We Remember You
Jason was seated at the desk in the office tent. He was reviewing the ledgers and writing telegrams to some of their customers. Hearing his name, he turned his head to look behind him.
"Jeremy." Jason said wondering why his sibling had come back to the camp so soon.
Early this morning, the youngest brother had left on his way to an important meeting in Tacoma. He had ridden Brownie and had taken his suit and shoes in a large satchel so he could change clothes before the meeting.
From the tent opening, Jeremy repeated Jason's name in a whisper. The tone of his voice and the look on his face were not quite fear or anxiety but they were close. "Jason."
For a moment, Jeremy seemed to be frozen in place. Jason stood up and turned to face him.
"Jeremy, are you alright?" He inquired calmly.
Young Bolt moved fast toward his brother opening his arms for a hug. Jason held Jeremy close as Jeremy sighed in relief.
"Bah dum, bah dum, bah dum." Whispered Jeremy.
Jason was frightened when he realized that his brother was consoling himself with his (Jason's) heartbeat.
"What happened, Jeremy? Talk to me, brother." The big lumberjack spoke.
A few moments later, Jeremy ended the embrace and gazed at his oldest sibling.
"I don't know, Jason. I seriously don't know. I was riding Brownie and all at once this feeling washed over me that I needed you. We always need each other, you, and me, and Josh. But this was different. I needed you NOW." Jeremy replied. "I guess I sound crazy, but I had to come back. I'm sorry I blew the contract for us."
"Don't worry about that contract. There will be others. I'm concerned about you. Are you sick? Are you in pain?" Jason asked.
"No, Jason, I'm not sick or in any pain. I am exhausted though and that's strange. Before I had the feeling that I needed you immediately, I wasn't tired at all." Jeremy answered.
"Are you upset about something? Have you and Candy had a fight? Were you nervous about your presentation?" Jason peppered him with questions. "Has someone threatened you or Candy?"
"No, Jason to all those questions. I wanna go lie down in the medical tent because it's bigger than our sleep tent and it's off the beaten path." The youngest brother spoke. "I'm too tired to go back to the cabin right now."
"Sure, Jeremy, that's fine." Jason told him.
Placing his hands on his hips, Jeremy turned and looked through the tent opening.
"Tell me, brother." The eldest Bolt said quietly.
"I want you to sit with me while I sleep. Please, Jason." Young Bolt kept his back to his brother and looked down at his boots.
"Certainly. Jeremy. Are you sure you are okay? You can tell me anything, you know that." He asked.
Jeremy turned around. He locked eyes with his brother.
"I promise, Jason, I'm okay except for being tired and this strange feeling of needing you right this minute." He spoke.
"Give me another hug." Jason crossed the tent and wrapped his brother in his arms.
Jeremy's ear found Jason's heartbeat. "I love you, Jason."
"I love you, Jeremy." He replied.
On the way to the medical tent, the brothers stopped by their sleep tent so Jason could get one of his books. Swede stopped by the tent while they were there. Jason told Jeremy that he needed to speak to Swede briefly outside. Jeremy hesitated anxiously, but then he said it would be okay for a minute.
The two big lumberjacks left the tent walking a short distance up the hill. Jason glanced back at the tent before he spoke. Jeremy was not in sight.
"Swede, please go into town for me and get Candy and Lottie. Tell them I need to talk to them about Jeremy. And tell them that I said I promise on my parents' graves that he is not sick, injured, or in danger."
"Sure thing, Jason. Is it okay for Biddie to come with them if she wants to?" Swede asked.
"Yes, it's fine for Biddie to come up here. I have to go. I see Jeremy coming out of our sleep tent. Thank you, Swede." Jason answered.
Swede nodded and then he ran to hitch the horses to the buckboard. He headed for Seattle making the horses gallop.
Jason hurried back to Jeremy. "Here's your book. The one you have been reading. I assumed that was the one you wanted." Jeremy handed it to him.
"Yes, that's the one. Thank you." Jason worried when his brother shivered.
The oldest Bolt set his book on the nightstand. He picked up the blanket that was folded on the bed. He draped it carefully over Jeremy's shoulders.
"Thanks, Jason, but I didn't shiver from the cold. I had that feeling again. Promise me, Jason, that you will stay with me the whole time that I am asleep, please." The youngest Bolt said.
"I promise, Jeremy. You can depend on me." Jason smiled.
