The Bolt Brothers took turns holding the newest family member. Jeremy was so relieved that it was all over and that both Candy and the baby were well. Suddenly, Biddie rushed out of the bedroom and down the hall to the linen closet, removing several sheets and blankets. She then turned and raced past the men and opened the bedroom door again.
"Biddie! What's happened? Is Candy all right?"
"I can't talk Jeremy, Karen is waiting for these!" She said excitedly as she slammed the door in his face.
ëBIDDIE!!!" Jeremy called through the door. He turned to face his brothers, and shrugged his shoulders. "Jason, why won't they tell me what's going on?"
"I'm sure everything is fine, Jeremy, Karen will take good care of Candy."
Back in town, Hank Miller watched the dawn come up through the bars of his cell window. He had just awaked from several hours sleep. His head was hurting badly again, all he could think of was pain and revenge. The revenge was all he could focus on amid the agony within his head. He would get Jason Bolt. Someday, somehow, someway, he would get that money, and get the Bolts for making him lose it again.
"Who would have thought?" Lottie said as she looked down in the cradle.
"I know I never would have! Just imagine!" Biddie exclaimed.
"Candy is tired, so I think we better let her see Jeremy for a minute. They need a few minutes to get used to being a family."
"But Lottie, I want to ask..."
"Biddie, no buts, she's had a long night, let's go. We can talk to her later. Now, let's inform the rest of the family what's happened, " Karen said as she steered Biddie and the other ladies to the door.
"Karen, what's going on? What's happened to Candy?" Jeremy asked as the door finally opened.
"Jeremy, Candy is resting. Everything is just fine."
"Then what was all the commotion about?"
"You'll never believe it, you'll just never believe it! It's..." Biddie jumped in before Karen could answer.
Actually, Candy has..." Karen started.
"She was wonderful! Just wonderful! I would never have been able to that in a million years! No, sir, nothing at all like that in a million years!"
"Biddie! Let Karen tell him!" Lottie said.
"Tell me what! Somebody tell me!"
Biddie started to say something, but Lottie quickly shot her a look to silence her. Biddie pursed her lips tightly together.
"Jeremy, come with me, and bring the baby, we need to lay him down," Karen said as she gently nudged him through the bedroom door.
"Yes, Jeremy, go with Karen!" Biddie giggled as she followed close behind them. Jason, Joshua and Zachary just stared at one another wondering what all the mystery was about, then followed the others to see.
"Jeremy, why don't you lay the baby in the cradle, then you can see Candy," Karen whispered. Jeremy walked to the cradle and started to lay the baby in it when he stopped and turned back to Karen.
"Uh, Karen, there's already a baby in here?"
"I know, that's your daughter. Why don't you put her brother in beside her."
"Daughter? Twins? We have twins?"
"Yes indeedy! Isn't it wonderful!" Biddie burst in. "They're so cute!"
"I can't believe it! Jason! Twins!"
"Congratulations, Jeremy." The men gathered around Jeremy.
"I had a part in this too!" Came a quiet voice from the bed.
"You sure did, honey." Jeremy said as he went to his wife.
In town, Roland Clancey sat inside the jail muttering to himself. This was not how he had pictured his Thanksgiving morning. He was supposed to be having breakfast with Lottie and Aaron right at this very minute. But, oh no, he was stuck here guarding this troublemaker. The prisoner was lying on his cot, staring at the ceiling. Clancey was trying to figure out a way to get something to drink. His flask was bone dry, and Lottie's was closed. He couldn't leave this blasted prisoner! What a dilemma! The door opened, and Jason Bolt walked into the jail.
"Clancey, my friend! How are you this fine morning?"
"Fine morning? Jason, m'boy, have you gone daft? It's freezing outside and it looks as if it will pour down any minute now!"
"Now, Clancey, it all in the way you look at it. I myself think it's a fine day. I have a brand new niece and nephew. Jeremy and Candy had twins this morning."
"Twins! Ah, now ain't that grand! How are the little darlins'?"
"They are well. I came to take over for a while. They're still having dinner at Candy and Jeremy's I thought you might like to get ready to go."
"Ah, m'buckoo! I would indeed. Indeed I would now." Clancey said as he hurried toward the door. "Will you be joining us, lad?"
"I'll be along. One of Aaron's men's coming to guard Miller."
"Then, I'll be seeing you soon. Bye Jason."
