No Justice For Jeremy Chapter Nine

Jason swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Let me get him, Jason." Joshua carefully lifted their unconscious brother from the ground.

"Certainly Joshua." Jason replied. "Watch out for Jeremy's arms as you go into the wagon."

"I will, Jason." Joshua said.

.

Joshua carried Jeremy inside his wagon. He laid his younger brother on the bed. "Jeremy! Can you hear me?"

"Excuse me, please, Joshua." Sister Pauline bent down and kissed Jeremy's cheek. "About 107 degrees. Joshua, you and Jason get a bathtub. Fill it with cold water from the river quickly. Then put Jeremy in the tub. That high fever has got to come down."

"Sister Pauline, you can tell what Jeremy's temperature is from a kiss on his face?" Joshua asked.

"Yes, give or take one or two degrees. Get moving, Joshua. This fever has already rendered your brother unconscious. We don't want him to start having convulsions." Sister Pauline replied.

"Come on, Josh." Jason had stepped inside the wagon. "Let's get going. Jeremy needs help fast."

Joshua left the wagon. Brother Len went with the Bolts to get the tub and fill it up. Malinda Pearl and Calico had heard that Jeremy passed out. They went with the brothers and the preacher to help.

Candy sat down on the side of the bed. She caressed Jeremy's cheek."Oh, Sister Pauline! I am grateful for your help. But I should be taking care of Jeremy. I just froze when he collapsed. I was terrified and I'm still frightened."

"That's understandable dear. You start cutting this quilt into squares. We will use them later to help relieve some of the chest congestion that Jeremy has." Sister Pauline told her. "Jeremy's going to be fine."

Candy began cutting the quilt into squares. Biddie helped her. Sister Pauline kept placing cold cloths on Jeremy's forehead.

A little while later, the men along with Malinda Pearl and Calico had the bathtub filled with freezing cold water. Mrs. Tate and Calico returned to their wagon. Calico wanted to stay to help Jeremy. Her mother reminded her that young girls cannot see gentlemen in their underclothes.

Jason and Joshua put Jeremy in the tub of water. Jeremy gasped once. He shivered and then he was still. The two older brothers looked at each other frightened. When Jeremy had this treatment for fevers in the past, he would balk and try to fight them. His lack of resistance made them fear that they would not have him much longer.

Jason, Joshua, Candy, and Biddie sat next to the tub. All of them kept a close eye on Jeremy.

"How can he lie so still in that freezing water?" Candy broke down sobbing. "I'm so afraid we are going to lose him!"

Biddie put her arm around Candy's shoulder. "Jeremy is strong. He is fighting to get well. He loves you with his whole heart, Candy."

"Biddie's right, Candy. Jeremy loves you more than anything. He will fight to live." Jason walked over to her chair. He knelt down and looked into her eyes.

Candy saw tears in Jason's eyes. She put her arms around his neck. Jason put his head on her shoulder and cried. His tears ended in a few minutes. Jason stood up.

"How many tears have I cried over that boy?" Jason asked looking at Jeremy in the tub.

"Even more than I have, Jason and I've cried plenty over him. You know what? Jeremy's worth every single one of them." Candy replied.

Yes, he is, Candy. He surely is." Jason agreed.

After about an hour, Jason and Josh got their brother out of the water. They took him to his wagon. The brothers dried Jeremy off and dressed him in some dry long johns. Jason and Josh laid him on the bed.

Sister Pauline touched Jeremy's forehead. "I would say his temperature is about 104 degrees now."

"The freezing water didn't lower his fever much. That's bad isn't it?" Candy asked.

"Sometimes when a person is really sick, it takes a while for the fever to go down a lot. Try not to worry, sweetie." Sister Pauline said gently.

"I'll try. It's hard not to worry about Jeremy. I love him so much." Candy replied.

"I understand, Candy. Jeremy is a wonderful young man. Sweetheart, I'm going to warm some of these quilt squares by the fire. I'll be back in a few minutes." Sister Pauline told her.

"Okay, Sister Pauline." Candy replied. "Thank you."

Sister Pauline left the wagon. Jason and Joshua were outside the wagon talking to Brother Len.

Candy sat down on the side of the bed. As she placed a cold wet cloth on Jeremy's head, her hand lingered on his cheek as she gazed at his handsome face.

"Mama! Where are you? I need you, Mama!" Jeremy cried out.

"Jeremy! Can you hear me, sweetheart? Please wake up, Jeremy!" Candy spoke loudly to be sure her husband could hear her.

