Chapter 9

The days were getting shorter, Mark and Jake worked at their respective jobs. Mark discovered there was a pretty girl working at the cookhouse and was interested in knowing more about her. Jake wondered if Lisbeth would survive the illness that was sweeping through the Native American's communities. Jake's work as a cooper taught him a lot of interesting things. It was hard work, but he liked it. He had learned about what kind of wood was best for the job, mainly to carry limestone, although some of the men had experience with making wine and whiskey barrels as well. Jake knew the trees in Seattle and could recognize them as well on the island, however, his mentor showed him the different kinds of wood that worked well as limestone barrels.

Mark brought the 1 ½ cord of wood, often thought it was at least 2 cords. His father Chris worked alongside Mark. They would deliver the cords by noon and by 4. Jake would be allowed to have his lunch at the same time Chris and Mark had lunch as well.

"So, Jake, how do you like your job?" Chris said after lunch taking out his pipe and getting ready for an after-lunch smoke.

"It is hard work but I kind of like learning more about the trees and what goes into making these barrels. I even thought that I might go into making whiskey barrels someday!" Jake said this with a mischievous grin.

Chris picked up on it and said: "Well, we can always use another whiskey barrel down at the bar!" they all laughed and went back to work. By the end of the day all three were very tired and hungry for Merilee's cooking. When they got home, there had been a letter delivered from the post. It was to Chris and it was from Candy. He put it aside and decided to wait until after supper before he read it. In fact, he ended up waiting until everyone was in bed and he and Merilee were in bed as well!

Dear Chris and Merilee:

I hope that this finds all of you well and happy. Between the logging operation, Mr. Stemple's demands, and other problems, Jeremy and Josh seem to have a handle on everything. Even Jonathan is doing quite well. Or at least that is what Josh and Jeremy tell me.

We had an interesting trip by stagecoach to Tacoma to get to Olympia to get Jason. In fact, we were stopped and almost robbed. I was very frightened until I saw The Kid. You remember him, don't you Chris? I think he let you use his gun, at least until Jeremy took it out of your hand. Well, he is not a 'kid' anymore, but he was with the group doing the robbing. I looked at him, he smiled and was near us in no time. He defied the bandits and got Jeremy and I and the others on the stage and we left but he was killed. I thought for sure he was going to change his life. He did not have anymore time. There was a gunshot and Jeremy said not to look back. I cried a little for him.

Jason is doing better. His wounds are healing, he is going to have some scarring but that is to be expected. It seems that he was at a meeting at the Olympia when a fire broke out. He was helping get people out and noticed two small children stuck under a staircase and of course, you know Jason, he would not rest until he got them out. Unfortunately, he got very severely burned in the process. The children were not even scorched! But that is Your Uncle Jason for you. Anyway, He is still at Lottie's, we are hoping to move him to his cabin in the next few weeks, preferably by Christmas. I do miss you and I miss my son! Well Jeremy's and my son.

How are you doing Jake? How are your field studies coming along? Is Christopher helping in anyway? I got a letter from Melanie and she says she is expecting a baby next spring. Imagine you are going to be an uncle!

Hello to Merilee and Mark, Benjamin, and Anna. Take care! Hope to see you soon!

Your Sister and Mother and Aunt:

Mrs. Jeremy Bolt.

PS. Jeremy just came in and said to tell Jake that he sure could use him right now! He misses all of you as well!

Chris sat and read the letter out loud to Merilee. He would have to let the children read it as well as Charles and Mary Star.

"What is it Chris?" said Merilee, sleepily.

"I was just thinking how I missed my sister and Jeremey and the bolts. I will give this to the children tomorrow and they can take turns reading the letter. That will be good exercise for them."

Merilee smiled and said: "Goodnight Chris, I love you!"

Chris said that he loved her too and as soon as his head reached the pillow, he was sound asleep.

A loud noise was heard Mark was the first to wake up. Another loud noise, like an explosion. This time Jake and Ben and Chris all woke up. The got dressed, and met downstairs, there in the kitchen was a Lummi Indian. He was hurt, bleeding, Chris told the boys to stay near the Lummi and went out with his rifle to check to see if anyone was around.

"Hey you!" Chris shouted at the dark solitary figure standing in the field. "Who are you? What happened?"

