"The Talk"

       Jason Bolt sipped his evening coffee and tried to relax. Things had been at a non-stop pace at the logging camp as usual, but of late there had been a little something different thrown into the daily mix. That "something" was the construction of a new home for his youngest brother and his bride-to-be.
       The cabin was finally done, and considering that the nuptials were to take place in the morning, that was a very good thing. Jason mentally took a tour of the home he, Joshua and Jeremy had built. It wasn't too far from town, but enough of a distance to afford the newlyweds a feeling of being on their own. The home wasn't large at all, but should be able to accommodate any additions that Jeremy and Candy would likely produce themselves. And if need be, they'd build more rooms!
       Jason grinned at that thought. "Uncle Jason," he liked the way those words rolled off his tongue. Would his nieces and nephews favor him and their Uncle Joshua at all? Or would they inherit everything from their parents? With that notion, Jason thought of Candy's family.
       Jason had not had much of an opportunity to meet any of the Pruitt clan when he and his brothers had traveled to New Bedford. Her grandfather had come to Seattle for a brief visit not that long ago, and sadly a few months back, following the death of Candy's mother, her younger brother and sister came to Seattle to live with her. Jeremy was taking on not only a wife, but a ready-made family as well. Who could have dreamed that an excursion to bring women to Seattle would change so many lives? It was a trip that now seemed a lifetime ago, but in truth had been traveled only a year and a half prior.
       Musing about the children that would surely come from the happy couple's union made Jason think of something else; the way babies are made. And that thought made his silly grin fall somberly. He'd never quite had "the talk" with Jeremy. The timing had never seemed right, and such a conversation would make his youngest brother extremely uncomfortable, Jason was sure of that. But as the eldest brother, and father figure, Jason couldn't very well allow Jeremy to enter into the sanctity of marriage without knowing all he should, could he?
       The tin cup that contained Jason's coffee clanged slightly as he set the cup down upon the table. He looked around the office tent trying to find something, anything else to do; he just did not want to discuss the facts of life with Jeremy.
       Jason's eyes lit up for a moment as a thought suddenly came to him; no such discussion had he ever had with Joshua, and the middle Bolt brother was definitely a ladies man, and already knew every detail about women. The twinkling, hopeful light in Jason's eyes burned out just as quickly as it had appeared though. Jeremy was unlike Joshua, and even Jason himself, when it came to barmaids and the likes of those women. No, his youngest brother was inexperienced and Jason would just have to tactfully enlighten him.
       The camp was quiet and Jason saw no other loggers milling about as he stepped outside the tent. However, he did see Jeremy about twenty feet ahead of him, leaning against a tree stump. From his posture, Jason knew Jeremy was deep in thought as his arms were crossed at his chest, and one leg was crossed in front of the other. The bridegroom was thinking and Jason could only imagine what kinds of thoughts go through your mind when you're at the eve of taking the largest leap of faith of your life.
       Quietly, he approached Jeremy and spoke his name. "Jason?" Jeremy answered, turning around. "I didn't know you were here.
       "Would you rather be alone, Jeremy?
       "No, not at all. I j-just didn't hear you."
       Jason found his own perch upon a felled log. He looked up at Jeremy and grinned. "Tomorrow is the day."
       Again, Jeremy sat easily upon the edge of the stump and crossed his arms at his chest. He grinned and gave a slight nod of his head as he answered, "yes."
       "You look to be in deep thought, brother." .
       "Oh, I...um...guess I am. There's a lot to think about you know..."
       "Well, I've never been a bridegroom so I can only imagine."
       Jeremy didn't respond to Jason's last comment and silence kept company with the brothers for a full minute. Jeremy wasn't in the least uncomfortable with that, and on any other night, Jason wouldn't have been either, but tonight he had to have "the talk" with Jeremy. It absolutely could not be put off any longer.
       "Jeremy, do you have any questions for me?"
       "Questions?" Jeremy looked over and down at his oldest brother. "What k-kind of questions?"
       "Any type of questions." If it were possible to trade places with any other person alive, right then and there, Jason would have—well, with the exception of Aaron Stempel, that is.
       "No, no questions, Jason."
       "You're sure, Jeremy? Tomorrow is your wedding day…" Jason said stupidly, it was unlikely that Jeremy had forgotten that.
