Civil War Days

CIVIL WAR DAYS

      So if you have viewed my profile you know I'm a writer! My first book The Secret Soldier takes place during the Civil War! So I thought it would be neat to post some photos of the Civil War Days my sibs and friend went to early October! It was very fun, my sibs and I walked the trenches at the Park where the Days took place. We had to stand in line for lunch SO long, and sadly to say I didn't think my hamburger was good:(. But my brother Samuel did, so it might have just been me! After lunch was the reenactments, they reenacted a battle and it was very nice to see!!!!!!!!!!!! I bought a knife too! Who's a knife fan like me? Enjoy the pics and let me know what you think!

Left to right, Chloe, Samuel, Shalom, and Grace

Haha;) I made it into the picture!

Shalom is so pretty she always looks like a model

The knife I bought

Trenches

Union Soldiers

Confederate Soldiers


Sorry I couldn't post more!

  I thought you might enjoy the first chap of my book! But the first chapter is all you get for now!! Enjoy!

Chapter 1

 Rainsville, Texas. 1860

 

 Becky Taylor glanced up at the lowering sun. It was almost sundown and she should be getting back home to help Sally with dinner. But the thought of going back to that prison, that dungeon of pain and hurt, made her whole body shutter.

 The only reason she stayed in that prison was because her sister needed her, not that Sally couldn't take good care of herself. Her sister could sling and shoot a gun almost just as good as Becky herself. But the only comfort the two girls had was each other, and Becky couldn't imagine life without that comfort. Becky had thought of running away and disguising herself as man, and  joining the Texas rangers. But she didn't think a life of posing as a man suited Sally. Fact was, the idea didn't sound like the most joyful thing to her, either. But it sounded like an adventure and Becky loved adventure.

 Anything different from what women normally did! Becky slide her hand over her gun belt: yes, she truly loved being different.

 Her Ma was like that-different-toughest women you'd ever crossed paths with. The kindest, gentles, women ever, but when she got stern-she really got stern. She never went without her two six shooters, and encouraged her two daughters to do the same-which they always did willingly. Becky's Ma always had the kindest smile, no matter how cross her husband was, she was always had a smile. Becky never understood that about her Ma, and now it was too late to get any answers. At that thought her eyes burned as tears threatened to spill, but she quickly swiped them away.

   She had no time for stupid tears.

 She glanced up at the sun again, she really needed to get back, but it made her sick to think of another lonely evening around her drunken Pa.

 She slowly stood, Sally did need her help.

 She began the short walk back to their small rundown farm. If her Pa wasn't  drunk all the time maybe he could do some repairs on the farm. Boy, that was a big wish.

 Her thoughts turned back to her Ma, she truly missed her. How she would do anything to have her back. But it was impossible, her Ma was gone and Sally and her were alone. With no one in the whole world, except Uncle Fred.

 He wasn't their real Uncle, but that never mattered, he'd always treated the girls like he was their Pa.

 In a way he was, he had been in Rainsville, because he was on his way to the next town but the stage broke down and he was delayed. He'd met the girls, and had shown them such love, it was just easy to be friends with him. Sally was quicker to tell of their problems than Becky. He had offered tons of time for them to come live in Spur Junction with him. But they didn't want to take advantage of him. He even got to where he would come to Rainsville claiming he had busy, but Becky knew he had come only to see about the girls.

  Becky kicked the ground; why couldn't her Sally have a normal pa?

  Why had life treated them so unfair?

  Life had treated their Ma unfair, but she always managed to smile the rain away. Her ma had stated on several occasions that it was Jesus that made her so peaceful. Becky didn't know much about Jesus, only that if He was a loving God, He wouldn't let bad things happen to decent people.

 She would understand if He made bad things happen to her Pa, but not her Ma. She was a good women. As a result she was buried on a lonely hill overlooking their miserable cabin. Yes sir, Becky wanted nothing to do with God. Her life couldn't get any worse than it was now, which was pretty bad.

 Horse beats drew Becky out of her painful thoughts, she glanced up to see two riders approaching. She noticed the two men to be the young brothers who had just arrived in town, they had taken jobs at the bank. She'd only seen them once, and even then she hadn't gotten a good look at them. They brought their horses to a stop and the first one nodded.

 "Howdy, miss."

 Becky nodded slightly, the man looked to be a gentleman, but a girl could never be too careful.

 She turned leave when the other stopped her.

