Chapter 10

A Peaceful Landing.

The train reached the Cowlitz river and with the help of the Cowlitz Indian tribe, the families were 'ferried' across the river in canoes and then their belongings came afterwards. Most of the Scouts, hunters and other cowboys assisted with the heavy movement of wagons, possessions and animals. Eliza and Carlisle had very little just enough to set up housekeeping when they reached Seattle. Andy and Stan were busy helping with the possessions and such and were not able to check on 'their' sister.

"Andy, do you think it would work if when I get over I check on Eliza?" Stan asked. He had always liked Eliza, she had always been kind to him and since they were now literally orphans, he had 'adopted her as an older sister.

"I don't see why not, just don't let Carlisle see you!" Andy said, He liked Stan as a brother and was glad that Stan also liked his sister.

"Carlisle, when our wagon arrives, do you mind if we wait before we move on. It is only a few more days to get to Seattle and I am sure you can wire Mr. Stemple that you are on your way?' Eliza asked. Carlisle looked at his wife and he wondered why she wanted to wait. He said:

"I think we shall see Eliza, perhaps we may get to be underway sooner than later!" Carlisle said. Eliza nodded her understanding and waited on the soft grass for their things to arrive. Ben the wagon master came up to them and wanted to settle accounts with them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Beason, I would like to talk to you about a donation to the wagon train fund!" Carlisle looked at him as if he were crazy and said:

"Mr. Adams, What do you mean a donation, I paid good money for you to get us to Seattle safely! We are not in Seattle yet and we paid $1000 dollars to be exact, why do you need a donation?"

"Mr. Beason, well, during our trip we have acquired two more young men who were not with us when we began, they worked to pay their way on this wagon train and I was hoping for a little donation from all of the company might help these young men!"

Carlisle did not like to give money away to anyone, he also did not 'donate' to any charity cases no matter if they had done well or not!

"Mr. Adams, I will do no such thing, if you took on two men to help on this wagon train, then you certainly can pay them from your own earnings! Good day!" Carlisle walked away from Ben. Eliza was listening and took her purse out and gave what she could to Mr. Adams. He thanked her and went away. Carlisle thought about who those two 'men' might be. He too, had noticed them and had is own suspicions as to who they were.

"Dammit!" He thought to himself. "That's why she wants to wait, I was hoping they would have gotten lost! Now, I will have to dispose of them!" He thought at that moment.

Andy and Stan were standing with Bush, Clint and Castle when Ben Adams came up to them.

"Andy, Stan, you both did a great job and I hope that when you have gotten a little older, you will want to rejoin me. I collected some extra pay for you…"
'Mr. Adams, I thought we would stay on with you for a few more years!" Andy said. Ben looked at him and at Stan, he looked at Bush and Clint and Castle who all walked away.

"Mr. Adams, we have no other place to go to!" Stan said, worried that Mr. Adams would not let them stay and work. Ben looked at them and having them sit down he said:

"I know you boys were hoping to keep the jobs I gave you, but as you found out, this job is for men. Not boys. Andy, before you say anything hear me out. I also know who you are and who your sister is. I think that somehow she is going to need your help. So, if you can find a way to be near her and around when she does need that help, that will be what is needed. You boys will be welcome to come back in a year or two…"

"Mr. Adams, I am already 12, I am a man!" Andy said. Ben smiled and said:

"I agree but you need to get a little more education and your 'brother' stan needs to learn his letters and numbers better. I don't want men on my train who can't read, write or do ciphering! So, unless you plan to do nothing else except panhandle, I suggest that both of you go ahead to Seattle. There is a logging camp that they will take you on! I know the owners; their name is Bolt. I will write an introduction for you and recommend you. The head of the logging company is Jason Bolt. Speak to him when you get there.

