Jeremy My True Love Chapter Three
Candy and Jeremy got dressed and went downstairs together. Jason and Joshua were sitting at a table in the kitchen. drinking coffee.
The storm was still going on and it was dark and dreary outside. The Barker Bolt gang was in the bar room drinking whisky and playing poker.
"Good afternoon! Candy! Jeremy! I hope both of you slept well. How are you feeling, Jeremy?" Jason said as he saw the couple come into the room.
Candy looked worriedly at her husband. "We have a big problem, Jason!"
"What do you mean problem, honey? And who is he?" Jeremy pointed at Jason.
"Please don't call me honey!" Candy gritted her teeth. "It makes my skin crawl."
"That's not the only part of you that can crawl." Jeremy smirked.
"Jeremy! We didn't have…oh, dear! Jason! Please help your brother. You too Joshua!" Candy sighed.
"Joshua, it seems that Jeremy has amnesia. It will pass in a week or two, Candy. We just have to be patient with Jeremy." Jason spoke.
"This is not ordinary amnesia, Jason. Ask your brother his name." Candy requested.
Jason shrugged wondering what his sister-in-law was talking about.
He looked at Jeremy, "What's your name?"
"Jeremy Bolt. I don't go by Barker like my brothers. I go by Bolt because that's our father's name. Mom and Dad got a divorce, not me." Jeremy answered.
Jason was stunned. He got up from the table and crossed the kitchen to his brother fast.
"No, Jeremy! You are a Bolt! You belong to me and Joshua not those outlaws! Those criminals!" Jason declared. "Jeremy, you realize that you are ours, don't you? Please, brother, Josh and I can't live without you. Please."
"Well, Jason, is that your name? What you said is heartfelt and I'm sort of flattered, I guess, that you and your brother want me as your brother. However, I don't know you. Billy and Wally are my brothers." Jeremy replied.
"No, Jeremy. You have to believe me! You are my brother!" Jason shouted.
"Now, look! I'm trying to be kind about this! But yelling at me like I'm some kind of a kid, isn't the way to talk to me or try to convince me of anything!" Jeremy shouted back.
Suddenly Doctor Wright stormed through the kitchen door. "Have you forgotten that Lottie had surgery less than twenty-four hours ago? You brothers are disturbing her with your shouting. Shut up and keep quiet! I will not have you Bolts kill Lottie with your stubbornness and your temper!"
Jason and Jeremy hung their heads for a few moments. "We are very sorry, Doctor. We got carried away with ourselves. It won't happen again." Jason apologized.
"I'm sorry too, ma'am. I won't upset the lady anymore." Jeremy responded.
"Well, alright, then." Doctor Wright started to leave the room.
"Just a moment, Doctor. Could you take another look at Jeremy, please?" Candy asked. "He woke up with amnesia."
Jason told Allyn about Uncle Jacob and the two Jeremys. Candy told her about Jeremy's behavior when they woke up.
Jeremy allowed the physician to examine him. The doctor said that the recovery would most likely be the same as the recovery from ordinary amnesia. There was not anything to hasten the return of Jeremy's normal memory.
"Allyn, Jeremy will get well and remember that Josh and I are his brothers and that he is Candy's husband?" Jason asked in a hoarse voice.
"Yes, Jason, he will. Don't worry. You either, Candy. I must get back to Lottie." Doctor Wright left the room.
"I will be leaving now." Jeremy told Candy, Jason, and Joshua.
He headed for the kitchen door.
"No! Jeremy, please don't leave! Isn't there anything I can do to convince you that you are not Uncle Jacob's son?" Jason begged.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to upset you. But you two are not my brothers. Can you help him understand this, Joshua?" Jeremy asked as he walked out of the kitchen.
"I'll try to help him adjust to life without you, Jeremy because you are our brother." Joshua called after him.
Candy ran after Jeremy. "Wait, sweetheart, please! I'm going with you!"
Jeremy stopped and turned around. "What? I told you earlier that we are not married. Miss, you can't go with me. My family is bad. I'm bad. You don't want anything to do with us."
"Jeremy, didn't you hear the doctor say you have amnesia. That means you have lost your memory for awhile. You are my husband, and you are not bad. You are my true love, Jeremy Bolt. I will not let you go." She hugged him.
The young outlaw didn't know what to say. "Well, I'm going first to see my mama. You can go with me to visit her. After a few days, you should come to your senses and want to come home. Listen, if you're going with me, I expect certain things at night." He raised his eyebrows at her.
