The southern soldier

[Powerdog16]

( reserved for barbwireNroses )

Lieutenant Drake Jackson held his rifle to the ready as he kept low behind the large fallen oak! His heart raced as he heard the sounds of the union infantry checking the hillside where his horse had been shot down. There were three of them examining the fallen ride and glancing all around looking for it's rider.

Drake kept his eyes trained on soldiers as they fanned out a bit and to search for him. He realized he had to get out of there REAL fast or he was going to be caught. He raised his rifle, aimed for the union infantry furthest away... fortunately, my barrel of the rifle was hidden by the branches. When the union man fell, the two other swung over to the look at the fallen, I turn my rifle and fire on the second... then the closest!

The confusion worked to his favor and he opted not to wait a moment longer. He got up, checked the bloodied uniform tear on his side and then took off running. He had seen a house about a half mile south of here and he suspected it was empty from the lack of life outside it...

 

[barbwireNroses]

Penelope heard the shots and ran to the window just in time to see horse and rider fall. From her position she could the union soldiers and the horse but could not find the rider. Shots rangout again and this time she watched as each union soldier fell.
Being a nurse at the Union hospital, that use to be the town church, she felt compelled to run and help them. As she turned from the window heading out the door a thought ran through her mind,"where is the shooter". She came on the porch and saw him about 50 yards away and he was heading straight toward her. Her mind was screaming "run" but her legs would not move. Finally what seen like and eternity she turned the other direction and jumped off the porch landing flat on her stomach. "Dear lord please don't let him find me" she prayed. Being at the hospital, the wounded soldiers had told her the horrors that the war can bring out of men that had no authority over them and it had been suggested that she should take her life than to fight because there was no winning. As her mind raced on a plot to get away she heard the leaves being crushed under foot as the soldier approched the porch.

 

[Powerdog16]

Drake found the small place. Not much to it. A farm with a field that looked thoroughly picked over... most like by the Union armies on the move south! He noted an empty looking stable with a door whipping back and forth in the wind, a chicken coop with only a couple of chickens.

He turned his attention to the house. It as a little worse for wear as well. Windows were broken out, it was for the most part dark inside. He heard nothing or no person inside as he walked up onto the porch and opened the door. He kept his gun trained on each room as he began to examine it. He had been wrong. Someone did live here. There was a freshly lit candle on the dinner table as proof.

He heard the snap of sticks outside and kicked out into the back porch rather boldly and levelled his weapon at a woman who looked terrified! He said, "You there! Hold it! Come here... now!"

 

[barbwireNroses]

Penelope laid on the ground as she heard the soldier walking through the house. Her mind was racing with a million reasons why she should just lay right here and die but then a thought came to her. Her brother Tommy told her before he left for the war about a cave he had found hunting in the woods. It was the only safe place for her now if only she could get to it. This thought gave Penelope the courage to keep living. She knew she had to move fast as the sounds of the soldier were getting closer to the back door. With her heart pounding and her body shivering from adrenaline, she pushed herself up to her feet and as she was about to turn and take off running when she heard the soldier yell "You there! Hold it! Come here... now!"

Penelope could only stare at the barrel pointed at her. Her life flashed before her eyes, her mouth went dry and the world around her was getting dark. "Oh God. I am going to faint", she thought, but she knew she had to hold on to consciousness so she bit her lip as hard as she could till she tasted blood.

"The soldier what was he saying?" she could see his lips moving but she could not hear him over the blood rushing back to head. "Focus on him Penelope your life depends on it" she told herself and as she focused on him she noticed his raven black hair falling over one eye and it had to be the bluest eyes she had ever seen. I have gone mad she thought here is a man standing here ready to kill me and all i can think about is his eyes. She felt his hands grab her arms and gave her a good shake. She looked at him and heard him say "Woman have you gone mad? I asked you if there was anyone else here!" "No" she answered before thinking.

He grabbed her arm and starting pulling her back onto the porch and into the house. He pushed her roughly in the chair at the table and she saw him winch. "How bad are you hurt?" she asked. His blue eyes pierced hers and he growled "It nothing but a scratch"...

