Searching For Jeremy Bolt Chapter Thirteen
Joshua got back to the old home place quickly with Doctor Wright and Lottie. When they went inside the cabin, they found Jason and Jeremy seated in chairs next to Candy's bed.
Jason and Jeremy got up from their seats when the ladies came into the room. "We didn't get Candy cleaned up, Doctor Wright. I figured you would need to see the condition she was in when we found her."
"That was the correct thing to do, Jeremy." Doctor Wright replied. "May I ask you gentlemen to step out while I examine Candy, please? Lottie, stay and help me, please."
The Bolt brothers left the room and Lottie remained there as Allyn requested. Jason and Joshua sat on the sofa in the front room. Jeremy paced nervously around the room. The youngest brother went to the bedroom door and motioned for Lottie and whispered briefly in her ear.
"I'll ask the doctor, sweetheart." Lottie gave him a little kiss on the cheek. She returned to the bedside.
Jeremy walked to Dad's old armchair and slumped into it. He tapped his boot on the floor.
"Jeremy, you need to go run about ten miles." Jason said.
"No, I need to go kill some people, Jason." Jeremy replied.
Joshua laughed heartily. Jason and Jeremy looked at him like he was crazy.
"What? Jeremy jokes about killing people and I get the look of disdain?" Joshua asked.
"Ah, but you are mistaken dear brother, Jeremy is not joking. He is serious." Jason spoke.
"Deadly serious." Jeremy said in a frightening tone.
"Jeremy, you can't mean that! You can't go around killing people!" Joshua whispered angrily.
"Joshua! Some bastard raped my wife! What am I supposed to do?! And he probably caused her to lose our baby! Do you think I should just let some jackass attack Candy and kill our child and do nothing about it? Oh, and what about the fact that he tried to drown her, and he beat her?" Jeremy growled.
"Brother, I'm not saying don't do anything, I'm saying you can't just murder a man even a despicable bastard who does things like that." Joshua replied.
"Well, Joshua, what do you suggest I do?" Jeremy replied sarcastically.
"Turn Penny and Benny in to Marshall Trueaxe. Let him handle it." Joshua responded.
"That will take a long time and it won't keep them from practicing their evil on us and whoever else they choose to torment. I mean, Josh, what if some man did this to Biddie?" Jeremy asked.
Joshua's face turned red. His brothers could almost see smoke coming out of his ears.
"It's not easy to even imagine something so awful, is it Josh?" Jason asked.
"No! It isn't! I'm sorry, Jeremy. I just don't want you to be killed or get in trouble for killing some dirtbag." Joshua answered.
"Thanks, Josh. I appreciate that." Jeremy told him.
Doctor Wright came to the bedroom door. "Jeremy, may I speak to you, please."
Jeremy glanced quickly at his brothers and got up and went in the bedroom with the doctor.
"Jeremy, I'm afraid I don't have good news. Candy was assaulted and she suffered a miscarriage due to the physical trauma." Doctor Wright spoke quietly. "I'm so sorry."
Lottie walked across the room and hugged Jeremy. He put his face in her shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably.
In the front room, Jason and Joshua heard their brother crying. Jason covered his face with his hands. Joshua went to the window and looked out wondering how long it would take them to find the devils who did this.
As Jeremy regained his composure, he faced Doctor Wright. "C-C-Candy isn't going to die, is she?"
"Oh, no, Jeremy! She is going to recover, but it will take time. She is going to be very fragile and skittish and afraid for awhile. You must be very patient and gentle with her in everything. And sex is going to have to be forgotten for quite some time. Alright?" The doctor asked.
"Yes, ma'am. I wouldn't dare think of anything like that for a long time. I would be terrified that I might hurt her in some way." Jeremy replied. "Oh, Lottie, I'm sorry."
"Jeremy! Don't ever be sorry about anything you say around me. I'm like your mama!" Lottie kissed his cheek. "I love you and Candy so much."
"Thank you, Lottie. We love you too. We need you, Lottie!" Jeremy cried again.
Lottie embraced Jeremy as his brothers came in the door.
"Is it alright if we come in? We keep hearing our brother crying so we know it is not good news and we want to be with him if that's okay." Jason spoke.
"Yes, that is fine." Doctor Wright advised.
When Jeremy's tears ended, he told his brothers what the doctor said to him. Both of them hugged him.
"Dear, God, Jeremy! I'm so sorry! I will help you and Candy in any way I can, you know that. I love you and her so much! If I could only erase what happened, I certainly would." Jason comforted.
"Thank you, Jason! We love you too! We are gonna need all the help we can get. Jason, I love Candy so much! I can't believe I let this happen to her!" Jeremy's knees buckled.
