CHAPTER 4
Laying Candy on the bed, Jeremy kneels on the floor beside her holding her hand and sweeping her hair from her face with his other hand. "Candy, can you hear me?" he cries. "I'm here, Sweetheart. It's all over and you're safe now. Candy, I'm so sorry," he says as he kisses her hand.
"Jeremy," Allyn says placing her hand on his shoulder. "Jeremy, I need some hot tea for Candy. Chamomile tea if you have some. Would you please go down and make some?"
"Hot tea? Why? Why tea?" He starts to rise but stops. "I can't leave Candy by herself."
"It's all right, Jeremy. I'll stay with her until you get back."
"No, I need to be here with her."
"Jeremy, please do this for Candy."
Jeremy hesitates before asking, "You won't leave her?"
"No, I promise. I'll stay right here by her side."
"Okay, I don't understand, but I'll get the tea," he says reluctantly as he squeezes Candy's hand before he goes.
He walks to the kitchen and fills the kettle with water, then sets it on the stove to heat. While he waits he goes to the parlor and sees Rafe still laying on the floor covered with a blanket.
"What the hell is he still doing here? I want him out of my house now!" Jeremy states angrily.
Putting his hand on Jeremy's shoulder, Jason answers, "Jeremy, we're just trying to decide what to do with him. Where to bury him. The church graveyard?"
"No, not the church graveyard. I never want Candy to have to see his name or his grave. She doesn't need to be reminded of him ever again. Don't bury him anywhere close to Seattle. Not even in Washington territory."
"Maybe he has some kin that would take him," Corky suggests.
Shaking his head, Jeremy says, "No, I don't think so. He said once that his whole family was wiped out by the law, but that could have been another one of his lies. Look, I'd take him myself to either the Oregon or Idaho territories if I could, but I can't leave Candy."
"Don't worry about it Jeremy. Me and Corky will take care of it," Josh tells him.
"Josh, you promise to get him out of Washington territory?" Jeremy asks.
"I promise, Jeremy and we won't tell anyone, not even you, where we buried him. You can count on us little brother."
"Thanks Josh. You too Corky. I guess I better get the tea upstairs to Allyn. What did she need tea for? Candy's in no shape to drink it," Jeremy says. "I think Allyn just wanted me to leave the room so she could examine Candy."
"How is Candy?" Jason inquires.
With his eyes filling with tears he answers, "I don't know. She hasn't spoken. She just lays there staring at nothing." Jeremy has a thought and his eyes get big. "What if he. . .he raped her? Oh God, no wonder she's the way she is," he cries.
"Maybe Candy stopped him before he got that far," Josh offers.
"I hope so, but seeing how Candy looks. If that bastard wasn't already dead, I'd kill him myself."
"And we'd be tempted to look the other way," Aaron replies. "Jeremy, I know this isn't the time, but I will have to speak with Candy about what happened. I want you to know though, Candy will not be charged with murder. I'll personally see to it that she won't be facing any charges at all."
Jeremy nods his head. "Thanks Aaron, but I don't know when Candy will be able to talk with you. Allyn says she's in shock. She hasn't even acknowledged me yet. What if she doesn't snap out of it?"
Putting his arm around Jeremy's shoulder, Jason tells him, "You go on back up and see to your wife and baby. We'll get the room cleaned up and fix the back door."
With a nod and a thanks, Jeremy goes to the kitchen to get the tea and takes it upstairs. He enters the bedroom and sets the tea on the small table beside the bed. Seeing that Candy looks the same as when he left, he asks, "How is she? Has she said anything?"
Allyn takes him by the arm and leads him away from the bed. In a low voice she answers, "No, not a word. Jeremy, I did a quick exam on Candy while you were gone. I. . ."
"Allyn, did he. . .did he rape her?"
"I didn't see any evidence of vaginal trauma that is consistent with being raped. There should be some lacerations and bruising caused by the struggle and penetration but there wasn't. My guess is no, but Candy will have to tell you that answer for sure," she replies as she places a hand on his shoulder.
"Poor Candy. What she must have gone through," Jeremy laments.
"Jeremy, there's more. I'm sorry to tell you, but it looks like Candy lost the baby."
"Oh God, no! Allyn, please tell me that didn't happen."
"I wish I could tell you that, but Jeremy there was so much blood on the floor downstairs and all over Candy. I'm pretty sure the baby's gone. I'm sorry."
He looks up at the ceiling and closes his eyes. Taking a deep breath and then opening his eyes, he looks over at Candy before telling Allyn, "Candy sensed that someone was watching her for several days. She was scared. But what did I do? Nothing. I told her it was probably her imagination."
"Jeremy, you. . ."
"I told her I would always protect her and keep her safe. I failed." Tears slowly fall down his cheeks. "I failed her. I didn't protect her and now we've lost our baby."