 

[Powerdog16]

Drake was not sure what to think of this woman! She was clearly under some kind of shell shock or something. He finally wrangled her up and got her back inside. Once she was seated, he kept his gun levelled at her as he peeked out the window to see if anyone else had followed him at all. So far... he was safe. But he knew that the union deaths would come at a price sooner or later.

He turned back to her and said, "Are you alone woman? Is there anyone else here?"

He could see her eyes remain wide eyed and terror struck. However she still managed to barely nod. He wanted to go check for himself if it were for thegreying around the edges of his vision which seemed to increase with each second. Sweat poured from his face as he looked about, finding a loaf of bread that looked about a day old, tore off a big piece of it and began to eat. He needed to get his strength back. He would be okay if he could just eat something...

He kept his eyes on her and as he ate, said, "What's your name?"

 

[barbwireNroses]

Penelope knew he was lying about the wound. She could see the blood soaking his shirt and the sweat glistening on his face. Being a nurse she knew that he was on the verge of passing out and when he did she could escape this nightmare. As he started eating the bread that she had baked yesterday, he asked, "What's your name?"

Penelope was amazed at his stamina. Any other man would have lost consciousness by now from the amount of blood he was losing. She knew it was a lot because of the pool on the floor. She watched as he laid the gun on the table and started to unbutton his shirt keeping an eye on her at the same time. She took in the rippled torso and the open gash as he took off his shirt. She needed to stop the bleeding but then if he bled to death it would only serve him right.

It was as if he was reading her thoughts, for it was then that he asked, “Do you have a needle and thread?” Then it occurred to her, maybe he would bargain his life for her life. “I do, I am a nurse and I have the skills to save your life but I will only do it if you let me go” she said as she wrung her hands nervously in her lap. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed, he picked up the gun from the table and pointed at her “The way I see it, sugar” he said in a slow southern drawl. “You are in no position to be bargaining so get up off your sweet ass and get those supplies”……

 

[Powerdog16]

She was right though... he was hurting... bad. He didn't realize how bad until he took off his coat and saw his blood soaked side. He was trying to put on a strong front but he seemed to be fighting waves of nausea and was afraid he would pass out if not helped soon... He watched her get up and go get her supplies.

He struggled just to stay upright... only to stumble and fall once again, leaning on the table for support. He said, "Hurry up! now!"

Those where the last words he said before he passed out onto the floor... unconscious...

 

[barbwireNroses]

Penelope rose up out of the chair and prayed that her legs would carry her to the medical bag she had brought home to refill with the last of her petticoats that she was cutting up to make bandages. As she was halfway across the room she heard him weakly say, "Hurry up! Now!" as she turned to look at him she saw him hit the floor. "Oh my! she thought as she grabbed her bag and paused. She looked out the busted window to freedom and back at the soldier. She could not live with herself if she allowed him to die. "DAMN!" she screamed as the tears of hopelessness flooded down her cheeks. A moan from the kitchen got her moving again as she lifted her apron and wiped her face.

She approached the soldier and accessed the situation. Her eyes fell to his chest, his breathing was shallow but steady, she placed her hand on his forehead and confirmed her suspicions of a fever. She grabbed her bag and took out the needle and thread and began sewing up the wound. Once the gash was sewn closed she grabbed the makeshift bandages and wrapped it to keep it clean. Her eyes wandered again to the window "no" she thought "I can not leave him like this he would surly die.
She saw the gun laying by the table. She picked it up and thought, "Who's sweet ass is in a bind now, sugar?" As she propped the gun up in the corner of the room she decided that she would tie him up and once he was out of danger she would loosen the bonds so she would have time to get away before he could free his self.

Feeling a little bit better about the situation now that she had a plan she walked behind his head bent down and slid her arms under his arms in hopes of dragging him to the bed. As she pulled on him with all her might all she managed to do was straighten him out on the floor. She straightened back up and looked around for something to tie him too. Frantically, she pushed the table away and pulled the rug back exposing the holes in the floor. She pulled the rotten wood away to expose the floor joists and then darted up stairs to grab her brothers belts. As she returned, the soldier moaned and his eyes fluttered. "Hurry" her mind screamed and she grabbed him under the arms again and slide the top part of his body over the hole and onto the small piece of the floor still in tack between the two holes. Penelope then ran to around and grabbed his legs to pull the rest of him over the hole onto the floor. She grabbed the belts and began strapping his wrists and legs to the exposed floor joists. With that done she checked his bandage to make sure she had not torn the stiches open.

