CHAPTER 2
The next day being Saturday, Jeremy and Candy decide to go into town to tell their news. The first stop being the Bolt cabin.
Jeremy knocks on the door as he opens it. "Can we come in?" he asks knowing that Jason is going to be mad at him.
Josh says, "Come on in you two. You may want to steer clear of Jason. He's still pretty upset."
Just then Jason comes out of his room. "Well, look who decided to grace us with his presence, Josh," he says as he stares at Jeremy.
"Look Jason, I can. . ." Jeremy begins.
"No you look, Jeremy. I realize you're a married man now, but you still have responsibilities up at camp. We can't have you running off to do whatever strikes your fancy."
Jeremy stands there and just grins. "I don't care what you say to me, Jason. You're not going to ruin this great mood that Candy and I are in. Now, why don't you both sit down and close your mouths. We have something to say." He takes Candy's hand and kisses her fingertips. Looking back at his brothers, he sees that Josh has sat down but Jason is still standing. "Jason, I said to sit down," he says forcibly.
Jason sits down reluctantly. "What's this all about, Jeremy?"
"Well Jason, yesterday when Candy came up to the camp and you ran her off, she didn't just come to have a picnic. She had some very important news to tell me."
"Good grief, Jeremy. You think anything Candy says is important. Is it more important than our bidding trip?" Jason asks.
"Oh shut up, Jason," Josh says. "I for one want to hear this." He winks at Candy thinking he knows what they want to say.
"Thank you, Joshua," Candy says.
"To answer your question Jason, yes it is more important than the bidding trip. Much more important." He pauses and looks at Candy. He takes a deep breath and says, "We're going to have a baby! I'm going to be a Daddy! You're going to be uncles!" He claps his hands.
"Hey, what about me?" Candy asks.
"Oh and Candy's going to be a Mama!" Jeremy laughs.
Jason and Josh jump up and hug their little brother and sister-in-law. "Congratulations little brother! Congratulations Candy! I can't believe it! I'm going to be an uncle!" Jason says excitedly.
Josh kisses Candy on the cheek. "Candy, Jeremy congratulations! When is the baby due?"
"Allyn says in about six months," Candy replies. Looking at Jason she says, "Jason, you made me so mad yesterday that I thought about keeping the news from you for another week or so, but I just couldn't do it. I knew Jeremy was bursting to tell both of you."
"Uh, about yesterday, Candy. I want to apologize for my behavior. Our bidding trip wasn't the only reason I wanted Jeremy to join us for lunch. It was mainly because I miss my little brother and I was looking forward to spending some time with him."
"I understand that, Jason. Jeremy and I don't get much alone time to talk either with Molly and Christopher always being with us."
"Speaking of Molly and Chris, how did they take the news of the baby?" Josh asks.
"Oh you know, Molly is excited about becoming an aunt, but Christopher could care less about becoming an uncle," Candy answers. "Jeremy, I'd like to go on over and tell Biddie the news. Why don't you stay here and spend some time with your brothers while I go over and visit the girls? You can come to the dormitory later. Then we'll go tell Lottie."
Jeremy says, "I'd like that. You sure you don't mind me not going to see Biddie and the girls?"
"Of course, I don't mind."
"All right. I'll be over in about an hour. How's that?"
"That's fine." She leans over and they give each other a kiss. Goodbyes are said and Candy walks to the door. Stepping out onto the porch, she stops and stares around at her surroundings.
Jeremy walks out and asks, "Candy, is there something wrong?"
"I don't know, Jeremy. I just got that feeling again. You know, like someone is watching me." She shivers.
Jeremy looks around and not seeing anything, puts his arms around Candy's waist drawing her close. "I don't see anyone. Candy, do you want me to walk you to the dormitory? Then I can come back here while you have your visit."
Molly and Chris run up on the porch. "Hey Candy! Hey Jeremy!"
