Starting Over Chapter Four
It was well after closing time when Jason, Joshua, Aaron, and the other men returned from Rock Canyon. Most of them went to Lottie's for a drink. Miss Hatfield said she would serve them as long as they didn't disturb her sleeping boarders. They managed to be reasonably quiet.
"Lottie, how are Bethany and Jeremy?" Jason inquired as he poured shots of whiskey for Aaron, Joshua, and himself.
"They are alright, Jason. They slept through the afternoon. I got them to eat a little stew for supper. Allyn said that Bethany is showing improvement after skipping only two doses of arsenic." Lottie shook her head. "Can you imagine that sweet girl was willing to poison herself to save Jeremy? She truly loves him, Jason."
"Yes, she really loves him, Lottie. As do many of us." Jason sighed worriedly.
Lottie braced herself. "What's wrong, Jason? Oh, wait, I need to tell you, and Josh. Jeremy had a slight fever tonight and …."
"Fever! Jason! You know how sick a fever makes our brother!" Joshua started toward the stairs.
"Lottie, you said Jeremy was alright! You know it's impossible for him to be okay with a fever!" Jason boomed.
The bar owner took a deep breath. "Joshua, stop! Jason, be quiet!"
Aaron snickered as he watched the Bolt brothers obey Lottie like they were children.
"Aaron! Do you have something to contribute to the conversation?" Lottie inquired.
"No, ma'am." He replied blushing.
"Then what should you do?" Lottie asked sweetly but firmly.
"Be quiet." The sawmill owner answered sheepishly.
"That's right, Aaron." She smiled. "You're a good boy."
Jason leaned toward Stempel whispering, "Aaron, Ha Ha!"
Aaron cut his eyes at Jason as he took a sip of his beer chaser.
"Now, Lottie, please tell us about Jeremy having a fever. You know he usually gets deathly ill with a fever." Jason spoke.
"With emphasis on deathly." Joshua was standing next to Jason. He shuddered thinking of how many times they had thought their brother was going to die.
"Yes, I have been around for the majority of Jeremy's fevers. The Lord and I have had many conversations about those fevers. This is not one of those." She replied.
"Lottie, any fever Jeremy gets is one of those. It's part of him like his blue eyes and dark hair." Joshua told her.
"No, Joshua, you are wrong this time. Allyn was there. Ask her if you don't believe me." Lottie retorted.
"Let's all take it easy. We are tired. It's been a long hard day. Lottie, please tell us about Jeremy." Jason spoke calmly.
"The doctor said the fever was mild. She said it was due to all the anxiety Jeremy has experienced the past few days. Allyn told me to give him some feverfew tea which I did. She gave him a smaller dose of the sedative to help him sleep through the night." Lottie said tiredly.
"Has Jeremy slept through the night?" Joshua was concerned.
"Yes. So far, Josh." Miss Hatfield answered.
"Let's all go to bed. We are dead on our feet." Jason spoke.
"See you tomorrow, Bolt." Aaron called out heading for the door.
"Tomorrow Aaron. Thanks for your help and that of your men." Jason responded.
"Anytime, Jason, anytime." Aaron said from outside the door.
The loggers and the sawmill workers left after receiving thanks from Jason and Joshua. Lottie locked up and the three of them went to Jeremy's room.
The trio tiptoed to the bed. Bethany and Jeremy were sleeping peacefully with their arms intertwined.
Jeremy appeared so peaceful that Jason dreaded even more telling him Holiday's dying words about Candy. Placing his hand gently on his youngest brother's forehead, the eldest Bolt was relieved to find that the fever was gone.
Jason looked at Joshua and smiled. The blond brother sighed heavily. When they were back in the hall, Lottie whispered, "I told you so."
They said goodnight as they went into their rooms for the night.
The next morning, Jason knocked on Joshua's door. When the blond brother opened the door, he went into the room and sat down in one of the chairs.
"I guess you've ready to tell Jeremy what Rafe said about Candy." Joshua spoke.
"I'm not sure, Josh. I know we have to tell him, but I'm wondering if we should wait at least a few days perhaps. Lottie was right last night when she talked about all the anxiety our little brother has had recently. And for it to cause him to have any degree of fever is frightening." Jason explained.
Joshua yawned as he put on his shirt. "And you are figuring more bad news will mean more anxiety which could cause him to have a higher fever."
"Yes. Does that sound foolish, Josh? You can tell me. Am I being skittish like a little old lady about Jeremy having a fever?" Jason worried.
