Holly's request
Chapter 1
A Discussion
Jason had just finished eating a good hearty meal that Holly had cooked for him and his brothers. The snowstorm had finally passed and everyone was getting back to normal. Jermy and Joshua had come over to see how things were going. Jason had the cabin himself, Holly stayed in the dormitory, which had been turned into a hotel. She came every morning to help with Jason's recovery. Jason finished his coffee and got up from the table and thanked Holly for the breakfast. He walked outside to visit with his brothers, while Holly cleaned up.
"Well, you are beginning to look like your old self again!" Josh said as he took the cup that Jason offered.
"Yes, I am feeling a lot better, the dreams are fading although I think Jeremy, that you should check on Christopher a few more times. His memories are not fading as fast as mine." Jason said as he sat on the chair on the porch.
"Candy has that taken care of. She makes him tell her what he has been dreaming about and then they talk a bit about it. Did you tell him he was in Scotland?" Jeremy asked Jason, who nodded yes and then he said:
"I believed we were in Scotland!" Joshua looked at his brother and said:
"I think it is kind of crazy that you and Christopher were in the same….what is it called, it is not a dream or a nightmare…?" Joshua said trying to find the right word for it. Holly stepped out on the porch and said:
"I think it is something to do with your Scottish heritage and folklore? But I am not sure what the words are for it!" They all agreed it did have something to do with that but then neither of them commented on it.
"Jason, Joshua, Jeremy, I have a request." Jason looked at his brothers, and the brothers looked at Jason.
"Holly, what do you need?" Jason asked.
"I need your name." She said and continued before they had a chance to ask questions:
"You see, there is this mine that is in Nevada and I staked a claim, but they told me that a woman had to have a husband to keep the mine. I was wondering if you would marry me, only for that reason, we can get a divorce a month after I have gotten the claim working. I could pay you for it!" she said. Jeremy and Josh looked at Jason. He was the only one who was not married yet. Jason looked at Holly and said:
"Is this going to be like the time you were passing counterfeit money?" Jason asked concerned about getting into something that was illegal.
"Oh, no Jason, this is legit. We can go look at the mine if you don't believe me!" Jason looked at her thoughtfully. Then he looked at his brothers.
"Well, we could keep things going here while you went to check this out?" Joshua said. Aaron Stemple came up the walkway at that moment!
"Hello, Jason!" Aaron said.
"Hello, Aaron, what do you want?" Aaron looked taken aback when Jason asked what he wanted.
"Can't a business colleague just say hello without a reason?" Aaron said to Jason.
"Yes, Aaron that can happen, but it seems that sometimes you have reason's for coming by." Jason said.
"Jason, I need to go, Eliza needs a few things from the store." Joshua said.
"Candy needs me to pick up the feed for the horses, Brownie and Bessie. I have to leave as well!" Jeremy said to Jason, they both said goodbye to Holly and Aaron and left.
Jason looked at Aaron, and Aaron looked at Jason and they both looked at Holly who said:
"Well, it is nice to see you today Aaron, would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Yes, thank you Holly!" He said and when she went into the cabin, he said to Jason:
"There are a few rumors about you and Miss Hutson!"
"Have Maude and Lucy been spreading these rumors?" Jason asked Aaron.
"Well, not so much them, but some talk in the saloon this last few days, between my men and your men as to why Miss Huston is coming around since you have pretty much healed from your ordeal…" He left off the end of the sentence. Jason noticed that Aaron was 'fishing' he wanted to know something but Jason wasn't sure and did not want to say anything that could be misconstrued.
'Well, I do admit that she has been cooking and cleaning for me!" Aaron looked at Jason and said:
"You know that being a prominent business man in this town, it is beginning to look as if you two are 'setting up house'?" Aaron asked. Holly came out at that moment with coffee for them and said:
"Aaron, what are you trying to say? Are you saying that Jason and I are doing something? Is that what you are saying or hearing?" Holly said to him.
"Miss Huston, your reputation is well documented and that something is going to have to be done about your 'visits' with Mr. Bolt!" Jason spit his coffee out and said:
"Are you making an accusation?" Jason shouted at Aaron, Holly said:
"Mr. Stemple, I do believe that you do not have the right to say that to me!" She stood there upset and ready to punch Aaron in the mouth. Jason stood up and said:
"Holly, go in to the cabin!" She went into the cabin and he punched Aaron in the face. Aaron came up and punched him as well. The two of them went at it for about 15 minutes. Holly went to get Lottie; she knew that Lottie could stop those two.