Jeremy opened his eyes. "Hi, Candy. Where is Mama?"

"Sweetheart, don't you remember? Your mother passed away when you were very young. You were five years old." Candy told him gently.

"Oh, Candy! Is that your idea of a joke? It is definitely not funny. It would break my heart to hear you say that, if I didn't know for a fact that Mama is not dead." Jeremy told her.

"Jeremy, you are seriously sick with pneumonia. Maybe you dreamed about your mother, and it seemed real." Candy reasoned.

"No, Candy. I didn't dream about Mama. I talked to her earlier before I went to bed." Jeremy said. "Well, Candy! There's Mama sitting in that chair behind you."

Even though Candy knew that Maggie Bolt died years ago, she looked at the chair behind her. The chair was empty. The fever must be making Jeremy think he sees his mother. Candy thought.

"Sweetheart, why don't you get some more sleep? Your fever is still high." Candy encouraged him. "You need all the rest you can get right now."

"Candy, can't you hear Mama talking? I want to spend some time with her, okay? Why don't you take a break and go visit Biddie for a while? Mama will take care of me while you're gone." Jeremy smiled.

Candy helped Jeremy sit up in the bed. She pulled him close to her.

Candy enfolded her sweet husband in her arms. He put his arms tightly around her.

"I love you more than my own life, Jeremy. I always will, no matter what." Candy said tenderly.

"I love you too, Candy. Forever and always." Jeremy replied softly.

Their hug ended. Candy looked into Jeremy's face. He looked so sweet and trusting that Candy almost cried.

"I'm going out for a few minutes. Sister Pauline will be here in a little while." Candy told him.

"I'll be alright, Candy. Mama's here." Jeremy grinned.

Candy gave him a tender kiss on his lips. Jeremy sighed.

Candy left the wagon to find her brothers-in-law.

She didn't have to go far to find them. Jason and Joshua were by the fire helping Sister Pauline warm the quilt squares.

"Oh, Jason! Joshua! And you too, Sister Pauline, you need to know this as well. Jeremy is awake…" Candy told them.

"That's great! It's fantastic! Thank The Lord!" The two brothers and Sister Pauline said.

The three of them stopped celebrating when they realized Candy was frowning.

"What's wrong, Candy? You don't seem very happy that Jeremy is awake." Jason was concerned.

"Of course, I'm happy that he is awake, Jason. It's just that now…" Candy's voice trailed off.

"Now what, Candy?" Joshua asked. "Is Jeremy's fever worse?"

"I don't know, Joshua. It might be. I guess that could explain…" Candy hesitated.

Jason drew a deep breath. "Candy, you are scaring us. Please just tell us what's going on with our brother."

Candy gulped. She looked at Sister Pauline.

"You need to tell us, Sweetheart. We have to know so we can help Jeremy." Sister Pauline put her hand on Candy's shoulder.

Candy nodded at Sister Pauline.

The young Mrs. Bolt looked at Jason. "Alright. It's bad. Jeremy is having a hallucination. He thinks your mother is alive and that she is in the wagon with him. Jeremy thinks she talks to him and he thinks he can see her sitting in a chair."

"Great God in Heaven! Jeremy has lost his mind!" Jason bellowed.

"I guess the strain of being on the run for a murder he didn't commit was too much for him. Heck! It would be too much for anybody." Joshua said sadly.

"Don't panic. This is serious, but it doesn't mean that Jeremy has lost his mind. It is probably the result of his high fever. I think we need to put Jeremy in a tub of freezing cold water again to get his fever way down. Joshua, you and Brother Len can do that, please. I will tell my nephew. Jason, you go to Bannock and get the doctor. Jeremy needs him." Sister Pauline told them.

"Yes, you are probably right, Sister Pauline. I will go to Bannock immediately. Calico Tate needs to see the doctor too for her convulsions." Jason told them.

"I will go start getting buckets of water from the river. I see Brother Len coming this way. I'll go ask him to help me, Sister Pauline." Joshua said.

"Fine boys. I will go back to the wagon with Candy." Sister Pauline replied. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's see how your husband is doing."

Everyone went about their duties. Brother Len agreed to help Joshua.

Jason borrowed Mr. Connors' buckboard and left immediately for Bannock. When he arrived in Bannock, it was too late for the doctor's office to be opened. Jason didn't go to the sheriff's office because he didn't want to bring Jeremy to the attention of any more law officers if he could avoid doing so.