Candy smiled. "I am your wife. I want to please you at night and other times as well, darling."
Jeremy chuckled. He liked the way she responded to him.
"Okay then. What's your name? Kelly?" He asked.
"Candy, my name is Candy." She answered.
"Alright, Candy. Let me speak to Billy and Wally a minute. Then we will leave. Oh, you need clothes and stuff. Women always need things. Go pack kinda fast, okay? I'm anxious to see my mama." Jeremy told her.
"Yes, Jeremy, I will hurry." Candy was happy that he was letting her go with him. She rushed upstairs to pack for both of them.
Jeremy approached Billy and Wally. "Hello. I'm going to see Mama. That girl, Candy insists that we are married. She is going with me. Is Mama alright? It seems like a long time since I saw her."
"Yeah, Mama is fine. She will be happier than spit to see you. She talks about you all the time." Billy replied. "You been living here with our cousins for a long time. You thought you were their brother." Billy explained.
Jeremy pondered what Billy said. He couldn't remember anything beyond waking up with the lovely red head this afternoon.
"How long have I been with these cousins?" He asked.
"About two years," Wally lied. "We think Jason and Joshua got you somehow right before they went to New Bedford to get all those girls that live here now."
Wally was taking advantage of Jeremy's amnesia by lying to him about how long he had been with Jason and Joshua. He wanted Jeremy to be more confused about what was true and what was false.
"Yeah, the red-haired girl who says she is your wife is one of those girls." Billy added. "Jason brought them to Seattle to marry his loggers."
"You and the pretty girl who claims to be your wife fell in love on the voyage home, little brother. You could do a lot worse." Wally grinned.
"I don't remember any of that." Jeremy frowned. He wondered how he could forget a woman as beautiful as her.
Candy packed their clothes and their things as fast as she could. She told Biddie that she was going with Jeremy. Biddie warned her to be careful. She said she knew Jeremy would never hurt her, but with the changes brought on by the amnesia, she needed to be mindful that he is not himself. Candy assured her friend that she would be on guard.
Candy checked on Lottie. Doctor Wright said she was doing well. No complications were expected. It would just take time and rest for her to recover.
The storm had ended. It was raining steadily but not hard. It was dreary and the sky was covered in clouds.
Jeremy and Candy left Seattle on their way to Bridgewater. Jeremy Bolt Barker's mother, Margie Barker, lived there.
As they were traveling in the buckboard, they were quiet for awhile.
"Miss, are you afraid of me?" Jeremy asked calmly.
"No, I'm not afraid of you, Jeremy. Should I be scared?" She asked.
"No, I don't mean you any harm. In fact, I kinda like you. It's just that sometimes ladies are afraid of men like me." Jeremy answered.
"Men like you?" Candy smiled.
"Outlaws, like me and my brothers." He told her.
"Well, I can't speak for Billy and Wally, but you have never committed a crime. You have killed a few men in self defense, however that's different." Candy touched his arm.
Jeremy inhaled sharply at her touch. She removed her hand.
"I'm sorry." Candy whimpered.
"Hey!" He said softly, "I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm sorry. It's okay for you to touch me, I'm just not used to it. Please don't be upset, Candy."
"Okay. Thank you for what you said and for calling me by my name. I like the way you say it." She smiled.
"You're welcome, Candy." He replied sweetly.
They rode on quietly for awhile. They reached Margie Barker's cabin just after dark.
They went to the door. Jeremy knocked and looked at Candy. She smiled to encourage him. She could see that he was nervous.
The door opened slightly, "Yes, who is it, please?" A soft voice asked.
"It's me, Mama. It's Jeremy." He spoke.
The door opened wide. A woman of about 50 stood there. "Hello, do I know you?" She asked.
"It's me, Mama. It's Jeremy." He replied tearfully.
She was flustered as she raised her hand to her mouth. "Oh! My baby boy! My Jeremy!" She said softly. "Come in, child, come in."
Jeremy stepped aside so Candy could go inside first. He closed the door as he went in.
Margie Barker opened her arms wide to her son. "Give Mama a hug, please, child."
Jeremy put his arms around her lightly as if he was afraid, she would break. She seemed delicate, fragile to him.
"I won't break, son," She said as if reading his thoughts. "You can give me a squeeze."
Jeremy embraced her a bit tighter. He sighed deeply. He relaxed and his mind rested from the conflicting thoughts that had been plaguing him.
