No Justice For Jeremy Chapter Eight
"Mama, he sure is a pretty boy. Can I keep him to be my husband?" She asked.
"Calico, look at his left hand. What do you see?" her mother asked in return. "Besides you have a few more years before you need to think about a husband."
Calico Tate, age 13, looked at Jeremy's left hand. She saw his wedding band. She knew that meant he was married.
"I see his wedding ring, Mama. He has a wife." Calico answered disappointedly.
"Yes, he does. I'm sure his wife is very distraught right now wondering what on earth happened to him. How I ever let your brother talk me into this is beyond me." Malinda Pearl Tate said worriedly.
"It's a good thing you're involved, Mama. Wesley would have killed Jeremy if you hadn't talked him out of it." Calico reminded her.
"That's true. All your brother wants is the five hundred dollar reward money. The wanted poster says dead or alive so Wesley had no incentive to let Jeremy live." Malinda Pearl said.
Mrs. Tate walked over to the bed. She put her hand on Jeremy's forehead. He was still running a high temperature.
Mrs. Tate sighed. "Your brother might get his wish if I can't get this fever down. Calico, please bring me some more cloths to put on Jeremy's head."
"Yes, Mama." Calico got up from her chair by the bed.
Calico got the cloths and brought them to her mother. She sat down in her chair again. Calico looked at Jeremy's face.
"Mama, you know Wesley told us about Jeremy and the preacher singing to the horse as they cut those briar branches off of him." Calico said.
"Yes, sweetie. What about it?" her mother asked.
"Wesley thought it was stupid. But I think it was really nice. I don't see how a man who would be that kind to a horse could kill somebody. I don't think Jeremy killed that man." Calico was still looking at Jeremy.
"I understand what you're saying, Calico. It makes sense. However, people can behave in all kinds of ways. Nice one minute. Deadly the next." Mrs. Tate replied.
"Like Wesley except he is never nice." Calico said bitterly.
Jeremy moaned. "Mama? Mama!"
Calico looked at her mother.
Malinda Pearl stroked Jeremy's hair. "It's alright, sweetheart. You are going to be fine."
Jeremy opened his eyes. "Where am I? Who are you?"
"I'm Calico Tate. She's my mama." Calico pointed to Malinda Pearl.
"Tate? I heard that name somewhere lately. I can't remember where." Jeremy said. "Could I have a drink of water, please?"
"Sure, Jeremy!" Calico ran to get a cup of cold water for him.
"How do you know my name?" Jeremy was worried.
Calico came back with the water. She handed the cup to her mother.
Malinda Pearl was sitting on the side of the bed. She helped Jeremy hold up his head. She put the cup to his lips. He drank some of the water.
'Thank you, ma'am." Jeremy laid his head back on the pillow.
"You're welcome, Jeremy. My name is Malinda Pearl Tate. This is my daughter, Calico. She is thirteen. You are at our house. My son, Wesley kidnapped you from the wagon train and brought you here yesterday." Mrs. Tate told him.
"Wesley Tate?" Jeremy's memory was somewhat fuzzy due to the fever.
"He killed the lady on the wagon train. We know your name because Wesley saw a wanted poster with your picture and your name on it. You didn't kill that man, did you, Jeremy? I just know you didn't. You're too kind. Anyone who would sing to a horse wouldn't kill somebody." Calico rambled.
"Calico! Sometimes children should be seen and not heard." Her mother sighed.
"Well, he asked, Mama. So, I told him." Calico replied meekly.
"You certainly did." Her mother said.
"It's alright, Mrs. Tate. Calico helped me remember. No, I didn't kill Mr. Phelps, Calico. I was falsely convicted. Wesley must have told you about me singing to Cubbie. I guess he was following me before he nabbed me. He wants to turn me in for the five hundred dollar reward, doesn't he?" Jeremy began coughing.
Malinda Pearl helped him sit up in the bed. Sitting up relieved the coughing a bit.