Jason settled back in the chair, and opened the book he had brought to read. He was unaware that the prisoner was listening to everything that had been said. He would bide his time. He had nowhere to go at the moment, but soon, very soon.
Candy awakened after several hours sleep, the soundest sleep she'd had in weeks. Jeremy was dozing quietly in the chair beside her. Karen was wrapping one of the babies in a blanket across the room.
"Karen, how are they doing?"
"Candy, they are fine, the question is, how are you doing?"
"I'm feeling much better now. Which one do you have?"
"This is your daughter," Karen said as she handed the sleeping baby to her mother. "I'll leave so you two can get aquatinted."
Candy looked at the sweet face peeking from the blanket. She kissed the baby on the forehead, and gently unwrapped the blanket to inspect all the little fingers and toes. The baby stretched, yawned, and peered at her mother through sleepy eyes.
"Well, hello little one." Candy whispered softly. "We need to get you a name, and one for your brother too."
"I think Matthew would be good for her brother," Jeremy said as he leaned toward the bed, kissing Candy on the cheek.
"I like that... Matthew Bolt. It sounds nice. But what about this young lady?"
"Do you like Sarah?"
"Sarah Bolt... Sarah BOLT, yes, I like that too, Jeremy." Then she looked down at her daughter, "Well, it looks like your name is Sarah, I hope you like it."
Jeremy went over to the cradle and brought Matthew back to the bed and sat down, he looked at Candy.
"It looks like we're going to be pretty busy for a while, Mrs. Bolt."
"I quite agree, Mr. Bolt. I quite agree."
Jason was lost in the plot of his book when the jail door opened and a tall man walked in.
"Hello, Art. I appreciate you coming."
"Glad to do it Jason. I hear you have some new family members."
"Yes I do. Candy had twins this morning, a boy and a girl. I'm anxious to get back and see them."
"Well, congratulations, and the say the same to Jeremy for me."
"Thank you I will. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the house. Aaron's going to bring you both some food later."
"Sounds good, I'll see you soon." Art said. Jason left, nodding. As the door shut behind him, Art Smith muttered, "Sooner than you might think..."
Hank went to the bars of the cell, and said, " What took you so long, little brother? We've got work to do."
Lottie and Biddie finished setting the table for dinner. Jeremy made a place on the settee for Candy to lay, and then brought the cradle with the babies into the living room. They had been changed and fed and were both sleeping peacefully.
"Jason's here, Jeremy, you should bring Candy out now, we'll be eating soon."
"All right, Lottie, I'll get her," he said as he started up the stairs.
Biddie put the utensils on the table and said to Lottie, " Did you see the size of those turkeys Jason cooked! They must weigh 25 pounds each!"
"I know, we have enough food to feed an army!"
Joshua, Jason and Zachary were in the kitchen carving the turkeys while Clancey and Aaron poured tea and cider into cups.
"Jason, guess who I got a letter from the other day?"
"Who, Aaron?"
"Big Swede and Essie."
"Really? How are they doing in Tacoma?"
"Swede is a federal marshal now and Essie is teaching at the school. They said they might be coming through Seattle soon. They're traveling to Minnesota to see Swede's family for the holidays."
"Well, it would be good to see them again. I miss them being here. No one could swing an ax like Big Swede!" Joshua said.
"Except maybe, Ox, of course."
"That's true, Jason."
"Aaron are they taking the stage?"
"No, Jason, they're traveling by carriage. They hope to be in Minnesota by Christmas."
"Oh, then they have plenty of time."
"Have you gentlemen finished in here? We have a new mother in here starving!" Karen asked as she came through the doorway.
"Yes, Dr. Harris, we were about to bring everything in."
"Need some help Mr. Bolt?"
"I would certainly appreciate it."
Karen took one of the platters filled with turkey into the dining area and placed it on the table.
"Time for dinner!" she called.
"What took you so long? I could eat a horse!" Candy exclaimed.
"Well, you did have quite a busy night!" Jason laughed.
"To say the least!" Karen chuckled.
Everyone gathered close together, near the settee.
"Jason, will you please say grace?" Lottie asked.
"I'd be happy to, Miss Lottie."
Art Miller searched for the cell door key.
"Hank, it's just not here," he said to his brother.
"Keep looking! It has to be here somewhere! I want to get out of here. My head is hurting again."
Art found an old coat lying on the chair. He looked in all the pockets for the key. In the inside pocket, he struck pay dirt. "I found it!" He exclaimed as he ran to unlock the cell.
