Rainy Day Secret Saving Jeremy Bolt
"Jeremy? Where are you, sweetheart?" Candy looked around outside the cabin for her husband. She couldn't find him anywhere.
I looked all through the cabin. He couldn't have gone to work already, his work clothes, his jacket, and his work gloves are inside. Where could Jeremy be? Candy thought.
Candy went inside the cabin and got dressed. She hitched Brownie to her buggy and rode into town.
The young Mrs. Bolt stopped at Jason and Joshua's cabin. They would know where Jeremy was so early this morning.
Candy knocked on the door. "Good morning, Candy." Joshua opened the door. "Come on in. What brings you to town so early today?"
Candy smiled as she walked inside the dwelling. "I'm looking for Jeremy. Have you seen him? He wasn't at home when I woke up."
Jason and Joshua exchanged a puzzled glance. "You said you are looking for Jeremy? Our brother, Jeremy? Is that right?" Jason asked.
"Yes, your brother, Jeremy. He is my husband, remember?" Candy smiled at the oldest brother's teasing.
"Miss Pruitt, have a seat, please." Jason said pulling out a chair at the table for her.
She sat in the chair wondering why he was continuing this little game. Both of the brothers took a seat at the table. They looked at Candy for a moment.
Jason suddenly stood up and started pacing. Then he stopped and looked at her.
"This little joke of yours is not funny, Miss Pruitt!" He yelled.
"In fact, it's cruel, Candy!' Joshua said in disgust.
Candy was taken aback. "Cruel joke? I don't know what you mean. If I have upset both of you, I'm sorry. I'm just trying to find Jeremy."
"That's what we are talking about, Candy. You coming in here saying you are trying to find Jeremy." Joshua told her.
"Well, what's wrong with that? You're his brothers. I just thought you might know where he is this morning." Candy asked.
Joshua looked at Jason. The oldest brother sat down by Candy. "You overheard us talking about Jeremy yesterday at Lottie's, didn't you? That's what put this idea in your head, wasn't it? "Jason sobbed.
"No, I didn't hear you talking about my husband at Lottie's yesterday. Just tell me why you two are upset with me, please." Candy said.
Joshua spoke in a whisper. "We are upset because you know that Jeremy died from pneumonia when he was three years old."
"What are you talking about, Joshua? Jeremy and I are married. We went to sleep together last night in the same bed in the same room in the same cabin. Jeremy is not dead. I think you are the one trying to be cruel." Candy said.
Candy left her seat by the table. "Oh, wait a minute! Jeremy is playing some kind of silly prank on me, isn't he? He gets like this sometimes."
Candy went to the door of Jason's bedroom. "Come on out, Jeremy! You got me. Having your brothers act angry and hurt telling me you died when you were three years old. The prank is over now, come on and we can eat breakfast at Lottie's, my treat. Come out, sweetheart. Jeremy?"
She waited a few moments, then she opened the door looking inside the room. Jeremy wasn't in there.
A strange eerie feeling washed over Candy as she closed the door. She turned to face Jason and Joshua.
"You think you are telling the truth, don't you?" She was on the verge of tears.
"Yes. Candy, we are telling the truth." Jason replied somberly.
"I have to go. I'm sorry if I hurt you. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry." Candy rushed out the door slamming it behind her.
She got in her buggy and went quickly to Lottie's. She had to talk to someone. Her life with Jeremy was flashing in her mind. When they met on the ship, Jeremy almost dying when he broke the log jam, Jeremy proposing to her, rescuing her from Rafe Holiday, their wedding day, their wedding night, and yesterday, plain ordinary yesterday when she woke up in his arms. What she wouldn't give now for yesterday.
"I'm not crazy. I know I'm not crazy. I didn't imagine Jeremy. I couldn't have." Candy murmured to herself.
When she stepped into Lottie's, she saw that it was crowded as usual. Lots of people had breakfast there before going to work. Candy chided herself for searching the room for Jeremy. He wasn't there.
