Searching For Jeremy Bolt Chapter Sixteen
Jeremy had been in Doctor Wright's clinic for two days. He had not regained consciousness. Candy, his brothers, and Lottie kept watch over him.
Doctor Wright was unable to determine what Craig Carpenter had used in the injection that he gave Jeremy. Jason had given her the syringe containing the remaining substance.
"Doctor, do you think Jeremy can wake up and recover from this?" Candy asked as the physician was examining her husband.
"I'm sorry that I can't say for sure, Candy. But it seems to me that there should be some type of antidote for this substance. I don't suppose Mr. Carpenter gave any information regarding that, did he? I refuse to call a man like him Reverend!" She answered.
"I know what you mean. It makes me sick to think that he married Jeremy and me. No, he wouldn't give any information about that concoction. Aaron even offered him a lighter sentence if he would help Jeremy somehow." Candy replied.
"Well, it would certainly help if there was an antidote. However, how can we get an antidote, when we don't know what it is?' The doctor wondered.
Allyn Wright moved away from the bed. "There is no change, Candy. But don't give up hope. It's only been two days and Jeremy is a strong young man." The physician patted Mrs. Bolt's shoulder.
"Thank you, Doctor." Candy watched her leave the room.
A few minutes later, Jason and Joshua came into their brother's room. Each of them took a seat on either side of Candy's chair.
"No change." She told them.
Joshua patted her shoulder and Jason gave her a tiny kiss on the side of her face. They sat there silently watching Jeremy sleep.
After a short while, Jeremy stirred a little and murmured some unintelligible words. His wife and his siblings moved immediately to the side of the bed and sat on the edge.
"Jeremy, sweetheart, can you hear me? Please wake up. We are waiting for you, darling. Jeremy?" Candy pleaded.
Joshua ran to get the doctor. She came in and examined Jeremy again.
"He isn't waking up now, but his stirring and murmuring are good signs. I believe he will be conscious in a few days." Doctor Wright smiled.
Jeremy's family was overjoyed. The good news spread all over Seattle.
However, a few days later, the family was distraught. Jeremy remained unconscious. There had been no more stirring or murmuring. Doctor Wright encouraged them to remain hopeful, however, it was difficult.
One morning when Jeremy had been in the clinic for two weeks, Candy went into the doctor's office.
"Hello, Candy, is there a change in Jeremy's condition?" Allyn asked.
"No, I wanted to ask if you still think an antidote would help him and if he still has a chance to wake up?" Candy questioned tearfully.
The doctor got up from behind her desk. "Let's sit on the sofa, Candy."
The two women sat down, and the young wife and mother sobbed.
"I'm sorry, Doctor Wright. I'm so worried and so frightened. The baby and I can't lose Jeremy. And his brothers, poor Jason is getting more gray headed every day. Joshua is about to crawl out of his skin." The red head cried.
"I understand that waiting is frustrating and scary. Yes, Jeremy still has a good chance to recover. Certainly, an antidote would help." The physician answered.
Candy dried her tears with her handkerchief. "I'm so glad to hear that. I have an idea. Jeremy's brothers are with him. I will be back soon."
"Alright, Candy." Allyn wondered what her friend was planning to do.
After she stopped by Jeremy's room and told her brothers-in-law that she had an errand to run, Mrs. Bolt left the clinic and marched to the jail. Craig Carpenter was still there because Marshall Trueaxe was tied up in court in Olympia testifying on a murder case.
When Candy walked inside the jail, Lottie was there giving Carpenter his lunch. The lunches he received were not Miss Hatfield's usual fare. She had told him he was lucky she didn't poison him after what he had done to Jeremy. The madman laughed at her comment.
"Lottie, will you excuse us, please? I need to talk to this criminal." Candy inquired.
"Certainly, dear. I will be right outside." Lottie headed for the door.
"Lock the door, please, Lottie." Candy said.
Lottie cut her eyes back at Jeremy's wife. She knew the so-called preacher was about to come to Jesus.
"Amen!" She smiled as she locked the door.
"What do you want? If he hasn't woke up yet, I guess that means he's a turnip!" Carpenter laughed cruelly.
