Chapter 3

When Candy and Jeremy arrived at the small cabin in the hills a man and his son were herding some pigs to a nearby slaughter area. They had sold these pigs and would slaughter them for their customers. They neither smiled nor acknowledged the little family in the wagon. The man sent his son to the back of the cabin to inform the lady about the visitors and continued on his way. Once She knew that visitors were coming, She set everything up. The cabin was very clean and well kept thanks to Joshua. She had Joshua clean up so that anyone who saw them would think that he was very happy and indeed that they were both very happy.

As Jeremy drew the wagon up to the house, he noticed the chickens in the yard, a small vegetable garden and a milk goat. He helped Candy down and she held the baby while he took his son from the back of the wagon. They walked up to the door and Jeremy knocked on the door. Joshua opened the door. There was a spark of recognition from him, but he could not say anything or do anything that might help them help him. He smiled and welcomed them into the cabin.

"Well, hello there!" She said as she came to the door. She was dressed in a nice dress of the time. Joshua had his good clothes on befitting a country gentleman.

"Well, dear, I think that you should invite them in. We are so glad to see some of the family. Josh, which brother is this?" She asked. Josh answered quietly:

"This is my youngest brother Jeremiah and his wife Candace!" He said he was hoping that they would understand the situation and not make a fuss about the names.

She stretched out her hand and said"
"Josh, you should have told me about them. I am so sorry we did not invite you to the wedding, it was rather quick! Why Josh just swept me off my feet and we just couldn't wait to get married. Please do come in and sit down. Oh, what lovely babies!" She said as she looked at the two that Candy and Jeremy were holding. She showed them to the sitting room and invited them to sit down. There was tea and cookies.

Josh poured the tea but looked at Jeremy and slightly shook his head negatively as he gave him the tea cup. Candy was holding the baby who was just then a little hungry.

"Candace why don't we ladies go to the other room if the baby seems to be a bit hungry. We can have a chat while the boys reminisce." She said. Jeremy wasn't so sure that he liked that idea.

"W-We-well I would like you to stay awhile with us, 'Candace.' Said Jeremy. Candy noticed the tenseness and just casually nodded in understanding as she took the blanket and put it over her shoulder.

"No, thank you I will stay here. It is hard on the baby when I move around to different places while she is eating. You understand. Speaking of babies, when do you plan to have a baby?" She looked at Candy and tried not to look horrified and said:

"We were waiting until we had a little more money in the bank. My brother and father have a business here and I have a business that I run in town." She said as she moved closer to Joshua and held his arm leaning on him as if she loved him and then she said:

"My business is thriving and soon we will be financially set to have children. We will be moving to San Francisco then and the children will have all the necessities."

Back at the town, Jason had contacted the local law enforcement and found out several things about the family that Joshua had 'married' into. It seems as if they were well-known as thieves and murderers. They also ran con games in different parts of the states. Jason was not pleased to hear this. He feared for Joshua's life as well as Jeremy and Candy's and the babies. He felt that Hehe had to get them and Joshua out of there. But how could he do it?

"Mr. Bolt," the Sheriff said:

"There is a way, I have a lady friend, you might have met her, her name is Matilda. She has a detective agency and if you don't mind, I would like to introduce you to her!" He said. Jason perked up at the name of Matilda. He knew her! She had helped him a couple of times when he was in need and both Joshua, and Jeremy and especially Candy would remember her because they had met her on the trip around the horn with the brides!

"Jason Bolt, well, it is a wonderful day to see you!" She said as she came into the sheriff's office. She went over, he stood up and they gave each other a hug and a nice kiss.

"Matilda, if anyone can help Joshua you can. What do we need to do?" Jason said after their hug. The sheriff looked at her and she began to talk:

"This family has been known to con many a person and family out of their inheritance as well as everything they have. I do suspect that they had planned to do this with Joshua being the 'bait' and you and your brother succumbing to them. By the way, where is Jeremy? Are he and Candy married now? It has been an awful long time since I have been down your way." Said Matilda. Jason explained what they were doing, and that Candy and Jeremy were 'visiting' Josh and his wife in their cabin. When Matilda heard that she frowned and said:
"Jason, we have got to get Candy and the babies away from her and rescue Joshua if possible. Jeremy should never have taken Candy there and should never have taken the babies either. Was that Candys idea?" Jason nodded yes and Matilda put her head down to think and then she looked up and said:

"Jason, Candy, and the babies can be used as leverage for them. If She gets Candy alone even with the babies, she will use them to keep Joshua from escaping and she will kill them regardless. Her plans are to con you out of your inheritance! So, she is ruthless, her and her brother and father are very dangerous. She killed her last husband!" With this, Matilda then went into strategy mode. She told the sheriff what she wanted and how she was going to rescue Joshua and Jeremy and Candy and the babies. She would need at least 6 of the Texas Rangers to help in her plan. Jason was surprised and delighted in her ability to plan and organize. It would take a couple of days to get the Rangers, but she sent a telegram to their office and was told they would meet her at the location on the third day.