Here come the brides…..The Picnic
Missy opened her dresser box and pulled out the handful of hair ribbons. Burt had given her a new shiny hair ribbon every week. She couldn't decide between the blue and the green...
"What do you think Alice?" she asked holding it against the print of her dress. Which looks best?" she asked.
"I like the green," Alice said, "But the blues nice too. You have so many pretty ribbons," she said admiring the different colors.
"Burt buys me new hair ribbons all the time" she said proudly. "But maybe I'll get him to buy me a new hat I really like that Brown one in the window, you know with the yellow flowers." She said.
"Oh that brown hats so pretty, you think he'll buy it for you?" asked Alice.
"I have that man wrapped around my finger," she boasted. She thought to herself, she may have to work harder for the hat and the thought sent shivers, but she really wanted the hat.
Biddie passed by and looked at all the hair ribbons. "Those are pretty Missy." She said before walking away unimpressed.
Missy smiled and her eyes followed Biddie as she walked across the room to where Emily was sitting on the bed next to Candy whispering and giggling.
"So you asked him about his parents?" Candy asked.
"Yes and he even thanked me for asking." Emily said. "He's so nice Candy."
"Well of course he's nice." Biddie said, butting in on the conversation. She plopped on the bed next to Emily.
"He is nice," Candy agreed. "I knew he would like you Emily. He's quiet but at the same time he's not," Candy giggled. "Well you know what I mean. And he's very cute. Well maybe not as handsome as Jeremy but still," she teased.
"Oh I don't know Candy, I think he's very handsome, and when he smiles…Oh gosh. I just want to die," she sighed.
Candy just grinned and shook her head.
"Oh all those Bolts are handsome, you can't argue with that." Biddie exclaimed.
"I'm just happy he was alone long enough for me to ask him to dance," Emily said "I was so nervous. I never thought I'd have the nerve to actually ask a man to dance! It was downright scandalous!" she giggled.
Biddie touched Emily's arm. "There is nothing wrong with asking a man to dance. I do it all the time." She said bluntly.
"Well I for one, think you were very brave," Candy said.
"Just imagine... tossing a perfectly handsome, sweet man like Joshua away, for hair ribbons…" Biddie whispered shaking her head.
"Well I would rather have Joshua any day!" Emily whispered back. "I don't need presents to know a good man when I see one."
"When are you going to see him again?" Candy asked.
"I don't know, but I can't stop thinking about him." Emily said shaking her head slowly.
"What if we take the boys some lunch later today? We can go together," Candy suggested.
"Oh could we?" Emily beamed.
"Of course," Candy said. "Jeremy loves my fried chicken."
"Fried chicken, wouldn't that be a bit extravagant for lunch Candy?" Emily asked.
"Nothing is too extravagant when you're trying to get a husband," Biddie said pointedly.
"Oh Biddie," Candy said and burst out laughing.
They all stood and turned towards the stairs that lead to the kitchen. Missy watched them go. She looked at her ribbons, and thought of Burt. She was wondering if she had regrets breaking things off with Josh. He was cute and sweet, but she really wanted that brown hat in the store window and she knew Burt would get it for her. "I think I'm going to get Josh back, but first I'll get the hat from Burt." She thought. "Getting Joshua back from Emily would be easy." She never had a problem getting any man before.
Downstairs just as Candy, Biddie and Emily got to the long dining table, Christopher and Molly bounded through the door ready for breakfast.
"Christopher Pruitt!" Candy exclaimed. "Look at your shirt!" She took him by the sleeve. "I just mended a tear in it last week. Now you've ripped the sleeve. What am I going to do with you?" she fussed.
"I'm sorry Candy, I ripped it on a tree branch," he said looking down.
"He was trying to climb that tree out back" Molly said.
"What were you doing in that tree?" asked Candy.
"There's a bird nest and I wanted to see if any eggs was in it," he said.
"Oh Christopher," Candy said trying not to smile, "You should never mess with a birds nest. It'll the upset the mama bird… now change out of that shirt so I can mend it before the tear gets even bigger," she ordered.
"Yes em'" Christopher said as he left to change his shirt.
Candy watched him slowly walk away then she turned and shook her head before they all laughed. "By the time he outgrows that shirt it's going to look like he's wearing a patchwork quilt!"
The girls packed a nice picnic lunch of fried chicken, biscuits and some blackberry jam.
Taking loan of a buggy from the livery, they drove towards the Bolts lumber camp.
Planning to arrive just before noon, they waited until everyone broke for lunch.