"Let's go! They'll be back soon."
The men ran first to the dormitory and broke into Karen's medicine cabinet. Hank took all the morphine he could find.
"Now, let's go get that money!"
Lottie and Biddie changed the babies diapers while Candy took a well deserved nap. The men were out back exchanging stories of the night before. Karen and Mary were putting away the last of the dishes. Molly and Christopher played with Rupert in the shed. A knock at the front door startled Lottie.
"I wonder who that could be?" She asked Biddie.
"I haven't got a clue, but I'll sure find out," Biddie answered as she went to the door.
Standing on the porch were Miss Essie and her husband, Swede.
"Essie! Swede! Come in! Come in! We didn't think we'd see you this soon!"
"Hi, Biddie!" Essie said as she hugged her.
Lottie came rushing over to give them both hugs, and Swede headed out back to join the men.
"Are you hungry? Mary asked. "We've got plenty of food!"
"Thank you, maybe in a minute. Where's Candy?"
"In the bedroom, resting. She should be up soon." Mary told her.
"Oh, that's right, you don't know... she had twins this morning!" Biddie exclaimed.
"Twins! Oh, my! Did everything go all right for her?"
"Yes, they're all fine. Have you met Karen Harris? She's the doctor here in town. She runs the nursing school at the old dormitory."
"Hi, I'm Essie Gustafson. We used to live here in Seattle."
"I've heard a lot about you. Biddie is married to my brother Zachary."
"Yes, I heard about that! I'm so happy for you, Biddie!"
"Thank you! We're rich you know..."
"Yes, I heard about that too..." Essie laughed. "Biddie you haven't changed one little bit!"
ëWell..."
"Essie!" Candy's voice called from the top of the stairs. "Is that you? Come up and meet my Thanksgiving presents!"
Art finished filling the hole under the totem pole. His brother sat nearby on the dormitory porch. The morphine had no effect on the pain building inside his head. He could barely open his eyes, it hurt so much.
"Hank, let's go! It's all covered up again. I've got the money."
"Art, you'll have to help me. I can't walk," Hank said as he tried to stand, then fell back on the porch.
Art brought two horse to the porch and helped his brother onto one of them.
"Which way is the cabin?"
"Take the trail around the lake, it's on the west side."
Aaron, Clancey and Lottie got out of the wagon in front of the jail. Lottie passed a basket filled with food to Clancey.
"I'll put the wagon away and meet you back here, Clancey. Lottie, I'll see you later."
Lottie walked to the saloon and started to go in the door when she heard Clancey yelling.
"He's gone! The jail is empty!"
The Bolt Brothers stood at the bar in Lottie's. The room was crowded with loggers and mill workers.
"Now, we'll split up into six groups, each searching a different section of the mountain."
He divided the men, and assigned them to their groups. He pointed to the first group and said, "You men go with Jeremy, and this group goes with Joshua."
"Aaron and I will take his men and check near the lake," Swede added.
"Fire three shots into the air if you find them, but only if you have only taken them into custody."
"Jason, have you see Christopher?" Karen asked as she hurried into the saloon.
"Not since we left the cabin."
"He hasn't been seen since then... Candy's worried."
"Well, men, add Master Pruitt to the list of the missing. If you see him on your travels, please send him home. Now, let's go!"
At the isolated cabin, Hank Miller lay moaning on the bed. The noises he made frightened Christopher who was bound and gagged in a chair nearby. Art Miller was busy stuffing the stolen money into a saddlebag.
"Hank, what are we going to do with the kid?"
"Leave him here. By the time they find him, we'll be halfway to Colorado," he groaned, then added; "Help me up! We need to get moving."
Art dragged his brother to the porch, and propped him up on the railing.
"Wait here, I'll get the horses."
The saddlebags were still on the table near young captive. Christopher struggled to get his hands free, the binds were not tied very well. He turned toward the porch as a loud thud came from that direction. Hank Miller lay on the porch face down. He heard Art call his brother's name as he rushed to his side. Christopher pulled his right hand free from the ropes, then freed his left one. Surveying the situation, he decided this was his chance. Art was trying to get Hank's limp body onto the horse. Christopher pulled the gag off his mouth, and grabbed the saddlebag with the money. Tossing it on the bed, he picked up the empty saddlebag hanging on the chair. He filled it with rocks and ashes from fireplace, and put it on the table where the other bag had been. Art still hadn't looked into the cabin, so the boy grabbed the bag filled with money, and ran out the backdoor. As he started down the lake trail, he heard a shout from the cabin, picking up speed, he ran toward the underbrush near the lake. He rounded a bend in the trail, and ran smack into Jason Bolt.