Margie held her boy close. She rested her face on his shoulder for a few moments. Then she whispered in his ear, "I love you, child. I have missed you."
"I love you, Mama. I have missed you too." Jeremy replied into her shoulder.
Candy stood behind them smiling with tears shining in her eyes. The two of them were so happy together that it made her sad to know that their love was not real. Or was it, she wondered?
"Jeremy, who is this lovely young lady whom you have brought with you?" Margie asked as they ended their embrace.
"Oh, yes, Mama, her name is Candy. She is my, uh, my, wife." Jeremy responded. Jeremy placed his hand on Candy's back encouraging her to step forward.
The red headed Mrs. Bolt moved forward offering her hand to Jeremy's mother. "Hello, Mrs. Barker. I am your son's wife, Candy. I love him very much and I am blessed that he is my husband."
Margie studied Candy's face. "You love him deeply. I can see it in your eyes. That pleases me, young lady."
"Yes, ma'am, I love him deeply. Jeremy is my true love." Candy replied.
"That's wonderful, darling! You are so pretty! Isn't she pretty, Jeremy?" Margie looked at him.
"Yes, Mama, she is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen." Jeremy's eyes sparkled as he gazed at Candy.
Candy blushed as she thanked both of them.
The three of them had supper. The meal was stew with biscuits and apple pie for dessert. Candy was glad to see Jeremy eat a hearty amount. She was also glad to see him happy and relaxed. Candy prayed that he would stay like that and that it would help him recover his memory soon.
After supper, Jeremy asked Margie if he and Candy could stay for a few days maybe longer. Margie said yes that would be fine. She said she was tired of being alone so much and their company would make her happy.
Jeremy went to the stable to tend the horses while Candy helped Margie with the dishes. When he came back into the cabin, the ladies were finished. Jeremy tended the fire, and he began yawning.
"Time for bed, child." Margie told him. "You too, dear." She reached for Candy's hand. "Tommy knows." Margie said very softly.
Candy and Jeremy exchanged a glance.
"What did you say, Mama?" Jeremy inquired.
"I said it's time for bed, Jeremy." She responded.
"Yes, ma'am, but you said something after that. We couldn't quite hear it." He spoke.
"What? I don't remember saying anything else. Maybe I just murmured something. I'm tired too." Margie commented.
Jeremy shrugged. "I suppose so. We are going to bed. Do you need some help getting ready for bed, Mama? Candy will be glad to help you." He asked.
"No, thank you both. I can manage just fine." Margie Barker replied. "See you in the morning."
Candy and Jeremy told her goodnight and went into their bedroom.
"I've been thinking. I haven't treated you like a lady at times and I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I will sleep on the sofa if you want me too. You say we are married, and I believe you. But since I don't remember us being married, I thought you might feel more comfortable with me on the couch." Jeremy told her.
"I'm not angry about the things you said because you have amnesia. However, it was kind of you to apologize. Thank you. I want us to sleep together, Jeremy because we are husband and wife. Unless there is some reason you don't want to." Candy answered.
"No, there's no reason that I don't want to except if we do and I don't mean to sound like a jackass, but if we sleep together, I want so badly to make love to you. If it's okay with you. If you say no, that's fine. I would never try to force a woman into anything." He said.
"I want us to make love too, sweetheart. I will say I love you while we are having sex. If you say it, that's okay. But don't feel like you have to say it. If you don't, I will not be upset." Candy replied.
When their lovemaking was over, Jeremy held her in his arms. "I hope I get all of my memories back, Candy."
"Why, any particular reason, sweetheart?" She questioned.
"Yes, I want to remember every moment of being in love with a beautiful woman like you." He whispered.
Their eyes met and they shared a long passionate kiss. "I love you, Jeremy. You will remember loving me soon." Candy placed her head on his shoulder.
The next morning, the young couple ate breakfast with Margie. The three of them laughed and talked as if they had been together for many years.
Jeremy excused himself from the table to go chop some firewood. Candy and Margie got up to wash the dishes.
As Jeremy opened the door, Margie whispered, "Tommy knows."
The young man closed the door and walked over to his mother. "Mama, what did you just say? Please tell me."
Margie looked confused. "Did I say something? I'm not sure. Perhaps I was murmuring again or singing to myself. I do that sometimes, child." She gave him a tiny kiss on his cheek.
Margie walked over to the wash pan and began washing the dishes.
