The Mountain Lion
Part I
Chapter One
The day began as usual, with the men up at the Bolt Brother's logging camp settling into their daily routines Jason Bolt, the co-owner of the logging camp with his two younger brothers, Joshua and Jeremy, rotated all the loggers' work assignments regularly, so no one would feel as if they were in a "rut." If, however, a logger exhibited an unusual talent for a certain task, or if he asked to stay on a certain task, Jason would let him do just that, while checking in on him once in a while to make sure no boredom was setting in.
Today, apparently, Corky was sharpening all the axes on the grinding wheel. His eyes looked glazed over as if he were not paying attention to the task.
"Well, Corky, good morning to ya!" bellowed Jason from a fairly close distance.
Corky jerked up from his reverie and paused in his task. "Oh! Uh, hi, Jason, good morning to you, too!"
Jason peered a little closer and saw some bloodshot eyes. "Did you have a rough night or something last night?"
"Well, I, uh, no, but…."
"That's OK, Corky, no need to explain, especially if it had anything to do with a fair lady."
Corky blushed but resumed sharpening. "Uh, yeah, Jason, I'll be fine."
Jason continued his rounds, hoping to find more men attentive to their tasks than wandering in their attention. However, this morning, most of the loggers had the same dazed look on their faces. It was a Monday, though, and he knew that many loggers and couples would go out of town to enjoy some entertainment, but he wondered just the same… what could have this effect on all the loggers?
Just then, Jason's younger brother Joshua strolled on by, and Jason caught him and asked, "Do you perchance know any reason why most of the loggers should have dazed looks on their faces this morning?"
"Oh, you mean you didn't know?" replied Josh. "Jenny Lind was in Tacoma Sunday night, so a lot of them went to hear her sing. I heard that the place was standing-room-only."
"Ah," said Jason, remembering the lengths he went to to get Miss Lind over to Seattle for a short concert. Everyone was enraptured by her talents. She was aptly called "The Swedish Nightingale."
If there were only some way to capture a singer's beautiful voice and keep it somewhere to enjoy on another day. But, alas, certain things should be the thoughts of inventors, not loggers.
The quiet reverie was pierced by a loud scream. Many loggers ran in the direction of the scream, only to come upon a horrific sight. A new logger, Dan Spellman, was lying face down in a pool of blood. His clothes had been slashed to shreds, and much of his body had been ripped open as well.
Jason hurried over to him and gently turned him over. The sight of Dan's face made Jason gag. There was not much of a face left! It was like some animal ripped that to shreds as well.
Jason quickly took Dan's pulse, and pronounced, "I'm afraid this man has been clawed to death by some monstrous animal. I want every single one of you to have a shotgun with you at all times. ALL times. Go home and get yours now if it is not nearby."
The men dispersed, some going home to retrieve their shotguns, and some getting them from their tents.
Some of the brides in town were venturing out of their dormitory, which Jason built upon their relocation from New Bedford, Connecticut to Seattle. The ladies noticed several men coming into town all at once and wondered what was going on.
Lottie emerged from the saloon, and even asked one of the men, "Did Jason send you all home early, or is there something we should know?"
Corky answered "A man was killed up at the camp. Seems like some huge animal is out there. We were told to keep our shotguns with us at all times."
The women were taken aback by this news, and it struck fear in their hearts.
Chapter Two
Jason strode hastily over to Aaron Stempel's office. Aaron milled all the lumber Jason sent him, and was known as the Businessman in town.
Jason burst through Aaron's front door, saying "Aaron, we have a very serious problem right now in Seattle."
Aaron just rolled his eyes, expecting some sort of whiny little problem that often cropped up when men and women were getting used to inhabiting a town together.
"What is it now, Bolt?" He sighed.
The two men were nose-to-nose, but Aaron could tell that this was not the usual whiny problem.
Jason collected himself for a minute, then said "One of my men was killed a short while ago by some monstrous, sharp-clawed animal out there. He wasn't even very far out of the camp area. His whole body was literally torn to shreds! I thought we should call a town meeting to inform our citizens about the situation."
"Torn to shreds?" asked Aaron.
"Yes, they looked more like cat's claws than bear claws, but I'm not sure. Maybe we ought to have the town hall meeting right now, before anyone else wanders off too far and loses his or her life."