Sitting on the floor beside him and she took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. She leans over his face and for the first time really looked at him and noticed that he was very handsome in a rugged kind of way. Exausted, she whispers out loud, "What am I suppose to do with you now?"

 

[Powerdog16]

Slowly John felt himself coming around. The first thing he realized was his side hurt that a son of a bitch! He winced and moaned as he tried to move his arms, but found them over his head and secured somehow. He tried to turn his head up to see what was going on and found himself simply gazing weakly at the binds that were holding his wrists.

He tried to move his legs next and found them also secured firmly in place as well. He could wiggle them... but that was about it. He said, "W... what..." He was so weak... his extremities felt like a ton of bricks...

When he finally felt himself starting to come around, he let his eyes search the room and found the very girl whom lived in the home he had invaded. He fought back the panick of his situation. He knew all she had to do was let the union armies which were only about 3 miles north of here of him and he would spend the rest of his days in a union prison... or worse...

He gulped back his panick, calmed his core down and said, "So... what are you going to do with me now?" He smiled calmly and said, "My... my name is Drake by the way... and... you are?"

 

[barbwireNroses]

Penelope watched as the tiger she had by the tail, awoke. The devilish smile that came across his face as he asked her her name sent her heart a flutter. The reaction took her by surprise. "Penelope Winters is my name" she replied as she made note of his name.

"What is wrong with me" she thought as she her eyes darted away from him. Her hands were shaking as she rung the rag out of the bowl of water she had gotten earlier. Wiping his forehead with the rag she said."I know that you are very uncomfortable but I did not know of any other way to care for you." She set the rag back in the bowl and looked at him trying to read his expression.

"I need to check the wound and then I will get you some water and food." she said. After checking the wound, she got up and spooned some stew, from the pot that was simmering in the fireplace, into a bowl. Walking back with the bowl, she found him asleep. Taking the opportunity that presented itself, her eyes wandered over his body. Taking in the broad shoulders, rippled torso that tapered into a pair of grey trousers. Her eyes wandered down his long legs to where they were tied. Looking up to make sure his hands was getting enough circulation, she gasped aloud and almost dropped the bowl of soup as she looked into his humorous blue eyes...

 

[Powerdog16]

It was no secret. She had either not been with a man at all... or it had been a long while. He figured based on the situation she was in, perhaps her husband had gone to war... maybe died in it... he was not entirely sure but it would play a LOT into how he would get out of this situation.

He found himself slipping back asleep though he didn't want to, but he was really too weak to do much of anything else. Although the sleep was very short lived as he woke to find her gazing at his body. He said, "Listen... I know you are scared. I .. don't blame you for being scared. But please ... on my honor as a gentlemen and a man that you have nothing to fear from me. Please... ma'am... my arms are going to sleep and I need to move them."

He stared at her with his deep penetrating eyes and waited for her reply...

 

[barbwireNroses]

Penelope felt her face turn red from being caught looking at him. She had not seen a finer specimen of a man since her husband. She allowed her mind to briefly remember the vow she made to herself "to never love another" as they laid his body in the cold hard ground. Guilt flooded her mind, how could she betray his memory by having these thoughts.

She was startled from her musing as Drake addressed her,"Listen... I know you are scared. I .. don't blame you for being scared. But please ... on my honor as a gentlemen and a man that you have nothing to fear from me. Please... ma'am... my arms are going to sleep and I need to move them." She thought about his survivial rate if she was to leave him now. The wound was closed and if she loosened the belts, by the time he got out of them she would be long gone.

