Only Money Chapter Three
"Oh, Jeremy!" Candy whispered. "I love you. Don't move, sweetheart. Let me hold you, please. I'm praying that I will soon be carrying your child."
"I hope so, Candy. I love you and I want us to have a big family." Jeremy spoke softly.
The young couple lay quietly for a short time.
"Jeremy, I'm hungry. I don't want to go downstairs. Will you get me a sandwich, please? Lottie won't mind if we eat in the room." Candy said.
"Sure, sweet girl! I will be happy to get you some food. I think I'll get me something too. Making babies makes me hungry!" Jeremy winked at her and smiled.
He got out of bed and put on his clothes.
"Jeremy Bolt!" Candy laughed as she tossed her pillow at him.
Jeremy laughed as he caught the pillow. "Pillow fight or eat?"
"Eat! I'm starving!" She said.
"Yeah, I wanna eat too! I'll be back in a few minutes." He tossed the pillow on the bed and left the room.
When he got downstairs, Jeremy saw that the bar room was empty. That seemed strange since it was only eight thirty. Lottie was behind the bar.
"Hi, Lottie. Where is everybody? It's kinda early for your place to be empty." Jeremy wondered.
"I'll explain that to you later, Jeremy. I imagine that you and Candy are hungry, aren't you? After all that romance!" Lottie smiled.
"Aw, Lottie!" Jeremy blushed. He looked at his boots.
"Don't be embarrassed, sweetheart. I'm like your Mama." Lottie told him.
Jeremy looked up at her with a grin on his face. "Yes, you are, Lottie. You are very special to me and to Candy. And you are also right in thinking that we are hungry. May we have some sandwiches, please?"
"You sure can, Sugarbritches! How about roast beef?" She asked heading toward the kitchen.
"Roast beef sounds great, Lottie." Jeremy replied following her into the kitchen. "What can I do?"
"Just have a seat, sweetheart. I can do this. It won't take long. One sandwich for Candy and two for you, right?" She asked.
"Yes, that's right. I will probably end up eating part of Candy's too. She has a dainty appetite." Jeremy was lost in thought for a moment. "I love her so much, Lottie. I never thought that being married would be like this. If anyone ever hurt her or if something bad happened to her, I couldn't bear it, Lottie. I truly couldn't." He looked at Lottie with tear filled eyes.
Lottie put down the knife and the bread she was holding. She hurried across the room to Jeremy. She took his hand, and he stood up from his chair.
Lottie embraced him as sobs shook his body. "It's alright, sweetheart. It's alright. Candy is going to be just fine. Don't worry, Jeremy. She will be fine." Lottie spoke gently.
Jeremy ended their embrace as he stepped back. "You said she will be fine, Lottie. Isn't Candy alright, now? What's going on? There's a reason the saloon is empty so early. What is it? Please, Lottie. Tell me."
Jeremy gazed at her as his body shuddered with one last sob. He folded his arms across his chest and waited for her response.
Lottie studied him for a moment. "Alright, Jeremy. I will explain it to you. I have to tell you sometime soon. I suppose it might as well be now. Let's sit down at the table."
They sat down opposite of each other across the table. Lottie held Jeremy's hand.
"Do you remember that Candy was shot before you and she came here?" Lottie asked.
Jeremy frowned as he tried to remember. "I sort of remember but not really. If that makes sense."
"Yes, sweetheart, it makes sense." Lottie replied
She quickly told Jeremy what had happened to Candy and then to him before they got to the saloon.
"Now, I remember better. But, Lottie, we are okay. Both of us recovered." Jeremy replied.
"Jeremy, you and Candy haven't gotten well yet." Lottie told him gently.
"What are you talking about, Lottie? We feel great! You commented yourself about all of our romance earlier." Jeremy was puzzled.
"The two of you feel great here, sweetheart. It won't be the same when you go back." Lottie sighed as he made his scrunchy face at her.
"Do you mean when we go home to our cabin? Why would we feel any worse there than we do here? I'm confused, Lottie." He spoke.
"I know you are confused, precious. I'm going to explain things to you. I want you to listen carefully, Jeremy. And please believe me. No matter how strange it sounds, it's very important that you believe me." She told him.
"Alright, Lottie. Go ahead." Said Jeremy.