The eldest Bolt brother walked down the street until he came to a restaurant called Carlotta's Cupboard. Jason felt a twinge of homesickness as he looked at Lottie's full first name on the sign.

The restaurant was crowded. Surely someone in there could tell him how to find the doctor. Jason went inside the eating establishment. He walked up to the bar.

"Excuse me, please, I need some information. My brother is seriously ill on the wagon train about ten miles outside of town. He needs a doctor immediately. Could you tell me how to find your local doctor, please?" Jason asked.

"I'm sorry, sir. Our doctor, Dr. Michael Travers, is on his way back east due to a death in his family. His mother passed away." The bartender replied.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Is there anyone taking the doctor's place while he is gone?"Jason inquired.

"I'm afraid not. We are just relying on home remedies until Dr. Travers gets back." The bartender answered.

"I see. I am afraid my brother can't do that. He is very sick with pneumonia." Jason told him.

Jason thought for a minute. He turned around to face the people eating supper.

"Excuse me, please! I'm sorry to interrupt your meal, but I have an emergency. My brother is terribly sick with pneumonia. We are part of the wagon train a few miles out of town. The local doctor is away on a family emergency. Does anyone know of another doctor in a town close by? My brother is in dire need of help, please." Jason implored.

A man stood up from his seat at one of the tables. "Young man, I'm a doctor. I will go with you to treat your brother. Is it alright if my friends come with us? Oh, my name is Galen Adams. You can just call me Doc. Everybody calls me Doc."

Jason walked to Doc's table and shook his hand. "Thank you, Doc! My name is Tommy Winthrop. My brother, Donnie has a high fever, and he has been hallucinating about our mother who is deceased."

"I know that's frightening, Mr. Winthrop. When we take care of that fever that will most likely take care of the hallucinations." Doc said.

"Thank you, Doc. Who are your friends?" Jason asked.

"This pretty lady is Miss Kitty Russell. She owns the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas. And this fellow is Matt Dillon, he is the U.S. Marshall in Dodge. We stopped here on the train. We are on our way back to Dodge. We spent two weeks in Olympia in Washington Territory. Matt spoke at the U.S. Marshall's Conference. He is close friends with the U.S. Marshall in Olympia, Leonard Trueaxe. I attended a Medical Symposium on Anesthesia. Miss Kitty came with us because she wanted some vacation time with Matt." Doc Adams explained.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Winthrop. I'm very sorry about your brother. Doc will fix him right up." Kitty said.

"Hello, Mr. Winthrop. It's good to meet you. What Kitty said about Doc is true. He will have your brother feeling better in no time." Matt said.

"It's nice to meet you too, Miss Russell and Marshall Dillon."Jason replied. "Thank you for your endorsement of the doctor. That helps me tremendously. My brother means the world to me."

"Kitty and Matt, please." Kitty told him. "And you're welcome."

"Alright and all of you call me Tommy." Jason replied.

The trio from Dodge agreed to Jason's request.

Matt got all their bags off the train. He advised the conductor that he and his friends would be staying in this area,

The Dodge City residents accompanied Jason to the wagon train, Jason introduced them to the Carpenters and the rest of the Bolt family except Jeremy. Jeremy was in the tub of ice water asleep. He had worn himself out trying to fight Joshua and Brother Len to get out of the freezing water.

Doc examined Jeremy. He said Jeremy's temperature was 101 degrees and he could be taken out of the tub.

Jason and Joshua got their brother out of the tub. They took him to his wagon. They dried him off, dressed him in dry long johns, and got him into his bed. Doc had followed the brothers to the wagon. Candy and Sister Pauline were there too.

"Kelly, I need to sit up with Donnie tonight in case his fever spikes." Doc told her.

"Oh, no! So, Donnie is still seriously ill? I thought that once the fever went down, he wouldn't be in danger any longer." Candy was close to tears.

"Well, dear, he is getting better. 101 degrees is considerably better than 107 degrees. But Donnie still has pneumonia. I want to make sure his temperature doesn't shoot up again. I'm going to do my best to take care of him. Why don't you try to get some sleep?" Doc asked.

"I don't think I can sleep, Doc. I'm too worried about my husband." Candy answered.

"Yes, I understand, dear. But you have to take care of yourself too." Doc looked at her kindly.

Kitty came into the wagon.

"Well, here's an idea, Kelly. Why don't you go for a little walk with Kitty?

I will be right here with Donnie." Doc nodded at Kitty.

Kitty put her hand on Candy's arm. "Come on, darling. A walk will do you good. We won't be gone too long."

