No Justice For Jeremy Chapter Twelve
Jake Coulter was waiting at the train depot in Cheyenne, Wyoming for his wife and son. She sent him a wire two days ago saying that they would arrive at 4 pm today. The train was a half hour late. Jake was getting worried.
Jake waited a few more minutes. Just as he was about to ask the depot manager if there had been any word about the train, he heard it coming.
When the train came to a stop, Jake searched the windows for Millie's face. He saw her waving frantically at him.
"Jake! Jake! Meet us at the door!" Millie shouted over the engine noise.
Jake went to the door quickly. He saw Millie, holding Little Josh, coming down the train steps followed by a distraught young man carrying a seriously injured young woman. A lady with flaming red hair was behind the young man.
"Jake, these folks are my friends. The train was robbed, and Kelly was shot. We have to get her to the wagon train ten miles out of town. That's where they are going and there is a doctor with the wagon train. Some people on the train said that the doctor who was here in town died last week. We have got to go now, Jake! Kelly saved Little Josh's life!" Millie said tearfully.
Jake looked at Jeremy. "Put your wife in the back of my buckboard."
Jeremy did as Jake told him. He got in the back with Candy. Kitty got in the back of the wagon too.
"Donnie, I have helped Doc more times than I can count. I'm good at stopping bleeding." Kitty took a flannel nightgown out of her bag. She tore it in large pieces. She took several swatches and pressed them tightly against Candy's bullet wound.
The Coulters and their son got in the front of the buckboard.
Millie looked at Jake. "Make these horses run like hell!"
Jake Coulter was stunned. Millie had never said a swear word in her whole life.
"Yes, ma'am! Yah! Giddy up, Hugo!" Jake shouted to the lead horse.
Hugo took off running fast.
As the horses ran, Kitty was putting hard pressure on Candy's wound.
Jeremy was lying beside Candy. "Don't leave me, sweetheart. Please. I love you so much." Jeremy's breathing was ragged.
Little Josh was sitting in his mother's lap. He looked over her shoulder at his friends in the back. Jeremy had put his head on Candy's shoulder. He was bawling his eyes out.
Little Josh turned his head to the front. "Run like hell, Hugo! Donnie's crying bout Kelly."
Jake and Millie looked at each other. They shook their heads. They couldn't scold their boy. He was expressing his anxiety the way his mother had voiced her's.
When they arrived at the wagon train, Jeremy jumped out of the back of the buckboard. He ran through the campsite shouting, "Doc! Doc! C-C-Come q-q-quick!"
Doc came hurrying out of Biddie's wagon. Joshua ran out of the wagon too. His arm was in a sling.
Jeremy almost fainted. "JOSH!"
Doc and Joshua reached Jeremy. "What is it, son?" Doc asked.
"C-C-Candy's been s-s-shot. It's b-b-bad,Doc!" Jeremy stammered as he stared at Joshua.
"Is she in that buckboard?" Doc asked.
"Yes! P-P-Please s-s-save her!" Jeremy answered. "Doc, she's almost five months pregnant."
Doc rushed to the buckboard. Jeremy and Joshua were right behind him.
Doc got in the back of the buckboard and examined Candy quickly. Kitty got out of the wagon to give Doc plenty of room.
"Here, some of you men, get her to the medical tent fast." Doc said.
Brother Len and Mr. Connors had heard the commotion. They came out of their wagons to find out what was happening. The two of them and Jake carried Candy to the medical tent. They laid her carefully on the cot.
Jason and Matt returned to the campsite from rabbit hunting. They ran inside the tent. Sister Pauline came in behind them.
"JEREMY!" Jason exclaimed.
Jeremy was on his knees beside the cot. He was looking intently at Candy's face as he prayed silently for her and the baby to live.
Jeremy looked up at his oldest brother. "Jason! I'm scared. I think she's going to die!" He stood up.
"Jeremy! You have got to give her a chance and me a chance. And most of all, you have got to give God a chance to do what He is going to do. I know you're scared. But you can't pray on your knees for her to survive and get right up and say you think she is going to die. No sir, you can't do that." Doc gave Jeremy a wink and a pat on his back.
"You're right. I'm sorry." Jeremy apologized.