Ben wrote the letter and then provided them with the horses and clothing as well some money to help them along the way until they were settled in Seattle. Andy and Stan thanked Ben for the horses, equipment and clothing as well as the letter. They rode off in the direction of Seattle. Andy saw his sister, sitting in the wagon. She seemed to be okay, but he would check on her when they reached Seattle.

Mr. and Mrs. Beason were in their wagon and heading away from the landing. They would like to make it to Seattle within two or three days.

"So, Carl, do we have a place to live when we reach Seattle?" Eliza asked pushing some of her hair back under her bonnet.

"Yes, Eliza, we do. I have procured a little house in town. And once I start working we will be able to afford the furniture and other such things as needed." Carl Beason stated. Eliza began to smile for the first time in a long time. Carl looked at her and he smiled as well.

"She is warming up to me!" He thought as they slowly pulled out of the Cowlitz landing headed to the Puget Sound.

Chapter 11

Eliza catches Joshua's eye

Joshua was in town getting supplies for the camp. He had just finished at Ben's mercantile and was going to go to Lottie's for a beer. As he walked over to the saloon he saw a wagon pull up and a man got his attention:

"Excuse me sir, can you tell me if this is the way to Mr. Stemple's Mill?

"It is down the street just after the Mercantile building."

"Thank you. Sir, my name is Carlisle Beason, do you perchance work for Mr. Stemple?" Joshua smiled a bit and said:

"No Mr. Beason, I am Joshua Bolt, I work for the Bolt Logging company! We work with Mr. Stemple on occasion though!" Jason said offering his hand to Mr. Beason. Carlisle took it and smiled and said:

"Thank you Mr. Bolt." He clicked and sent his horses moving away. Joshua had taken a quick look at the pretty lady sitting next to him. The woman had was petite and had blonde hair and blue eyes. The eyes were what got him. She seemed to look sad. He stood there a short time and then continued on to the saloon.

Carlisle stopped the wagon and got off and told Eliza:

"I will be back in a moment. I am going to see Mr. Stemple and find out where we will be staying tonight." Eliza nodded and stayed in the wagon. Candy and Biddie were walking across the town square when they saw Eliza in the wagon.

"Oh, look, there is a new lady in town, should we greet her?" Biddie asked Candy. Candy looked and said:
"I don't see why not, let's welcome her to Seattle." Walking over to the wagon, Candy said:

"Hello, my name is Miss Candy Pruitt, and this is my friend Miss Biddie Cloom, may we ask if you will be coming to live in Seattle?" Eliza smiled and said:

"Well, yes, we are, my husband is going to be working for Mr. Stemple and we have a house waiting for us to live here!" Eliza said as she got down from the wagon to speak to the ladies. Biddie said:

"Oh, those beautiful new houses just on the other side of the city, near Denny Hill! That is why Mr. Stemple built them!" Eliza smiled, not sure what to say to that she got down from the wagon to talk to the lady's.

She asked them questions and they asked her questions as well. Carlisle saw that she had gotten out of the wagon and after speaking with Mr. Stemple, he came back with Harve, Mr. Stemple's foreman.

"I thought you were going to wait in the wagon for me?" Carlisle said to Eliza.

"Carl, this is Miss Candy Pruitt and Miss Biddie Cloom, they have been telling me all sorts of things about the town!" Carlilse looked at the ladies and at Eliza, he would talk to her later.

"Thank you ladies, but we need to be going now!" He helped Eliza back up on the wagon and then went around to the other side of the wagon without saying anything to the lady'. Harve tipped his hat and got on and drove the wagon around the totem pole and then over to Denny Hill. There were 5 stately houses. All with a porch in the front, a parlour, kitchen, and a back porch as well.

Three of the houses were unoccupied. Harve had the house closest to the entrance to the 'community'.

"Mr. and Mrs. Beason, you are the first, you have the pick of any of the other 4 houses. You might want to see what views you will have from each of the houses." Harve said as he stopped the wagon. He got off the wagon and although Carl did not like it, Harve helped Mrs. Beason down to let her get a chance to look at the homes.