"I agree, Let's inform all of our workers about the meeting right now, and invite the women while we're at it," Stempel added.
"Invite the women, too? Shouldn't they be spared the horror for a little while longer?"
Stempel replied, "Jason, you yourself are always bragging that our women are 'tough.' Let's find out just how tough they are. They also might be the most important people to tell; they'll likely keep their men in check to make sure they're not forgetting their shotguns." Jason nodded in agreement.
Jason strode into town and rang the town bell loud and long.
"Lottie, can we use the saloon space for an emergency town meeting?" Aaron asked her softly.
"Sure, Aaron," she said as she retreated to put the chairs in order and give them as much space as she could.
Pretty soon, almost all of the townspeople, both men and women, were entering the saloon, wondering what could be going on.
Jason interrupted the buzzing of background discussion, and stated in a loud, clear voice,
"Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention, please?"
When things quieted down enough, he continued,
"I have some rather shocking news to share. One of my loggers was killed this morning by a wild animal." He waited for all the gasps to die down, then continued.
"We're not sure what kind of animal this is; it could be a wildcat, it could be a bear. The only thing we can do is keep ourselves safe at all hours of the day and night. The men are to keep their shotguns with them at all times, and the women must not venture out alone - anywhere - even to choir practice. We just don't know where this beast is located, and he may be prowling around all over Seattle."
More gasps. Jeremy and his fiancée Candy Pruitt just looked at each other and held hands tighter. Many of the other couples present did the same.
Chapter Three
Things weren't really "back to normal" for the next several days. Everyone was a little more anxious, a little more wary, a little more paranoid at every stray sound, the rustle of leaves, anything at all out of the ordinary. Even ordinary sounds startled some people if the sounds were loud enough. It was a tense period in the entire town. At least nobody's shotgun went off by mistake.
Candy was on the front porch of the dorm, being productive, as usual. Candy's mind was just as productive, too. In fact, it was absolutely spinning with possibilities - none of them good. Why did 100 women sail all the way around the Horn from New England to Seattle to meet and marry, just to feel unsafe in their own back yards? She knew she wasn't thinking rationally, but emotions raged in her heart. The Holidays were coming again, and Candy was truly homesick for New Bedford, with its brick buildings, paved streets, and a lot more amenities. Will I feel this way in 10 years? Seattle is supposed to feel like home already, but now it doesn't, she thought to herself.
Jeremy caught a few moments off from work and ran to visit Candy. He found her sweeping the front porch of the dorm like her life depended on it.
"Uh - May I interrupt your chores with a quick kiss?" Jeremy sweetly asked.
Startled from her reverie, Candy blushed, but nevertheless went up to him for the treat.
Jeremy continued, "How are you & the brides holding up? Are you scared, or anxious, or worried?"
"My goodness, yes to all!" replied Candy. "We're worried sick about all of YOU men up at the camp with that wild creature running loose!"
"Well," said Jeremy, "We're being mighty careful and observant, and things will be fine if all you ladies do the same."
"Well… I daresay we will NOT be fine unless we, too, can carry shotguns."
"Whaaat?" Jeremy was totally confused.
"Jeremy," continued Candy, "We had a meeting - all of the brides - and virtually all of us wish to be armed at all times, too!"
"You've got to be kidding," smiled Jeremy.
Candy's eyes narrowed in anger. "Mr. Bolt, I am NOT kidding! I think our safety is more important than going out with just another vulnerable female!"
Jeremy took a deep breath, then said evenly, "And where did you learn how to handle a shotgun, Miss Pruitt? Are you a sharpshooter in disguise?"
"Well, I NEVER!" Candy huffed. "If you men can't spare the time to help us get acquainted with handling and shooting with a shotgun, then you are not gentlemen at all!"
Jeremy just looked dazed and bewildered. "Where is this nonsense coming from, Candy? Are you so anxious about things that you want to leave Seattle or something…?"
Candy just stood there, blinking back her tears. Jeremy really could see right through her emotions.
"We're anxious about not being protected as much as you are. And it's NOT nonsense."
After another long breath, Jeremy calmly and softly stated, "Well, Miss Pruitt, if you ladies insist on learning how to use a shotgun, I'll have to bring it up with the men. Don't get your hopes up, though."
"And what about YOU, Jeremy? Are you willing to teach me?"