"Whoa, there, young man, slow down!" Jason told Christopher as he caught him by the shoulders.
"Jason, let go! He's following me!"
"Who is following you?"
That man from the jail! They were hiding in your old cabin. They caught me, then they tied me up. I got away!"
"Are they both following you?"
"No, the big man fell, the other man put him on a horse. He's real sick." "Well, you run on home, Candy is worried about you. I'll take care of the men."
"But Jason...."
"Christopher, I said go home."
"Yes, Sir," Christopher muttered as Jason gently steered him in the direction of home. He picked up his pace and continued on down the trail.
Jason crept slowly toward the cabin, his rifle at ready. Peering through the brush, he saw Art Miller tying a set of saddlebags to a horse. Hank was lying across his saddle, tied down.
"Put your hands up, Art," Jason ordered as he trained the rifle on the man.
"Don't shoot, Jason!" Art said as he complied.
"What happened to Hank?"
"He's dead. He's been sick for a long time."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Now, with your right hand, drop your gun belt, nice and slow."
Art did as he was told. "Now kick it over here, and put your hands behind your back."
Christopher Pruitt ran in the front door of the cabin, slamming it hard.
"Christopher! Quiet please!, Candy and the babies are sleeping," Essie whispered loudly.
"I'm sorry, is Jeremy here?"
"No, Dear, he's out looking for the escaped prisoner."
"But I just left the prisoner! This is his saddlebag!."
"That's nice, Dear," she said absently as she folded blankets and sheets. Christopher shrugged his shoulders, and took the saddlebag out to the porch where Rupert was sitting in his crate. He placed the saddlebag behind the cage and went to get some water for the rabbit. Karen walked out onto the porch.
"Well, I see you finally turned up, Christopher. I like your bunny."
"His name is Rupert."
"That's a nice name. Where did you disap...." She started to ask as three shots rang through the air.
"That's the signal! They've caught Miller!" Karen exclaimed as she starting running down the path to town.
"Dr. Karen, wait for me!" Christopher yelled as he scampered after her.
Karen and Christopher arrived at the town square a few minutes later to find a crowd gathering at the totem pole. Jason stood at the base of the pole holding the reins to the Millers horses. Aaron and Josh were escorting Art to the jail. Karen rushed to the body draped over the
saddle.
"What happened?" she asked Jason.
"The tumor won."
"At least he found the money before he died. Too bad he didn't get to spend it!" Art screamed from across the square. "Yes sir, he had big plans."
"The money... I forgot about the money," Jason said as he tore into the saddlebag. He was rewarded with a handful of ashes.
"It's not here. It must be back at the cabin."
"No it's not. It's in the saddlebag, Jason."
"Christopher, the only thing in here is ashes and rocks. You must be mistaken."
"Not that saddlebag. I tried to tell you... I had the saddlebag with the money. I put that stuff in there. Then I took the one with the money in and ran out of the cabin!
"So, you did try tell me, and I wouldn't let you, would I? " Jason said as he scooped the boy in his arms. "Now, where did you put the saddlebag?"
The moonlight reflected off the calm lake, illuminating the dark night sky. Jason and Karen sat on a blanket under a cover of pine trees. The remnants of a picnic dinner sitting in front of them, and a campfire glowing nearby.
"That was a wonderful dinner, Karen."
"Thanks you, Mr. Bolt."
"This has been an exciting week for all of us. I'm glad you're safe."
The feeling is mutual, Jason. I was worried when you were searching for those men."
"Then, we are in agreement completely, Dr. Harris. Hank holding you captive made for some tense moments for me as well."
Karen's heart pounded quickly. She was at a loss for words. Shyly, she diverted her eyes to the water rippling at the shore of the lake.
"The past year," he continued, "has shown me how lonely my life is."
"I feel the same way, Jason. I never really thought of myself as being alone until I moved here to Seattle. Keeping busy doesn't help much, either."
"That's true, at the end of the day, you still have to face an empty house."
They were silent for a few seconds, then Jason added, "Karen, I haven't felt as lonely since I met you."
"Neither have I, Jason."
"I don't think we'll be lonely at all now," Jason whispered softly as their lips met.
The stars twinkled above like millions of fireflies in the sky.
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