Chapter 10 Two Sisters Logging Competition with The Bolts

Joshua, Jason, and Jeremy were ready for the final competition in the Rendezvous and were particularly interested in who their opponents would be from the logging camp now named Two Sisters Logging.

"Jason, do you think that the other camp will have any kind of chance against us?" asked Joshua.

"I don't think so Josh, I mean, they have Robert but he isn't that good at throwing axes, Mitch and Mark well, they didn't do very well in the other competitions. So Joshua, I don't think that they will even come close to our abilities!" Jason said as he finished putting his boots on.

"I know that Mitch has his eyes on Sally, Joshua, he may surprise us!" said Jeremy as he put on his shirt. Joshua stared at his brother and said:

"Jeremy, I think that you may be mistaken. I am the one that Sally finds attractive. I don't think she is interested in Mitch!" Joshua said as they all headed out the door to the competition area.

They went to the open space where the first competition was to be held. It was the axe throwing contest. The Bolt brothers were confident that they were going to win, so they just waited until the others arrived. When Katie, Sally, and the men arrived from Two sisters logging camp they were surprised. Katie and Sally were wearing pants and carrying axes. As well as Mitch and Mark and Robert. Clancy was in charge of the first event which was the Axe throwing contest. Jason stepped up and was surprised that Katie was stepping up.

"This is highly unusual!" said Ben

"Ladies don't usually compete why didn't you do the baking?" Ben asked Katie looked at him and said:

"Oh, did some baking. Candy has it over in the barn. I just wanted to see what I could do!" Ben looked at Jason and at Clancy.

"Well, Jason, do you mind?" asked Clancy. Jason answered:

"I would like to see what she does as well! What do the rules say, Clancy?" Asked Jason. Clancy looked in the rule book, it did not specifically say anything about women being in the competition.

"Well, since it does not specify that a man is the only one that can join in this competition, she can be part of it as well as we can count those points!" Clancy said to everyone. So, it was agreed that Katie could participate. Some of the other ladies, especially Maude, was very upset and walked away taking her husband with her. Some of the brides did not agree as well and left to go back to the dorm. Candy and Biddie remains as did a few others, mostly out of courtesy and curiosity. Candy had already talked with Katie and understood what was happening, so it really did not bother her and once she had explained to Biddie and the others, they agreed it was a good thing as well. They themselves would not do it but that did not mean someone else could not do that!

"Let the competition begin! Jason, take your place, you will be first!" said Clancy

"Clancy, I would like the young lady to go first!" Jason said. Katie responded

"Mr. Bolt, would you let another logger go first if they were a male?" Jason looked at her and thought for a moment and then said:

"Miss Furlong, you are not right, if I was in a competition with another man, I would still want him to go first so I could see what I was up against!" He said to her. She looked at him and said:
"As would I! I accept the challenge to go first but Mr. Bolt, just because I am first does not mean that you will win!" She said this with a twinkle in her eye. He caught that twinkle and smiled. She stepped up to the counter choosing the axe with great care and thoughtfulness. She then turned to the target and without hesitation she threw the first ax. It landed on the outer circle. She then went back and retrieved another axe, again being mindful of what she was doing she choose carefully. Again, she threw the axe with confidence and it landed on the second circle, close to the center. She breathed in and out. One more throw. This would either make it or break it, she looked at her sister and then looked at Jason, with a smile she chose the last axe and got ready to throw. There was complete silence everyone watched, she threw the ax, and it seemed as if it was going in slow motion, it hit the target square in the center. After a gasp, there was a lot of clapping and shouting.

"Okay, okay, everyone quiet down!" said Clancy then Jason stepped up to the center and chose his axe carefully. He loved the competition and felt that he would win.

"Go Jason!" shouted his brothers.

He took a step up with an axe, he carefully centered his eye on the target. He threw the axe. It landed close to the center, then he went back chose the next axe and got ready to throw that axe. Everyone was watching, even Katie, when he threw the axe it landed on the outer circle. He went back to the table and got his third axe. He saw Katie watching and he winked his eye at her. She looked away and smiled secretly to herself.

He stood looking at the target for almost a minute, but it seemed longer to everyone. He started to swing, then stopped, and looked again. This time he swung and let the axe go. Again, time stopped, and it seemed as if the axe was hanging in the air midway between Jason and the target. It struck the target, but it did not land in a circle nor in the center it bounced off the target and fell to the ground. There was a collective 'Ohhhhh!' and then silence. Clancy went over to Katie and raised her hand and said:

"The new winner and champion, Miss Katie Furlong and the Two Sisters Logging company!" Everyone was clapping, She went over to Jason and shook his hand and whispered:

"I saw what you did, we have to have a do over later just you and I!" she smiled and left to go watch her sister in the next competition.