"Candy." Jeremy's voice was no more than a whisper. He tried again. "Candy." That time it was louder, but he grimaced in pain the effort had caused. Candy started to reach for the laudanum. Jeremy tried to move his arm to stop her, but discovered his arms were firmly wrapped in blankets.

"No," Jeremy said as loudly and as firmly as he could. He tried hard to talk through the pain. Every word and every breath he took seemed to require more energy than he was capable of. But he continued on.

"Marry me, Candy. Now. Marry... me. Please." The look on Jeremy's face was one of desperation and pleading.

Candy wasn't completely sure Jeremy knew what he was saying. Maybe his brain was still affected by the blood loss. Surely he wasn't seriously asking her to marry him NOW.

"Jeremy, don't you remember that we're going to be married after you and your brothers finish the big contract you're working on?"

Jeremy was looking Candy right in the eyes, completely lucid.

"Now," he said firmly. "Marry... me... NOW."

Candy was at a complete loss for words.

"Something's... very... wrong... with... me." He struggled to get every word out. "Before... I... die... I want... to make you... my wife."

Candy's eyes filled with tears. Her voice had a frightened, desperate edge to it.

"NO! You're going to get well, and we're going to be married in the Spring with all our friends and family around us, and the church will be filled with flowers, and... and..." Candy began crying.

Jason, Lottie, and Harry had come over to the bed when they heard Jeremy speaking. Jeremy looked at each one in turn. He then looked back at Candy.

"Now... Please."

Candy looked pleadingly at the others. Jason and Lottie looked helplessly back at her. They had no answer. Candy then looked to Harry. He was looking directly at Jeremy, who gave Harry an almost imperceptible nod. Harry nodded once back to Jeremy in response. Harry then turned to Candy. He spoke slowly, as if each word was hard to say.

"Miss Pruitt... Candy, I think this is just what Jeremy needs... to recover."

Candy looked at Harry like he'd lost his mind. She felt like the world as spinning out of her control. She hastily got up from the chair, knocking is over in the process. A sense of panic was rising in her throat. She put a hand to her throat and started to lurch towards the back door.

"Excuse me... I need some air." The last word was muffled as Candy had covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming. She stepped out back, slamming the door behind her. The sobs engulfed her until she could barely breathe.

Lottie had quietly followed Candy outside a moment later. She wrapped her arms around Candy, like she'd done so many times in the past, just letting her weep.

"Lottie, I don't understand any of this! Jeremy thinks he's dying and wants to marry me right now. And I can't tell if Harry thinks Jeremy will live or die! What am I supposed to do?" She continued to cry in Lottie's arms.

Lottie waited a few moments before she took a step back and held Candy at arm's length.

"Now, Candy, no one knows when ANY of us will die! Only God knows that. Our job is to live life as fully as possible for as long as we're here. And I don't think Harry has given up on Jeremy, and neither should we!"

"But why does Jeremy need to marry me right NOW? He's so sick and so weak!"

"Because he loves you so very much. Because he's loved you since he first laid eyes on you. And because he can't bear you NOT being his wife for a moment longer. And whether you're married for one hour or fifty years, you were meant to be together. Do you love Jeremy enough, Candy, to do that?"

"I love Jeremy more than life itself," Candy whispered.

"Then let's get Reverend Adams." Lottie put her arm around Candy's shoulders and led her back inside.