Candy looked at Jeremy asleep in the bed. He seemed to be resting at the moment. She looked at Doc. He gave her a wink.

"Alright, some fresh air would be nice." Candy replied.

Kitty and Candy left the wagon. They walked through the wagon train campsite talking like old friends. Kitty was warm and friendly. Talking to her was very easy.

After they had been walking about ten minutes, Joshua ran up to them. "Kelly, come quickly! Donnie is having a convulsion!"

Candy and Kitty ran to the wagon. Joshua stopped by his wagon to tell Biddie about Jeremy. The young Bolt couple also ran to Jeremy's wagon.

The four of them found Jason and Brother Len holding Jeremy on the ground outside the wagon. Doc had told them to move him when the convulsion began. The doctor had put a stick between Jeremy's teeth.

Candy dropped to her knees next to Jeremy. Kitty knelt on one side of Candy. Biddie was on her knees on the other side of her sister-in-law.

"Donnie, I'm here, sweetheart! You are going to be alright. The doctor is here. He is taking good care of you." Candy told Jeremy. It took all of her strength not to cry.

In about two minutes, the convulsion stopped, and Jeremy lay very still.

"Doc, do we need to put Donnie in the tub again?" Joshua asked.

"No, Alex. I think we've done that enough for today. Donnie should be waking up at least for a few minutes within the hour." Doc rubbed his hand over his face. "You boys take Donnie back inside his wagon."

Jason and Joshua took Jeremy into the wagon. They laid him gently on the bed.

"I'm scared, Tommy." Joshua looked Jason in the eye.

"I know. I'm scared too, Alex." Jason sighed.

Candy came in and sat down close to the bed. She held Jeremy's hand. Biddie and Doc came in the wagon as well.

Jason and Joshua sat outside on the wagon steps.

Brother Len talked Sister Pauline into going to her wagon to get some sleep. He promised to wake her if Donnie got worse.

Kitty and Matt sat outside with Jeremy's brothers.

Jeremy did not wake up within an hour as Doc had thought. When Jeremy did not wake after another hour, Doc and Candy went outside the wagon. Biddie stayed inside to keep an eye on Jeremy.

"Kelly, I need to talk to you and your husband's brothers." Doc said.

"What's wrong, Doc? Why isn't Donnie waking up?" Jason felt that icy chill down his spine again.

"Well, Tommy, Donnie isn't waking up like I think he should be. Let me ask you, has he had any type of emotional trauma recently?" Doc looked at Jason.

Jason inhaled sharply. He looked at Joshua and Candy. "Go ahead." Joshua told him.

"I agree."Candy sighed.

Jason told Doc, Matt, and Kitty the truth about their identities and the reason they were on the wagon train.

Kitty walked over to Candy and hugged her. "Oh, darling, I'm so sorry. I know Jeremy is innocent. Matt, what are you going to do to fix this!?"

"Now, Kitty…." Matt started to say.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Matt, but this is very important. I don't like to say this and I hope I'm wrong, but I believe that Jeremy has lost the will to live." Doc took off his glasses.

Candy cried heartbroken tears. Kitty hugged her tighter.

Joshua sat on the ground. He covered his face with his hands.

Jason fought back tears. "Is there anything we can do, Doc? Will Jeremy wake up at some point or will he…?"

"Jason, I certainly hope he wakes up. But I don't know. A person's mind can be injured just like the rest of the body. Not with cuts and bruises that can be seen of course. After a certain amount of injury, the mind protects itself. Since Jeremy's emotional trauma involves the real possibility of him being killed, his subconscious may be choosing to let him die peacefully from the pneumonia." Doc said in a quivering voice.

Joshua cried his heart out. Biddie came running out of the wagon to comfort him.

Matt looked around at the distraught Bolt family.

"Doc, I know you have been to medical school and you're a doctor, but what you just said sounds like foolishness to me. A man's mind can't decide that a man is going to die." Matt was trying to encourage the Bolts.

"Marshall Dillon, do you think I would have said that to these good people if I didn't have a pretty decent idea of what I'm talking about?" Doc asked. "Maybe I didn't say it so you can understand it. Jeremy is subconsciously choosing to die from the pneumonia instead of letting himself be hanged.

"No matter how you say it, Doc, I still think it's foolish. Why would Jeremy want to give up on life? He has a beautiful wife, fine brothers, and a cute, sweet sister-in-law." Matt caught Doc's eye.

Doc realized that the Marshall was trying to offer Jeremy's family some hope. He didn't comment again.

