Here Come the Brides Chapter 9 Three Bolts Separated
Joshua got up early and started to gather supplies. He needed tools; a saw, ax, hammer, plenty of nails. Jason told him that he remembered seeing a shovel and few other things in the old barn. He got his bedroll and supplies for meals and a hunting rifle. He planned on staying a week, so he went prepared. He would have to come back on the weekend because of the books, but would be going back again.
He packed everything onto Bess. The pack mule would be his only companion while he was away. He hoped the solitude would give him the focus he needed to function again.
Jeremy and Jason stood watching Josh tying the pack on Bess.
"You have everything you need?" Jason asked.
"I think so," he shrugged.
"Sure you don't want a horse?" he asked
"No, the hike will do me good," he said
Jeremy still didn't like the idea of Joshua banishing himself to the old cabin. The thought just made him angry, but he kept it to his self. He had his own concerns now. Hiring an entire crew, picking the right men was an important job. He hoped he would make the best decisions.
"You ready to tackle San Francisco?" Joshua asked him with a forced smile. The question broke Jeremy's thoughts.
"Yea, I guess so." He answered.
"You'll be fine. Just stay away from the rough places. Don't let yourself go and get shanghaied, "Josh teased at past memories.
"I'll do my best not too," smiled Jeremy.
"You need me to get anything while I'm there?" Jeremy asked.
"I don't need anything," Josh said.
"I do. We need good hard workers," said Jason.
"I'll get the best men I can," Jeremy said.
Joshua, scratched old Bess between her eyes, before turning to his brothers. "I guess I'd better get started. It's a long walk if I want to make it before dark," he said.
He held his hand out to Jason, who pulled him in for a brotherly hug followed by a slap on the back. "I feel like I'm abandoning you leaving like this, but I'm not sure if I have another choice at this point, "he said.
"You just get the old place in good shape, and don't worry about me," Jason said.
"Jeremy," Josh said as he turned to hug his younger brother. "Have a safe trip."
Josh unhitched Bess and started walking.
"He'll be alright," Jason said as they watched him leading Bess away.
"I still don't like it," muttered Jeremy.
Jeremy went inside the cabin and got his bag. He packed light for the trip, relieved he didn't have wood samples to carry this time.
"You take care of yourself Jeremy," Jason said as he hugged him goodbye.
Jason watched Jeremy walk to town before he left to meet Big Swede and his crew at the lumber camp. He would stay at the camp for the next week.
Jeremy got to Seattle quickly where he was meeting Candy before boarding the ship to San Francisco.
"You're all ready?" she asked him.
"As ready as I'll ever be," he said. "I'm not sure that I'm the right person to be going though."
"Jeremy, I'm sure you're more than capable, or else Jason wouldn't be sending you," she argued. "You're a good judge of people, you just stay away from those ladies." She said.
"What ladies?"he asked
"You know what kind of ladies I'm talking about." she teased.
"You know you're the only lady I'll ever be interest in," he said but her teasing didn't lessen his worry.
She looked at him, and saw the troubled look. "It's not this trip is it? It's something else, isn't it?" she asked. "Is it Joshua?" she asked knowing they were all worried about him.
"Some of the men were threating to quite, refusing to work with him. So he left," Jeremy said.
"He left?" Candy's asked, a frown crossing her brow.
"He's gone up to the old family cabin. I just don't feel like he should have to banish himself from his own home, when you know as well as I do he's innocent." Jeremy griped, shaking his head. "I worry about him being alone right now, I guess."
"Is he coming back?" she asked.
"He be coming back on the weekends for supplies and turn in the books," he said.
Candy thought she may check up on him, but didn't mention it. She knew he would think it unsafe, her being a woman. "You just get home safe and we'll figure out a way to clear up all this nonsense," she said.
Candy walked Jeremy to the ship.
"Are ya' ready to sail Jeremy?" Clancy shouted "Ya' need to be sayin' yer farewells."
Jeremy smiled nervously and glanced to Clancy.
"Well I guess I need to board," He said to Candy and nodded towards the ship. He set his bag down and took her by the waist. He kissed her softly and smiled. "I'll miss you," he said before picking up his bag and rushing up the short plank.
Candy watched him board and followed along when the ship finally started to pull away. She waved her goodbyes until the ship was gone.
Looking down, she wasn't ready to go back to the Brides Dorm and all the chatter among the girls. Instead she went to Lottie's.
Burt was in Bens store looking for something he could buy for Missy, hoping to cheer her up. "I need something special," he told Ben. "How about some of Lottie's chocolates?" Ben suggested.
"No, I don't think so," he said. "You have any new hats? She really liked that brown one."
"No, but Clancy's bringing me some real nice ones when he gets back from San Francisco. He'll be back in little over a week." Ben said.
"I know of something she might like," Ben said as he reached into a glass case and found a small cameo pin. "I have this cameo," he said. "This would make a nice gift," he said.
"I'll take it," Burt said. When those hats come in, I'll be back."
Ben boxed the cameo and wrapped the box in tissue. He tied a tiny bow around it for Burt.
When he left the general store he walked next door for Lunch where he was meeting Tom.
When Candy got to Lottie's, she sat at the table nearest the bar so she could talk to Lottie between customers.
"So Jeremy's off to San Francisco? I guess you're going to miss him." Lottie said as she sat down a glass of lemonade for Candy.
"Yes I will," Candy said "but it's not the trip. He's worried about his brother, and I am too," she said softly. "He's gone to stay at his family's old cabin." She said.
"Sounds like all the Bolts are on their own for a while," Lottie said. "Each ones being tested I guess."
"Yes I guess so, but I'm worried," Candy said.
Candy saw Burt walk in and sit at a table with three other men. Candy stopped mentioning the Bolts. Lottie saw the same and followed suit.
That evening, Burt called on Missy. They sat together on the porch, Burt showering her with compliments that always seemed to make her happy. He pulled out the small gift box and her eyes lit up. She loved the cameo and allowed a small kiss on the cheek, but feigned stress over Joshua's supposed attack. She found it an easy excuse to keep him at arm's length. Burt was annoyed, but held back. Anything he could do to make Missy happy he would.
"I'm sorry," she whined "I can't believe he gets to walk around like he didn't do anything. I hate him."
"He won't be walking around for long," Burt promised. "He'll have to face the circuit judge next month."
"But I'm scared of him Burt," she said.
"I won't let him hurt you Missy," he promised. Burt took her in his arms and kissed her softly, before she went inside and sent him home for the evening.
At Stempels that night, Tom told Burt he'd heard all the Bolts were separated. They knew Jeremy left for San Francisco, the whole town knew. Knowing that Jason was alone at the Logging camp, and Josh was away, meant opportunities were strong for vandals to strike and slow down production. It would be easier with two of the Bolts out of the way. They would meet up with Westley and plan their next move.