"Okay. Where we are right now, you, and Candy, and me, this looks like my saloon. However, it is not my saloon. It is Heaven's waiting room." Lottie explained.
Jeremy leaned forward squinting at her. He sniffed a few times. Then he sat back in his chair chuckling.
"You haven't even had one drink! What in the world is going on, Lottie? Heaven's waiting room! Did Josh put you up to this? "He was suspicious.
"No, Joshua didn't put me up to this. I want you to believe me, Jeremy. It's important. You have to believe that this is part of Heaven so you can go back to your life and so Candy can go back to her life with you." She responded.
"Lottie if this was part of Heaven that would mean that you are an angel. Are you saying that you're an angel?" Jeremy was shocked.
"Yes, Jeremy, I am an angel. And I know your next question. An angel who runs a saloon? Yes, an angel who runs a saloon." Lottie answered.
Jeremy leaned back in his chair. He tilted his head to one side and smiled.
"I'm sorry, Lottie. I'm not convinced." He kept smiling.
"Jeremy Bolt! You get more like Jason everyday!" Lottie groused.
"Why thank you, Carlotta! I consider that a grand compliment!" Jeremy laughed at the scowl on her face.
"Jeremy, please, we have to be serious. I didn't want to bring this up because it is so painful for you. But I have to in order to convince you. You were five years old when your mother died. You remember that day very well, don't you?" She asked.
"Of course, I do, Lottie." Jeremy gulped.
Lottie reached across the table and clasped his hand. "I was there that day, sweetheart, when your mama died."
"What? How, Lottie?" Jeremy was incredulous.
"I'm an angel. I heard what your mother said to you before she passed. She told you that she loved you and then she said she did some tall praying when you were born. You asked why. Maggie explained that you were born sooner than you were supposed to be and you were very small. She told you she did the tall praying asking God to let you live." Lottie told him.
There were tears streaming down his face. "That's right. That's what Mama told me. I believe you, Lottie. You are an angel, and this is Heaven's waiting room."
"I'm sorry I made you cry, Jeremy. But it was necessary." She squeezed his hand.
"It's okay, Lottie. That's what I get for being so much like Jason." He smiled sadly. "What are Candy and I supposed to do?"
"You just have to return to the clinic tomorrow morning before the sun comes up. Jeremy, Candy is going to be weak and fragile for quite some time. She is going to need extra love and care." Lottie answered.
Jeremy looked frightened. "Lottie, I will love her and take care of her the very best I can. But I'm worried. Is she dying?"
"No, sweetheart, Candy is not dying." She answered.
Lottie gazed intently at him. Jeremy's jaw dropped.
"Me? Am I dying?" Jeremy inquired. "Wait, no, I'm not dying. You said I would be taking care of Candy, I'm confused again, Lottie."
"When you and Candy first got here, it looked as if both of you were dying. But this is not the time for either of you so both of you are going home." Lottie explained.
Suddenly a thought occurred to Jeremy. "The people at home think we are dying, don't they?"
"Yes, they do." Lottie spoke quietly.
"Oh, no! Poor Jason and Josh! Poor Biddie! Wait! Are you there too? You can't be in two places at once." Jeremy commented.
Lottie smiled. "That's why I go upstairs a lot."
Jeremy grinned. He and Lottie got up from the table. She made the sandwiches and put them on a plate. She got some cups and a pitcher of milk. She set all the items on a tray. Lottie handed the tray to Jeremy.
As he took the tray from her, he said, "I love you, Lottie. Candy loves you too. Thank you for helping us. Goodnight."
"I love you kids too. Goodnight." Lottie responded.
Jeremy figured Candy would be asleep since he and Lottie talked for so long. When he went into the room, she was still awake.
"That was quick. Let's eat, I'm starving!" She smiled.
They ate the sandwiches and drank the milk. Then they went to sleep holding each other.
Early the next morning while it was still dark, Jeremy and his wife got up and got dressed.
Jeremy carried Candy in his arms to the door of the clinic. He set her on her feet and opened the door. He took her arm and guided her down the hall to her room. She got into the bed. Jeremy gave his wife a tender kiss on her lips.
He left Candy's room heading to his room a few doors down. When he got to his room, he laid down on the bed. Jeremy was so tired he did not see his brothers asleep in chairs close to the bed. He went right to sleep.
