Are you going to try to find this person? Thompsons the one who was wrong., Shes afraid that Mr. Stempel will hate her. And if it was true, how much of it had she known? But the Bolt clan was nae much different all those years ago. Jason started, as if he hadnt meant for Aaron to hear. What could it possibly accomplish?, Just pretend I never found out the truth? Jason shook his head violently. How could I know what I would have done? But Jason knew if he didnt announce his arrival soon, he would only stoke Aarons justifiable anger. In the next moment, an internal voice said, "It's about Lottie." To see how ludicrous it was to think Aaron Stempel could be even part Bolt. Exhaustion weighed his limbs and dulled his mind. Johnsons mill in Everett? Whatever direction he was going to take, he had to take the first step today. I tried once and what did it get me? A candle joined the debris. Thompsons watching., His breath hissing between clenched teeth, Aaron gave a sharp nod. Now he stood alone, fighting a battle only he could win. Jeremy had a right to be included in this conversation. And he never would. Did I do right, Uncle? Jason leaned his chin into his palms. Jason halted his march when he saw Jeremys approach. The determined expression made him appear to Aaron suddenly more adult, a man to be reckoned with. Perfect for Jasons present state of mind. Im sure Jonathan did nae tell her after., Duncan covered his face with his hands. I would give my life to keep from causing her shame. Maybe finding out they had a previously unknown half-brother wouldnt hurt so badly if it hadnt been Aaron Stempel. Got me thinking. This time he felt like a child lost in the woods, not knowing east from west. Whens my birthday? No, Joshua wagged his head slowly back and forth. Jason Bolt strode down the main street of Seattle, altering his course only to avoid the largest of mud puddles. Jason pulled out of the kiss to watch her half-closed eyes with amusement. The journal was in his hands again before he knew he intended to pick it up. Too good, sometimes. All that anger can be a very heavy burden. Duncan pulled himself upright. After handing out the full glasses, Josh settled himself in a chair on the other side of Aaron. Briefly he debated whether he should tell her what hed learned this night. Half brother to the Bolts? Opening his mouth to say exactly that, he closed it abruptly. Now for the first time, he felt it viscerally - in his heart and in his soul. It was over, done with, and nothing anyone did now would make a bit of difference. The mountain!? Discovering Aarons secret at this particular time was looking less and less coincidental. I wasnt then and Im not now! Lord. He had nothing personal against injuns in general or Stempel in particular, but any excuse for trouble was enough for him. What he saw raised a lump in his throat. He didnt want to know what the man who denied his fatherhood had to say. Theres a mail-order bride. There are a lot of changes that take place for the Bolt/Stempel family, will they be able to handle them? Were looking into each others eyes. In fact, theyd mostly avoided him. I didnt let you in my house so you could make fun of me. He hadnt noticed how tender they were until now. Would Stempels shadow obscure him completely from view? With a goofy grin, Josh filled three glasses with the well spiked punch and meandered in their direction. To his great surprise, Jason gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment then leaned silently on the wall beside him. Hed thought he could handle the situation by himself, but it seemed to be going from bad to worse. He ducked his head away, uncomfortable with the closeness. That was the only answer of which he was sure. With a wink at Uncle Duncan and a solemn nod to Aaron, Jason continued on his journey. Get that long look off your face. She still held his hand although no medical attention was being dispensed. Thats a fact no one can deny., Aaron grinned sardonically. The uniform and his air of authority practically had the girls swooning at his feet. Jon called her Miri. How do you do Aarons eyes widened as he glanced down at the mans insignia. Hed thought of little else for the previous week. Hes asking questions I wont be able to answer until hes a sight older. Unlike Jason, Aaron never had been much good at lying. All of us blinded ourselves with our adherence to tradition. Please, Spirits of my fathers, help me be worthy of him. In spite of the seriousness of what he felt, Jason had to chuckle himself. The concept of Aaron being a Bolt brother is still a concept too difficult for me to accept. In spite of what most of the town thought, Aaron didnt normally work on Sunday. I do., And your father a man who loved both you and your mother. Duncan ignored Aarons soft grunt. A Here Come The Brides bride dreams shes running lines with an understudy bride. So he made this himself. B ridget is best known for her starring role as Candy Pruitt on the ABC series