Chapter 2

Jason was washing some glasses in Jack Gimblet's saloon, his 'wife' was working as a 'waitress' in the saloon and they had a room rented upstairs for certain purposes. The clientele were of course the average saloon sort, cowboys, loggers, millers, and others of various reputations. Jason, or Buzz as he was known at the saloon was also security for the saloon. He was the one who could stop a person who had been drinking too much or was getting more than he was allowed without paying. His 'wife' was a lady named Matilda who was known as 'Sweet Clementine.' She would draw the customers in, promise them all but give them nothing except a hangover and 'sweet dreams' of what they thought had happened! They were in a case. The governor had asked Jason Bolt to help shut down a counterfeiting operation there at the saloon. The owner Jack Gimblet did not want to be shut down, after all, this was the only saloon in the 'Dead Zone,' and he did not want to shut down due to someone not following the 'rules. So, he had asked the governor for help. The governor had asked the Pinkertons' and they had asked Matilda to go undercover to help break this counterfeiting ring. She had telegraphed Jason Bolt to see if he would be available. He had said yes and left for Olympia a day or two later telling his brothers he would be gone in about a couple of weeks but if they needed him, they would have to leave a message at the Olympic Plaza Hotel. Joshua sent the telegram about the contract and waited.

It was almost four days before he heard from Jason. Meanwhile Aaron was wanting Joshua and Jeremy to sign the contract and did not want to wait until they had heard from Jason. Jason had not been able to get to the Olympic Hotel for five days. Matilda had found out that one of the gamblers had come in and used counterfeit money during the poker game. One of the players suspected the gambler and at the end of the game, when the gambler had won, the player that suspected the counterfeiter, stood up and pulled a gun on the man. Jason was near the card table since one of the players was Matilda and she had a gun on the man.

"So, you caught me, well, every woman can get a man with a gun, but what happens when that man is stabbed with a knife!" as he said this, he threw the knife and it hit Jason who was standing next to 'Sweet Clementine.'

"This is what happens!" said Jason, who had moved just enough so that the knife did not hit him. He then rushed to the gambler, took his down and the sheriff came and arrested that gambler. After it was all over, Jason and Matilda went to the office to write up their report. The next morning, he was dressed and ready to leave for Seattle.

"Thank you so much Jason." Matilda said as she walked with him. They were back in their normal clothing. Jason liked that Matilda was 'covered' better.

"No problem, when do you think we can meet again? I mean for a visit, not a case?" asked Jason as they walked down the street to the stage office. They got to the office; she had not answered him. She was always full of mystery.

"Jason, I don't know. There may be another case we can meet on but until then, I just can't say." She said as they stood there.

"How about coming to Seattle for a little rest?" He asked. She looked at him and said:

"Not yet, Jason!" she said, he then put his arms around her and looked down at her, he took her chin and raised her eyes to his, looking at her, he did not say a word, she did not say anything either. He gently kissed her and held her close. She then reached up and kissed him softly on his lips. She held him close to her as well.

"All aboard to Tacoma and Seattle!" said the driver. They kissed one more time, then Jason got on the stagecoach, neither wanting to part, holding each other's hand, she said to him:

"I will send a telegraph when I am this way again." The tears glistened in her eyes. She loved him so very much, but she was not ready for the commitment. He looked at her and tears were in his eyes as well. He blew her a kiss as the stage departed. She caught it and held it in her hand. Then she left the stage office and headed for the Pinkerton office.

"Matilda, if only we could spend more time together!" Jason thought as he bounced around in the uncomfortable stage coach. He wondered what she had done to him. He was a confirmed bachelor! He had raised his brothers and would help them with their children as well. He did not want children, but he wanted a companion, not just a companion but someone who was a 'helpmate.' Like his mom had been for his dad. He shook those thoughts off and looked at the telegram from home. Joshua had sent it. It seemed as if the whole town had gone crazy. He read the telegram again:

Jason, you are needed, Jeremy and Candy are at odds, the whole town is after each other! Aaron changed the contract; said you were retiring? HELP! Josh

His thoughts now ran to why would Aaron change the contract? I did not tell him about the idea of retiring? Where did he hear that? Biddie? Candy? Lottie? They did not know. Only Jeremy and Joshua knew, and neither would say anything to Aaron, would they? Apparently, it wasn't Joshua, was it Jeremy? No! it couldn't be! I will have to talk to them when I get home.