Candy pulled a chair up to the jail cell door and sat down. She leaned in close to the bars.
"Come here and bring that chair." Candy told him. "Sit down."
The man did what she said. "Now what?" Carpenter snarled.
"Now this!" Candy screeched.
She yanked her pistol from her purse and put it right in his face.
"You tell me how to get an antidote for that shot you gave Jeremy or I will kill you right now!" She shouted.
"Oh, please! That peashooter wouldn't hurt a fly." The prisoner laughed.
Mrs. Bolt aimed her gun at the mirror behind him and pulled the trigger. The mirror cracked instantly, and all the pieces fell to the floor.
"Well, uh, what did you want to know?" Craig Carpenter asked. He was scared after seeing her fire the pistol.
"An antidote for my husband, Jeremy. Something that will cure him, so he won't be unconscious forever or be a turnip!" Candy spoke.
"I think Grandmother might have a cure for that. However, I'm not sure what I used." Craig replied.
"There is still some of it in the syringe. Could she tell what it is by looking at it?" Candy inquired.
"I believe so. Grandmother is very knowledgeable about these things." He answered.
"Is it going to do any good to contact her? Or is she as mean and crazy as the rest of you?" Candy twirled her pistol on her finger.
"No, she is a truly kind person. Seriously, she would be happy to help your husband and she would be furious to know that I injured him like that." Craig responded. "Give me a pencil and paper. I will write down how to wire Grandmother."
Candy crossed the room to the desk and got a pencil and a piece of paper. She took them to Carpenter.
He wrote down his grandmother's name and address in Bridgewater. Candy took the paper and pencil from him.
She read what he had written. "Cynthia Carpenter 379 Taylor Street Bridgewater. Thank you. I warn you if she injures Jeremy or worse, both of you will pay. Well, you have hurt him, and you are going to pay, but if he is hurt any further, you will pay more severely."
"I know you don't believe me, but Grandmother is really a kind person. She will not cause your husband any additional harm." Craig replied.
After staring at him for a moment, Candy put the paper and pencil in her purse along with the pistol and left the jail.
Mrs. Bolt stopped by Ben's Store to send a telegram to Cynthia Carpenter. She was anxious to get back to Jeremy, so she asked Ben to let her know when there was an answer. Ben said he would get the response to her right away and that he would pray that Jeremy gets the help he needs. Candy thanked him and rushed back to the clinic.
Jason, Joshua, and Lottie were in Jeremy's room. The brothers were sitting in chairs. Lottie was seated on the bed. She was combing Jeremy's hair away from his face. Lottie lifted his head very gently and combed his hair on the back of his head. She placed his head carefully back on the pillow.
"I love you, Jeremy. Please wake up." The saloon owner whispered.
Candy knelt by the bed and stroked her husband's hair. She clasped his hand as she whispered, I love you, Jeremy. I think I have found a way to help you. I certainly hope so."
Lottie and the two oldest brothers looked at Candy excitedly
She told them about her conversation with Carpenter at the jail and about sending his grandmother a telegram regarding an antidote.
"I hope it works, Candy. It's time Jeremy woke up. I miss him so much. All of us do." Lottie said. "I'm going back to the saloon. Please let me know when you hear from the grandmother or if there is any change."
"We will, Lottie, I promise." Jason said as she left the room.
A half hour later, Ben dashed into Jeremy's room. "Candy! Jason! Josh! You got an answer from Mrs. Carpenter. She said she can determine the antidote for Jeremy, and she is leaving Bridgewater on the three o' clock stagecoach today traveling to Seattle."
"Thank The Lord!" Jason shouted.
"Jeremy is going to get well! Oh, thank You, God!" Candy exclaimed.
When Jason and Candy became quiet, they heard Joshua talking to his youngest brother. They and Ben turned and saw him kneeling by the bed.
"Jeremy, you are going to be fine, brother. You are going to be fine." Joshua stroked his brother's hair. He put his face on the side of the bed and wept.
Mrs. Carpenter arrived about five thirty that evening. Jason and Joshua met the stagecoach in front of Lottie's. The men took her in the saloon and introduced her to Lottie and explained the purpose of her visit. Lottie was thrilled to know that Jeremy was getting some help.