She knelt down beside him and gazed hard into his eyes. At last she spoke,"I am going to loosen your hands and untie your feet don't try anything crazy and then i am going to leave. You should be able to free yourself after a time. I have left the soup and water here beside you and you can figure the rest out." A feeling of power came over her and she leaned her head down and brushed her lips against his. Heat flooded her body and she knew she had to leave before she betrayed her heart, soul and body. Without looking at Drake she rose and loosened the belts on his hands making sure that they were not too loose. Her eyes darted back at him as she moved to untie his feet.

 

[Powerdog16]

She made a minor miscalculation. She loosened them too much as when she turned to untie his feet, it gave him just enough time to slip his wrists from the belt. As soon as he feet were clear, he sat up and grabbed her by the shoulder gently. He watched her turn and scream trying to stumble away from him and he only raised his hands up and said, "Wait... wait... calm down... I told you I would not hurt you and I meant it."

He could see she was pressed against the wall, eyes unblinking at him as he got up and let his eyes move from her... to the soup and water. He also saw his gun against the corner, which he was far closer too. He looked at her once again and he knew she suspected him to go for it.

He then turned and walked towards the gun... then past it to the dinner table where he sat down and began to eat on the soup. He glanced back at her and said, "I promise I don't bite Penelope. Please... come here... sit with me. The soup is good... very good..."

 

[barbwireNroses]

As the belt fell away from his feet she turned to leave and felt his hand grab her shoulder. Startled, she screamed and frantically scrambled from him. Then she heard him say, "wait...wait..calm down...I told you I would not hurt you and I meant it." Penelope was not buying it.

She spied the gun she had propped in the corner and the problem was he was heading toward it. Her body went rigid and and her chest tightened with fear as she knew that this was her last moments on earth. Confusion fogged her mind as he walked past the gun. Relief flooded her body as she watched him at the table and he said, "I promise I don't bite Penelope. Please... come here... sit with me. The soup is good... very good..."

Her heart was pounding loudly, as she slided herself up the wall to a standing position. She ran the words through her brain one more time. "Come here... sit with me." the words seemed to caress her. Her heart seem to stop racing and his voice was so memorizing that she took a step toward the table. It had been along time since she had been asked just to come and sit. She took another step to the table and pull the chair with her as she went to the opposite end of the table from were he sat and watched him eat with such hearty appetite. She use to sit and watch her husband eat and it brought a sense of pride to her that she could please him with her cooking. But that was before the war when life was good and she knew of no sadness or being alone. She was now at the mercy of a man she knew nothing about and no way out.

She looked up and noticed that evening had arrived from the way the sun shone in the window that was facing west and a thought occured to her, "I am suppose to be at the hospital by now with the bandages. Someone is bound to miss me and come looking for me soon." With a new plan in mind she smiled sweetly at Drake and asked,"Would you care for some more stew? There is plenty."

 

[Powerdog16]

"I am suppose to be at the hospital by now with the bandages. Someone is bound to miss me and come looking for me soon." Drake looked up and her and wandered if she was speaking the truth or just trying to get away. He knew she was terrified but to be honest, he had no intention of sticking around anyways. He had the intelligence he needed to get back to his General about Union movements.

"Would you care for some more stew? There is plenty." The idea caused his stomach to roll once more and he said, "That'd be lovely." He let his eyes gaze over her as she turned her back to him with his bowl.

When she turned back around, he felt embarassed as she had spotted his actions. He said, "Ummm... I am sorry for the trouble I caused you. I will finish this meal and get out of your hair... ma'am."

The two of them sat in silence while he finished the meal and downed another couple of glasses of water from the well. He pulled himself to his feet when he was done and headed towards the gun, picking it up. He could see she grew scared again and he said, "Ma'am. You took real good care of me and for that I am grateful. You do not have to fea...."

He felt a wave a nausea and vertigo hit him slowly, the lack of blood pumping in his system catching up with him. He felt himself drop to his knees and lose grip of his gun. He didn't lose consciousness... and with the help of Penelope managed to stand upright. He was not sure what she had said to him or where she led him till he found himself being laid down on a bed upstairs somewhere... He turned and looked at her, saying, "Ma'am. I am a danger to you... really... I need to ... go..."

 

[barbwireNroses]

She watched him as he arose from the table noticing that he did not look well. As he started for his gun a shiver of fear when through her and she heard him say, "Ma'am. You took real good care of me and for that I am grateful. You do not have to fea...."