"Mr. and Mrs. Beason, they are all the same housing plan. The only difference as I said before is the view! The doors are unlocked and you may go inside to look!" Harve said as he motioned towards the house closest to them. Carl tentatively walked up towards the first house. It was fine for him, but Eliza, went straight to the upstairs. There were two bedrooms, one a little larger than the other. She went to the larger one first. She noticed that this one had a balcony and a view of Lake Washington. She went downstairs and went to the next house. Carl was confused but let her pick. He figured that if she got something she liked she would be easier to control. The second house had a view of the mountain and no balcony. The third house she looked at had no view at all and the fourth had a view of the port. She could see the ship that was in port and she could see the goings on in the town. There was also a balcony in that house as well.

They looked at the fourth house and there was no balcony or any view at all. She did notice that there was a yard big enough for a chicken coop and a garden and maybe a cow or horse or both. Being used to managing her aunt's house, she was grateful that the houses had room for such things.

Carl had decided to wait by the wagon after he had seen the house. She came back and he asked:

"Well, Eliza, which do you prefer?" She looked at him and said to him:

"I prefer the house with the balcony and the view of the ship and the port!"

"Why?"

"The balcony faces the port; I can watch people coming and going and know that I am not alone here!" Eliza said. Carl wondered but did not say anything except:

"Okay, let's get the wagon unloaded!" Harve had gotten two more of Stemple's employees to help unload and place things in to the house. They were done in all of 15 minutes.

"You don't have much furniture do you?" Harve asked

"No, I am afraid we got married and left right away. She was able to bring her mother's rocker along. I was hoping that I could get an advance and purchase some furniture over in Tacoma or Olympia next week?." Carl asked Harve.

Harve smiled and said that there would be no problem. He and Carl carried in the makeshift bed that had been part of the wagon.

"Mr. and Mrs. Beason, I am so glad you made it. I hope you like your new home. If there is anything you need to help set up house, please let me know. I would like to invite you to dinner at Lottie's this evening. This will give you a chance to meet your new neighbors!" Aaron Stemple said as he stood in the doorway casting a shadow in the hall.

"Thank you Mr. Stemple. What time would dinner be?" Eliza said as she curtsied and he took her hand. Carl looked on saying nothing but worrying about how to keep her in line. He then shook hands with Mr. Stemple.

"The time would be at 6 pm. That should give you enough time to rest before dinner." Aaron said and then left. Carl asked Harve:

"Oh, yes, that was the saloon, It is a restaurant as well?"

"Yes it is. The whole town comes in occasionally and dinner is from 6-8 and then most everyone goes home. You will like Lottie, she is the owner of the saloon, and hotel." Harve said and then took his leave and went back to his job.

Jason, Joshua and Jeremy along with Candy and Biddie were just sitting down at the table. Ken was taking their order and Lottie was serving some drinks to another table. Aaron came in and stood in front of the saloon and said:

"Neighbors I would like you to welcome the newest citizens of Seattle, Mr. and Mrs. Beason!" They stood there as people clapped their hands. Jason and Joshua and Jeremy stood up.

"I am pleased to meet you" Jason said shaking hands with Carl and bowing to Eliza.

"These are my brothers: Joshua and Jeremy, Jeremy's fiancé Miss Pruitt and her friend Biddie Cloom." Jason said. Biddi and Candy curtseyed Jeremy and Joshua nodded. Jeremy nudged Josh who nodded and smiled at them as well keeping his eyes on Eliza. Carl noticed and although he said nothing, he was thinking of ways to keep that young man away from his wife.

Everyone went back to their tables and Candy said:

"I wonder why she looks so sad? We talked to her today, but she didn't sound sad?" Candy said. Josh was about to say something when Jason said:

"She does look sad, but it could be from the long trip, you know they have been on the wagon train for quite a few months!"

