Here Come The Brides Chapter 8 And Biddie Makes Four
They sat waiting for Candy and Emily by the lake. They heard the buggy coming and when Joshua saw Candy with Biddie instead of Emily, his expression was completely blank. It's like he'd expected she wasn't coming.
"I'm sorry Joshua, she's just confused." Candy said.
"Confused," he said with no emotion. He looked down, hands on his hips and turned away.
Jeremy helped Candy and Biddie down from the buggy.
Candy looked at Jeremy. "I'm sorry," she silently mouthed the words.
Biddie looked at the two, then at Joshua. "She walked over and stood in front of Joshua. "Joshua, I know how you must be feeling right now, and nothing I can say will be much help. But I'm here because I want you to know that I believe you and I'm not the only one," she said in a simple form of comfort.
He looked her in the eyes, and nodded slightly.
Jeremy looked to Candy before reaching and taking the picnic basked from the buggy.
"I'm starving," he said trying to lighten the mood.
Candy pulled the tablecloth from the buggy and walked to a grassy spot and spread it.
"I know I'm not who you expected, there's nothing I can do about that. But I am here as a friend, and I hope you will have lunch with me?" Biddie asked him.
Joshua pulled himself together. He forced a smile. "Thank you," he said, voice cracking just slightly.
He held out his arm and she took it as he walked her to the spot Candy and Jeremy had picked out.
The four sat trying to skate around the obvious.
Josh tried to eat, nibbling enough to be polite. He couldn't find an appetite. Candy tried to lighten the mood, telling everyone about Christopher trading his catfish for licorice with Ben at the General Store. It brought a smile to Joshua's face, remembering Christopher saying he was going to catch dinner.
Jeremy talked about his trip to San Francisco in two days to hire a third crew. "I'll be gone for at least ten days," he said. "It was Josh's idea. It'll be a relief with a third crew."
"We really need the help." Josh said "We've fallen so far behind. Someone's trying to stop us from getting the logs down."
It was a short lunch. Biddie tried to engage Josh in conversation, but he just couldn't focus. The disappointment in Emily's absence weighed on his mind.
"I'm sorry," Josh finally said. "You've both went to so much trouble bringing lunch and I've been terrible company."
The girls finally went back to Seattle, while the boys went back to camp.
Joshua was strangely quiet.
Word of Missy's claims against Joshua spread throughout the logging camp as well as in Seattle. Most of the men who knew Joshua found it hard to believe, but not everyone. Westley found this to be just another tool to use against Bolt Brothers Logging. Small comments that fed discontent and in-fighting only added to delays.
The first day after Missy's claims was fraught problems. Jason had given Corky lead on the first shift while He and Jeremy were in town.
The Bolts were in the cabin as evening set in, Jeremy packing while Jason was grilling him on the type of workers to look for and what questions he should ask. Joshua was re-reading the same page of a book for the third time, unable to focus.
Corky stood at the door and took off his hat when Jason answered. "Come in Corky," Jason said
"Jason, Josh, Jeremy," he greeted them. "I just wanted to have a word, Jason" he asked with a slight motion to the door.
Jason looked at Corky, then to his brothers. "Alright," he said stepping outside and closing the door.
Corky stepped off the porch and took a few steps from the house. He was nervous, and Jason could see it. He looked at the cabin, making sure they were alone. "Jason, we may have some problems," he said
"Corky, we've had problems ever since we've taken on this contract with Stempels. What happened now?" he asked
"It's the men," he said "Jason, you know I've known Joshua since we were kids. We grew up together. But some of the men, they're thinking of leaving. They don't want to work for someone that they think hurt one of the Brides in town. We had a fight break out between a couple men over it. They said if he's here they won't be. Jason I didn't want to say anything in front of Josh, he's going thru alot, so I thought it best to tell you first."
Jason thought about what he said. "Thank you Corky," he said "Any other time, I'd send them on their way. We just can't afford to lose anyone right now. Jeremy ships out tomorrow, if we can just hang on another ten days until he gets back. Someone is stirring the pot, I just don't know who.
"I was thinking about that too," Corky said. "Westley was the last hire, and things started around the same time. The thing is… that section of the flume was cut when he was accounted for. He couldn't have done it, but there's just something about him that don't sit right Jason."
"Yea, I thought about that too, him getting here right as things started, but there's no proof he's done anything. "Thank you for letting me know how some of the men are feeling. I'll be there in the morning and I'll have a talk with the men." Jason said.
"I'm sorry Jason. You know Josh is my friend." He said before he left.
Jason went back inside.
"What is it Jason?" Joshua asked. "The men won't work if Im there?"
"Some of the men," Jason admitted.
"So let me get this right… I can't go to town. I can't talk to Emily, or well, she won't talk to me… I can't work in camp… why didn't you just let Aaron lock me up?" He shouted in frustration. "At least then this contract might get done!"
"Joshua," Jeremy started
Jason stepped forward cutting him off, "I'm going to talk to the men. You're a Bolt, and have every right to be here."
"Don't bother Jason," Joshua cut him off. "We can't afford any more delays, not on my account. I'll leave," he said "I just hate to walk away from work when we need every man we can get, but if I stay," he hesitated "If I stay you'll end up losing half the crew. It's not worth it. The way I see it… right now… I'm a liability we just can't afford."
"Joshua, if you could leave then you'd be the one going to San Francisco since it was your idea to hire the third crew," Jason said, "but you can't go anywhere, not until the judge comes next month."
"I can't leave Bridal Veil Mountain, and I won't, but I can go up to the old family cabin. Stay there. I figure, I can spend the time, fixing it up, do some repairs. I can work on the books, without getting interrupted." He said "maybe if I just stay there, we won't have all this trouble here."
Jeremy looked from Josh to Jason. "No, Jason, tell him! Josh you live here!" he argued.
Jason held up his hand to calm Jeremy down while he thought, "Now, Josh may have a point here. Quiet time in the old cabin, may be just what he needs to get those books caught up. If you get to feeling restless, the old cabin can use some patching-up. I've been meaning for us to go up there and do some repairs." He said.
"I don't like it," Jeremy said.
Josh sat quietly, he would leave, but first he needed to talk to Emily. "I have to talk to her Jason," he finally said.
"Joshua, Candy said she tried…" Jeremy started.
Josh stood and walked out before Jeremy could finish.
"Joshua," Jason shouted and stood in the doorway.
Josh hesitated; he glanced back before continuing towards Seattle.
Jason took off after him. Joshua started to run, but Jason caught him. "Joshua stop!" he yelled.
"I have to talk to her Jason," he argued. "I have to tell her my side of things," he tried to pull away.
Jason held on to him, blocking him from continuing.
Jeremy caught up to them. "Joshua, stop, you can't."
"You're not going into town. If I have to hog tie you, I'll do it," Jason said. "You're my responsibility, I gave my word," he said.
"I have to talk to her," he said again.
"Joshua if you go to town, you'll get caught and they'll lock you up," Jeremy said.
Josh gave in. looking down he nodded.
They led him back inside.
"Swear to me," Jason said. "I can't watch you day and night, but the Bolts gave their word you'd stay out of Seattle, I need you to swear to me you won't try going into town."
"I promise," Joshua finally said,, "I think it's over now anyway."
Leaving may be exactly what he needed.