Chapter 9 The Hardest Part
Jason lay on the floor. He had not had any food or water for a few days, he was thirsty and hungry, but he did not give up. His hands were no longer tied, and his feet were free as well. He did not know if Joshua or Jeremy had been killed or rescued. All he could do was to think of a way to gather some energy. He sat up slowly. He had a headache, but he felt he could deal with that. He had to find a way out. He heard footsteps and decided to play like he was still out. The door opened and someone came in. He kept his eyes closed and waited. A bowl of water and some food was set near him. The person did not speak nor did that person make much noise. Once the food and water were set for him, that person left.
Jason waited listening for the door to close. He wondered if he should sit up and eat or wait a few more minutes. He lay there quietly breathing. He heard voices on the other side of the door.
"I tell you, he needs food and water, what did you give him!" Said a female voice.
"Miss Clementine, I gave him what you instructed me. He has water and he has food. But he has not awakened. I did see him breathing though. " the man said to her.
She looked at him and then said:
"Okay, get out of here and go do that other job I told you about, and don't return until she is dead!" He bowed to her and left. She stood there for a little longer and then decided to walk in. She was perfectly capable of handling herself. She opened the door and went in. She saw that the food and water were on the floor, so she sat down on the chair and waited.
"Jason Bolt, you will have to eat something sometime, so why not sit up and eat. You will need your strength for the last thing you will do in your lifetime!" She said as she sat watching him. He deiced that he should sit up and eat something. But kept an eye on her. He knew she was cruel and would do something to hurt him, so he sat up slowly, rubbing his neck as if it hurt. He looked up at her and then at the food. She smiled and then nodded to him that he could eat. He drank a little water and ate some food slowly. She watched him like a hawk.
"You know, Mr. Bolt, your brothers signed the document. It is only a matter of time for you to do the same thing. If you sign the document, I will place you on a ship so that you can still live. Your brother's are already dead, well Joshua is dead, but Jeremy, he set out to sea, if you live you and he might meet each other someday!" Isn't' that worth living for?"
Jason said nothing, he just watched her, playing along with her until he could figure out an idea of how to escape.
"Oh, by the way, since little Jeremy is on a sea voyage, I will have to take his wife and make sure there are no descendants! The mountain will be mine and Lisabeth and Marcia will live lives of luxury!" She laughed. He was seething but without having had enough food he was weak and unable to do anything yet. But he was able to speak his mind and he said:
"Lady, I have never wanted to hit or beat a woman, but for you, I will make an exception!" Jason said and spit at her. She moved back and smiled.
"My dear Mr. Bolt, one way or another, I will have that signature and you will no longer be able to get your mountain back!" She said and turned to walk out of the room.
He sat in the dark, refreshed because of the food and water, but he still had to wait, and what did She mean that she was going to take Candy. Somehow, he had to find a way out so that Candy would be safe. After all, she was one of the first brides and he was responsible for her as well as she was his sister-in-law. He sat there for a while and realized that they had mistakenly given him a fork and a knife. He picked those up and held them looking at them and thinking.
Swede and Clancy had rowed a small boat under the wharf. They now knew where Jason was being held. Silently they crept up under the wharf. Clancy pointed to the hatch that was under the wharf. They hoped it was the one that would lead them to Jason.
Candy and Katie were sitting in the saloon, she felt the baby moving, and said:
"This little one is very active today! I wonder what he will be like when he is born?" Candy said to Katie.
"Candy, do you know that you've been talking about your baby using he for about 4 days now? How do you know it is a 'he'?" Katie asked her. Candy put her cup down and looked at her belly. She thought about it and said:
" I know there was some kind of rhyme we used to hear about if the baby was high or low, but I don't know how it goes. What I do know is that I feel that he will be a boy and Jeremy and I will name him Jeremy Jr." Candy said with a smile on her face. Katie smiled as well. Ladies, especially those who were pregnant and carrying the baby for 9 months or there abouts usually had an idea around the time when the baby was due.
In the saloon, Katie and Candy were safe. Jeremy and Joshua decided that they would have some of their regulars watch them and accompany them if they left the saloon. Red Flats was one of those, he had red hair and green eyes, and although he was short he had a very muscular body. He usually came and went during the season. Sometimes he would 'winter' there in Seattle, sometimes elsewhere. He had decided to stay since the brothers had disappeared to make sure that they came back all right. However, no one knew his real motive. He worked for Clementine and had staked out the saloon. He was planning on killing Mrs. Bolt and the baby, but he had to bide his time. Especially when Jeremy and Joshua showed up. He was surprised but he sent someone over to the wharf with a message the Jeremy and Joshua were alive and well. Clementine was not happy with that.
"Katie, sometimes I wish this baby were ready to come out now. I am so ready for him to be born!" Katie nodded and took Candy's hand and smiled. She knew that waiting was hard and this was the hardest part of a pregnancy. She had seen her mother wait for her little brother who had been still born.
Jason sat in the dark and decide to make some noise to get someone to open the door. He was about to holler and scream, when the door opened.