Jeremy paused before answering carefully. "I know you're a quick study, and you can probably learn how to handle a gun easily enough, but a shotgun is much heavier than a handgun, so I honestly don't think you will be able to aim accurately and shoot accurately if you're just trying to balance the darn thing. Precious time would be wasted before the wildcat eats you up."
"So, you're saying that even if we are able to be taught how to shoot a shotgun, the men will not want to teach us?"
Jeremy's face fell. "I guess that's what I'm trying to tell you."
"WELL! You go tell Jason that the brides demand to see him right now!"
With that, she tossed her head and stomped back into the dorm.
Jeremy felt like he had been punched in the stomach. All the men of Seattle ever wanted for these women was for them to feel welcomed and be happy settling here. With wild animals out and about, it didn't seem like a very welcome or happy circumstance. He wondered if all the brides would ultimately return to New England. He walked glumly back to camp…
Chapter Four
At the logging camp, Jason was not in a receptive mood to hear that the brides wanted to see him ASAP. "What on earth do they want from me now?" He roared.
"Um," Jeremy hesitantly proceeded, "they want to be armed like the men, with shotguns."
"HA!" Jason laughed back. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of!"
"Me, too, Jason, but they mean it. I c-c-can't talk Candy out of this idea at all."
"Well, the ladies will have to wait. Help me with this trim section, and then I'll see what their demands really are."
By the time Jason and Jeremy got back to town, the brides were all assembled in front of the dormitory.
Jason began, "Ladies, I believe you have a request of some sort….?"
"Yes!," said many of them in unison. Candy stepped up to Jason and continued, "Mr. Bolt, we want to be armed with shotguns just like the men. It's the only way to be really safe outside."
"Yes, and we want the men to teach us how to shoot," added Biddie.
Jason could not stop the smile from spreading on his face. He grabbed his own shotgun, and gave it to Biddie, saying "So, you think you can balance this heavy gun and aim and shoot at the same time?"
Biddie fell back awkwardly when the shotgun's weight tipped her sideways.
"You'd be grateful not to shoot your foot off with that thing!" Jason added.
Candy grabbed the gun Biddie was holding, then she held it straight and aimed at Jason.
"Don't you think you ought to give us a chance to learn and prove ourselves?" She demanded.
"Now, now, ladies," Jason continued talking, evenly and calmly, while at the same time relieving Candy of the shotgun.
"I don't suppose there would be any harm in teaching you (unless one of you shoots your foot off), but I can't spare any men right now. Every single logger is working his fingers to the bone to get a large lumber order over to Mr. Stempel before his deadline. Even the men at his camp are too busy for this.
"I tell you what. Let us meet our lumber deadline, and then we can talk about it - with the loggers."
Candy sighed in disgust. "Fine," she snapped, then turned away and herded all the brides back into the dormitory.
After the brides left, Jason turned to Jeremy and said, "She's a feisty one, isn't she?"
"Umm…yeah," was all Jeremy could reply. He thought maybe he should re-think spending a lifetime with such a "feisty" lady….
Chapter Five
The weeks wore on, until the deadline for the lumber order was near. Jason and his loggers were satisfied that they could meet the deadline with no problems. He did not want to slack off just now, though. Better to get it done in time, on time, and delivered.
However, after an exceptionally productive day, Jason shouted to the loggers, "Closing time! Let's go to Lottie's - my treat!"
The men cheered as they fell in line behind him and went into town.
When they passed the brides' dormitory, Jeremy stopped and went over to the front door.
Biddie opened it and said "Well, hello, Jeremy! Did you get off of work early today?"
"Well, everybody did. We're getting some drinks at Lottie's, and, um, is Candy here?"
Candy heard the familiar voice and came out of the kitchen. "Hello there," she started, and then she looked almost horrified. "Jeremy, you look like you're beyond exhausted!"
"Well, we all are. Sorry I c-c-couldn't clean up before coming into town. Jason is treating us to a round at Lottie's - we're almost finished with this project!"
"Really?" Candy asked. "Does this mean we can meet soon about the shotgun issue?"
Jeremy answered, "To be honest, Candy, we just want to f-f-finish this order before we even think about discussing that."
Candy asked, "When do you think you'll finish up this order?"
"Within the week - 10 days at the most." He hoped she would not complain.
"Very well. Enjoy your drinks, and I'll see you in 10 days." With that, she shut the door.
