Jeremy My True Love J
Candy Bolt had a very nice supper ready for her husband, Jeremy. It was dusky dark and almost time for him to be getting home. However, he might be a little late today.
Candy ran to the front door and opened it. She stepped out on to the porch. Looking up the mountain road, she didn't see anyone coming. She strained to listen closely. Candy didn't hear anyone singing or talking. Sometimes, Jeremy sang on his way home if he wasn't worn out.
Mrs. Bolt went back inside and closed the door. Going in the kitchen, she checked the food on the stove and in the oven. Everything was nicely warm.
Candy grabbed her shawl and put it around her shoulders. She got a burning lantern too. She ran out of the cabin closing the door behind her.
Candy kept running. She ran up the road in hopes of seeing Jeremy. Where was he? She tried not to worry, but surely, he would be in sight before too much longer.
Finally, Candy had to stop running. She walked a little farther up the road. Her husband was not in view, and it was getting very dark. The sad Mrs. Bolt turned and walked home alone.
When she got back to the cabin, she decided to sit in the rocking chair on the porch to wait for Jeremy. Candy went inside for a minute to get a few matches.
Coming back outside, Candy walked along the porch and lit the lanterns that she had put here and there along the railing that encased the porch.
As she finished the lighting, she blew out the last match and sat down in the rocker. Candy looked up the road and wondered what happened at the logging camp.
Some time later, Candy heard her name being called.
"Candy! Candy! Are you asleep? May I come up on the porch?" A voice called.
It wasn't Jeremy. He wouldn't ask if he could approach his own wife.
Candy stirred a little more and then she was awake. "Who is it, please?"
"It's Big Swede, Candy. May I come on to the porch?" He asked.
"Yes, certainly, you can, Swede. Oh, no! Jeremy is hurt badly! No, Joshua would have come to get me. No! Swede! No! Jeremy is dead, isn't he? That's why you are here! Oh no!" Candy burst into tears.
Swede ran up the porch steps and caught Candy before she fainted.
"Candy! Jeremy is not dead! He is not badly injured. Jeremy is okay. Another man was killed in an accident at the camp this evening. That's why Jeremy hasn't come home yet. He sent me to tell you." Swede explained as he helped her sit down.
Candy was shaking. "Jeremy is alright! Thank You, Lord! Oh, Swede, who was killed? What happened?"
Swede sat down in the rocking chair next to Candy's rocker. "Tommy Lawson was killed busting a log jam. He was on Jeremy's crew. He and Jeremy set the dynamite in place and Jeremy told him to come on away from there and Tommy did, but then he went back. Your husband shouted at him to get out of there before the dynamite went off. Even told him that he almost got killed by checking too long. Tommy kept standing there until Jeremy was running back out there yelling for him to move his ass before they got killed. Just as Jeremy grabbed Tommy to drag him to the riverbank, the dynamite blew up. Jeremy was thrown clear. Tommy went in the water."
"Where is Jeremy now, Swede?" Candy inquired.
"He is with Jason and Joshua. They are taking Tommy's wife, Mary, to Tacoma to tell his mother what happened." Swede replied.
"Oh, my goodness! Such a horrible loss for his family!" She exclaimed. "Please go on telling me what happened."
"Jeremy went under the water to find Tommy. When he didn't see him right off, he came back up and yelled for help. Jason, Josh, and I went right in and started looking. It took a few minutes to find him. He was stuck between some logs that landed back together after the the blast. The five of us, Jeremy was down there and Corky, worked as fast as we could but it took some time. I'm afraid it was too late." Swede said sadly.
"Who tried the sternum compressions and blowing air in the lungs?" She asked.
"Jason did the compressions and Jeremy blew air in Tommy's lungs. They tried for half an hour. Jeremy wouldn't quit. His brothers had to make him stop." Swede choked up.
"I'm sorry, Swede. This was awful for you and the other men too. All of you were friends of Tommy. Come inside, I have supper ready. You haven't had time to eat. Essie is waiting for you, I know. But you could have a cup of coffee and a bite to eat. It wouldn't take long and I want to help somehow." Candy spoke.
"It's very kind of you to offer, Candy. Thank you. But Jason and Joshua are going to spend the night at Lottie's when they get back from Tacoma. Jason canceled work until next week. Jeremy asked me to tell you that he wants to stay at Lottie's tonight too if that's okay with you." Swede replied.