"Yes, he does. I'm afraid Jeremy, that Wesley doesn't care if it's alive or dead. I'm so sorry. My son was not raised to be this way. I don't know what happened to him. I wish I could help you. I believe you're innocent." Malinda Pearl said.
Jeremy had stopped coughing. "You can help me by letting me go, please. I have a wife and brothers and a sister-in-law. We are very close. Please let me go."
"Jeremy, if I let you go, I'm not sure you could make it back to the wagon train. You are very sick. I haven't been able to get your fever down much. Wesley is coming back to get you tomorrow. He wanted to turn you in today. But, I talked him into leaving you here. I told him you would be easier to travel with if you weren't quite so sick." Malinda Pearl answered.
"Mama talked Wesley out of killing you too. I could ride back to the wagon train with you, Jeremy. I'm good at riding and camping." Calico said hopefully.
"That's very nice of you, Calico. But you couldn't ride back from the wagon train alone." Jeremy smiled.
"That's right. I didn't think of that." Calico sighed.
"Do you really think you can make it back alone, Jeremy?" Malinda Pearl asked.
"Yes, ma'am, I do." The youngest Bolt answered.
"Alright, I am going to do the right thing and let you go. Sweetie, you get Jeremy's gear and a horse ready for him. I will get you some medicine to take with you, Jeremy." Malinda Pearl decided.
"Thank you, Ms. Malinda. I truly appreciate your help." Jeremy told her.
"You're welcome. I know your mama is proud to have a fine son like you, Jeremy." Malinda Pearl replied.
" I guess she would be. But my mama d-d-died when I was f-f-five years old." Jeremy said sadly. "I m-m-miss h-h-her."
"I'm very sorry, Jeremy." Malinda Pearl said with tears in her eyes.
Jeremy was sitting on the side of the bed putting on his socks and his boots. He had slept in his clothes.
"Thank you, Ms. Malinda." Jeremy responded.
"You're welcome, sweetheart." Malinda Pearl was fighting back those tears.
Calico ran over and sat down next to Jeremy on the bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn't try to hide her tears. "Oh, Jeremy! That breaks my heart for you! I love you, Jeremy!"
Jeremy hugged her back. "Thank you, Sugar. I love you too!"
When their hug ended, Jeremy told her, "Pick out a sweet horse for me, okay?"
"I will." Calico whispered.
Calico left the house headed for the stable.
"You made her happy, Jeremy. That's very kind of you." Malinda Pearl looked at him.
"She's a sweet little girl. She is easy to love." He smiled at Malinda Pearl.
"So are you, Jeremy. So are you."Malinda Pearl gave him a hug.
Calico picked out Rusty for Jeremy to ride back to the wagon train. He would have to ride about twenty miles. Rusty was strong, reliable, and even tempered. Calico packed everything Jeremy would need to make camp.
"Jeremy, take this sulfur medication regularly about every four hours, drink plenty of water, and stop and rest along the way. I want to give you something else too. I want you to use it if you have too. I mean it." Malinda Pearl said seriously.
She reached in a drawer and pulled out a pistol. She gave it to Jeremy.
Jeremy took the gun from her. He looked at it and then he looked at her.
"Ms. Malinda, are you telling me to shoot Wesley? He is your son. I couldn't…." Jeremy paused.
"Jeremy! I certainly hope you don't run into Wesley. But if you do, you will have to kill him or he will kill you. I have no doubt whatsoever. He won't hesitate, Jeremy. So, make sure you don't either." Malinda Pearl pleaded.
Jeremy looked into her eyes. He saw years of anguish reflected in them. He enfolded her in his arms. She clung to him and began to cry.
"How I wish Wesley had been like you! You are so kind and loving, Jeremy. Please don't let Wesley destroy you. He's evil and he hates anyone who is good." Malinda Pearl had her face hid against Jeremy's shoulder.
"It will be alright. Hopefully, I won't run into him. Please don't worry, Ms. Malinda." Jeremy said kindly.
