gone through and were still experiencing. Bringing her thoughts back to the present, she offered a small prayer;
"Lord, thank you for letting them find her and thank you for making her well."
At that, she made her way downstairs to join Jason, Joshua, and Jeremy.
Aaron had not known just how tired he was until he realized that he had fallen asleep in the chair next to Jemma's bed when he felt her small hand brush against his arm in an effort to wake him. Quickly, he oriented himself as he noticed that she was studying him intently as she greeted softly;
"Good morning."
Rising from the chair, he stood over the bed to place his hand against her cheek and forehead as he sighed in relief before nodding;
"Good, the fever's gone."
Although it was evident that she was still tired, he could see that her color was much better than it had been just hours before and the rasping sound that he had heard in her breathing was gone and her breathing was normal once more. Motioning towards her shoulder, he asked;
"How does your shoulder feel?"
Moving it slightly, she winced a little as she offered;
"It's a little sore, but much better than it was."
Looking into his eyes, she offered softly;
"By the way, thank you."
Confused, Aaron looked at her strangely as he sat on the side of the bed to take her small hand in his own before demanding;
"Sweetheart, what are you thanking me for?"
Shaking her head in disbelief, Jemma retorted;
"Oh, I don't know, let me think; putting your differences with my brothers aside to help find me, putting yourself in danger to stop the Harmons, oh and I almost forgot, saving my life."
Bringing her hand to his lips, Aaron placed a kiss on the back of her hand as he informed her;
"Let me assure you, you don't need to thank me. Compared to what I'd be willing to do to make sure you're safe, this was nothing."
Squeezing his hand, she looked at him knowingly as she shook her head;
"No, it's not 'nothing' as you put it. You and my brothers have been going at each other for years and the fact that you were willing to put all of that aside for my sake means everything to me."
Gently, he pushed her hair away from her face as he suggested;
"Since you're so intent on thanking me, I'd gladly call us even if I could have a kiss."
Offering him a slight smile, Jemma nodded;
"I think that's a more than fair exchange, although I might need a little help sitting up."
Despite his eagerness, Aaron was careful of her injured shoulder as he slipped his arm under her good shoulder to place pillows behind her back so that she was in a reclining position before asking;
"Is that better?"
Nodding, she reminded;
"I believe you said something about wanting a kiss?"
Laughing slightly, Aaron slid closer to take her in his arms before claiming her mouth. However, it was only a few moments before the door opened admitting Lottie, Jason, Joshua, and Jeremy who all stopped to stare in shock. Lottie, being the first to recover, smiled broadly as she quipped;
"Well, it seems as if someone is feeling a good bit better."
Clearing his throat to hide his embarrassment, Aaron observed;
"You people have the worst timing that I have ever seen."
Being the first to recover from his shock, Jason quipped;
"Actually, Aaron, I think that our timing seems impeccable."
Turning to his youngest sibling, Jason demanded;
"Jemma Bolt, just what is it that you think you're doing?"
Offering a slight shrug as her face took on a look of absolute innocence, Jemma theorized;
"Thanking Aaron properly?"
Noticing Jason's silent sarcasm as he rolled his eyes and Lottie's attempts not to laugh, Jemma knew that the mood of amusement was not going to hold over the group for long and realizing that he had probably had no rest since she had been abducted, Jemma suggested;
"Aaron, I know that you must be tired and I'm feeling a little sleepy still, why don't you go on and get some rest."
Guessing the reason for her suggestion, he nodded as he took her hand before offering;
"I'll be back in a bit, alright?"
At her nod of agreement, he leaned over to place a kiss on her cheek before leaving. Once Lottie had assured herself that her charge was doing well and comfortable, she
stated;
"Alright, I'm making some stew and I want you to eat every bite of what I bring you, young lady."
Shaking her head at the woman who had been the mother that she had never had, Jemma offered a small laugh of amusement as she agreed;
"Alright, Lottie I promise?"
Once Lottie had left, leaving the Bolt siblings in privacy, Jemma, as usual, came straight to the point;
"Alright, I knew that this was coming sooner or later, and since I can't exactly go anywhere at the moment, we might as well address it now."