They went to the medical tent. Jeremy undressed to his long johns. He got into bed and covered himself with the blanket. Jason pulled a chair next to the bed and settled down to read his book.
"Where is Joshua?" asked Jeremy.
"He and his crew are up on the north ridge. Are you having a feeling about Josh?" The eldest brother inquired.
"No, I just wondered what he is doing today. He hadn't decided when I left this morning." Jeremy responded. "He will think I'm crazy or that I was too chicken to give my presentation."
"Don't worry about what our brother says. You know he teases or grumbles to try to hide his concern sometimes." Jason said.
"You're right, Jason." Jeremy yawned. "I'm going to sleep now. Please stay with me. I need you, Jason, please!" He panicked.
Jason threw down his book as he moved from the chair to the cot.
"Jeremy, are you sure there isn't something you want to talk about?" Jason studied his sibling's face.
"I'm sure. I had that feeling again and it scared me. The best thing for me to do is to go to sleep. You will stay here?" Young Bolt asked.
"Yes, I promise." Jason tousled Jeremy's hair.
Jeremy fell asleep. Jason sat on the cot a moment looking at his baby brother. What is bothering you and why won't you tell me? He thought.
The tall lumberjack stood up and stretched. Then he picked up his book and sat down in the chair to read.
Jason Bolt was on his second chapter of reading and about to doze off when the buckboard stopped outside the medical tent.
Candy ran inside the tent. Looking at Jeremy asleep on the cot, she burst into tears.
"I thought, I thought, I don't know what I thought." She said as she tried to control her emotions.
"You thought I lied when I told Swede to tell you that Jeremy was not sick, injured or in danger." Jason smiled sadly.
"Yes, Jason. That's precisely what I thought. Please forgive me. I should have known better. I was so frightened about Jeremy. This has never happened before, has it?" asked Miss Pruitt.
"No, never. I am still worried that something happened to upset Jeremy terribly and cause him to react as he did." The big lumberjack told her.
"And you think I might know what happened." Candy spoke.
"Yes, I do, Miss Pruitt. You and Jeremy are engaged. You know him very well. Dare I say, perhaps even better than Joshua and I know him." Jason replied.
"It's true that I know your youngest brother exceptionally well, but I wouldn't say better than you and Joshua know him. After all, you raised him for half of his life." She said.
Jason flashed his dazzling smile at the memory of taking care of Jeremy and Josh (when the blond brother would let him.)
"Did you and Jeremy have a fight? I know I'm being nosy, but I'm too concerned about him to care about that now." Bolt asked her.
"No, Jason. We did not have a fight or a tiff or anything like that." Candy looked anxiously at her fiancé. "Do you think he was robbed along the road on his way to Tacoma?"
That's a possibility that I have not considered. However, why wouldn't Jeremy tell me that was what happened? He knows he has to tell me eventually. Why not say it and get it over with?" Jason pondered.
"I don't know. Hopefully, Jeremy will say more when he wakes up." The red head answered.
"Where are Lottie and Biddie?" asked Jason.
"Lottie went to get Cookie to make some chicken broth for Jeremy using her recipe. Biddie went with her." Miss Pruitt replied.
Jason smiled. "Lottie thinks broth helps everything."
Suddenly, Joshua came running into the medical tent. "What's wrong with Jeremy? Why didn't you send one of the men to get me?"
"First, Jeremy is okay. There is nothing wrong with him. Second, I have been busy keeping a promise to Jeremy and I am worried about him, so, I didn't think to send for you. I am sorry, Joshua." The oldest brother apologized.
"Thanks, Jason. Why did Jeremy come back if he is not sick?" Joshua asked.
Jason told him how Jeremy behaved and what he said when he returned to the camp.
Joshua sat on the cot and held Jeremy's hand. "I'm worried now."
"Yeah, hopefully, he will tell us more later today when he wakes up. I think I will skip lunch and go top that tree by the river. It shouldn't take too long. Will you stay here with Jeremy while I do that? Please, Josh?" Jason inquired.
"I will be glad to sit with Jeremy. But it sounded as if he specifically wanted you to be here with him, Jason." Josh answered.
"Well, I have been here for awhile. Why would it make any difference as to which one of us is with him?" questioned the eldest brother.
Candy had a coughing spasm and had to leave the tent.
"Really, Jason?" Joshua stared at him.
Jason dropped his head. "I know, Josh." Jason looked up at his blond brother and then glanced at his youngest brother on the cot.
"It won't take me thirty minutes to top that tree. I can be finished, cleaned up and back in here before Jeremy wakes up." Jason reasoned.