"So, Aaron had those houses built for his employees, I suppose he is expecting more employees." Jeremy said as he held Candy's hand.

"Yes, he did, why do you have an idea like that as well for our employees?" Jason asked Jeremy. Josh smiled, yes, sometimes Jason would listen to Jeremy and that was all the opening he needed!

"Well, it would make sense, some of our employees are beginning to settle down here and it might be a good idea to have homes for them?" Jeremy looked at Joshua and nodded in agreement.

"Well, I think It is a good idea, but most of our employees don't stay with us year around! In fact, they travel from camp to camp, why would they stay?" Jason asked.

Candy looked up from her plate and saw something in Joshua's eyes so she said:

"Why not, they are marrying the brides and taking them away from Seattle. If you want Seattle to grow and prosper, you need to keep the brides here in Seattle!"

"Candy is right, Jason!" Joshua said as he took a sip of his beer.

"If we build some houses, make a neighborhood like Aaron, then that will help Seattle to grow!" Joshua finished saying after he took his drink.

Jeremy said:

"We-we brought the brides here, why can't we encourage people to st -st-stay here by providing homes for them?" They all stopped and looked at Jason. Jason then looked at Joshua and thought to himself:

"Joshua is thinking of improving, this time it seems as if he has thought more on it. Better than the last time he went off on his own? Hmmm… I wonder?"

"Joshua, I don't mind the idea but I am not sure can we look into this some more later?" Jason said to Josh and the others.

They all agreed to talk about it later. They finished their meals and Jason and josh went back to their cabin. Jeremy took Candy and Biddie home and then went home to his brother's house.

Chapter 12

Two new workers

Jason stood in his tent, looking at the two boys who showed up at his camp looking for work. He studied them carefully. He read the letter from Mr. Adams. He looked at them again. He wasn't sure about this. After all, he had raised his two brothers but they were his brothers, and he had to keep them together. What was he going to do with Andy and Stan? Christopher was now 12 himself. But he still was not allowed on the mountain to work, Candy would not let him and Jason did not see a need to put that child's life in danger. Here were two more boys, one was only 7 years old! What could he do?

"Jason, it's Swede, may I come in?" Swede knocked on the post outside the tent. When he did not hear anything, he opened the flap and looked in. When he saw the two boys and Jason he smiled and came in anyway.

"Jason, I needed to ask about the dynamite storage?" Jason looked at Swede and then asked:

"Can this wait?" Jason asked Swede. Swede nodded and then Jason asked him:

"Do you and Miss Essie have an extra room?" Swede looked at Jason and asked:

"Why?"

"Swede would you go get your wife for me?" Jason looked at him and Swede was confused and said"
"What do you want her for?"

"I have two new students for her class. The problem is they are orphans! They are looking for work but they are not old enough to work in a lumber camp!" Swede looked at Jason and then at the boys. He was still confused and then said he would go get his wife.

"While we are waiting could you tell me a little more about how you became orphans and if you really are 'brother's? Neither of you look like each other?" Jason questioned. Andy looked at Stan and put his finger to his mouth. Then he said:

"Well, Mr. Bolt sir that is true, Stan, is not by brother by blood, but he is my brother by the fact that we helped each other!" Jason looked at them and waited.

"Well, you see, my sister and I were living with our aunt and uncle, Stan is really my cousin and so something happened and we had to leave!"

"Where is your sister, is she back east?" Jason asked,

"No, she is here in Seattle. Then why can't you go live with her?" Andy looked at Jason and was about to say what happened when Stan said:

"Because my parents killed my brother and they blamed it on him and I ran away from home so now the police think he killed me as well!" Jason was stunned, and did not know what to do. Just then Swede and Miss Essie came in. She had heard what Stan had said and was just as surprised as Jason.