A few hours later, Jeremy began murmuring as he woke up. "Lottie? Lottie, did we make It? Lottie? Where are you?"
Jason was sitting on the edge of his brother's bed. "Lottie, Jeremy wants you. He's calling for you. Please, Lord, let him be waking up!"
Lottie left her chair and knelt by the bed. "Here I am, sweetheart. How are you feeling, Jeremy? Can you hear me?" She stroked his hair.
Jeremy opened his eyes and looked at her. "Did Candy and I make it back from Heaven?"
"Heaven?!" Joshua was alarmed.
"Take it easy, Josh. It's his fever talking." Jason whispered.
"No, not my fever. We were in Heaven with Lottie. She's an angel." Jeremy reached for Lottie's hand.
She took Jeremy's hand as she whispered, "That's our secret, Precious. You aren't supposed to tell anyone."
"I'm sorry!" Jeremy whimpered. "You aren't angry at me are you, Lottie?"
"No, I'm not mad at you, sweetheart. Don't be upset." She spoke softly.
"Thanks, Lottie." Jeremy smiled.
"Jeremy, you need to go back to sleep to get more rest. Your fever seems to be gone but you're not completely recovered yet." Jason said as he touched his brother's forehead.
"I wanna see Candy. Is she alright? She is back in her bed too. I took her in her room before I came back in here." Jeremy told his oldest brother.
Jason cocked his head. "I wonder if the doctor gave you too much pain medication. Jeremy, I don't think you need to get up just yet. Candy is doing well. Biddie is with her."
Jeremy frowned at Jason. "I need to see my wife."
Jason and Joshua glanced at each other. "We can carry him on his cot to Candy's room, Jason." Joshua said.
"Yes, we can, Josh!" Jason replied. "Up you go, Jeremy!"
Jason and Joshua lifted the cot and carried their brother down the hall to see Candy. The older brothers placed the cot right next to Mrs. Bolt's bed. Jeremy felt better once he saw that Candy was sleeping peacefully. Jeremy convinced his brothers to leave his cot in Candy's room so he could be close to her.
Doctor Wright came in Candy's room to examine them. She said Jeremy's fever had broken and Candy was breathing easier.
Jason and Joshua wanted to get some fresh air after their sibling went back to sleep. Lottie agreed to sit with the young couple while they took a break.
Once they were outside, they each took several deep breaths. Then they stood quietly for a few minutes enjoying the early morning sunshine.
"Jason, are you going to tell Jeremy? I mean sometime later on when he and Candy have recovered." Joshua asked his elder brother.
Jason looked at Joshua. "I don't know. I suppose I should let him know that he and Candy came seriously close to dying. Jeremy has come close a few times over the years, but this was the worst. I was terrified, Joshua, absolutely terrified."
Joshua shook his head. "I know what you mean, brother! Then all at once, Jeremy starts to wake up and Candy begins breathing easily. And then, Jeremy says he and Candy were in Heaven's waiting room! Can you beat that?"
Jason chuckled. "Oh, I think that was one of our brother's fever dreams."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Jason. I remember one time when Jeremy was sick with a fever, he dreamed he was a famous chef." Joshua laughed.
Jason looked at his brother and smiled. "Let's go back inside."
Doctor Wright allowed Jeremy to leave the clinic after another week. Candy had to stay three more weeks to recover from her chest surgery. Jeremy moved in temporarily with his brothers.
A few days before Candy was released, Doctor Wright asked Jeremy to meet with her in her office. She also asked Biddie, Lottie, Jason, and Joshua to come. Jeremy was scared thinking the doctor was going to give them bad news about Candy.
"Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming to talk with me."Allyn Wright said as all of them took seats in her office. The Bolt brothers and Lottie sat on the sofa. Biddie sat in an armchair next to the doctor's chair facing the couch.
Jeremy took a ragged breath. "You have called us here to tell us that Candy is dying, haven't you, Doctor Wright?"
"No, Jeremy! Candy is not dying. I'm sorry I frightened you. She has a health concern that I want to talk to you about along with family and friends because it is important that all of you are aware of it." The doctor replied.
Jeremy was skeptical. "But she isn't dying?"