Candy went back inside the wagon. She was going to sit up with Jeremy for the rest of the night. Jason and Joshua offered to stay with her. She told them to try to get some sleep. They said they would bring blankets and sleep outside the wagon on the ground. Biddie would be in the wagon with Candy.

Doc Adams said he would come back at daylight to examine Jeremy. He was going to see Calico Tate before he turned in for the night. Jason had told him about the child having convulsions.

Matt and Kitty said goodnight to everyone and went in their wagon.

"Matt, I want to talk to you. Isn't there something you can do to help Jeremy? He is an innocent young man. It isn't right for him and his family to have to live on the run." Kitty pleaded.

"I don't know what I can do, Kitty. Jeremy was found guil in a court of law. He could have filed an appeal. But the deadline for that has passed." Matt said somberly. "Unfortunately, I know what I have to do."

"No, Matt! You're not going to turn Jeremy in!" Kitty exclaimed.

"Kitty, you know it's my… ." Matt tried to say.

"Don't you dare say JOB to me, Marshall Matthew Dillon! I am sick and tired of how it's always your job to do what the law says whether it's right or wrong." Kitty was furious. "This is wrong and you know it!"

"Kitty, the only way we can ever have any Justice is to go by the law. You understand that don't you?" Matt searched her face.

"Justice? Do you really want to talk about Justice, Matt? Well, answer this question for me, please. Why is there no Justice for Jeremy?" Kitty demanded.

"Kitty I wasn't involved in that trial so I can't say why Jeremy was convicted except that the only witness was murdered. If Jeremy gets a good attorney, maybe the attorney can file an appeal based on that." Matt replied.

"Oh, Matt!" Kitty was exasperated. "Even I know that if you take Jeremy back, as soon as he gets to Seattle, a judge will set a date for his hanging and that will be it."

"I'm sorry, Kitty. I really am. The Bolts seem like a truly nice family. But why are you so invested in what happens to Jeremy?" Matt inquired.

"I will tell you why, Matt. Jeremy and Candy are who we could have been. They are young and deeply in love. They are taking a huge risk even though the odds are stacked against them. Candy told me that she had to talk Jeremy into letting her come with him when he fled. At first, he didn't want her to come because he was afraid, she would be killed. Then they talked about how much they love each other and how there are always risks in life. After that, both of them agreed that they wanted to spend whatever time they had left together. Candy even told him at the beginning of their discussion that if he wouldn't let her flee with him, she wanted to be pregnant with his baby before he left" Kitty told him.

"Oh, Kitty! You know how I feel about you. It never seemed fair to marry you and have a family because you could have become a widow any day. Jeremy and Candy chose to take that risk. That's their decision. I guess you feel that I made our decision on my own." Matt replied.

"Yes, I feel that way because that's exactly what you did. Young women didn't speak up back then like they do now. Maybe I should have spoken up. Perhaps I should have insisted on having a baby married or not.l love you; Matt and I know you love me. I don't regret the relationship we have. Sometimes I think about what might have been." Kitty said.

"Jeremy and Candy are living our what might have been. And you don't want me to take it away from them." Matt sighed.

"Yes, that's sort of it. Mainly, I don't want Jeremy to be executed for a crime he did not commit." Kitty answered.

"Kitty, my hands are tied. I'm sorry." Matt was startled by the flash of fire in her eyes.

Kitty was afraid to speak. She just glared viciously at Marshall Matthew Dillon.

Jeremy woke up two days later. His temperature was 99 degrees. Candy and his brothers were overjoyed. Jeremy felt weak and sickly. Doc told him that was normal as he still had pneumonia. Doc told Jeremy that he had passed the crisis. Jeremy would recover completely and regain his strength in time according to the doctor.

A few days later, Jeremy was ready to get out of bed.

"Jeremy, you need to stay in bed a little longer today. Then we will go for a ride in the buckboard. Won't that be fun?" Candy asked. "Your brothers are coming to see you today. They were scared when you were so sick."

"I'm sorry everyone was scared because of me." Jeremy told her.

"You couldn't help being sick, sweetheart. We are just all thrilled that you are better now." Candy replied.

Jason and Joshua came to see their youngest brother later in the morning. They were relieved and happy that Jeremy was feeling so much better. They were also happy that Jeremy's hallucinations and convulsions had ended.

Candy left the wagon saying she had some things to do.

Jason and Josh talked about old times when the three of them were growing up.

