Proving Ground:

A place where values and convictions are molded.

Chapter 1

Jason had been mother and father to both his brothers. With the help of Lottie who ran the Saloon, he was able to raise Joshua and Jeremy, well mostly Jeremy since he was only 5 when their father had passed away. Joshua was around 11 and Jason himself was almost 17. Now Jason was now 29 years old, and he learned how to use words and looks to convey is pleasure and displeasure with his brothers. He had also learned that he could persuade anyone, mostly adults, of his way of thinking by using the words he knew. He loved reading Shakespeare. He very rarely got into fights and usually walked away unless he had to defend himself or his brothers if talking did not work. Joshua was now 23 had grown into fine young man very interested in the 'ladies. He would fight over and for a lady whenever there was a challenge. He would not give up easily and found that he was not about to give up when a particular lady came to Seattle. However, the fight was fair, and he lost. So, accepting defeat, he decided that there were other ladies he could fight for and win their hand!

At 17, Jeremy was different. His fighting started because of his stuttering. He had to stand up to a lot of bullying when he was younger and came home with lots of bruises and scars from these fights. As he got older the fights were not necessarily because of his stuttering, it sometimes was because someone needed help or because he fought for what was right and true. Jason and Joshua knew that if he did not come home, it was because he was in jail for 'disturbing the peace' while the other person had gotten away. When it came to the ladies, what few ladies there were in Seattle, he was insecure and would stutter around them. So, Jason was surprised when Jeremy left with a group of loggers on payday for Olympia to go watch the show girls and as some of the men said, have a little fun!

"So, J-j-Jason, I am going this we-we-weekend with Frank, Bob and Willy to Olympia to see the l-l-ladies at the P-P-palace!"

"You are?" Jason asked.

Jeremy nodded yes.

"Ok, you are old enough to do that. Do you want Josh or I to go with you?" Jeremy looked at his brother and with a look of half horror and half scared.

"N-n-n-no J-j-jason! It is j-j-just the -g-g-guys and me!"

Jason nodded and said: "Okay you go and have a good time!" Jason said and Jeremy grabbed his sleeping gear and saddled his horse and was gone with the guys.

"Jason, aren't you worried that Jeremy might end up in Jail?" asked Joshua.

Jason smiled at him and said: "He probably will but not for the things other people end up in jail for!" Joshua looked at his brother wondering what he meant by that.

"Joshua, I want you to go to Olympia as well, keep an eye on Jeremy, telegraph me if he does end up in jail. But don't let him know you are nearby. He has to do this on his own!" Jason said with a wink.

A 15-year-old Candy was putting the finishing touches on a Strawberry Rhubarb pie. Her brother and sister were playing outside. They were 10 and 8. Molly and Christopher both had finished their chores and were helping their mother with the vegetables for supper. Life was a little harder these days since their father went to war. Grandpa Pruitt was there to help them as well. He had plans to head west to find gold or silver, he wasn't sure yet what he was going to do.

"Poppit? Poppit?" He called from the back porch.

"Yes Grandfather?" Candy said as she put the pie on the table to cool.

"It seems as if there is a young man coming up the drive. He is in a uniform of some sort. I will get rid of him if you like?" Grandpa said to be protective of his granddaughter.

"No, that's okay, it is only Simon Weston. He enlisted last week, and I think he has his orders to leave soon. I would like to talk to him if you don't mind." Grandpa looked at his granddaughter and then said okay and left to sit on the far end of the porch and picked up a book and 'started to read.'

"Candy!" It is good to see you! Do you have a moment, I want to ask you something?" Simon said with a smile on his face. He nodded at Grandpa Pruitt who looked at him and nodded back but continued to pretend he was reading.

"What is you want to talk about Simon?" Candy asked. She kind of guessed. All the girls had had a proposal once their boys went off to war. Some said yes, like Sally and Gina, but Biddie, her best friend, had not had so much as one boy asked her. She couldn't understand why but she wasn't letting it bother her much.

He stood and looked at her for a moment then getting on one knee and opening a little white box he said:

Miss Candy Pruitt, I would like to have the pleasure of courting you for the next year!" He waited as he knelt in his war uniform. A Blue uniform with no stripes and his eyes as blue and peaceful like a river. Candy looked at him and was not sure what to say. Grandpa Pruitt sat and pretended not to listen. Her mother came to the door to call everyone in for supper, but Grandpa put his hand up quietly and she waited to see what Candy would do.

Candy had many suitors in the past year. She was only 15 and was already a beautiful woman in her own right. Her mother had given told her that she would have to wait until her father came home to marry. Her mother and father discussed this together the night before he left for the war and decided that if Candy did decide on a proper suitor, she could have an engagement and plan to marry when her father returned home.

Candy looked at Simon, she was like any young girl/woman waiting for her prince charming. She was practical as well. She had weighed in many times telling the boys who asked her a definite 'no.' Would she say yes to Simon? Her mother and grandfather wondered as they waited to hear her answer.

"Simon, I, I…" she almost said yes but then just as quickly she told him "No, Simon, I am sorry, but I don't feel that I am ready. Maybe after the war but not during this war. Too many people are dying, and I just don't want that to happen to the man I am going to marry!" She ran past her mother and grandfather into the house and up to her room crying. She had wanted to say yes but everything inside told her it wasn't time yet. She sat on her bed for a little while.

Meanwhile Simon stood there holding the ring case and wondering what had just happened. Grandpa went over by him and stood there for a minute in silence. Then he said,

"Well, Simon, that was the first time. Sometimes a woman just needs to have a little time when asked. Maybe if you come back another day, she will be able to receive your request? "

"Mr. Pruitt sir, I cant come back another day, I am leaving tomorrow!" Simon said as he turned to go.

"Simon, Simon, wait, wait a minute!" Candy yelled from the porch she ran to him and said:

"I am so very sorry, but maybe if you wouldn't mind, I can write to you?" Candy said.

Simon looked at her and something inside him felt off. He was scared to go off to war, but he felt that he could not write to her or expect him to write back if she was not ready that was okay. War changes people, maybe she will change but he did not want her to change because he was going to war. He wanted her to change because she wanted to. So, he looked her in the eyes. Held her shoulders and said:

"No Candy, I can't ask you to do that. If we are going to be together it will be because we truly love each other. If not, then it was not meant to be. I Love you Candy, maybe when I get back, we can pick up where we left off. You have been a good friend and I will remember that and carry that friendship through this war. Take care." He said and kissed her on her forehead and walked down the path without turning to look at her. He had tears in his eyes, but he knew he had done the right thing. Someday, maybe he will see her.

Candy stood there with tears in her eyes, wondering perhaps if she had done the right thing, telling him no? Grandpa stood by her and said:

"Poppit, it is time to come in for dinner now!" he walked off to the door and shooed her brother and sister inside to get ready for dinner. Candy stood a few more minutes, drying her tears and then she went back into her home and family.