Turning to her eldest brother, she offered;
"You have the floor, Jason, so please, go ahead."
He had known that she would address the issue directly, as had been her habit since learning how to speak, but even Jason found himself shocked by her directness before beginning his inquiry;
"This isn't an inquisition, Pixie, there are just some things that we'd like to clear up, that's all."
Taking a deep breath to brace herself, Jemma nodded as she agreed;
"Alright, that's fair enough, ask me whatever you'd like to."
Taking a seat on the side of the bed, Jason was thinking of the best way to word his questions when Jeremy surprised them all by demanding;
"Jemma, why Aaron, of all people?"
Folding her hands in her lap as she looked down at them as if studying them for a moment before lifting her eyes to meet Jeremy's as she retorted;
"I don't know, Jeremy, but let me ask you this; why Candy?"
She could see that her response had shocked him, but she pushed her point as she continued;
"Jeremy, you and Candy didn't choose to fall in love with each other, and neither did Aaron and I. It just happened, but the fact is that I do love him and I know that he loves me."
Turning to each of her elder brothers in turn she addressed;
"Jason, Joshua, Jeremy, I'm more than aware of the fact that Aaron Stempel is stubborn, he's ambitious, arrogant and overbearing, but he is also a good and decent man, despite it all."
Despite his determination that he wanted his sister to be happy, Jeremy couldn't help but ask;
"Pixie, I know that you'll be upset with me for asking this, but are you sure that your share of the mountain isn't one of the reasons he wants to marry you?"
Facing her brother, Jemma offered calmly;
"I highly doubt it, Jeremy, especially considering the fact that I've decided to sign my share of the mountain over to you, Jason and Joshua."
Shocked by the admission, Jason demanded;
"Does Stempel know that?"
Offering a slight nod, she informed him;
"Yes, Jason, it was Aaron's suggestion."
Jason studied his sister carefully as he placed his hand over hers before asking in a voice full of concern;
"There's only one question that I want to ask and I want you to be honest with me and with yourself; do you REALLY love him?"
Leveling her eyes with her brothers, Jemma's voice was full of certainty as she vowed;
"Jason, I REALLY do love Aaron and just as importantly, I have no doubts that he REALLY does love me."
Deciding that he needed to know for his peace of mind, Jason ventured;
"Pixie, what if I were to refuse to give you my blessing or my permission to marry him?"
Sighing heavily, she lifted her head in the all too stubborn way that he recognized as she declared;
"I would hope that wouldn't be the case, but if it is, then I suppose that our two choices are to either elope or wait until my next birthday when I'm twenty-one and your permission won't be necessary."
Having remained silent, Joshua ventured;
"Jemma, are you saying that, even if we don't give you our blessings, you would marry Aaron anyway?"
Meeting Joshua's eyes, she nodded as she affirmed;
"Yes, Joshua, I would marry Aaron, even without all of your blessings."
Spreading her hands in a pleading manner, she stated her position;
"Look, I love you all and that will never change. But I also happen to love Aaron and that is something else that will never change."
Before they could discuss the matter any further Lottie entered the room with a tray and ordered;
"Now, since she still has a little way to go until she's fully recovered, I want you three out of here so that she can eat and then get some rest."
Following Lottie's dictates, Jason, Joshua, and Jeremy made their way downstairs. Fixing themselves a cup of coffee they settled at one of the tables before Jeremy opened the door for their discussion;
"Jason, she's serious."
Taking a sip of his coffee, Jason nodded as he agreed;
"Yes, Jeremy, she most definitely is serious."
Shaking his head in disbelief, Jeremy couldn't help but exclaim;
"I can't believe that she would choose him over her brothers."
Staring at his younger brother in disbelief, Joshua corrected;
"Jeremy, she isn't choosing Aaron over us, nor is she choosing us over Aaron. She's choosing to love all of us and to let us make peace with it ourselves."
