Chapter 4
Candy had just gotten the little ones to bed. Molly had been helping, she was now almost an adult and was planning to leave for college back east the next semester. She had been taking on more responsibility helping Candy. She had kept her mouth shut, knowing how Candy was feeling at the time. She had caught her once crying by the rock. She did not go to her but went to fetch the children who were playing nearby. When Candy was her usual self, she would never have left the children alone to wander in the woods. Christopher had sailed with Clancy that day as well and Candy's emotions were all mixed up. She was unhappy that her and Jeremy had not made up, she was unhappy that Christopher had left, although she said had said no. If Jeremy had been there, he could have either talked him out of going this time or maybe just maybe, helped her to cope with her brother leaving so soon. But he wasn't and she wasn't sure they would still be married by the end of the month.
Biddie had stayed nearby and helped as well. They had discussed the so called 'retirement' of Jason but only because neither of them had known about it until they heard it from someone else. Biddie couldn't recall where she had heard it so she for once had not said anything and went to Candy who had no idea about it. Candy thought for sure Jeremy would have said something if it was true. But then maybe that day they had an argument, he was going to tell her. But the argument came first and now they were no longer speaking to each other.
"Candy, Candy" Biddie called as she came up the walkway to Candy's house. Candy looked out the window and then opened the door to Biddie.
"What is it, Biddie?" She asked. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying so much.
"Jason is home, maybe now we can find out what is happening!" Biddie said. But Candy stood still and looked past Biddie, she saw Joshua and Jeremy leave the cabin. They did not look very happy.
"Biddie, let's go see what happened, Maybe Josh will talk to us?" Candy said, she and Biddie left and went to catch up with Josh and Jeremy. When they did, both men stood there as stiff as poles.
"Jeremy, I know you are still mad at me, but what is happening, this whole town is upside down? How is Jason? Is he okay?" Joshua looked at Jeremy and then said:
"I am sorry Candy, but we really can't talk right now. Jason is very angry and wants to know who talked about his retiring from the town? Biddie, did you?" Joshua turned his piercing blue eyes to Biddie. Biddie stared right back at him and said:
"I did not say anything to anyone, I did not even know about that! I did hear it from someone, but I don't know who or when I heard it, it had become 'common knowledge by the time I heard it!" Biddie said. Joshua looked at her and knew that she was telling the truth. If she had said something, she would have been very contrite and humble. He turned to Candy, but he saw that Jeremy already had spoken to Candy. That was the first time in a long time, and he had been very gentle with her.
"Candy, you could not have known anything either. I was going to tell you later what Jason was talking about a couple of weeks ago but we had that argument and so I knew you had not said anything. I was also pretty sure that Biddie hadn't either." Jeremy said without stuttering. She looked at him with love in her eyes.
" Candy?" He said: "How are the children? Do they ask about me?" Jeremy said. Candy shook her head yes.
"They want to know when papa will be home, I tell them you have to work very hard on the mountain and will be home when you get done." Candy said to Jeremy. They both looked at each other.
"Hey! there, are huge clouds gathering. We have to get back up to camp to secure things." Joshua said as he looked up and could feel a cool wind whipping up. He and Jeremy both knew that if a storm was coming things would have to stop so that no one would get hurt if a tree fell.
"I will be home when we get finished up on the mountain." Said Jeremy as he kissed Candy. They both hurried to the camp. Biddie and Candy went back to her home to make sure that Molly was okay with the children.
Jason had broken his knuckles by putting his fist through a wood wall, and he had gone to see Dr. Wright.
"Jason, you will not be able to do anything for a week until your knuckles heal. Actually, longer than that because you broke three of them, the other two are bruised. So, paperwork, for you!" Dr. Wright said.
"Thank you, Doc!" Jason said. As he got off the exam table.
"Jason, were you really planning to retire this year?" She asked. He looked at her and said:
"Not you too!" She looked at him and said:
" I heard that it was going to be official." She said to him as she cleaned up.
"Who did you hear it from?"
"One of my patients."
"Exactly who was that?" he looked at Dr. Wright and she looked at him and said:
"That sir is doctor/ patient privilege. What you need to do now is to make sure everyone in town knows that you are or are not retiring. You need to do it quickly. It seems that there are forces within Seattle that are coming to a head. And you and your brothers may need to take a stand." Dr. Wright said as she gently led Jason to the door and said goodbye. She had heard rumors and whispers, but she would not be one to tell the gossip, but she was one to warn of things happening beyond others' control.
He left the doctor's office and went around to the cabin. He would have to fix that hole in the wall when he got home. He looked up and saw the clouds, he heard a thunder clap and looked towards the mountain. His brothers would be up at camp securing things and making sure the men were safe. He stared at the mountain, Bridal Veil Mountain. The one his father had purchased for the family. He had named it for his wife's bridal veil because it looked like it. Jason thought about his mother and father and offered a prayer, asking for help in fixing the situation there in Seattle. Just then he saw the lightning hit a tree, he heard the thunder clap and he thought he heard someone yelling. He ran, ran fast up to the mountain.