Jason caught Jeremy before he fell to the floor. Joshua hurried to the other side of the youngest Bolt and helped Jason hold him up.
"Jeremy, what happened to Candy is in no way your fault. Please, I am begging you, do not blame yourself. I know you feel responsible for her as her husband, and you should to a point. However, being responsible for your wife doesn't mean you are to blame when something tragic happens to her. Please say that you agree with me." Jason implored.
The two oldest Bolts helped Jeremy to a chair in Candy's bedroom. After he sat down, Jeremy glanced at Jason.
"Yes, I agree with you, Jason. I know that I didn't cause what happened. However, I feel responsible because I am her husband and I want to protect her." Jeremy replied.
"Thank God, Jeremy! I am so relieved to hear you say that." Jason sighed.
"Jeremy, I want to apologize for the things I said earlier. I'm just an idiot I suppose. I mean I believed you about what happened to Candy but when the doctor verified it and you cried, it was like it slapped me in the face that this terrible thing really happened. I'm sorry, brother. I love you and Candy like crazy." Joshua hugged Jeremy close.
"Thanks, Josh. We love you too. You don't have to apologize. Like I said earlier, you were just concerned about me." Jeremy replied.
The Bolt family, Lottie, and Doctor Wright stayed at the old home place for a few days. Candy was skittish, frail, and frightened as the doctor had predicted. Jeremy was loving, kind, and gentle with her.
Late one night, Jeremy had fallen asleep in a chair in his wife's bedroom.
"Jeremy! Jeremy!" Candy whispered.
"Yes, sweetheart, do you want something? I'll get it for you. What is it, sweet girl?" Jeremy whispered.
"I wanna talk. Is that okay? I know it's late; I just feel like I can talk about this while everyone else is asleep." Candy spoke timidly.
"That's fine, Candy. Whatever is easiest for you." Jeremy replied.
"Jeremy, that man didn't hurt me. He tried to and he came close to hurting me, but he didn't succeed. I fought him off the best I could. I hit and kicked and bit him. I put my knee where my grandmother always told me to put my knee if a man ever tried that with me. He beat the hell out of me, but he didn't hurt me. The bastard killed our baby!" Candy sobbed gut wrenching sobs.
Jeremy was sitting on her bed, and he gathered her into his arms holding her close. He made gentle soothing shushing sounds to her as he rocked her ever so gently in his arms.
When she was calm, Candy gazed into Jeremy's eyes. "Do you still love me? Do you still want to be my husband? I understand if you don't, and I will give you a divorce without any problems. I can go back to New Bedford if that would be better for you."
Lottie had warned Jeremy that Candy would question his love and his commitment. She told him not to be upset by it but to remember that Candy was actually doubting her worthiness to be loved.
Jeremy understood what Lottie meant, however hearing his wife say those words was a knife in his heart.
Jeremy embraced her before he spoke.
"Oh, no! I have made you angry! Your heart is beating faster so I know you are mad at me! Please don't hurt me! I'm sorry! I'll be good! Please don't hurt me!" Candy cried out.
Tears came to his eyes as he heard the fear in her voice and felt her trembling in his arms. Jeremy let go of her to relieve her fright.
"No, I'm not angry at you, sweet girl. I promise. If my heart is beating faster, it's because I was thinking of how much I love you and how I will always love you no matter what." He whispered. "Okay?"
Candy gave him a bit of a smile. "Okay, and?"
Jeremy sighed. "I still love you and I will love you forever and always. I still want to be your husband forever and always too. And as far as we are concerned, Mrs. Bolt, there is no such thing as divorce. Do you agree?"
She smiled slightly again. "Yes, I agree, Mr. Bolt."
Jeremy started to stand up and Candy took his hand.
"Jeremy, lie down beside me, please." She said.
"Are you sure, sweetheart? I don't want you to be frightened "He responded.
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm sorry I reacted like that. I know you would never hurt me even if you are angry. I want you close to me. I know we can't make love, but we can be close. Will that be alright?" Candy asked.
"Yes, that will be fine with me. If you get nervous or scared, please tell me and I will get out of the bed." Jeremy took off his clothes and got into the bed very carefully.
He laid down beside her and she took his hand in hers. Jeremy held his breath for fear of scaring her.
"Jeremy, you can breathe. I'm not that fragile, sweetheart." Candy spoke.
"I know, sweetheart. I'm just trying to make sure I don't scare you or upset you. I would die if I made you feel bad somehow even if…" Jeremy paused.
"Even if this terrible thing never happened. Jeremy, you are so good to me! I love you more than you know!" Candy cried.
Jeremy put his arms around her, and they wept together.
