CHAPTER 7

"Well, here it is!" Josh exclaims as he halts the buggy outside the Bolt brothers tent at the campsite.

"This is about all that you're going to be able to see. Just tents, the tool shed, the cook site, and the dining area."

"Oh, it is a little smaller than I thought it would be. May I see inside a tent?" Jasmine asks.

"Sure, come on," Josh answers as he jumps from the buggy and helps her out. "This is my brothers and my tent." They step inside to take a look around.

Seeing three cots, she asks, "So this is where you live?"

"We stay up here occasionally, mostly when we're behind schedule or we're just too tired to walk back to Seattle after a hard day's work. We do have a cabin in Seattle."

"These don't look very comfortable," she comments as she sits down on one of the cots.

"You get use to it. Besides we're usually so tired that it doesn't really matter where we lay our head," he chuckles. "Come on, I'll show you some things outside."

He takes her over to the outdoor kitchen and mess tent. "This is where we do our eating."

"My, how quaint." She sees something that interest her and walks over to it. "What's this? The dinner bell?" She starts to ring it when Josh stops her.

"No! Don't ring it! That's our warning bell!"

"Warning bell? Warning for what?" She looks amused.

"Well, when there's any kind of trouble, someone rings the bell and everyone comes running to help." Josh chuckles loudly, "Except the one time Jeremy rang it to announce his impending marriage to Candy."

"His marriage? But they're not married. Are they engaged?" Jasmine asks.

"No, it's a long story. I'll tell you about it later."

"Just tell me now, are they engaged?"

"No, not exactly. They were engaged, but things happened and they broke off their engagement. They now have what they call an understanding."

"An understanding? What is that?"

"Come on, let's find a place for our picnic and I'll explain it to you." Josh takes her arm and leads her to the buggy where he picks up the picnic basket and blanket, then leads her down to the water. He spreads the blanket out and helps her to sit. They unpack the basket and begin to eat while Josh talks about 100 women coming to Seattle by the way of an old mule boat and about how Jeremy and Candy met on that six month voyage and fell in love. Then he tells her about the understanding. "So you see, Jeremy and Candy are deeply in love and there isn't anyone that can ever break them apart. Their love is solid."

"If it's as solid as you say, then why aren't they married by now or at least engaged?" Jasmine asks.

"They have their reasons. Let me ask you this. Why are you so interested in Jeremy and Candy? Are you falling for my little brother? Do you have intentions of trying to break them apart? I hope not because like I said, they only have eyes for each other."

Jasmine asks, "Well, Mr. Bolt, I don't think you care for me very much. First, it was my clothes. Now, you accuse me of trying to come between Jeremy and Candy."

"I'm sorry. I guess it's just I'm a little over protective of my brother. He had it rough growing up."

"What do you mean?"

"Our Mom died when Jeremy was only five years old. He took it pretty hard and well, he began to stutter. He stuttered pretty bad."

"Really? I haven't heard him stutter," Jasmine remarks.

"Oh, he doesn't stutter anymore except for when he gets overly excited or frustrated. Candy has helped him tremendously. She has given him the confidence to believe in himself."

"You mean he stuttered when they first met? And she still fell in love with him?"

"Yep, she sure did."

"Hmm. Tell me Joshua. Why aren't you married yet?"

"Just haven't found the right woman yet. Until now, that is," he bashfully says.

"Oh, I. . ." she stops as she finds Josh's lips on hers.

Breaking apart Josh says, "I'm sorry. I hope I wasn't too forward."

"No, I rather enjoyed it. But you don't know anything about me."

"Maybe not yet, but I do find you captivating. I'd like to see you again and get to know all about the mysterious Jasmine Westover."

"I think I'd like that, too." She leans over and kisses his cheek.

"Good, so tell me what brings you to Seattle," Josh inquires.

"Well, I run a boarding house in Olympia and I thought maybe I might open one here in Seattle. What do you think? Is there a need for a boarding house here in your fair town?"

"A boarding house? I'm not sure. Most people who come to Seattle, stay at Lottie's. She only has five rooms for rent and they're hardly ever all taken at once. I really can't see a boarding house working here. Sorry."

"Well, it was just an idea I had anyways. Can't blame a girl for trying," she laughs.

"It would be nice if you stayed around here. Maybe you could open up something else. Or just stay so we can get to know each other better."

"Maybe," she whispers. "I better get back. I promised Lottie I'd have tea with her this afternoon."

"All right. May I see you again?"

Jasmine bats her eyes at him. "I sure hope so."