Jeremy was confused, disappointed, and puzzled. Why the heck was Candy acting like that? He had never seen her so demanding before. He wondered what was behind her strange behavior. Were all the brides being just as impatient? Maybe they were just keyed up about the dangerous situation. Anyway, he needed that drink, and went straight to Lottie's.
Chapter Six
There was a lot of noise at the saloon, with the enjoyment of a free drink at the end of a hard workday.
Jeremy came in and went up to the bar. "A whiskey, double, straight up," he ordered.
Joshua was nearby and heard the order. He said "Jeremy, you usually don't have hard liquor this early in the day. Is something wrong?"
"Maybe," Jeremy mumbled, but he did not provide more information. He just swallowed his drink in one gulp and went out the door.
Josh approached Jason and told him "Did you see Jeremy just now? He gulped down a double whiskey and walked out. Is he OK?"
"Ah, the lad is having relationship troubles, I'm afraid. Candy wants all the brides to be armed with shotguns just like the men."
Corky overheard Jason and said, "WHAT? She wants SHOTGUNS for all the brides?"
The entire saloon overheard that remark and became rather quiet.
Sam, another logger spoke up, "Whad'ya mean the brides want shotguns? Are they gonna shoot the wildcat, or us…?"
A laugh rippled around the room.
"Now, now," Jason claimed. "We've agreed not to even talk about this matter with the brides until after we have completed this lumber project. I expect all of you here in this room will NOT bring up the subject with your wives or sweethearts until then, either."
"Why not? They have to know how ridiculous this sounds!" fired back Corky.
I was afraid of this, Jason thought. Once the cat got out of the bag, there is no turning back…
"Look, men, I stand by what I said just now. You are NOT to bring up this subject until all of us can meet together. Jeremy hasn't slept well in days because of this issue. Candy sounds like she gave him some sort of ultimatum."
"Ooooh, Candy and her Ultimatums!" chanted Sam.
"Oh, shut up!" snapped back Corky. "What we have to do between now and then is think of what to tell them when we all say "N-O."
And with that, the men went back to enjoying their drinks, then meandered on home. Jason had to keep his fingers crossed about the men keeping the information to themselves for now…
Chapter Seven
The next day, Candy was pacing nervously in the dorm. She was getting anxious about settling this shotgun idea. She and all the brides would be devastated if the men did not take them seriously, which she was afraid might happen. To top all of that off, the way she was quarreling with Jeremy lately, she was almost afraid he would break up with her.
"Ohhh, Biddie, I think I've royally messed things up!" Candy wailed.
"What do you mean, Candy?" asked Biddie.
"Well, I've been trying to discuss this 'shotguns for the brides' idea with Jeremy, and I'm afraid he did not take it well at all. I think he's actually angry at me by now. Oh, I don't know what to do!"
"Oh, there, now," chimed in Biddie. "He knows you better than any other man in this town. Surely he can see your point and is willing to discuss it rationally."
"He didn't come across like that yesterday. Maybe we should just forget this idea."
"Not on your life, Candy!" said Biddie. "I think the idea is wonderful, especially since someone can teach me how to hold that thing correctly! I know there aren't really 'Cowboys and Indians' in Seattle, but there sure are Indians ready to kidnap us again!" She was referring to the time when Chief Wakando kidnapped several brides right from their beds in the middle of the night in order to claim them as wives. It was a scary episode, indeed.
"Oh, I just need to go somewhere and think," said Candy. She blew out of the dorm and disappeared before Biddie realized they should stay in pairs. Biddie ran out the door after her best friend. "Candy - Candy! We can't go out alone! Come back!" But her pleadings went unheard.
Jeremy was also pacing back and forth at the camp, to the point of distraction to Jason. "Jeremy!" He shouted. "Go get some fresh air for a minute so you can concentrate on your work!"
Jeremy didn't need to be told twice, so he hightailed it out of camp. His shotgun stayed laying against a tree.
One thing Candy knew about Seattle was that there were plenty of "places to think." She made her way towards the camp, but stopped halfway and leaned against a tree. She was trying not to cry, but the tears were hard to choke back. Why do I always make a mess out of everything? What if Jeremy doesn't want to marry me anymore? I fell in love with him on the way over here. I can't think of anyone else I could love like that…."
She was not aware of a mountain lion staring down at her from a nearby tree branch.
The End of Part I
