No Justice For Jeremy Chapter Four
Jeremy opened the door to the sheriff's office. Just as he did, Jason swooped up behind him, grabbing him by his shoulders. Jason swiftly turned Jeremy around to face him.
"Donnie! Thank The Lord, we found you!" Jason hugged Jeremy close to him hiding his brother's face against his shoulder.
Through the door, Jason could see Jeremy's wanted poster on the wall.
"Is there any trouble that I can help you with?" Sheriff Hank Miller got up from his desk and walked to the door.
"No, thank you, Sheriff." Joshua stepped up to block the door. He didn't want Miller to come outside and get a look at Jeremy's face.
"We've been looking for our brother, Donnie, this morning. We were worried about him. He was in an accident a few days ago. Donnie fell off his horse. He got a concussion. Dear brother hasn't quite been himself since." Jason said.
"The doctor told us to keep a close eye on him. He said Donnie might get confused and wander off." Joshua added.
"That's right, Sheriff. We were doing a good job until this morning. Donnie left before we woke up. Even though he told us last night that he would not do this! "Jason said angrily.
"Hold on, Tommy! You know Donnie has been having such a hard time the last few days since the accident. And I just said that the doctor told us, he might wander off like this." Joshua cautioned.
"Yes, you're right, Alex. I'm sorry, Donnie. I was worried when I found out you were gone. I was afraid something bad had happened to you. " Jason replied quietly.
Jeremy was hiding against Jason with his arms at his side. He put his arms around his brother giving him a hug. Jeremy drew a deep breath. Jason returned the hug.
"I hope Donnie gets to feeling better soon. I've heard that blows to the head can be pretty bad." Sheriff Miller said.
Jason and Joshua glanced at each other,
"Thank you, Sheriff. We are going to watch him a little closer now." Jason responded.
"Sheriff, I am very interested in the history of our country. Would you mind if I came inside to talk to you about the founding of Smith Town?"
Joshua put his hand on Miller's shoulder and stepped inside the door.
The Sheriff went into his office with Joshua.
Jason and Jeremy walked toward the hotel hurriedly.
When the two brothers arrived at the hotel, they went to Jason's room.
"Jeremy, I need to talk to you. Sit down." Jason said somberly.
"Jason, I really need to apologize to Candy first. You can chew me out after she gets through with me." Jeremy turned toward the door.
"No, Jeremy. You have to listen to me. I have to talk to you about Candy." Jason motioned to a chair.
"J-J-Jason, w-w-what happened to C-C-Candy?" Jeremy sat down in the chair.
"Jeremy, did you know that Candy was expecting?" Jason asked.
"No, she hasn't said anything to me. You said was expecting. Does that mean she isn't ex-ex-ex-pecting anymore?" Jeremy gulped.
"I'm afraid it does, Jeremy. I'm sorry, brother." Jason answered sadly.
"Is Candy alright? Where is she?" Jeremy asked with tears streaming down his face.
"Candy's going to be fine. She is in your room with Biddie. A doctor was here." Jason replied.
"Thank God, she's going to be okay." Jeremy was relieved. "Tell me what happened, Jason. I need to know."
Joshua came into the room. He looked at his brothers.
"I know Candy lost our baby, Joshua. I didn't know she was pregnant." Jeremy said.
"Jeremy wants to know what happened, Josh." Jason told him.
"I'm sorry, Jeremy." Joshua said solemnly.
"Thank you, Joshua." Jeremy replied tearfully.
"When Candy got up this morning, she found your note. She was hysterical, Jeremy. Candy ran to my room screaming for me to get you. Josh and Biddie heard Candy screaming so they came to my room. I told Candy I would go get you immediately. She kept screaming saying go now before it's too late. I don't mean to be inappropriate about Candy, but, Biddie saw some blood in the floor where Candy was standing." Jason explained.
Jeremy stood up and started pacing, "Go on, Jason. Tell me the rest."
"Biddie took Candy to your room. To the washroom. Candy was still crying for me to go get you before it was too late. Josh told her he would go get a doctor. She insisted that Josh go with me to stop you from surrendering. So Biddie went to find a doctor and we came after you." Jason replied.
Jeremy stopped pacing. He leaned his head back looking up at the ceiling. Jeremy closed his eyes and sighed heavily.
"So, Candy was here alone on the floor of the washroom losing our baby because of me." Jeremy said furiously.
Jeremy ran out of the room. He kept running down the hall to his room.