The next few weeks were painful. Candy and Jeremy went home to the cabin at her insistence. She said she was not going to allow the Wallenfangs to run them out of their home. Jason and Joshua lived at Lottie's.
Jeremy took an extended leave from work. He was with his wife all the time.
Some days, Candy was fine, or she seemed to be. Other days, she was frightened and clung to Jeremy the whole day. The hardest days were the days when Candy didn't speak. She would not say a word. She remained locked inside herself in a place not even Jeremy could reach.
One day, Candy was napping, and the older brothers were visiting Jeremy.
"It breaks my heart when she goes so long without talking. Why does Candy do that? Doesn't she realize that I love her, and I want to help her? But I can't if she won't talk to me. It is maddening to know that she is locked away in her mind with all that pain and I can't help her!" Jeremy growled.
Jason and Joshua exchanged a knowing glance. Both of them looked at their youngest brother.
"What?" Jeremy asked.
His brothers stared at him.
"Why are you two looking at me like that? Why don't you say something?" Jeremy demanded.
"Jeremy, does Candy's not talking for long periods of time seem familiar to you?" Jason asked.
"Familiar?" Jeremy pondered. "Oh heck! I hadn't thought about me not talking in such a long time. I'm sorry, brothers. Now I know what you went through."
Since you have stopped talking before, maybe that will help you understand why Candy isn't speaking." Jason told him.
"Yes, it does, Jason. I remember when I quit talking it was because the pain from being laughed at and made fun of was too much to face anymore. I needed a break. I needed some peace at least for a while." Jeremy explained quietly. "When I stopped talking it was because the pain was unbearable. How do I help Candy with her unbearable pain?"
"Love her, brother. You are excellent at loving people, Jeremy. Especially Candy." Joshua replied.
"Thanks, Josh." Jeremy smiled.
A few more weeks passed by. Jeremy and Candy took walks sometimes. Other times, they talked. Candy would talk about what happened and Jeremy would listen. At times, she cried and he would hold her and comfort her.
One Thursday, Candy was having a good day. She was cooking Jeremy's favorite meal and cleaning the cabin. When she went into the bedroom to sweep, she was shocked to find Jeremy in there crying.
"Jeremy, darling, why are you crying? Please tell me." Candy said softly as she sat down next to him on the bed.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Candy. I didn't mean for you to see me like this, I don't want to bother you. You have enough to cope with." Jeremy apologized.
Candy put her arms around her husband. "Jeremy, please don't think you can't talk to me about your own pain. This has all been terribly difficult for both of us and you have been so wonderful to me. Let me help you as well. You are not bothering me. I love you and I want to help you, please."
Jeremy gazed silently into her beautiful eyes, "Hold me!"
Candy held him tightly as she breathed soothing words into his ear.
"Shush, sweetheart, shush. It's alright, I love you. I love you, Jeremy. Love you with all my heart. Forever and always. Shush, darling, shush." Candy spoke softly.
"C-C-Candy, I'm sorry I didn't protect you. I let you down. I'm sorry, please forgive me." He said.
"Jeremy, it's not your fault. Those awful people attacked me, not you. Please don't feel guilty. You did nothing to cause what happened. You don't need my forgiveness. Alright?" Candy asked.
"Okay. Candy, may I ask you something?" Jeremy inquired.
"Of course, you may." Candy replied.
"Is the fried chicken ready? I'm starving!" Jeremy smiled.
"Jeremy, really? Come on, before you faint from starvation!" She laughed.
"Candy!" Jeremy gasped.
"What is it?" Candy was puzzled.
"That's the first time you have laughed in a very long time." He answered.
"Yes, it is. And I owe it to you, my loving and witty husband." Candy replied.
They shared a passionate kiss. She clung to him because of love and not fear.
A few weeks later, Jeremy and Candy sat down to have a serious talk. He told her he was going to Olympia to kill Penny and Benny because they sent the men who attacked her. Candy surprised him by saying that she was going with him.
"Jeremy, if you get killed, I can't live without you. I won't even try because I know I can't do it. It's like when you came to rescue me from Holiday. I knew then that I would rather die with you than exist with him." Candy explained.
"Alright, Candy. I don't like the idea of you being in danger, however I know I can't talk you out of it." Jeremy agreed. "We will leave in a few days."
Two nights before they were to travel to Olympia, the young couple was lying awake in bed. It was the middle of the night, and it was storming.
"Candy, are you pregnant?" Jeremy asked.
"I think so. I haven't been to the doctor." Candy answered. "Why did you ask me?"
"I have noticed you protecting your belly lately and you have been sick in the morning quite a few times in the last two weeks. When were you going to tell me?" He inquired.