Here Come The Brides. How dare he be proud of me! I doubt itll influence his decision, but it cant hurt to keep him sweet. However, what Josh sees in the girl seems to be a mystery to his family, especially his sister, Jemma. Jason decided it was time to put him out of his misery. Just close the damned thing, he told himself. He softened his voice at Jeremys wince. Uncle Duncan sat in the front row, reserving space for Jason and Lottie to sit during the ceremony. He was proud of you and he would have shown it if you would have let him.. Joshua is at the apothecarys, trying to attract that new lass attention. You can make it three to one or a tie vote.. Do you believe its true?, Relieved that someone was finally asking his opinion, he sighed. Jason tried to look inconspicuous, but hed never been very good at fading into a crowd. But what about the inside? Only as part of the Bolt brothers had he been able to win. 25 guests I never knew you felt like that., What could you have done? I think Jonathan Gordon Bolt is a strong enough name for both my men. Yes., And some people didnt take what you had to tell them very well, she guessed. Work Search: Jeremy wanted to go back to the time when he understood the world and the people around him. The lecture always ended with a homily on gratitude, obedience, and humility. But youve managed to build a working relationship with him. There was almost a plea in Jasons voice. Why, Uncle? Bound in well-kept deerskin, the book was obviously old and well read. This lightens my heart some, but I still long to be back with the women who have been birthing babies in my tribe for more seasons than I have been alive. I thought they were gonna start throwing punches., Oh my, she breathed. If Thompson decides to give us that logging contract, itll make usor break us.. For an instant he thought to deny the charge of having Indian blood. Aye, she was. The contract will go where it should have gone in the first place. Duncan, you knew? Jason had suspected, but he hadnt been sure. Ive never beennot reallyIve always been alone.. I dont know what Im going to do, Lottie. She spoke of long days in an unfamiliar environment. Oh, posh, just an old lady feeling sorry for herself. He decided to take his chances and hope he wouldnt have to listen to a Jason Bolt soliloquy in payment. Shuffling a few pages further, he started to read. And who was he trying to prove himself to? The description of their rivalry as a game to Jason, is spot on. Nothing they said would make any difference. The bride and groom had sneaked out more than an hour ago. What kind of farce is this?, No game, just a family vote. Jasons gaze pinned him. An HCTB correspondent shared the connection to this story with me. And it was so long ago. No, he remembered Julia showing him a recent picture of her and their mother. Hed done entirely too much reading in the past few nights. And shed died only months before Aaron had confronted their father. But dont push us away because youre afraid well reject you like our father did., A violent shiver ran through Aarons frame. He didnt care what that man thought. Let go, Bolt!, Using his own momentum, Jason spun him against the wall. Aaron wondered why he tried. So hed sought refuge in the one place he knew he still had control. Hunkered against a tree in the far corner of camp, Joshua attacked his ax with the sharpening stone. Who raised him to expect rejection as his due?But how could I have done anything else? But how is it fair to save my family shame at the expense of this boy? But then again, perhaps Jason had been trying to influence him in a subtle way Aaron hadnt comprehended at the time. I understand why Mr. Bolt didnt give you his name, Thompson snickered maliciously. But neither of us has ever hated the other., A game? Thank you, Uncle. So it was all my fault? Josh whirled fiercely on his youngest brother. Joshua, come over and join us. Admiring the smile hed cause, he leaned in to steal a kiss. In fact this party is in honor of my brother Jeremy and his new bride Candy. Chapter 6. Dont think so.. Heavens, why would you want to know about Aarons mother?, He waved his hand vaguely. Her brow furrowed, she rubbed his knuckles absently. And hes never made any effort to be friendly with them. I cant tell you how wonderful that makes me feel., In fact, there are some of us who find it rather she giggled, hiding her mouth beneath her fingertips. But I cannot let fear make me regret this journey. But what about me? Jeremy, Candy, why dont you two sit down for a second and Ill get you something to drink., Candy fanned her face with her hand. Kerry Weaver walked into the ER with a huge smile on her face. Giggling, she pulled him close and confided, So am I. I can hardly wait until were Mr. and Mrs. Bolt., May I escort you to church, soon-to-be Mrs. Bolt?, Candy took his proffered arm. Are we ready, gentlemen?. Now they were only blurred scribbles on the page. Letter? Jason tried to put himself in Miris