CHAPTER 1
"Candy! Candy Pruitt, wake up! Candy!" Jeremy Bolt is shouting as he bangs on the dormitory door at two o'clock one morning.
Ann opens the door to an anxious Jeremy. "Jeremy Bolt, what in the world is wrong with you? Come back at a decent hour."
"Candy! I need to talk to Candy! Please Ann," he says as she starts to shut the door. "It's important."
Candy comes to the door in her gown and nightcap with a quilt wrapped around herself. "It's all right, Ann. You can go back to bed. All of you can," she says as she looks around at the other girls standing nearby. "Jeremy, what are you doing here at this ungod. . .I mean at this hour?"
"I'm sorry for waking everyone, but Candy I just had to see you."
"Why? Can't it wait till daybreak?" she asks.
"I guess it can, but I can't. Can we talk?"
Candy looks into his eyes and sees that he really is upset. "All right, tell me what's wrong." She shuts the door behind her as she comes out on the porch.
Jeremy takes her hand and leads her over to the bench. They sit down and Jeremy lets go of her hand. He rubs his hands over his face and then through his hair. "I feel like a fool, now."
"Jeremy, just tell me what's happened. I haven't seen you in almost a week since you had to stay at the camp, something to do with a time crunch to get your lumber order finished. So what's happened to make you come here now of all times?"
"Yeah, I have been. All the guys have been stuck at camp. After today we should be finished and we'll have the weekend to come back and live again. I've missed you, Candy."
"I've missed you too, but that can't be the reason you're here now. To tell me that you miss me?"
"No, that's not the reason, but I do miss you." He cradles her face in his hands, "You are so beautiful."
"I think you're still asleep. I look awful. No makeup, hair. . ."
"No, you are beautiful, just the way you are," he says as he kisses her tenderly.
"Jeremy? Are you going to tell me why you're really here?"
"Well Candy, I had a dream. I've. . ."
"A dream? Jeremy, you mean to tell me that you came here at two o'clock in the morning just to tell me about a dream?"
"It's not just one dream. Candy, I've had this dream every night this week. But tonight it was a little different. I woke up and I was scared to death. I could barely breathe."
"What was it about?" she asks as she takes his hand and squeezes it tight.
"Each dream has been a little different, but in all of them we, I mean you and me, we are always arguing and I don't mean just a little spat, either. It's always a full blown shouting, angry argument. About what, I don't remember. I just know we are mad at each other and we argue. But tonight, it went a little far. . .farther."
"Farther? How much farther?"
"Like a whole lot farther. Candy, you. . .you. . .you told me that you. . .you don't love me anymore. I have to know Candy, do you still love me?"
"Oh Jeremy," she says with tears in her eyes. She places her hand on the side of his face and gently rubs his cheek. "I love you. Nothing has changed. It was just a dream."
"But it seemed so real."
"Well, it wasn't real. I love you Jeremy Bolt and I always will." She kisses him on the cheek.
"So, we're good then, right? I have nothing to worry about?" he asks.
"Yes, we're good. You have nothing to worry about. But if you don't go back to camp and get a little sleep, I'm going to worry. Worry about you. I want you to be rested so you'll be alert for work. I don't want you falling asleep on the job and risk getting hurt. We can talk later."
"Can. . .can I just sit here and hold you for a little while? I don't think I can sleep right now."
She lays her head on his shoulder. "That sounds nice. I'd like for you to hold me."
Jeremy places his arm around her shoulders and pulls her closer to him. After a minute or so he says, "Candy?"
"Hmm?"
"Candy, can I take you to supper over at Lottie's tonight?"
"I'd like that."
"And can we spend the day together tomorrow? Maybe go on a picnic?"
"I'd like that, too."
He squeezes her shoulder. "Candy, one more thing?"
"What's that?"
"I love you."