"You promised him, Jason. If you don't keep your word, you will break his heart. Why is that tree so important today? It's been there for years. A few more days won't matter." Joshua spoke. "Certainly, a brother takes precedence over work."
"Of course, Joshua! I had finally decided to get that tree done so I could get it off my long list of things I never get around to getting done." Jason retorted.
"Well, if you want to take a chance hurting Jeremy when he is already upset about something, I can't stop you. But I'm going to say for the record, I think you are being foolish and selfish. And being selfish about me or Jeremy isn't like you, brother. I can't understand why your imaginary list is so important." Joshua sighed.
"Oh, now, Josh, I think you are making too much out of this. It's not like you and Jeremy are children. Both of you are grown men." The eldest brother chuckled.
Joshua gazed at Jason for a long moment. "This is about being a trustworthy brother. It has nothing to do with age."
Jason didn't respond. He looked at Jeremy and tousled his hair. "Be right back." He whispered.
Jason walked out of the tent. Candy practically passed him in the opening coming back inside.
"Where is Jason going? He promised to sit with Jeremy." Candy asked.
"I know, but suddenly he has to top a tree to get that chore off of some imaginary list he has in his mind." Joshua responded.
Candy sat down in a chair next to the cot. She touched her fiancé's face to check for fever. His face was cool.
"Jason?" Jeremy murmured. "Stay with me. JASON!"
The youngest Bolt sat straight up on the cot. He looked around the tent. "Where is he, Josh?" Jeremy was scared.
"He left to top that huge tree close to the river. He thought he would be back before you woke up. I tried to talk him into staying like he promised you." Joshua explained.
"Thanks, Josh. I'm not worried about the broken promise. Jason is gonna be killed if he climbs that tree." Jeremy spoke as he dressed quickly. (Candy hid her eyes.)
"What are you talking about killed?" Joshua was shocked.
"No time to explain, Josh! We have to stop him!" Jeremy yelled.
The two brothers ran out of the tent going toward the far end of the riverbank where the tree was located. Candy went to find Lottie and Biddie.
When the two brothers reached the tree, Jason was halfway up the monster. Joshua and Jeremy shouted for him to come down immediately. He shouted back saying no.
Jeremy grabbed some gear and put it on fast. He began climbing as hard as he could go. Joshua stayed on the ground not out of fear but out of necessity. If his brothers were injured or worse, he would have to take charge of the situation.
"Be careful, Jeremy!" Joshua shouted.
"Get everyone far away from this tree, Joshua! Do it now!" Jeremy shouted back.
Joshua looked around and he saw that a crowd had formed. He started advising them to move several yards back.
After Josh got the on lookers taken care of, he returned to the base of the tree and looked way up. His brothers were up very high just a few feet below the branches.
Maybe Jeremy is mistaken about something bad occurring with this tree. The middle brother thought.
Allat once, on a bright clear sunny day, a bolt of lightning came down and struck that tree setting it on fire and toppling it into the river.
Joshua ran looking over his shoulder at the tree crashing into the river with burning branches exploding everywhere.
When he got back far enough, he gaped at the sight. Where were his brothers? He had to try to find them. Joshua felt as if everything was moving in slow motion. Swede was talking to him, but he couldn't make sense of what he was saying.
Swede slapped the hell out of him. "Snap out of it, Josh! We have to try to find your brothers."
Joshua was back to his level headed logical self. He was still terrified about the fates of Jason and Jeremy.
A dozen or so men went into the river in an effort to find the two Bolts. They dove down deep numerous times in different areas of the water.
Finally after about fifteen minutes, they found Jason. He was not breathing. They brought him to the riverbank quickly. Swede and Billy Sawdust did the chest compressions and mouth to mouth breathing on Jason. A few minutes later, the oldest brother was breathing on his own.
While some of the loggers carried Jason to the medical tent, other men remained in the river searching for Jeremy. They kept looking until it was too dark to see. They could not find him.
Joshua refused to stop searching even in the dark. He and Corky, Sam, and McGee got rafts, oars, and lanterns. Several other loggers joined in to continue the hunt for the youngest Bolt.
Lottie and Biddie tried to console Candy as they took care of Jason. Lottie kept telling her that Jeremy is a strong swimmer even better than his brothers.
"If he is such a good swimmer, where is he, Lottie?" Candy cried bitterly.