To her bewilderment he fell to his knees, she hurried to him as the gun hit the floor. Thank God it didn't go off she thought as she helped Drake to his feet. "I have to get you up to the stairs and in the bed." she told him as she wrapped his arm behind her neck and slipped her other arm around his waist. "Now, you have to help me get you up the stairs so don't pass out on me." she ordered.

After she had half dragged, half toted the soldier upstairs she helped him in the bed. While she was checking his wound he looked at her and said, Ma'am. I am a danger to you... really... I need to ... go..." She straightened, put her hands on her hips and in her matter of fact nurses voice said, "Sir, you are in no shape to go anywhere so get that thought out of your mind."

Seeing that he could not argue, she said,"Now let's get these clothes off of you." She had undressed many men at the hospital and she could not understand why she was feeling a fluttering in her stomach. She scolded her self as she took his boots and socks off. Her eyes darted to his naked chest and wandered down to his navel and followed the strip of dark hair that disappeared under his belt buckle. Penelope took a deep breath and tried to think of something else as she moved from the foot of the bed to the side of the bed. Bending down to unbuckle the belt so stole a glance at him and was relieved the his eyes were closed. She unbuckled the belt and he jumped as her cool fingers touched his stomach to unbutton his pants. "Sorry," she mummered as she continued with the fly of his pants. Moving to the end of the bed She put her knee on it for support and leaned forward grasping both sides of his pants and pulling them off as fast as she could. She turned to drape the pants over the chair when a letter fell out. Penelope picked up the letter and laid it on the vanity before grabbing the thin blanket to cover Drake. Pulling the blanket to his waist she left to go get her medical bag. She knew that the wound would be fatal if she did not do something.

When she returned, she sat on the bed placing the bag on the floor and dug out a bottle and spoon. She saw Drake was looking at her with fevered eyes but she did not think he could really see her opening the bottle and pouring the contents into a spoon. Sitting the bottle down she held the spoon in one hand lifted his head with the other, "Here take this it is quinine bitters and I don't know what has compelled me to give medicine on a Johnny Reb when it is could save Union soldier." He swallowed the bitters and she laid his head back down as she put the bottle and spoon away.

Watching him sleep, she wandered if he had a wife or a betrothed. Remembering the letter that fell out of his pants she retreived it from the vanity hoping it held the answer she was looking for. Glancing quickly at him and her heart racing because she was raised better that snooping in somene's personal items but this was war and it seemed that everyone's raising had went out the door with the dish water. Her eyes skimmed the paper, it was not a love letter after all but a letter addressed to General Robert E. Lee. From what she could make out from the letter it was a warning that Union General Hooker was going to cross the Rappahannock River and surprise attack General Lee's forces. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as her mind processed the situation. The angry voice from the bed startled her......

 

[Powerdog16]

Drake reached up and snatched the documents from his hostess and said, "Get away from that! You weren't supposed to see that!" He folded the letter back up and stuffed it in the envelope. He pulled the blankets off him and then swung his feet to the side of the bed. He glanced down and realized he was in his long handles and nothing else! He found his britches and and said, "I got to go... now..."

He reached to his pants and started trying to slide them on when she snatched them away from him. He said, "Give me those pants... now..." He went to stand up and felt his knees give out from under him and collapse on the bed.

He said, "Please... I have to get going... now..." He tried to get up and he was so weak from the lack of blood. She leaned over and pushed him back to the bed. He said, "What are you doing? I have to go... now!"

 

[barbwireNroses]

Penelope’s heart lurched when saw the red stain bandage and heard Drake say, "Please... I have to get going... now..." As he tried to stand again she leaned over and pushed him back to the bed. He said, "What are you doing? I have to go... now!"

Trying to keep the concern out of her voice as tried to reason with him “Drake, you have to lie down. You are bleeding again. I am going to have to look at the wound and I can’t do that and fight you.” He tried to rise up again but could not. “See you are so weak you cannot even fight me. How are you going to go where ever it is that you are bent on going?” Satisfied that he would lay there till she returned she went downstairs to bring up water to clean his wound.

