"So, what have you and Candy got planned for this fine Saturday?" Jason asked Jeremy between mouthfuls of pancakes. He was relishing his breakfast. The three of them took turns cooking and Jeremy's cooking was the only one that was really edible.
Before Jeremy could answer, someone was banging on the cabin door. Joshua got up to answer it, but didn't make it before Candy came running in, out of breath.
"Wh-what's wrong, Candy?"
"Oh, Jeremy, it's Biddie."
"What's wrong with Biddie? Is she hurt?" Joshua asked, trying his best to look concerned.
"No, she's not hurt, she's leaving Seattle."
"Leaving?" Jason boomed.
"Yes, she's leaving ... she said if she wasn't married by the time Clancey's ship left in the morning, she would be on it. You three promised her a husband and if she didn't get one ... well, she's leaving."
"What are we going to do, Jason?" Joshua asked, trying hard to be serious "If she leaves, we lose the mountain."
"Going to do! I'll tell you what we are going to do. I'm going to talk to her and see if I can talk some sense into that fool head of hers." Before anyone could say anything else, Jason was out of the cabin and on the way to the Brides' dormitory.
Jason had barely shut the cabin door when the three inside erupted into hysterical laughter.
"C-C-Candy, are you sure Biddie won't give us away?"
"Oh no, she has been practicing her lines for weeks. She said that this would be just like acting in a play. She's always wanted to be an actress. Speaking of which, I think my performance just now was wonderful."
"Well, you convinced Jason, all right. Did you see his face?" Joshua choked between laughter.
Jason stormed into the dormitory, startling the brides downstairs. Noticing Biddie wasn't among them, he demanded to know where she was. Stunned, and not liking the look on Jason's face, the brides pointed to the kitchen.
Slamming the kitchen door open, and then closed, Jason found Biddie alone, putting away dishes. "What's this I hear about you leaving?" Jason yelled.
"Why, Jason Bolt, you don't have to yell. I am standing right here and my hearing is just fine."
Taking a deep breath and deciding it would be better to take a new tone, Jason asked, "What's wrong, Biddie? Candy said you were thinking of leaving Seattle."
"That's right, I am, you promised me a husband and ... well, Jason, I don't have one."
"Now, Biddie," Jason said, placing a gloved hand on her shoulder and turning her so they were looking into each other's eyes. "You're a beautiful woman, Biddie; you just haven't given it enough time."
"Oh, Jason," Biddie blushed and turned away.
"So, you'll stay," Jason smiled smugly, thinking this was going to be easier then he had thought.
"Of course ... I mean, no," Biddie stammered, remembering this was a joke and she had to play her part.
"No!" Jason yelled.
"Well, if you're going to yell at me, there is no need to talk to me," Biddie huffed, "and if I am not married by the time Clancey's ship leaves, I'll be on it!" With that, Biddie stomped out of the kitchen.
Well, if it was a husband Biddie wanted, then he'd find her one, Jason thought. No matter how impossible it might seem, he wasn't going to lose the mountain.
Joshua, Jeremy and Candy were sitting in the cabin drinking coffee when Jason returned.
"Well, did you talk to her?" Joshua questioned.
"Yes."
"She st-still leaving?" Jeremy stammered.
"Not if I can help it. All I have to do is find her a husband."
"Well, don't look at Jeremy," Candy said, protectively taking Jeremy's hand. "He's taken."
"And I have Peggy," Joshua added.
"Guess that leaves you, J-J-Jason," Jeremy announced.
Jason's face fell. He knew they were both right but the thought of marrying Biddie ... even to save the mountain. Jason pushed that thought from his head; he'd think of something else. "Corky! That's it, I'll talk to Corky." Jason left the cabin again without waiting for anyone else's input and headed to the logging camp.
"Did you see his face?" Joshua asked, pounding Jeremy on the back. '"When you said 'guess that leaves you...'" The thought of it made Jeremy laugh even harder, almost to the point of tears.
"It's not that funny, Jeremy Bolt!" Candy exclaimed, taking up for her best friend. "Biddie would make someone a nice wife."
"I know, C-C-Candy, but Jason thinking he might have to get married, period ...well, it is funny."
"Well, does Corky know about this joke?"
"Don't worry, Candy," Joshua interjected. "Corky won't fall for it, even if he doesn't know that this is a joke."
"And what makes you think he won't marry Biddie? Just what is wrong with Biddie?" Candy demanded, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at Joshua and Jeremy.
"C-C-Candy, there is nothing wrong with Biddie, but ..." Jeremy answered, trying to calm Candy down.
"But what, Jeremy Bolt?" Candy demanded.
"It's just that Corky is not ready to get married yet," Joshua interjected. "He's too young."
"Too young! Is that how you feel too, Jeremy?"
Not sure what the right answer was, Jeremy just nodded his head yes, hoping that was the right answer.
"Well, he is older then you, Jeremy, and if that's the way you feel, well ...well ..." Candy stammered, "... I just don't know." With that, Candy slammed out of the cabin.