Malinda Pearl broke their embrace and looked up at him. "I'll try not to worry. You had better get going. You want to make it a good piece before dark. Just keep going West and you will come to Bannock. Go straight through the town. The wagon train is about ten miles outside of Bannock."
"Okay. Thank you for taking care of me and for letting me go. You are a kind lady, Ms. Malinda." Jeremy told her.
"You're welcome, Jeremy. God bless you and your family." She replied.
Calico came in the house. "Everything is ready for you, Jeremy. I picked out Rusty for you. He is one of our best horses."
"Thank you, Sugar. I appreciate all of your help. You be good for your mama, alright?" Jeremy gave her a tiny kiss on her forehead.
Calico smiled. "I'll be good, Jeremy." She gave him a hug.
Jeremy went outside and got on Rusty. Malinda Pearl and Calico were standing in the doorway. As Jeremy rode away, he looked back and waved. The mother and her daughter waved back. Then they went into the house.
Jeremy was still within earshot of the house when he heard a frightening scream. He turned around and rode back fast.
When he got to the home, Jeremy jumped off the horse. He ran into the house.
"Oh, Calico! Sweetie!" Malinda Pearl was on the floor trying to hold her daughter.
Calico was having a convulsion. Her mother had placed a stick between her daughter's teeth.
"Calico! Oh, Sugar! What can I do, ?" Jeremy asked.
"Hold her legs down, please Jeremy. I will hold her arms. Thank you for coming back. I guess you heard me scream." Malinda Pearl replied.
"You're welcome. Yes, I heard you scream. I knew something bad had happened. Has Calico had convulsions before?" Jeremy asked.
"Yes, she has. She is on some type of potassium medication for convulsions. Calico needs to see the doctor. This is her third convulsion this month. The medication used to be very effective." Malinda Pearl explained.
Calico's seizure ended. "Mama, I feel sick." She said weakly.
"You're going to be fine, Sweetie. Jeremy came back to see about you." Her mother told her.
"Hey, Sugar. You scared me. But you're gonna be okay like your mama said." Jeremy stroked her hair gently.
"Mama screamed, didn't she?" Calico asked Jeremy. She was happy that he came back.
"Yes, she did." Jeremy grinned.
"Alright, you two. Don't gang up on me." Malinda Pearl put in her two cents.
"Jeremy, will you put Calico on the bed please?" Mrs. Tate got up from the floor.
"I will be glad too. Come on, little missy." Jeremy picked up the child very gently.
Jeremy placed Calico carefully on the bed. He put a blanket over her.
Malinda Pearl walked over to the bed. She placed a large bowl on the nightstand. "This is for you to use if you get sick, Sweetie."
"Thank you, Mama." Calico said.
"You're welcome, sweetheart." Her mother replied.
"Jeremy, may I talk to you for a few minutes, please." Malinda Pearl asked.
"Yes, ma'am." He answered.
Mrs. Tate and Jeremy sat down on the sofa. "Jeremy, I think that Calico and I should go with you. Calico must see the doctor. If we run into Wesley, hopefully I can talk him out of turning you in."
Jeremy looked skeptical. "I don't want you and Calico to be in danger. But since she needs medical treatment, both of you have to go. I will do my best to protect the two of you, Ms. Malinda."
"Thank you, Jeremy. We can take the buckboard. Calico will feel weak and sick at least until tomorrow afternoon. She always feels that way after a seizure. She can lie down in the back of the wagon. Do you mind sitting in the back with her?" Malinda Pearl inquired.
"You're welcome, Ms. Malinda. I don't mind sitting in the back with Calico. But are you sure you don't want me to drive?" Jeremy asked.
"No, I don't mind driving the wagon." She answered.
Malinda Pearl got the horses and the buckboard ready. She made a pallet in the back of the wagon. She packed more camping supplies.
Jeremy put Calico on the pallet in the wagon. He got in and sat down beside Calico with his legs stretched out. Calico was sleepy. She wanted to rest her head on his chest. He said it was fine. Jeremy put his arm around her.