"Go hug your brothers and then get a bear hug from Sister Pauline and I will tell you what I need to do." Doc told Jeremy.
Jeremy hugged his brothers tighter than ever before. Sister Pauline squeezed Jeremy so hard, he gasped for air.
The three brothers and Sister Pauline walked over to Doc. Kitty, Matt, and Brother Len were in the tent as well.
Jeremy was standing between his brothers. They had their arms around his shoulders. "Alright, Doc, tell me. How bad is Candy hurt?"
Doc wiped his face with his hand. "Jeremy, Candy is badly injured. The bullet is deep, and it has to come out. Son, I'm gonna be straight with you, there's a chance that Candy might not make it. But I promise you, I'm gonna do everything I possibly can to bring her through this." Doc said quietly.
Jeremy looked at his oldest brother. "J-J-Jason, if she d-d-dies…."
"Now, Jeremy, Doc said there was a chance she might not make it. But there is also an excellent chance that Candy will be fine." Jason squeezed his little brother's shoulder.
"Come on, brother. Let's wait outside. Doc needs to get started." Joshua looked at Jeremy.
"Wait, Josh. Doc, what about the baby?" Jeremy asked. "We have already lost one child."
"So far, the baby is alright. The bullet wound is in Candy's abdomen. But it's not close to the baby. I'm gonna do my best for both of them, Jeremy." Doc nodded at him.
"Thank you, Doc." Jeremy let his brothers guide him out of the tent.
Kitty told Doc she would stay and help if he needed her. Doc told her to get some rest. He would need her to sit up with Candy during the night. Kitty said she would try to rest. Matt asked if he could help. Doc told him to try to find the jackass who did this.
Kitty and Matt left the tent. They sat down at a table with the Bolt brothers. Brother Len said a prayer with Doc and Sister Pauline. Then he came out and sat down at the table.
Jeremy looked at Joshua. "Brother, I'm so happy that you are alive! I saw a wanted poster for Troubadour Tate that said he had murdered you."
Joshua told Jeremy how Troubadour Tate found him in the store in Cheyenne.
"Biddie ran at Tate hitting him in the arm with the iron skillet that she had been looking at. Biddie slung that pistol to hell and gone. Instead of hitting me in the chest as Tate had intended, the bullet hit me in the shoulder. After Biddie hit him, Troubadour Tate ran out of the store, mounted his horse and left. He didn't stay long enough to see if he had killed me or what." Joshua explained.
"We were worried that if that scoundrel heard that Josh was still alive, he would come after Josh again. So, we wired Sheriff McGrady, and he sent out the wanted posters for us. We just never thought that you would see one of the wanted posters, Jeremy. We are terribly sorry, brother. I can imagine how heartbroken you were. Will you forgive us, please?" Jason asked.
"Yeah, I'm truly sorry, Jeremy. We didn't mean to be so careless. We really didn't think you would see one of the wanted posters. Please forgive us." Joshua asked.
Jeremy looked at Jason and Joshua. "You're my brothers. I know you would never hurt me like that. You don't need my forgiveness. I'm just grateful that you're alive, Josh. I love you both!" Jeremy's voice cracked.
"I suppose you were to upset, Jeremy, to remember to send Aaron a telegram to ask about Josh." Jason commented.
"Yes, I was to upset, Jason. But Candy remembered and sent a wire. Aaron wired back. He said Joshua was deceased. Why would he do that Jason?" Jeremy was surprised.
"I don't know, Jeremy. It's very strange that Aaron told you that. When did Candy send the telegram?" Jason inquired.
"Well, Kitty was the one who actually sent the message for Candy. It was on the fourteenth." Jeremy answered.
"That was several days after I notified Aaron that Josh was alright. There must be some kind of trouble back in Seattle." Jason responded.
"What type of trouble would cause Aaron to let Jeremy think I was dead?" Joshua wondered.
"That is a very good question, Joshua. And I'm going to try to find out the answer." Jason replied.
"Josh, where is Biddie? Does she know about Candy?" Jeremy asked.
"She is in bed in our wagon, Jeremy. Biddie was seriously traumatized the day that I was shot. Her nerves have been very bad since then. That's why Doc was in our wagon when you and Candy and your friends got here. I will tell Biddie about Candy when her surgery is over." Joshua told him.