When she returned she found Drake up once again trying to put his pants on, as blood was streaming down his side from the bandage. “You are the most mule headed man I have ever met in my life” she said through clenched teeth as she pushed him back on the bed. “I really do need to leave it is not safe here” he replied. “You can leave when that wound stops bleeding” she replied as she lit the candles on the vanity. “Now lie down and take those long johns off so I can wash them to since you decided to bleed all over them too” she ordered. She starred at him and he arched an eyebrow at her as he said, “You’re more than welcome to watch.” She felt her temper flare, as she abruptly turned her back to him. She busied herself getting the water hot in fireplace and silently cursing him.
When he had plenty of time to undress and her temper had cooled some she returned to the bed. She could feel his eyes on her as she removed the bloody dressing and began to clean the wound and his bloody stomach and side. Shadows from the candle flickered across his body, reflecting in the water drops on his skin. Penelope dressed the wound and pulled the blanket up his shoulders. Wetting a clean rag she tenderly wiped his forehead and whispered to him, "Please get some rest, things have a way of looking better in the morning." She sat in the chair by the bed keep a constant vigil on him for any change for the worse.

 

[Powerdog16]

He felt a might odd to be taking off his long handles in front of this yank woman but he really didn't have much choice in the matter. He just didn't have the strength to fight too much more. After being tended to once more by this lady, he laid there and fell asleep far too quickly.

He was not sure just how long he had slept, but it had felt like a long time... It was dark out. Had it been only a few hours? Surely not..." He glanced over and found Penelope sleeping in the chair and slowly began to realize that he was feeling stronger... more ready to stand up and take care of himself. Slowly, he removed the blankets once more, checking his side. How long had he been sleeping?

He picked up the pocketwatch in his britches pocket and his eyes widened. He had slept nearly two days! Two! He felt his heart sink... the orders that he had been trying to get to the General... were of no use now. They attack would have been yesterday. He had failed in his mission.

He saw her shift her head slightly and her eyes open. He sat there in his full nude self for a second as her eyes wandered down his body. He looked down and realized he was nude and quickly pulled the sheets over his groin and turn a shade of peaked. He looked at her as her lips pursed into a slight smile and he said, "You called me a Johnny Reb earlier... at least I think... That is not entirely true. I was born and grew up ... in Brooklin..."

 

[barbwireNroses]

Penelope was pulled from her cloudy dreams of shadows, eyes, and dark hair to awaken to the image of Drake sitting on the side of the bed naked. She tried not to smile as he pulled the sheet over his nakedness as he said "You called me a Johnny Reb earlier... at least I think... That is not entirely true. I was born and grew up ... in Brooklin..."

Having compassion on him, she arose from the chair to gather his clothes for him. She pondered his statement as she handed him his clothes. Turning her back to him while he dressed, she quizzed him suspiciously, “So are you a spy for the Union forces? Should I have called you a Billy Yank? As I am sure that I just washed, dried and folded a confederate uniform.” Drake being bombarded with questions took a minute to sort it all out as he dressed.

Waiting on him to answer her questions, her mind flashed back to the past two days that she had fought his fever and delusions. The fever had raged for 2 days and tormented his body and mind as if he was wrestling the devil himself. Sleep had not been an option for her until his fever broke that evening and she allowed sleep to overcome her in the chair by his bed. Maybe she was delusional.

Spinning back around dismissing that thought, she said, “There is this condition among soldiers called “Soldier’s Heart”. They had a few at the hospital with this …….Oh God, the hospital….. “She started rushing around the room gathering her supplies not even looking at Drake till she almost ran over him in her frenzy of preparing to leave. “I have to go to the hospital, it has been 3 days since I have been there and since you are better, but are not well enough to travel, please stay till I get back.” she said with pleading eyes.

 

[Powerdog16]

Drake laid there and could see the look in her eyes and that she was being completely serious. He gave a nod and said, "Okay. I will stay here... Thank you..."

He watched her pack her things and then race off on foot to the hospital. After she left, he sat up, went to put his longhandles on and then his britches. He was afraid she would run off and tell the union officers over there about her captured Confederate soldier. However, as he went to slid his top on, he felt a calming of his nerves as he did not see soldiers banging down the door. He began realizing that she was not going to turn him in and even though he kept a close eye out the windows looking for any stragglers, he began to rest a bit.

