CHAPTER 10

"Hmmmmm," Dr. Wise murmurs as he examines Candy's eyes. "Hmmmmm," he repeats. Standing straight and moving the candle and his tray of instruments out of his way he asks, "So a horse did this to you, you say?"

"Yes sir," Candy replies.

"Can you help her regain her sight?" Jeremy asks hurriedly.

"It's possible. There are no guarantees, I'm afraid," Dr. Wise responds.

"How soon can you try?" Candy asks hopefully.

Dr. Wright speaks up. "Wait, Candy. Shouldn't you find out what the procedure is before agreeing to it?"

"I don't care what the procedure is. If it's possible to see again, I'll agree to anything," Candy excitedly says.

"No, Miss Pruitt. Dr. Wright is correct. We should talk about the procedure available. Now, I think your problem is that pressure has built up where the horse hit you and it is interfering with your sight. So, what I recommend is drilling a hole in your skull to relieve the pressure. I will. . ."

"No! You're not going to drill a hole in her head. No way!" Jeremy shouts.

"Jeremy, please. Don't be like this. I want to hear what he has to say," Candy reprimands him.

"But Candy, you. . ." Jeremy begins.

"Jeremy, maybe you and I should go out in the waiting area while Dr. Wise explains this to Candy,"

Dr. Wright suggests.

"No, there's no way I'm leaving her alone with him. I'll listen, but Candy you can't agree to this until you and I discuss it. All right?" Jeremy asks.

"Jeremy, I haven't agreed to anything. I just want to know what my options are. I promise that you and I will talk about it before I make my decision," Candy tells him. "Now Dr. Wise, I have a question. What are the chances that this will work?"

"Well, I'm certain that I can relieve the pressure. There's a good chance that you will get your vision back. But. . . but there is only about a 52 percent chance that you will survive."

Candy and Dr. Wright gasps while Jeremy smacks his forehead with his hand and shakes his head.

"Drilling the hole in your skull to relieve the pressure works. The low survival rate is from the deadly infections that can occur."

"Oh, I see," Candy frowns and shakes her head. "I mean, I understand. All right, we'll go and talk this over. I'll let you know my decision soon. Thank you for seeing me." Candy rises and holds her hand out to Jeremy. "Jeremy?"

"I'm right here, Candy. Let's get out of here." He takes her hand in his and places his other arm around her guiding her to the door. "Allyn, you coming?"

"Yes, I'm right behind you."

Back at Julie's home, they all sit in the parlor and discuss the surgery. Tempers become short.

Jeremy is beside himself with worry. "Candy, I understand you want your sight back. But not at the expense of your life. It's not worth it."

"To me, it is," Candy sighs.

"Oh my Gawd! I can't take much more of this," Jeremy moans.

"Allyn, Julie, would you mind giving Jeremy and me some time alone?" Candy asks.

"Not at all," Julie answers. "Allyn, why don't we go sit on the front porch and get some fresh air."

"Sounds wonderful," Allyn replies as they hurry out of the house.

"Jeremy, would you please come sit beside me?" After he sits down, she takes his hands in hers and leans over on his shoulder. "Jeremy, I love you. You know that, don't you?"

"Of course I know you love me. I love you, too. That's why I don't want you to go through with this surgery. Candy, you heard the doctor say there's a 50 percent chance that you could die. Those are not good odds. I won't let you risk your life like this."

"But it's my life, not yours."

"You're wrong there. It is my life too, because you are my life. Candy, I won't lose you, I can't."

"I know," she sighs heavily. "But Jeremy, I don't want to live like this. I want to be able to see you again. To see your beautiful blue eyes, to see that big smile of yours, and to see that luscious head of hair." She turns to him and takes his face in her hands and pulls him close to where their lips meet. She gives him the most seductive kiss she's ever given him.

"Candy, you're not being fair. You know I usually give in to you when you kiss me like that." He pulls away from her. "But it's not going to work, not this time. There's too much at risk. If you go through with this, I won't be there with you. I won't sit out there in the waiting area and wait for the doctor to come out and tell me you didn't make it. I can't hear those words. I'm sorry." Jeremy gets up and rushes out the door letting it slam behind him.

"Jeremy? Is everything all right?" Julie asks.

"No, it's not. Can you please go inside and see to Candy? I have to get away from here before I go insane."

"Where are you going?" Allyn inquires.

"I don't really know. For a walk, to get a drink, over to the Shamus O'Flynn. I don't know." He shoves his hands into his pants pockets and starts walking down the street with his head hung low and tears stinging his eyes.

Jeremy arrives back at Julie's house around midnight. He lets himself in with the key hidden outside under the doormat. Walking quietly so as not to disturb anyone, he jumps when he hears, "Jeremy, are you all right?"

He turns towards the voice and sees Candy in her nightgown and nightcap sitting on the settee. "What are you doing up? I thought you'd be asleep by now," he says as he goes and sits down beside her.

"I couldn't sleep, not knowing where you were or if you were all right. So where were you all this time?" Candy asks while wringing her hands.

"Well, I walked down to that park to sit and I did some thinking. I decided I needed a drink so I went to some saloon, I don't remember the name, and had a beer. Then I bought a bottle of whiskey and went over to the Shamus O'Flynn to share it with Clancey. I was going to just stay there for the night, but he kicked me off the boat. Said I wasn't going to worry you all night long. That you didn't deserve that. He's right. I'm sorry."

"I'm glad you came back. Remind me to thank the Captain, will you?" she lays her head on his shoulder. "Jeremy, I'm sorry too. I know you're worried about me and I love you for caring about me like you do."

"Have you made your decision yet?" Jeremy asks scared of the answer he'll receive.

"No, I haven't. I thought I'd sleep on it and see what I come up with in the morning."

"Well, you better get to bed then. Come on and I'll tuck you in," he chuckles.

After getting Candy back in bed, Jeremy leans over and kisses her on the lips. "Pleasant dreams. I love you."

"Pleasant dreams to you, too. I love you."

Jeremy opens the door and stops. "Candy, Clancey is leaving for Seattle on tomorrow evenings high tide." He hesitates and bites at his lip. "Uh, I'm going with him. I'm going home. I hope you'll join me, but if you can't, then I wish you God's blessings." He goes out and shuts the door.