Chapter Three

      "After I gave them the news, Lucy took hold of my arms and polkaed me around the parlor." Kate laughed as she retold her experience with the Dale's over dinner. "Arnold just smiled and went back to reading the paper. When Lucy left the room, he looked up at me over the front page and said, 'Mighty thankful to you, Missy, fer word of our Myrtle and fer this paper of yours. Only news I ever used to get came from Lucy 'n her group. Nice to have a chance to see what's really going on 'round here.'"

      Everyone enjoyed Kate's very accurate imitation of Arnold Dale.

      "I bet that's the most anyone has ever heard Arnie say at one time," Jeremy grinned.

      "Lucy does tend to do most of the talking," Aaron agreed as he passed the turkey platter to Clancey.

      "That's true, bucko. As for meself, I've yet to hear a word from the man."

      "Just you wait," Lottie smiled. "Things will be different in the Dale cabin now that Arnold is able to get the facts for himself."

      "Ah, the power of the press!" Jason commented giving Kate an approving wink.

      Jeremy watched Kate and Candy give each other a congratulatory nod.

      "You women! You run the saloon, the dormitory, the newspaper...what's next?" he asked.

      "Votes for women!" Candy cheered.

      "And maybe even a woman governor," Lottie declared with a twinkle in her eye. The men grew silent, not certain if they were serious. Kate challenged them.

      "Come on now, gentlemen, be honest. If Candy and Jeremy had a daughter who was not only willing but qualified to run for political office, wouldn't you vote for her?"

      After a long pause Jeremy saved the day.

      "If she were as smart and pretty as her mother, then I guess we'd have no choice."

      The ladies cheered his answer and the men raised their glasses to him in admiration.

      A while later when the dishes were cleared, washed and dried everyone sat close to the fire to exchange Christmas presents. Jason chose that moment to make a little announcement.

      "Before we begin. I thought it might be nice to share the plans we have for the New Year. Aaron, why don't you start?"

      "All right, we'll be expanding the mill in the spring. Our operation is already too small to handle the orders we've been getting since the quake. On a personal note, I plan to visit my sister, Julie, in San Francisco this summer. It seems she's met a fellow who will become my brother-in-law come July."

      "That's wonderful!"

      "What do you know?"

      "I must write to her."

      "Give her our best, Aaron."

      The excited comments flew round the small room. When things were quiet Jason continued.

      "What about you, Clancey?"

      "I'm waitin' to see which way the wind blows, bucko. I might point me prow up Alaska ways or maybe south to Santa Barbara. I've heard there's some wild times to be had down there." Clancey gave a contented sigh. "Commandin' me crew and runnin' a tight ship has always been my goal and will be for many a year, the Good Lord willin'."

      "Lottie, what are your plans?"

      "I'd like to see the rest of our brides married before next Christmas."

      Jason smiled. "Now, how is that something you can accomplish?"

      "I've done pretty well so far, haven't I?" she boasted.

      "That's true, dearie. There's only a handful of dem brides left," Clancey nodded. "But it seems to me you haven't done so well for them Bolt brothers."

      The young people shifted nervously for a moment until Lottie turned the tables on him.

      "It's not them I'm worried about, Fishface. It's you I'd like to see settled."

      Her comment shocked him into silence just as she had intended. The captain disappeared behind a bowl of plum pudding that Candy handed to him.

      Lottie wasn't through. "I'd also like to deliver Candy and Jeremy's first baby."

      Applause followed her remark causing the couple to blush.

      "Hear that young Bolt?" Clancey asked. "You only have twelve months. Better not dilly-dally."

      Lottie smacked him on the arm as he gave an evil chuckle.

      "How about you, Candy?" Jason continued.

      "First, we're going to have the most wonderful wedding Seattle has ever seen and then I'll finally be able to set up a home for my little family."

      "If we're married in late March," Jeremy pondered, "we just might be able to have that baby by next year." He winked at his girl and whispered into her ear as she sat beside him. "We've got our work cut out for us, don't we?"

      "What about you, Jason?" Aaron asked.

      "I'd like to see us double production at the logging camp, hire more men and take on more work. With railroads and towns springing up like wildflowers, I'm sure we can do it. And I believe this is the year that Seattle will actually be able to build that library, Candy."

      The redhead just about went into hysterics. She and the brides had asked for the building and been denied so often that she'd almost given up hope. The books for the library had been bought the year before with Holly Houston's bounty money. They were being stored in crates up in the schoolhouse attic.

      Jason turned to Kate who was sitting on the floor before the fire poking at the logs to keep the flames alive.

      "Well, Cricket-on-the-Hearth," he nudged her with the toe of his boot, "what's your goal this year?"

      Lottie and Candy held their breath. Would she and Joshua take advantage of the moment to make an announcement?

      "The paper's circulation has tripled since the quake and I've been thinking about a plan to increase our numbers again in the next few months." Kate glanced over at Joshua who had been unusually quiet all evening. "Apart from that, who can tell?"

      Candy repressed a joyful noise. Maybe Joshua would make the announcement she'd been longing to hear. Jason must have been thinking the same thing for he focused his attention to his quiet brother next.

      "Your turn, Joshua."

      "Like you said, Jason, we'll continue working to make our operation a success." He stood up and went toward the door. "I'm going to check on the horses before it gets too late."

      "Now?" Jason asked. "We're going to hand out gifts."

      "Go ahead and start without me. I won't be long."

      With that, he left the warm cabin and headed for the barn.

      Kate was confused and looked to Lottie for advice. The woman tilted her head toward the door. Kate picked up the package she had wrapped for Joshua and when the room was filled with happy chaos, she slipped out after him.