"Ok, Josh. I'm sorry Biddie is having such a hard time. I hope she feels better soon." Jeremy looked toward the medical tent.
Two hours went by before Doc came out of the medical tent. He said that Candy and the baby survived the surgery. He cautioned Jeremy about Candy being in danger for at least the next twenty four hours. Doc asked everyone to pray for no fever to develop. He explained that a fever would almost certainly be deadly for young Mrs. Bolt.
"Jeremy, I will sit up with you and Candy for the rest of the night." Sister Pauline told him.
"Thank you, Sister Pauline, I appreciate it very much. But you have been on your feet for hours. You should get some sleep." Jeremy replied.
"Thunder! Are you saying that I'm old? Let me help you!" Sister Pauline snapped.
Jeremy was taken aback by her tone. The stress of being terrified about his wife and baby was wearing on his nerves. Jeremy put his head on his folded arms on the table. He began mewling like an injured puppy.
"Oh, my sweet boy! I'm sorry! I want to help, but I have made you cry. It looks like you're right about me needing some rest." Sister Pauline sat down next to Jeremy. She patted him on the back.
Jeremy sat up and leaned over on Sister Pauline's shoulder. She put her arms around him and murmured soft soothing sounds in his ear.
When Jeremy's tears ended, Sister Pauline looked into his eyes.
"Will you forgive me?" Sister Pauline asked him.
"Yes." He replied.
"I love you." Sister Pauline responded.
"I love you too." Jeremy showed a hint of a smile.
Sister Pauline went to her wagon to get some sleep. She told Jeremy to send someone to get her if he needed her. Jeremy agreed to do so.
"Jeremy, I know you probably won't get any sleep tonight. But I have figured out a way for you to at least lie down. I'm going to get some leather strips and tie another cot to Candy's cot. That way you can lie down beside her, okay?" Jason asked.
"Thank you, Jason. That sounds like a good idea." Jeremy answered.
"You're welcome, Jeremy. Josh and I are going to be here outside the tent all night." Jason replied.
Kitty and Matt said they would be up with Jeremy the rest of the night too. Millie and Little Josh were with Biddie so Joshua could help Jeremy. Jake was in Mr. Connors' wagon.
Matt and Jason got the leather strips and tied another cot to Candy's cot. Jeremy laid down beside his wife. Jason and Matt went out of the medical tent.
Jeremy draped his arm over Candy. He lay there listening to the sound of her breathing. As he said a prayer thanking God for allowing his wife and unborn child to survive the surgery, he drifted off to sleep.
A few hours went by. Jeremy awoke to the sound of Candy whimpering.
He sat up on his cot. "Candy, it's alright, sweetheart. You're alright." Jeremy said softly touching her cheek.
Candy was on fire with fever. Jeremy jumped off his cot and ran outside the tent.
"Jason! Candy's burning up!" Jeremy shouted.
Joshua woke up instantly. "I'll get Doc!" He ran fast toward Doc's wagon.
Jason began barking orders. "We have got to get her to the river! We don't have time to fill the tub! Get a buckboard!"
Matt and Kitty were awake now. "Jason, there's not time for a buckboard. Kitty, wrap a blanket around Candy. I will take her to the river."
Kitty ran into the tent. She wrapped the blanket loosely around Candy. Brother Len had followed Kitty. He carefully lifted the sick young woman and carried her out of the tent. Kitty was close behind.
Marshall Dillon was on his horse. Brother Len gently handed Candy up to Matt. The Marshall held her firmly but gently next to him.
Kitty was standing by the horse. She looked up. Her eyes locked with her man's eyes.
"Matt." Kitty said tenderly.
"I know, Kitty." He said in a husky voice. "I know."
Matt galloped away on his horse toward the river.
Jason had gotten several people to agree to go to the river with lanterns. He had gotten Freddie Connors to bring his dog, Barkley to guard against snakes.
Joshua was taking Doc and Biddie in a buckboard along with Sister Pauline. Jeremy had taken off on horseback right behind Matt.
In a matter of minutes, the majority of the people were at the river. Several people lined the riverbank holding lanterns so the folks in the water could see.
