Chapter 2

When Jeremy did speak, he would constantly stutter. But his brothers, Lottie and the loggers were all around to help him. His best friend at the moment was Big Swede. He was young and strong; he would stand by Jeremy and also teach him Swedish words for things. Sometimes though he would teach Jeremy a few 'bad words' but not within hearing of Jason.

Jonathan was busy in the tent when Joshua came in with some news.

"Father, Father!" Joshua said excitedly, "I have news that there are some new puppies that will be ready for adoption next week!"

Jonathan looked up and said:

"What do we need a puppy for?"
Joshua looked at him incredulously saying: "Don't you remember we discussed this with Lottie, and she thought it would be a good idea to get Jeremy a pet? Well, the Spencer's have a female dog that is yellow with a black nose, she has given birth to a litter of puppies and they would like to know if Jeremy would like one, and if he would like to come over to pick it out?"
"I don't think we can afford a dog right now? Our profits are becoming nonprofits, Mr. Johnson who owns the mill we are using is charging higher prices all the time. I go in one week and he charges $.50 a board foot! The next week he is raising his prices again because he says he has no way because he isn't making anything. And yet, we have to haul the logs, by river to get them to the mill. I sure wish we owned a mill, or someone was here that had a mill!"

Joshua looked at Jason; "So you are saying because we can't afford to mill our lumber, Jeremy has to go without a pet?"

Just then Ellie Spencer came in with her brother Martin. Ellie was all of 10 and her brother was 6.

"Mr. Bolt we would like to invite Jeremy over for a get to know your puppy party this Saturday? Can he please come? Momma and Poppa said it would be, okay?" They both looked up at Jonathan and Joshua. Joshua turned around and walked to the other side of the tent.

"Ellie, how much do your parents want for a puppy?"
"Momma and Poppa discussed this and said if you would be willing to help Poppa to add an extra room at the back of the kitchen, he would consider that payment enough." Said Ellie with a smile as sweet as candy.

Jonathan thought about it and he was about to say yes when Jeremy came into the office, when he saw Ellie, he turned red and hid behind Joshua. Jonathan looked at him and then asked him:
"Jeremy, it is about time we gave you some responsibility, how would you feel if we got you a puppy?"

Jeremy's eyes went wide, and a large grin lit up his whole face.

"Well, I take that as a yes!" Jason said, "But, fair warning, Jeremy, you will have to take care of your dog. That means feed it, care for it make sure it is okay. Do you think you can do that?"
"Y-Y-yes! Y—Y-YES!" Jeremy said.

"Well, Ellie, tell your parents we will be there on Saturday!"

Jeremy could hardly sleep Friday night, he knew he was getting a puppy, and was very happy. Jonathan had explained that Jason and Joshua would help him at the start to train and feed and care for the puppy but, Jeremy would have to do most of the work. Jeremy had smiled all week and asked questions all the time and thought about his new responsibility. At 4 and a half, Jeremy felt like he was all grown up.

He fell asleep but instead of a nice, sweet dream he woke up screaming and crying and ran to Joshua's bedroom.

"I -w-w-w-want, m-m-m-m-mom-mom-mommy!" crying in Joshua's arms. Josh held him for a while. Jason and Jonathan came in to find out what the problem was.

"What is happening?" Jonathan asked.

Joshua looked at his father and with a shrug, lay on the bed with Jeremy in his arms.

Jonathan took a hold of Jeremy and sat on the rocking chair near the bed. "what is it now, have ye seen a ghost? A Banshee? What scared ye my son?"

Jeremy was wiping the tears away from his eyes, he then asked his father:

"Da, I dreamed that it was a long time into the future and that you weren't with us anymore!" He cried again.

Jonathan held onto his son and said:

"Now, I thought we had this talk a couple of weeks ago, Eh! We determined that you are still missing your mother, is that not so?"
Jeremy nodded and just laid in his father's arms. "Now, Jeremy, what made you dream a dream like that this time?
"I-I-I-I-I-it wasn't like the last time. The last time was about m-m-m-mommy, but this time was about, about y-y-you. I s-s-s-saw a t-t-t-t-r-r-re-e-e-tree fall and then you were under it and you w-w-w-w-ere gg-g-g-g-one!" He started to cry again. Jonathan did not know what to say at that moment.

Jason said, "I can take him, father, you need to get some rest."

Jonathan did not let him do that. On the contrary he began to speak, he expected all of his sons to listen to him from the littlest to the biggest.

"When we came from Scotland, your mother and I, we had to go through several hard times, Jason, Joshua, you remember some of those times. We had to cross the prairie, and a dessert, but we made it. Ach! Your mother even had a couple of bairns born but did not live long. She kept on going, and so did I. We met many people who had turned back, we saw many things that no man, woman, or child should see. Coming to the present, I want to know that I too am grieving for your mother, however, in my grief, I have to remember that I need to take care of you and take care of myself. But, as a Bolt, I will not shy away from anything that happens, be it good or bad or not so good. Death is normal. Your mother lived well, and she died just as she had lived. I am not saying that ye canna' grieve but, ye also must put your face to the wind and keep on moving. Don't stop. Now, Jeremy, you may have many more nightmares, and I will tell you they will not be pleasant but that does not mean that they have to scare you either. Nightmares and dreams are a way of your brain making things clear that you have experienced. So, I want to read a Bible verse and we will say a prayer before you go back to bed. Jason, will you get my Bible please?"

Jason got the family Bible and his father opened to a psalm. Reading it slowly and intentionally he emphasized the joy and hope of the resurrection. Soon Jeremy was back asleep. He put him in his bed and said good night to his boys and went back to bed himself but did not sleep but prayed for wisdom and guidance to help his own sons. He also talked to his wife, asking her to help him as well. He then fell asleep.

