Chapter 5

The tree fell with a large whooshing sound! The scream was terrifying, Candy and Biddie, both heard it. It wasn't on the mountain. Ben and Aaron came running, The new banker and the owner of the mercantile were running as well. What they saw was a miracle. The tree had landed on the Bolt Cabin, Jason was still standing although he was in shock. Aaron came up to him and said:

"Jason, are you alright?" Jason looked at Aaron and then at the other people standing near him. He could hear them but could not say anything to them. Doctor Wright came up and said:

"Jason, come with me to the clinic!" She took his hand, but he did not move. She checked him out and he seemed okay, but he could not move. Aaron and Ben helped by holding his arms and pushing him forward. He still could not move on his own but once they pushed him gently, he moved while they helped him to walk.

Jeremy and Joshua just got there as they were taking Jason to the clinic.

"Jason, Jason, what happened?" Joshua asked. Jason did not respond to Joshua's question, but Doctor Wright did.

"He seems to be in shock, we are taking him to the clinic now. I need you Joshua and Jeremy to come with us!" She said as she got to the door of the clinic. Joshua and Jeremy took either side of Jason and helped to get him into the clinic.

"Help him to sit. Not sure why he isn't doing this himself, but we can help him anyway." She said as she got her examination tools ready. She checked his ears, they looked fine, she checked his face, just a scratch from the tree branch that brushed up against him. She then checked his reflexes. First, she worked on the elbow, it was okay, Then she checked both legs. She rolled his pants up and with a needle ran it up and down his leg.

"Jeremy, take his boots off for me please." She said. Once the boots were off, she checked his toes, they responded like they were supposed to. But Jason kept staring ahead. Not responding, just staring. She went to her medical books to find out what might be wrong. Candy came in to see what she could do.

"Oh, Jeremy, I am so glad you are all right, but how is Jason?" Jeremy took her aside and just said:

"Not good!" She held Jeremy's hand and waited with him. Dr. Wright came back into the room and said:

"I am going to have to telegraph one of the doctors at the hospital in Olympia. I am not sure what has happened, and I don't want to say anything until, I am sure. You may wait here, while I send the telegram." She left to go to the mercantile to send the telegram.

When she stepped in, she did not see Ben but the new manager Mr. Arlington.

"Mr. Arlington, I would like to send a telegram to Olympia please." She said.

"Doctor, I am so sorry, but the telegraph office has been moved to the Post office it will no longer be located at the store!" She looked at him and was a bit frustrated but did not argue. She left the store and met Aaron who was walking to his office.

"Doctor, How is Jason?" Aaron asked.

"I really can't say, he seems okay, but he may also be in shock. I need to get a telegram sent to the doctors in Olympia to see what can be done!" Doctor Wright said as she walked to the post office.

"Is there anything I can do?" He asked genuinely concerned.

"I am not sure. But I may need your help later. Thank you for asking." She said as he opened the post office door for her and then went on his way to his office.

Back at the clinic, Jason was still sitting at the exam table with his boots off and everyone around him wondering what they could do, should do or just arguing over why this happened. The chatter was almost too much. When a loud 'roar' came from Jason.

"Why don't you all just be quiet! I can't think about anything with you all chattering around me like that!" He said and jumped off the exam table and was surprised that his boots were off.

"Why are my boots off?" He looked at Jeremy, Candy, and Joshua. Just then Dr. Wright came back into the office.

"Well, it looks like our patient is doing better? How do you feel Jason?" she said as she gently pushed him back to the exam table.

"Well, I feel fine, except I have headache. Why am I in the clinic and why are you all here with me?" He asked. Dr. Wright was glad he had 'awakened' she asked him to walk for her. He looked at her as if she was crazy but did so anyway. Then she asked him to do something simple like pick up a pencil from the floor. He did but he said it made him dizzy.

"What do you remember?" She asked, he looked around at his brothers and Candy and her and said:

"I remember, I was going up to the mountain to help with getting things secured but after that I don't remember anything else?" he said as he just sat on the edge of the exam table.

"That is okay. There was a lightning strike and a tree fell on your cabin. You were slightly scratched by a branch but were not directly hit. When we found you, you were standing next to the tree and not moving, talking, or responding." Dr. Wright said. Jason looked at her and thought about what she had told him. Then he said:

"I think I am better now, well, except for the headache, do you think I can go home?" Everyone looked at him and Dr. Wright said:

" I would prefer it if you went to stay with Candy and Jeremy for a few nights. Your cabin is destroyed, and I want to be sure that you are okay health-wise. I think Candy will take good care of you and Jeremy will as well." She said looking at Candy.

"I can have Molly take the children to Biddie's overnight so that it will be a little quieter for a couple of days." Candy said, looking at Jeremy who nodded his head in agreement.

"I can help with Molly and Biddie with the kids" said Joshua:
"Since we have nowhere else to stay except at Lottie's!"

"Good then that is settled. Joshua, I want you and Jeremy to walk beside Jason in case he loses his balance. Candy, I need you to watch and notice if he has any memory loss or dizzy spells. Jason, do not get up too fast, no alcohol and take some Willow Bark for headache and…"

"Drink Water!" Said Jeremy, Jason, and Joshua together. They all smiled and chuckled. Candy excused herself and left to make arrangements to have the children spend the night at Biddie's.