"Of course, it's alright. Give me a few minutes, please and I will get the supper and a few things for Jeremy and me." She told him.
"That's fine, Candy." Swede got up and opened the front door for her.
Both of them went inside. Candy hurried to pack the food in a picnic basket. Then she ran upstairs and packed a bag for her husband and herself.
While she was upstairs, Swede went to get Brownie from the stable and hitch him to the buggy.
Soon Candy and Swede were on their way to town. They were quiet for several minutes thinking about the terrible loss of a friend, a husband, and a son. They were also thinking how it could have been any one of the men.
"Candy," Swede said quietly, "if you don't mind me saying so your husband is a fine man."
"Thank you, Swede. I agree with you. Jeremy is a fine man." Candy's voice was filled with emotion.
"At every turn, today, he tried to save Tommy. Before the blast and after it. When his brothers made him stop blowing air in Tommy's lungs, Jeremy tried to fight them. He did not want to stop. He wanted to keep trying. To keep hoping that Tommy could be saved." Swede told her.
"Yes, that's Jeremy. He hates to give up particularly when he is helping someone else, and he can't bear to quit in a life-threatening situation." Mrs. Bolt replied.
Lottie met them outside the saloon and helped Candy bring in the bags and the picnic basket so Swede could get home to Essie.
After the two ladies got the food in Lottie's oven, they sat at a kitchen table drinking coffee. Both of them were tired and worried.
"Jeremy is going to be so upset for a long time, Lottie. You know how seriously he takes his responsibilities. And a terrible accident like this…. he is going to have a hard time." Candy commented.
"Yes, Candy. I agree with you, dear. It could very well cause him to stutter badly again." Lottie said.
"Oh, Lottie! I have been so worried about my sweet husband, but I hadn't even thought about him stuttering. Oh, dear!" Candy cringed.
Candy started to speak again, and Lottie held up her hand. "Wait, sweetheart, I think I hear them coming!"
The women put down their coffee cups and ran from the kitchen to the outside of the saloon. They looked to the left and saw Joshua driving the buckboard.
"Get on, Barney! Get on, Buckie! Only a little way to go now." Joshua told the horses.
Lottie hurried inside the saloon to wake up Ken so he could tend the horses. Joshua and his brothers were too exhausted and heartsick to do anything else today.
Miss Hatfield was back outside by the time the Bolts pulled up in the wagon. Ken came out about three minutes later.
When the buckboard stopped, Candy saw Jeremy sitting up in the back asleep. Jason was beside him with his arm around him.
Candy ran to her husband. "Jason, is Jeremy, alright? Physically, I mean. I know that he is terribly hurt emotionally about what happened. It is just horrible that Tommy is gone."
"Yes, Candy, Jeremy is okay, physically. However, mentally it will be a long time, I'm afraid before he considers himself alright." Jason replied as he reached to pick up his sleeping brother.
"If ever." Joshua remarked coming to the back of the vehicle to help get Jeremy inside.
"I've got him, Josh. You can get the door, please." Jason said jumping down from the wagon with Jeremy in his arms.
Getting jostled didn't wake the youngest brother and everyone except Ken proceeded inside the saloon. He took the horses and the buckboard to the livery stable.
Jason carried his brother upstairs and placed on the bed in his and Candy's room. Jason and Joshua went into their rooms to wash up while Lottie made fresh coffee and warmed the supper that Candy brought with her.
Candy went into their washroom and got a basin of water and some cloths. She returned to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed after placing the basin and cloths on the bedside table.
She dipped a cloth in the water. Very gently, she began wiping Jeremy's face.
"No Tommy!" Jeremy grabbed Candy's wrist.
"Ouch!" Candy yelled.
Jeremy awoke with a start. "What?!"
He looked around the room for a few moments and then he saw Candy in front of him.
"Oh, Candy!" Jeremy sobbed.
She wrapped her arms around him holding as tightly as possible. He hid his face in her shoulder crying huge pitiful sobs.
"I love you. I love you. It's alright, sweetheart, I'm here. I've got you." Candy whispered over and over as he cried.
Jeremy cried until he lost his breath. Then he began hiccuping.
He hiccuped so strongly that it shook him and Candy. "This hiccuping is painful. I don't remember hiccups hurting like this when I was a kid."
"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry about Tommy. Swede told me how hard you worked to try to save him." Candy stroked his hair.
