Jeremy and Candy: A Time for Us
"Oh, my goodness! That was just lovely, Jason. Thank you! It was tragic, yes. But so very beautiful as well." Candy was starry eyed.
Jeremy and Joshua rolled their eyes at each other. Jeremy and Candy had supper with his brothers. The evening's entertainment was Jason's reading of Romeo and Juliette by his favorite author, William Shakespeare.
"I don't understand, Candy, how can something be tragic and beautiful at the same time?" Jeremy inquired of his wife.
"It's hard to explain, Jeremy. It was terribly sad that they died at the end. But it was beautiful that they loved each other so much that they wanted to die for each other." Candy explained. "Does that make sense?"
"I guess so, Candy. Thank you for explaining it to me. We had better be going, sweetheart. We enjoyed the supper and the Shakespeare. Thanks, Jason. Thanks, Josh" Jeremy said.
"We enjoyed it too. Romeo, Romeo…." Josh said in a high-pitched voice.
"Wherefore art thou, Romeo?" Jeremy continued in the same vein.
The two brothers roared with laughter.
Jason and Candy smirked at each other shaking their heads.
"Clowns, Candy. My two brothers are clowns." Jason chuckled.
"Maybe you can sell them to the circus." Candy smiled.
"Goodnight, brothers. I love you both." Jeremy said as he and Candy left.
"Goodnight. We love both of you too." Jason replied.
When the young Bolt couple arrived at their cabin, they began getting ready for bed. After they got into bed, Candy asked Jeremy a question.
"Jeremy, you know when Rafe Holiday kidnapped me and said he was going to kill you, we were willing to die for each other or die together."
She paused a few moments.
Jeremy held her close to him. "Go on, sweetheart."
"I guess that makes us a real Romeo and Juliette, doesn't it?" Candy asked as she placed her head on his chest.
"Yes, it does, Candy." Jeremy whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair.
They fell asleep and Jeremy had a lovely tragic dream.
Jeremy was fourteen years old, and he was in love with the new girl at school. Her name was Candy Pruitt. She was had long auburn hair and sparkling blue eyes. Her voice was like music. Jeremy tried not to stare at her in class, but sometimes he just couldn't help it. She was so lovely. He caught her looking at him once. They smiled at each other.
On the day that they smiled at each other, Jeremy got up the courage to invite her to eat lunch with him. His heart skipped a beat when she said yes. They went to the shade tree at the edge of the schoolyard. Usually, Jeremy had a hard time talking to girls not just because of his stuttering, but because girls made him nervous. Even though Candy made him nervous in a good way, she was easy to talk to.
When Jeremy told Candy that he stuttered, she said she bit her nails. After that first lunch together, they ate together every day.
"Jeremy? Jeremy? Are you listening?" Jason asked. The family was at the supper table.
"Yeah, Jason, sure." Jeremy answered.
"What did I just say?" He asked.
"Are you talking to me, Jason?" Jeremy asked.
"Yes! I'm talking to you, Jeremy! I have been trying to get your attention for the past fifteen minutes. Where is your mind, baby brother?" Jason was frustrated.
Jeremy murmured, "I don't know" He didn't hear Jason call him baby brother which usually aggravated him.
"Joshua, what is wrong with your youngest brother?" Jason huffed.
"He is in love, Jason! Yes, sir! Our baby brother is growing up. I've seen her. She is a pretty little girl. She has long red hair and an angelic face. Brother has done quite well for his first love." Joshua answered.
Uncle Duncan spoke up. "This angelic young lady wouldn't be Candy Pruitt, would she?" His question brought Jeremy back to the present.
"Sir? What about Candy?" Jeremy asked.
"Well, now I know how to get Jeremy's attention. Thanks, Uncle." Jason grinned.
Jeremy frowned at Jason and then turned his attention back to Uncle Duncan. "What were you saying about Candy, please?"
"It's not actually about her, Jeremy lad. It's about her father, Benjamin Pruitt, Jr. He's trying to lay claim to Bridal Veil Mountain. I'm afraid you won't be able to associate with the young lady anymore." Uncle Duncan answered.
"N-N-N-Not see C-C-Candy?" Jeremy yelled.
"Jeremy don't shout at our uncle. And Uncle Duncan, you can't tell Jeremy whom he can or can't associate with. I am Jeremy's legal guardian. Jeremy and I make decisions about his life together." Jason told them.
