Chapter 6

"Well, Good Morning to you!" Said Candy as she brought coffee to the breakfast table. Jeremy took a cup and smiled at her. He was very happy to be back with Candy. He loved her so much that being away hurt more than she would ever know. The funny thing is she felt the same way. Being away from Jeremy would hurt more than anything he would ever know.

"Well, Jason, how are you feeling today?" asked Jeremy as he gave his brother a cup of coffee.

" I think okay, a slight headache but other than that nothing that seems to be bothering me." Jason said as he sat down and took a sip of coffee. Candy brought the flapjacks and syrup to the table as well. She sat down with them.

"Thank you, Lord, for the gifts we have at this table and thank you for taking care of Jason through the storm. Amen!" she said.

"So, Jeremy tells me why I can't go to our cabin?" asked Jason, who seemed to have forgotten the events of the past day.

"J-ja-Jason, the cabin wa-was destroyed by a tree that fell when it was hit by lightning from the storm!" said Jeremy as he took a bite of his flapjack. Jason looked at Jeremy and then said:

"What storm?" He did not seem to have a memory of the storm and that was worrisome for the whole family.

"The storm that happened a couple of days ago." Jeremy said. Just then Biddie came in with Molly and Joshua and Jeremy and Candy's three children. Jason looked at the children and did not recognize them. He looked at Jeremy and Candy and then he whispered to Jeremy:
"I don't remember you getting married?" Jeremy choked on his coffee and said to him quietly:

"Just play along, I will help you with the kids names." Jason did just that and slipped into the role easily enough. Later, Jeremy and Josh and Candy would go to the Doctor and ask about the memory loss.

The doctor had an answer from another doctor in Olympia and was examine Jason again. He was walking better than he had before and he was actually eating, drinking, and doing most things he would normally do. He decided he wanted to live at the hotel above Lottie's saloon for a while. He told the doctor that and she said it might be okay, but he should spend as much time with his family because that would help with his memory. He could not go to work on the mountain but could visit up there as much as possible. To Jeremy and Joshua, she said that it might take a few months for his memory to come back. But he would eventually remember the day and all the happenings. Even if it wasn't the storm or what happened during the storm.

So, everything seemed to be getting back to normal, a new normal because with the new bank and the new owner of the mercantile a few changes were being made.

Jason was up at the logging camp and was trying his best not to tell people what to do. But having worked so long as a logger and running his own camp he could not help it. Aaron came up there to see how Jason was doing. Big Swede was nearby but Joshua and Jeremy were out with their teams working with them.

"So, Jason, how are you doing today?" said Aaron as he walked up to Jason. Jason looked at him. He knew this man but could not remember if he was a friend or an adversary.

"Hello, I don't quite remember your name?" said Jason who stood up to shake hands with him.

"Oh, I am sorry, I forgot you are still having memory problems. It is Aaron Stemple. I run the mill that you and your brothers have a contract with." He shook Jason's hand and then said:

"I was wanting to talk with you about your contract and about if you were planning to retire?" Jason heard that word but could not remember why it bothered him.

"Well, as you can see, I am up here working so I don't think I will be retiring anytime soon Mr. Stemple!" He said as he tried to think why this man wanted to know if he was retiring?

"Well, I thought since you have had that memory loss and all, that maybe you might be thinking of taking it easy, you know, I heard that your special friend Matilda enjoys your company!" said Aaron trying to jog Jason's memory enough to have him think of retiring. Jason looked at Aaron and he drew a blank about Matilda. Who was she? Did he know her? Were they married? HE would have to ask Joshue and Jeremy when they came back. While Aaron was talking to Jason, Big Swede had gone to get Joshua and Jeremy.

"Hey Aaron!" called out Joshua: "What are you doing up here? We are on time and will have your order ready by the end of the week!" Joshua said to him as he went right up to Aaron. Jeremy went to his brother Jason who was looking a little tired.

"Jason, how about heading back to town for a drink?" Jeremy said as he steered Jason to the buckboard. Jason was still a little hazy and went quietly with Jeremy. They left for town by the time Joshua had finished talking to Aaron.

"Aaron, I want you to leave Jason alone until he is better! If you need to talk to us about anything having to do with the business, then you talk to me or Jeremy!" Joshua practically shouted since Jason was out of ear shot.

"Hey take it easy, Joshua! I only came up here to see how Jason was doing. I am not going to do anything now! I will wait, but things are changing and if you wait too long, you may not have a logging company here so close to Seattle!" Aaron said as he left Joshua who looked like he was ready to turn Aaron into toast by breathing fire on him!