Jeremy's Bigfoot Tragedy Chapter Six
Two weeks after Candy's funeral, Jeremy was barely eating or sleeping. Due to safety concerns, Jason suspended him from work again.
During the day, Jeremy spent most of his time at the far end of the cemetery, sitting at the base of an oak tree. He sat there looking at a Cross marker he made and placed in memory of Candy.
On some nights, the youngest Bolt was at Lottie's drinking whiskey, or he was with Mack and Mayo making moonshine. When Jason and Joshua warned him, that moonshiners go to prison if they get caught, Jeremy laughed.
"Do you two think I care if I go to prison? No! I don't care!" He shouted.
"Let me tell you why I don't care." Jeremy said in a sarcastic whisper. "I don't care because every day without Candy is a day in Hell for me. Brothers, you tell me which is worse prison or Hell?" He glared at Jason and Joshua with tears pouring down his face.
"Jeremy…." Jason said.
"Forget it, Jason, there's nothing you can say." Jeremy told him as he walked out of the cabin slamming the door behind him.
It was almost dark. Jeremy had saddled Brownie and gotten his gear together earlier. He was going to camp at the lake tonight in hopes that George might show up. Jeremy was taking his shotgun so he could kill the bastard who murdered Candy.
Back in the cabin, Jason and Joshua picked at their supper plates. Jason put down his fork.
"Joshua, I'm afraid, deathly afraid that Jeremy is going to die. Either from lack of food or lack of sleep, an accident caused by one or both of those deficiencies or that creature, George is going to kill him." Jason frowned.
"What can we do about it, Jason? Jeremy won't listen to us. He's too angry right now." Joshua was despondent.
"Yeah, I'm worried that it will take another tragedy to get his attention and that could be too late." Jason shook his head.
At the lake, Jeremy had his camp set up. He sat by the fire drinking coffee and looking up at the stars. "I miss you, Candy!" He spoke.
"What are you doing out here alone, Jeremy?" Mack asked.
"Hi, Mack. I'm waiting to see if George shows up so I can kill him." Jeremy answered.
"Boy, you are determined to kill that man, aren't you?" Mack asked.
"Well, Mack, how would you feel if that jackass killed your wife, the woman you have loved for a lifetime? You know, Mack, that's what I wanted with Candy was a lifetime. George robbed me and my sweet girl of that and he's gonna pay." Jeremy replied with a hint of sarcasm.
"I understand that Jeremy and I don't blame you. I was just asking if you are serious about killing that joker." Mack said.
"Certainly, I'm serious about it." Jeremy frowned. "Have you got something in mind, Mack?"
"I'm just concerned about you, Jeremy. I've heard the talk around the logging camp that you aren't eating and sleeping too well these days. Some of that is normal because you just lost your little sweetheart. But you can't go on like this for too long, son. You're gonna make yourself sick and Miss Candy wouldn't want that for you, would she?" Mack asked.
"No, she wouldn't want me to get sick." Jeremy agreed sadly.
"Well, I had better get back to help Mayo. Try to get some sleep and try to eat something tomorrow, alright? The talk is that your brothers are pretty worried about you." Mack patted him on the back.
"Yeah, my brothers have been telling me how worried they are." Jeremy sighed.
"That's because they love you. Goodnight, Jeremy,"
"I know. I love them too." Jeremy smiled. "Goodnight Mack."
Jeremy was awake all night. There was no sign of George. Jeremy had forgotten to ask Mack when he and Mayo would be delivering more moonshine to the bastard.
The next morning when Jeremy got home, Jason and Joshua had already gone to work. They left him a plate of ham, eggs, and biscuits along with a note that read please try to eat something. We love you, J&J.
Jeremy smiled at the note and at their attempts at cooking. He managed to eat a few bites of the eggs and a few bites of a biscuit. He drank a cup of Josh's coffee.
Jeremy went to bed after he ate. He fell asleep from exhaustion but was awakened an hour later by a nightmare about Candy.
Jeremy got up and got dressed. He went to Lottie's. He helped Ken mop the floor and helped him get liquor out of the storeroom.
After those chores were done, Jeremy went to Ben's Store to buy some flowers for Candy's Cross Marker on the mountain. Ben didn't charge Jeremy for the flowers. He said Emily has tons of flowers and he was welcome to all he wanted. Jeremy insisted on paying, but Ben wouldn't let him.