Jeremy felt better now that Jason was taking up for him. Jason was a lot younger than Uncle Duncan and he remembered what it was like to be a teenage boy.
"Yes, Jason. I know that you are the lad's guardian. Surely, you don't want him involved with a family that is trying to steal your inheritance." Uncle Duncan was concerned.
"I certainly don't want our mountain stolen. But keeping two teenage kids apart is not going to prevent that. By the way, this is the first I've heard of anyone currently trying to steal our property. When and how did you learn of it and why didn't you tell me before now?" Jason inquired.
"Well, Jason. I have a friend at the land office in Olympia. He sent me a telegram last week. He said Mr. Pruitt came in saying that the mountain was his. He showed my friend what appeared to be a copy of a deed that was filed sixteen years ago." Uncle Duncan replied.
Jason looked somber. "Father filed his deed fourteen and a half years ago, a few months before Jeremy was born."
"Jason, surely the clerk would have had a record of Mr. Pruitt's deed and would have told Father about it." Joshua advised.
"You would think so, Josh." Jason responded.
"May I be excused, please? Jason, is it okay if I go out for a few hours, please? I finished my homework and my chores." Jeremy asked.
"Yes, Jeremy. It's alright. Don't be too late. Tomorrow is a school day!" Jason called to Jeremy who was already halfway out the door.
"I won't, Jason! Thanks!" Jeremy shouted before he ran down the street.
Jeremy stopped at Lottie's and borrowed two blankets from her. Then he went to Candy's house. She was waiting for him outside.
"Hello, Jeremy! What are the blankets for?" She asked.
"Hi, Candy! I thought we would go to the lake if you would like too. It's very pretty on a moonlit night and we can be alone there." Jeremy smiled.
"That sounds wonderful, Jeremy! I would like that!" Candy took his hand.
Jeremy clasped her hand, and they began their walk to the lake. They talked about school and some of their friends along the way. Soon they were there.
Jeremy was right. The lake was beautiful in the moonlight and there seemed to be thousands of stars in the sky. Jeremy spread one of the blankets on the grass. He helped Candy sit down. Jeremy sat next to her.
Candy leaned toward him, and Jeremy put his arms around her. Jeremy could hear her breathing softly. He could feel her heartbeat against his arm that was around her back.
Jeremy sighed deeply as he looked up at the stars. "The sky is beautiful!"
"Yes, it is!" Candy replied breathlessly. "Jeremy, I want to tell you something."
"Alright." Jeremy was nervous. Was she going to dump him?
They looked at each other. "Jeremy, I know we are not technically adults yet. We are still considered children because of our age. But I am serious about what I am going to tell you. And it would be the same if I was 114 instead of 14." Candy said.
"Okay, Candy, what do you want to say?" Jeremy asked.
Candy took a deep breath. She looked him in the eye. "Jeremy, I love you! I mean the real forever kind of love. Not the I love you this week and someone else next week kind of love."
Jeremy gasped. "Oh, Candy! I love you too! The forever kind too!"
They laughed softly for a minute. They became quiet as they gazed deeply into each other's eyes. Jeremy leaned closer to her. Their lips met. They shared a passionate kiss. Jeremy was aroused by the kiss.
"Oh, Candy! I'm so sorry! I d-d-d-don't know what else to say." He stammered.
"It's alright, Jeremy. Don't apologize or be embarrassed. It's what happens when two people are in love." She whispered. "I want you, Jeremy." Candy touched him gently there as she kissed his neck.
Jeremy inhaled sharply. "Oh, Candy!"
They made love on the blanket in the moonlight. They were shy, sweet, and tender with each other. When it was over, Jeremy and Candy held each other and cried.
Jeremy and Candy spent as much time together as they could. Uncle Duncan still disapproved, but that didn't matter to Jeremy. As long as Jason was on their side, everything was okay.
One day, a few weeks after they had made love, they were eating lunch under their shade tree at school. Candy was not eating or talking much.
"Candy, what's wrong? Why aren't you eating or talking?" Jeremy asked.
"I don't feel too good. I'm sorry I'm not much company today." Candy sulked.
"That's alright, Candy. I'm worried about you. Are you sick?" Jeremy asked nervously.
"No, I'm not sick, Jeremy, I'm…." Candy looked away from him.
"What, Candy? Please tell me." Jeremy worried.
"Don't get upset. Well, try not to get too upset. I'm pregnant, Jeremy." She whispered.
"What?!" Jeremy said in a very loud whisper.