Mrs. Carpenter appeared to be a kind gentle lady. She insisted that everyone call her Cynthia. Lottie and the two brothers agreed
Cynthia wanted to take care of Jeremy right away so the three of them hurried to the clinic. After introductions with Candy and Doctor Wright, Cynthia examined the remaining substance from Jeremy's injection.
"Miss Cynthia, you have a very grim expression on your lovely face. I hope it doesn't mean that our brother is beyond help." Jason spoke.
"No, Jason, it doesn't mean that at all. This substance is strong, and it gradually eats away at the brain depending on the dosage. Thankfully, Jeremy did not receive the full amount." Cynthia replied.
"Do you have an antidote for it?" Candy questioned.
"Yes, I do. With the family's and the doctor's permission, I will administer it to Jeremy now." She answered.
"I don't understand something. Why do you have a drug or a substance as you call it that can destroy a person's brain? How do we know that we can trust you anymore than your grandchildren?" Joshua asked.
"This drug was not created to destroy a man's brain. It is a step in a process to create a medication that can destroy cells in the body that go awry and cause severe illnesses most of which lead to death. My father was a doctor, and it was his dream to create that medication. Sadly, he came down with the wasting away disease that he was trying to cure, and he died before he could finish his work. My son started out as a doctor but became a drug addict and he was lost. I don't know what happened to my grandchildren. They don't even seem to have come from my husband and me at all. I'm sorry and ashamed for all the pain and trouble they have caused you. I promise that I intend to help Jeremy." Cynthia explained.
"Thank you for explaining all of that, ma'am." Joshua told her.
While Mrs. Carpenter had been speaking, Doctor Wright had examined the substance and the antidote. She said she thought the antidote was fine.
All of them went into Jeremy's room. Cynthia sat on the side of his bed. She and Candy removed his longjohn shirt.
"This corrective must be given in his neck. He might cry out or be combative. Don't be alarmed. Jeremy will be fine." Cynthia advised.
Doctor Wright gave Jeremy the remedy injection. He tossed and turned and moaned a little.
Then he opened his eyes. Jeremy looked at all the people peering at him.
"Hello, Jeremy." Cynthia spoke.
"Hello, Mrs. Carpenter." Jeremy's voice was clear and strong.
Jeremy got out of bed. He was wearing his long john pants. He put on his long John shirt.
Everyone except Cynthia was so surprised to see such a rapid recovery that they didn't speak. Mrs. Carpenter was smiling.
"You know what to do, Jeremy." Cynthia told him.
"Yes, ma'am." Jeremy replied.
The youngest brother walked over to his wife. He reached inside her purse that was on her arm. Jeremy took out her gun and turned to point it at Jason.
Jason got up from his chair. He and Jeremy looked silently at each other.
"Pull the trigger, Jeremy! Finish what we doped you up for. I want revenge for my granddaughter, and I mean to have it!" Cynthia Carpenter shouted.
Jeremy turned to face the angry woman. "No, I'm not going to pull the trigger. You can't make me kill my brother."
"Why, you, backward Bolt bastard! I'll fix you!" She screamed as she lunged toward him with another needle.
Jeremy fired the gun striking Mrs. Carpenter between the eyes. She fell dead to the floor.
"Oh, damn!" Jeremy exclaimed. "I need to sit down. I killed a woman! I have never killed a woman before!"
Jason and Joshua helped their distraught brother into a chair. They took the body into one of the exam rooms.
Candy was in the corner of Jeremy's room crying. Lottie went to her and wrapped her in a hug.
Doctor Wright was checking on Jeremy. "How do you feel?"
"I feel sick, and I feel ashamed even though I know she would have killed me if I hadn't shot her." Jeremy covered his face with his hands.
Jason and Joshua returned to the room. They rushed to their brother.
"Jeremy, you had no choice. You had to do it." Jason said quietly.
"He's right, Jeremy. You couldn't let her kill you." Joshua added.
"I know. But k-k-killing a w-w-woman." Jeremy gulped.
"You would have been just as dead woman or man, Jeremy." Candy knelt by his chair.
"Yes, C-C-Candy. Are you okay? You aren't afraid of me, are you?" He asked.