"The river current is a force of nature, Sweetheart. Even great swimmers can be carried miles away in a short time. But that doesn't mean they have been injured." Lottie wiped Jason's face gently with a cold cloth.
"Or that they're dead." Biddie blurted out.
"Biddie!" Candy screamed to high Heaven. "Do you know what's bigger than that mouth of yours? And don't you dare smile because I'm not playing! Nothing! Absolutely nothing!"
Biddie burst into tears and ran out of the medical tent. Jason awoke at the sound of Miss Pruitt screaming.
"Lottie, what's wrong? What happened to me? Why am I in the medical tent? Where are the boys? Are they alright? Why was Candy screaming?" Jason asked.
"Settle down, Jason and I'll explain everything to you. As best I can." Lottie replied quietly.
While Miss Hatfield was composing her thoughts and Miss Pruitt was calming her nerves, Jason could hear voices on the river. The voices were calling one name over and over. "Jeremy."
Then Jason heard another voice calling louder than the others. This voice was begging pleading for an answer. This voice was strained and tired, however this voice would not stop until the treasured reply came.
Joshua was calling to Jeremy up and down the river. "Jeremy! Where are you? Jeremy! Answer me, please!"
Joshua paused a few moments to listen. He heard nothing other than the usual night sounds. Then he began calling his brother's name. "Jeremy!" Again.
Jason looked Lottie in the eye. "I don't remember what happened. However, from what I hear down at the river, I'm thinking that it is most likely that Jeremy has drowned." The oldest brother sobbed.
"Jason, we don't know that." Lottie whispered. "Joshua has men combing the woods all along the river as well as the ones on the water searching for Jeremy. He's a good swimmer!" She sobbed.
After two more hours of searching, the men had not found a trace of Jeremy. They had to stop for the night due to exhaustion along with being wet and cold. Even Joshua stopped though he hated too.
Biddie had just returned to the medical tent with a very large tray of hearty sandwiches. She had gone to the cook tent and made them after fleeing from Candy's wrath earlier.
Candy had built a fire outside the tent. She had made several pots of coffee. Lottie remained inside the tarp treating minor cuts and scrapes some of the men had gotten while searching. She also gave them towels to dry off the river water and sweat.
Jason listened to his workers talking outside the tent. They spoke in muffled tones about possible places to look for Jeremy at first light. Many of the guys said they would pray for the boss's baby brother. He was a good kid and they would hate for something to happen to him.
"Jason, do you think you can sit up and drink some of this chicken broth? Candy warmed a cup on the fire." Lottie asked.
"I'll try, Lottie." He answered.
Jason sat on the side of the cot with his blanket wrapped around his lower body. He took the cup and drank a few sips while keeping his eye on the tent opening. As he reached to place the cup on the nightstand, Lottie coughed softly. Jason looked at the entrance to the medical tent.
Joshua was standing there. He was soaking wet. His face and clothes were dirty. Jason could see the pain and frustration in his brother's eyes. When Joshua's mouth trembled, Jason reached him in two long strides.
The eldest brother held his blond brother in a huge bear hug. "Cry it out, Josh. Cry it out." He whispered.
Joshua cried loud gut-wrenching sobs. He sounded like a wounded animal.
"Come on, brother. Let me help you to this cot over here close to mine." Jason guided Joshua to the bed.
Lottie gave the middle Bolt a hug. "I love you, sweetheart." She whispered.
Biddie brought Josh some towels and a change of clothes including longjohns. She had gotten the clothing from the brothers' sleep tent.
"Thank you, Biddie." Joshua spoke hoarsely. His voice was almost gone from constantly calling Jeremy's name for hours.
"You're welcome, Joshua." Biddie said softly. She gave him a kiss on his cheek.
Miss Cloom left the tent to continue helping Candy with the coffee and sandwiches. Most of the men were sleeping at the camp tonight to be available at daylight and to show moral support for the Bolts.
Around twelve thirty A.M., Aaron Stempel arrived at the medical tent on his horse. He had been in Olympia all day at meetings. When he got home on the midnight stage, Ben Perkins was waiting to tell him what had happened.
Stempel quickly entered the tent. Miss Pruitt and Miss Cloom were not outside the medical area at that point. They had gone to the sleep tent so Candy could get one of Jeremy's work shirts. She wanted something with his scent to help her try to sleep.
Aaron's eyes scanned the group of people inside the structure. He desperately hoped to see the three Bolt brothers there. Finding only two, the sawmill owner sighed deeply and went to speak to them.