"Oh, don't hate me, please, Jeremy. You still love me, don't you?" Candy babbled.
"Yes, I still love you. I would never hate you. The baby is our baby and our responsibility. Oh, boy! I'm gonna have to tell Jason! Do your parents know?" Jeremy asked.
"Yes, they know. My father wants me to go to a doctor in Tacoma…." Candy cried.
"He wants you and the baby to be taken care of. That's a good thing, isn't it?" Jeremy put his hand on her shoulder.
"Jeremy, that's not the kind of doctor my father wants me to go to. He wants me to go to one who will get rid of the baby." Candy sobbed.
Jeremy held her tightly against him. "Candy, I don't know what you mean about getting rid of the baby. Explain that to me, please."
"Jeremy, there are doctors or at least they call themselves doctors and they do sort of an operation on a woman or a girl to remove the baby from her body." Candy explained sadly.
"Well, that's when it's time for the baby to be born and the baby can't be born the regular way, isn't it?" Jeremy asked.
"No, the operation you are thinking about is to bring the baby into the world. The surgery I'm speaking of is to get rid of the baby, so it isn't born." Candy whispered.
"You mean kill the baby!" Jeremy shouted. He lowered his voice fast "I'm sorry, Candy. I wasn't shouting at you. I never heard of that before. We can't let them do that to our baby."
"Oh, Jeremy! I don't want that to happen either! How can we stop them?" Candy asked frantically.
"We can get married! No one can make a married couple get rid of their baby. I love you and I was planning to propose next year after we finished school, and I saved a little money and built a cabin for us. But the baby is more important than money and a cabin." Jeremy told her.
Candy and Jeremy smiled at each other. Jeremy got down on one knee. He took Candy's hand. She blushed. "Candy, I love you. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?" He said with tears in his eyes.
"Yes, Jeremy, I will marry you! I love you! I'm so happy!" Candy cried softly.
After school, Candy went home with Jeremy to tell his family. Jason and Joshua were surprised but said they would help the teen couple as much as they could. Uncle Duncan was against it and said so vehemently. Jason had to remind him that he doesn't have legal say so about Jeremy.
Jason went with the couple to tell Candy's parents. Her mother was in favor of the marriage. thought Jeremy was a fine young man to accept his part of the responsibility and want to marry Candy. Mrs. Pruitt also thought it was a much more suitable plan than doing away with the baby.
Candy's father was not only against the plan, but he was also against Jeremy as well.
"My daughter is not going to marry some poor pitiful lumberjack who can't even talk." Mr. Pruitt argued. "Candace, I don't know why you don't care for Ward Kimberly. He is a fine well-spoken young man who has a bright future."
"Daddy, please! You know that I love Jeremy. He is a fine young man with a bright future too. He and his brothers own their own business." Candy said.
"Charity from their father." Mr. Pruitt scoffed.
"The handing down of a family business is hardly charity, Mr. Pruitt." Jason replied calmly. "That's not the main concern at this point in time, is it? My brother and your daughter love each other, and they are expecting a child. They want to get married and raise their child. That certainly seems a more loving and humane plan for all involved."
"Especially for our baby, sir." Jeremy said.
"Well, how about making a deal with me, Mr. Bolt? I will consent for my daughter to marry your brother if you sell me at least part of your property. I believe you call it Bridal Veil Mountain." Mr. Pruitt said with a wicked smile.
"Benjamin Pruitt!" Catherine Pruitt gasped. "Have you no shame? Candy is our daughter. You would use her future, her happiness, and her well-being not to mention our unborn grandchild as leverage for a business deal?"
"Catherine, you don't understand…" Mr. Pruitt tried to explain.
"Oh, I understand, alright!" Mrs. Pruitt replied in disgust. "Mr. Bolt, I will give my consent for Candy to marry Jeremy. I know he will make a fine husband for her."
Jason was relieved. Jeremy and Candy were very happy.
The teenage couple got married a week later at the church. It was a beautiful wedding. Almost everyone in Seattle was there. Uncle Duncan and Mr. Pruitt were on their best behavior.
Jeremy and Candy moved into the Bolt family home place where the Bolt brothers lived with their mother and father as children.
Several months went by. Jeremy and Candy graduated from night not long after graduation, Jeremy came rushing into town driving his buckboard. He went to Lottie's.
Jeremy jumped from the buckboard. He ran to get Candy out of the back of the wagon. She was sick and in pain. Jeremy was frightened that the baby was coming, and it was too soon.