Ms. Malinda had gotten Jeremy's gear off of Rusty and put Rusty back in the stable.
As they were pulling away from the house, Calico wanted to talk.
"Jeremy, I can hear your heartbeat. You know what?" Calico asked.
"You need to rest, Sugar." Jeremy placed his chin on the top of her head.
"Let me tell you this, then I will rest. Your heartbeat makes me feel safe and loved." Calico sighed.
Jeremy planted a little kiss in her hair. "I used to tell my oldest brother, Jason, the same thing when I was a very young little boy."
"After your mama died?" Calico asked.
"Yes, after she died." Jeremy answered softly with tears in his eyes.
"I love you, Jeremy." Calico murmured as she went to sleep.
"I love you too, Calico." Jeremy whispered.
Malinda Pearl overheard their conversation. She had tears streaming down her face.
Malinda Pearl drove the wagon for several hours. She stopped about every hour for a few minutes to see how Calico and Jeremy were doing. The last time she stopped, Calico seemed to be resting comfortably. Jeremy had a high fever again. Malinda Pearl wiped his face with a cold cloth and placed a cold wet cloth on his forehead.
After driving the wagon two more hours, Malinda Pearl stopped to make camp. Jeremy woke up. He wanted to help set up camp. Malinda Pearl insisted that he rest. Jeremy complied.
Jeremy and Calico managed to eat a few bites of stew. Jeremy drank some Willow Bark Tea. Calico took some of her potassium medication.
After Malinda Pearl ate her supper and tended the horses, everyone lay down on blankets on the ground for the night.
Since Jeremy went missing from the wagon train, Jason, Joshua, and Brother Len searched the woods all around the wagon train. Joshua found some tracks going in the direction of Bannock. The three men went to Bannock. They searched the town over three times. No trace of Jeremy was found.
Candy was frantic with worry. She thought Jeremy had either died somewhere in the woods from the Pneumonia or a bounty hunter had turned him in for the reward money, possibly dead, or a bandit had shot and killed him. Biddie and Sister Pauline tried to encourage her that Jeremy would return safely. However, Candy could not get her mind off the horrific possible outcomes.
The afternoon after Jeremy went missing, Candy was in such a state of anxiety she began having chest pains. Biddie was so frightened by this she ran to get Sister Pauline.
Sister Pauline went immediately to Candy's wagon. She gave Candy a small dose of Laudanum to help calm her nerves. Sister Pauline then said a sweet prayer for Candy to have peace of mind and for Jeremy to return safely.
"Kelly, you must lie down and rest. Meg and I will stay here with you." Sister Pauline told her.
"We certainly will, Kelly. Alex and Tommy and Brother Len will find Donnie. Please try not to worry." Meg said.
"I think a nap would help me tremendously. If I manage to sleep, will you wake me if there is any news about Donnie?" Candy asked.
"Yes, we will, dear." Sister Pauline told her.
Candy laid down on her bed and went to sleep.
Later that night:
Jeremy's brothers and Brother Len continued to search for him around Bannock. Deputy Roberts stayed with the wagon train in case Wesley Tate showed up. As far as they knew, Juniper was still Tate's latest target.
"Jason, I'm really scared for Jeremy." Joshua said. "I keep remembering how he said his charmed life as a Bolt brother was over. We've pulled it out of the fire so many times, Jason. What if we can't this time?"
Joshua rarely expressed fear. To hear him do so now made Jason even more frightened for their brother.
Jason put his arm around his blond brother. He looked him in the eye. "We'll do it this time too, Joshua. We have too. For Jeremy."
Joshua took a deep breath. He nodded in agreement.
"I have an idea. Why don't we search East of Bannock? We have looked numerous times between here and the wagon train." Brother Len suggested.
"That's a good idea, Preacher. What do you think, Josh?" Jason asked.
"It sounds like a good idea to me too. At least it will be a different place to search." Joshua answered.
The two Bolts and Brother Len traveled East out of Bannock.
After searching for a few hours, the men were getting tired and it was getting dark. They made camp.
