For Jeremy's Sake Chapter Three
Inside the wagon, the wives were taking care of their husbands. Connie finished bandaging Noble's head and gave him his canteen of coffee. Hawkins took a few sips. He grinned at Jane Ellen. She smiled back.
"This coffee tastes good! It warms my ole bones." Noble sighed.
Candy was applying pressure to Jeremy's bullet wound. Lottie and Jane Ellen were tearing another nightgown into pieces.
"How is he doing, Candy?" Hawkins inquired.
Mrs. Bolt looked up." The bleeding is slowing down, I think."
"Those men should be horsewhipped!" Lottie fumed.
"Yes, they should, Lottie." Connie agreed.
Jane Ellen sat next to her father on the bench inside the wagon. She snuggled close to him. Noble saw that she was watching Jeremy closely. When she hid her face against his arm and cried, he spoke softly to her.
"Don't cry, sweetheart. Jeremy is going to be alright." He gave her a little kiss on her head.
"He just has to be okay, Daddy! Jeremy is like a prince in one of my books. When Candy screamed, he woke up and struggled his way to her to save her! It didn't matter to him that he is so sick.
Candy smiled at the young girl's romantic analogy of her dear husband. She pressed harder against his open wound. Jeremy moaned in pain.
"Honey, are you awake? Jeremy?" His wife whispered softly.
He did not answer. Candy wiped her tears away quickly and resumed pressing the bullet wound.
"Jeremy will be alright, sweetie." Noble told his daughter.
Jane Ellen coughed as she gave her father a hug.
Connie and Noble exchanged a quick glance.
"Jane Ellen, why don't you have some of this tea? It will warm you and sooth that cough." Lottie offered.
Jane Ellen drank the tea. "Thank you, Miss Lottie. My throat hurts a little too."
Connie prepared a place for her daughter to lie down and sleep. She got several blankets to be used as cover. When the child was bedded down, Mrs. Hawkins sat down next to her husband.
"Noble, I'm scared." She whispered. "What if she is sick?"
"Don't worry, sweetheart. Our girl is as strong as an ox. She probably just has a little cold. She will be fine." Hawkins kissed his wife's cheek.
"I hope you're right, Hawk!" Connie used her pet name for her spouse.
The group made it to Weaver to the home of Aaron's friends, Tony and Tammy Cooper. Stempel and Cooper had been friends for a long time. Tammy had been the best friend of Aaron's fiancée, Helen. She introduced them not long after she met Tony.
George knocked on the cabin door. Tony Cooper answered the door.
"Sir, I have some folks from Seattle in the wagon. They need Mr. Stempel's help. Jeremy Bolt has been shot and he is seriously ill with influenza. His wife and friends were taking him to Tacoma to see his brother before he dies." George explained.
"Oh, my God! Come in, please! All of you! Aaron! Aaron! Here, let me help! Jeremy can't get in by himself, certainly not!" Tony responded.
Aaron came running from his bedroom. "What happened, Tony?"
"Jeremy Bolt is in the buckboard. He has been shot!" Tony replied.
"Jeremy? Oh, good Lord!" Aaron ran out the door.
As Aaron climbed in the wagon, he spoke briefly. "Ladies, let us get Jeremy inside. Then we will come back to assist you in getting out of the vehicle."
Stempel looked at Candy. "Where on earth were you all going in this cold so late at night?"
"Joshua is dying." Candy whispered trying not to cry.
"Oh, hell!" Aaron whispered.
Stempel looked at Jeremy and shook his head. "Come on, men, I gotta get that bullet out. Thank God the bleeding stopped."
"Josh? Where are we, Josh?" Jeremy murmured suddenly as the men picked him up.
Aaron and Candy shared a worried glance. Had Jeremy heard what they said?
Aaron removed the bullet from Jeremy's chest. Miraculously, it was not as deep as first believed and the internal damage was not as severe as it might have been.
