CHAPTER 9

Sitting at his desk the next morning, Aaron Stempel is startled when the door to his office suddenly slams shut. He looks up and shouts, "What are you doing here?"

Jasmine answers, "We need to talk and now."

"Not here. What if someone sees us together?"

"I don't care. We'll make up an excuse. Aaron, you didn't tell me that Jeremy is Jason's brother. Hell, you didn't even tell me that Jason lives here."

"What difference does it make? And how do you know Jason? Ahh, I see. He's one of your customers, right?" he chuckles.

"Yes, he is. Just like you're one of my customers. But that's beside the point. I need to stop this now. It's not going to work."

"Why not?" Aaron asks.

"Well, there are three Bolt brothers. Jeremy can't stand being in the same room with me. He's so wrapped up in his girl. Joshua thinks he's in love with me after only meeting me a few hours ago and Jason has already warned me about hurting his brothers. So tell me, how your plan is ever going to work?"

Aaron walks around to the front of his desk, scratching his head. "Let me think on this awhile. All we have to do is somehow get you alone with Jeremy. You put him in a compromising position as Miss Pruitt walks in. She'll never forgive the boy and she'll leave Seattle. I'll get the details worked out and let you know when and where. Now. . ." They hear something outside.

Unbeknownst to Aaron and Jasmine, Biddie Cloom has been standing outside the window listening to their conversation. She saw Jasmine storming toward Aaron's office and her curiosity got the better of her. When she hears their plan, she gasps loudly. Being aware that they heard her, she backs up quietly and hides behind a stack of lumber.

Aaron comes out of his office and looks around, not seeing anyone. He goes back in and tells Jasmine to leave and he'll be in contact.

Biddie scurries to the dormitory and grabs the dust cloth from Candy's hand throwing it on a table. She pulls Candy from the dormitory and up the road towards Bolt's Logging Camp, all the while Candy is protesting.

"Biddie! Biddie Cloom! What in the world has gotten into you? Where are we going? To the camp? Why? Biddie! Biddie, answer me!" Candy bombards her.

When they arrive at the camp, they see the men sitting around taking a break. They spy Jason, Josh, and Jeremy sitting together under a large oak tree relaxing, talking, and laughing. Josh is the first one to see them coming and he says as he nods his head towards the women, "Uh oh, looks like trouble coming."

Jeremy jumps up and meets them asking, "Hey Candy, what's going on?"

"I have no idea, Jeremy. Biddie just grabbed me and started pulling me up here. She won't answer any of my questions. She's acting really weird," Candy replies.

Josh chuckles, "You mean weirder than usual?"

Jason says, "Quiet Josh. Now Biddie, what do we owe for the pleasure of your company today?"

Biddie looks around all wild eyed. "I-I-I-I need to t-t-talk to you. All of you. P-Privately." She starts gasping for air.

"Hey, you sound like Jeremy," Josh laughs.

Jeremy sneers at Josh, "Very funny, Josh."

"Let's go into the tent. Jeremy, get Biddie some water," Jason states.

Jason helps Biddie inside the tent followed by everyone else. He seats her at the small table while Jeremy hands her a cup of water. She gulps down several swallows. Then she looks at the concerned looks on their faces.

"Biddie, can you now please explain what this is all about?" Candy asks.

"I will, but you're not going to like it. None of you are going to like it," Biddie answers.

"Just tell us," Jason says.

"Okay, well I was just minding my own business like usual as I was going over to Ben's. I needed some items like thread to sew up a rip in one of my dresses. My dress caught on a tree branch when Corky and I took a walk last night. He. . ."

Sighing loudly and rolling their eyes, they all shout, "Biddie!"

"Biddie, can you get to the point, please?" Jeremy asks.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Well anyways, I saw that woman Jasmine hurrying over to Aaron's office. I thought that was strange. Now why would she be in such a hurry to see Aaron. So I followed her and when I got there, her and Aaron were arguing."

"What about?" Josh asks.

"About you three Bolt brothers and you too Candy," Biddie replies.

"Me!" Candy shouts.

"Why, yes indeedy. Jasmine said that Jeremy didn't want to be in the same room with her, that he was too wrapped up with you." Jeremy and Candy smile lovingly at each other. "And Josh was in love with her and Jason threatened her."

They all look at Jason questioningly. "Why-why I only told her she better not hurt my brothers."

"Tsk, tsk, Jason. Anyways, they have some kind of a plan to get rid of Candy. Aaron. . ."

