Chapter 3

Mr. Gordon headed over to Stemple's Mill. He was hoping he could get a job as the bookkeeper since his main concern was listening for any information about the gang of marauders. He and Billy Bronson were both involved that is why he had placed Billy in the camp. If he were placed in the mill, he would be able to hear more 'talk' and find out where other farmers and maybe another Indian villages might be. He planned to wipe out the entire Indian nation on the west coast!

"Harvey, have you got the logs shaved yet? We need about a thousand more shakes for that company that is building homes near Tacoma!" Aaron shouted as he walked out of his office to go to lunch.

"Hello, my name is Butch Gordon, I am interested in working for you!" Butch walked right up to Aaron and shook his hand. Aaron was quite surprised and almost said something which would have been rude, but stopped himself and smiled and shook Mr. Gordon's hand and asked:

"Your name is?" He asked curiously.

"My name is Butch Gordon, and I am looking for a job as a bookkeeper in your establishment. I have references." Butch said with a sneering smile under his mustache. He did not smile well and so wore a rather large mustache so that his smile would not look so threatening to others.

"Well, I don't really need a bookkeeper, have you tried the Bolt logging company?" Aaron asked as he maneuvered himself and Mr. Gordon down the stairs and towards the saloon.

"Yes, sir I did. They said they did not need my services at this time. I was hoping that you would be able to hire me on. My plan is to find a job, buy a piece of land nearby and start a rather small farm and family." He looked Aaron straight in the eye and Aaron thought maybe this man would be a good fit for Ben or maybe Lottie to help with their books.

"Well, Mr. Gordon…

"Butch, call me Butch!"

"Well, Butch, I do not need you but there are several people with business that may want a little help I can recommend you to them, if you are willing to come with me for a little lunch right now?" Aaron said.

Butch thought about it, okay, he thought let me see what opportunities this might bring.
"Yes, Thank you, do you wish to see my recommendations now? That is so you can present me in a good light to the others who may need my services?"

Aaron nodded yes; Butch reached into his pocket with a list of places he said he had worked at. He also had a formal letter from a lawyer in San Francisco who said he had done some accounting work for him as well. Aaron looked at it.

"Would it be okay if I keep this list? I want to check these places if you don't mind."

Butch nodded it was okay. All the addresses went to a special place that would 'verify' is abilities. Aaron then led Butch to Lottie's, and they had a nice lunch. He introduced Mr. Gordon to Lottie, and she thought that was a good idea to have someone to help with the finances. She agreed and told Mr. Gordon that he could meet with her on Friday afternoon, when she did her finances. Butch was happy about that, he could spend some time looking over the town, getting the latest gossip and make plans. Aaron also took him over to Ben and Ben agreed to see him on Thursday afternoon as well.

Jim Swill was helping with a team driving the logs down the hill to the river. He was chatting with one of the other loggers and heard that one of his family members had been killed in a raid, they thought the Indians had been the culprits, however, there was talk that another group of men had done that!

"Jack, how was it that you found out about this? Didn't you tell me your sister went missing?"
"That is surely right Jim, the Indians took her, and her baby sister Gretel. There is a posse out looking for them. In fact, my big brother is on the posse and said he will not rest until he captures the Indians!"
Jim moved the logs carefully while Jack steered the horses. When they reached the river, the logs were rolled into the little bay, and they went back for another load.
"Why do you ask these questions?" Jack Crawley said.

"Well, Jack, just felt bad for you that is all. Billy Came up to them just then and said that he needed help finding Longshot, the camp cook. He had gone to look for him and did not find him. Both Jim and Jack went to look as well. Suddenly there was a commotion, and a loud sound came from inside the office tent. It sounded as if there was a bear in that tent. Two men came running out of the tent and ran straight toward the river. As they passed Jim, Jack, and Bill, Jim noticed something wrong about one of the men running. He watched as the man looked as if he had been cut with a large saw! The other man came running behind him and caught up with him and was punching him and beating him. Jason came over along with big Swede and they grabbed each one by the collar of their shirt and pulled them out of the water and away from each other.

"Swede, take him to the other side of the camp. I will talk to him in a while! You, come with me!" Jason marched the other man back to the tent and sat him down. He asked Corky and Joshua to stand by in case he needed help.

"Mr. Dawson, did I , or did I not tell you that there will be no drinking during work hours! And did I or did I not tell you if anyone so much as beats, fights, or cuts another logger, they will be out of the camp and never allowed to come back to work again!?" Jason said this as he towered over Mr. Dawson. Mr. Dawson was the man with the saw, he had been drinking and decided that he would try and cut the other man's leg off while he was sleeping.

Elias Dawson just looked at Jason blankly. His drinking had put him into a stupor, and he was unable to comprehend what was happening. In fact, he almost fell asleep. Jason looked at him and then said to Corky:

"Corky takes this man draw his pay and take him to the town and send him on the next stage out of here! Joshua, you go as well! Thank you!" Jason stood for a moment trying to calm himself down. When he felt calmer, he went out of the tent and towards the other man. Solomon Weldham was sitting on the trunk of a tree with Big Swede. His leg was bleeding, but the cut was not that deep. Big Swede had helped to bandage up the leg, but Sol would not be able to work for at least a week.

"Here comes Jason." Said Big Swede to Solomon. Soloman groaned, besides being in pain he was not very happy because this fight might mean no job and if he didn't have a job, his wife Anna would not be able to stay in the cabin this winter.

"Jason, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to fight him, but he just started to saw off my leg, what else was I supposed to do?"
Jason looked at his leg and then turning to Big Swede, he said:

"Big Swede please get the wagon, we will have to put Solomon in the back and if you can transport him to the Doctor in Tacoma, I am sure that he will get good care there." Big Swede left and Jason turned to Solomon.

"Solomon, I don't blame you. Dawson should not have been drinking, it seems he had too much. I fired him and sent him away. I am going to have Big Swede take you to Tacoma to the doctor. I will pay for it. I want you well in a week, I need your help and you are too valuable for me to let you go!"

Solomon sighed and said:
"Thank you Jason! I was a little worried about the fight…"

"You did not start it and you did not try to cut a man's leg off with a saw!" Big Swede arrived with the wagon and helped put Solomon in the back so he could keep his leg up."

"Hurry back Big Swede, we have a lot to do!"

"I will Jason!"

In town, Dawson was placed on the stage. Corky, and Joshua both went to Lottie's for a quick snack.

Butch was sitting at a corner table eating his lunch and listening to all the talk. What he heard about Jason Bolt, Aaron Stemple, and the rest of the business of the town interested him. But when Corky and Joshua came in stood at the bar and both talked about what happened he perked his ears up. This Elias Dawson might be someone he could use in his plan. When Corky and Joshua were finished, they left. Butch left as well. He needed to stop that stage and get Mr. Dawson to a safe place!