CHAPTER 8

When Jason and Josh arrive home from camp, they're surprised to see Jeremy sitting on the porch alone like a sad little puppy, no Candy in sight. Jason asks, "Is Candy inside?" Jeremy shakes his head no. "Did you talk to her? Since she's not here, I take it that you did."

Jeremy raises his head to look at his brothers with red puffy eyes. "Yeah, I told her."

"She didn't take it so well, huh?" Josh asks.

"Well, she was upset and tried to talk me out of it, but. . .I wish you could have seen her when she left. She looked so lost. So broken." Tears spill from Jeremy's eyes. "I wish I knew if she were all right."

"Do you want me to go check on her?" Josh asks. "Did she go to the dormitory?"

"I don't know, I guess so."

"Jeremy, I'm sure she's fine. Josh, go to the dormitory and check," Jason states.

"Got it," Josh says. "Don't worry Jeremy, I'll find her." He runs to the dormitory and doesn't bother knocking on the door. As he enters, he doesn't see Candy anywhere, but he does see Biddie and Ann sitting at a table talking.

"Well Joshua Bolt! I haven't seen you around here in a long time. I thought you had forgotten all about us," Ann giggles.

"Sorry for the intrusion, Ladies. But is Candy here? I need to see her."

"Candy? No, she's not here. I haven't seen her since this morning when she left to go see Jeremy. Is she missing?" Biddie asks.

"No, not exactly. Well, to be honest, I'm not sure. Biddie, will you go upstairs and be sure she's not up there?" Josh requests.

Biddie runs upstairs and quickly runs back down. "No, she's not up there. No one has seen her."

Ann says, "Joshua, maybe her and Jeremy went somewhere. They have been going out to a few places lately."

"Yeah, that's probably it. I find Jeremy, then I'll find Candy," Josh chuckles not wanting to alarm the girls. "I think I'll go over to Lottie's and get a beer. See you girls later. And thanks."

Josh sees Lottie behind the bar pouring drinks for some customers. "Lottie, have you seen Candy?" he asks.

"Her and Jeremy were here for lunch earlier. Is she missing?" Lottie inquires.

"No, guess not," Josh says. "Thanks, Lottie."

Josh stops on the saloon porch to think. Where could she be? Maybe at the church. He hurries over to the church and still no Candy. Josh is really starting to get worried now. He hurries back to the Bolt cabin.

As soon as Jeremy sees Josh he demands," Well, did you find her? Is she all right?"

Shaking his head Josh answers, "No and nobody has seen her. I looked at the dormitory, at Lottie's, and at the church. Jeremy, is there anywhere else she may have gone?"

Jeremy thinks for a couple seconds. "Yeah, there is. Maybe she went to our favorite spot. That makes sense, doesn't it? Josh, it's the big boulder beside the river on the road to the camp. Hurry Josh!" Jeremy looks at Jason, "She has to be there, Jason. She has to."

When Josh gets there, he sees Candy sitting on the big boulder. He gives a sigh of relief. "Mind if I sit down?" he asks.

"Suit yourself. Did Jeremy send you?" Candy asks.

"He's worried about you, Candy?"

"If he were worried about me, he wouldn't be leaving. Joshua, what do I do to make him change his mind? I love him and I don't want to lose him."

"I wish I knew. Jason and I tried talking to him without any luck. He must feel pretty bad about himself to go away from home. From his family. From the woman he loves. And he does love you, Candy."

"I know he does. But I guess I'm just not enough to make him stay."

"I don't think that's it. You are the main reason he thinks he has to go. He feels like he's not good enough for you any longer. He's tired of depending on you for everything. He wants you to have a better life than what he can give you. Jeremy loves you so much that he's willing to give you up so you can have a full life."

"The only way I'll have a full life, is if Jeremy is part of it. I have to try to change his mind before Clancey gets here."

"Jason and I will continue talking to him, too. Hopefully, somebody can get through to him. Are you ready to go back? I need to let Jeremy know I found you. Why don't you walk back with me, so Jeremy can see for himself that you're all right?"

"As much as I want to see Jeremy, I can't. I'm not ready." She bites on her lip. "Joshua. . . he. . .he hurt me," she cries as Josh puts his arm around her shoulders.

"I know he did, Candy. I'm sorry," he says as he blinks back his tears. "You need to remember that Jeremy is hurting, too. This is tearing him up inside knowing how much he hurt you. But he did what he thinks is best and when he has his mind made up, well, you know."

"Yes, I know. It's that Bolt stubbornness. All three of you suffer from it."

Josh chuckles, "I guess we do." They sit in silence for a minute or so. "Candy, will you be all right here alone? It's going to be dark soon."

"You go on. I'll be fine. I just want to sit here for a little longer, then I'll go home. Home? Oh, how I dread going back to the dormitory."

"I'm sure you do. Just tell those nosy girls, to mind their own business," Josh says as he stands up.

"They mean well, I guess. It's just I want to be left alone. Goodnight, Joshua."

"Goodnight. Don't stay out here too long, okay?"

"Okay." She watches Joshua leave when she calls after him. "Joshua?"

"Yes?"

"Tell Jeremy, I'm. . .no, just tell him I love him."

"I will."

As soon as Jeremy sees Josh, he asks, "What took you so long? Did you find her? Is she all right?"

"Yes, I found her sitting on the boulder crying her eyes out. Jeremy, you broke her heart."

"I know, but it couldn't be helped. Where is she now? Did you take her back to the dormitory?"

"She's still there. She said she dreaded going back home because the girls would ask questions that she wasn't ready to answer."

"You left her there all alone?" Jeremy shouts. "Josh, why would you do that?"

"Jeremy, calm down!" Jason says.

"Well Jeremy, I asked her to come here, but, uh,. . ."

"But what? Why wouldn't she come here?"

"Because of you Jeremy. She said you hurt her and she's not ready to see you."

Jeremy holds his face in his hands and rubs his temples. "I have to see her. Somebody help me get over to the dormitory."

"No, Jeremy," Jason says. "You leave Candy alone tonight. Give her time to come to terms with your breakup. You can see her in the morning."

"Jeremy, Jason's right," Josh says. "She said she wants to be alone Oh, she said to tell you something. She said tell Jeremy, I love him."

"Oh Candy," Jeremy moans. "I love you, too."