"Jason, Joshua, I just got home at midnight. Ben met me when I got off the stagecoach. He told me what happened. What can I do to help?" He asked.
Jason and Joshua were drinking some of Lottie's chicken broth. They set their cups down on the nightstand.
"Thank you, Aaron for your offer. At first light, we are going to start searching again. We are still hoping that the current carried Jeremy a few miles from here and he was able to make it too the riverbank." Jason explained.
Lottie brought them some fresh blankets and told them to go to sleep. Aaron found a cot and settled down for the night. The two Bolts went to sleep on their beds.
Lottie was busy gathering plates, cups, and utensils the men left around in the tent. As soon as she finished, she was going to the Bolt tent to sleep.
Meanwhile, Candy and Biddie were just leaving the brothers' tent since Candy had found one of Jeremy's brown plaid shirts. She was wearing it over her dress.
The two young women stood looking up at the full moon. They had barely spoken since their argument earlier in the day.
"Candy, I want to apologize to you. I'm very sorry for my rude comment this afternoon. I truly didn't mean to upset you. My mouth is bigger than my brain and sometimes it's hard to get them to work together. Please forgive me, Candy." Biddie said sweetly.
"Oh, Biddie! I forgive you! Will you forgive me? I shouldn't have screamed at you like I did. I'm so sorry." Candy bit her lip as tears came to her eyes.
The two friends smiled at each other and hugged. Crash! Bang!
"What was that noise, Candy?" Biddie was scared.
"I don't know! It came from the cook tent. Did you put the rest of the sandwiches away properly?" Candy inquired.
"Yes, I did. I wrapped each sandwich in wax paper and placed them back on the tray. Then I put the tray in the ice box." Biddie replied.
"Let's go see what that noise was. It was most likely a squirrel trying to get out of the tent and it got confused." Candy spoke confidently.
"Okay, Candy. Whatever you say." Biddie agreed.
The ladies hurried to the cook area. There was a young man with his back to them picking up Biddie's sandwiches off the ground and placing them back on the tray.
"Oh, my, Candy! This young man is hungry. Let me help you, sir. The food is alright. The wax paper is still on each sandwich so they are still edible." Biddie said as she touched the fellow's shoulder.
The young man turned abruptly at Miss Cloom's touch and glanced over his shoulder in fear.
"JEREMY!" Candy screamed.
It was him. He was wet and his face had dirt and a little blood on it. He didn't speak. Jeremy appeared to be frightened. His eye caught the shirt that Candy was wearing over her dress. Jeremy looked down at his wet muddy shirt and then looked again at Candy's shirt.
Jeremy squinted at her.
"Yes, I am wearing one of your shirts. It made me feel close to you while you were missing." Candy spoke calmly.
Jeremy handed Biddie the tray and ran out of the tent.
Miss Pruitt raced after him shouting his name, "Jeremy! Jeremy!"
"Oh, dear!" Biddie exclaimed as she returned the tray to the ice box.
Miss Cloom joined in the pursuit of Jeremy.
"Josh!" Jason roared as he woke up. "What is that noise?'
"The only noise I hear is you, brother." Joshua murmured as he opened his eyes.
Stempel was awake as well. "Listen. I hear it too."
The three men rushed to the tent opening. Just as they looked out, Jeremy ran by them. The three glanced at each other stunned for a moment.
"JEREMY!" Jason bellowed.
The youngest Bolt kept running.
"Get him, Josh!" Jason gave his brother a little push.
Joshua took off running as fast as he could go after his brother. Why was Jeremy running from them? Joshua thought.
"Stop, Jeremy! Please stop!" Josh shouted. "Jeremy! Don't make me have to knock you on your ass! STOP!"
Jeremy gave no indication of stopping. He kept running.
Candy and Biddie were worn out from running about the time they reached the medical tent. They sat outside the structure by the fire and waited.
Joshua was calling upon all of his strength to chase down Jeremy. "I forgot how fast you can run little brother!"
Finally, Joshua caught up with Jeremy and slammed him to the ground. Jeremy cried out in pain.
"I'll get off you if you promise not to run or punch me or something. Okay?" Joshua told him.
Jeremy nodded yes. Joshua rolled off of him and stood up. He helped Jeremy to his feet. The youngest brother was trembling. His eyes were filled with fear.
"Can I say something?" Jeremy asked.
"Sure, you can. Why are you asking? You don't need permission." Joshua replied.