He walked to his uniform jacket and picked it up and stared at it. There was a particular reason he wore this coat instead of the blue coat. If it had not been for that one reason, he would be part of the Northern Union instead. He left the jacket on the bed and then walked down stairs, finding his gun still in the corner. He picked it up and checked it to find it still loaded. He walked to the window, peaking out and still not seeing anything.

Drake realized his side was not entirely healed up, but he couldn't linger her very long. The Union would find him and if they find that she gave him medical care, would probably take her land from her. She was a sweet woman and just couldn't do that to her. He made up his mind and turned and walked back up the stairs, back to the bedroom, and picked up his coat.

He started to turn his coat on, when he glanced out the window and saw Penelope walking up over the hill and back down to her house. She was alone so far as he could see. He winced as he realized he had fumbled about too long and had to leave now if he was going to leave at all. He turned just in time to find himself staring down the barrel of a shotgun, being wielded by a black slave with crazy eyes! Drake instantly brought his hands into the air and said, "hey... don't shoot..."

"Penelope!!!!!! PENELOPE!!!!! We got a rebel here!!!!!!" The man began to scream out the window!!!

 

[barbwireNroses]

Penelope heard Issac yelling from the upstairs window, "Penelope!!!!!! PENELOPE!!!!! We got a rebel here!!!!!!" Oh God, she thought, Issac will surly ruin everything. Penelope entered the house and raced up the stairs. “Put the gun down Issac!” she ordered. Issac turned to her keeping the gun trained on the soldier, “Miss Penelope I saw this man in your house and thought it was that bad man that wants to take you away.” Penelope flashed a glance at Drake as she assured Issac that all was well. “Issac, I have nurtured this man for three days and I assure you that he is harmless so if you will put the gun down and listen to me carefully because I don’t have much time to explain.” Penelope sighed in relief as Issac lower the gun.

“Now Issac listen carefully, I need you to go get Molly and Thunder from the stables and saddle them pack them each with food and a bedroll. Take them to the creek at the spot that I love to swim and tie them there. “ Issac interrupted, “Miss Penelope you can’t be serious in leaving?” Calmly she replied, “Issac we have discussed this and the time is upon us. Your free papers for you and your family are complete and I have them for you downstairs as promised.” Penelope watched as his eyes watered up as he asked, “Miss Penelope how can I ever repay you for your kindness?” Penelope wiped at her eyes as she replied, “Help me get my freedom and do as I have asked and tell no one what has transpired here today.” Grinning Issac hugged Penelope and started down the stairs, Yes ma’am, I am doing that right now. “

Taking a deep breath she turns to Drake and says, “If you will wait for me downstairs I will change clothes and then we will go get the horses and I will explain everything when we are safe.” Taking out a pair of stable boys pants and a white long sleeve boy’s shirt she turns back to Drake waiting on him to leave the room.

 

[Powerdog16]

Drake was no entirely sure what was transpiring when she freed the slave and his family in addition to having him saddle up horses for them. When Isaac finally left the room, he turned to her and said, "Listen... I ... appreciate the use of a horse and all, but two? I don't need two horses ma'am. You been kind enough to me as it is saving my life and all and I won't cause you any more trouble."

She had been adamant he went downstairs with his rifle in hand and then waited on her. What was this foolhardy woman doin? Was she thinking of joining him? Why? His road would probably lead him to death... He heard her come down the stairs and he went at her again. He said, "I am not going to allow you to go with me. It is too dangerous. Listen... Please..."

A gunshot rang out from the south and the sound of Isaac screaming out and suddenly going silent sent chills down Drake's back! He turned and looked out the kitchen window and to his alarm, found a squad of Rebels marching to the north... preparing for the battle which would cover this entire region, which in the future would be known as the Battle of Gettysburg...

