Head down, shoulders slumped and hands shoved in his pockets, Aaron stood in the middle of Lotties. He wasnt going to read them. Jeremy Bolt (Here Come the Brides) Lottie Hatfield Biddie Cloom Roland Francis Clancey Original Female Character (s) Original Male Character (s) On his own in San Francisco, Joshua Bolt seems to have found his niche managing the family's business interests in California. Each tooth could be counted. Of everything hed accomplished, everything he owned, family was the most essential to him. Already he loves you even before youve met. Hed thought hed worked his way past this feeling. That was you, wasnt it?. Aaron stomped into his house, slamming the door so hard behind him the walls rattled. Very good advice, but advice Im afraid Im not adept at heeding., Never too old to learn, Jason, she smiled, sending a sidelong glance at Duncan. Work Text: The water lapped gently against the ship as it pulled to the dock. He stands outside announcing to every person who walks by that he has a new son. The boy is Miris son. Well, if Id known you were throwing a party for me, I would have come sooner, the big man in an army officers uniform exclaimed. Give him a way to gracefully back down., I should have known all this, Jason admitted ruefully. Aaron took a large gulp of brandy, not even bothering to pour it in a glass. But what do you care, Red?, It burns me. You cant change how people believe and feel overnight., But I need to do something, his voice rose. Hed dreamed that one day his real father would appear on the doorstep to whisk him away to a better life. Looks like Red, Billy and George were trying to beat up Stempel. On his own for years by then, Aaron had shaped his own life. Youre just too cheap to pay someone else to do it., Watch what youre sayin, Bolt. Aaron raised the ax in a mock-threatening manner. What do you say, Aaron?. Synopsis. And he still wasnt sure which fork he should take down this road. You are beautiful. Lottie adjusted the flow of Candys wedding dress as she mounted the steps. Four firm knocks reverberated at his door. And I refuse to do it for long. And who was he trying to prove himself to? I guess that about says it all., What are you going to do? she questioned after a long moment of trying to absorb what hed told her. Can I get you something to help wake up? Might I have a word with you, Mr. Stempel? Duncan Bolt clutched the porch rail. Oh, Candy, you dont really think hed do anything to ruin your wedding? Jason kept his voice confident although he had his own misgivings in that direction. With a dashing bow, Duncan swaggered out the door. Thompson had already made up his mind. I've been requesting Here Come the Brides fic since the year yuletide began, and I swear, Mystery Authorit's like you were reading my mind about what I was hoping to get as a gift.. Abruptly, he collapsed back, the hand still holding the diary covering his face. Well, I found something He tried to clear his throat of the sudden blockage. What he felt he would have felt for any woman in her situation. Unfortunately, Jeremy ended up at the bottom of the pile, grunting as an elbow dug into his ribs. Everythings falling apart., Reaching over to the sideboard, she took a bottle of whiskey and poured a healthy jolt into his cup. Or more importantly, who do you want to be? He must have taken the lad in after his mother died., Jason shivered as a seabird sobbed in the distance. Mustache snagged his coat sleeve. What kind of farce is this?, No game, just a family vote. Jasons gaze pinned him. Choices was always a favorite of mine! I was always the dutiful son. Pacing the length of the cabin porch, Jason heaped insults on an absent Thompsons head. There was more pain and anger beneath Aarons statement than that. He wont throw things at me. He didnt really care, he told himself; but he continued reading. He tried to order his thoughts but how could he, when he felt like his feet no longer touched the ground. His work has appeared in Okay Donkey, Milk Candy Review, Little Fiction, Bad Pony and elsewhere. He might hide the truth, give it various shadings, use the truth as a weapon, but he rarely told an outright lie. Hed walked all the way up to Eagle Point. It took a moment to realize Stempel wasnt talking about Joshs life but his own. Would he never be free of that man? For the child growing in my belly. The man whos tried to destroy everything our father worked to give us. "Hi Mark is Elizabeth around" Mark smiled "You seem awfully happy things must be going . Thats your right and your decision. They all leaned forward to see the contents. For ten years Ive fought those sneaking Indians, now you expect me to deal with one as if hes white?, Fought Indians, my Aunt Mabel, Lottie muttered. The bear is the totem of my mothers clan. Ill do it, Jason, Lottie insisted, ever practical. So glad to see you writing again! Upset, Jeremy shrugged. TV ShowsHere Come the Brides Follow/FavHere Come The Brides, Story 6, Demon In Disguise By:April D. Wade After more than five years of marriage, Aaron and Jemma are as in love and adoring of each other as the day they married. Aaron, calm down, Jason ordered, barely avoiding a flying elbow. Let them hate him. If there was one person in the world, he knew