"No, Candy is not dying. She had Scarlett fever several years ago when she was in her middle teen years. It's not common for someone of that age to have Scarlett fever, but it happens. Usually young children are the ones who suffer from it. It seems that the fever weakened Candy's heart." Doctor Wright explained.
Jeremy was alarmed. Jason put his arm around Jeremy's shoulder.
"What does that mean, Doctor? Will it shorten her life? Will she be able to have children? Candy and I want children very much." Jeremy questioned.
"It won't take any years off her life and it shouldn't cause any problems with having children if she gets plenty of rest, tries to avoid anxiety, and takes good care of herself." Doctor Wright answered.
"When you say plenty of rest, you aren't talking about Candy being bed bound, are you?" Lottie asked.
"No, nothing like that, Lottie. I mean that she shouldn't work to the point of exhaustion. She should sit down and rest for a few minutes along during the day. Perhaps Candy should take an afternoon nap." The doctor replied.
"That sounds manageable Jeremy." Jason spoke.
"Yeah, Candy can do that. The question is will she do it? She's pretty stubborn at times." Jeremy told them.
"I have talked to Candy about all of this, Jeremy. I explained it is most important that she rest often. Also, I explained to her that she must be extra careful about not getting sick. Candy would not easily recover from a severe infection." Doctor Wright told him.
"I will take good care of her, Doctor Wright. I couldn't bear for anything to happen to her." Jeremy said seriously.
A few days later, Candy went home to her and Jeremy's cabin. Jeremy waited on her hand and foot. She told him he was treating her like a china doll.
"You are my beautiful living doll and nothing is going to hurt you or make you sick as long as I'm around. And I am going to be here forever!" Jeremy smiled that gorgeous smile that made her knees wobble.
"Oh, Jeremy! Every woman should be as blessed as I am to have such a wonderful husband!" She exclaimed as they sat down on the sofa. "I love you."
"I love you too, sweet girl. Promise me that you will take it easy. I want us to have the longest marriage in all the world." He kissed her gently on her lips.
"All the world?" Candy smiled. "I think I can do that!" She kissed him on his mouth.
That night when they went to bed, Candy sat up in the bed frowning. Jeremy was frightened by the look on her face.
"Candy, are you in pain, sweetheart? Please let me help you." He asked softly.
"No, Jeremy, I'm not in pain. I need to talk to you about something important. And I need to do it now." She answered.
"Okay, what is it?" Jeremy wondered.
"The man who shot me. I saw his face, Jeremy. I believe that's the reason I was shot." Candy told him. "A man came in wearing a mask. He was trying to rob the store. Ben Junior got in the man's way and the man shoved him. I ran to catch the baby before he fell. When I lifted him up in my arms, he reached over and pulled down the man's mask. The robber and I were face to face for a few seconds. Then he shot me in the chest. I fell and dropped Ben Junior. I'm afraid that he is going to come after me, Jeremy."
Jeremy wrapped his arms around his trembling wife. "I'm right here, Candy. I won't let anyone hurt you. They haven't caught that man. Hopefully he is gone for good and we will never hear from him again. I know he should be punished for attempted murder and attempted robbery. But if his escape keeps you safe, I say let him go."
Candy put her head on his shoulder. "I hate that Ben and Emily won't get justice if he escapes, but I agree with you. I just couldn't face him, sweetheart. I really couldn't do it."
Jeremy gave her shoulder a light squeeze. "Try not to worry, sweet girl. Hopefully you will never have to see him again."
They shared a tender kiss and drifted off to sleep. Both of them had pleasant dreams.
Two weeks later, Candy wasn't feeling well. Jeremy panicked insisting that she go see Doctor Wright. He also insisted that he go with her. Candy agreed with him.
After Candy's examination was completed, she and her husband were sitting in the doctor's office waiting for the results. Jeremy was nervously tapping his foot on the floor. Candy was biting her nails.
Doctor Wright walked into the room. She sat down behind her desk. After she studied the chart for a moment, she put it down. The doctor gazed at the young couple.
"I have a diagnosis." The doctor spoke.
Candy and Jeremy looked at each other. Jeremy held his wife's hand.
"Candy, you are pregnant! And there's more. Get ready. I didn't want to just blurt this out. Jeremy, your father was a twin, wasn't he?" The doctor inquired.
