While Jason was out gathering writing samples Joshua was looking at the books again. If Jeremy was right that they had them upside down and that they were not in the right hands, why would there be such big discrepancies? He had permission to look at everyone's books and to determine if there was any discrepancy at all. He was looking in Lottie's books and found nothing, he found nothing in Mr. Stemple's books as well. An arithmetic mistake in Ben's books but he fixed that. But it was the Bolt Logging Co books about which he was really concerned. He looked at the last three months. He remembered doing inventory last week, he thought that there were a few things missing, a saw for one, an ax for another, he went personally to check the dynamite shack to be sure nothing had been taken. Or misplaced. He could find nothing wrong. But there was something that was nagging at the back of his mind. Why was just one saw, a file and an axe missing?
"What was that last part of the riddle?" Joshua thought about it and tried to remember what it had said:
"The shade it brought is no longer, the days are getting shorter, soon there will be no reason to have a cutting season?" Joshua thought this might be a threat or warning. But what, what tree brought shade, it is true it was coming up to winter, but we usually can cut during the winter without much trouble sometimes. But why won't we have a cutting season? He took a walk and looked for the shade tree, at least the one he and his brothers always used for shade.
Walking through the forest he came to their parents cabin. He stopped to rest there. He fell asleep and dreamed. He dreamed of his parents being with them when he was young. He was very happy in that dream. He woke with a start when he heard a light foot stepping near him. He had fallen asleep on the porch of their parents cabin and grabbed the foot and pulled it down. He wrestled with the person for a few moments. And then when the person seemed subdued, he pulled back the hood and saw that it was a woman. A little younger than he was, she had black hair, brown eyes and looked like she was part French and Indian. She was wearing buckskins and carried a bow and arrow.
"JoJo, is that you?" He said as he pulled her up so she could stand. She smiled at him, and he gave her a hug.
"It has been a long time, no, brother!" Joshua was so happy to see her that he forgot why he was there.
"Yes, it has been a long time, how have you been?" He said as they sat on the porch.
"I have been fine, I have killed many animals, much fur, so I have brought some furs to trade at Ben's Mercantile. What are you doing her Joshua Bolt?" she asked?
"Well, we have some problems back in town, things are missing, and we can't seem to figure out what it is. Also, someone has sent us a riddle and I am trying to figure that out as well?" Joshua said.
"What kind of riddle?" she said. Joshua hesitated to say what kind but changed his mind. If anyone could figure out riddles, JoJo could. She was an expert.
"Wrote it down, I can read it for you if you want?" He said as he pulled the riddle out of his pocket.
"Silly Joshua, did you forget, you and Jeremy helped me learn to read and Jason, oh, Jason he loved Shakespeare and I always enjoyed talking to him about that man! So, give me the riddle and I will tell you what it means!" she said as she put her hand out. She read the riddle and frowned but then thought a little more and said:
"Your books, that means your bookkeeping, correct?" He nodded yes then she said:
"That simply means that one person who had access to the books forgot to put in the missing items. I know where they are! I have them. I came to town one time and asked if I could borrow some things, well, the ax, the saw, and a file. I have built myself a fine house about a mile or so away. Would you like to come and see it!" She said Joshua's eyes lit up but then he wondered what the rest of the riddle was.
"You looked happy once, but then your face it turned down? Why?" JoJo said and Joshua looked away and said,
"I think the last part of the riddle may mean that one of us, the Bolt brothers may soon be gone?" She looked at Joshua, then read the rest of the riddle.
"Oh, because the one who is the shade will be no longer and the cutting of trees will be no longer! I do not think that is so, my brother. Let me think on it. Would you like to come to my house, but only if you smile!" She said waiting for Joshua's smile to come out. It did and they walked to her house she had just built.