"Lottie! Lottie!" Jeremy screamed kicking the door with his foot.
Lottie ran to the door and unlocked it. "Oh, my heavens!"
"Take her to room five, Jeremy. Then run quickly to get her mother and Dr. Wright!" Lottie told him.
Jeremy did as Lottie advised. He got his brothers as well. Jeremy had never been so scared in his life.
Dr. Wright examined Candy. When she talked to the Bolts and the Pruitt's, the news was not good. They were all in the barroom.
"Candy is having the baby. I'm afraid it is too soon for the baby to survive." The doctor explained.
Jeremy and Mrs. Pruitt sobbed.
Dr. Wright looked grim. "There is more heartbreaking news. Candy might not survive."
Mrs. Pruitt fainted. Her husband and Lottie took care of her.
"No! No! Jason! Candy can't die!" Jeremy shouted.
"Now, Jeremy…." Jason began as he put an arm around his brother.
Jeremy grew somber. "What am I saying? Sure, Candy and the baby can die. Everyone I love dies. Mama died. Dad died. So why not my wife and my baby?"
Jeremy looked Jason in the eye."if Candy dies, Jason, I'm going with her."
"Please don't say that, Jeremy. I know you are very upset and frightened. But you must focus on Candy living and not on the two of you dying." Jason frowned.
"You know Jason is right, Jeremy." Joshua put his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"All I know Is that I'm not even gonna try to live without Candy, Josh." Jeremy said despondently.
Just then Mr. Pruitt walked downstairs. His wife was resting in another room. "Let the little bastard do himself in. It won't be nearly enough payback for him killing my daughter!"
"Me! How about you, Mr. Pruitt? Candy told me how you have been hounding her to divorce me and marry Ward Kimberly!" Jeremy shouted. "You're the one that's made her sick and caused her to lose our baby and maybe…"
Jeremy glared at Mr. Pruitt. The door to Lottie's opened. Ward Kimberly walked in.
"I don't believe this! Did you tell him what's happening? You're trying to fix her up with Kimberly while she's losing the baby and may be dying? Jason, can you deal with this jackass? I can't. I have to go sit with Candy." Jeremy asked.
"Sure, Jeremy. Go ahead." Jason agreed.
Jeremy went up the stairs. Just as he reached the top step, Mr. Pruitt ran up the stairs behind him and yanked him by his shoulder. Jeremy stumbled backwards unable to steady himself. He tumbled down the stairs hitting his head with a loud thud. It happened so fast there was nothing his brothers could do to stop it.
Jeremy was unconscious for four days. Jason and Joshua kept an anxious vigil by his bed at Lottie's. Lottie and Mrs. Pruitt alternated between Candy and Jeremy taking care of them.
Candy lost the baby, but she survived. When Jeremy woke up, his first thought was of his wife.
"Is Candy alive?" He asked his brothers.
"Yes, she is, Jeremy. She is going to be fine." Jason and Joshua glanced at each other.
Jeremy was skeptical. "If she is going to be fine, what's the look for?"
Jason sighed deeply. "Jeremy, you were unconscious for four days. During that time, Mr. Pruitt had your marriage to Candy annulled. Joshua and I were not aware of it until it was done. We were busy watching over you. Dr. Wright wasn't sure if you were going to live. Candy:s father forced her to marry Ward Kimberly. They are leaving town right about now moving to Olympia."
Jeremy was aghast. He hurled himself from the bed. He pushed his brothers away as they tried to stop him. Jeremy ran downstairs and out the door. He was wearing his long nightshirt.
Jeremy looked down the street. He saw the stagecoach leaving town heading for Olympia. He ran fast and hard after the stagecoach.
"Candy! Candy!" Jeremy screamed as he ran.
Candy leaned way out of the stagecoach window. "Jeremy! Jeremy! I'm sorry! I don't love Ward Kimberly! I don't love Ward Kimberly! "
Jeremy had to stop running. He couldn't catch up to them. Ward Kimberly had stolen Candy from him. Jeremy was so hurt he thought he would die. Ward Kimberly, Ward Kimberly, Ward Kimberly, Ward Kimberly!
"Ward Kimberly!" Jeremy woke up shouting.
Candy woke up too. "Oh, Romeo! Did you have a nightmare?"
"Yes, I did! May I ask you a question?" Jeremy inquired.
"Yes, you may, Romeo." She answered.
"Juliette, do ya love me?"
The End