Joshua couldn't stop smiling when she saw Emily standing there in her yellow dress.
His smile warmed her heart. "Well this is a surprise," he said.
"Candy suggested we bring you a picnic lunch."
"Well that's nice Candy, thank you," Joshua said.
Jeremy walked up to Candy kissing her cheek. "Thank you," he said smiling.
Josh looked down at his hands. "Give me a second clean up a bit," he said "Don't go anywhere."
"I'll be right here," Emily said.
"I'll be right back," Jeremy said in a rush, as he followed Josh to wash off.
Candy nudged Emily and smiled.
Josh found Jason quickly to let him know that he and Jeremy were taking a long lunch.
"A long lunch?" Jason snapped "We're behind as it is and you're thinking about running off for a leisurely lunch?"
Joshua pulled him around, looked back over his shoulder hoping the girls couldn't hear Jason fussing. "Jason, I know were behind. What should I have done?" he snapped back in a hushed tone trying to lower his big brothers volume. "They went to a lot of trouble. What would you do if it were Allyn?" he snapped back.
Jason just shook his head. "Well you're setting a poor example for the men," he argued. "But I guess if a pretty lady brings a picnic lunch, you can't hardly turn her away," he finally smiled and shook his head.
"I've never known Josh to be such a push over," he thought to his self.
"I guess you think it's okay too?" he asked Jeremy who was standing there.
"Well, they did go to a lot of trouble Jason," he said in his serious tone.
"Go on get out a' here," Jason said shaking his head with a defeated grin.
The boys were quick to get back after having washed up. They helped the girls into the wagon and drove the team to a grassy clearing down by the lake.
The afternoon was spent laughing and telling stories. Emily was relaxed and at ease around Josh and he couldn't keep his eyes off her.
"Would you like to take a walk?" he asked.
"I would love a walk," she smiled.
Joshua stood up and helped her to her feet.
Jeremy lay back onto his side, resting on one elbow. "This is nice Candy," he said. "We needed the break." He took a deep breath. "Jason's had everyone working extra hours. It's this contract with Stempel, It seems like anything that could go wrong, has…"
"What do you mean?' she asked "What's gone wrong?"
"Broken saws, the flume collapsed." He said "I think it's deliberate, like someone is trying to stop us from getting the lumber off the mountain."
"Josh thinks we need to hire another crew. I'm beginning to think he's right."
"And here we are keeping you from you work," Candy said "I didn't realize."
"Oh, I'm glad you did," he reassured her. "Your fried chicken beats beans and bacon any day," he said playfully.
Candy glanced up at Josh and Emily walking along the bank, hand in hand, talking quietly. Josh picked a tiny white flower and handed it to her.
Candy whispered to Jeremy, "I think your big brothers falling in love,"
"I know he is," Jeremy whispered back smiling.
"I had a good time Josh," Emily said when lunch was over.
"Me too," he smiled, He looked from her to Candy, "Thank you for lunch ladies,"
"Yea we should get back or else we'll have hell to pay from Jason," Jeremy said halfheartedly.
Joshua took Emily's' hand in his. Looking into her eyes he smiled his easy smile and kissed her cheek. "I really want to see you again," he whispered.
"Oh Joshua," she sighed "It won't be soon enough.
Candy cleared her throat, and smiled when they realized they were being watched.
Josh stepped away and they all went back to the wagon. He lifted her up by the waist and he hated to let her go.
Jeremy and Candy were side eyeing each other and smiling watching the pair.
When they got back to camp, all the men had gone back to work. Joshua and Jeremy had to hurry back. Dreading Jason, hoping he wouldn't be too mad.
Emily was head over heels on her way back to town, and couldn't wait until she could see Josh again.
"I think he really likes you Emily," said Candy as she clicked the horse along.
"I really like him." Emily said "He's just so thoughtful and smart. I think he's probably the smartest man I've ever met!" she exclaimed.
Candy burst out laughing.
"What?" Emily looked offended "You know how smart he is. He even does all the books for the Logging Business Candy," she argued.
"No, no," Candy chuckled "I will agree. Joshua Bolt is very intelligent." She just laughed to herself.
"I think we need to hold off on another long lunch day though," she finally said "Jeremy told me they're real behind on their work."
"Yea Joshua said the same thing," Emily sighed. "I'm not sure if I can go a day without seeing him though. I mean, How do you do it Candy? How can you stand it when they have to be gone all the time?"
"Oh Emily…You have got it bad." she shook her head and burst out in a laugh.