 

[barbwireNroses]

After dressing in her stable boy clothes she went downstairs to find a hat and to get Drake. As she entered the room from the stairs he said, "I am not going to allow you to go with me. It is too dangerous. Listen... Please..." She furrowed her brow,as she placed the hat on her head,"Sir, I am sorry that I gave you the impression that I was going somewhere with you but I assure you that was not my plan. I have my own demons to run from why would I want to add to them?"

Before Drake could respond a shot rang out and the sounds of Issac screaming made Penelope's heart stopped. Penelope raced out the door to Issac uncaring of the consequences. Falling to Issac's side she felt for a pulse only to not find one. With tears streaming down her face she looked up to find a Rebel soldier looking down at her from his horse.

Anger from the months of living a lie, the death of a dear friend and the unfairness of life welled up inside her causing her blindly attack the soldier on the horse. She leaped from the ground to the side of the horse grabbing a hand full of his coat as gravity pulled her to the ground bringing him on top of her. She twisted and bucked underneath the soldier but did not have the strength to throw him off. "Get your beastly, filthy boarish ass off of me!" she screamed in fustration at the soldier. The soldier was sitting atop of Penelope with her hands held together over her head. "Well look here boys....looks like we got us a wildcat in boy's clothing!" he said over his shoulder to the others. "Sir you will unhand me now if you know what's good for you! You are already going to be whipped for killing a free negro do you want to add to it for the way that you treated me?"

Laughter erupted from around them and Penelope saw the look in the soldier's eyes and knew what was coming before his hand ever went back to backhand her across the mouth. Hatred and rage ran through Penelope and she spit the blood that had pooled in her mouth back into the soldier's face. Wiping her blood from his face, "That was your last mistake." he growled pulling her with him as he stood. Still full of piss and vinegar, Penelope swooned and as the soldier reached for her she grabbed his arms and kneed him in the groin with every ounce of strenth she had. She whirled on her heels and ran towards the woods.

 

[Powerdog16]

Drake charged out to try and stop her from running to Isaac and then paused... hesitant. Did he want this? He stood there stupefied as she literally tore the rebel soldier from his horse and then watched in horror as she was pinned down as he slapped her and then she spat and then kneed him dashing for the woods! It was when two of the other soldiers caught up with her on horseback and blocked any further path. There was 4 of them and the one who had been kneed struggled to his feet and then came at her, knocking her back to the ground!

Drake picked up his rifle and charged out into the fields towards them, firing a round into the air just over their heads and then leveled his rifle towards the one attacking Penelope! He said, "Let her go! NOW!"

The men turned and saw the officer coming towards them and all sat there in shock a moment before turning their attention towards her and finally letting her go! Drake said, "Penelope, come on over here... now..."

He watched the northern woman pull away.. then kick the rebel in the groin again, sending him doubling into the ground hard. This second kick even made Drake wince in pain as Penelope walked over to him. Drake said, "You killed a free slave. Surrender your weapons and turn yourselves in. Now."

"Like hell we will!" One of the men barked, "Didn't know that nigga was free. He looked like a runaway to us!"

"And you never asked him first... did you? You murdered a man in cold blood who was not part of this war. Surrender your weapons..." Drake demanded, knowing he was screwed if they did not do what he demanded of them.

"No way you going to turn us in for killing a nigga... no way!" One man went for his pistol and Drake fired his rifle, hitting him in the forehead killing him dead! He turned his rifle towards the others as they all started reaching for their guns and squeezed off two more rounds, the first hitting a second man in the chest and the other near the hip! He watched the third soldier fall from his horse, holding his hip as the soldier on the ground who had attacked Penelope to begin with dropped his weapon and said, "You done killed your own kind. You are a traitor! You going to hang for this!!!"

"Stand up. Turn and run south! NOW! Or I will put a bullet into your back! GO!" Drake barked and watched his prisoner turn and run. Surrounded by two bodies and four spooked horses, he grabbed Penelope's arm and said, "let's go"

"He is injured. I have to help." Penelope said as she started to fight Drake. The rebel looked back at the injured man and then walked to him, put his rifle point blank to his head and despite the plea of no, fired a shot into his head, ending the man's suffering. He turned to Penelope and said, "He is not suffering now. Let's go!"

He grabbed her arm and pushed her towards the horses...