Turning to Jason, Joshua speculated;
"What Jemma is doing, Jason is refusing to be put in the middle or to be torn apart between her brothers and the man she loves."
Taking his own cup in hand, he leaned back in his chair as he stated emphatically;
"Nor should she be."
Having heard the last of Joshua's statement as she was coming down the stairs with Jemma's tray, Lottie placed the tray on the bar before pouring herself a cup of coffee and joining Jason and his brothers as she informed them;
"Not that it's been asked for, but considering just how much that girl means to me, I'd like to offer my two cents, gentlemen."
Nodding, Jason offered;
"Please, Lottie, by all means."
Before she could start, Candy rushed in to grab a chair next to Jeremy as she greeted;
"How is Jemma?"
Motioning towards the stairs, Lottie offered;
"She's doing just fine, she just had some nice stew and when I left her she was about to fall asleep."
Lifting her coffee cup, she pointed out;
"Of course now, we're discussing her future."
Puzzled, Candy turned to Jeremy to demand;
"What do you mean, 'her future'?"
Staring into his cup as if the answer might be inside, Jeremy explained;
"Aaron Stempel wants to marry Jemma."
Glancing at the faces gathered around the table, Candy questioned;
"He actually did propose then?"
Nodding, Jason explained;
"Yes, apparently more than once."
Curiosity spurring her question, she couldn't help but ask;
"You don't think that he's only asked her for her share of the mountain, do you?"
Leaning forward to rest his elbow on the table as he stroked his chin in consideration, Jason shook his head;
"No, Candy, he didn't."
Glancing about the table, she demanded;
"But how can you be so sure?"
Sighing deeply, Jason admitted;
"Because, Candy, Aaron's suggested that she sign her share over to Jeremy, Joshua and I."
Clasping her hands together in contemplation, Candy offered hesitantly;
"Jason, you know I've never seen Aaron look the way that he looked when you all brought Jemma back, he was scared and worried about her, there was no mistaking that."
Timidly, she ventured;
"Jason, Joshua, Jeremy I believe that he truly does love her."
Reaching across the table, Lottie placed her hand over Jason's as she questioned;
"Jason, you seem to have the final say, but I'm sure that already know that if you don't give your blessing or consent that that won't change how they feel for each other."
Making up his mind, Jason pushed his chair back as he left the saloon, leaving everyone wondering how he intended to handle things.
Once he had gotten a little rest, Aaron decided to go to his office to catch up on some work, he had run into Candy as she was leaving Lottie's and learned the Jemma was sleeping. Not wanting to disturb her, given what she had been through, he decided to leave her to rest while he checked in on the mill, although concentrating on the papers in front of him seemed to be something of a challenge at the moment. Giving in to the temptation, he pulled the jeweler's box from his pocket to open it as he studied the contents, not for the aspect of what the ring had cost but because the sparkling emerald reminded him of Jemma's eyes. He was so lost in his thoughts that he was surprised as he heard a familiar voice ask;
"You don't seem as if you're getting very much work done, Aaron."
Closing the box before shoving it back into his pocket, he turned back to his paperwork as he grumbled;
"I'd get a lot more done without all of these interruptions."
Crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned negligently against the door frame, Jason asked;
"Aaron, are we always going to do this?"
Laying his pen on the desk, Aaron leaned back in his desk chair as he demanded;
"Do what, Bolt?"
Spreading his hands in a sweeping gesture, Jason clarified;
"This, Aaron, this, always dancing around each other the way we do."
Taking a seat in front of the desk, Jason came to the point;
"Aaron, I want a straight answer, I have my sister's answer, but I want yours. What if I don't give my consent for Jemma to marry or our blessings for her to do so; what do you plan to do then?"
Shoving his desk chair back roughly, Aaron crossed to one of the windows to rest his arm across the sill before issuing;
"For Heaven's sake, Jason, why would you ask me that?"
Crossing over to the window to face him, Jason explained;
"Because, Aaron, I need to know."
