Chapter 9 Jason, Big Swede, and Corky

When Swede and Corky left to follow the RJ and company, they had stayed a good distance away from them. They followed them to the caves. While watching from a distance, Abe and Patch and Buck had doubled back unnoticed and caught them unawares. They brought them into the camp. RJ and Mitch decided to keep them alive just in case they would be needed to convince the Bolts to give up their mountain. They placed them in the cave, tying them to a large boulder with chains, they had brought with them from an old army jail.

After waiting for almost an hour after the other loggers had been dragged away, Jason went up the mountain along the old goat trail they had discovered many years ago. He kept low and stealthily crept up to the hidden entrance. Going in, he dropped to the floor. The natural ladder had almost disappeared. Jason waited until his eyes became accustomed to the dark. He went forward toward the rock formation that had been nearby. As he approached the crop of rocks he had been looking for he heard voices.

"Swede, do you think that Jason will know where we are?" Corky asked Swede. Swede moved a little letting the chains rattle against the rock.

"I don't know. I hope so!" said Swede who was very uncomfortable sitting in a cramped position. He was quite a bit taller than Corky and there was no real space for him to move his legs to get a good stretch.

"If Jason does show up, I don't know how he will be able to get us free of these chains!" Swede continued moving again.

"I know how I will get those chains off of you!" said Jason as he came around the boulder. He had found the cutters that had been stashed there over ten years ago. Swede and Corky were very happy.

"How did you know to even look for us?" Corky said as Jason split the chain links.

"I knew because I heard them talking!" Jason said as he split the links for Swede after he had gotten Corky.

"Well, I am glad you are here! Where are the others?" Swede asked

"They have all been captured. But we need to get out of here before they come looking for you two!" Jason said. He finished the last of the chain that had been around Swede's ankles and then showed them the way to the secret entrance. Once they got there, they climbed out.

"What do you mean they are gone!" said Mitch brandishing his rifle at Patch and Abe and Buck.

"Dam! Now we will have to search for them and right now we have too many to watch over!" Mitch said, then he pointed his rifle at Patch and said:

"I want you to take the north side and watch to see if they are coming! Buck, I need you up on top of that rock and watching for them!" Mitch said, then he looked at Abe and said:

"Too bad you failed, son!" He aimed at Abe and shot him! Abe stood for a moment with a surprised look on his face and then dropped to the ground. Mitch shouted to one of the others who had joined them:
"You there, toss this piece of trash over the cliff!" The man did as he was told.

"Mitch, why don't we just shoot everyone and then get out of here. They will be coming for us…?" RJ suggested. Mitch looked at him,

"He might be the next one I shoot!" Mitch thought to himself. Then he said:

"RJ, get some of those other men and round up the loggers and I will bring the bolt brothers and their friend over as well!" So, Josh, Jeremy, and Daniel were brought near to the edge of the cliff. The others who had just been captured, about 5 of them were brought over to the cliff as well. Once everyone was in place, Mitch shouted:

"All right Jason Bolt, you need to come out now, if you don't I will start by throwing one logger off the cliff, every ten minutes. I will keep this up until we get to your brothers. I have something special planned for you and them. I do hope you will be entertained!" Mitch finished his speech and waited. He saw no movement. He looked up to see if Patch or Buck were standing in their places. He did not see them, nor did he hear what came next.

The Loggers who had been herded towards the cliff, suddenly stood up and hollered the loudest sound they could make. Jason, Swede and Corky and a few dozen Indians also Hollard. They came running at Mitch and the others in the camp. Since Jason was not close enough to his brothers, a couple of the loggers went to help them and fought with the men who were going to kill Joshua and Jeremy. Once Jeremy was free, he was able to join in the fight. Joshua, sat down next to Daniel and had managed to get a gun. Daniel was unconscious so Joshua kept a lookout ready to shoot at anyone who would come too close.

The fighting went on for 15 min. When the Bolts and the loggers realized that everyone was accounted for except RJ and Mitch. RJ and Mitch had slipped away and were headed up toward the top of the mountain, Jason spotted them and took Swede with him. They got to the top and RJ who had not kept his gun stood there with a knife in his hand. Mitch had kept his rifle but Swede was fast and knocked the rifle out of his hand. Jason had RJ, pinned down. Swede had Mitch's arm pulled around his back. If he moved the wrong way, Mitch would be in major pain. RJ gave up, he did not want to be in pain. Jason and Swede went down the mountain with their 'catch'. They met up with the others. Jason went over to his brothers.

"Am I sure glad to see you brother!" Jeremy said as Jason took a look at Joshua's arm.

"Not too much blood lost, but it would be nice to get patched up!" Joshua said with a laugh. They all looked at Daniel, he looked worse than either of the Bolt brothers. Their Indian friends provided a travois for Daniel and they all headed back toward Seattle.

It took a few days to get back. By the time they made it back, Joshua was on the mend. Daniel was beginning to wake up, RJ and Mitch were placed in the jail and Patch and Buck had died in the battle and Abe was gone.

"I am glad you are all back safe!" Candy said looking at Jeremy. She continued:

"I think Biddie is getting better, she won't talk about the incident though and I don't know how to get her to do that?" Jeremy smiled and said:

" I think Biddie will talk soon!" Candy looked at Jeremy and then lifted her eyes to see, Daniel slowly walking towards the Dormitory. He was limping and it would take quite a while for him to get better but as soon as Biddie saw him, she ran to him.

"Biddie, will you accept a slightly disabled man to court you?" Daniel said with a smile. Biddie looked at him and for once she was at a loss for words. He reached down slowly, using her to balance and gently kissed her on the lips. She still said nothing, she just looked up at Daniel and smiled.

"Well, now we know how to get Biddie to keep quiet!" Jeremy said and they all laughed. It was good to be back home in Seattle!