"Oh, you're just in time to walk with me to the dormitory. Jeremy, thank you for offering, but I'll walk with Molly and Christopher. See you in an hour," Candy says.
"You sure you're all right?" Jeremy asks.
Nodding her head yes she says, "I'm fine. Now you enjoy your time with your brothers." They kiss and Candy walks to the dormitory with her siblings while Jeremy watches them until they go around the totem pole.
Reentering the cabin, Jeremy pours himself a cup of coffee and joins his brothers at the table. "I'd like to get your opinion about something. Yesterday when I caught up with Candy, she was so scared she was shaking. She said she heard someone walking in the woods and she could feel that she was being watched. I convinced her it was an animal, but when we got home, she didn't want to have our picnic outside. Even though she said she wasn't scared any more, I could tell she was. When we went in the parlor, our wedding picture was on the floor with the glass broken. She wondered if someone could have taken it down. I took the blame for it by saying I didn't hang it securely. But I know I did. There's no way that picture could have fallen on it's own."
"What are you saying, Jeremy? You think Candy has a stalker?" Josh asks concerned.
"I don't know. But when she just now went outside on the porch, she said she felt someone watching her again. I didn't see anyone, but this is really causing me to worry. What if someone is watching her? Just because I don't see anyone, does that mean someone can't be watching her?"
"It's probably her imagination, Jeremy. I've heard tell of some women doing some pretty weird stuff when they become with child," Jason says. "Besides, who around here would stalk Candy? Everyone knows she loves her husband."
"Maybe Jason." He shakes his head. "Last night, she kept asking me if I locked the doors. And she wouldn't let me out of her sight. Just now, she hesitated on going to the dormitory by herself. I offered to walk her over there, but Molly and Chris came and walked with her. She's truly afraid."
"The only advice I can give you is to keep your eyes and ears open. Try to reassure her that she's safe," Jason says.
"Maybe someone can stay with her for awhile so she won't be alone," Josh states.
"Well, that's not a problem for a few more days, but come Monday, I don't know what she'll do when I go back to work and the kids go off to school," Jeremy informs them.
Jason states, "She'll be all right, Jeremy. Candy is a strong sensible woman. She'll probably realize that nobody is watching her and laugh about how shes acting."
"I hope so. I promised her that I would protect her and keep her safe. If anything happens to her. . ." Jeremy shakes his head.
"Nothing is going to happen. You have to keep the faith," Josh tells him.
"I know." He clears his throat, "Now, what about this bidding trip?"
Sunday night as Jeremy is laying in bed watching Candy brush her hair he says, "Candy, we need to talk."
Laying her brush down, she goes to the bed. Taking her robe off, she gets into bed and props herself up on the headboard. "Okay, I'm listening. What do you want to talk about?"
Jeremy scoots up in bed so he's propped up next to Candy. He takes her hand and squeezes it gently. "Well Candy, I was just wondering if you were going to be all right being here by yourself tomorrow. I have to go back to work and the kids have to go to school."
"Why wouldn't I be all right? I'm a big girl and I can be by myself, you know," she giggles.
"I know you've been scared for the past couple days. Feeling like someone is watching you."
She playfully slaps him on his arm. "Oh that, I just realized how silly I was being. Who would want to watch an old married pregnant woman?" she laughs. "I'll be fine. Don't you worry."
"You have seemed better today. But Candy, if you're still scared tell me and I'll get Biddie or one of the other girls to come stay with you. I don't want you to be locked up in this house being afraid."
"You're so sweet, Jeremy," she says as she kisses his cheek. "I do feel better. I haven't felt anything strange today. I think I was upset, so my over active imagination ran wild. I'll be all right, Jeremy. I promise."
Jeremy wraps her up in his arms. "That's my sensible girl." He kisses her. "I guess we better get to sleep. Goodnight, Sweetheart. I love you."
"I love you, too. Goodnight," she replies.
They lay down holding each other while falling asleep.