Joshua cooked supper. As they were eating, Joshua shook his head. "Well, I know I'm tired. I miss Jeremy's cooking."
"Your kid brother's not much of a cook, huh?" Brother Len asked.
"No, actually, he is a good cook. I just get a kick out of teasing him about it," Joshua replied.
"It's a running family joke, Preacher." Jason said.
"Oh, I see." Brother Len chuckled. "I admire how loving and devoted the three of you are to each other."
"Thank you, Brother Len." Jason told him.
"Yes, thank you, Brother Len. My brothers mean everything to me." Joshua said.
"Both of you are welcome. I believe I will turn in. Good night."
Jason and Joshua told Brother Len and each other good night.
They went to sleep on their blankets.
During the night, Jeremy woke up coughing. He decided to sleep in the back of the buckboard. He thought that being up a little higher might help ease his coughing. His idea worked well enough that he was able to go back to sleep.
A few hours later, Jeremy was startled by the sound of Malinda Pearl screaming.
"Wesley Tate! Don't do this! Act like a human being for once in your life!" She screamed. Malinda Pearl was trying hard to hold the horses still.
Wesley had hitched the horses to the buckboard. He was trying to drive away with Jeremy in the back.
Jeremy tried to jump up. He couldn't because his hands and his feet were tied.
While Malinda Pearl and Wesley were each trying to gain control of the horses, Jeremy managed to get his index finger on his right hand lose. He reached under the edge of the pallet and got the pistol with his finger. He had put the pistol there when he got in the buckboard to sleep hours ago.
Jeremy managed to twist around so that he was on his stomach. He pulled himself slowly toward the front of the buckboard. Tate was on the driver's side. Jeremy hoped he could get Ms. Malinda's attention so that she could get the pistol from him quickly.
Calico was still asleep. If Jeremy shouted to her that would call Tate's attention to what he was doing. As Jeremy continued to crawl, Malinda
Pearl continued to scream.
Joshua woke up. He had heard something. There it was again.
"Jason! Did you hear that? It sounded like a woman screaming." Joshua shouted.
Jason and Brother Len woke up. There was another scream.
"I heard it, Josh!" Jason said excitedly.
"So did I!" Brother Len said urgently.
The three men grabbed their shotguns. They ran toward the screams.
When the Bolts and the preacher found the source of the screaming, Jeremy and Wesley were rolling on the ground fighting.
Jeremy had pulled himself from the back of the buckboard to the front bench. But he dropped the pistol in the process. Fortunately, he dropped it where Tate could not see it.
Jeremy had hit Tate in the back of the head with his bound hands. Tate had fallen from the buckboard. Tate got up and pulled Jeremy down on the ground.
Now, Jason, Joshua, and Brother Len had their shotguns aimed at the two men rolling and tumbling on the ground. Neither could get a clear shot at Tate.
Jeremy and the Tates could not see the men who had come to rescue Jeremy. They were hidden out of sight.
Suddenly Wesley Tate came up off the ground pulling Jeremy up with him. He was holding his pistol to Jeremy's head.
Calico and were watching the fight from a few feet away. Calico ran toward Wesley and Jeremy.
"Calico! Come back!" Her mother shouted.
"No! I won't let him kill Jeremy!" Calico shouted.
"Calico, go back with your mama, Sugar! Please, I don't want you to get hurt." Jeremy pleaded.
"Hey! What right do you have talking to my little sister? You're a convicted murderer!" Wesley sneered.
"Look who's talking! You're the murderer, Wesley, not Jeremy! You just haven't been caught. Jeremy was framed. He is innocent. Jeremy is kind and he loves people. He loves me and Mama. When he heard Mama scream yesterday because I was sick, he came back to help us. Jeremy told Mama she was kind. He told me he loved me. When Jeremy puts his arms around me, I feel safe and loved. You have never done or said any of the things that Jeremy did in one in day in my whole life, Wesley." Calico said furiously.