 "Kind of late for a walk, miss."

 Becky turned to look into the rude man's eyes. His eyes were cold and the color of steel. His look was piercing, and devilish. She noticed the other brother rolled his eyes.

 She stood up straight.

 "I don't think it's any of yer busy, sir."

 He smirked.

 "Jed Mitchell, this is my brother Brian."

 Brain nodded politely. Becky turned to walk away, when the retch spoke again.

 "I think you need a man to put you in your place."

 Brian barked, "Come on Jed, let her alone."

 Becky spun around and walked away, she could hear Jed laugh and them riding away. She gritted her teeth at the encounter.

 She rounded the corner and their cabin came in view, she sighed and headed on to the house. Her Pa was sitting on the porch smoking a cigarette. He demanded.

 "Where ya bin' ?"

 Becky turned to face the copra.

 "Bill-I've been walkin'."

 With that she marched into house, no sense giving him anytime to scold her.

 She walked in  the crummy kitchen just as Sally was pulling some rolls out of the oven.

 Becky smiled.

 "Sorry I was late."

 Sally smiled her knowing smile.

 "Thet's fine, but come give me a hand, huh."

 Becky saluted playfully and headed to help her only friend with supper.

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Becky strolled wearily into her and Sally's stuffy bedroom. It had been a long day and she was bone tired. Not tired from physical labor, but hurt emotions wore her out more than hard work ever would.

 She eased her gun belt off and hung it over the bed post on her side. Even when she was a sleep she always liked them close by, she could never be too careful. Jed Mitchell's piercing eyes came back to her and she shuddered. She made sure her guns were loaded, just out of caution with was stupid, she always had her gun loaded. But Jed had her shaken up, that man seemed like he came straight from hell.

 She slipped out of her wore dress into her nightgown. She walked over to a chest, by the bed, and pulled a letter out of the back of a picture of her Ma. She sat on the bed, and stared at it. Was now the time, her Ma had told her to be sure it was the right time in her heart. In all the two years Ma had been dead, she had never felt it was time.

 She leaned back and closed her eyes, as she was taken back to worst day of her life.

  Becky moved about the small kitchen, preparing lunch for her ma. Ma had been sick for two weeks and still showed no sign of improvement. Becky didn't even want to think that she might never. Becky shoved off those ugly thoughts, those thoughts were too much for a fifteen year old girl to bear on her shoulders.

 Becky dished up a bowl of broth and poured a cup of hot herbal tea. She hoped she would eat, Becky hadn't gotten her eat a bit in three days. She picked up the wooden tray and headed to Ma's room. As soon as she entered the sick room she could smell death. Becky straitened her sagging shoulders and walk over to Ma's bed.

 Her face was whiter than snow, the rims around her eyes were pick and her eyes were sunk in. Yet, in all her pain and misery, she smiled. Smiled at her worried daughter and gave her a bit of comfort in this trail.

 Becky laid the tray on the stand by the bed. Changed the cloth on her forehead and adjusted her pillows.

 Becky forced a smile.

 "Hey, Ma, ya got to eat somethin'."

 Ma smiled and took Becky's hand to guide her to sit beside her. Becky eased beside her dying Ma.

Ma coughed and Becky could see the pain in her eyes, she took Becky's hand for support. After the spell was over, Ma leaned back and smiled.

 "I'm really not hungry, why don't ya jest sit and talk to me."

 Becky sighed, she wished she could just force the broth down her ma's throat.

 "Sure Ma, but after ya have to eat."

 Ma let out a hoarse cough, it ate at Becky, because she could do nothing to help her.

 "Where's Bill?" Ma asked with a sickly frown.

 Becky's gut twisted.

 "Um, Ma, I think he went to town." She left it at that, no sense going into explanations.

 Ma sighed.

 "When things get ruff he always hits the bottle heavy."

 Becky clenched a fist at her side.

 "Ma, doesn't it make ya mad, thet he's never here fer ya."

 Ma coughed hard and long, then turned those sick-loving-eyes on Becky.

 "He's set up with me every night, holding my hand, whisperin' comfortin' words.  It's hard fer him too."

 Becky doubted that, but she held her tongue on that.

 "Ma, but he's always drinkin'-"

 "Not, always." Ma interrupted.

 "-Well, he's not nice all th' time. Fact is he's never nice."

 Ma squeezed Becky's hand and stated.

 "Becky, ya don't understand th' whole situation. I love yer pa and he loves me."

