Here Come the Brides Chapter 20 Dishwater
It had been around four months since Emily left town. Joshua had almost shut himself off from Seattle. He hated going past the Brides dorm, knowing so many of the Brides thought he had been capable of trying to hurt one of them, or pitying him for losing Emily. Things just weren't the same anymore. It was just easier to stay away.
Candy had brought Molly and Christopher over to visit a couple of times when she came to see Jeremy, and he did see Lottie and the other town folk on Sundays at Church, but he never stayed after.
The change in him didn't go unnoticed. Before, Joshua was always laughing and cheerful with a serious edge. Now he had become a shadow of his former self. He was quiet and on the rare occasion when he smiled, it was forced and usually out of politeness.
Jason expected him to go through a bout of sadness, but he was getting too comfortable in his self-imposed isolation, and he wanted his care free brother back.
Joshua kept busy working on the books and getting to know Davy but not so much the new crew. Jeremy had chosen well and they were all a great asset to Bolts Logging, but Joshua kept pretty much to himself.
"I think we should let Jeremy do all the new hires," Joshua told Jason one day after work.
"I'll tell him you think so," Jason said.
Jeremy came in from washing up after work. "Hey, a bunch of the guys are going to Lottie's for a beer," he said. "Why don't you come along Josh?"
"Naw...I'm beat," he said and leaned back with his hands clasped behind his head.
"Josh you've not been to Lotties in weeks," Jeremy said "Come on and join us."
"Weeks?" Jason snapped, "It's been months! This is just ridiculous Joshua. You're better than this. I've kept my mouth shut, but enough is enough," he argued.
Joshua just looked at his irate big brother. "Don't push me Jason." He warned.
"No Joshua!" Jeremy piped up. "Jason's right. You've been hiding out here, exactly like you did when you hid out at the old cabin. I get it, Emily broke you're heart, but sitting here and not living won't make anything better. What happened to you was terrible, but you're pouting and acting like a hermit. It's embarrassing."
"Now Jeremy calm down," Jason said and put a hand on his shoulder.
Joshua looked at them. "I'm embarrassing you?" he fumed and stood up. He grabbed his coat. "I wouldn't want to be an embarrassment for the Bolt brothers!" he snapped.
"Where are you going?" Jason asked.
"I'm going to get a drink!" he yelled as he stormed out.
Jason looked at Jeremy, "Well played little brother," he said with a grin.
Jeremy took a deep breath and blew it out. Shaking his head, "I didn't think he would fall for it."
Jason slapped him on his back before they both left for Lotties.
Lotties was busy. Like every Friday night after a hard weeks work, the loggers needed to relax and socialize.
When Joshua walked in, Lottie was elated, but she kept it to herself. Jason promised he would get him there, and after months of his absence, she was surprised he'd finally done it. Joshua walked to the bar.
"Well hello stranger," was all she said.
Joshua smiled slightly, "Hello Lottie, Beer?" he ordered and put down a coin.
"One beer," she said and turned to get him a drink.
Joshua took his beer and found an empty seat at a table in the back, where Corky sat with a couple from his crew.
Jason and Jeremy came inside and walked to the bar.
"I see it worked," Lottie low keyed Jason, "But he doesn't look very happy."
"Baby steps Lottie, baby steps," Jason said.
"Joshua, what brings you to town?" Corky asked.
"My brothers thinking they tricked me into coming," he said without emotion.
Corky looked towards Jeremy and grinned, shaking his head.
"Look," Peggy whispered to Biddie. "It's Joshua."
"Candy," Biddie called rushing to find her. "Candy, I just saw Joshua. He went into Lotties," She said.
"Jeremy's plan worked," Candy grinned.
"Well I won't be impressed until they get him to one of the dances," Biddie said.
"Biddie, getting him to Lotties is just the first step," Candy said.
"You think Jason can get him to come to the fall bazaar next weekend?" Biddie asked.
"That's going to be tough one." Candy said.
"Well he does go to church," Biddie said. "But he doesn't stay for any of the picnics after."
"I can't see him ready for picnic for a very long time," Candy said.
"No, probably not," Biddie agreed.
Biddie thought for a minute. "You know we could bring the picnic to him, kind of…in a roundabout way," she said tapping her chin.
"Biddie, what are you thinking?" Candy side eyed her.
"I think I'll make those Bolts an apple pie," she said looking at the apples piled in the bowl on the table.
"That's nice of you, but what's that going to do?" Candy asked.
She leaned in and whispered, "I'm going to have Peggy deliver it." She said slyly.
"Oh Biddie, you're just bad," Candy grinned.
Biddie grabbed the bowl of apples and took them to the counter near the sink.
Joshua drank his beer as he eyed the room. He finished the beer and sat his mug down. "See you later Corky." He said and left.
"Josh," Corky raised his mug in a salute to his parting friend.
Jason and Jeremy watched him go. They just looked at each other and shrugged.
Jeremy finished his drink. "I'll be across the street," he told Jason as he left to go visit Candy.
"Jason, some of the Brides are going to pick apples tomorrow for the bazaar next week," Lottie said. "They need a volunteer to drive the wagon," she smiled slyly.