Jeremy and Candy looked at each other and shook their heads.
Two hours of chopping wood made Jeremy tired, achy, and sweaty. As he put the axe in the chopping block, he saw Candy coming toward him with some things in her hands.
"Let me help you, Candy." He told her. Jeremy got the towel and his clean work shirt from her. She was still holding the cup of hot tea.
"Thank you, Jeremy. Maybe I should hold your clean shirt while you drink the tea." She smiled.
Jeremy agreed and they swapped the cup and the shirt. He drank some of the tea.
"Hey! This tea has a little kick to it!" Jeremy grinned.
"Yep! I found a bottle of whiskey in Margie's cabinet while she was making her bed. I put a little in your tea. I figured you could use it after working so hard." Candy spoke.
"Thank you. That was kind of you." He sipped the tea.
"You're welcome, sweetheart. Now let me help you dry off and change your shirt. You are drenched in sweat, and it is cold out here. I don't want you to get sick. You get awfully sick with a fever. Better yet, let's go inside and do that. You shouldn't stay out here too long as sweaty as you are." Candy took his hand and started to lead him to the cabin.
Jeremy didn't follow her. He caught her arm lightly saying, "Wait, I want to tell you something first."
Candy went back to him. "Alright." She wondered what he wanted to say where Margie couldn't hear.
"Candy, I'm falling in love with you. I hope that's okay." He put his arms around her. She could feel his heart beating fast. The sweat on his shirt was soaking into her dress. She caught the scent of whiskey on his breath as he kissed her hard on her mouth.
"Jeremy Bolt! I have never wanted you more in my life! Take me to bed this instant!" Candy breathed in his ear.
Jeremy swooped her up in his arms and stepped toward the cabin. He thought better of it and took her to the stable. There was lots of clean fresh sweet-smelling hay in the empty stalls. They went to a stall in the back.
There was laughter and tears and I love you from both of them as they expressed and fulfilled their passion for each other.
They fell asleep in each other's arms. A while later, Candy woke up when she heard Margie calling them to come inside for lunch.
"Jeremy, wake up, sweetheart! Margie is calling us to come inside." She shook him gently.
Jeremy woke up. Both of them got dressed quickly. Jeremy put on his clean shirt. They hurried to the cabin.
Lunch was quiet with little smiles between the young couple. At one point, Margie winked at them making Jeremy blush.
The rain began that afternoon. The ladies were doing some embroidery and Jeremy was reading a book. He had brought in some of the firewood and put the rest in the wood bin on the porch.
By supper that night, it was storming. The thunder and lightning made Margie nervous.
During the meal, Candy and Jeremy heard Mrs. Barker whisper "Tommy knows."
"Mama, why did you just say Tommy knows?" Jeremy asked.
"What, Jeremy? What did I say?" She was flustered. She picked up her coffee and was about to take a sip when a loud boom of thunder frightened her. Margie dropped the cup on the floor breaking it and spilling coffee.
"Oh, dear!" Margie fretted. Candy cleaned up the mess quickly and got her another cup of coffee.
Jeremy tried to ask her again. "Mama, what did you mean when you said Tommy knows a few minutes ago?"
Margie smiled at him. "Child, I don't know anyone named Tommy. I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about."
Jeremy sighed as he looked at Candy. She shook her head.
Later that night, everyone was asleep when Jeremy screamed, "Tommy! Move! Get away from there right now! Do what I'm telling you!"
Candy was startled by Jeremy's screaming. "Jeremy, wake up! You are having a nightmare. Wake up, sweetheart!"
Jeremy opened his eyes. "Candy, I had an awful dream. I was working and I was responsible for a crew of men and one of them got killed. It was horrible."
They got out of bed and sat down on the edge of it. Candy put her arm around her husband.
"It's alright, Jeremy. It was just a nightmare. It's over now." She rubbed his back.
Margie knocked on the bedroom door. "Are you alright, Jeremy? May I come in?"
"Yes, Mama. Come in." He replied.
Margie came in and sat beside him on the bed. "I heard you yelling. Are you sure you are okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. It was only a bad dream." Jeremy reassured her.
"A bad dream about Tommy." Mrs. Barker spoke. "Tommy knows."
"You said it again, Mama. You said Tommy knows. Who is Tommy and what does he know?" Jeremy asked.
Margie looked him in the eye. "Tommy is my husband's nephew. Tommy knows who he hired to kill Candy."
TBC
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