Lottie tried to persuade Candy to get some sleep and let her sit with her husband. Candy refused even though she was exhausted. The young wife was still frightened about Jeremy's health because he was dealing with two serious maladies at one time. Also, she had a feeling that he knew Joshua was dying.
Young Bolt rested fairly well that night with Lottie and Candy keeping watch over him. Connie and Tammy provided coffee and offered to let them have breaks from sitting throughout the night. Candy politely refused each opportunity to leave the room. She was afraid to tell the other women how scared she was for her beloved.
The next morning Jeremy woke up. He was in considerable pain from the surgical procedure. He had a headache and overall aches and pains from the influenza.
His wife had just given him a cup of cold water when he asked her some questions," Where are we? How is Josh? When did you last hear from Jason?"
"We were on our way to see Joshua. We were robbed and you were shot. We stopped in Weaver so Aaron could remove the bullet from your chest. You are doing well, Jeremy. You are going to be fine." Candy spoke carefully.
Jeremy studied her face. His eyes were full of more questions. She dreaded the one that was coming.
"Why are we going to see Joshua?" He asked biting his lip.
"Wait just a minute, honey. Let me step out here and get Lottie. I will be right back." Mrs. Bolt replied tearfully.
Jeremy was frightened. He loved Lottie. However, he knew if she was with them, that meant Josh was not going to make it. Oh, what would he and Jason do without Josh?
Lottie and his wife came into the bedroom. "Jeremy! I am so happy that you are awake, sweetheart!" Lottie exclaimed.
Both women sat down on his bed. Candy held his hand as she spoke tenderly to him.
"Jeremy, darling, uh, well, we are going to see Joshua be, because, well, ah, um, because he is not doing too well." Candy eeked out.
Jeremy sighed deeply. "Josh is dying, isn't he? Tell me the truth, please."
Candy Pruitt Bolt broke down sobbing. Her face was in her hands.
Lottie took Jeremy's hand as she whispered gently, "Yes, our Joshua is dying. I'm so sorry, sweetheart."
Young Bolt sobbed quietly at first causing his body to shake. Then his cries became loud and gut wrenching. "Josh! No! No! Oh, Josh!"
When Jeremy was able to speak, he said, "Please help me sit up, Candy. I need you to hold me, please. I'm so scared. How is Jason? I know he is heartbroken about Josh. He isn't sick too, is he? What if I lost both brothers? Oh, hell! I couldn't take it!" He sobbed again.
Candy gathered her emotions and helped her husband sit up in the bed. She put her arms around him holding him close to her. He rested his head on her shoulder crying softly and coughing.
Aaron knocked on the bedroom door. "Ladies, may I come in, please?"
"Yes, Aaron, come on in." Lottie answered.
The door opened and Stempel entered the room. He was glad to see that Jeremy was sitting up. He offered his sympathy for Joshua's situation. Jeremy thanked him.
"Roger Lambert just stopped by. He is the local telegrapher. He received a wire from Jason a few minutes ago. Bolt got worried when he didn't receive a telegram from any of you this morning. So, he sent a message for you." Aaron handed the wire to Candy.
She read it quickly and put it in the pocket of her skirt. Candy stroked the back of Jeremy's head which was still on her shoulder.
"Joshua is dead, isn't he, Candy?" Jeremy cried.
"Oh, no, honey! Your brother isn't dead. The doctor told Jason that he thinks Joshua is waiting for you. The doctor said people do that sometimes because they want to see a relative or a friend they love before they go." His wife responded. "I love you, Jeremy. I wish I could save Joshua for you and Jason."
Jeremy ended their embrace. "I know you do, sweetheart. I appreciate that. Now, I know you won't agree with me about this, but we need to leave today on our way to Tacoma. Josh might be waiting for me; however, he won't be able to wait long."
Candy gazed at her husband. "Jeremy, you had a bullet removed from your chest yesterday and you are very sick with influenza. There is no way you should be traveling today."