Candy made her way to the bar to speak to Lottie. As soon as Lottie had a free moment, she looked at Candy. "Go in the back room, sweetheart. I'll be there in a minute."
Candy did as Lottie told her. Sitting at the table in there, Candy fought back tears. She had to remain in control. She had to be strong for Jeremy. Finding him would be impossible if she lost her composure.
The door opened and Lottie came in with two cups of coffee on a tray. She closed the door and sat down at the table setting the tray between her and Candy.
"I knew after yesterday that I would be seeing you this morning." Lottie said.
"How did you know yesterday, Lottie? Jeremy was still here yesterday." Candy inquired.
"I overheard Jason and Joshua, and I had a strange eerie feeling." Lottie replied.
Candy was surprised at Lottie's words. "I had that feeling too, Lottie. It was at the brothers' cabin this morning. What does it mean? "
"It means that things have changed. Not only here in the present but in the past, Jeremy's past, as well." Lottie explained.
"But…Lottie, how can the past change? It's over and done. Why would it change?" Candy was confused.
"I can't explain it, Candy. I wish I could. My mother and my grandmother used to talk about things like this happening. I thought they were just telling tales. Until now. Now that our sweet Jeremy is gone." Lottie patted Candy's shoulder.
Candy had an idea. "Wait! Lottie, there has to be a way to change Jeremy's past again and bring him back to us. You remember Bernie Sherwood, don't you? Jeremy told me that he and Betty Hamby saved us from being killed by Rafe Holiday. They changed our past."
"Yes. I remember Bernie and Betty. You may be on to something, Candy. Bernie told me about the time traveling. You would have to go back to when Jeremy was a little boy before he…. Before things changed." Lottie answered.
"I'm not sure how to do that. I know to go to the tree door on the other side of Maggie's Meadow, but I don't know how to go back to a specific time. Oh, Lottie! I have to get Jeremy back!" Candy exclaimed.
"Sweetheart, I know how to get you back to the right time. Wait here." Lottie said.
Lottie left the room. She rushed upstairs to her bedroom. She opened her safe and retrieved a crumpled piece of paper.
Lottie returned to the back room and sat down at the table. "This is how you get to where you need to go, Candy." Lottie handed her the paper.
Candy straightened the piece of paper. She read the faded handwriting. This is what it said:
A Bolt my true love will ever be.
Live among these trees with me.
Oh, mountain, I ask of ye.
Return me to the year 1853.
"When I go to the tree door, I recite this, and I will go to 1853 when Jeremy was sick. Is that right, Lottie?" Candy looked at her.
"That's right, Candy. I just don't know what could have changed unless Jeremy got worse somehow. I remember when he was sick then. Maggie was out of her mind with worry. Jeremy's fever was 106 degrees. He didn't move. He didn't talk. Maggie kept putting him in a tub of cold water. The fever went down some but not enough. Johnny went to Clearwater to get the doctor. That was the closest doctor then. When Johnny returned with the doctor. He gave Jeremy some sulfur medication. It was strong for a three-year-old child. Jeremy started getting better. My sweet boy was well in three weeks." Lottie told her.
"Do you think that something happened to keep Mr. Bolt from being able to get back in time with the doctor?" Candy asked. "I know it would have to have been something horrendous to keep him from getting home to a seriously ill child."
Lottie shook her head. "I just don't know, Candy. You probably need to get going, sweetheart."
"Lottie, since I know how to time travel, maybe I should take little Jeremy to the future where they have much better medical care. I mean I suppose they have better medical care in the future. It should be better." Candy said.
"That's an idea, Candy. You can discuss it with Maggie." Lottie replied.
"What? Oh, Lottie! Jeremy's mother! Jason and Joshua's mother too, of course, I will meet and talk to their mother." Candy said.
"Yes, you will. She is a wonderful woman. You will love her and she will love you. Now get going. You've gotta bring my sweet Jeremy back to me." Lottie told her.
"Thank you, Lottie." Candy replied. "We will be back soon."
