CHAPTER 5

The next morning Jeremy walks up to Lottie's and sees Jasmine out front sitting in Lottie's buggy. "Hey, you going somewhere?" he asks hoping that she's leaving and that he's off the hook of showing her around.

"Yes, I am. You do remember you're going to show me around Seattle, don't you? Lottie was kind enough to loan me her buggy," Jasmine responds.

Jeremy laughs. "I don't think we need a buggy. Look around, this is Seattle. You're pretty much seeing the whole town now. We can walk this in no time."

"Walk? In this mud? I should certainly think not. Besides, I thought maybe we could go up to your camp and you can show me what it is that you do up there."

"What we do up there is cut down trees. It's too dangerous to go see the men work. All you'd get to see are several tents."

"That's fine by me. On the drive up there, we can talk and get to know each other better," Jasmine smiles sweetly at Jeremy.

"Besides, all the men are off today. There won't be anyone up there," Jeremy adds.

"Oh, that's even better. The two of us alone up there. We'll have plenty of time to talk," she giggles.

"Hmm, you stay here. I have something I have to do before we leave. I'll be right back," he tells her as he runs over to the dormitory.

"Jeremy! Jeremy!" she calls out to him but he keeps on running ignoring her.

Jeremy doesn't bother knocking on the door, he just goes on in calling out, "Candy! Candy!"

Frannie tells him, "Candy's in the kitchen frying chicken."

"Thanks!" he says as he rushes to the kitchen. "Candy! Come with me," he says as he takes the fork out of her hand and hands it to Biddie. "Here Biddie, take over for Candy. I have to talk to her." Taking her hand, he leads her over to a quiet spot.

"Jeremy, what's wrong now?" Candy asks.

"Candy, you have to go with Jasmine and me. She has a buggy and wants to ride up to the camp."

"Why? Why does she want to go to the camp?"

"So we can talk and get to know each other better. I have a feeling she wants to do more than talk. You have to go with us," Jeremy says anxiously.

"What will she think if I tag along?"

"I don't care what she thinks. Candy, you have to save me!"

"Save you?"

"Yes, save me. She's not dressed for a tour of Seattle. She's dressed. . .well, here see for yourself."

He draws the curtain back just enough for Candy to see out. "Now, do you believe me?"

"Well, okay. Let me get my wrap and I'll tell Biddie that I'm leaving."

"Thank you," he says as he gives her a quick hug.

Jeremy helps her with her wrap and they head over to the buggy. "There's a change of plans. Candy is going to go with us," Jeremy informs Jasmine.

"I thought you were going to be cooking this morning," Jasmine says to Candy, disappointment showing on her face.

"Well I was, but when Jeremy asked me to go with the two of you, I couldn't very well say no. It's really hard to say no to Jeremy. He's such a sweetheart," Candy replies as she puts her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek several times.

Jeremy hugs her back and whispers in her ear, "Candy, you're spreading it on pretty thick, don't you think?" He pulls away and takes her hand, "Let me help you in the buggy. I hate you have to sit back here by yourself." He kisses her hand before he climbs up onto the front seat beside of Jasmine. "All right, I guess we're ready to start. Jasmine, as you already know, this is Lottie's. Next we have the church and then the dormitory," he states as he slowly drives the buggy around to those buildings. "This here is our famous totem pole. Some like it and some want to get rid of it. Well actually, only one person wants to get rid of it."

"I like the totem pole. It has character," Jasmine smiles.

"Yes, it does. Right there is the jail. We don't have to use it too much."

Candy laughs and speaks up, "Only for Jeremy, it seems. He's a frequent visitor."

"What do you mean?" Jasmine asks.

"She doesn't mean anything. Forget what she said. Now, we have the wharf where Captain Clancey docks his boat, the Shamus O'Flynn."

"It's a ship, Jeremy," Candy corrects him.

Jeremy glances back at Candy and she is laughing as he smirks at her. "Right, ship. Clancey doesn't like for us to call it a boat. That big building over there next to the water is the sawmill. And then that house nestled back from the mill is Aaron Stempel's house. He owns the sawmill."

"What's Mr. Stempel like?" Jasmine asks.

Jeremy thinks about his answer. "Aaron can be nice when he wants to be, which isn't very often. Mostly, he's just a big pain in the butt for us Bolt brothers."

"So, you don't get along in other words," she comments.

Jeremy grunts, "Hrmph, that's an understatement. Anyways, now we're coming back around to where we started. This building is storage for the wharf. This tiny building is the barber shop and next to it is Ben Perkins' general store. And now, we're back at Lottie's." He stops the buggy. "Well, that's the main part of Seattle. What did you think?"

Jasmine sighs, "It is small."

"Yes, it is small, but it's a good place to live, especially since the women moved here," he turns his head to look at Candy and gives her that big grin that she loves.

"Wait, you're saying that all these women moved here? They're not from here originally? Candy, you moved here?" Jasmine asks intrigued.

"Yes, I did and it's the best decision I have ever made."

"Really?" Jasmine asks.

"Well sure, I found Jeremy here," Candy states as she stands up behind Jeremy, places her hands on his shoulders, and leans over kissing the top of his head.

"Hey, there's Josh. He's one of my brothers. Wonder what he's doing?" Jeremy gets an idea. "Josh, hey Josh!"

"Jeremy," Josh greets him as he walks up beside him. "Where you headed?"

"Josh, this is Jasmine Westover from, I'm sorry but I have no idea where you're from," he remarks to Jasmine.

"Oh, I'm from Olympia," she replies.

"Okay then, Josh, this is Jasmine Westover from Olympia. Jasmine, this is my brother Joshua Bolt or as some of us call him Josh."

"Nice meeting you Miss Westover."

"Nice meeting you too, Mr. Bolt."

"Oh stop it, you two. Call each other Jasmine and Joshua," Candy giggles.

"Josh, you busy?" Jeremy asks.

"No, I'm foot loose and fancy free. Why?"

"Good." Jeremy climbs down from the buggy and helps Candy out. "Josh, Jasmine wants to see the camp and what better person to show her the camp than you."

"But Jeremy, I thought you were going to show me your camp," Jasmine says surprised.

"Well, I was but Josh here knows more about the camp than I do. Besides, if I went all the way up there, then Candy and I would be late for our picnic. So you two take all the time you need, get to know each other, but most of all have fun. See ya and thanks Josh."

Jeremy puts his arm around Candy's waist and they head over to the dormitory trying to stifle their laughs.