Chapter 7

Jeremy and Candy said their goodbyes and climbed onto the stagecoach. Along with another couple who were traveling to Tacoma. They had an interesting conversation. Candy was surprised that it was so bumpy and started to complain, Jeremy asked her if she preferred the 'mule boat'!

"Jeremy! Well, I can't say for certain, but I think that the mule boat may have been much smoother than this ride is."
They looked at each other and laughed from the memory of being on Clancy's boat, no 'Ship'! sitting and watching everything going by Candy was amazed at how fast it felt riding on the stagecoach. She wasn't sure she liked it too much. Jeremy on the other hand, would have preferred to ride a horse instead of a stagecoach. He was not feeling at all well, it was perhaps the many bumps and holes that the wheels found in the dirt that caused his problems.

A couple of hours later they were close to Tacoma when the stage was stopped. The driver got down with his hands raised. All the passengers got out of the coach. Candy drew a breath as she stepped out of the coach. She recognized a man but did not remember who that was. Jeremy also recognized him and remembered him. He was holding a pistol pointed right at them.

"Okay, all your money and jewels and anything of value." One of the men said,

The man holding the pistol stared at them. It couldn't be? Well, he would just have to make it right somehow. He recognized both Candy and Jeremy. They were all a bit older, but he knew he had to do something to help them. Not for Jeremy's sake but for Candy's sake.

"Hey Amigo, these folks don't have anything, lets get out of here fast!" He shouted at the leader.

"No, Gringo, I think they may have something I want" leering at Candy as if he was going to do something right there. Jeremy saw it and was about to make a move when the man with the pistol came close and told him to wait. He would try to take care of it!

"Hey Gringo," The boss said, "if you want her, you can have her after me, No?" The kid looked at the boss and, in an instant, made the decision that cost him his life.

"Hey boss!" the kid said: "I said leave these people alone, let's get out of here before we get caught.

The boss began to draw his gun when the kid shot it out of his hand. He kept shooting, not to kill but to get the boss away as fast as he could. Shouting over his shoulder: "Jeremy get Candy and the others in the stage and get out of here fast!"

Jeremy did not need another word. He opened the stage doors, and everyone piled in. the driver got into his seat and just as they drove off, there was one more gun shot. Candy started to cry. Jeremy was glad they were out of the way. But he looked over at Candy and saw she was really crying.

"Candy, it's okay. He helped us. He remembered, I remembered. I think it will be alright now."

Candy dried her eyes, "I hope he wasn't killed? He was a good man at heart."

Jeremy said: "I know. But it is us of our hands now.

The rest of the ride in the stagecoach was uneventful. They were in Olympia by 6 pm and they went to a hotel near the stage office and unpacked.

The next morning after breakfast, they went to the hospital. There they met the doctor and Rose.

"Your brother is doing better than expected. His burns are healing, there is not sign of infection, however, he may need to stay at the hospital for at least another six months.

"Doctor is it possible to take him home?" said Jeremy.

"I think he is okay to go home, however, he will need 24-hour care. The wounds and burns still need to be cleaned and kept dry until they are healed. He may get an infection if it does not heal right." The doctor said.

Jeremy and Candy looked at each other. They were family and they could take care of Jason. Everyone would pitch in and help.

"He will need constant bed rest and also, is there a doctor available in Seattle that can help in case of infection?"

"Well, we really don't have a resident doctor yet, but I am sure we could find one." Jeremy said thinking of how to do that. Jason would have done it, but he was the one that was hurt now so Jeremy and Joshua had the responsibility.

"If I may, doctor, Mr. and Mrs. Bolt, my name is Rose, and I have been his nurse from the beginning. I was trained in burn wounds during the civil war, I worked under Clara Barton herself during that time. I would like to stay with my patient if you don't mind."

They looked at each other and Jeremy said: "Well, if that is the only way to bring him home, you are welcome to come with us. Thank you, Miss,"

"It is Rose Smith. I have very few items and I am a nurse with credentials!"

Jeremy looked at her and looked at Candy. This was one decision that they would have to make without the whole family but, he was sure that there would be more than enough support. He smiled and shook her hand and Candy shook her hand as well.

"Well, let's get back to the hotel, "Miss Smith, would you like to have dinner with us tonight. We will be going back by ship in a couple of days and would like to get to know you."

Rose said she was delighted and planned to meet them at 7 at the dining room at the hotel.

Rose sat at the table with Jeremy and Candy who were listening to her story of how she had ended up a 16-year-old in a civil war hospital. She had been planning to marry a man who was conscripted, and she worked at the field hospital hoping that she would not see him there. She did not but after the war, she found he had died during one of the battles. She learned that being a nurse was a calling for her and therefore, she continued even after the war. Caring for old soldiers and others. She found out about what they were doing for burns and decided to learn more about that. She became the only nurse on the west coast to have knowledge of burns wounds and how to care for them.

She also listened to Jeremy and Candy about the Bolts, about the brides and many of the ramblings of Jason as he lay delirious from fever and pain became clear to her.

"So, your parents died, and he took care of you and your brother and ran a logging camp?!"

Jeremy nodded with pride.

"He also brought 100 ladies to Seattle, from New Bedford Massachusetts!" Candy said with as much pride as Jeremy had.

"I heard that years ago, I never thought I would meet any of you. You ladies were all very adventurous!"
Candy Laughed: "I am not sure if it was adventure or just a chance to have a new life and marry someone. There weren't really any men around after the war."

Rose took the last bite of her dinner and agreed. "If my Walter had been alive, I would never be here. But as it stands, God has many plans for us and sometimes what we think is a tragedy turns out to be an opportunity!" she lifted her wine glass and all three clinked their glasses together.

Two days later they were traveling on a ship to Seattle.

The doctor had a wagon to put Jason in. He was still sedated because the wounds were still not healed enough to not cause him pain. But once they got him in and put him on a soft bed in a cabin on the ship, he was going to be fine. Rose stayed with him awhile as everyone got settled. He had his own cabin, but each would take turns watching him. Rose showed Candy and Jeremy how to turn him and change his bandages when she was not around. Jeremy was so gentle, that even Rose said, "you won't hurt him Jeremy, he is sedated and will be for the duration of the trip!"

Jeremy just smiled: "W-w-well I-I-just want to be sure."

Candy asked Jeremy: "Did you wire Joshua about having several men help us to get him to Lottie's?"

"Yes, I did. I also told Josh that he would be sleeping so we needed to be extra careful."