"I'm sure I can take them, what time?" he asked.
Lottie rolled her eyes. "I was thinking of Joshua," she said.
"Well Lottie, I think that my little brother would be happy to take the Brides apple picking," he said smiling.
"Great, I'll let them know to be ready at eleven o'clock," she said.
"I'll need to come up with a reason I can't take them," Jason said.
"Easy, you have a lunch meeting with me," Lottie smiled.
"I do?" he asked.
"Yep, I need you to build me a booth for the bazaar." She said.
Jason just grinned. "You are one of a kind."
"I know I am," she smiled.
Saturday morning it was Joshua's turn to make breakfast. Ham, eggs and biscuits were on the menu.
Jason put off mentioning the apple picking, knowing it was going to cause a fight, but while Josh was cleaning the dishes, Jason knew time was running out.
"Joshua, a group of the Brides are going apple picking and I volunteered you to drive the wagon for them." Jason said "They're expecting you at eleven o'clock."
"Well you can just un-volunteer me big brother, because I'm not going to do it," he said matter-of-factly without emotion.
"You will do it, they need someone to drive the wagon and I said you were available. Everyone else is getting things ready for the bazaar next week and you're not doing anything," Jason said.
Joshua turned and stared at Jason. "Now look here Jason, you're not going to force me to do anything I don't want to do," he yelled.
"If I have to drag you down that road I will," Jason shouted back.
"Jason, Josh just stop it," Jeremy jumped in.
"Why can't you do it, or Jeremy?" Josh shouted.
"I have a lunch meeting with Lottie," Jason said.
"I have a picnic with Candy, Molly," Jeremy said.
"You're just setting me up," snapped Joshua, "I let you get away with your little game last night, but this is too far!" Josh yelled as he snatched up the pan of dishwater opened the door and threw it out.
Peggy carried the apple pie down the street towards the edge of town. The red checked towel wrapped carefully over it, to protect it. She made her way to the Bolts cabin and just as she stepped up she heard arguing coming from inside.
Joshua and Jason were in a heated argument. She didn't know what to do. Should she leave and come back later? Or should she just knock on the door and interrupt them. As she stood there at the foot of the porch step pondering what to do, suddenly the front door flew open and out came a full pan of dirty dishwater.
The second Joshua tossed the water, he saw her standing there, but it was too late to stop. Peggy took the entire pan full, and Joshua's mouth flew open in shock.
Peggy and the pie were drenched. Her eyes were like saucers and she looked from the pie to Joshua's shocked expression.
"Oh no!" he shouted, "Peggy, I'm so sorry," he rushed down the steps.
Peggy stood there and started to laugh. She looked at his shocked expression and then down at the ruined pie and she couldn't stop laughing.
Her laughter made him laugh. "It's not funny," he tried not to laugh.
Jason stepped out with a towel, "Look what he did you," he said.
Joshua snatched the towel from him.
Jeremy stood at the door. "Joshua!" he said "What'd you do?"
Peggy just stood there laughing, holding the water soaked pie.
Joshua tenderly dabbed her face dry, while he apologized over and over.
Jason took the pie from her and sat it on the porch. Clearly it was no longer fit to eat.
"Your pie…" Josh said.
"I was delivering it for Biddie," she laughed.
"Well either way, I'm so sorry," Josh said as he took her empty hands and dried them.
She took the towel from him and dabbed her bodice and front of her dress, shaking her head.
"Well you're certainly a good sport about it," Josh said smiling.
"Well there's no use crying over spilled dishwater," she joked.
"I guess there isn't," he laughed.
"Lottie said you're taking the Brides apple picking," she said as she dried off her dress.
"About that," Jason started.
"Uhhh…" Josh cut off Jason and gave him a warning look. "Are you going?" he asked turning his attention back to her.
"Yes, I had planned to," she said looking up at him.
"Well then, yes. It's the least I could do, especially since I drenched you with dishwater," he said with a warm smile.
"Good," she smiled. "I guess I'd better go and put on some dry clothes," she said as she nervously handed the towel back to him. "I'll…not mention the pie to Biddie," she laughed as she turned to go.
"It'll be our secret," he laughed.
Jason went inside where he and Jeremy just grinned at each other.
After Peggy left, Joshua went inside. "Just this once," he told Jason holding up one finger.
"Sure brother," he laughed.
"I'm serious. If it wasn't for getting Peggy wet, your butt would be taking the Brides apple picking…what gave you the right to volunteer me for anything without asking Jason. I don't believe you." he said getting frustrated all over again.
"Come on Joshua," Jason said taking him by the shoulder. "You'll have a good time."
"She didn't even get mad," Josh said.
"What?" Jason asked him.
"Peggy," Josh smiled. "She just laughed like that," he smiled shaking his head.
Josh walked outside to toss out the ruined pie and clean the pie plate so he could return it to Biddie.
Jeremy was tucking in his shirt. "I have to go and let Candy know that were going on a picnic," he grinned. "I just hope she wasn't supposed to go apple picking too."