"Don't need to know who I am, just want that injun'!"

Chris looked but had not brought the lantern, Mark came just then with a lantern that was already lit. "Get inside, boy. Douse that lantern!" Chris said firmly under his breath. Mark blew out the lantern but not until he heard a gunshot. His dad was on the ground!

"Hey boy, get that injun' if you want your dad to live!" the man said.

Mark was frightened. Charles had snuck around while the man was looking at Chris and came up on the man and knocked him out. Then swiftly tied his hands and took his gun away. He quickly ran over to Chris who was only grazed but had stayed down because he knew that Charles was nearby. Mark was a little upset.

"Why didn't you get up? I thought you were dead?"

"Mark, I will talk to you later, take the rifle, get inside have your mom get a spot to take care of the man inside. We will take care of this other one. Now git!" said Chris still scared but angry at the same time. Chris and Charles took the man to the barn and tied him up. Then waited until he came too. Meanwhile Mary Star came out with some coffee for the men, even had an extra cup for the prisoner. Chris and Charles thanked her but told her not to come to the barn until they said it was okay.

"Well Chris, what do you think? "
"I don't know Charles; it seems odd that someone would be chasing one of your tribe's own people. But what do I know?" said Chris shrugging his shoulders and drinking the hot coffee. The man groaned and came too.

"Hey, where am I, oooohhh my aching head!"

"It's okay, you are not hurt. We are going to get the sheriff in the morning, but we want to know why you want that man in the house? What did he do to you?"
Charles looked at Chris and was about to say something about why Chris thought it was something that the Lummi had done to the white man but kept his silence when he understood the line of questioning.

"Ain't done nothing to me, he's just one of them damnable injun's and I am trying to help get rid of them. In fact, no one would care if I kilt another one anyway!"
Chris looked at him, "'kilt' another one"? "So, mister, just because he is of this land, you want to kill him?"

"Yeah! you are white, you should know!"
Chris was about to knock him over when the man said: "Oh, wait a minute, you're one those traitors, you married and injun woman I should kill all of your family then!" He smiled as he said those words, but it did not last long. Chris was very congenial and quiet and good natured; he had learned to think before you strike but this was one time that Striking before thinking took place. In fact, it wasn't Chris that hit him, it was Charles.

"Well, we will let him sleep, I guess" Charles said to Chris with a sheepish grin.

"Yes, I think we will. That way one of us can get some sleep" Do you want to check on the women and children and I will stay here? You can come back later; Have Mark and Jake go to the Sheriff to let him know to come herr first thing in the morning."

Charles said okay and left.

Merilee was up as all the children. Anna was clinging to her because she was afraid. Mary Star and Merilee took care of the man's wounds and had him sitting at the table eating a bowl of soup when Charles walked in. He held Mary close to him for a minute and then sent Jake and Mark to the sheriff's office and had Benjamin take Anna upstairs.

"Aw, do I have to?" I am getting old enough now to be with the men!"
Charles gave a look at Ben, he had been there when Ben was born and Ben, knew that look. He took Anna upstairs and stayed there.

"Mother, Chris says he will watch the man, and I will spell him a little later. Has our guest said anything yet?" He spoke in Lummi because he wanted the man to know that they trusted him, and he could trust them.

"I will let him tell you." Merilee said and walked out of the room with Mary Star.

"I am Prince George. I know who you are Charles, I also know your family, from afar but I have only heard good things about you and your family. Both the white and the Lummi. The man is a bad man, he wants to hurt our people. I was leading him away from the village since most everyone is sick there. I did not want him to kill the people."

"I thank you my brother. Is the disease so bad that now the whites are killing more?"
"No, just some men want the fishing grounds and do not have rights. These are white men as well as renegades who have joined forces. That man, was trying to beat me to death, but I ran faster, than he could catch me." He said this with pride.

"There is one other thing, Peter Friday has died. Lisbeth and her mother are alone. The mother is ill, Lisabeth is taking care of her at this moment. I know that the boy who just came here is interested in her, but if Peter is not alive, the mother's brother will marry her off to John Wolf!"

Charles looked at him. The news was not so good. He would have to tell Chris but would let Chris tell Jake about the development. There was not much that could be done until Spring. They may have to wait until that time to remedy the situation. That is unless the mother feels the need to have another man around the home!