HCTB Chapter 12 Nurse Candy

At the logging camp Friday afternoon, Jason met with Corky and Big Swede.

"I'm hoping Saturday we can let the men go early," he said. "Josh is supposed be coming home."

"It'll be nice to have him back," Corky said.

"He'll just be here for the weekend," Jason said.

Corky looked disappointed.

"Have you seen anything suspicious?" Jason asked both men.

"I been watching," Swede said "But I see nothing,"

"I hear comments from some of the men, but nothing much," Corky said "I sure will be glad when Jeremy gets back. We could really use that third crew."

"Yea, I wish I'd taken Josh's advice three weeks ago when he was pushing for it," Jason said. "Sometimes I don't know which one of us is more stubborn."

Corky didn't say anything, but Big Swede smiled. "I know what one, but I not gonna say."

Jason had posted men to take shifts keeping watch in camp, the extra expense, was worth it. The week went smooth without incident and they were able to get a lot done.

Friday night Jason lay in his tent, wondering how Jeremy was getting along, and hoping he would find a good crew. He missed both brothers, and wondered how he was going to get Joshua out of the trouble he was in. Hopefully as soon as Jeremy got back with a third crew, he could let his baby brother take lead. That way he could shift his focus on helping to clear Joshua's name. He wasn't about to give up. He was worried about him.

Westley made a point to be seen by as many men as he could, to make sure he had an alibi for Friday. He knew Burt was going to damage the log flume. Posting a guard in camp, hindered any damage to the equipment in camp, but luckily the flume was well off on the other ridge and he knew there was no way for Jason to post guards there. He tried to bring up Joshua when he could without looking too obvious, but it seemed the workers animosity had tapered off a bit.

Saturday morning the crews started early. Everyone made their way to the logging site to get started early. The first log that was sent down the flume never made it to the water. When the destroyed section was discovered, production was shut down. Jason was livid. Most men were sent home, keeping enough men to handle the repairs.

"Corky, could you wait back at camp and let Josh about all this, let him know I'll be late?" Jason asked.

"I'll stay if you want to go Jason, I know your looking forward to catching up with Josh," he offered.

"Thanks Corky, but I need to stay and oversee this. Josh will understand. I'll see him tonight." He said, "I want to see If I can find any tracks, maybe see the direction the vandals came from." he said.

At the Brides dorm Candy got an early start. Putting together a lunch of sliced ham, Cheese and slices of fresh bread. She had a couple pieces of pound cake and wild strawberries. As she filled a couple of mason jars with lemonade, she smiled thinking Joshua would probably prefer beer. "Sorry Joshua, you're getting lemonade," she mumbled to herself. She looked at the basket and threw in a couple carrots.

"Biddie," Candy called out "Biddie," she called again walking out the front door where Biddie was sweeping the porch.

"Biddie, do you know what happened to the blue checked tablecloth? It's not on the shelf where I left it," she said.

"Oh, I think Missy took it," Biddie said. "She left earlier to meet Burt for a buggy ride and a picnic."

"Darn it," Candy said.

"The red checked one is in the storage closet," Biddie said "Are you still planning to see Joshua Bolt for lunch?"

"Yes. I'd like to let him know he still has friends," she said.

"Well I'm glad," Biddie said "You tell Joshua that I said hello."

"Would you keep an eye on Christopher and Molly while I'm gone?"

"Yes, I can do that," Biddie said.

Candy took loan of a small buggy and drove towards the mining camp. She was hoping she could talk Joshua into a buggy ride. Maybe he'll open up to her a bit, if they weren't around the men at camp. Jeremy said he'd shut himself off and he was worried about Josh.

When she drove into camp, she realized hardly anyone was there. She saw Corky; he walked up to meet her.

"Hi Miss Candy," he said. "Are you here to see Jason?"

"No Corky, I came to take Joshua to lunch," she said looking around "Isn't he here yet?" she asked.

"No mam, I'm waiting for him myself. Jason wanted me to let him know he was going to be late. Someone tore up the log flume and he had to stay and oversee the repairs, so he sent most of the men home, But Joshua's supposed to be on his way back. He should be here anytime."

Candy sat there a minute. "You know, I think I'll just ride that way," she said nodding in the direction of the old home place. "I'll meet him and give him a ride back," she said. "I can let him know that Jason will be late."