"When we got home from Olympia." She told him.
Jeremy sat up and lit the lantern on the bedside table. Candy sat up in the bed.
"What if we didn't make it home? Were you going to let me die without knowing about our baby? And what about the baby? Were you just going to kill him?" Jeremy barked.
Candy gasped and put her hand to her face as if Jeremy had slapped her. She burst into tears as she jumped out of the bed.
Candy ran out of the bedroom and out of the cabin dressed only in her pantaloons.
"Oh, hell! Candy! I'm sorry! I didn't mean what I said! Come back, please!" As Jeremy was calling to her, he leapt from the bed and ran fast after her. He was dressed in his longjohns.
Jeremy kept yelling for Candy to stop as he ran after her. She kept running. The rain was pouring and lightning was flashing every few seconds.
"Candy! Stop! I'm sorry! Please! You are gonna get hurt! Stop!" Jeremy shouted above the rain as he chased his wife down the street.
Candy ignored her husband and kept running. All at once, she fell, and she caught on her hands to avoid falling flat on her face and her belly.
Jeremy got to Candy immediately. "Are you alright, sweetheart?"
"Don't sweetheart me, Jeremy Bolt! You are a horse's tail! Asking me if I am going to kill our baby!" Candy cried.
"Candy, I'm sorry. I was wrong to say that. It came out before I thought and that was bad too. Please let me get you out of this weather. I know you would never hurt our baby." Jeremy said sweetly.
Candy allowed him to pick her up and run back to the cabin. He got her wet pantaloons off of her and dried her off.
As Jeremy was drying her in front of the fireplace, he stopped and placed his hand gently on her belly. Jeremy swallowed hard at the thought that their child could be inside her.
Their eyes met. The shadow of the firelight on her face made her look even more beautiful.
"Are you still angry at me?" He asked in a husky voice.
"No, I'm not angry, Jeremy. I want you so much I'm about to cry." She whispered.
Jeremy grabbed a blanket from the sofa and spread it on the floor. He stripped out of his rain soaked longjohns.
Jeremy and Candy made love on the blanket on the floor in front of the fire. When it was over, Candy held Jeremy in her arms.
"I love you and I'm sorry I called you a horse's tail." She spoke.
"I love you too and I'm sorry I acted like a horse's tail." Jeremy sighed as he drifted off to sleep.
When the young Bolt couple arrived in Olympia, they went to their hotel first. It had rained hard during their whole journey as it had done the previous few days. As they entered the hotel, the rain began to slack off significantly.
In their room, Jeremy told Candy that Joshua had his Will if something happened, and he didn't make it home. He said he had made arrangements for her and the baby to be provided for just in case.
The Bolts changed their clothes and then left the hotel. The rain had stopped so they walked to the Blue Rose Saloon. Jeremy was determined but he was still nervous. He had never deliberately set out to kill people before.
When they arrived, there was a large crowd of people outside and Marshall Trueaxe was there. Jeremy looked around and he saw Reverend Craig Carpenter.
Jeremy took Candy's arm as he guided her through the crowd to Craig.
"Hello, Craig. What's going on here?" Jeremy asked.
"Hello! Jeremy! Candy! It's nice to see both of you! We have a sad situation here, I'm afraid. Penny and Benny are dead. They were drowned in a freak accident." Craig said.
"F-F-Freak accident? What happened?" Jeremy tugged at the collar of his shirt.
"Somehow, Penny and Benny got locked in a closet in their adjoining room last night. Then because of all the heavy rain the past few days, the ceiling right over that closet fell in. The continued onslaught of rain poured into the closet until it was full of water, and they drowned." Craig advised.
"They drowned, huh? I mean, I'm sorry, that's horrible." It took all of Jeremy's strength not to smile.
"Yes, that is so tragic!" Candy hid her face in Jeremy's shoulder to conceal her laughter.
"There, there, dear." Jeremy tried to get his wife under control so he would not laugh along with her.
Candy gathered control of herself. "It really is sad, Craig. We are sorry. How did they get locked in the closet?"
"I'm not sure. Some of their buddies said that they searched all through the two rooms for the key, but it was no where to be found." He replied.
"Yes, Craig, losing family is always hard. You have our sympathy." Jeremy spoke. "Sweetheart, here is my handkerchief so you can dry your eyes."
Jeremy reached in his pocket and pulled out the handkerchief. As he handed it to his wife, it fell to the ground. Craig and Jeremy bent down at the same moment to retrieve it.
A key fell from Craig's pocket. Jeremy picked up the key and gave it to the preacher.
"Thank you, Jeremy." He put the key back in his pocket.
TBC