Chapter 4

Jake finished hauling in the net with all the salmon that they had caught for the day. Chris was on one end as well as Eddie and Joe across from Chris and Jake. The haul was one of the largest they had had all season. This was going to be the last one until next year, so Chris had made sure that they had a large catch.

"Hey Chris, are you and the family coming over for the Potlatch this weekend?" said Joe.

"Joe, we wouldn't miss that for the world. We will have Jake with us and will bring a sample of our smoked salmon surprise!" Chris laughed. The Smoked Salmon surprise was what he called Merilee's salmon dinner. Everyone enjoyed the dish.

Joe Smiled and said that his wife was cooking up her specialty as well. Chris made a face and said, "Oh no, not eel grass and salmon?" Then they both laughed.

When Jake and Chris got home, Mark was waiting for his father because he wanted to let him know how they did that day and what they had earned. Chris came in and immediately went to clean himself, so he did not smell so much like fish. His 5-year-old daughter had already started to wrinkle up her nose at the smell.

"Just what are you wrinkling your nose up like that for Anna?" Chris said to his youngest.

"I think that you stink!" and she laughed. Chris laughed as well. Three children, Mark at 16, Benjamin at 12 and little Anna. All three had been delivered by Lucinda Stewart Boyce who had delivered most all the children on the island. She was a nurse and midwife as well as a mother of 11 children. She would travel by canoe to the outlying Islands and help with any medical needs. Mostly delivering babies safely.

Merilee had had one child who was now living with his uncle in the nearby Indian village. She was excited that they would be going there this coming weekend for the potlatch. She missed her Indian village, but she also loved Christopher and did not want to leave him.

Jake and Mark had plans to go see Lisa and another girl who Mark was interested in that afternoon, however, Chris said that they needed to stay close to home.

"Chris, what's up? How come we must stay so close to home? It's not like Mark and I can't take care of ourselves!"

Chris looked at them and said: "I am not sure, but I keep getting a feeling that we need to be together tonight." He quickly left the room and asked Merilee if they had any mail that day. She said no but there was a telegraph waiting for him at the post office. Chris went out the door and Anna followed him.

"Daddy, I want to go with you?" Anna said.

"Okay, little one. Come and walk with me." As he said this, he picked her up and put her up on top of his shoulders. They took the short walk to the post office and when they got to the door, he put her down and opened the door.

"Well, hello, you are too!" said Alice Shull the postmistress of the post office. She smiled brightly and said: "Chris, I have a telegraph for you from a Jeremy Bolt.

"Thanks Alice." He took the telegraph and started to read it. He was relieved somewhat that it wasn't anything to do with Candy or Molly or even Melanie, but he was upset about what had happened to Jason.

"Daddy, are you sad? Did something bad happen? I hope Aunt Candy and Uncle Jeremy are okay?"

Chris looked at her and said: "Don't worry, everything will be okay. Mommy and Daddy and cousin Jake will need to have a talk. We will let you know if anything is amiss." He smiled at Alice and they left the post office. He saw Lucinda coming and tipped his hat to her.

"Well, Chris," she said: "anymore babies this year?" Chris just smiled at her and said not that he knew at that time.

"How are you Anna?" said Lucinda.

"I am very well thanking you Mrs. Boyce." Said Anna in her most polite voice and a little curtsey.

Chris made his excuses and picked up Anna and hurried on home.

Josh and Jeremy sat at the table. Jason would not be coming home anytime soon. They had to decide who would go to Olympia to straighten out the problem.

"Josh, you could go, Karen isn't due for at least two more months and we can all keep an eye on her. Candy won't mind having an extra woman in the house."

Josh looked at Jeremy, he thought about it but if he left, who would do the books. He could not ask Aaron and Lottie was having trouble with her eyes and often could not focus.

"Well, would Candy mind if you went? After all, the kids are gone, and it is just you and Candy?' Josh said looking at Jeremy.

"Josh, I was going to tell you and Jason that we were going to go to the San Juan Islands to visit Christopher and Merilee and Jake seems to have disappeared up there as well. Candy is very worried…." Jeremy said but knew that it would probably be him since Josh was right it was just, he and Candy now. So, leaving would not be such a bad thing.

They both sat there and thought about it for a while. Jason had been hurt in a fall and was in the hospital at the time. They did not know anything else, not even the reason for the fall. The doctor would not send information to them by telegraph.

Josh said, "You can take Roland along, he is almost ready to start running things around here, it is time he had a chance to see the rest of the operation." Roland was Josh's eldest son and named after Clancy and was just about as feisty as Clancy had been.

Jeremy looked at Josh, yes, that would work he thought. Roland was a good choice, and because he took an interest in the logging operation, Josh was giving him more and more responsibility. Roland was only 19 but already he was able to do the work of two men. Or so he thought. Both Jason and Joshua were reminded of Big Swede.

"Let me check with Candy, she does not even know about Jason."

Josh looked at Jeremy, he knew that Jeremy would say yes. Joshua did not want to leave Karen currently since it was only a couple of months before the baby was due.

"Okay, I will ask Roland and you let Candy know. She may decide to go with you!" Joshua said a smile on his face remembering when they had to find Molly and Christopher and Candy had a horse and was ready to go looking for her sister and brother. Aaron Stemple had just about had a fit. He did not think a young woman should be looking for anyone. He even told Jeremy to tell her to go back to Seattle. Jeremy had looked at Stemple and then trying to keep a straight face said to Candy:

"Candy, go back to Seattle!" she immediately said: "No!" Stemple was not happy but what could they do? So, they went in search of Molly and Christopher.

Jeremy left to go see Candy and Joshua stayed in the cabin for a few more minutes then went to his home to see Karen.

When Christopher got home, he sent Anna to get her brothers and Jake. He told Merilee that they had to have a family discussion and told her what had happened. When the boys came in with Anna, they all looked at their dad with expectation. Anna went to sit her dad's lap and look up at him as he told them what was happening.

"Okay, so Merilee and kids your uncle Jason has had a bad fall. My sister Candy and Jeremy her husband, your father Jake will need whatever help we can give them. I may have to leave to go to Seattle to help. I will wait until we know more.

"I am so sorry Christophe. Did they say what happened? "

"No, Merilee, I was only told he was in Olympia when this happened. Candy and Jeremy may not make it down here for another year if they need to take care of Jason."

Jake looked at Chris, he was already enrolled in his classes and was looking to help Mark get enrolled in bookkeeping classes as well. He was wondering if he shouldn't quit and go back home to help with the logging business.

"I am thinking the same thing as well as you Jake. I am not sure if they need our help or not. Jeremy or Joshua will let us know in due time. Meanwhile, I suggest we all keep our heads up and do our best…"

"And say our prayers for them!" said Anna.

"Yes, say our prayers." Said Merilee and Christopher together.

Jake said: "What about the potlatch? Will we still be able to go?" then Mark nodded in agreement with Ben and Anna.

"I think we will be able to go, after all it is this weekend, and we would have to book passage on one of the mail boats or steamers. Merilee, I may have to leave you and Anna here, but I will make sure that Peter and the others are watching over you."

Merilee nodded her head in agreement. Not that she did not want to go as well but the cost may be too much and remaining on their land was important especially if there were those who would take it if the whole family left.

"Well kids, let's have some of that delicious soup you mom makes!"