"Jeremy, please allow Emily and me to help you in this small way. We know it's not much, but we want to do something for you. Is there anything that you need that we could do for you?" Ben asked.
"Would you bring Candy back for me, Ben? I need her so much!" Jeremy sobbed.
Ben walked from behind the counter. He put his arms around Jeremy.
"I wish I could, Jeremy. I truly wish I could." Ben said as Jeremy cried into his shoulder.
In a few minutes, Jeremy was calm. He thanked Ben for his kindness and concern.
"Please tell Emily I said thank you for the flowers." Jeremy said as he left.
Jeremy rode Brownie up to his parents' graves. He had placed Candy's Cross Marker next to his father's grave.
Jeremy sat down next to the marker. "I love you, Candy. I miss you terribly."
He sat there a little while longer thinking of happy times that he and Candy had together. Before he placed the flowers, he divided them into three bunches and put some on Mom's and Dad's graves too.
Jeremy said a prayer for Candy and his parents and left going back to Seattle.
It was lunch time when he got back to town. Even though he was not hungry, Jeremy went into the saloon. Jason and Joshua were there eating lunch. Aaron was there at the Bolts' table.
"Hello, Jeremy, how are you feeling?" Aaron asked pleasantly.
"Hi, Aaron. I'm okay." Jeremy sat down at the table.
Lottie came to the table quickly. She put a plate of food in front of Jeremy.
"Hello, sugar britches, please make me happy by eating some of this food." She wrapped her arms around his neck from behind his chair and kissed the top of his head.
"I'll try, Lottie. After I eat lunch, Lottie, would it be okay if I take a nap in your room like I used to sometimes when I was growing up? I know I'm not a kid, but it would help me if it's alright with you." Jeremy sighed.
Lottie moved next to Jeremy where she could see his face.
"Sure, sweetheart. That's fine. I'm glad that you think it will help you. Food and rest are what you need." Lottie touched his cheek.
"Thank you, I love you, Lottie." Jeremy whispered.
Lottie hugged him tightly. "I love you too, Jeremy."
Lottie returned to the kitchen. The youngest Bolt ate a few bites of food and went upstairs to Lottie's room.
When the noon rush was over, Jason, Joshua, and Aaron remained at their table. Work was slow right now and the two brothers were worried about their youngest sibling.
Miss Hatfield returned from the kitchen. She joined the three men at their table.
"Did he go upstairs?" She asked.
"Yes, he did." Jason answered.
"He's hurting bad, Jason. Very bad." Lottie said.
"I know, Lottie. Josh and I don't know what to do for him. He won't talk about Candy much. You know he doesn't like to talk about how he's feeling. I was surprised that he asked to go up to your room. Maybe that's a start." Jason replied.
"I hope so, Jason. I've tried to get Jeremy to open up to me. However, he wouldn't. He just kept saying he was okay even when I told him I knew he wasn't alright. Maybe you can get through to him, Lottie." Joshua said.
"I'll try, boys. I can't bear to see that sweet one in so much pain." Lottie frowned.
"Well, everyone, I suppose I should get back to my office. I enjoyed my lunch and seeing all of you. Jason, if there's anything at all I can do to help Jeremy, just let me know. I remember how I felt when I lost Helen. Lottie, it was a delicious meal. Later, Joshua." Aaron left the saloon.
Jason and Joshua left a few minutes later heading for the logging camp. Lottie went to her bedroom to check on Jeremy.
He was asleep on top of the bedspread. Lottie brushed his bangs out of his eyes. She gazed at his sweet face for a moment saying a silent prayer for him.
Lottie moved quietly toward the door. Just as she was about to open it, she heard her name.
"Lottie, can you stay and talk a few minutes, please?" Jeremy whispered.
She turned around to face him. "Certainly, I can, sweetheart."
Lottie sat on the side of the bed. "What would you like to talk about, Jeremy?"
"About C-C-Candy." He answered sitting up on the bed. "I miss her so much, Lottie. I don't think I will ever be able to function again. I mean work, eat, and sleep. Everyday stuff like that."
"Jeremy, you have to give yourself some time. It takes awhile to accept the loss of someone so close to you." Lottie said gently.
"What happens if I can't accept it? Will I lose my mind and end up in an asylum? Do you remember how some of the good people of Seattle tried to convince Jason to have me put away after Dad died?" Jeremy asked. "That was just because I stuttered and because Jason was so young."
"I remember how your brother roared at those ignorant people about you being his brother and his responsibility, and how their stupid opinion did not matter one whit!" Lottie smiled.