Sighing in frustration, Aaron advised him;
"I want to marry her, Jason. I would prefer to have your and your brother's blessings, it means a lot to Jemma. As far as your consent, again I would rather it be with your consent, but if needs be, I'll wait until she's twenty-one when it's not needed."
Turning to look him in the eyes, Aaron declared;
"But, I want you to know this; whether you and your brothers give us your consent and your blessing or not. I will NEVER stop Jemma from
seeing her brothers. You mean too much to her and I won't see her suffer for my sake."
Studying the sincerity on the man's face, Jason countered;
"So do you mean to say that, if I choose not to give my consent or blessing, you won't keep Jemma away from us?"
Staring at the man in shocked disbelief, Aaron demanded loudly;
"BOLT, HAVE YOU TOTALLY LOST YOUR MIND?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA JUST WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO HER?!"
Shaking his head vehemently, Aaron's tone remained hard, although his volume was considerably softer as he admitted;
"I couldn't and wouldn't do that to Jemma, it would hurt her too much, I'd just as soon not marry her at all before I would marry her and torment her like that."
Tilting his head to the side in contemplation, Jason ventured;
"But then you'd be losing twenty-five percent of Bridal Veil Mountain, wouldn't you, Aaron?"
His temper good and riled, before he realized it, Aaron struck Jason across the jaw with a left hook that found Jason looking up from the floor in amazement as Aaron stood over him, glaring daggers of anger at him as he roared;
"I DON'T WANT YOUR DAMN MOUNTAIN, JASON! AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED JEMMA CAN SIGN HER SHARE OF IT OVER TO YOU AND YOUR BROTHERS AS LONG AS SHE CAN STILL HAVE ACCESS TO HER LAKE!"
Aaron was prepared for retaliation, but instead, he found himself staring at his adversary in shock as Jason tested his jaw before leaning his head back to roar with laughter before extending his hand to order;
"Help me up, Aaron."
Still somewhat shocked, Aaron did as asked, his confusion evident as Jason slapped his back good-naturedly before venturing;
"Aaron, I think that you and I need to have a talk of a different nature, how about a cup of coffee."
Offering him a wary glance, Aaron poured him a cup of coffee before settling in his desk chair to give Jason his attention.
Helen Dalton, the head of the Ladies' Betterment League of Seattle hurried to see what and who could be the reason for the incessant knocking on her front door. Opening the portal she chastised;
"Why, Maude Burns, what on earth is the matter? I thought that you would beat my door down."
Skittering inside and pushing the door closed behind her, Maude's eyes widened in excitement of the news that she had to share, although she deemed the chore as 'doing her civic duty for the Betterment League', the truth was that there was nothing that Maude enjoyed more than gossip and given that there was nothing that Helen Dalton enjoyed more than hearing gossip, the two were naturally close companions. This was especially convenient for both as they both had an affinity for using the gossip they heard as ammunition to push their opinions of self-righteous indignation on others in the name of the Betterment League. With that goal firmly in mind, when Maude had happened to overhear some recent gossip that she deemed too important not to share with her closest confidant, she had rushed to Helen's door to share the news, no matter how hurtful it might prove to be. Catching her breath, Maude gushed;
"Helen, you simply will not believe what I just learned in town."
Noting the look of intensity that Maude wore as well as the underlying glee in her eyes, Helen lifted her head in an imposing and haughty manner as she ordered;
"Take off your bonnet and we shall have some tea while you tell me."
Leading the way into her formal parlor, Helen settled herself in her chair as if she were a queen seated upon a throne to pour the tea as she directed;
"Now then, Maude, what is it that you learned?"
Leaning forward she eagerly began;
"Well, do you remember when Jemma Bolt was abducted a couple of weeks ago?"
At Helen's silent nod, Maude continued;
"You will be absolutely shocked when I tell you what I learned about her time with her captors."
With that she began telling the tale that she had heard as Helen's mind began formulating just how the issue of, as she saw it, Jemma Bolt's lack of morals and fall from grace should be dealt with, something that she could not deny was the fact that it brought a certain satisfaction to her at the thought of bringing, what she considered to be, Jemma Bolt's wildness into check.