"My brother is dying. How can I not go?" Jeremy whispered.
"Oh, Jeremy! I know you must go. I will tell the others to start packing their things. We can probably leave in an hour or so. I want you to lie down in the buckboard and sleep if you can. I will write a message for Jason and ask Aaron to send it for us. I will tell your oldest brother that we are on our way." She replied.
Jeremy smiled. "Thank you, Candy. I love you, sweetheart."
"I love you too, honey." Candy replied.
The young wife wrote the message for Jason and asked Aaron to send it. He agreed to do so. Stempel asked if she and Jeremy would like for him to accompany them to Tacoma. He said he would be happy to go with them. Candy thanked him for the offer, but she said they had plenty of help for the trip. She pointed out that Jason and Jeremy would need him back home in Seattle after Joshua was gone. This conversation did not occur where Jeremy could hear them.
Aaron went immediately to send Candy's telegram. She had told Jason in the message that Jeremy had been shot but he was alright. Aaron waited for Jason's reply before returning to the Cooper home.
Jason said for Jeremy to take it as easy as possible in a wagon. He said they could hopefully be in Tacoma by supper time. The eldest brother asked that all of them please pray for both of his brothers.
The group left before lunch taking a packed picnic basket with them at Tony and Tammy's insistence. Jeremy laid down in the back. He tried to sleep but he was too worried about Joshua and about Jason as well.
"Candy, if Joshua dies before we get there, Jason and Biddie will be all alone. I know Allyn is there, but she is working. She might not be able to take time with them." Young Bolt worried.
"Oh, honey! I know it's impossible for you not to worry. George is going as fast as he can without injuring the horses. We just have to trust that The Lord will allow us to arrive in time." Candy kissed his cheek.
"I know George is doing his best. It's kind of him to help us." Jeremy replied. "I can't sleep. Sit down here beside me , Candy, please. I'm going to sit up."
She sat down in the back of the wagon beside him. He leaned against her finally going to sleep in spite of his pain and his worry.
The Seattle group arrived at the hospital in Tacoma late that afternoon. By that time, Jeremy was so sick with influenza that Doctor Wright had him admitted to the hospital. She allowed him to see his brothers.
When Jeremy walked into Joshua's room between Noble and Candy, Jason cried. He rushed to help his youngest brother.
"Jeremy! Here, I've got you." Jason gently took hold of him.
Jason helped Jeremy toward the extra bed Doctor Wright had an orderly place in the room.
"Wait, Jason, let me see Joshua first." Jeremy spoke weakly.
"Sure, Jeremy! Grab that chair in the corner, Noble and set it right here next to Josh's bed, please." Jason replied.
"Yeah, I got it, Jason." Noble told him.
Hawkins put the chair close to Joshua's bed as his friend had asked him to do. Noble reached for Jeremy as he and Jason came close to the chair. The two old friends helped the youngest Bolt sit down.
"Thank you, Noble. Not only for this, but for accompanying my family on their journey here. It's good to see you. However, I wish the circumstances were a lot different." Jason told him.
"I understand, Jason. It's good to see you too. How is Joshua?" Hawkins asked.
"He's about the same as he has been for the past two days. Allyn told me he was waiting for Jeremy." The eldest brother answered.
Jeremy was holding Joshua's hand. "I'm here, Josh. It's me, Jeremy. Can you hear me, Josh? If you can't speak, just squeeze my hand a little. I love you, Josh."
Young Bolt felt a tiny bit of pressure on his hand. Joshua knew he was there. Jeremy looked behind him at Jason and smiled.
"Josh squeezed my hand." Jeremy choked up.
Jason crouched beside Jeremy's chair. He put his arms around his heartbroken brother. Jeremy hid his face in Jason's shoulder as he sobbed.
"Jeremy, don't cry." Joshua murmured almost inaudibly.