"No, sweetheart, I'm not scared of you. You are not going to start randomly killing women." She replied gently. "I'm okay. I was frightened because I thought she was going to kill you."
A few days later, Doctor Wright released Jeremy from the clinic. Marshall Trueaxe picked up Craig Carpenter and transported him to the jail in Olympia. There was a burial service for Cynthia Carpenter in Seattle in the back of the church cemetery. The Bolt family and many others in the congregation attended.
Jeremy had a grueling time accepting the fact that he had killed a female even though it was self defense. He had trouble sleeping and eating.
Jeremy took walks at night to avoid keeping Candy and the baby awake. He lost so much weight that Lottie, his brothers, and his wife begged him to try to eat and to see the doctor.
Jeremy saw Doctor Wright, but he did not follow her advice so he continued to lose weight which he could not spare.
One night when he was on a walk, Jason and Joshua followed him without him knowing. They were going toward the old family cabin.
When the older siblings made their presence known to him, Jeremy tried to run from them.
"Where do you think you are going, brother? You can't get away from us on our own mountain!" Jason shouted.
Jeremy knew that Jason was right. He was too weak and too tired from lack of food and rest to run far as well. He had to sit down on the side of the path and wait for them to give him a ride.
Joshua jumped from the buckboard as it rolled to a stop. He picked up his brother and laid him on a blanket in the back of the wagon.
"Giddy up!" Jason told the horses and they traveled on to the cabin.
When they arrived at their childhood home, the two oldest men walked to the back of the vehicle. They held up lanterns and gazed at their baby brother.
As Jeremy shielded his eyes from the light, he noticed that Jason had been crying. Joshua looked perturbed.
Jeremy started to get up. Jason reached in and lifted him out of the wagon.
"It's alright, brother, I've got you. "The big lumberjack spoke kindly.
Jason carried Jeremy inside with Joshua walking ahead to open the cabin door and light the lanterns in the front room. Jason placed Jeremy on the sofa while Josh lit the stove.
"Lottie sent some of her great stew, Jeremy. All of us want you to eat some, okay? Please, Jeremy, we are seriously worried about you." The blond Bolt said.
Jason was covering Jeremy with a blanket as Joshua spoke. "Yes, Jeremy, we are very afraid for you." He remarked with a ragged breath and shuddered.
Jeremy's heart ached for his brother. "J-J-Jason, why are you so afraid about me not eating or sleeping for awhile?"
Jason pulled up a chair close to the couch and sat down. He tousled Jeremy's hair.
"Brother, it's been much longer than awhile. I don't want to upset you but you realize that people can die if they don't eat or sleep enough." Jason told him carefully.
"Yes, I know that. Why are you so upset, Jason? I'm worried about you." Jeremy said calmly.
Jason was shocked. "Why am I upset? Because I don't want you to die. That's the reason I'm upset." He inhaled deeply to keep from shouting.
The Bolt brothers were quiet for a few minutes. Joshua was watching the stew on the stove and keeping an eye on the biscuits in the oven.
Jason started to speak to Jeremy again. However, he changed his mind.
"Josh, come sit with us for a bit, please. I wanted to ask Jeremy, but I just can't bring myself to say the words. Hopefully you can do it." Jason requested.
Joshua crossed the room and took a seat next to Jason. He swallowed hard before he asked a question.
"Jeremy, uh, well, uh, do you, are you, well, uh…." Joshua babbled.
Jeremy was perplexed. "Just ask me, Josh."
"Okay. Jeremy, are you trying to kill yourself?" Joshua asked softly.
"No! I wouldn't do that!" Jeremy exclaimed. "Is that why Jason has been crying?"
"Yes, brother, it is! You have me deathly afraid. No pun intended. Jeremy, you must eat and sleep or you are going to die whether you mean to or not." Jason replied seriously.
"I have just been too distraught to eat or sleep enough." Jeremy told them.
"Jeremy, you know that woman was going to kill you! You had no choice! Aaron said it was self defense and Marshall Trueaxe agreed. Can't you forgive yourself even though you didn't do anything wrong?" Joshua asked.
"I'm trying. I really am. However, there is something neither of you know." Jeremy sat up on the sofa.