       "I know, Jason."
       "Of course you do." Jason cleared his throat. "But with tomorrow being your wedding day, that makes tomorrow night your wedding night." There, he said it! Now, he had to await Jeremy's reaction.
       Jeremy nodded; he knew where this was going now. "That's right, Jason, night  follows day," Jeremy put the same emphasis on the words as his brother had.
       "That's what I'm saying," Jason stood now; he needed to walk around a bit, maybe even pace. "Do you have any questions to ask of me?"
       "You've had a wedding night before?" Jeremy asked innocently, baiting his brother.
       "What I'm trying to say," Jason ignored Jeremy's question and began pacing. "What I’m trying to say is that the wedding NIGHT is a special time for a man and woman."
       "I know that, Jason."
       "Well, do you have any questions?"
       "No," Jeremy shook his head.
       "Are you sure you know exactly what I'm referring to? I mean, well, the specialness of the wedding night is, well, the... um... consummation...of..." Jason flailed his arms in the air as he spoke.
       "You mean sex..." Jeremy said bluntly, non-plussed.
       Jason whipped around and was rendered speechless for a moment; he even took a step backwards. Well... yes... Jeremy... that's... exactly..."
       "Jason, um... you're trying to talk to me about sex?" Jeremy asked unembarrassed, his words clear and concise.
       "Yes," Jason sighed. "Yes, I am."
       Jeremy grinned. Rarely were the tables turned with Jason being flustered and out of his element. "Well, what do you want to know?" The baiting continued.
       Jason's right hand came to rest incredulously upon his chest. "Me? What do I want to know?" he asked in amazement. "I know everything already..." he protested.
       "Then why are you askin' me?"
       "I'm asking you, Jeremy, if YOU have any questions...being that tomorrow night is yours and Candy's wedding NIGHT!" Jason said with exasperated tones. Just how did this conversation get turned around like it had?
       "You're too late for that, Jason."
       "Too late?" The eldest Bolt's eyes narrowed. "What exactly do you mean by too late?"
       "Oh, j-just that Josh and I already had this talk years ago."
       Jason stopped in his tracks. Joshua had explained procreation to Jeremy! Good Lord, it was little wonder the boy had not ricocheted out of every brothel in the Washington Territory! Jason closed his eyes in readiment, "And just what did Josh tell you?"
       "Oh, all about it..."
       "But I don't think Josh really appreciates....
       Jeremy chuckled and interrupted his big brother. "Oh, I think Josh has appreciated quite a few times....
       "That's not what I meant, Jeremy..." Jason sighed, this was going from bad to worse. He could feel his own face warming and all along, he thought it would be Jeremy that would become embarrassed, but the youngest Bolt brother wasn't at all. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying his brother's discomfort.
       "There is a difference, Jeremy, " Jason began slowly, breathing calmly, "between a saloon girl and the girl you love."
       "I know, I've been in saloons before, Jason.".
       Jeremy's last comment made Jason a bit suspicious. There had been a business trip or two that only Jeremy and Joshua had gone on, and with the middle Bolt leading the way it was hard to say what they had gotten themselves into.
       "Jason," Jeremy stood and walked over to his brother. "I love Candy and we'll be fine. Not that I don't appreciate you thinking of us...but, um...don't. We won't be thinkin' of you..." he grinned.
       "Well, of course not…" Jason continued to bluster.
       "I think I'll turn in now, Jason... Tomorrow will b-be a long day... and tomorrow night...".
        "Goodnight, Jeremy..." Jason's eyes twinkled and he patted his brother on the back. "I'll be down in a bit..."
       "Thanks Jason...thank you f-for everything." Jeremy spoke not of his brother's amusing attempt to explain adult love and commitment but for the years Jason had given him, acting not only as a brother but as a father, too.
       "You're welcome, Jeremy.".
       Jason watched as Jeremy walked out of camp. He knew his brother was heading towards their cabin in town. This would be the last night for the Bolt brothers to stay together for tomorrow was a day of change, transition.
       "Hold up, Jeremy!" he called. Jason sprinted forward and easily caught up. "Let's go find Josh..." Jeremy nodded, agreeing. Jason draped his arm around his brother's shoulders and as they walked down from Bridal Veil Mountain, an era came to an end.