"You know the way?" he asked.

Yes, I've been there before," Candy said.

"If you give him Jason's message, I'd sure appreciate that Miss Candy," Corky said.

"I can give him the message Corky, no since in you waiting around," Candy said.

Candy snapped the reins and clicked the horse to go.

Corky went back to his barracks. Some of the men had gone to Lottie's for drinks and he decided to join them.

Earlier that morning, Burt took Missy on a buggy ride along the shoreline. She was expecting a gift, and when he didn't immediately give her anything, she was disappointed. She was thankful he'd stood by her so vehemently. At times she found him utterly annoying, but right now, she put up with him.

They pulled to a shady clearing and Burt jumped out of the buggy and helped Missy down. He spread the blue checked cloth on the ground and took the basket from the buggy.

"Here sweetheart," he said patting the ground next to him.

Missy sat down and began pulling her lunch from the basket.

"You sure do pack the best lunches," he said.

She passed him a mason jar of lemonade and a sliced ham sandwich. "Thank you Burt. I appreciate you taking me on the buggy ride. It's been so hard in the dorm and all since… well you know. It's just so hard. Some of the girls, I don't think they believe me."

He wanted to tell her what he did, that she didn't have to worry anymore, but he knew better. People would find out eventually and no one would know who did it. It could have been anyone, but his Missy would be safe. "Well I believe you Missy and as soon as the circuit judge comes, he'll go to jail and you'll never see him again," he assured her.

"I want to leave Seattle Burt," Missy said. "There's too much ugliness here now." Missy knew she had dug herself into a web of lies she was afraid would catch up to her. She knew Joshua was a lost cause and there was nothing to keep her here any longer.

"I'll take you anywhere Missy," Burt said. "Anywhere you want to go, you just name the place."

Missy wanted to leave but had no interest in going anywhere with Burt.

Candy felt like she should have met up with Joshua by now. "I hope he didn't come back a different way," she thought, but knew this was the only path. "Maybe he just got a late start," she thought. She wondered if she should turn back, it was a long way, but then she'd already come this far.

"It's going to be closer to dinner than lunch," she thought. "It'll be nearly dark by the time I get there and back."

She recognized a couple landmarks as she got close to the bend leading to the cabin and she didn't hear anything. Something made her nervous. The cabin came into view and as she drove up, a small mule trotted up. She was carrying a pack and her lead was dragging the ground.

"Joshua," Candy shouted as she looked around. She pulled the buggy up to the cabin and saw the door standing open. "Joshua," she called out his name as she tied the reins to the brake handle before stepped down carefully from the buggy.

She did a spin around looking around before going up the steps. "Joshua, you in here?" she called out.

She stepped inside, her eyes trying to adjust. She saw him lying on the small bed and it frightened her. "Oh Josh," she whispered, not sure if he was dead or alive.
"Joshua," whispered, rushing towards him. "Oh Joshua, what happened," she said looking him up and down as he lay there. She saw his chest rise and fall, he was alive.

She knelt down next to him and put her hand on his forehead, then on his cheek, feeling him for fever.

His chest and left arm were bare. His shirt was bunched up over his right side and arm. His left hand, head and parts of his chest covered in dried blood.

He felt hot and had purple bruises covering the right side of his face along with dried blood and a gash above his ear.

"Josh, can you hear me," she asked.

She looked down at the balled up shirt, covering his shoulder, pulling it away to reveal the gunshot wound to his right chest area. "Oh Lord please no," she whispered. The wound was red, the area swollen, blood dried brown around it, but still wet. "Who did this?" she asked, but he was too weak.

"Water," he begged, barely able to talk, his eyes still closed.

Candy rushed quickly to the pump, found a cup and filled it.

She rushed back and sat next to him, holding his head up she tried to help him drink. The water was the first he'd had all night and day, and he took as much as he could. He cried out in pain. He opened his eyes.

"Candy," he whispered. "Candy help me"

Every word was a struggle. He tried to reach up with his left hand, but couldn't find the strength.

She took his hand, "I'm here Joshua," She said. "You hang in there. You're going to be alright. Do you hear me Joshua Bolt," she said through tears.

Candy looked around. There wasn't much here for her to use. She saw that he'd used a rag, and then his shirt to try and stop the bleeding.