he could trust with his secrets, it was Carlotta Hatfield. The one has nae to do with the other. And the maid of honor is a vision of perfection. Flattery it may have been, but true all the same. Aaron had never seen the man before but he knew who he had to be. Of course, he could just leave the box on the table with all the other wedding gifts. Get that long look off your face. But she would nae hear of it.. Did you ask us to help? Aaron used the appellation constantly when talking to the younger Bolt brothers, basically because he knew how much it irritated them. Aaron paused for a moment at the fork of the path and pondered. Blood or experience? I totally understand and take no offence at your difficulty with the concept. Obeying his brothers order, Jeremy stood in the open doorway, mild curiosity on his face. Equal awe shone from Candys eyes. 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. Just before they reached the altar, she lifted her head and looked directly into his eyes. Jason pulled out of the kiss to watch her half-closed eyes with amusement. Jason had been hard-pressed, but hed somehow managed to heed Lotties advice and not push Aaron. All the questions hed longed to ask Jonathan Bolt, but hadnt been able to because of the mans denial, bubbled up inside of him. A tug on his shoulder stopped him. It doesnt matter who was to blame. Jason hoped not; he didnt want to think his father capable of that. Affronted, he dropped her hand. Measured by Jasons accomplishments. With obvious effort, Aaron relaxed his stance and turned his back. He thought of pulling the pillow over his head but knew it wouldnt do any good. How are you doing this morning?, Confused, Jeremy confessed. Sleep had been a long time coming the previous night, even with the help of a healthy draught of brandy. This story first debuted in the zine 'Dreams to Last the Years' from the show 'Here Come The Brides'. A discreet cough reminded them they werent alone. I hope yours doesnt., Oh, no, dont turn this back on me, Jason. Both his brothers were bound to be upset. But I care about you, Aaron. George Stempel was never a shining example of a father. How do I balance what he wants from me against the needs of my family? Then he closed the book almost gently and turned his chair away from Jason. I never seen you work this hard., Rinsing his dry mouth with the first dipper of water, Red spat it on the ground. Please, everyone. Ill be along in a little while. Bruises, thats all., Now let me see your hands. She rolled her eyes at his scowl. Look out everyone here come the brides! He softened his voice at Jeremys wince. But the books drew him, teased him with their mystery. All you had on were shreds and let me tell you, they didnt hide anything. I know he would have wanted it that way., Ha! Aaron sneered, snatching his hand away. We pay you to chop them down, not stand around gawking.. Why check on him? Josh followed his brother off the porch, tension taking away his usual grace. And "The Chatelaine" wrote itself. Rules which you bent on occasion, Jason interjected. It hadnt made it any easier to lose her but theyd known it was coming. We are willing to open up our family circle for you, but you have to be courageous enough to step inside. Hes got more hair than Ive ever seen on such a little tyke and I think his eyes will be blue like the other two boys. If you survived that, you might find someone whod give you hope; make you see the possibility that not all people were evil and that life could be good. Now you can tell me its none of my business. Was it both or neither? Said he should be here by Monday to look over the operations., Jason let out his breath in a noisy gust. Lottie, Uncle Duncan has a place save for you in the front row. After calling him boy as if he were a stray gutter rat, in the next sentence, Bolt acknowledged him as son. I just dont understand. What if its all true? He didnt want to know what the man who denied his fatherhood had to say. Aaron felt a surge of resentment at the mans apparent ease. Set in Seattle in the 1870s, the main storyline focused on a family of loggers in the new West who had to bring in 100 women potential brides for their male crewmembers. We just could nae let Jon ruin his life by making such a bad choice for a wife. He continued defensively, Besides he would have been banned from the church if he forsook his promised wife.. His parentage didnt matter in the mill. To cover, he stomped to the coffeepot warming on the stove. Even thought wed only corresponded by telegraph I feel as if I know you already., Uncle Duncan. Jason turned his uncle toward him. He didnt know if he could explain. I do nae know what it said, but after reading it your father was heartbroken. Exhaustion weighed his limbs and dulled his mind. Unconsciously, he began rocking, a moan rattling in his throat. Jasons slap to Thompsons shoulder resounded in the morning quiet. She still held his hand although no medical attention was being dispensed. And with Redmond Bass. Aaron had made him work hard to get that win. He owned his own business, which grew more prosperous every year. Aaron? Lottie turned startled eyes to Stempel. Half brother to the Bolts? 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