 Ma reached over took out a look a letter off the stand by the bed. She placed it in  Becky's hand.

 "Becky, I want ya to have this-but only read it when ya fill in yer heart it's th' right time. Please take care of Sally, make sure she's always safe."

 Becky swallowed.

 "Ma, don't talk like thet-"

 Ma gripped her hand harder and that cut Becky's voice off.

 "Becky, I would like to see Sally."

 Becky fought the tears. No, this couldn't happen. Not to her Ma.

 "Sally, is out black-berry pickin'. But don't worry, she'll be back soon."

 Ma shook her head and let out a tight cough.

 "No, there's no time. Tell her I love her, I already said what I needed to Bill,  and Becky..."

 Becky tried to hold back her emotions, for Ma's sake.

 "Yes?"

 Ma laid her hand on Becky's cheek.

 "I love ya."

 Then slowly her eyes fell shut.

 Becky shook her.

 "Ma, Ma, Ma..."

 Her voice faded unto sobs. The door busted open and Sally came in, Sally looked frightened.

 "What-what's wrong?"

 Becky looked at Sally.

 "She's dead."

 Sally broke into sobs, Becky stood up and took Sally into her arms. The girls held each other and cried, sharing their pain. After awhile, Becky and Sally pulled apart. Becky looked up to see Bill standing in the door way, she stared at him and he finally got the message and turned around. Becky though she saw a tear falling down his cheek, but she wasn't sure.

 She didn't think it was possible.

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"Becky, are ya alright?"

Becky was pulled out of the ugly memory by Sally, who was sitting in front of her with a look a complete look of worry on her face.

  Becky took a deep breath.

 "I'm fin-fine."

 Sally touched her arm and stated.

 "Yer cryin'."

Only then did Becky realize that tears were running down her face and Sally knew it wasn't like her to cry .

 She wiped them away quickly.

 "I'm alright, jest thinkin' 'bout Ma."

Sally dropped her hand from Becky's arm, she started down at her hands in her lap. When she looked up, Becky could tell she was fighting the urge to cry. That made Becky's heart melt, Sally didn't usually hold back her feeling's. She was trying be strong for Becky.

 Becky really needed to get a hold of herself.

 "So, um anythin' new happen while I was away this afternoon?" Becky knew nothing knew happened, but she had to get herself out of this mood.

  "Yeah."

   Surprise, she guessed anything was possible. Maybe.

 "We got a letter from Uncle Fred. He asked us to please reconsider comin' to Spur Junction."

 Becky tensed, boy was she tempted, Bill had been drinking more than ever lately and his attitude showed it.

 "Hey, we're tuff, we can stick this out."

 Sally sighed and looked at Becky, tears were fast flowing.

 "Ma's gone, and I've given up hope on Pa lovin' me." She gave Becky the coldest look she had never seen on her face before. "I don't know how much longer I can stick this out."

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"Hello, Miss Taylor."

Becky turned around to face Ted Mitchell. 

 Her whole body tensed. What was he doing in their barn?                             

 Becky lifted her chin, she would not show any fear to this devil.

 "What are ya doin' in my barn?" She demanded boldly.

 He smile and stepped a little closer.

 "Just had a talk with your Pa, and I came to say goodbye."

 He stepped closer, she pulled her gun and pointed it dead center at his evil heart.

 "Unless ya want this to really be a goodbye party, I 'jest ya better be goin'."

 He glared than, smiled and walked away. Soon she heard hoof beats trotting off.    She took a deep breath than slowly left the barn, holstering her gun as she went.      She headed straight for the house, maybe Sally could tell her why that low-down-skunk was talking to Bill. She opened the door and Bill was standing there, he shoved past her and headed for the barn.

  She rolled her eyes and walked into the poor excuse for a kitchen.

 "Sally, where are ya?" She looked around but didn't see her.

 "Sal-" She stopped when she saw Sally come from their room. Pale white.

 "Sally," Becky said as she guided her to a chair, "Ya look like ya've seen a ghost."

 Sally swallowed deeply than turned her pale blue eyes on Becky.

 "Its-its Jed and Brain Mitchell, they-they made an agreement with Bill."

 Becky frowned; what, did Bill sell the farm? Big deal.

 "What kinda deal?"

 Sally looked frightened to death as she answered.

 "Marriage arrangements. Ya to Jed and me to Brian. A week from today."