She raced outside to the buggy and grabbed the lunch basket and red checked tablecloth. She sat with a knife found in the kitchen and started ripping it. She quickly had enough strips. She took a wash pan and filled it with water.

She sat next to Josh and peeled away the shirt carefully and slowly worked it down his right arm, finally removing it. She took one of the cloth strips, wet it and carefully tried to clean the dried blood. He started to bleed again so she folded some strips and pressed them against the wound. "He groaned in pain."

"I'm sorry," she said softly. She wanted to tie the cloth padding in place, but hated to move him. It had to be done, so she took a long section of cloth and worked it under him from the top of his shoulders trying to slide it down until it was under his back. Once she had plenty of cloth pressed over the wound she tied the long cloth in place so it would keep pressure on the wound.

She cleaned the gash on his head and wrapped it with the red checked cloth.

Candy pulled off his boots, and covered him with the blanket, hoping he would be more comfortable.

She dipped more cloth strips into the water and wiped his face, trying to cool him.

"Who did this to you?" she asked. But he didn't answer. She wasn't sure if he could hear her.

She tried to give him more water and he took a little, but he was in and out of it.
She felt like she should go for help, but she was afraid to leave him. Help was so far away.

She paced the room, unsure what to do.

"Candy," he whispered and she rushed to his side. "I'm scared," he said, barely audible.

"I'm here," she said "but I should to go for help."

"Don't…leave… please" he begged. "Talk…to me," he whispered. "Jeremy…"

"He'll be back in a few days," she said "He's in San Francisco, remember?" she asked as her voice cracked.

"Joshua, do you know who did this?" she asked.

"No," he said.

"Why…you here?" he asked.

"I brought you lunch and wanted to see you," she said. "Jeremy said you were staying here. He was worried about you being all alone," she said.

"You came…" he tried to smile. "Like Jenny would…" he whispered.

"Jenny?" she asked.

"Jeremy…" he started…

"What about Jeremy?" Candy asked him.

"Lucky to have you…" he whispered before passing out again.

"You have me too Joshua," she whispered.

Candy stood up and made sure he was sleeping. She slipped out the cabin and broke down. What was she going to do? He needed a doctor, he needed Allyn, but she couldn't leave him alone. She calmed herself down and quickly walked to the buggy, unhitched the horse and led him to the corral. The little mule followed, craving companionship. "What did you see little girl?" she asked, patting the little mules neck. She quickly untied the small pack, and rifle before leaving her securely in the corral. She carried everything inside and closed the door, locking it.

Candy was nervous while she was outside, she was sure the shooter was gone but she was still worried they may return and felt better with the door locked. Checking to be sure Joshua was still asleep; she quickly made a fire and looked thru his supplies, hoping she could make something for him to eat. He didn't have much of anything. She found some dried beans an onion and a couple of potatoes and salt. There was a little coffee. Clearly Josh had been going for supplies.

Candy put together what she had and made soup from the ham, beans, onion and Carrots. "I'm afraid this may not taste great, but you have to eat something," she said as she stirred the soup. It would take a while to cook the beans, but hopefully when he woke up, she would have something to feed him. He was so pale and weak that it frightened her.

The afternoon turned into dusk and she wondered when she would be missed. The Brides would notice she hadn't returned, and Jason would see that Joshua hadn't gotten home. She wasn't sure if they would come at night, or if they could find their way. It was getting dark enough that she lit a lantern for light. The soup would be ready soon. She checked on Joshua and he was still warm. She refilled the basin with cool water from the pump and wiped his face again, trying to cool him down. She wondered about the gash and bruising on his face. If he hit his head falling or was he hit?

She tried to give him some soup. He took in a little, but struggled getting it down.

Candy sat at the table waiting for someone to come, praying they would.

Josh stirred, and she was immediately at his side. "She didn't come," he whispered.

"Emily…."

"She's just confused Josh," Candy said, trying to make him feel better.

"Tell them, I didn't do those things…promise me," he begged.

"I promise, but you can tell them yourself because you're going to be fine," she said trying to keep him from giving up. "You need to just try and rest."

"Like Jenny," he mumbled again as he settled back down.

Candy took his hand and just held it so he could feel a connection. "Who is Jenny?" she wondered.