"Love? One of these days, brat, you will find out there is no such thing! It might even be today!" Wesley laughed as he yanked Jeremy's head back by his hair.
Calico cried and ran to her mother.
"Josh, you're a better marksman than I am. Can you get a clear shot at Tate?" Jason asked.
"Not yet, if he would just move about a half inch, I could get him." Joshua was holding his shotgun waiting for the right moment.
Brother Len was praying silently.
Malinda Pearl looked behind her. She thought she had heard whispering. She could barely see the three men hidden in the woods. She remembered Jeremy saying he has brothers.
Malinda Pearl knew what had to be done. She reached into her purse and pulled out the diamond necklace her mother had given her when she got married. It was foolish but every time she left the house to go to town, she put the necklace in her purse to keep it from being stolen. She knew it could be stolen in town too. But if it was, she would know that she had done everything she could to protect her one family heirloom. Wesley had hounded her for years to sell the necklace. He probably would have stolen it if she hadn't taken it with her when she left the house.
Malinda Pearl looked at Jeremy. She caught his eye. She nodded very slightly toward the ground. Jeremy nodded back with an almost invisible movement of his head.
"Wesley! I have something for you! My mother's diamond necklace. The one you have been wanting me to sell. Catch!" Malinda Pearl threw the necklace as hard as she could.
The necklace landed about two feet to the left of Wesley. Jeremy was on his right. When Wesley moved a few steps to the left, Jeremy hit the ground and rolled to the right.
Malinda Pearl and Calico hit the ground too.
Wesley bent down to pick up the necklace. He was oblivious to what was going on around him.
When Wesley Tate stood up, Joshua took the shot. BOOM! Wesley Tate fell to the ground dead.
Jason and Joshua ran to untie Jeremy and help him up.
"Baby brother! Are we glad to see you!" Jason exclaimed.
"Jason! Josh! Am I happy to see you two. Thank you for saving my life. That's fine shooting, Josh." Jeremy was ecstatic to be back with his brothers.
"Jeremy! Thank God!" Joshua gave his younger brother a bear hug.
"Joshua, are you okay? You never hug me this tightly." Jeremy asked.
"I was worried about you. Can't a man be glad when his brother is rescued from a murderer?" Joshua asked still holding Jeremy in his grip.
"Well, sure, Josh." Jeremy looked over Joshua's shoulder at Jason. Jason shook his head to indicate that he didn't know what was going on with their brother.
Brother Len talked to Malinda Pearl and Calico about Wesley's death.
"May God forgive me, preacher. I couldn't let Wesley kill Jeremy. Wesley was my son and I love for that reason. But there was something bad wrong with him. I know he killed the woman on the wagon train. There's no telling how many others he killed." Malinda Pearl told him.
"I'm glad we don't have to be afraid of Wesley anymore." Calico said.
The Bolts, the Tates, and Brother Len arrived at the wagon train later that Pearl decided that she and Calico needed a new start in a new town. They were going to travel with the wagon train until they found a town they liked.
The Bolt brothers talked to Deputy Roberts about Wesley Tate. Jason and Joshua buried him in the area where he was killed. Brother Len had a funeral service for Tate after the burial.
Candy was relieved and happy to see Jeremy. Biddie and Sister Pauline were happy as well.
The Bolt family and the Carpenters were talking outside Candy and Jeremy's wagon.
"Jeremy, I am thrilled that you are back, sweetheart. But I'm worried that you are still sick with Pneumonia. You don't look well, darling. You're not breathing well either." Candy put her hand on his forehead. "You have a fever too. Jeremy, you have got to get some rest."
"I promise, Candy. I will get a good night's sleep tonight and I'll be fine tomorrow." Jeremy reassured her.
Jeremy turned around to speak to his brothers. "Jason, I believe…."
Jeremy fell to the ground unconscious. Jason and Joshua reached for their brother at the same time. They locked eyes.
An icy chill went down Jason's spine. Suddenly, he felt the fear that he saw in Joshua's eyes.
They would return to Seattle without Jeremy.
.