Jason Bolt was the oldest of the three Bolt brothers who owned Bridal Veil Mountain left to them by their father, Jonathan Bolt. Jason was a tall, sturdy and tough logger with curly brown hair and blue eyes. He was the biggest of the loggers, except for Big Swede. No one in Seattle had ever seen a taller man than Big Swede. For all that, Big Swede was a gentle man, but he could do the work of two regular men, and for this Jason was grateful. Jason was under a lot of stress due to a tight deadline on a large order; Aaron Stemple breathing down his back; and an unexpected number of his regular men being downed with either an injury or serious illness.

"Jason!" Middle brother, blond-haired, blue-eyed Josh ran up to him, out of breath.

"Easy, Josh," Jason put an arm around Josh as he bent over to catch his breath.

"Olsen hurt his leg, and Jeremy is taking him back to Seattle to get Lottie or Dr. Wright to help. It's a bad cut."

"Damn. Another logger down." Jason's blue eyes were fierce. "Josh, how far are we behind schedule?"

"Three days." Josh's eyes were brighter blue than the sky. "Jason, I can help," Josh offered.

"What, with your cold? Not to mention you are the only one who could do the scheduling and the payroll. No, little brother, you're doing what I need you to do."

"But," Josh began.

"No buts. Listen to your big brother. If you were completely well, I would let you help some, but you're not. Jeremy will be back soon and give us a hand."

"But Jason, Jeremy is almost two years younger than me. And I'm taller."

"But you are not as stocky as Jeremy and he doesn't have a cold. Go along will ya." Jason gave his stubborn blond brother a little shove, so Josh went away muttering to himself. Jason was smiling a little, but the smile faded as he saw that two of the loggers that grumbled the most were staring at him, having overhead the conversation between him and Josh.

"You got anything to say?" Jason found the direct approach worked best.

The two men were new, or they would have learned not to question Jason's leadership. Simpson, a large man of thirty with black hair and beard, spat on the ground. His friend, Calloway, red-haired and bearded, kicked at the ground.

"Say your piece or get back to work," Jason ordered impatiently.

"Well, Bolt, both of us have been working harder than ever, and it seems you don't require that of your brothers. Jeremy was sent down to find the doctor, and both are us have worked harder than him. And Josh doesn't help very much. Those books you keep him working on can't be more important than the deadlines being met. I'm tired of double-duty."

"As am I," Jason barked. "Jeremy will get back to work the minute he gets back here."

"What about Josh?" Simpson growled.

"Yeah, you sure he's even a Bolt? He looks nothing like you or Jeremy," Calloway challenged.

"You've taken up enough of my time with things that aren't even your business." Jason was fed up and his blue eyes flashed. "Get back to work."

"We're on break."

"You were on break! You just used it up, trying to tell me how to do my job. Now back to work or you'll be fired!"

Both men knew Jason was serious, and as tempted as they were to just quit, they had already spent their money on drinking and needed a paycheck. Grumbling, they turned back up the mountain.

"And you thought that coming here would get us a bride," Calloway grumbled.

"With close to 100 brides, we should have been able to get our brides by now. Who knew they would be so picky?"

"I would have Mary Ellen by now if it hadn't been for Joshua Bolt," Calloway grumbled.

"Yes, and Irene would be mine. Why both are enamored of that skinny, lazy kid is beyond me. I could snap him in two like a twig."

"I also liked that spitfire redhead, Candy. But no, she is not seeing anyone but Jeremy Bolt."

"I didn't sign on to be worked to death for the Bolts. Mr. High and Mighty Jason Bolt. Never liked him, anyway."

"He'll get his. They all will. Don't have any time for courting, working like this."

Jason was unaware the Josh, who had started down the mountain, thought of one last question and stood rooted to his place behind some bushes after hearing his name. The words shook him. "Josh doesn't help very much. Are you sure he is really a Bolt? He doesn't look like you and Jeremy."

Josh knew he didn't look anything like Jeremy or Jason, not his hair, his slim build – anything. Everyone was always surprised when he was introduced as the third Bolt brother, where they accepted Jeremy as a Bolt immediately. He was also aware most of the men didn't seem to understand how important the record keeping was. Jason had always encouraged Josh to use his education and more meticulous nature and even the neatness of his handwriting as reasons only Josh could keep the books. Josh had been so proud to be counted as valuable. Jason was as strong as he was even at Josh's age. Jeremy, cute and adorable with a small stutter the women found fascinating, had no problem fitting in. Josh, with his snowy hair, bright blue eyes, slender build never felt as comfortable with the other men, and sometimes wondered if some only tolerated him because of Jason.

Josh's face tightened. He could work just as hard as the other men. Jason would see that his blond brother did not need special treatment. The books could wait. He had some trees to cut down.

TBC