"What's wrong with her?" Joshua questioned.
"I-I don't know, but she seemed really upset. Maybe I should go and talk to her."
"Maybe you should."
Jeremy ran out the door, hoping to catch Candy before she got to the dormitory.
When Jason got to the camp he found Corky and some of the other loggers playing cards.
"Jason ... surprised to see you up here. Something wrong?" Corky asked, feeling slightly uncomfortable and hoping Jason wasn't there to cancel their day off.
"I need to talk to you, Corky."
"All right," Corky answered, waiting.
"Alone."
"Oh, ok," Corky took a last look at his hand before laying it down. "It was a lousy hand anyway."
Corky half jogged to catch up to Jason, who had moved away from the other loggers in camp. "What's going on, Jason? What's the big secret?"
Jason decided to cut right to the point. "How do you feel about Biddie?"
"Well ... ahhhh ..." Corky wasn't sure how to answer that question. "What do you mean?"
"Well, would you marry her?" Jason asked.
"Marry!" Corky choked. "You know I am too young for that."
"Well, Biddie is leaving town in the morning unless you marry her."
"Leaving town ... marriage ..." Corky mumbled. "She never said anything to me about this last night."
"You saw her last night?"
"We went for a walk last night; she never said anything about leaving to me. Honest, Jason, I would have told you," Corky stated.
"Nothing at all?" Jason implored.
"No..." Corky answered, then burst out laughing. "Oh, I get it, this is a April Fool's joke, isn't it? You almost had me, Jason." Corky punched Jason on the arm playfully and headed back to camp.
As Corky's words soaked in, Jason smiled; he had forgotten what day it was. So Joshua and Jeremy thought they would put one over on him. He'd see about that.
When Jason got back to town, he made a short stop at Lottie's. He had a quick talk with Clancey, and for the price of a bottle of whiskey, his plan was almost set. Jason then headed over to the dormitory to fetch his bride.
Biddie and Candy were upstairs in the dormitory, with Candy laying face down on her bed, crying in her pillow. Biddie had tried unsuccessfully to get her to talk about it, but Candy wouldn't speak. Biddie knew that Candy and Jeremy had had some kind of fight because Candy had stormed into the dormitory earlier, with Jeremy following shortly after. Candy had refused to talk to him and after several fruitless pleadings Jeremy had left, dejected.
Candy and Biddie heard the commotion downstairs and then the heavy footsteps of someone running up the stairs. Candy turned to see who it was and was surprised to see Jason.
"Now, Jason," Biddie exclaimed, walking over to him. "You know no men are allowed up here." "I know that, Biddie," Jason grinned. "I just came to get you." He grabbed Biddie's hand and pulled her down the stairs.
"Jason, whatever is going on?" Biddie questioned, as she was being pulled out of the dormitory.' "Clancey's ship -- where else?" "Clancey's ship? What's going on there?"
"A wedding. I have your husband, just like I promised."
"Oh, my." Biddie's eyes widened and she no longer had to be pulled, as she ran ahead of Jason to Clancey's ship.
Candy had gotten off the bed after Jason had dragged Biddie out of the dormitory. From the upstairs window she saw them heading to Clancey's ship. "Oh, no!" Candy said to herself, and she ran down the stairs and to the Bolt cabin. Candy couldn't help but think that this whole joke was turning out bad; first she and Jeremy had a fight and now it looked like Jason was going to marry Biddie.
Joshua and Jeremy were sitting in the cabin when Candy came storming in. They both jumped up, Jeremy smiling in spite of himself. He was so glad to see Candy after their fight earlier that he almost didn't notice the worried look on her face.
"What's going on, Candy?" Joshua questioned.
"Oh, it's terrible, it's Jason and Biddie. They are headed to Clancey's ship. I think they are getting married."
"M-m-married?"
"We've got to stop them!" Joshua yelled.
Jeremy, Joshua and Candy reached Clancey's ship just as Jason and Biddie were exiting, with Clancey close behind carrying a fresh bottle of whiskey. "Well, I am glad to see the three of you here," Jason smiled. "We were just headed to the cabin to give you the good news."
"Good news, what good news?" Joshua questioned.
"Well, the mountain is still ours and you have a new sister-in-law!" Jason answered, trying hard not to laugh as Joshua's, Jeremy's and Candy's faces fell.
"You're m-m-m-married?" Jeremy asked, unbelieving.
"Of course ... you didn't think I would lose the mountain, did you? And you and Josh were right; you are both taken. Let's head up to the cabin and have a drink to celebrate!" With that, Jason took Biddie's hand and headed to the cabin, smiling to himself.
Joshua, Jeremy and Candy followed reluctantly behind; not speaking, just exchanging confused looks. Candy followed Biddie and Jason into the cabin while Joshua grabbed Jeremy by the arm, shutting the cabin door in front of them. "Do you think we should tell them this was a joke? I can't believe Biddie went through with this."
"I-I-I am not telling him; he'd kill us. I can't believe Biddie would do it either. I guess we didn't figure on this. Now what do we do?"