Candy left the saloon. After she took Brownie to the livery stable, she hurried to Maggie's Meadow. She walked to the other side of the meadow where the treetops were grown together. Candy went to the end of that section to where the tree door was located.
Candy removed the crumpled paper from her purse. She read aloud the words written on the paper.
A Bolt my true love will ever be.
Live among these trees with me.
Oh, mountain, I ask of ye.
Return me to the year 1853.
Candy walked through the tree door.
She looked around. She was in Lottie's back room.
Candy went into the barroom. There were very few people in there. Lottie was behind the bar talking to a woman that Candy didn't recognize.
"Jeanie, thank you for helping me. Maggie is waiting for me. The two oldest boys went with their father to get the doctor for Jeremy. He has pneumonia again. I'll be back when I can but it's going to be a few days. When Johnny gets back with the doctor, I'm going to make Maggie lay down and rest and eat before she lays down. She probably hasn't eaten in days. She is so worried about Jeremy." Lottie grabbed some baskets and headed for the door.
Candy rushed out after her. "Lottie, wait!"
Lottie stopped and turned around. "Yes? What can I do for you, dear?"
Candy walked close to the saloon owner. She took the old piece of paper from her purse and gave it to Lottie.
Lottie looked at the wrinkled paper and then looked into Candy's eyes.
Miss Hatfield read the words on the page. She smiled ever so slightly.
She took Candy by the hand saying, "Come with me, Candy. I was just on my way to see your true love and his mother."
Candy sighed in relief. She climbed into Lottie's buggy, and they proceeded to the Bolt family home place.
When they arrived, Candy was frightened. She was about to meet her mother-in-law as a young woman and her husband as a three-year-old child.
Lottie noticed that Candy was pale and trembling. "Everything will be fine."
"You do know why I'm here don't you, Lottie?" Candy whispered.
"Yes, I know why you are here, Candace Elizabeth Pruitt Bolt." She smiled.
They went to the door each of them carried one of the baskets. As Lottie knocked on the door, they could hear Maggie Bolt inside.
"Jeremy, precious, please try to drink a little sip of water for Mama. Just one sip." Maggie pleaded. She placed the cup to his lips. He took a tiny sip.
The tired and weary Maggie proceeded to the door carrying Jeremy with her.
When she opened the door, Lottie said, "Hello, Maggie. Meet Candy. She is Jeremy's wife."
"Lottie! I must have a fever too. I thought you called this lovely girl Jeremy's wife." Maggie smiled.
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if you have a fever as hard as you have been working to take care of your baby boy. But there is nothing wrong with your hearing. Candy is Jeremy's wife in the future, nineteen years from now." She explained.
"Sampling your merchandise, Carlotta? How is that possible? How could she be here and how could you know that?" Maggie sat in the rocking chair holding Jeremy.
Jeremy whimpered as his mother placed a cold cloth on his forehead. "Shush precious boy shush. Mama loves you. Dad loves you. Your brothers love you. Yes, we all love our sweet boy." Maggie whispered forgetting momentarily that they weren't alone.
"Maggie, I know it sound crazy, but it's true. Candy time traveled here from 1872 to help Jeremy." Lottie explained.
Maggie looked up at Lottie. "Since they are married in 1872, can't she help him then?"
"No ma'am, I can't." Candy glanced at Lottie. The older lady nodded.
"When I woke up this morning in 1872, Jeremy had disappeared." Candy told her mother-in-law.
Maggie was alarmed. "Disappeared? How could he disappear? I'm sure you looked for him."
"Yes, ma'am, I searched everywhere for him. I talked to Jason and Joshua." Candy explained.
"Surely his brothers helped you find him, didn't they? I can't imagine those two ever losing track of this boy." Maggie smiled at her sleeping son.
"Well, the truth is, Mrs. Bolt, they knew what happened to Jeremy…" the younger Mrs. Bolt hesitated.