"Yeah, Jason gave them what for alright. I wish I could be more like Jason, strong and levelheaded and more like Joshua too, calm and reasonable." Jeremy fretted.
"Sweetheart, your brothers haven't lost their fiancée, the love of their life. If they had, their reactions would be pretty much the same as yours." She reasoned.
"You're right, Lottie. I guess I need to be patient with myself and endure the agony of grief for as long as it last." He replied.
"Is there anything that would help you feel better, Jeremy?" Lottie asked.
"Yes, there is, Lottie. I know it isn't right or Christian to feel this way, but it's how I feel. I want George dead. Knowing that he is alive, and Candy is dead because of him makes me so angry." Jeremy hung his head. "It's not right that someone as beautiful and loving as Candy is gone and a snake like George is still breathing."
Jeremy squalled his heart out as waves of grief washed over him. Lottie climbed on the bed next to him. She held him close as he continued to cry.
When his tears were gone, he glanced at Lottie. "Can we stay like this for a little while, please?"
"Of course, we can, Jeremy. I love you." Lottie whispered leaning her head against his.
Jeremy drew a deep breath and released it. "I love you too, Lottie." He drifted off to sleep.
As she listened to his deep even breathing, Lottie got an idea.
The next day, Carlotta Hatfield went for a buggy ride. Ken was left in charge of the saloon. She went to Mack and Mayo's still. The three of them had a long conversation. When they reached an agreement, she left with a little gift for Clancy.
A month went by. It was now Candy's birth month. About two weeks earlier, Jason had begun letting Jeremy work two or three days a week because he was eating and sleeping better.
As the anniversary of Candy's birth approached, Jeremy was a wreck. He stopped eating and sleeping and started drinking too much. Jason suspended him from work again.
One evening, a few days before Candy's birthday, the Bolt brothers had supper at Lottie's. Jason and Joshua managed to persuade Jeremy to eat a fair amount of his supper.
The youngest Bolt rented a room from Lottie that night. He told his brothers that he thought he might be able to sleep better there. He was worn out from lack of sleep and from spending nights in the woods trying to catch George.
Jason and Joshua left the saloon after supper. They had to be at the logging camp early tomorrow.
Jeremy said good night to Lottie and climbed the stairs to his room.
Not long after Jeremy went to bed, Lottie closed up for the night. She locked the doors and hurried to the kitchen.
When she returned to the bar room a short while later, she had a bottle of whiskey. She set it on the bar.
"Miss Hatfield! I must talk to you immediately!" demanded Mr. Sanders. He was a cranky boarder, but he bought lots of booze.
Lottie rushed upstairs to find out what he wanted.
While Lottie was upstairs, Jeremy came down to the bar room for a nightcap. He saw the bottle of whiskey on the bar. He got a shot glass and started pouring.
Lottie came downstairs about twenty minutes later. "Jeremy Bolt! What on earth are you doing?"
Jeremy was startled. "Just having a few shots. I didn't think you would mind."
"Oh, Jeremy! Stop drinking this instant! How many shots have you had?" She exclaimed.
"I'm not sure. Two or three, I guess. I'll pay for my drinks, Lottie. Don't worry. I have some money even though I'm not workin now. You might not want to buy this whiskey again. I'm not feeling too good." Jeremy told her.
"Oh, dear God! Come on, sweetheart! I have to take you to the clinic." Lottie grabbed his arm.
"The clinic? Lottie, I don't feel that bad." A wave of nausea hit him.
He ran to the kitchen and retched in a basin. Lottie followed him. She got a cold wet cloth for his head.
When he stopped retching, Lottie took him to the clinic. Rachel Sullivan was taking the doctor's place while she was at a symposium in Olympia.
When Jeremy was settled on an exam table, Lottie took Rachel into another room.
"Rachel, I have to tell you something awful so you can help Jeremy. I didn't do this to hurt him. I would never hurt him. In fact, I convinced myself that I would be actually helping Jeremy by doing this." She rambled.
"Lottie, what did you do?" Rachel asked.
"I put Aqua Tofana in a bottle of whiskey. Jeremy drank some of the whiskey. He has already started retching." Tears ran down Lottie's face.
Rachel was shocked. "Aqua Tofana has arsenic in it. There is no antidote for arsenic poisoning. You had better go get Jason and Joshua. They will want to say goodbye to their brother."
To be continued…