"Aaron! Jason! Stop this instant!" Lottie shouted. Both men stopped and moved away from each other.
"What are you fighting about?" Lottie looked from one to the other. Jason spoke first:
"I was defending Miss Huston's honor!"
"I was just telling him what people are saying in the saloon and in town!" Aaron said
Lottie looked at the both of them then she looked at Holly.
"Holly, is there something going on between you and Jason that we should know about!" Holly looked at Lottie and then at the men and she said:
"Lottie, there has been nothing going on between us, I swear to that. I was just asking for help from Jason. I want to buy a mine in Nevada but I was told I had to be married; I asked Jason if he would consider the possibility only until I had the mining operation started.
"Miss Huston, why do you think you want a mine? Where is this mine?" Aaron asked Holly.
"Oh, it is in Nevada!" she said. Lottie rolled her eyes and said to Holly:
"Holly, come with me, I need to talk to you. Aaron, will you check this mine thing out over the telegraph. I don't want Holly to get into any more trouble than she has gotten into already!" She took Holly's arm and walked her over to the saloon to have a talk with her.
Aaron, looking like he had been in a fight, his eye was starting to turn purple, and Jason whose nose was a bit bloody remained standing at the entrance to his cabin looked at Aaron.
"I will make some enquiries. Find out what the name of the mine is and where it is!" Aaron said to Jason who nodded to Aaron and went inside to clean up.
Chapter 2
What is mine is mine!
Clancy had just docked in the port and was walking to Lotties' when he saw her with Holly. He shouted hello, but neither of them answered. He decided to head to the saloon, anyway, knowing that he would soon find out. He walked into the saloon and went immediately to the bar. Lottie and Holly were sitting at a table having some tea.
"Well, Holly, it is good to see you'se!" Clancy said to her. She smiled and said:
"It is good to see you as well, Clancy." She smiled and then turned to Lottie and said:
"I was hoping that I could buy the mine and get it working so that I could save some money for myself."
"Holly that is fine and good, however, borrowing a man's name for something like that might seem to some people as stealing or cheating!" Lottie said as she glanced at Clancy and asked him:
"Did you want something Clancy?"
"Why yes I do, I would like my bottle of whiskey if you don't mind?" Lottie got up and opened the bottle.
"So, Miss Huston, you say that you want to buy a mine, but why for do you need a Bolt?"
"Well, I don't necessarily need a Bolt, but I do need a husband, would you be interested?" she asked Clancy who was about to answer when Lottie said:
"Don't you answer her! You don't need to get involved in this!" Clancy looked at Lottie and decided to stay at the bar. Aaron and Jason came in and Aaron got his drink and Jason got a beer. They sat at the table with Holly and Jason said:
"Holly, I know that your heart is in the right place and I know that you don't want to do anything wrong, however, we need more information about this mine, who is offering it to you and you have been here a whole month now why didn't you say something earlier?" Jason asked these questions. Holly sat there for a moment, placed her tea cup down gently and said:
"Well, Jason, I came out here, because I heard you were hurt! So, I thought if I helped you get better, then you would be more likely to help me!" Jason looked at her and shook his head.
"It didn't occur to you to ask?"
"Well, how could I ask when you were practically frozen to death, it wasn't for me and your brothers, you would be dead by now, then where would I be!" she said. Jason rolled his eyes and was about to say something else when Aaron asked:
"What is the name of this mine and who is selling it to you?"
"Well, the name is called the Comstock and Mr. Benson and his associates are selling shares in this mine. But they said I needed to have 600 dollars and a husband in order to own this mine and work it!" When Jason and Aaron both heard this they looked at each other.
"Aaron, have you heard of this Comstock mine? "
"Yes, I have some Ranchers have bought it and own it. But I had not heard anyone selling stock in the mine?"
"Aaron, Mr. Benson said he owned the mine and that he was selling it to me! There was no talk about what was that you called it?" She asked
"Stocks!"
"Stocks, he said I would own the mine, well, me and my husband! That is when I got me a husband!" Jason gave Aaron a look and then he looked at Holly and said:
"Don't you think that you should have had a husband first?"