"Wait a minute," Jeremy interrupts. "What do you mean get rid of Candy?" He takes her hand and squeezes it tightly.

"All I know is Aaron said that Jasmine needed to get Jeremy alone and in a compromising position. He would get Candy to walk in on them. Candy would be so upset that she would leave Seattle with his encouragement." Biddie exhales loudly.

"Why of all the nerve!" Candy says. "He wants to break Jeremy and me apart. But why?"

"Because Miss Pruitt, if you two break up and you leave Seattle, then he will get our mountain," Jason replies.

"I-I'm going to beat his ass," Jeremy says angrily as he heads for the tent opening.

"No Jeremy," Jason says grabbing him and holding him back. "I understand how you would want to do that but you can't. Not yet, anyways."

"Why not?" Josh asks. "Aaron deserves it and I'll be glad to help Jeremy."

"Look, we would all like to get our hands on Aaron, but I think it's better if we play along and let him think his plan is working."

"Oh no, I don't want Jeremy anywhere near Jasmine. She can't keep her hands off him as it is," Candy states.

"Now settle down and just hear me out. Jeremy you're going to send a message to Jasmine and ask her to meet you for a walk. Then you flirt with her and. . ."

"No way, Jason!" Jeremy shouts cutting him off. "I won't do it. I won't betray Candy like that."

"Jeremy, it's only for show. Candy is going to be close by watching everything. Then when you kiss her. . ."

Jeremy and Candy are almost in a panic by now. "Kiss her?" Candy shouts very loudly.

"I'm not kissing her," Jeremy protests, "and you can't make me!"

In a very calming voice Jason tells Jeremy, "I'm not going to make you do anything. I'm asking you to do this to save our mountain. Do this for me, you, and Josh. And for you and Candy."

"For me and Candy? How's this going to help me and Candy?" Jeremy asks.

"Well, the two of you do plan on getting married someday, right?" They nod their heads yes. "If we lose our mountain, how are you going to support a wife and family that will surely follow?"

"I-I-I don't know," Jeremy stutters. He brightens saying, "If I stay away from Jasmine and Candy doesn't leave, then Aaron won't be able to touch our mountain. Problem solved."

Jason scratches his chin. "We could do it that way, I suppose. But he'll get away with this and he'll try something else. Just think of all the fun we'll have drawing Aaron out and exposing his devious plan in front of everyone. He'll be too embarrassed to try anything else before the one year anniversary of the brides' arrival here in Seattle."

"I think Jason's right," Josh states. "Jeremy, I know you don't want to do this, but wouldn't you like to teach Jasmine and Aaron a lesson? I know I do. After all the lies she told me, I'd like to see her squirm."

"Does that mean you don't love her anymore?" Biddie asks Josh.

"That's exactly what it means, Biddie. And to think that I believed every word she said. Does she even own a boarding house? Jason, you know her somewhat, does she own a boarding house?"

Jason being a little embarrassed replies, "No, she doesn't own a boarding house. She, hmm, she owns Olympia's biggest and most expensive. . ." Then he whispers the word "brothel".

"She owns a what? I didn't quite hear that?" Candy says.

"She owns a brothel," Jason says loudly.

Candy is flabbergasted. "A brothel? Jason, have you been there?"

"It's really none of your business if I've been there or not. Now. . ."

"Jeremy, have you been there?" Candy asks him.

"No, I haven't, Candy. I swear I haven't ever been to any brothel and I hope I never do. You're the only woman I want."

"What are you saying, Jeremy Bolt? Have you and Candy been, uh, you know, doing the unmentionable?" Biddie asks with her eyes about ready to pop out of her head.

"Biddie Cloom!" Candy shouts.

"No, we haven't. And we won't until we're married. Besides, it's none of your business what we do," Jeremy says blushing .

"All right. Let's get back to the subject at hand," Jason declares. "Do we teach Aaron and Jazzy a lesson or not?"

"I say yes," Josh replies.

"I say yes," Biddie states. "That is if I get a vote," she giggles.

Everyone looks at Jeremy and Candy. They look into each others eyes searching for an answer. At the same time they respond, "Yes." Jeremy puts his arm around her shoulder and draws her closer. He whispers in her ear, "Are you sure about this?"

She bites on her bottom lip and nods her head whispering, "I'm sure. I trust you."

"I love you," he whispers.

"Okay, I vote yes too," Jason says. "Now we just need to get our little plan figured out and set it in motion. And Biddie, mums the word. Got it?"

"Got it! You can count on me," Biddie giggles excited to be included.