Allyn puts her arms around him. "Jeremy, you didn't fail her. You came as soon as you knew something was happening. Please, don't blame yourself. I'm pretty sure Candy won't blame you either."
"I hope she doesn't, but I understand if she does. Allyn, will Candy be all right?"
"In time, yes. Jeremy, she's going to need you more than ever right now." She walks with Jeremy over to the bed. "Let's get her cleaned up as much as possible. I'd really like to put her in the tub, but I don't think she can handle it right now with the way she is. Maybe when she feels better, we'll get her in there. Could you get me a clean nightgown and whatever else she sleeps in." Allyn begins to wash Candy's face ever so gently with the water she poured in a basin.
"Sure, that's the least I can do." He gathers the items for Candy and lays them at the foot of the bed, then he sits by her side. Taking her hand in his, he starts to talk to her. "Candy, can you hear me? I love you." Candy just lays there staring.
Jeremy continues to talk to Candy while Allyn washes her the best she can. They just finish putting a clean nightgown on her when Jeremy says, "Candy? Honey, can you say something?"
Candy doesn't hear the pause. All she hears is Candy Honey and it brings her back to reality. She jerks and lashes out at Jeremy thinking he is Richard. "Don't call me that! Stop! Get away from me! Don't, please don't! Jeremy, help me!" she hits and screams at him.
"Candy, Candy it's me, Jeremy! Oh God! I wasn't thinking. I'm so sorry, Candy," he says as he wraps her up in his arms and let's her cry. "Shh, it's all right. You're safe now." He kisses her forehead as she begins to calm down.
Looking at Allyn he explains. "He called her," he mouths the words Candy Honey. "I wasn't thinking when I said that."
"I understand. Maybe it's a good thing, you calling her that. It brought her back to us," Allyn says.
Jeremy nods his head to Allyn. "Candy, I love you so much. I'm so sorry I wasn't here to protect you like I said I would. Please forgive me." He is crying now as he gently rocks her back and forth.
"I'm going to step out of the room for a while to give you two some privacy," Allyn tells Jeremy.
Candy is clinging tightly to Jeremy while she sobs. "You're all right now. I promise. Candy, will you say something? Say anything. I just need to hear your voice."
Her voice quivering and her body trembling, Candy finally says, "He hurt. . .me. Oh Jeremy. . .he hurt me," she sobs.
"I know Sweetheart. I know he did and I am so sorry, but he'll never hurt you again. I promise."
"Jeremy?" she says.
"Umm," Jeremy replies.
"He hit me. . .over and over. . .when I called for you. ..He kept hit—ting." she cries. "I thought he was going. . .to kill me and . . .and. . .and our ba—by. . .oh, Jeremy!"
Holding her tighter, Jeremy whispers, "Shh, I'm here now, you're safe, our baby's, uh, you're safe Candy. Everything will be all right," he kisses her forehead again as it pains him to say that. How can everything be all right, when they've lost their baby, he wonders."Why don't you lay back down and sleep? Can I get you anything? Are you in pain?"
"I hurt. . .all over. My. . .my head hurts. . .and my mouth. . .I can't see too. . .good. . .out of my eye."
Jeremy helps her lay back down. "Maybe Allyn can give you something for the pain."
"No. . .I don't want.. .to take anything. . .that could harm. . .the baby."
Jeremy hesitates. "All right. You just close your eyes and rest." He brushes her hair from her face with his hand. "I love you, Candy," he whispers as she is already drifting off to sleep.
While Candy sleeps, Jeremy goes downstairs to make sure Rafe is gone and the parlor is cleaned up. He doesn't want there to be any sign of what has taken place there. Candy doesn't need any more reminders. He makes arrangements for Biddie to take Molly and Christopher for a few days, just until Candy starts to feel better.
"Look, we can't, Candy and me, we can't take care of you right now. Please understand. I know you want to stay here with your sister, but she needs you to go with Biddie. Do this for Candy, please. I'll let you know as soon as possible when you can come home."
"That's right, Molly, Christopher. You would be helping Candy a whole lot by going with Biddie. This way she won't be worrying about you. She can concentrate on getting better," Allyn tells them.
"Well, all right," Molly says. "But you will tell her we love her, won't you?"
"And we hope she feels better soon. And the baby too," Christopher adds.
Jeremy blinks the tears back as he says, "I'll tell her, I promise. Now give me a big hug and run along with Biddie. I need to get back upstairs before your sister wakes up."
Giving Biddie a hug too, he says, "Thanks, Biddie. It means a lot."
"Why certainly, Jeremy. I'm glad I can help. Do tell Candy not to worry about the children and I'll see her in a few days," Biddie replies.
The door closes and Allyn says, "I'll be glad to stay Jeremy, if you want me too."
"No, Allyn, I think we'll be all right. Hopefully, Candy will sleep all night. Thanks for everything."
"You're welcome. I'll be by first thing in the morning to check on Candy. You go get some rest, too."
"I will. See you in the morning. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