"Whoever this Jeremy is and for whatever reason everyone is angry at him, it is not me. I mean I'm not him." Jeremy spoke.
Joshua frowned. "What are you talking about, Jeremy?"
"I'm not Jeremy." repeated Jeremy.
Joshua was worried. His brother must have sustained some serious injuries from the accident.
"If you aren't Jeremy, who are you?" asked the middle Bolt.
"I don't know and I don't understand why I don't know." He replied in frustration.
"Come with me, my brother and I will help you. You can stay here with us." Joshua encouraged.
"You and your brother and those ladies won't take your anger at Jeremy out on me, will you?" Jeremy questioned.
"We are not angry at Jeremy. He has been gone. We miss him and we thought you were him. I'm sorry if we frightened you." Joshua apologized.
"That's okay. I guess I could stay here for a few days. Hopefully, I will remember my name by then." Jeremy spoke.
The two brothers went to the tent. Joshua asked Jeremy to sit on a cot close to the opening while he spoke to his brother. Jeremy agreed to do so.
Joshua talked to Jason and Aaron. He told them everything he and Jeremy had said after Joshua caught him. The three men talked quietly for a few more minutes.
Joshua returned to Jeremy. "My brother, Jason and our friend, Aaron would like to talk to you. Is that alright?"
"Sure, will you stay with me? Oh, could I get something to eat, please? I'm starving." Jeremy inquired.
"Yes, I'll stay with you. And you certainly can have some food. And some clean clothes too." Joshua responded.
Candy stepped inside. "We can get you some more sandwiches if you want or we can cook something for you. Eggs and bacon maybe?"
"Sandwiches will be fine. Thanks." Jeremy smiled briefly.
"Alright. Biddie and I will be right back." Candy said as she hurried out.
Jason and Aaron talked to Jeremy. He said he woke up this afternoon on the riverbank. He didn't know how he got there. His best guess was that he had been traveling on the road and he had been robbed and beaten by bandits. Jeremy figured that the robbers had thrown him into the water to drown him after knocking him unconscious. However, he woke up and somehow made his way out of the river. Jeremy said he started walking and ended up here with them.
"You don't know your name or anything about your family?" Jason inquired.
"No, I can't remember anything and that scares me. Who am I? Where do I belong? Do I have a wife who is wondering where I am?" Jeremy answered.
Candy and Biddie returned with food and clothes for Jeremy. They had brought Lottie with them. They had told her what was going on with the youngest Bolt.
"Hello, Sweetheart. My name is Lottie. I hope you will allow me to help you get cleaned up and dried off. We don't want you catching Pneumonia." She smiled at Jeremy.
Jeremy felt comfortable with this kind lady. He allowed her to take him to a screened off area of the tent. She helped him undress and get cleaned up. Then she assisted him in putting on the clean clothes.
They left the screened area and Jeremy sat down on a cot. Candy had sliced one of the sandwiches into smaller pieces and put them on a plate for him. She had also brought him some coffee.
"Thank you, ladies. You are most kind to help me." He said taking a bite of the sandwich.
Jeremy sipped the coffee as he looked at Lottie. "Are you my mother?"
"No, Precious. I'm not your mother. I love you very much as if you are my son, but we are not related." Lottie told him.
"Alright. I was hoping I had found someone in my family. Thank you for loving me." Jeremy replied.
"You're welcome. Sweet boy, I'm concerned about this injury on the front of your right shoulder. Do you know how that happened? It looks like a burn." Lottie inquired.
"No, I don't know how that happened." Jeremy spoke.
"Let's have Jason and Joshua look at it, okay? Is there a name you want us to call you until you remember your name?" Lottie asked.
Jeremy thought for a minute. "How about Jericho?"
"Alright, Jericho, let me get those fellows over here." Miss Hatfield said.
The saloon owner turned and motioned for Jason, Joshua, and Aaron. They walked over to Jeremy's bed.
"Our friend has decided to go by Jericho until he recalls his true name. And he has agreed for you men to look at this burn on the front of his right shoulder." Lottie explained.
"Alright, Jericho! Let's take a look." Jason spoke. He was glad Jeremy was allowing them to help him.
Jason pulled down the sleeve of Jeremy's longjohns a bit. "Oh, my God! Joshua, Aaron, see what you think."
Joshua studied his brother's injury. "Oh, hell! No wonder."
Aaron took a look. "Bolt! Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?"
"Yes, Aaron, I am. Jeremy was struck by lightning."
TBC
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