"It wasn't just me. Several of us worked and worked to save him. But we couldn't." Jeremy laid his head on her shoulder.
"Jeremy, all of you did your best. Sometimes terrible things still happen." She spoke softly into his ear.
"I know. Try telling that to Tommy's wife and his mother." Jeremy gazed into her eyes.
"I understand that there's not anything that I can say to help you feel better, but I have to try because I love you, Jeremy." Candy whispered.
"I love you too, sweet girl." He replied.
Jeremy got up, and they went into the washroom. He finished cleaning up with Candy's help.
"Jeremy, do you want something to eat or some coffee? I know you haven't had anything since breakfast this morning." Candy spoke as they returned to their room. "Please, Jeremy. You have to have something."
"Okay, let me get dressed." He replied.
Candy had brought him some work clothes. He put on clean pants and a shirt fast.
The young couple went downstairs to the kitchen.
Thunder boomed outside. It startled them especially Jeremy as he sat down at the table.
Lottie saw her sweet boy jump as she turned from the stove to bring him a cup of hot coffee. She set the cup on the table in front of him and then walked behind his chair.
Placing her arms around his neck, the saloon owner whispered, "I love you, Jeremy. I'm so very sorry about the loss of your friend."
The young lumberjack placed his hand on her arm. "Thank you, Lottie."
He picked up the coffee cup to take a sip. His hand shook so much, he couldn't hold it. He set it on the table. Jeremy inhaled deeply to steady his nerves. The big breath didn't help.
Jeremy burst into tears plunking his head on the table.
Lottie came from behind him and knelt by the side of his chair. Candy was at the worktable making a sandwich. She rushed over kneeling on the other side of the chair.
"Why are you both crouching?" He looked up briefly.
"I guess we thought you would hear us better from down here." Lottie answered.
"Yes, since your face is on the table." His wife added. "Do you want to try to eat some of your sandwich? It's roast beef."
"Okay." Jeremy said as he sat up.
The women stood up. Candy gave her husband his sandwich.
He looked at the bread and meat. Jeremy put it on the plate in front of him.
Candy was sitting next to him at the table. "Please eat a bite or two. If you don't I will be more worried about you."
Jeremy picked up the sandwich and took a bite. "It's good. Where are Jason and Joshua?"
"They went to talk to Barnabas Smith." Lottie replied.
"About what?" Jeremy asked. "Oh! Never mind. I know."
"What, sweetheart?" Candy inquired.
"In case Mary Lawson sues us. We have to be prepared." He answered.
"It was a terrible accident. Surely, she won't sue your brothers and you. The three of you did all you could to save Tommy." Candy spoke.
"Yes, we did. However, she lost her husband. He was her only means of support." Jeremy explained.
"Let's not worry about that tonight, brother. Today has been hellish." Jason said walking into the kitchen. Joshua followed him.
"How about some coffee and some food?" Lottie got up from the table.
"Sounds good. Thanks, Lottie." Joshua yawned. "I'm glad you tried to eat, Jeremy. You need to try some more."
Jason washed his hands after he removed his coat. "There is quite a storm coming. It might keep us awake."
The three brothers sat at the table nibbling at their late supper and sipping their coffee. When they finished, they were about to go to bed. They heard noise at Lottie's door.
Jason went to the door." Who is it?"
"It's me, Jason Bolt! Biddie Cloom! Let me in please!" She responded.
The oldest brother unlatched the door. Biddie came in wearing her nightgown. She had a bag in her hand.
"It's rather late, isn't ir, Miss Cloom?" Jason questioned.
"Yes, it is. However, I'm afraid of the storm that is coming and I don't want to be by myself." She told him.
"There are eighty-five other girls there, Biddie. I don't call that being alone." Jason smiled.
"Well, I see your point, Jason. But without Candy…."Biddie stopped talking.
"Candy has been married for six months." Jason kept smiling.
"Oh, alright, Jason Bolt! I'm worried about you and your brothers. I wanted to be here at least for moral support." Biddie confessed.
"We appreciate that very much, Biddie. Thank you!" Jason gave her a tiny kiss on the cheek.
Candy and Biddie went upstairs to prepare Biddie's room. When Jeremy stopped in to get Candy, Biddie gave him a big hug and cried.
The youngest Bolt assured her he was alright as he thanked her for her concern.
