CHAPTER 8

"What!" Jeremy shouts at his brother Josh later that afternoon. "You've got to be kidding!"

"Do I look like I'm kidding? And Jeremy, stop shouting. You're giving me a headache," Josh says as he rubs his temples.

"B-B-But Josh! How can you be in love? You just met her. You don't know anything about her," Jeremy says as he runs his fingers through his hair in disgust.

"Now Jeremy, you of all people should know that you can fall in love with someone when you first meet. I mean, just look at you and Candy."

"Me and Candy? Josh, me and Candy are different."

"How so?" Josh asks.

"I-I-I don't know how we're different. We just are. You can't be in love with Jasmine Westover!"

"Jeremy, if I didn't know better, I'd think you're jealous. You can't have both Jasmine and Candy. Why if Candy could hear you now, she'd be hurt and upset," chuckles Josh.

"Oh, you think this is funny, do you? And for your information, I'm not jealous. I don't want you to get hurt, that's all."

"Why do you think I'll get hurt?" asks Josh.

"Because you always do. Every time a young beautiful girl comes to town, you fall in love with her and always get your heart broken in the end."

"I do not!" Josh shouts.

"You do, too! Just ask anybody. They'll tell you the same thing."

"Well, okay, but this time it'll be different. I know it will. Now unless you have something positive to say about this, then we're finished talking about it for now."

Jeremy is left speechless, so he walks out on the porch slamming the door behind him. He sees Jason heading for the cabin.

"Well, Jeremy, coming out to welcome your old brother home?" Jason greets him,

"Not exactly, but welcome back. Everything go okay?"

"It did. Where's Josh? I'd like to buy you both a drink over at Lottie's and I'll tell you all about my trip."

"He's inside," Jeremy says rather disgustingly.

"Uh oh, what's wrong? You two at it again?" Jason asks.

"Yeah, I guess you can say that."

"What's it about this time?"

"You won't believe it. I'll let him tell you."

Opening the door, Jason chuckles, "No time like the present."

Later sitting at Lottie's drinking a cold beer, Jason asks, "Josh, you gonna sit there and sulk the whole night?"

"Maybe. I can't believe you sided with Jeremy," Josh replies.

"I told you so," Jeremy smirks.

Josh glares at Jeremy and says, "Shut up, Jeremy!"

"Now boys," Jason chuckles. "There's no need to get angry. Josh, it's a known fact that you fall in love easily. That just means you have a big heart. Nothing to be upset about."

Jeremy snickers and Jason gives him a stern look. "What? What did I do?" Jeremy asks. Seeing Jason nod his head towards Josh while still looking sternly at Jeremy, Jeremy says, "I'm sorry, Josh. I really hope it works out for you this time."

"Thanks Jeremy. I think I'll go get some air. I'll see you both at home later." He gets up and walks out the door.

A few minutes later, Jasmine comes downstairs and stands behind Jeremy placing her hands on his shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. "Jeremy, would you. . ." she stops when she sees Jason. "Jason? Jason, what are you doing here?" she asks.

"Jazzy? I could ask you the same thing."

"You two know each other?" Jeremy asks looking back and forth at them.

"Hmm, yes, Jason has stayed at my boarding house on several occasions." Looking at Jeremy, she asks him, "So, how do you two know each other?"

Jeremy answers, "Jason is my oldest brother."

"Brother? Oh my, small world isn't it?" she says. "So, you live here, do you?" she asks Jason.

"Yes, I do. Now, why are you here in Seattle?"

"I came here on business," she replies.

"Jasmine was thinking about opening up a boarding house here in Seattle," Jeremy interjects.

Jason curiously asks, "A boarding house? Like the one you run in Olympia?"

Jasmine blushes, "Yes, pretty much like that one. But Joshua told me he didn't think it would work here."

"Josh?" Jason looks at Jeremy and without saying a word asks Jeremy with his eyes if Jasmine is the woman Josh is in love with.

Jeremy nods yes. Then he jumps up and says, "I'm going over to see if Candy wants to take a walk. See you later," and he rushes out of the saloon.

Jason kicks a chair out towards Jasmine. "Sit. We have some talking to do."

She sits down and rests her clasped hands on the table. "Jason, I'm sorry. I didn't know you lived here and that Jeremy and Joshua were your brothers?"

"I want to know why you're really here. A boarding house? You told them you run a boarding house?"

"So, I fibbed a little bit," she replies.

"Jazzy, we both know that was more than a little fib. Why you run the biggest brothel in Olympia. I don't think Seattle would appreciate you opening up a place like that here."

"Oh and why not? Is Seattle too good to have me and my girls here? You sure enjoy yourself when you come to my place."

"Shh, not so loud. It doesn't matter what I think. We, as in me and my brothers, just brought 100 respectable women here. They will not stand for a brothel opening up here."

"That's right, Joshua did tell me about those 100 women. Are they all as uptight as Candy Pruitt?" she laughs.

"Candy's not uptight. And neither are the other women. It's just that they want to be marriageable."

"Marriageable? What does that even mean?" she laughs again.

"I think you can figure that out for yourself. Besides we have a bigger problem we have to deal with."

Jasmine thinks to herself, Does he know why I'm here? But how? "All right Jason, what is the problem?"

"It seems my brother thinks he's in love with you," Jason tells her.

"What? Jeremy's in love with me?" she cheerfully asks.

"Jeremy? No, Jeremy's in love with Candy. Always will be. I'm talking about Josh."

"Joshua? Joshua's in love with me? But we just met a few hours ago."

"I'm afraid his heart doesn't tell time. You have to tell him the truth."

"I can't. Not yet." She starts to get up when Jason grabs her wrist.

Jason angrily tells her, "I don't know what game you're playing, but just know, I'm going to be watching you closely. And if you hurt either one of my brothers, you'll pay dearly for it. Do I make myself clear?"

Jasmine jerks away from Jason and rushes back upstairs to her room slamming the door, while Jason goes up to the bar and orders a shot of whiskey. He gulps it down and then slowly walks home.