"Josh!" The two other Bolts spoke as they looked at their blond brother.
"Well, how about that!" Noble exclaimed.
Jason moved from the floor to the side of Joshua's bed. "Josh, can you hear me, brother? It is Jason. Can you open your eyes? I have missed you so much, Josh!" The eldest brother cried.
Noble quickly stepped over and moved Jeremy's chair up a few inches so he could reach Jason. Jeremy put one arm around his oldest brother and his other hand over Jason's hand which was holding Joshua's hand.
Joshua opened his eyes for the first time in almost a week. "Brothers, I love you." He spoke very softly.
Jason and Jeremy cried as they told Joshua that they loved him too. The three Bolts remained in their embrace so to speak until Jeremy said he needed to lie down.
Jason and Noble helped Young Bolt get into his bed. Jeremy asked if the doctor would allow him to stay in the room with Joshua. Jason agreed to talk to Allyn about that.
As Jeremy was settling in his bed, Candy came into the room with Lottie. They and Connie had been talking to Biddie in her room. The former Miss Cloom had worked to near exhaustion taking care of her husband. The doctor had gotten her a room and ordered her to rest for her sake as well as the baby's. Connie was staying with Biddie until she went to sleep.
"Josh woke up! He spoke to us!" Jeremy coughed.
"That's wonderful, honey! I'm so happy for you and Jason. Please try to sleep now. You need lots of rest." Candy told him as she touched his face.
"Okay, sweetheart. I love you." Jeremy closed his eyes.
"I love you, Jeremy." Mrs. Bolt whispered.
Candy sat on the edge of his bed until her husband went to sleep. Then she turned to Jason and Noble.
"Jeremy is getting a fever. I need to talk to Doctor Wright. Jason, you know so well how sick he gets just with a fever. But a fever and something else and in this case two other ailments." Candy shook her head.
Jason sighed deeply. "Yes, dear sister-in-law, I know the fear of Jeremy's fevers. Allyn should be back soon. She will know what to do."
When Doctor Wright returned, she treated Jeremy for his fever. It improved temporarily. Soon his fever was much too high. The doctor continued to treat the fever with medication and cold cloths. She made extra effort to avoid placing Jeremy in a tub of icy water. Some of the newer medical studies were suggesting that a freezing bath was not necessarily the best treatment for fever.
As the days passed, Joshua rallied some while Jeremy declined. Finally, the youngest Bolt reached a plateau. Doctor Wright increased the sulfur medication for both brothers which helped them both improve some.
Allyn told Biddie, Candy, and Jason that the young men were still seriously ill. In addition, Jane Ellen had come down with influenza. Her parents were frightened for her.
A week later, the three patients were about the same. Allyn approached Jason in the hall outside his brothers' room.
"May I speak to you in private, please, Jason? I need your help and Noble's assistance as well." She asked.
"Certainly, Allyn. Hawk is in his daughter's room. We can stop on the way to get him." Jason replied.
They proceeded down the hall. The oldest Bolt stuck his head in the door of the little girl's room. He motioned to her father.
Noble spoke to his wife. Connie nodded. Hawkins went to the door.
"What's going on, Bolt? Your brothers aren't worse, are they?" He asked.
"No, they are the same. The doctor wants to talk to you and me in her office. She needs our help." Jason explained.
"Okay, sure." Noble responded.
In the doctor's office, the three of them sat down. Allyn was behind her desk.
"We have run out of the influenza medication that I have been giving Jane Ellen, Joshua, and Jeremy. A new supply was due today on the noon stagecoach. However, the stage has not arrived and it is almost three o' clock. I had an orderly wire the stagecoach office two hours ago. The office responded that the coach left on time with the medication. My wire was the first notification of any problems." Doctor Wright explained.
"Is there another medication they can take until the stage gets here?" Noble inquired.