"The way the two of you are talking, it sounds like someone is leaving for good. Doc said I'm doing better. I'm not dying, am I?" Jeremy asked.

"No, brother! You are doing better! Doc wouldn't lie." Jason said. "We love you, Jeremy."

"Yeah, we love you, Jeremy very much." Joshua told him.

"I love you, Jason. I love you, Josh." Jeremy told them.

"We told Matt we would take him rabbit hunting. We have to go." Jason gave Jeremy a hug. "I'll always love you, Jeremy."

"You're the best brother ever. Well, you and Jason both are the best ever." Josh said as he gave Jeremy a hug. "Love you brother."

"What the hell is going on?" Jeremy asked as his brothers left.

A few minutes later, Candy returned.

"Candy, what's wrong with Jason and Josh? I mean we say I love you to each other regularly. Today though, they were weird about it. Like I am dying or something. I'm not dying, am I, Candy?"

"Of course not, Jeremy. Doc Adams said you are going to get well." Candy replied.

"Well, why are my brothers acting so strangely?" Jeremy wanted to know.

"Don't they always behave that way?" Candy inquired.

"No, they don't always act that way. What are you doing, sweetheart?" Jeremy asked.

"I'm getting ready for our are leaving in a few minutes." Candy answered. "Kitty is going with us. I hope that's okay."

"Sure, that's fine. Kitty is a nice lady." Jeremy replied.

Candy helped Jeremy get dressed. She helped him down the wagon steps even though he protested that he didn't need assistance.

Jeremy and Candy walked arm in arm through the wagon train campsite.

Kitty met them outside her wagon.

The three of them walked through the campsite.

"Hello, Jeremy. It's nice to see you up and around." Kitty told him.

"Thank you, Miss Kitty. It feels good to be outside. It's a pretty day for a ride." Jeremy replied.

"Is everything ready, Kitty?" Candy asked her.

"What is it, a surprise for me?" Jeremy teased.

"Jeremy, I have something to tell you, but not right now. I will tell you a little later, alright?" Candy looked at her husband anxiously.

Jeremy was puzzled by the look on her face. "Is something wrong, sweetheart?"

"Let me explain later, please." Candy looked behind her.

"I'm getting worried, Candy. What's the matter?" Jeremy had a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"Here we are. We need to get in fast." Kitty told them.

Jeremy was shocked to see the buckboard packed with clothes and belongings.

"Candy, what is going on?" Jeremy demanded.

"We don't have time to talk now, Jeremy. Please get in the buckboard. We will help you." His wife answered.

"I'm not moving until you answer my question." He said stubbornly.

"Jeremy, please trust me, you know how much I love you." Candy begged.

"Sure, I know how much you love me. I love you too. Why can't you tell me what this is all about?" He looked at her quizzically.

Candy looked at Jeremy helplessly. She looked at Kitty.

"Jeremy, Matt is going to turn you in. He has this thing about his job and his duty as a marshal no matter the circumstances. Candy and I are trying to get you out of here before that happens." Kitty told him.

Jeremy was stunned. He looked at Candy.

"Jeremy, please get in so we can get away. Kitty and I have a plan. Kitty is on our side. Please, sweetheart!' Candy implored him.

Jeremy didn't move. He didn't speak. He stared at Candy.

"Oh, no! I hear someone coming!" Kitty said frantically.

"Jeremy Bolt! Get in this wagon, now!" Candy pulled on his arm.

Suddenly, Jason and Joshua rode up on their horses. They got off the horses.

"Jeremy! You have to leave now! Marshall Dillon is not far behind us!" Jason exclaimed.

"Go on, Jeremy! You have to go now!" Joshua said urgently.

"Jason! Joshua! I can't leave you! I won't ever see you again! That was the whole point of running was so we wouldn't lose each other!" Jeremy said tearfully.

"Yes, that was our plan. Candy is your family too. We can't all go right now. Maybe we can reunite later." Jason said.

"No, if I leave now, we will never see each other again." Jeremy replied.

"Jeremy! If you don't leave now, you will be dead from hanging in less than a week! Now, go on!" Joshua yelled.

Jeremy had tears pouring down his face. He hugged his brothers tightly.

"I love you both! I'll miss you! Goodbye!" Jeremy got into the buckboard. He sat down next to Candy.

As Kitty drove the buckboard away, Jeremy heard his brothers calling to him. "We love you, Jeremy! We love you! We will miss you, Baby Brother!"

Jeremy looked back. He saw Jason and Joshua hugging each other. They were squalling their hearts out.

.