Chapter 16

Burt led her down a corridor inside the tunnel he had made. He got to the opening and went out first, then took her hand to bring her out as well. When they were out, there were a couple of horses waiting for them. He put her on top of one of the horses and tied her to the saddle horn. Then he got on the other horse and was about to start when Jason stood in front of them.

"Seems we have done this before?" said Jason smiling. Burt looked at him and said:

"Well, I do know that Merle ain't here, so it is different!" Burt said, holding his pistol pointed not at Jason but at Maggie.

"If you do not move, she will be killed, and seeing that she has a shiny ring on her finger, I am sure you don't want her killed now do you?" Burt smiled as he kept the gun pointed at her. Jason smiled as well. No one moved, Maggie said:

"Okay, men, we need to stop this right now, Burt if you will please untie me and let me go, I am sure that Jason will be obliged to let you go!" Maggie said hoping that would take Burt's attention off of Jason for a moment to give Jason a chance to do something.

"Why Miss Maggie, I don't think I want to give him a chance, you see, when I asked him to take care of you, he was only supposed to do that for a short time. You do know that you are coming with me?" Burt said still looking at Jason and pointing the gun at her.

"Why did you kidnap my brother? Why did you let the Crimpers take him?" Maggie asked still trying to get Burt distracted. He did not turn around but said:

"Mr. Bolt, I would like to thank you for taking care of my package for me. You see, as soon as her parents were gone…" At this Maggie gasped he continued:

"as soon as her parents were gone it was a matter of time to get rid of her brother. Then I would have my own little 'diamond mine'!" He said. Jason did not understand what he had meant, but just then there was a yell from above and someone jumped Burt. Maggie lay flat on the horse the gun went off and the bullet went nowhere. Jason took advantage and moved Maggie out of the way and helped Earl/Timmy with capturing Burt. Once they had him tied, Jason and Earl/Timmy went over to Maggie who sat motionless on the horse. They untied her hands, and she slid down from the horse. Holding on to Jason, she kissed him then hugged her brother.

"Earl, I am so glad you are more than my lawyer!" Jason said as he held Maggie close to him. Earl smiled and said:

"I have been waiting all this time to get my hands on Burt. I knew as soon as Burt kidnapped me that he had designs on my sister! But I could do nothing at the time. But this is satisfying thank you for your help. And Maggie, you were wonderful to allow yourself to fall into Burt's trap!" Earl said hugging his sister again. Maggie said:

"I was sort of scared, especially when Joshua showed up. I was glad that Burt left him where he was. That was a way to help you and Jason find me." She said this as Jason finished getting the horses ready to cart Burt to Jail.

"Maggie, why did he call you his 'diamond mine'?" Jason asked. Maggie looked at Earl and he nodded.

"Well, you see Jason, Mom, and Dad had a mine that was located in Nevada, but they had not been back there since before Earl was born. Apparently, it was putting out diamonds but soon ran dry. Mom and Dad said it would be mine someday, all it is now is a piece of useless land, Which Earl is going to sell so we can put some money away."

"Yes, Jason, she is a 'rich woman' now!" Earl laughed. Then they rode to Seattle and went to the saloon, Earl walked in first, then Jason and Maggie, his loggers were there. Jeremy and Joshua helping Lottie with serving the drinks. When they walked in Joshua forgot what he was doing and almost dropped the tray of drinks on the floor. Jeremy didn't have anything he just ran over to Jason and jumped up on him and held onto him so tightly Jason had to say:

"Jeremy, you choking me!" Jeremy let go and leaned back and smiled. He was very happy his brother was home and safe. Joshua hugged Jason as well and then hugged Maggie.

"I am glad both of you are okay!" Joshua said. Jeremy scrambled down from Jason's arms and went over to give Maggie a hug as well. Lottie was happy for both of them.

"Well, when shall we plan the wedding?" Lottie said. Jason smiled and then looked at Maggie and there was something different between them.

"What happened?" Lottie asked fearful that something bad had taken place. Maggie was the first to say something:

"Miss Lottie, I would like to tell you now, but we need to talk to Joshua and Jeremy first. But you will know a little later, I think Jason and Earl would like some food and so would I.," said Maggie.

"We will take it in your back-room Lottie, and we would like you to join us!" Lottie was surprised at this but said okay, then went to the kitchen and with two helpers as well!

In the back room, Lottie, Joshua, and Jeremy had brought in the soup and meal for everyone. Jeremy had helped Lottie make the soup and it was very good. Finally, after everyone had eaten, Jason stood up and said:

"Maggie and I have come to the conclusion that as much as we both would like to be married, we have decided not to." Jason said as Maggie gave him back the engagement ring.

"There are a couple of good reasons but the most important one of all is that neither of feel that our love and devotion to each other is worthy of marriage, we will both be friends, but we have decided that we cannot live together!" Everyone e was stunned, they had thought that it would be good for Jason to be married, he would be happy.

"Jason, you are not going to get married because of us, are you?" Because we want you to be happy?" Joshua said.

"We th-th-thought that you wo-wo-would be like-like Mother and Da?" Jeremy said, Jason knelt down to Joshua and Jeremy's eye level and said:

"Sometimes two people think they want to get married, but then find out that it is not right for them. They hopefully find out before they marry." Jason said and then Maggie sat on a chair and said:

"You know, I do love your brother very much, He loves me very much but the two of us do not love each other enough to make a life together." Both Joshua and Jeremy just looked at first Jason and then Maggie. Lottie was listening and was glad that they had made a decision although it would have been nice to have a wedding.

"Well, I am glad that you two have found out before you got married. Maggie, are you going to stay in Seattle with us?" Lottie asked. Maggie turned to her and said:

"I don't really think I will. I am going back with my brother to Olympia and find out more about that land in Nevada."

"Well, I suppose that is a good thing. Will you keep in touch with us?" Lottie asked Maggie.

"I will write to let you know how I am doing Lottie. Thank you." Maggie said. Jason went over to her and whispered something in her ear, and she nodded her head yes and they headed out to the back for a last walk.

"Jason, I want you to know, that I will always remember you!"

"I will always remember you as well Maggie. I am glad we can be friends!" said Jason. They hugged each other one last time and Jason kissed her gently and sweetly. And then they went back in. The next day, Maggie left on the stagecoach with her brother back to Olympia. As Jason was walking back to the cabin, Swede met him and asked him a question:

"Jason, tell me why you really decided not to marry?" Jason stopped and looked at Swede and said:

"She is older than I am!" Swede looked at Jason and laughed. And then said:

"You are 21, you are old enough!"

"I know, but she is older by a few years!" They both laughed and headed up to the cabin to collect Jeremy and Joshua.