"Yes, he and Uncle Duncan were twins. What has that got to do with Candy being pregnant? Oh no! Doctor Wright?" Jeremy broke into a grin.
"Jeremy! Oh, my goodness!" Candy exclaimed. "Twins?"
"Yes! Congratulations! You two are going to be the parents of twins!" Doctor Wright smiled.
The young couple had some questions particularly concerning Candy's heart condition. Doctor Wright assured them with good care and plenty of rest, Candy would have a normal pregnancy resulting in the births of two healthy babies. She also assured them that Mama would be fine too.
The next day when Jeremy returned to work, he was bursting with happiness. He and Candy had agreed that he would invite Jason and Joshua for supper tonight so they could tell them the wonderful news.
Biddie was staying with Candy on workdays to help her while Jeremy was gone. Biddie would be a guest at supper and learn of the twins then as well.
It seemed like a long day to Jeremy due to his excitement. Joshua asked him several times throughout the morning and the afternoon why he had a silly grin on his face. The youngest brother smirked each time saying just happy, I guess.
"That must be a fantastic supper that Candy has planned for us." Joshua replied during one of their conversations.
"Oh, that it is, brother. That it is!" Jeremy sounded as proud as a peacock.
Jason was sitting close by at one of the tables outside the office tent. He smiled at his brothers teasing each other.
Ben came riding fast into the camp. He jumped from his horse heading toward the three brothers.
"Jason! I got this wire from Marshall Trueaxe about twenty minutes ago. I got up here as fast as I could." Ben told him.
"What happened, Ben?" Jason questioned reaching for the telegram.
Ben handed him the wire. Jason read it twice. He inhaled sharply.
"Jeremy, they caught the man who shot Candy. His name is Brock Wagner. Yesterday, he robbed a bank in Tacoma and killed two people. One person was a teller. The other person was a customer." Jason paused.
"That's horrible, Jason. Candy and I realize that we are blessed that she nor anyone else was killed at Ben's." Jeremy spoke.
"That's not all that happened yesterday, Jeremy. After Wagner was arrested, he overpowered one of the deputies and escaped. He told the deputy that he was going back to Seattle to get the auburn-haired woman who could identify him. More deputies have searched for him between here and Tacoma since the escape. They haven't been able to find him." Jason said quietly.
Jeremy was terrified." J-J-Jason, I have got to get home now! I have to protect Candy and Biddie!"
"We are going with you, Jeremy!" Joshua shouted. "Swede! Corky! Sam! McGee! Come with us to Jeremy's cabin, please!"
The three brothers, Ben, and the loggers got in wagons or on horses and rode fast to Jeremy's home.
When they got there, Jeremy slid off of Brownie running like hell to the front door. Jason and Joshua were right behind him. They were afraid their brother was going to meet Wagner's gun as he charged through the door.
Jeremy slowed down as he got inside the cabin. He listened for a few seconds. It was quiet. He looked in the parlor and in the kitchen. Candy and Biddie were not in either room. Nothing appeared to be out of place anywhere downstairs.
Jeremy got his shotgun. Jason and Joshua each got one of his shotguns as well. The three brothers crept slowly up the back stairs from the kitchen.
As they got to the top of the stairs, they stopped to listen. It was quiet. They moved slowly down the hall with their guns ready.
Joshua looked in the washroom as they went by. There was no one in there.
When they got to Jeremy and Candy's bedroom, Jeremy slowly pushed the door opened. The three brothers were ready to fire their guns if necessary.
As the door opened wide, the Bolts saw that the room was empty.
Jeremy saw a piece of paper nailed to the wall. He walked across the room and took it down. There was a note written on the paper. Jeremy read it aloud:
Jeremy Bolt, I have taken your pregnant wife and her loud mouthed friend. I'm sorry that you won't see them ever again. I'm not really sorry but it sounds nice to say it. I really feel sort of bad that those babies won't get born, but, hell, what can I do? My life is more important to me than anyone else's so this is the way it's gotta be. Your wife said she loves you very much and not to blame yourself. And loudmouth said she loves Joshua, your brother. Brock Wagner
"J-J-Jason, he's gonna kill them!" Jeremy sobbed.
TBC