Chapter 2

Joshua had just finished felling a tree with the help of Big Swede and a couple of others. They were taking a break and would them start cutting the little branches off the logs so that they could be sent to the mill.

"Joshua, could we go get a beer at Lottie's now?" asked Big Swede. Joshua looked at him as if he was crazy and said:

"No!"

"But josh, it is hot, we are thirsty we promise to come back after one beer, well maybe two!" Josh looked at him and smiled and said:
"Where have I heard that before!" He chuckled , he and Jeremy had pulled that one on Jason many a time. Usually, he would say no but sometimes yes. Jeremy and his crew came up to Josh and also suggested a beer.

"Josh, you know it is getting kind of hot up here, we can come back later when it is cooler. Besides, Pilar says the men in Texas, take a siesta until the cool of the evening and then go back to work!" Jeremy said to his brother.

Joshua just looked at Jeremy and wanted to laugh. He had missed his brothers a great deal for two years and appreciated them even more.
"Okay, then but be back by 5pm. I want this done before we quit for the day!" said Joshua and slapped Jeremy on the back as they headed over to Lottie's. He wasn't sure why Jeremy said what he did but he was glad that Jeremy had said it. He kind of sort of liked Pilar and was very interested in her background. She had helped him through his worst struggle. He pulled the locket out of his shirt pocket. He always had it near his heart. He thanked Jesus for her and for all the help that he had been given. He looked at the locket, put it back and went down with the rest of the crew to have a beer and a 'siesta.'

For two years, Joshua had not dealt with the events that took place in Montana. He felt that it was getting time for him to take a trip and face the trauma. But, because of the important nature of the project that both Stemple's mill, and Bolt Lumber company had taken on, it would be almost impossible for him to leave. Jason had just finished with his crew and had come home that evening expecting a nice dinner. It was Josh's' turn to cook and usually he had something already prepared. But when Jason opened the door, it was dark inside. Josh had not gotten home yet. So, Jason went to the stove and put the wood in to warm up the stove to cook something for dinner. While the stove was warming up Josh came in.

"Oh, I see you must be running late brother. I started the stove. What would you like to eat?" said Jason who was just getting out the pan to fry to cook on. Joshu looked at Jason and said:

"Jason, I need to talk to you. Can we wait to start dinner?" Jason looked at him and nodded okay. Put the pan on the counter so it will not get warm too soon. He sat at the table with Josh and waited.

"Jason, I know this is a bad time, but I have been having my nightmare's again and I think I need to go back to Montana to make some kind of peace with what happened out there!" said Josh, who looked like he had been crying a bit. Jason said:

"I have noticed that you have been out of sorts lately. What about some of those sleeping pills that the doctor gave you? Aren't they helping?"

"No, not really, I go to sleep, and I am back there again!"
"Are these dreams any different than what happened the first time you had them?" Jason asked.

"Yes, and no. I see her, I see her standing in the stands and aiming a pistol at me and then she drops! I see her coming to get me, and then I wake up. She is in my dreams more than I want her to be. I can't seem to remember what happened before she dropped. All I know is that I am putting my arm down and dropping the gun to the ground! What did I do Jason? What happened that you saw that I don't remember?" asked Joshua, almost in tears. Jason looked at his brother, he had had a long talk with the doctor, and she said that he should not say anything to him, that he needed to remember it himself. But Jason felt that the doctor did not say that he could not tell what he saw. Maybe it was time to talk about it. 'A dam inconvenient time, but time'. Jason thought but he is family and they come first!

"Joshua. Here is what happened from my perspective. Matilda and I were tied up behind one wall, Candy and Pilar were behind another wall. Matilda and I worked on getting untied so that we could get away. Once we were untied, we heard a shot from the other side. The shot did not come toward u. When I looked around, I saw you with your gun pointed at the stands and Sheila was on the ground. We came over to help you, but I did not tell you what I thought." Jason stopped there; he did not think he needed to say anymore. Jason looked at Joshua who was trying very hard to put it all together. Then he said:

"Joshua, I can't tell you anymore because I want you to remember that on your own!" Joshua looked at him. Jason had not said he pulled the trigger, but he had not said he didn't either. He needed to go back to find out precisely what happened if he was going to be able to stop[ seeing her and hearing her in his dreams and now sometimes when he was awake.

"Jason, I am sorry, but can you find someone else to lead the crew. You know Big Swede or Corky can do it just as well as I can!" Joshua said as he stood up and started to make the coffee.