position. For two days, he fought the battle within himself. You wouldnt?, Oh, no, indeedy, we wouldnt dream of it., Well Aarons attempted smile more closely resembled a snarl. Stop it, Aaron., Jason held Stempel firmly and turned to the three culprits. And what of my son? Feeling the animosity, Aarons eyes narrowed then flashed danger. My scheme never would have worked without Aaron. But a family it would be, Jason would make sure of it. He even seemed to be enjoying their competition as much as Jason. Harve held the struggling Billy against the wall. Jason stopped just inside the open doorway to Aarons house, unrepentantly eavesdropping. Yes. Jason straightened and faced him directly. Of course, Jason had won but not quite as easily as hed assumed he would. The girls seem to be quite impressed with our guest., Aaron arched an eyebrow. Aaron probably wouldnt have liked the analogy but it resonated with Jason. Frantically, Jason searched for the source of the screams. Im prepared to offer the logging portion of the contract to your company, Mr. Bolt. The thought of Biddie and Stempel as a couplehe wouldnt know which one to feel sorry for. Sure you would have, Aaron sneered at the page. Synopsis. And "The Chatelaine" wrote itself. Just try to keep him out of the way when Thompsons here., Slapping his friend on the shoulder, Jason grinned. But I think wed do better by rescuing the colonel. He indicated the guest of honor with a jerk of his head. Accept that someone cares about you?, Be part of a family, Aaron muttered. Everythings falling apart., Reaching over to the sideboard, she took a bottle of whiskey and poured a healthy jolt into his cup. Without drinking he pressed the cool glass against his brow. He started across the floor, urgency speeding his feet. Its not worth it., Wiggling her way between the two adversaries, Lottie touched Aarons cheek. You can afford to pay someone else., Why should I pay someone to do something I can do myself?, Admit it, Aaron, Jason teased. He felt it in his own gut as Aarons eyes widened, face losing color beneath the dark tint of his skin. And I refuse to do it for long. Aaron, Im not gonna fight with you. Ignoring the snort that got him, he laid his fathers journals gently on the table. She doesnt have time for a good man like my friend, George. How could Bolt claim to be proud of something hed had nothing to do with? Only your father or the girl could tell you more., Father isnt here to tell us, Jason reminded. Jon says we will stay here until the next moon. Couldnt let Wainwright renege on a contract - even if it was with a Bolt - or hed get the idea he could do it to me., Sure, Jason rolled his eyes. There wasnt a moment of quiet all night long.. When?, How about the night after our father died when enough seasoned lumber for a casket mysteriously appeared at our cabin. Jason hadnt made the realization at the time. Jeremy shuffled his feet but nothing could have stopped the wide grin from spreading across his face. I dont know anybody who deserves it more., Against violence in general, this time Jeremy couldnt help but agree. "Hi Mark is Elizabeth around" Mark smiled "You seem awfully happy things must be going . But Jomyour father didnt have any family in America when he married my mother. Tilting his head, Aaron acknowledged Thompson with a nod that more closely resembled a challenge to a duel than a greeting. So you say. He could see Joshua relished the idea of delivering the final blow. Miss Cloom., I just have to tell you how badly we all feel about what happened to you the other day. She clung to Aarons sleeve. His father had never even looked at a woman other than his mother. Why should the girl write well in English? I never would have guessed, but its Aaron you were talking about, isnt it?, Yes, Jason whispered. That games over. He shot Jason a slightly out of focus glare. Hed have to do the rescuing himself. Offering his hand, he helped Lottie to her feet. He had only known Stempel as an adult, though he realized for the first time that Stempel must have been younger than Josh was now when they first met. I've started posting a new story called Choices. Everything bad in his life could be traced back to a Bolt. I really enjoyed. Thoughts of her and the child have torn at me since I set foot on this land again. This is just soincredible. Stempel seemed as dead set against it as Joshua. I was delivered into the hands of a woman who hated me before I was old enough to fight back., My family has committed a grave injustice against you, Mr. Stempel.. Both of them already darkening with bruises, his left was more swollen with a couple gashes over the knuckles. He stands outside announcing to every person who walks by that he has a new son. He and his mother so easily replaced. Joshua hated bigotry of any kind, but he had to admit hed used the words himself. We will not tolerate that kind of prejudice here., Prejudice? Thompson sputtered. Whimsically he wondered which half of him was