"Jason, you wanted to see me?" Miss Essie said. Jason stood up and said:

"Yes, I was wondering if you could take these two boys in make sure they complete their schooling. But I have just heard some information that I may want you to listen to as well. Andy, go ahead and explain everything to me and Mrs. Gustafson!" Andy looked at her, she had nice eyes and he felt comfortable saying what he had to say.

"Well, Stan is right, so, I am a 'wanted man' but I am innocent. Stan would attest to that. However, the man that my sister is married to has been paid to be sure that neither Stan nor I live. He has to kill us! And we can't let him know we are here!"

Essie, Swede and Jason were shocked and wanted to know why Andy was wanted and who did he supposedly kill.

Stan then spoke up and said:

"I have, or should I say I had two older brothers, Robbie, who was going off to college and George who was almost out of high school. They were getting ready to beat me up when Andy came in and we scrambled to get out of the way. Well, it seems that my father was upset, came out to shoot Andy, but shot George instead. Both of us ran and hid, we did not come home at all. When Eliza got home, the police were looking for Andy blaming him for killing George and since I disappeared, it seemed that he had killed me as well!" Stan laughed at that,

"But, here I am, I am not dead yet!" Stan said smiling. Jason, Swede, and Essie all stood there.

"So why do they want your sister's husband to kill you?"

"They paid him money to marry Eliza and then to kill us!" Andy said.

"So, Eliza is married to someone she does not want to be married to?" Jason asked. Both boys shook their heads yes. Outside the tent, Joshua had just come up to the tent and was listening. Jeremy had been listening as well.

"Josh, I saw that look in your eyes, the first day they showed up. Please stay away from her? You always seem to find a girl who needs help but it never goes well for you!" Jeremy said to his brother. Josh smiled and said:

"I think I know better, Jeremy!" they stayed there to listen some more.

"So, Andy and Stan will need a place to stay? Do you have room Miss Essie and also they will need to go to school as well!" Jason said.

Well, we have room for one child, but not two. But if this Carl is supposed to kill these boys, won't it be dangerous for them to be in town?" Essie asked

Jason looked at the boys and said:

Does Mr. Beason know that you are here in Seattle?"

"I don't think so, we tried to keep clear of him and although Eliza may know." Andy said to Jason. Jason thought about it and then Joshua and Jeremy came in.

"We heard a little of what was being said, I think we can help?" Jeremy said

"How is that Jeremy?" Jason asked.

"Well, separating them, like Stan could stay with Candy and Molly and Christopher. Andy can stay with Swede?" Jeremey suggested. Jason and Swede and Essie looked at each other and said:

"Well, that would solve one problem because we only have room for one, but what if Candy doesn't want to take on an extra child?" Swede asked. They all looked at each other for a little bit, a wagon was coming up to the tent. Lottie was in that wagon with Candy they had come up for a picnic with the Bolts.

"Hello, we brought the picnic, Jeremy…" Candy stopped when she saw two boys in the tent.

"This is Andy Wilson and Stan Pennyworth. They claim to be brothers but are really cousins!" Jason said.

"We are trying to find a home for them, they are orphans and came up from the wagon train. Any ideas?" Candy looked at them and said:

"I really don't know what to say. I suppose they should stay together?"

"Lottie, wouldn't you like to have a young man to help with the upkeep of the saloon and hotel. He still has to go to school but maybe you could give him a job after he is done with his homework?" Joshua was looking at Andy, Andy looked at Miss Lottie and smiled. He got the idea, it would be safe for him and he could finish his schooling, keep an eye on his sister and work.

"Well, I don't know. Perhaps, what about the other boy?"

"That is taken care of Lottie, I Olaf and I will take him in. He can go to school and help at the same time!" Essie said, Swede smiled in agreement.

"See, it is settled, Andy, you will be at Lottie's and Stan, you will be at Miss Essie's. And if you have any problems with your sister's husband, you can let us know and we will help you!" Joshua said to them. Jason looked sideways at Josh and thought he was taking this to personally. He would talk with him later about that.

But it was a good solution for the time being.