That Saturday Morning, they were all up and ready for work. Jason and Jonathan said they would be home by noon for the meal and then they would go look at the puppies. Jeremy was almost too excited to eat that morning. Noon came and both Jonathan and Jason came in for lunch. Joshua had made some steak and used the last of the homemade bread that Miss Tremble had made for them.

"Well, Jeremy, shall we get the horses and the wagon and take a look at those puppies?"

Jeremy was up and ready with a smile on his face. He wore his good britches and good coat, although Jonathan made him take an old pair of pants and a jacket with him. Jeremy and Joshua rode in the wagon while Jonathan and Jason were on their horses. It wasn't very far from Seattle, they were going to Alki Point, the first white settlement in Seattle.

When they got there Mrs. Spencer had some lemonade and cookies for the boys. Mr. Spencer took Jonathan aside to ask about help with the addition.

Ellie took Jeremy over to the basket with the puppies in them, there were 3 left. A black puppy with a white nose, a brown puppy with four white paws and a puppy that was smaller and weaker but also came right over to Jeremy who was bending over too far and fell in. The littlest puppy just moved slightly enough so that there was room for the puppies and Jeremy at the same time.

Martin said: "Look Ellie, Jeremy is a puppy too!" the grownups when they heard the noise came running over and caught Martin's exclamation. They all laughed. But Jeremy, who had managed to stand upright was holding one dog. The runt of the litter. It was a dirty kind of yellow and had a black mouth, a black ear and a yellow ear and was licking Jeremy's face.

"Well, I am not sure who chose whom, but it looks like my little brother has chosen that dog!" Jason said as he looked at Jeremy and the puppy.

Jonathan said, "I guess we will take that one!"
"I am glad you chose that one, he is the runt of the litter, but he is a fighter!" Mr. Spencer said with authority.

"Now, Mr. Bolt, would you mind coming with me and we can get down to the details of this addition I am making for my house. Jonathan nodded yes and motioned to Jason to come with him. This left Joshua with Ellie, Martin and Jeremy and the puppies.

"So, what are you going to name him Jeremy?" Joshua asked.

"I'm not sure yet. I want to hand around him some more before I name him." Said Jeremy as the dog stayed nearby and eating a piece of bone. Jeremy watched his dog; he was very curious about what this dog would do. Would he chase cats, deer, or other things, how would Jeremy train him to stay, sit and maybe even hunt. So many questions in his mind.

Rules are meant to be broken and rules about pets are always broken. It started out that yes, the puppy could stay inside that night and for a couple of nights, which turned into a week. Also, the 'no dogs allowed in your room or on the furniture.' Well, soon the dog had made himself quite at home. But Jeremy still did not name him.

They were over at the Spencer's one Saturday afternoon, Jason, Joshua, and Jonathan were all helping build the addition. Jeremy went wandering out in the woods. He had the dog with him and was walking along when he spied a nice tree to sit under. The dog came with him. He started to fall asleep and dream about the stories he would tell his mother. He remembered a story about a king. He wasn't' sure what the story was about but he woke up, noticed that the dog was missing. His heart skipped a beat, but he decided right then and there to call his dog:

"King, King, where are you?" He spoke with perfect clarity. He hardly noticed because he did not see the dog coming back to him. He tried again:

"K-k-k-k-i-i-i-king! K-k-k-k-king!" He began to run frantically through the woods, calling the dog. But no answer. It was getting dark, and he wanted to go back but had forgotten which way he had come.

"M-m-m-mommy! Help me! Where is my dog? Where is King?" He thought this in his head. Suddenly, he heard a bark and there was the dog. Jeremy ran to him and called him King once more and the dog came. He was so happy. But it had gotten dark. He stayed by the tree and waited and prayed silently for help.

Meanwhile back at the Spencer's, there was worry and fear.

"Jonathan, it is too dark to go out, I am sure that Jeremy knows to bed down in one spot for the night. Jason and Joshua have taught him as well as you!" Mr. Spencer said.

Jonathan replied: "I know but this close to losing his mother, I am a little on edge tonight. Jason, Joshua, do you have any idea if your brother has named his dog yet?"
They looked at each other not sure what to say or why their father asked the question.

Jonathan seeing the confusion in their eyes just said: "If that dog has been named, we may be able to call the dog and he will take us to him."
They both understood then but the smiles on their faces turned down as they realized they did not have a name for the dog.

"Then we will wait until morning. The weather will be damp and cool, but I am sure that Jeremy will be okay for one night."

"Da, why can't Joshua and I go out to look for him. I know that we may not find him, but I can't just wait until daylight!" Jason said.

Jonathan looked at his son thoughtfully,
"Okay, check no more than a mile out from all four sides. We will…"
"Mr. Bolt, there is an ocean in front of us, so only three sides need to be looked at. I am guessing he went into the woods off the point. If we search just a mile inward each way now. We can do more tomorrow in the daylight!"
Jason, and Joshua both said they were ready. So, they went out and searched, nothing came of it. When Jason and Joshua got in about an hour and a half, they were tired. Mrs. Spencer fed them a little food and something to drink and sent them to bed.

Jonathan was distressed he did not want to lose his youngest son, nor did he want to lose his older ones as well. He could not sleep well and kept tossing and turning.

The night was definitely cool and damp. A little rain shower came and went. Jeremy was sleeping in the hollow of a tree. Someone was standing over him and King was not barking but lay quietly next to him. This person put a blanket that shimmered with a million stars on him to keep him warm and dry and sang a song for him. He was asleep and comfortable. King kept watch that night.