Jeremy's Child Chapter Eight
Joshua Bolt blinked several times. "Candy, is that you? Are you dead?"
"It's me, Joshua. As far as being dead, well, I suppose I am, but not really. Don't tell Jeremy I said that. He asked wouldn't I be dead and I told him no. I hated to lie but you know how upset he gets and I didn't want to hurt him." Candy answered.
"Where is Jeremy? He's not dead?" Joshua was suddenly afraid.
"No, but he is in a dangerous situation. You and Jason need to hurry to the old cabin to rescue us. Be sure to bring your shotguns. Warlocks are frightened of gunfire. I couldn't tell Jeremy because he would want to try to find a way to shoot the Warlock and he can't since he is being tormented by the fiend." Candy explained. "Plus Jeremy doesn't have his gun in the bedroom."
"I will wake up Jason and we will be at the old cabin as quick as we can." Joshua said. "We will bring our guns."
"Thank you. I put a spell on your horses. They will get the two of you there very fast." Candy replied. "I have to go. Jeremy is getting worried about me and the baby."
"Okay. See you soon." Joshua told her.
Candy left the brothers' cabin. She returned to her body without any trouble. Jeremy was asleep with his arms around her in spite of the continuing noise from the mirrors.
Candy whispered, "I'm back, Jeremy. Jason and Joshua will be here soon. I love you, sweetheart."
Jeremy murmured some unintelligible words and yawned a bit. Candy took his hand and placed it on her belly. She put her hand over his. He drew her a little closer to him and sighed.
Mrs. Bolt wasn't sure how long she had been asleep when she was awakened by gunfire. The next thing she heard was the booming voice of Jason Bolt.
"Jeremy! Jeremy! You and Candy take cover now! Joshua and I are about to shoot the door off the bedroom." He shouted.
The youngest brother woke up quick. He got Candy in the floor with him and turned the bed on its side in front of them. Then he shielded his wife with his body.
"We are ready, Jason!" Jeremy yelled.
"We hear you, Jeremy!" Jason shouted back. "We are going to shoot out those mirrors when we get in there, so stay down!"
"Stay down, got it, brother!" Jeremy hollered.
"Ready, Joshua?" Jason spoke loudly.
"Ready, Jason!" Joshua answered.
The two brothers blew holes in the bedroom door. They walked carefully into the bedroom being on guard for the Warlock.
When they did not see him, Jason and Joshua shot all of the mirrors in the room. Finally, the voices ended, and the torment was over.
"Candy! Candy, wake up! Wake up, Candy! Please!" Jeremy shouted.
Jason and Joshua rushed to their brother. They set the bed upright. Jeremy picked up his wife and laid her on the bed.
Candy's face was ashen. She opened her eyes.
"Jeremy, get me to Doctor Wright. I think I'm dying." She whimpered.
"Oh, no! Candy!" Jeremy cried.
Jason and Joshua hitched their horses to Jeremy's buckboard. The animals were still under Candy's spell. They practically flew back to town.
Doctor Wright examined Candy. Sadly, she confirmed what Candy had told her husband. She was dying. Leaving her body and returning had put a grievous strain on her heart.
Jeremy almost fainted at the crushing news. Jason and Joshua helped him sit down in a chair.
"Doctor Wright, there has to be something that can be done. I can't lose my wife and my baby. Seven babies, if our child dies, I will have lost s-s-seven b-b-babies." Jeremy was in despair.
"Wait, just a minute, please." Doctor Wright said. "I'll be right back."
Allyn hurried down the hall to her office. In a very short time, she returned to the exam room with a medical journal.
"I found it." She smiled as she laid the book open on a medicine cabinet.
The Bolt brothers felt hopeful. "What exactly did you find, Allyn?" Jason asked.
"In some cases, the tissue from an umbilical cord can heal a heart problem such as Candy's. There is no guarantee that it will work, however, it would be worth a try if we had some umbilical cord tissue."
Everyone was silent for a few moments. Doctor Wright placed her hand on Jeremy's shoulder.
"Jeremy, I was thinking about the possibility of delivering your child early and trying some of his or her cord tissue. The risks to the baby would be high since Candy is only in her sixth month. As you well know, a baby can survive if born in the seventh month. However, that is not an ideal situation and is also very risky. Plus with Candy's heart condition being critical, I'm not sure she could survive two surgeries." Doctor Wright explained.
Jeremy frowned. "From what you said, Doctor, it sounds as if Candy would die and it would be very likely that the baby would die too. So that plan is out."
"Doctor Wright, does the umbilical cord tissue have to come from a child of Candy's?" Joshua inquired.
"No, Joshua, it doesn't. Unfortunately, I have not delivered any babies so far this month. Also, none of the new mothers in our area kept any of the umbilical cord." Allyn spoke.
"I know where there is some umbilical cord or there used to be some there" Joshua responded.
"Where, Joshua?" asked Jason.
"At Sister Pauline's house. Lottie saved the umbilical cords from the births of Jethro and Jasper."
Jeremy smiled sadly at the mention of his deceased children. He cleared his throat before he spoke.
"I wonder if I could still find it since the house burned down. And remember what the young lady at the stagecoach office told us." Jeremy replied.
"Jeremy, I will take you to Sister Pauline's house." Biddie told him. "We can go right now if you want to."
Joshua had run back to the dormitory to get Biddie after they took Candy to the clinic.
"Thank you, Biddie." Jeremy replied. "Jason, will you stay here with Candy? Josh, will you go with us to help search?"
Both older brothers said yes. Biddie and the two youngest brothers left immediately by her traveling incantation.
Sister Pauline's house was a pile of charred debris. The three of them started digging.