"No, the other medications did not work for either of them. I'm afraid they have already missed one dose because the new shipment has not come in. I know each of you hate to leave your loved ones, but could you two go look for the stagecoach, please? Something has happened for it to be so late." Allyn asked.
Before the men could answer, Lottie hurried into the office.
"Oh, Doctor! Come quick! My boys and my girl are retching terribly and running very bad fevers. Jeremy's fever is the worst." Lottie spoke urgently.
Doctor Wright ran out of her office and down the hall. Lottie was in front of her. Jason and Noble were running behind her.
As they reached Jane Ellen's room, Doctor Wright told Noble to get his daughter and follow her to Joshua and Jeremy's room. She said this would be temporary while she was treating the current symptoms and that modesty would be maintained.
Noble did as the physician requested. Jason grabbed Jane Ellen's bed to take to his siblings' room. Connie followed them down the hall.
When they got to the Bolt hospital room, Candy and Biddie were there taking care of their husbands. Lottie found some blankets and some clothesline. Noble and Jason nailed up the clothesline and threw the blankets over it making a private area for Jane Ellen. Doctor Wright said she could return to her room when this crisis was over.
After the retching stopped, the patients got sponge baths with tepid water to lower their fevers. Joshua and Jane Ellen's fevers lowered quite a bit. Jeremy's fever remained high. Allyn advised Candy to continue the sponge baths until there was a change in her husband's temperature,
Jason and Noble were in the hall with Allyn. "Where was the stagecoach coming from, Allyn?" Jason asked.
"From Olympia, Jason. Are you and Noble going to look for it?" She asked.
"Yes, we are. They need that medication badly, don't they?" The big lumberjack responded.
"Yes, they do. Jane Ellen and Joshua might be able to survive without it. However, I'm worried that Jeremy has no chance of living without it. His fever is so much worse than the other two have." Allyn explained. "I am going to talk to Candy in a few minutes about Jeremy. I suspect that she already knows."
Jason and Noble told their families goodbye promising to return as soon as possible. The expression on Candy's face confirmed to the oldest brother that she understood the severity of her husband's illness.
The two friends traveled several miles in the direction of Olympia by horseback. They searched both sides of the road diligently for wreckage. Each man used his booming voice to call out to any stranded passenger who might hear them. There was no reply.
About ten miles outside of Olympia, Noble spotted the stage on the side of the road.
"There it is, Bolt!" Noble shouted.
"Thank God!" Jason yelled as he stopped his horse.
"Hello! Can anyone hear me?" Jason shouted as he and Hawkins walked toward the vehicle.
"You ain't another bandit, are ye?" An old man replied.
"No!" Noble answered. "We are here to help you and to get some help for our kin."
The men reached the vehicle and looked inside. The driver was the only person in there.
"What happened to your travelers?" Bolt questioned.
"All of them canceled because of the influenza. There were only four anyway. My name is Curly. Who are you men?" The man answered. "I was carrying a company's payroll and medicine for the Tacoma Hospital.
"I'm Noble Hawkins and he is Jason Bolt." Hawk replied.
"Are you hurt, Curly?" Jason asked as he and Noble reached the vehicle.
"Yes, one of those robbers shot me in the leg. But it ain't too bad. I'll live." The driver answered.
"I guess those robbers took the money and the medication." Noble spoke.
"Yep, they sure did. There were five of them." Curly said.
Jason and Noble helped Curly out of the stagecoach. He had gotten in there to wrap his bullet wound and rest a little while before heading back to Olympia.
While Noble was checking the driver's injury, Jason went back on to the road looking for tracks. The robbers had headed toward Olympia.
"Well, it looks like you will have some company on the way back to the stagecoach office, Curly. Those thieves went in the direction of the capital city." The eldest Bolt told the other men.
"Let's go, Jason. Curly is fine to travel. We have to find that medicine for our families." Hawkins said urgently.
"Yes, we must find the medicine for all of them, but especially for Jeremy's sake." Jason worried.
Story will go on….
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