"Oh, I thought about that, tried to rope one in with me, but he ran off with another lady!" she said. Jason just shook his head and said:
"Holly, getting a husband is more than just 'roping' him in!" Aaron was chuckling at him and said:
"Jason, I think she would 'rope' you if she could!" he continued chuckling. Ben came in with some information for Aaron. Aaron read the telegram and said:
"Miss Huston, did you say a Mr. Benson?" Holly nodded yes
"Well, this telegraph says he has been arrested in Virginia City and will be in Jail for selling fake stock!" She looked at Aaron and then looked at Jason and said:
"I guess I got myself into a little pickle?" Jason shook his head and said:
"At least I wasn't involved!" He looked up at Holly and she did not move she said:
"Well, you are slightly involved?"
"What do you mean 'slightly'?" Jason asked almost to quietly. Holly was not sure she wanted to tell him but she had to.
"You see, I told them I was already married, I signed the papers, Mrs. Jason Bolt!" She visibly shrunk in her seat waiting for an explosion. Jason sat very still. Aaron looked at him, but did not say a word. Jason got up from the table and left the saloon. He went straight up to the mountain, found out where they were cutting that day, he went and got his tools and climbed to the top of the tree that had been picked to be cut down and started working on the top of the tree. He did not come down the rest of the day.
Chapter 3
Two Days Later
The stagecoach arrived on time for a change. The passengers disembarked and went into the hotel. Biddie was working as the attendant at the hotel and gave the register to the passengers. They would be there overnight.
"Miss, can you tell me where I can find a Mr. and Mrs. J Bolt?"
"Well, there are two Mr. and Mrs. and one Mr. J bolt, which on do you want to see?" Biddie asked.
"Well, on my paperwork I have a signature from a Mrs. J Bolt."
"There are two, Mrs. Joshua or Mrs. Jeremy Bolt?" The man looked at the paper and said, it was signed by a Mrs. J Bolt." Biddie wasn't sure what to do and said:
I will be right back." She went to the back and found Lottie and asked what she should do. Lottie came out front and asked the man who he was.
"My name is John Harwood, Pinkerton Agent number 592!" He took his wallet out and showed her the badge.
"Biddie, continue with the other customers, I will be back in a little while. Mr. Harwood, I will take you to Mr. J Bolt. Please follow me." Lottie walked out of the front of the hotel, she took him to the saloon, Aaron and Jason were sitting down at the table. Holly was with them.
"Aaron, Jason, Miss Huston. this is Mr. Harwood; he is a Pinkerton Detective!"
"Mr. Harwood, this is Mr. Stemple, Mr. J Bolt and Miss Huston." The men stood up and shook hands, Aaron offered to get him a drink and Lottie brought it over.
"Mr. Bolt are you married to Miss Huston?" Asked Mr. Harwood. Jason looked over to Holly. She said nothing, she wasn't sure what Jason was going to say. Jason looked at Aaron and then he was about to speak, when Jeremy came running in along with Candy and Eliza.
"Jason! Joshua is hurt he is at the clinic!"
"Excuse me Mr. Harwood, I need to see to my brother, I will answer your questions later!" He left with Jeremy. Candy and Eliza went and took Holly away from the table leaving Aaron Stemple at the table with the Pinkerton Detective.
"I am sorry, but it seems a family emergency takes precedence over this discussion. Can I show you around town. Mr. Bolt will return as soon as he knows his brother is okay.
"Well, this is highly irregular, but I can wait." Mr. Harwood looked around and then he asked:
"Is there a hotel I can stay at? It looks like I am going to be here for a couple of days!" Lottie took him across the street. Biddie was just checking someone else in at the same time. Mr. Harwood took a look at the person signing in. He knew the man. The one that probably conned Miss Huston into signing to buy a mine. He could not do anything about it at the moment, but he did ask about accommodations for criminals. Lottie told him since they did not have a police or sheriff usually they would jail the person until the sheriff from Tacoma or Olympia came to take custody.
"Hello, are you checking in? Do you have a reservation?" Biddie asked.
"No, ma'am I do not I was not expecting to stay I need a room for three days please.
"We have room 12 on the second floor. The bathing facilities are at the end of the hallway. Fresh sheets are in the room and extra towels are 5 cents. The room is $2.00 a day and it will be…" Biddie looked at the dates and said:
"That will be $6.25. the 25 is for the towels! Please sign here and pay in advance!" She turned the register around so he could sign the register. Then she gave him the room key.
"Oh, and meals are across the street and checkout time is 11:00 am." He took the key, thanked Lottie and Biddie and Aaron and went to the room.