Chapter 2 Jamie meets some loggers

Jason had Jamie come up to the logging camp with him. He placed him with Joshua and Swede. He did not say anything to Swede as to who he was. He knew that Swede would be upset but for now, he, Jason was still not sure of this young man. Jeremy came in later that day, he had been dealing with a problem, seems a man who had been a friend of Clancy's was still in town and causing a stir with his pet Monkey 'Bungee' and Candy was not doing well this pregnancy. She had been told by the doctor to stay home, stay in bed and drink plenty of bone broth. Molly had come back from her visit to New Bedford and between her and Biddie they had things well in hand.

"So, Jamie McConnell, what do you know about logging?" Big Swede asked once they had their assignment.

"Well, up in Renton, we had some pretty big trees to move, so when we cut them down, we used our cattle to help us get them to the river and then on to the local mill." Jamie answered. Swede looked this young man up and down, he did look a lot like Jason when he was younger, even could have been a twin if their ages were the same.

"Well, here, we use what we call a flume! Have you heard of one?" Swede asked. Jaimie said yes he had, in fact, his mother brought him to Seattle once to watch the logging competition.

"I remember seeing you, but I was only a lad of about 12 or so at the time!" Jamie answered. Joshua walked up to them and asked:

"Swede, I think we can prep the tree to the right, who will be going to the top?" Joshua asked looking at Swede, Corky and Jamie. Jamie raised his hand and said:

"I will!" Joshua was worried about that, Jason just getting a son and now his son up topping a tree!"

"I think I would rather have an experienced Topper, Corky, I think you will do that!" Joshua said and turned around to leave when Corky and Swede shouted:

"Stop him!" Jamie had already grabbed the gear and was halfway up the tree before anyone could stop him! Joshua looked up, all he could do was watch and pray. Swede watched and hoped that this young fool wasn't going to get himself killed before he even got started working in logging! Jamie for his part had shinnied up the tree faster than a monkey. By the time anyone had any physical reaction, he had almost finished with sawing off the top ten feet of the tree. He had cleared the branches at the top and sides and had prepared to cut the first part of the giant tree. His stepfather brother, Alan, had done that he was a skinny kind of guy and always was the one to reach the top of any tree, he showed Jamie how to cut a tree while staying attached to the tree without getting knocked off.

Jason came running over to the trees that he had assigned Josh and the rest of the crew and was ready to yell at Josh when Josh pointed upward. The top had been cut and was ready to fall to the ground. The trees around had already been prepared and as Jamie yelled 'Timber' there was an echo of other voices of loggers who stopped what they were doing to watch and move if it came tumbling down towards them. When Jamie merely pushed the tree toward the east side, it came apart from its base and fell directly where Jamie had planned it to fall. It landed on a bed of branches that had been carefully placed to cushion the fall of the tree top. Jamie then swung from the tree he had topped and started clearing branches from that top of the next tree. There was a sound of an animal laughing and Joshua, Jason and Jeremy turned around and saw the mischievous little monkey clapping its paws as Jamie again yelled; "Timberrrrrrr….!"

"Joshua, how come you didn't stop him?" Jason asked nervously. Joshua looked at Jason and said:

"He was too fast, like that silly little monkey that is here. He was gone before anyone had any say as to who was topping off the tree!" Joshua had to shout because they heard two more 'Timbers!" and looked up to see the tops cut and bare, landing gracefully onto the bed of branches exactly where they were supposed to be. Jason shook his head and said to Joshua:

When he gets down please send him to me in the office I want to see him!" Joshua looked at Jason then Jeremy said:

"Well, Jason, you should be proud of him! What were you able to do when you were his age?" Jason gave Jeremy a look that showed more emotion than he meant to show. He walked away towards the office.

Later when everyone was eating their lunches. Jeremy sat next to Jamie and said:

"I know Jason, is upset, so if you wait a little while I will go in with you if you need someone!" Jamie listened and then he said to Jeremy:
"Well, Unc…I mean Jeremy, I guess the worst part is going to be yelled at for doing something he wasn't ready for me to do, but hat is not something, knew, I was always taking risks and getting yelled at by my stepfather and grandfather as well. Thank you though, the thought is very kind and I appreciate it." Jamie said as he bit into a sandwich that Lottie had made. Jeremy had his fried chicken, but Candy was not making the meals, it was Molly. She had brought the chicken down with Biddie who was helping with the meals that Lottie was preparing for the loggers. They would bring them homemade lunches and dinners especially for those who lived at the camps. There was a nice man who had settle down there in Seattle and was working for the Bolts. He was an older gentleman and had been a teacher in his day but had left and came to Seattle to pursue a new field. Logging turned out to be something he was exceptionally good at. He had seen Biddie and enjoyed her company and started to spend more time with her. He had even asked about courting her. Molly was intrigued by the new worker, Jamie McConnell. She spent some time helping Biddie just so she could check up on this man. She asked Christopher to help her find out more about him so that night they had a discussion.

"Chris, what have you found out about Jamie McConnell?" Molly asked her brother that night, after Candy and Jeremy had gone to bed and the other children were asleep.

"Molly, I have only been able to find out that he is from Renton, his father was a dairy farmer, and he has lived there all his life! It seems no one knows anything else. I tried to listen to Jeremy and Jason and Joshua as they were talking about him, but they noticed I was nearby and stopped talking." Just then Jeremy came down to the kitchen where Molly and Christopher were talking.

"Christopher, Molly, we will tell you when it is time for you to know!" Jeremy said with a smile.

"It is interesting that Molly has an interest in Jamie?" He thought to himself as he poured a glass of milk for Candy. As he set up a small tray with biscuits and warm milk for Candy he also said:

"Christopher, I think Clancy will be needing your help with getting the ship ready to sail next week. Molly, Candy appreciates your help with taking care of the children but wants to talk to you about something."

"What is it Jeremy?" he looked at her and shrugged his shoulders and said:

"I don't really know. She just said that you and her need to have a sister-to-sister talk!" Jeremy said as he carried the tray up the stairs. Molly looked at Christopher and asked him:
"What have you been doing now? When Candy asks to have a sister talk, she clearly wants to have me watch you or something like that!" Christopher said to his sister:

"I really don't know, except that Jasper and that monkey seem to getting into more trouble and usually when that happens, Candy wants us both to watch Jasper!" Christopher said with a loud sigh. Molly just sat at the table for a few minutes and then went upstairs to her room.