"No, it's not foolish." Joshua spoke softly. "There is no such thing as skittish when it comes to Jeremy and a fever. We have come so close to losing him so many times." The brothers looked at each other with tears in their eyes.
"We agree then about waiting at least a few days to tell him about Candy." The oldest sibling commented.
"Agreed!" Joshua responded.
Before going downstairs for breakfast, they stopped by Jeremy's room. Bethany and her husband were sleeping soundly. Young Bolt had no fever.
As Jason and Joshua were enjoying their big breakfast, Biddie came into the saloon. She scanned the room and appeared to be relieved when she saw the Bolts.
"Good morning, may I join you, please?" She asked approaching their table.
Both men stood up. "Good morning, Biddie! May I say you look lovely this morning!" Joshua gushed as he pulled out a chair for her.
"It's very nice to see you, Miss Cloom." Jason smiled. "Sit down please."
Biddie sat in the chair Joshua offered. "Thank you both for being such kind gentlemen."
"You're welcome, Biddie." Joshua said. "Would you like some breakfast?'
"Oh, no, thank you. I need to talk to both of you about Jeremy." Biddie replied. "We need to go into the back room. This is private and very important."
Jason and Joshua exchanged a puzzled glance. They walked into the back room with Biddie. Lottie was in there. Biddie said she could stay and hear what she had to tell the Bolts.
The two women and the two men sat down at the table. Biddie was quiet for a few minutes and she seemed unsure as to how to begin.
"This is really Jeremy's business but with everything he has been through along with Bethany the past few days and now he has been sick with a fever, it just didn't seem right for me to tell him first. That's why I want to tell you first . Then you can decide the best way to tell him." Biddie said.
"Alright, Biddie. What is it that you want to tell us?" Jason asked.
"I'm breaking my word to Candy but it can't be helped. With everything that is going on and after that horrid Mr. Holiday terrorized me the other night and then left saying he would find Candy, I have no choice but to tell you." Biddie sighed.
"Tell us what, Biddie?" Joshua asked quietly.
Biddie looked at Lottie with tears in her eyes. "Oh, Lottie! I hate to break my word to Candy! I promised her! But I have to tell. I truly have too! Jeremy must know!"
"Biddie, this is not a piece of gossip, is it?" asked Lottie.
"No, Lottie! I would never be this concerned about gossip. Good heavens!" Biddie exclaimed.
"You are right, Biddie. I'm sorry. You would never consider breaking your promise to Candy if it wasn't serious. And for you to be so worried about how Jeremy is told, well, that means that it is especially important that he knows." Lottie encouraged.
"You're right, Lottie. I'm going to tell you all. When Candy left to go back to New Bedford, she had recently learned that she was two months along with Jeremy's child." Biddie sobbed.
The room was silent. Lottie cast her eyes toward Heaven and prayed. Joshua hid his face in his hands. Jason stared out the window.
"Biddie, did Candy contact you after the baby was born?" Jason inquired.
"Yes, the baby is three months old now. Her name is Kathleen after Candy's aunt. Candy calls her Katie. She is healthy and beautiful. She has dark hair and big blue eyes. According to Candy, she looks just like Jeremy." Biddie answered.
"Jason! If Holiday…" Joshua exclaimed.
"I know, Joshua. That was my first thought when Biddie told us about the baby. Jeremy's daughter. Oh, my God!" Jason swore.
"Jason, what are you and Josh not telling?" Lottie was scared.
Jason leaned in toward the middle of the table. The other three did the same.
"What I am going to say doesn't go any further until Joshua and I tell our brother." Jason said.
The two women nodded in agreement.
"Richard Holiday died last night. Right before he passed, he said tell Bolt he will never find Candy." Jason spoke.
Lottie gasped, "Jason! That scoundrel was not above hurting a child. Did he say anything about the baby?"
"No, Lottie, he didn't. Joshua, our list of things to talk to Jeremy about has grown. I don't think we have the luxury of waiting now." Jason spoke seriously.
"You're correct, brother. How should we handle it?" asked Joshua.
"I believe the best way to handle this is for you and me to talk to Jeremy alone, Josh. Then if you don't mind, Biddie, Jeremy could ask you about Candy and the baby. He is going to have a lot of questions. We realize you probably won't be able to answer all of them. However, if you would talk to him, please, and answer what you can for him." Jason explained.
"I think that's the best way to handle this, brother." Joshua remarked. "I also believe it would be good for Doctor Wright to be outside the room in case Jeremy needs her. Lottie, would you be out in the hall with the Doctor, please? Our brother is going to need all the support he can get."
"Yes, I will most definitely be there for my precious boy." Lottie answered.