When Jeremy went into his hotel room, he saw Candy lying on the bed. Biddie was sitting on the side of the bed. She was placing a cold cloth on Candy's forehead.
Biddie turned her head and saw Jeremy. She put her finger to her lips to tell him to be quiet.
Jeremy nodded at Biddie.
Biddie got up from the side of the bed. She walked past Jeremy to the door. Biddie motioned for Jeremy to follow her into the hall.
Jeremy followed Biddie.
When they were in the hall, Jeremy said "Thank you, Bid…."
SLAP! Biddie hit Jeremy in the face. "Jeremy Bolt! I have never been so angry in my life! You put your brothers and me in a position of having to leave Candy alone during a miscarriage. I know Candy insisted that Joshua go with Jason. But, if you hadn't pulled this stupid stunt, you could have been here with your wife. And maybe if you hadn't frightened her so, she wouldn't have lost the baby."
"You're right, Biddie. I don't know what to do anymore. I really thought it would be best for me to surrender. But, when Jason grabbed me to keep me from going in the sheriff's office, I wanted to go on living. I feel so awful, Biddie. You know how much I love Candy. I wouldn't hurt her. Seriously, when I left the hotel this morning, I thought I was doing what was best for the family. I didn't know Candy was pregnant." Jeremy explained.
"Jeremy, I'm sorry I slapped you. I realize you are under a terrible strain. I shouldn't have implied that you are responsible for Candy losing the baby. It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault. Please forgive me, Jeremy." Biddie apologized.
"I forgive you, Biddie. All of us are under a strain. This is a hard journey. We miss home. Thank you for getting the doctor for Candy. And thank you for taking care of her." Jeremy told her.
"Thank you, Jeremy for forgiving me. And you're welcome." Biddie replied.
Biddie returned to her room. Jeremy went in his room. He sat down by the bed. Jeremy looked at Candy. She was pale with dark circles under her eyes..
Jeremy stood up from the chair. He took off his boots and socks. He laid down beside Candy. He put his arm around her. Candy murmured some unintelligible words. She put her hand on Jeremy's arm and began stroking it. Jeremy went to sleep. Both of them slept for several hours.
Candy woke up. She tried to sit up too fast. "Ouch!"
Jeremy opened his eyes. "Candy! Let me help you."
Jeremy got out of bed. He helped Candy sit up.
"Sweetheart, I know what happened. I'm so sorry I wasn't here with you. Please forgive me." Jeremy looked at her sadly.
"It wasn't your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. I didn't tell you about the baby because I wasn't sure I was pregnant. Jeremy, I'm not angry at you. But, I wish you had talked to me about wanting to turn yourself in." Candy replied.
"I knew you would try to talk me out of it." He told her.
"You're right. Jeremy, please don't do that again." Candy pleaded. "Please promise me."
"I promise, sweetheart. I'm sorry I frightened you so badly." Jeremy said.
"Thank you, darling. I love you." Candy replied.
"I love you too, sweet girl." Jeremy kissed her cheek.
The Bolts stayed in Smith Town for two more days so Candy could rest.
Then they continued their trip to Sweet Home, Oregon. The last few days of the trek were uneventful. They were just long, dusty, and tiring.
When they arrived in Sweet Home, Jason went to the general store. He talked to the owner about how to find Freddie Connors. The owner told him to go to the livery stable. He said Mr. Connors was there purchasing horses for the wagon train.
Jason found Mr. Connors at the livery stable. He made arrangements for the Winthrop family to join the wagon train. Mr. Connors said the wagon train would leave at 7 am tomorrow.
Jason and the family ate an early supper that night. They went to bed early to get a good night's sleep.
Freddie Connors' Wagon Train left the next morning with the Bolts.
Two days into the latest leg of their journey, Jeremy noticed that Candy wasn't speaking to him very much. She was talking only when absolutely necessary and then it was only very short sentences.
"Candy, are you feeling bad?" Jeremy inquired.
"No."She said.
"You aren't talking much." Jeremy said.
"No." Candy replied.
"Why aren't you talking?" Jeremy was becoming irritated.
"No reason." Candy replied.
"Whoa!" Jeremy told the horses. The wagon came to a halt.
"We are going to sit here until you tell me why you are barely speaking to me." Jeremy was angry.
"As if you don't know!" Candy snapped.
"If I knew, why would I be asking you? Please, Candy. Do me the courtesy of telling me, why in the world, you won't talk to me!" Jeremy shouted.
"Alright! I'm angry at you because you were going to give up and let yourself be murdered! And because you weren't with me when I lost our baby! And because the doctor said I can't have children now!" Candy 's body shook with silent sobs.