The youngest brother was quiet for a few moments.
"Go on, Jeremy, you can tell us." Jason encouraged.
"This is a terrible thing to say, Jason. But I have to let you and Joshua know because it is the main reason, I haven't been able to eat or sleep." Jeremy turned his head and looked out the window.
Joshua sighed deeply. "Jeremy, please tell us. We will help you no matter what it is."
Jeremy gazed at his brothers. "The injections that I got have had a lasting effect. Sometimes I get the urge to kill you, Jason."
Jason felt like he had been kicked in the stomach. "I don't know what to say, Jeremy."
"That's the reason you have been so distraught. That and Mrs. Carpenter." Joshua said.
"Yes, I'm sorry, Jason. I don't want to hurt you. I would never hurt you. Jason, you, believe me, don't you?" Jeremy sobbed.
"Certainly, I believe you, Jeremy. I know you love me, and you would never do anything to injure me much less murder me." Jason replied.
Jeremy cried harder. "Hearing you say murder you makes me sick, Jason!"
The eldest brother sat down next to Jeremy and put his arms around him. Jeremy hid his face in Jason's shoulder.
"Everything is alright, brother. It's alright. I love you, Jeremy. It's okay." Jason comforted.
Joshua sat down on the other side of Jeremy and patted his shoulder.
"Jeremy, you resisted that urge when Mrs. Carpenter was speaking directly to you that day in the clinic. If you can do that, you can fight the urge in your mind." Joshua spoke.
Jeremy sat up. "Yes, I am resisting that awful impulse, Joshua. It is so hard at times. I thought my doing without sleep and food might weaken that urge somehow. I was wrong."
"It just made you weak. Jeremy, please promise Joshua and me that you will do your very best to eat and sleep like you should. Please. We can help you fight that impulse to kill me, but we can't keep you alive if you don't take care of yourself. Do you promise?"
"Yes, I promise. Will you promise me something?" Jeremy asked.
"No, we will not promise to kill you to keep you from killing me." Jason answered.
Jeremy groaned.
"It will be alright, Jeremy. You will see." Joshua told him.
Jeremy kept his word to his brothers. He began eating regularly and he got a good amount of sleep. He gained weight and his physical strength returned to normal.
Candy was thrilled that her husband was getting well and that he was happy again. They were enjoying life as a young family. Jenny was growing more beautiful everyday. She had her daddy wrapped around her little finger.
Very early one morning well before daylight, Jeremy woke up. He got up and got dressed quietly.
He kissed Candy and the baby. Both of them were still sleeping.
Jeremy got his gear and saddled Brownie. He left heading for his brothers' cabin.
Jeremy knocked on the door. The door opened.
"Jeremy! Is everything alright? Candy and Jenny aren't sick or injured, are they?" Jason asked. "Come on inside."
Jeremy walked into the cabin.
"No, my wife and daughter are just fine. I thought you might want to go hunting with me, Jason." Jeremy responded.
"Hunting, this early?" Jason questioned.
"Well, I woke up and I thought why not do some hunting. Get a jump on the trappers. And I thought you might want to go with me." The youngest brother explained.
"It sounds good to me! Let me wake up Josh." Jason took a step toward Joshua's bedroom.
"Jason, wait! Don't wake him. Let's just you and me go." Jeremy spoke. "Joshua won't mind this one time."
Jason stopped and looked back at Jeremy. "No, he won't mind."
The oldest Bolt got dressed and got his gear. He left Josh a note.
When they were leaving the cabin, Jeremy stepped aside to allow Jason to step outside first.
"Thank you, brother!" Jason flashed his dazzling smile.
Jeremy nodded at Jason and followed him out the door.
He watched his brother walk to the stable next door to get his horse.
Jeremy sighed as he felt that impulse. "Yes, Mrs. Carpenter, I know what I am supposed to do." He murmured.
Jeremy closed the cabin door behind him. He walked across the yard to Brownie.
As he and Jason were mounting their horses, Jason asked, "Do you have your shotgun ready, Jeremy?"
"Yes, it's ready, Jason." Jeremy replied. I'm ready this time too. He thought.
The two brothers rode up their mountain.
The End
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