After Candy and Jeremy went to bed, they couldn't sleep. Jeremy got sick. He had to race to the washroom to retch.
When it was over, he returned to bed. Candy wiped his face with cool cloths.
"That feels good. Thank you, sweetheart." Jeremy played with a strand of his wife's hair.
"You're welcome, darling. I want you to do something for me, alright, Jeremy?" She said softly.
"What is it?" He was skeptical.
"I want you to talk to Reverend Adams about what happened today." She said gently.
"Why?! Because you think I killed Tommy? So I need to confess my sin to the preacher and ask for forgiveness!" Jeremy shouted.
"No, certainly not! You are taking this all wrong! I want you to get some help to deal with your feelings about what happened! Because I know you blame yourself as if you killed him when you didn't! I was so scared that Swede was going to say that you had been killed. I'm ashamed to say that I was happy that it was Tommy and not you. I was happy! God forgive me, I was happy!" Candy squalled.
Both of them had gotten out of the bed and made their way to the window during the fight. Jeremy put his arms around his wife.
"You weren't happy that Tommy died. You were happy that I didn't get killed. Don't feel ashamed." He reassured. "I will talk to the Reverend. That's a good idea."
"Thank you, Jeremy. Let's go to bed. I'm so tired." She hugged him.
They went to bed and soon fell asleep. Everyone was asleep in their room. The storm grew worse as the night went on.
Lottie awoke about three am due to a strange noise. She wondered how she could hear anything above that weather.
As she listened closer, she thought someone was knocking at the door. Maybe a traveler in need of shelter.
Lottie got up and put on her bed jacket and her slippers. She hurried downstairs.
As she got to the bottom of the steps, she saw Jeremy coming out of the kitchen. He had a sandwich on a plate.
"Oh, Lottie! Did I wake you? I'm sorry! I woke up hungry so I came down here to get some food." He explained.
"No, sweetheart, you didn't wake me. I heard a noise at the door. There it is again!" Lottie rushed to open it.
"Wait, Lottie!" Jeremy yelled.
It was too late. The men pushed through the door almost knocking Lottie down. There were five of them. Each one had a shotgun.
"Who are you?! What do you want?!" Young Bolt demanded.
"We want those Bolt brothers!" One man answered.
"What do you want with them?" Jeremy growled.
"My name is Billy Bolt Barker. Those Bolts are my cousins. Their daddy cheated my daddy. I want what's mine!" Barker snapped.
"The Bolts don't have any cousins." Jeremy looked Barker in the eye.
"You calling me a liar, kid?" Billy Barker snarled. "Where's this Lottie that my kin is so fond of?"
"I'm Lottie!" She spoke firmly.
Jeremy walked across the room. He motioned for Lottie to go back to the bar. She went and stood in front of it.
"I'm not calling you a liar, mister. I know the Bolts don't have any cousins because I'm Jeremy Bolt." He advised.
"You're Jeremy Bolt, are you? Well, you are gonna be really upset when I do this!" William Bolt Barker spoke.
"Do what?" Jeremy frowned.
"This!" Barker yelled.
"BOOM!" Billy shot Lottie.
Jeremy was horrified. "You bastard! Jason! Joshua! Lottie's been shot!"
Jeremy ran to Lottie. He crouched beside her and held her head against his arm.
"Oh, Lottie! I'm going to get the doctor right now! You will be okay." Jeremy cried.
Jason and Joshua had flown down the steps at the sound of the gunshot and Jeremy's screaming. They had told the ladies to stay in their rooms.
The two older brothers knelt by Lottie. Jeremy looked at his siblings. They could see the terror in his eyes.
"I'll go get Doctor Wright!" Joshua headed for the door. He was stopped by Ralph Hanson grabbing him.
"Let go of me!" Joshua shouted.
"Shut up or more people will die!" Barker ordered.
"Now, we aren't going to let Lottie die!" Jason yelled.
"You shut up too or Lottie and baby brother will be gone in about a minute." Billy said in an icy tone.
Jason stepped back.
"J-J-Jason! Lottie is in bad shape! She needs the doctor now!" Jeremy cried.
Jason crouched beside his brother. " Try to take it easy, Jeremy. I realize that Lottie needs Doctor Wright. We will get the Doctor as fast as we can."
Jeremy cradled Lottie in his arms. "Please don't leave us, Lottie. We love you with all of our hearts. Young Bolt dropped his head and wept.
TBC