"Oh, Candy! Why didn't you tell me, sweetheart?" Jeremy cried too.
Jeremy secured the reins. He moved next to Candy on the wagon seat. Jeremy put his arm around his wife. "Talk to me, sweetheart, please."
"Jeremy, I'm not really angry at you. I'm angry because you were falsely convicted and because I lost the baby. You are under so much pressure and none of it is your fault. You want to live and you want to protect us from the bounty hunters. When I found your note that morning, I was terrified. In my mind, I pictured the sheriff arresting you, having the gallows built, and hanging you all in one day, that very day. This is horrible to say to you, Jeremy, but I could see you in my mind, hanging from the gallows. That's why I was so hysterical. And it's the reason that I insisted that both of your brothers go after you. Then when I was sitting on the washroom floor…." Candy's voice trailed off.
Candy hid her face against Jeremy's chest as she sobbed again.
"I'm here, sweetheart. I'm here. It's alright. Everything is alright." Jeremy whispered softly as he gently rocked her in his arms.
Jeremy helped Candy into the back of the wagon so she could lie down. After he got her settled in bed, Jeremy returned to the driver's seat and they proceeded on the trail.
That evening the wagon train stopped to camp for a few days. Families were busy setting up their individual campsites and tending to restless children. As people got settled, some of them began visiting and introducing themselves to the other travelers.
Candy was feeling a little better since she rested earlier in the afternoon. She was in Biddie's wagon visiting with her.
Jeremy was securing the tarp on his wagon when a woman about 35 years old walked over to him.
.
"Hello, my name is Constance Merriweather." She said politely.
Jeremy turned to face her. "Hello, Ms. Merriweather. My name is Donnie Winthrop."
"Oh, no it's not!" Ms. Merriweather said with a Cheshire Cat grin.
"I don't know what you mean, ma'am." Jeremy's mind was racing.
"Sure, you do, JEREMY!" Ms. Merriweather laughed.
Breathe, eye contact, don't tilt. Jeremy thought.
"I'm sorry ma'am. You have me confused with s-someone else." Jeremy cringed.
"No, I'm not confused, Jeremy. You have piercing blue eyes and you stutter." Constance opened her purse. She pulled out a wanted poster and showed it to Jeremy.
Jeremy took the wanted poster from her. He looked at the poster and chuckled.
Jeremy looked Constance in the eye. "Lady, if I thought I looked anything like this jerk, I'd blow my brains out." He said sarcastically with a raised eyebrow.
"That was wonderful acting, Jeremy. You should have gone on the stage. You could have been a great actor. It's too bad that you won't live long enough to get a chance to try it. Wait…I have an idea." Constance said,
'Why should I be interested in your idea?" Jeremy asked.
"My idea can either add many years to your life or shorten it pretty quick." Constance answered.
"I'm listening." Jeremy was scared.
Constance came very close to him. "I want to sleep with you, Jeremy. You are a very handsome young man. I don't care that you are a convicted murderer. Hell, in a way that excites me even more." She whispered.
"I can't do that. I'm married. I won't cheat on my wife." He answered.
"What do you think would upset your little wife more? You cheating on her or you swinging from a rope?" Constance kissed him on the mouth.
Jeremy pulled away from her. He felt like he was going to puke. Her kiss tasted like whiskey and tobacco. Also, her comment reminded him of Candy crying and telling him that she could picture him swinging from the gallows.
Before Jeremy could answer, Jason and Joshua walked up.
"Hi, Donnie. Who is this lovely lady?" Jason asked.
"This must be your brother, Jason." Constance said. "And this is Joshua, the blond Bolt brother."
Jason and Joshua were surprised.
Constance laughed. "When I found the wanted poster, I sent a wire to a friend in Seattle. He wired back telling me all about the Bolt brothers. How did I know to contact a friend in Seattle? I read lots of newspapers. When I saw the name Bolt on the Wanted Poster, I remembered seeing an ad for Bolt Brothers Logging Co. in Seattle."
The three brothers looked at each other.
"I did all my fact finding in Sweet Home before the wagon train left." She told them.
"What is it that you want, Ms…..?" Jason asked.
"Constance Merriweather." She answered. "I want to sleep with Jeremy regularly or I am going to turn him in to the sheriff in the next town we come too."
"I see." Jason replied. "Well, Ms. Merriweather, I have a proposition for you. If I sleep with you instead, will you keep your mouth shut?"