"Nothing," Joshua answered and gave Jeremy a confused look as they both went into the cabin.
Jason had poured five glasses of whiskey and handed Joshua and Jeremy a glass as they entered the door. "Sorry, ladies. I don't have any wine here for you, but that will change now that we have a lady living here."
"What?" Joshua asked. "You and Biddie are planning on staying here?"
"Well, not forever," Jason smiled. "Just till we can get another cabin built. This happened so fast, you know." Jason then placed his arm around Biddie affectionately. "It will just be for a few months, darling. We have that big logging contract coming up so we won't be able to start on the cabin right away, but I promise it won't be too long. In the meantime, this place could use a woman's touch. You can fix up this cabin till then."
"Oh, yes!" Biddie exclaimed. "I can do a lot of things to this cabin. Some pink curtains in here and some doilies on the table. It will look so pretty."
Doilies...pink curtains...having to live with Biddie for a few months. Just the thought of all that made Joshua's and Jeremy's heads swim. What had they gotten themselves into?
A boom of thunder shook the cabin as if even the weather couldn't believe what was happening. A light rain began hitting the roof of the cabin. "Well, it looks like you guys better be going," Jason said, as he took the glasses from Joshua's and Jeremy's hands.
"Going?" Joshua asked.
"Yes, up to the logging camp," Jason replied. "You don't expect to stay here on my wedding night!" Jason winked.
"B-b-but, Jason, it's starting to rain. We will get soaked out there!" Jeremy said.
"Well, if you leave now, maybe you can beat the downpour," Jason said, as he pushed Joshua and Jeremy out the door.
"C-C-Candy?" Jeremy questioned.
"Don't worry about her," Jason answered. "I'll make sure she gets back to the dormitory." With that Jason shut the cabin door, leaving Joshua and Jeremy outside.
"Well, we'd better get going," Joshua said. "Maybe we can beat the rain." He took off running up the trail to the logging camp with Jeremy close behind. They hadn't made it halfway to the camp when it began to pour.
Joshua and Jeremy reached the camp, and their tent, soaked to the bone. As they began removing their soaked clothing, it suddenly occurred to them that they didn't have a change of clothes since they had left the cabin so fast. They didn't speak as they dried off the best they could. They crawled under blankets on the tent cots trying to warm up, thinking they would be staying up there a lot since Biddie would be staying at the cabin. Neither of them relished the thought.
After pushing Joshua and Jeremy out of the cabin, Jason burst out laughing and winked at Biddie. "You see, that wasn't too hard now, was it, Biddie?"
"No, it wasn't," Biddie replied. "I think I missed my calling; I should have been an actress."
"Actress?" Candy asked incredulously. "What are you talking about?" One look at Jason's face and the answer hit her. "You're not married, are you?"
"No, Candy, we're not; but a little rain and a night up in the camp might teach those brothers of mine not to play jokes on the master." Jason smiled.
"But how did you know?" Candy asked.
"Oh, I am sorry, Candy. I told him," Biddie answered. "When we were on Clancey's ship and he started the ceremony and all. I just had to tell him. I couldn't do that to Corky."
"Now, don't blame Biddie," Jason interrupted. "I figured this whole thing out before she told me."
"You knew?" Biddie exclaimed. "How did you know I wouldn't have gone through with it?"
"Well," Jason answered, it just now hitting him that she could have gone through with it; the thought made him shudder. "I knew you were too much of a lady to marry any man under these circumstances."
"You're right, I am," Biddie answered smugly. "Of course, if you had been Corky it might have been a different story." With that comment, Biddie burst out laughing as only Biddie could laugh.
"Well, ladies, may I escort you two back to the dormitory?" Jason asked, offering an arm to each. Jason walked Candy and Biddie back to the dormitory. With much reluctance, Biddie gave Jason back the wedding ring so he could return it to Clancey. She stared at it wistfully before taking it off.
"Don't worry, Biddie," Jason whispered, "it won't be long before you have one there permanently."
"I know that, Jason. Corky is still too young to marry."
Jason headed to Lottie's to return the ring to Clancey and have a quick nightcap. For a minute, he felt sorry for Joshua and Jeremy up at the camp, probably soaked to the bone; but then he realized they deserved it.
Joshua and Jeremy entered the cabin the next morning, looking disheveled in their clothes. One could tell that neither of them had had much sleep as they both had bloodshot eyes. "Where's Biddie?" Joshua asked, upon seeing Jason looking all comfortable and rested, sitting at the table sipping coffee.
"At the dormitory. Where did you think she'd be?" Jason asked.
"Y-y-you get in a fight already?" Jeremy questioned.
"No, of course not." Jason answered. "I walked her back with Candy last night. You really didn't think the two of us got married, now did you? Don't you remember what day it was yesterday?"
Joshua and Jeremy exchanged incredulous looks and realized that they had been had again.
"Well, I'll see you two at church as soon as you get cleaned up." Jason laughed and left the cabin.
"Yes, and you wait till next year," Joshua said to a shut cabin door.