Indian and which half Bolt. Some glances held more than curiosity. They are lying together on our bed at this moment. So this journal will have to serve as my confessor. Oh, so that is what is bothering you, lad., Duncans broad shoulders slumped and his head lowered. I didnt need more Bolts; I needed someone Balter would listen to., And you were willing to put Bass life in Stempels hands?, Jason stared straight into Joshs eyes, no doubt at all in his expression. That is, if I give him a few minutes to calm down before I go over there., Thank you, Lottie, Jason leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. He knew himself to be no great shakes as a cook nor did he enjoy cooking. I should have known better than to ever think hed give a fair deal to a Bolt.. How can you sit down to a game of dominos with a man who just a few weeks earlier hired thugs to beat us up?, Dont you forget a man like him risked his life to try to save yours!, Thats right, throw that in my face again. Possibly a night of drinking the spiked punch would open his mouth a bit. Lottie made a lot of sense. All the venom the colonel had been about to launch at Jason and Lottie drew back; a much more satisfying target had just entered the arena. Im so confused, Joshs voice was muffled by his arms. A commotion at the door interrupted his passage. But, Lord, it was killing him. Even if it caused the loss of the contract for Seattle, some people just deserved a fat lip. With savage satisfaction, the logger stepped back to watch it fall. What will happen to him? Neither fast nor flashy as a fighter, Aaron knew his strengths. I understood he had been born on the voyage to Scotland. The planks creaked as Duncan shifted. What is up with you today, Jason? Joshua slapped his shoulder good-naturedly, though concern showed. Now just let me alone.. Aaron may have been determined to corner the new bride and groom but once he was in front of them he faltered. Was it really? Duncan mused. You had her journal, did you nae?, She didnt put any dates in it, Aaron admitted in a hoarse whisper. Jason built it, Stempel sneered. He was a good man. He needed no one else. As the uproar created by General Ashlands announcement died down, Jason scanned the crowd for Aaron. My mother never let it out of her sight untilshe died., Our father made this? Jeremy whispered, a catch in his voice. Right here. Josh held out the object in question then carefully tucked it back into his inside jacket pocket. What the hell you talkin about? Aaron jerked around, irritated by himself and Bolt. Beautiful wedding, nice party, wonderful gifts., Flushing, Aaron stared at the hands crossed over the back of the chair. If you go over to Aarons house demanding he start acting like your brother, the only thing youll get is a fancy shoe print on your derriere. Of all the things hed never thought hed feel, sympathy for Aaron Stempel was high on the list. Would he never be free of that man? Its a nice morning. Jeremy appeared beside him. This bigot wasnt going to make him do it now. You tried to steal everything wed worked to build., I never stole anything in my life, boy., Well, what do you call it then, if you dont call it stealing?, Winning! It took a moment to realize Stempel wasnt talking about Joshs life but his own. They had heard some of this before. She saw Mark by the admit desk. They both tempted and repelled Aaron. WellIm sureJason, I think its about time you go collect the bride., Im on my way, Reverend. He gave Jeremy a quick one-armed embrace. But his own stubborn pride made him snap, Is that why you treated us like garbage to be disposed of as quickly as possible?, Duncan tensed. I know what we should do. He said "Jeremy, you usually don't have this hard a liquor this early in the day. Aaron felt a surge of resentment at the mans apparent ease. Yet you call yourself Stempel. Thompsons features twisted into a contemptuous sneer. You can never have too much of it., He ran his fingertip round and round the lip of his mug. But now great chunks of wood flew with each of his swings. I had no idea Stempel helped us out after Fathers death. Single friends are reminded of just how alone and lonely they are, married brides who had the best wedding ever are reminded of just how bitchy they were at the time, married brides that didn't have the best wedding ever figure out ways to insinuate themselves in the planning so they can rectify their mistakes, and the father of the bride is . Both Bolts recoiled. Aaron resisted the urge to squirm under that bright, sincere gaze. Its age was apparent, the edges worn smooth by handling. Touched Aarons cheek for the first time, he leaned in to steal a kiss apparent, the book obviously! Different all those years ago tell you more., father isnt Here tell. Concept of Aaron being a Bolt brother is still a concept too difficult me. Bothering you, lad., Duncans broad shoulders slumped and his head, Aaron grinned.. 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