BLIND

CHAPTER 1

The Shamus O'Flynn pulls along side the Seattle dock in the late afternoon to no fanfare at all. There's hardly anyone waiting for their return, only a handful of people that Jeremy does recognize having seen before but doesn't know personally. No Bolt brothers, no Lottie, no Ben or Aaron, no brides, and worst of all, NO CANDY. Where is everybody? Jeremy Bolt asks himself, then asks of Captain Clancey as Clancey strolls up to stand beside Jeremy.

"Where is everybody, Clancey? It almost looks like a ghost town," Jeremy asks.

"Aye, it does," comments Clancey. "Lottie should be over there ringin' her bell."

"Yeah and Candy should be standing down there waving. She said she would be here to welcome me home," Jeremy sighs. Oh, don't tell me she's out with someone else again. I'm beginning to get fed up with her doing that every time I go out of town, he thinks.

"Wells, looks like we're on our own, Bucko!" the Captain laughs. "Hows bout joinin' me fer a drink over at Lottie's?"

"Might as well. Maybe they're all over at the saloon waiting for us," Jeremy says.

Jeremy and Clancey walk to Lottie's and when they see a closed sign on the door, they are puzzled at what is going on or more like, what is not going on.

"I'm going to the dormitory to see if Candy's there. If she isn't there, maybe somebody can at least tell me where she is. See ya later, Clancey," Jeremy says as he slaps Clancey on the shoulder and heads for the dormitory.

Knocking on the door, he gets no reply. As he walks to his cabin, he thinks Well, if everybody is so busy that they can't even come to welcome me home, then the hell with them. I'm going home and if anybody wants to see me, they'll have to come looking for me. I'm tired, I'm hungry, and damn it, I'm lonesome.

Jeremy unpacks his trunk putting everything away. He lays a beautifully wrapped present on the table. Why did I waste all that time looking for the perfect gift for Candy? She obviously has something more important to attend to, which doesn't include me. Because I love her, that's why. I need to stop feeling sorry for myself. That blue cape I bought her will match her beautiful blue eyes. If I ever see her that is. He grabs a hard cold biscuit and sits down to relax in the big leather chair, but he can't get over the fact that Candy or his brothers didn't meet the boat. The more he thinks about it, the more upset he gets.

Finally the door opens and Jason enters the cabin. "Jeremy! You're back. Welcome home. How long have you been here?"

"Oh about an hour, as if anyone really cares. What's going on Jason? Where is everybody? I was beginning to think that everyone packed up and left Seattle. Where's Candy? She promised to meet the boat when it arrived. Don't tell me she's met another man to spend her time with while I was gone? If she did. . ."

"Jeremy, you need to hush and listen to me," Jason interrupts.

"Why? Just tell me where Candy is. Out walking with some man she just met? I tell you Jason, if she is, then I've had it. I can't trust her anymore and . . ."

"Jeremy! Sit down and close your mouth! After I tell you what's happened, you're going to want to take those words back and bite your tongue off," Jason says sharply.

"Don't you think I. . ." Jeremy starts to ask.

"I said to sit!" Jason shouts.

Jeremy sits and sulks. "Okay. What is it?"

Jason paces the floor before he begins. "A couple days ago, well the day before yesterday, Candy and Janie, you remember that new woman that moved here several months ago, well they were standing in front of Ben's store talking. Janie had her little two year old daughter, Kerrie with her. Well, you know how it is when Candy and another woman get together. They talk and talk and forget about everything else. It seems Kerrie took advantage of the situation and went over to see a horse that was tied up at Lottie's. Nobody knows what happened to cause the horse to behave like it did. Kerrie must have spooked it somehow."

"Is Kerrie all right?" Jeremy asks with concern.

"Yes, Kerrie is fine...thanks to Candy. Candy and Janie heard the horse snorting and saw it rearing up trying to get loose. They ran over and Candy grabbed Kerrie just in time, shoving her into Janie's arms."

"Thank goodness," Jeremy says.

"Yes, thank goodness Candy got there in time to save Kerrie." Jason places his hand on Jeremy's shoulder. "Jeremy, Candy wasn't so lucky. The horse was kicking and Candy. . ." Jason stops to get his emotions in check.

"And Candy, what? Did something happen to Candy?" Jeremy jumps up and asks with much apprehension.

"I'm sorry, Jeremy, but the horse knocked Candy down, trampling on her and in the process he clipped her head."

"Her head? Jason, is Candy. . . is Candy d-dead?" Jeremy asks as his eyes fill with tears and fear.

"Candy's alive. She was knocked out but she still hasn't regained consciousness."

"Where is she? I have to see her!" Jeremy cries.

"I know you do. I just want to prepare you for what you're about to see. Candy is, well, she looks pretty bad. Like I said, she was trampled on before anyone could get the horse away from her. She has lots of cuts and bruises and possibly some broken bones. Allyn won't know until Candy wakes up."

"Jason, is she going to be all right? She's not going to. . . to die, is she?"

"We don't know, Jeremy. Allyn is worried about her still being unconscious." He places his arm over Jeremy's shoulder. "Come on, I'll take you to her."

They get to the porch when Jeremy says, "I feel like a heel, the way I was accusing Candy of seeing another man. You're right. I wish I could bite my tongue off."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, you didn't know."

"But I should have known better. I know she loves me. She told me she would never do anything like that again, but I guess I didn't trust her."

"Yes, she does love you, Jeremy. She loves you very much. And you love her. Maybe your love for her will help bring her back to us."

"I hope so. I can't lose her." Jeremy wipes his eyes with his sleeve as he and Jason rush over to the clinic.