"Jason, Joshua, I will be happy to talk to Jeremy. I want all of you to know that I actually begged Candy to tell him about the baby. I argued and I pleaded with her. She wouldn't budge. She said she didn't want Jeremy to marry her out of obligation. I argued that she and Jeremy still loved each other and both of them knew it. Then I said so what if they married out of obligation. There is no better obligation in life than a baby and Jeremy is such a fine handsome kind and loving man. Then I told her she must be crazy because any other woman in the world would take Jeremy any way that she could get him." Biddie told them blushing. "Perhaps I told you all a little too much of that conversation."
"That's alright, Biddie. We get what you mean." Jason smiled slightly. "Are you ready, Josh? Let's take Jeremy and Bethany some coffee."
"I'll get their coffee, Jason." Lottie left going to the kitchen.
"Jason, I will go to the hospital to ask Doctor Wright to come. I'll tell her what's going on. Can I tell her about….?" Biddie asked.
"Yes, Biddie you can tell Allyn about Rafe. Bu no one else." Jason replied.
"Right, Jason." Biddie hurried out of the room on her way to the hospital.
Jason and Joshua looked at each other as they both took a deep breath.
"Say a prayer, brother." Jason spoke.
"You got it, 's go!" Joshua told him.
As they walked into the bar room, Lottie came out of the kitchen with the coffee. Lulu had come in early and she had some coffee brewed.
Lottie gave Joshua the tray with the coffee on it. "You boys go ahead. I'll come upstairs when Allyn gets here and help you talk to Jeremy if you need me."
"Talk to Jeremy about what?" asked Jeremy as he came down the stairs.
"Oh, good morning, Jeremy! We didn't know you were awake! How are you feeling? How is Bethany?" Jason flashed his dazzling smile.
"Bethany's alright. Her skin is starting to lose that bluish tint. She is still asleep. She will,probably wake up soon. What do you and Josh want to talk to me about?" Jeremy asked.
Jason and Joshua glanced at each other and then at Lottie.
"Why don't you three go into my office to talk? All of you can sit on the sofa and you will have plenty of privacy." Lottie suggested.
"Privacy? Why do we need privacy? Jason, what's wrong? "Young Bolt was nervous.
"Thanks, Lottie! Come on, Jeremy, don't worry." Jason took Jeremy's arm guiding him toward the office.
"Josh, please tell me what is going on!" The youngest brother was frustrated. "My nerves have been sort of frazzled this week, you know."
"Try to stay calm, Jeremy. We are going to tell you in just a minute. Follow Jason, please." Joshua responded.
Jeremy sighed worriedly as he walked behind his oldest brother. As they entered Miss Hatfield's office, Jason let go of his brother's arm. Joshua set the tray of coffee on the table in front of the sofa. Jason walked to the other side of the room. He looked out the window.
Jeremy sat down on the sofa. Joshua brought him a cup of coffee.
"Thanks, Josh." He said taking a sip." What's with our brother"?
Before Joshua could answer, Jason turned from the window and walked toward the couch.
"I'm just trying to decide the best way to tell you what I need to say." Jason replied.
"Just say it, Jason. That's usually the best way." Jeremy spoke.
Jason sat on the couch. Jeremy was sitting between him and Joshua.
"Alright, brother. Yesterday, after Doctor Wright gave you the sedative and you went to sleep, Joshua and I gathered a large group of Seattle men. They were loggers and mill workers and Aaron. We went to Rock Canyon. Jeremy, we killed Holiday and his men. We killed him because he kidnapped Candy last year and almost killed you and Josh last year." Jason told him.
"We killed Rafe and his thugs because they kidnapped Bethany and scared her into taking poison to save your life." Joshua said.
"Okay, I agree with what you did. Are we going to be in trouble because of it?" Jeremy inquired.
"No, I contacted Marshall Trueaxe. He said it would be considered defending your life and Bethany's life. So there won't be any charges against us." Jason explained.
"Well, everything is alright. Why did you think it would be so hard to tell me that?" Jeremy wondered.
"Because that's not all, Jeremy." Jason spoke quietly looking him in the eye.
"Oh." Jeremy murmured. "What else, J-J-Jason?"
Jason hesitated for a minute. Jeremy glanced at each of his brothers.
"Go ahead, Jason." Jeremy swallowed hard.
Jason cleared his throat. "Right before Holiday died, he said tell Bolt that he will never find Candy."
Jeremy was puzzled. "I'm not sure what that means. Do you think he killed Candy? No, if he had known where she was, he wouldn't have had Bethany kidnapped. And he couldn't have gotten to her in one day and returned here. That's impossible. So Candy has to be okay."
