CHAPTER 4

"Jason! Jason, this is going to make your day," Ben says as he runs into the office tent up at Bolt Brother's Logging and hands him a piece of paper. "It's from Candy."

"Candy! Well, I was wondering when we were going to hear from her," Jason says as he hurriedly opens the telegram. Smiling he says, "Wonderful! She made it there safely and her Mother is still there. I think I could use a beer. After all I need to let Lottie and Biddie know about this. Come on Ben, I'll buy you one, too."

"No, thanks Jason. I need to get back to the store. Glad you have one less thing to worry about."

"Don't remind me, Ben. Jeremy and Josh should be home within the week. How I dread breaking the news to Jeremy," Jason sighs while shaking his head. "I'll walk back to town with you."

At the end of the week, Jason is waiting nervously as the Shamus O'Flynn pulls into the dock. He sees his brothers waving happily as they wait for the gangplank to be put in place. Jeremy is the first one off as he comes running to Jason. He looks all around before asking, "Jason, where's Candy? Why isn't she here?"

"Jeremy, let's go to the cabin. We. . ."

"The cabin? So, that's where she is. I'll meet you there!" Jeremy says excitedly as he takes off running to the Bolt cabin.

"Come on Josh. We've got to get home, now!" Jason tells Josh as he grabs him by the arm.

"Why? What's the hurry? Don't you think Jeremy and Candy need a little time alone?" Josh laughs.

"Candy's not there. Jeremy is going to be devastated. Come on!" They run to the cabin as fast as they can. Coming up on the porch, they hear Jeremy running through the cabin calling for Candy.

Jason shuts the door and grabs his little brother by the shoulders. "Calm down, Jeremy."

"Jason, where's Candy?"

Jason bites on his bottom lip. "Candy's gone, Jeremy. She's gone. I hate to be the. . ."

"Gone? What do you mean, she's gone?" His eyes fill with tears. "Candy's d-d-dead?"

"No, not that kind of gone. I should have worded it differently. I'm sorry. Here, let's sit down," Jason tries to lead him over to the table.

"I don't want to sit down! I want to know where Candy is!" Jeremy shouts.

"And I'm going to tell you. Just give me a chance," Jason replies. "A couple days after you and Josh left, Candy got a telegram from her Mother telling Candy that she was seriously ill and she needed for Candy to come home and tend to her."

"So, Candy is on her way to New Bedford? Have you talked to her?" Jeremy asks.

"Wait!" Josh states. "If Candy has gone to New Bedford, does that mean we lost the mountain?"

Jason is frustrated from all the questions. "Look, I need the two of you to sit down and just listen. Sit!"

Jeremy and Josh sit but Jeremy is mumbling to himself. "Jeremy, hush! I'm not going to talk over you."

"All right! Talk! Just please tell me where Candy is and if she's all right," Jeremy begs.

"When Candy found out her Mother was sick, she went to see Aaron first thing."

"Stempel? Why him?" Jeremy asks.

"Well, she begged him to let her out of the contract so she could go tend to her Mother who is dying.

She. . ."

"Dying? Candy's Mother is dying? No wonder she went back to New Bedford," Jeremy moans. "I should have been here with her."

"Well, I don't think it would have changed anything if you were here. Candy had her mind made up on what she had to do. Now, to make a long story short, Candy talked Aaron into letting her out of the contract. Candy left and we still have our mountain."

"Thanks to Candy," Josh says sarcastically.

"Yes, thanks to Candy," Jason replies while shaking his head. He goes over to the hutch and opens a drawer bringing out the envelope addressed to Jeremy. "Candy asked me to give you this." Jason hands the envelope to Jeremy. "Josh and I will be outside."

Jeremy eagerly opens the envelope and takes out a letter. He sits down to read:

My Dear Sweet Jeremy,

I love you. I love you so much. As you know by now, I'm in New Bedford to help my Mother. I didn't want to leave Seattle, to leave you, but she's my Mother and she's dying. I needed to be here with her. I think you would have done the same thing if it had been your Mother asking you to come home to see her one last time. I hope you understand why I had to leave.

Jeremy, this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. To tell you that I won't be coming back to Seattle. To you. My place is here in New Bedford with my Mother, for ever how long she may live. Then when she passes, I have to stay here and take care of my little brother and sister. Please, understand. I know you'll ask "Well Candy, why can't they come here to Seattle?" The answer is no, Jeremy. I can't ask them to leave the only home they've ever known and go clear across the country to a strange place so soon after they lose their Mother.

And then your next thought will be, "I'll move to New Bedford. We can get married and raise the children." The answer is no, Jeremy. You don't belong in a place like New Bedford. Seattle is your home. That's where you belong and where I want you to stay. You would never be happy being cooped up in New Bedford, not for very long anyways. You need the wide open spaces, with tall trees and the freshest air to breathe. You need Seattle and Bridal Veil Mountain. Seattle and Bridal Veil Mountain needs you. And raising two small children that are not yours, is not fair to you. You don't need that responsibility hanging on your shoulders. No, the children are my responsibility and I will raise them by myself. Please do not come here. You will not change my mind.

Jeremy, I'm setting you free. Go find a woman that will love you as much as I do. One that will put you first above all others. Marry her and raise a family with her. She will be the luckiest woman on the face of this earth. I'm so sorry, I can't be her.

I love you Jeremy Bolt. Please, forgive me.

Candy

Jeremy can't believe what he just read, so he reads it again. He goes into his room and begins packing his bag. When finished, he carries his bag outside where Jason and Josh are still waiting.

"Jeremy, where do you think you're going?" Jason asks.

"To New Bedford, where else? She can't think I would just let her ride out of my life like this. She was upset and not thinking clearly when she wrote that," Jeremy states.

"Well Jeremy, I want you to read this telegram Candy sent me a couple of days ago. Maybe it'll help you realize she means what she says."

Jeremy grabs the telegram and reads.

To Jason Bolt Seattle Washington Territory

Arrived yesterday All went okay Mother is still with us Take good care of Jeremy Don't let him come here I don't want to see him Candy

Jeremy crumples the paper up in his hand and throws it at Jason. "She can't mean that, Jason. She can't," Jeremy says as his eyes fill with tears.

"Jeremy, whether she means it or not, that is what she wants for now. You need to honor her wishes. Maybe she'll change her mind. Stay here. . ."

"But Jason, I love her. I don't want to lose her."

Josh says, "Jeremy, it sounds like you already have. Let her go. There's other fish in the sea."

"Josh!" Jason says in a warning voice.

"Oh, too soon? Sorry Jeremy," Josh says sorrowfully.

"Yeah, me too." Jeremy carries his bag back to his room and throws it, knocking the picture he has of Candy off the small table beside his bed. He lays down on the bed and wonders what he has done to deserve this.