Chapter 10

The Room was very dark, neither Hoss nor Swede could see anything. Hoss was not tied, nor did he have chains on him, however, Swede was tied up against a post. Hoss was looking around to try and figure out what they were going to do. Swede was just waking up and was still a bit dizzy.

"What happened? Where are we?" Swede asked looking and trying to focus on Hoss who he could barely see.

"Swede, I believe we have been kidnapped! But I don't know why?" said Hoss looking around for an exit or escape route.

"We have been captured by the Crimpers, Hoss, they are going to sell us to the highest bidder, and we are going to be on a boat out to sea before anyone even misses us!" said Swede finally looking at Hoss. Hoss looked at Swede and thought a moment.

"Won't some of your friends find us?" asked Hoss, concerned that Swede might be right! Swede looked at him and said:
"Not necessarily, we did not have a definite time to show up, but maybe Jason's lawyer or Rich might think of the Crimpers, but it is hard to find anyone usually by the time they get some kind of clue those people who are captured are long gone on a ship out at sea!" For Hoss this was a problem, he was not very interested in going out to sea, so he had to think about a way of escape. As he was thinking they heard footsteps coming towards them. He quickly untied Swede and they stood up and were ready to fight their way out when they heard familiar voices.

"Here it is, I have the key." Said Mr. Martin and he proceeded to unlock the door, daylight flooded in through the open door.

"Big Swede?" Rich called out. Swede and Hoss relaxed momentarily, and Swede came into the light and shook Rich's hand. He was never so happy to see a familiar face. Mr. Martin said to them,

"We have to get out of here fast, they will be coming for you, I know a way out!" They followed Earl Martin out through a staircase at the back of the warehouse. When they got out, there were already some horses waiting for them. Earl Martin got on his horse and the others got on their horses and rode to his home located on the opposite side of the Tacoma.

The Crimper's assistants were just coming to the warehouse to pick up their merchandise. They had not seen or heard anything unusual. They went to the room where they had stashed the men.

"Hey, Joe! The door is open!" said Arnie.

"What? The door is open? I thought I told you to tie that big fellow up with chains or something like that?" Joe took his hat and hit Arnie on the head. Arnie answered:

"I wasn't supposed to tie him, that was Jack's fault. He left him on the floor right over there!" Arnie pointed to a spot under a window that was high in the wall. Joe looked at him and said:

"Well, it looks like someone had the keys to this place already!" We are going to report this to the boss! Let's go!"

When they got to Earl Martin's home, they went inside, and he had made them some coffee and they were sitting at the table. He also had some food that they could eat, especially Hoss and Swede.

"Thank you, Mr. Martin, how did you know where to look?" Swede asked.

"Well, that is a story, it has something to do with me getting captured and sent off to sea a very long time ago and then coming back here to find my sister. I will tell that story at a later date; I need to go help Miss Maggie with Jason Bolt. He is doing better but we have taken shifts. I have an appointment, so I won't be back until after 12 tomorrow. Make yourself at home fella" He said as he grabbed his suitcase and went back to Town to take his turn caring for his client.

Earl left and they settled down to rest. They found a couple of bedrooms, so Swede Rich and Hoss took one and the other loggers took the other room.

Jason was getting better by the day. The doctor said he could return to Seattle after the new year. He also said it would probably be best to give him something for the pain as he would have to take a stagecoach back.

"Thank you, doctor. Everything will be ready when he is ready to leave." Earl Martin said as he closed the door when the doctor left. He had been able to move Jason back to the hotel and he was sitting in a very nice open room. Maggie had been taking care of him since he had been hurt. After finding out about her brother she was reluctant to leave him in Tacoma. Jason looked at them and said:

"You, know, Earl, I think it would be a good thing for you to visit Seattle. Why don't you come and stay for a while, you can get to see Joshua, he has sprouted up like you wouldn't believe and Jeremy would probably like to see you as well."

"Tommy, that would be so good for us! We could get to know each other again!" Maggie said. She called him by his other name and would always do that after all he was her brother! Earl/Tommy, looked at Maggie, it would be nice to take some vacation. So he said:

"I will clear my calendar and we can visit for the whole month of January!" Maggie was overjoyed and gave him a big hug.

"Maggie, can you help me write a couple of letters to let the boys and everyone know that I will be back soon?" She said yes, Earl left for his law practice, and she stayed and wrote what Jason dictated to her. There were four letters in all. He had sent one to Rich and Swede giving them a rundown on what he had expected to do when he returned home. Then he wrote to Lottie to ask if she would have a room for Earl and also to see if the boys could stay with her for a couple more weeks since Maggie would be staying with him and helping him until he was able to do things on his own. Then he wrote to his brothers. Each one got a letter of encouragement and love.

Dear Joshua: Thank you for being such a help to Lottie and to me. Without you, I don't think I would have been able to send Jeremy home. But having a big brother to send him home to was comforting. I will be home after the first of the year, only four more days. See you then Love J.

Dear Jeremy, I am glad you made it home safely. I am sorry if you have been worried, and I am sorry for what happened. I had to help Maggie she was in the middle of something not quite so good. She is fine as well. Thank you for being brave and going home safely. I heard you made a new friend. Hoss Cartwright seems like a good person. I will be home in about four more days. See you soon. Love J.

She folded all the letters into one envelope, each one with the names of who the letters would go to. The letters went out with the stagecoach that afternoon and would be in their hands in a couple of days. Jason then felt the need to rest so Maggie helped him to bed and left the room. She went and made a cup of tea and sat on the chair with a book. She knew Jason would sleep at least a couple of hours.