"Biddie you can look into my sweet girl's eyes and see where I am. Can you see into all of this mess and find the umbilical cords?" Jeremy asked.
"I'm trying to do that, Jeremy." Biddie replied. "It's hard because there is so much. Eyes and hearts are much more transparent than metal and lumber."
When they had searched through all the remains of the home, Jeremy broke down crying. They could not find it. Candy was going to die.
Joshua gave his weeping brother a hug. "There's another way, Jeremy. You'll see."
"Thanks for your support, Joshua. You know this was the only possible remedy that Doctor Wright knew. I guess since we didn't find the cords, I could take a chance letting the Doctor deliver the baby to use that cord. I hate to play with the baby's live though."
"Well, not to be crass, brother, if Candy doesn't survive, the baby won't live either." Joshua spoke quietly.
"That's true. I have thought about that as our unsuccessful search has progressed. I guess I will have to take that chance." Jeremy said sadly.
"Yes, since it's the only chance Candy and the baby have." Biddie sobbed.
Biddie, Joshua, and Jeremy returned to Seattle. Everyone was heartbroken that the umbilical cords couldn't be found.
Jeremy had a long talk with Doctor Wright. They discussed delivering the Bolt baby. The doctor agreed with the young husband's reasoning.
"It still doesn't feel right to do that, Allyn." Jeremy worried.
Allyn Wright started to speak, but she changed her mind. She had a strange look in her eye.
"What is it, Doctor? Do you know of another way to save Candy's life? Please tell me!" Jeremy begged.
The physician spoke carefully. "Yes, there is another possible means to save her. However, it requires a tremendous sacrifice."
Jeremy raised an eyebrow. "What kind of sacrifice?"
"Someone has to die." The doctor said softly.
"I will do it!" Jeremy spoke firmly without any hesitation.
"You need to think about this, Jeremy." Allyn replied.
"No, I don't have to think. If my death will spare my wife and my child, I'm willing. What kind of man would I be if I let them die when I know that I can save them?" Jeremy inquired.
Doctor Wright had tears in her eyes. "Let me explain what is involved."
Allyn told him that a section of another person's heart can provide tissue which can heal heart poisoning. She explained that a large section of the provider's heart has to be cut out to obtain the needed tissue. The tissue is then stitched into the patient's heart. The doctor said there is a risk that it would not work and all three of them would die."
Jeremy took a deep breath. "I understand the risks, Allyn. I'm willing to take the chance on their lives because otherwise, they have no chance."
"Jeremy Bolt, you are the finest man I have ever known." Allyn embraced him.
The surgeries were scheduled for three days later to give Jeremy time to say his goodbyes and to put his affairs in order.
When Jeremy told his brothers the plan, they were heartbroken about losing him, but they certainly understood why he was making the sacrifice. There were lots of tears and lots of hugs.
That night as he sat by his wife's bed at the clinic, he wrote her a letter to be given to her if she lived.
Dear Candy, Please don't be angry at me. I could not let you and the baby die. Giving my life for both of you was my honor because it allowed me to save the people I love most. Certainly, I wish circumstances could have been different with you and me getting our lifetime together. Please don't worry thinking that this was unfair to me. I decided what was fair. My heart kept your heart and our child's heart beating. Nothing could be fairer to me than that. I love you, sweet girl. Be happy. Love, Jeremy.
He read over the letter, folded it, and placed it in an envelope. He wrote Candy's name on the front of the envelope. He planned to give the letter to Joshua. His brother would give it to his wife.
The next day. Jeremy met with Barnabas Smith, his attorney. All of the papers were signed so Candy and the baby would be provided for. That afternoon, Jeremy made his final arrangements so his brothers would not have to deal with that.
The last day before the surgeries, Lottie persuaded Jeremy to spend the day with Jason and Joshua on their mountain. She promised she would stay by Candy's side the entire day. Biddie promised to come get him instantly if there was any change.
Jeremy agreed with Lottie and Biddie. The Bolt brothers spent the day exploring their favorite caves and other spots in the familiar woods. At the end of the day there were many heartfelt words exchanged and lots of tears.
The day for the operations had arrived. Jason, Joshua, Lottie, and Biddie said goodbye to Jeremy. He said goodbye to Candy even though she was still unconscious.
Jason and Joshua had gotten permission from Doctor Wright to remain in the operating room during Jeremy's surgery. They wanted to be with him during his final moments.
As Doctor Wright was about to break the sternum so she could access the heart, Ben Perkins came running into the clinic.
"Stop! Stop!" He shouted rushing toward the operating room
Allyn Wright stopped and waited. Ben soon entered the room. He had a small box in his hand.
"What is that, Ben?" Jason asked.
Ben smiled. "The umbilical cords, Jason!"
Jason and Joshua shouted happily.
Doctor Wright said, "ThankYou, Lord."
"Where did it come from, Ben?" Joshua asked.
"I was in the storage room and I heard someone call my name. Iwent to the front but I didn't see anyone in there. This box was on the counter. I opened it to see what was in it. I found this note." Ben replied.
He handed the note to Jason. The oldest brother read the note.
I found this for Jeremy and his precious family. I know they need it. Love, Sister Pauline.
"Oh, my God! Josh! How?" Jason was stunned.
"I don't know, Jason, I don't know! Jeremy is going to live! Candy and the baby have a great chance to survive." Joshua answered.
Candy's surgery was a success. She made a full recovery.
Three months later, the young Bolt couple were blessed with twin girls, Candace Elizabeth Bolt after their mother and Bridget Pauline Bolt after Biddie and Sister Pauline.
The family lived happily ever after.
The End