Maggie stopped rocking the rocking chair abruptly causing Jeremy to cry out in protest. He clutched his mother's arm and moved his head a little higher on her shoulder.
Candy watched him and realized that his breathing was very labored.
"What did Jason and Joshua say happened to Jeremy?" Their mother was frightened.
Candy glanced at Lottie. Lottie put her hand on Candy's shoulder.
"Maggie, keep in mind that Candy came here to prevent what happened to Jeremy and we have time. In fact, that's an understatement since we can time travel." Lottie cautioned.
Maggie Bolt looked desperately at her longtime friend. "Lottie, please tell me. What happened to Jeremy?"
Lottie walked over to the rocking chair. She stroked Jeremy's hair which was soaked from fever sweat. He was sound asleep and could not hear them talking.
"Maggie, Jeremy died from the sickness he has now." Tears rolled down Lottie's face.
Mary Margaret Bolt was stricken. "Jeremy is going to die from this pneumonia?"
"At first, he didn't, but then something happened during this time frame and he did. Last night, Jeremy was just fine with me in our cabin and as I said earlier when I woke up today, he was gone. When I talked to his brothers, they said he died from pneumonia when he was three years old." Explained Candy.
"There was something said about you preventing this. What can you do?" Maggie's voice trembled.
"We can take Jeremy into the future so he can get new treatment that we don't have now for pneumonia." Lottie replied.
"I can go with Jeremy, can't I?" Maggie asked.
"Yes, of course, Maggie. We wouldn't think of going without you." Lottie answered.
"Mrs. Bolt, we want you with us. I know how much you and Jeremy love each other." Candy spoke.
"Jeremy and I must still be very close in 1872. That's good to know." Maggie caught the glance between the other two women.
"I'm not there in 1872, am I?" She asked. "You can tell me. I've always had a notion that I wouldn't make it to a ripe old age. I was still hoping though. I won't ask how long a life I will have. From the looks on your faces, it isn't very long."
"Now, Maggie…" Lottie began.
"No, Lottie. Let's not talk about me. We have to save Jeremy. Let me go write a note for Johnny. I will be right back."
"Would you like to hold Jeremy? There aren't many young women who get to see their husband as a child." Maggie offered her son to Candy.
Candy stood up from the sofa. She took Jeremy from his mother and sat down with him in the rocking chair. Maggie went to the bedroom to write the note.
Candy enfolded three-year-old Jeremy in her arms. He placed his ear over her heart and sighed. Jeremy snuggled tightly against her. Candy rocked the rocking chair gently. She stroked Jeremy's hair as she murmured soothing sounds to him. Candy sighed as she held him just a bit closer.
"Candy, I don't want to disturb this lovely moment, but I just have to ask what is it like to be holding Jeremy as a very young child?" Lottie whispered.
"Oh, Lottie, it's hard to put into words. It's like I'm holding our child, mine and Jeremy's and it's so wonderful, that it hurts. But the hurting feels so good. I guess that doesn't make sense. How can something hurt and feel good at the same time?" Candy whispered. "I love you, Jeremy." She kissed the top of his head.
"We understand perfectly, don't we, Lottie?" Maggie asked as she came into the room. She placed the note she had written to Johnny on the table. Maggie set a coffee cup on top of it to hold it in place.
Candy got up from the rocking chair with Jeremy. She carried him to his mother. Maggie took Jeremy and the three ladies started toward the front door.
Suddenly, Jeremy became very restless. "Down." He murmured. "Down!" The sick child insisted.
"Jeremy, I don't think you can stand up too good right now and we have to go." Maggie said softly.
"Down!" Jeremy screamed.
The three women looked at each other. Maggie Bolt placed her youngest son very carefully on his feet on the floor. She kept her hands out close to him in case he wobbled.
Jeremy took a step away from his mother. He looked up at Candy.
Locking eyes with her, Jeremy said, "H-H-Hurry, C-C-Candy, h-h-hurry. I d-d-don't h-h-have long."
Jeremy collapsed on the floor.
"