Jeremy and Matt were holding Candy in the water. Jason took Barkley out into the water. Jason was holding a lantern up high looking all around for any sign of snakes.
Doc went out into the freezing water. When Matt opened his mouth to say something, Doc stopped him. "Matt, save your breath. This young woman is my patient. I owe it to her and her fine husband here to do everything I can to help her. And if that means wading around in the freezing river in the middle of the night, then that's just what I mean to do! And don't you go trying to tell me I'm too old!" Doc held the lantern up so Jeremy could see him wink at him.
Jeremy smiled. "Thank you, Doc."
"Yeah, thanks, Doc." Matt sounded like a scolded schoolboy.
When Jeremy and Matt had been holding Candy in the freezing river for about an hour, Jason offered to take his brother's place for a while.
"No, thanks, Jason. I want to do this for Candy." Jeremy told him. "You keep watching for snakes."
"Okay, Jeremy. Let me know if you change your mind." Jason replied.
"I , can I tell you something?" Jeremy asked.
"Sure, brother, what is it?" Jason asked.
"When we were on the train and it was being robbed, I punched one of the robbers in the face. I was about to punch him again when the robber behind him leaned way to his left and shot behind me on purpose. Of course, Candy was behind me. It was like the thief meant to shoot Candy. Why didn't he shoot me? I was the one beating his partner." Jeremy explained. "I punched the robber who was leaning to the left instead of the one in front of me, but he still managed to get the shot off."
"It sounds as though you're thinking that the robber was targeting Candy." Jason responded.
"Yes, that's what it sounds like to me, Jason. And I was wondering if it could have something to do with that telegram Candy got back from Seattle. It was because of that telegram that we were on the train headed here." Jeremy commented.
"I think you're on to something, Jeremy. I will go to Cheyenne tomorrow to send Aaron a wire and to find out if there was an investigation into that robbery." Jason told him.
"Okay, thanks, Jason." Jeremy said.
"You're welcome, Jeremy." Jason told him. "Barkley! Barkley! Where are you?"
Doc checked Candy's fever. "It's coming down. That's a good sign. About thirty more minutes in the water should be enough."
Jeremy was ecstatic to hear that Candy's fever was lower.
A short time later, Jeremy noticed that Barkley was a few feet from him splashing the water. Barkley began growling a low deep growl.
"Hey, Jason! The dog sounds like you when you get really angry!" Jeremy laughed.
Jason laughed too. "Barkley must have younger brothers like I do!"
Barkley kept growling. Suddenly, the dog dove down in the river. When he came up, he had a Water Moccasin in his mouth. Barkley slung his head sending the snake flying in the air.
Jeremy screamed a horrific sound and sank under the water. Matt caught ahold of Candy before part of her body went lower into the river.
Jason dove under the water to get Jeremy. Joshua came running into the river to help his brothers.
Jason surfaced with Jeremy in his arms in about two minutes. He ran out of the water on to the riverbank. Kitty laid a blanket on the ground.
Brother Len went into the water to take Jeremy's place holding Candy in the water.
Jason laid Jeremy on the blanket. He held up a lantern so Doc could examine him. Joshua had followed his brothers out of the river.
Doc examined Jeremy very carefully. He saw them. Two puncture wounds on Jeremy's neck. The snake that Barkley slung had landed on Jeremy's neck and had bitten him.
Jason and Joshua saw the puncture wounds too.
"Great God in Heaven!" Jason bellowed.
"Oh, hell!" Joshua shouted.
"Doc! You have to save our brother, please!" Jason begged.
"Everyone, get out of that water now!" Doc shouted.
Matt and Brother Len brought Candy out of the water. Kitty and the other ladies dried her off the best they could there on the riverbank.
"Several of you men bring your lanterns over here. Now!" Doc shouted.
Doc opened his medical bag.
Jason held up a lantern and looked right in Doc's face. "Doc? You can save Jeremy, can't you?" Jason was pleading.
Doc wiped his face with his hand. "I don't know, Jason. The neck is a dangerous place to get a snakebite. The venom could go to his brain or to his heart." If the poison goes to either of those areas, it's deadly and there's nothing I can do. I'm sorry."
Jason and Joshua looked at each other in horror. All at once, they heard Candy calling, "Jeremy! Jeremy! Where are you?"