Both of his brothers glanced at him and then dropped their heads.
"Don't you think I'm right?" Jeremy asked them.
"Yes, you are right about Rafe not having time to get to Candy this week but he had men working for him, Jeremy. It's possible that he could have had some of his men start searching for her when he found out she left Seattle." Jason advised.
"Yeah, I suppose that's possible. Her neighbor told the errand boy she was gone on a trip when I tried to send her that wire the other day. I hope that doesn't mean that one of his thugs got her." Jeremy pondered.
"Jeremy, there is something else we need to tell you. We found out from Biddie last night." Joshua put his arm around his younger brother.
"What is it, Josh? Has Biddie heard from Candy? Tell me." Jeremy gulped.
"When Candy left Seattle, she was…..." Joshua stopped speaking to look at Jason.
Jason nodded. "Go on Joshua, you are doing fine."
"You are scaring me! Please tell me, Joshua." Jeremy bit his lip.
"Take it easy, Jeremy." Jason patted him on the back.
Joshua took a deep breath. "When Candy left Seattle, she was two months pregnant with your baby."
The color drained from Jeremy's face. "What?!"
Jeremy stood up. He was a little wobbly. His brothers caught hold of his arms.
"Jeremy, are you sure you can stand okay by yourself?" Jason questioned.
"Yes, Jason, I can. Thanks." He replied.
Jason and Joshua let go of his arms. Jeremy crossed the room to the window. He gazed through it for a few moments.
When he turned to face his siblings, he said, "A father! I'm a father! That makes you two uncles! Candy left almost a year ago. She has had the baby by now."
"Yes, Jeremy, you have a three-month-old daughter. Her name is Kathleen after Candy's aunt. Candy calls her Katie." Jason spoke proudly. "Congratulations, brother!"
"Yes, congratulations, Daddy!" Joshua smiled.
"Daddy! My little girl will call me Daddy!" Jeremy grinned. "Wait a minute….. will she ever get the chance to call me Daddy? Maybe Candy didn't tell me about the baby because she never wanted me to know. What if she is planning to marry one day and let Katie think the husband is her father? I knew Candy wasn't in love with me anymore, but I didn't think she hated me." Tears streamed down Jeremy's face.
"Jeremy, she doesn't hate you. She told Biddie that she didn't tell you about the baby because she didn't want you to feel obligated to marry her." Jason explained.
"I know you're right, Jason. Still Candy should have told me. Even though we are not married, I have an obligation to Katie as her father and an obligation to Candy because she is my child's mother." Jeremy sighed. "The most important thing is that I love Katie."
Jeremy sat down on the sofa between his brothers. "I will send another wire to Candy today to tell her I know about the baby and to find out how they are doing. Hopefully, she has returned home by now. I still need to warn her about Holiday's thugs."
There was a knock at the office door. "Who is it?" asked Jason.
"Ben Perkins. I have a telegram for Jeremy. May I come in, please?"
"Yes, certainly! Come in, Ben!" Jason called out.
Ben opened the door and came into the room closing the door behind him.
"Good morning to all of you. Jeremy, this wire just came for you." Ben handed the message to Young Bolt.
Jeremy opened the telegram and read it. "Oh, hell!"
"What's wrong, brother?" Joshua inquired.
"This wire is from Matthew Dillon. He is the United States Marshall in Dodge City, Kansas. He is Candy's Aunt Kitty's sweetheart. Last week Candy wired her aunt that she and the baby were coming to visit her this week. They were supposed to arrive yesterday. They didn't show up. And so far today, they haven't arrived. Matthew asked if any of us here in Seattle have heard from Candy in the last few days." Jeremy told them.
The Bolts and Ben exchanged worried looks. Jeremy ran his fingers through his hair.
"Jeremy, I can wait here while you write out your response if you want me too." Ben offered.
"Thanks, Ben. That's kind of you. J-J-Jason, I'm scared! Matthew said he sent wires to the stagecoach offices and the train depots on the route. There haven't been any accidents or robberies to make them late. If Candy changed her mind about going, she would have let Miss Kitty know." Jeremy put his face in his hands and sobbed.
Jason and Joshua hugged their brother tightly.
"We will find them, Jeremy. They will be alright." Jason soothed.
"They are gonna be fine, brother. You'll see." Joshua comforted.
"What if one of Holiday's thugs killed them? What if they are dead?" Jeremy put his head on Jason's shoulder and cried harder.
Stay tuned….