by Loni Lynne
Tonya’s shoulders slumped as she sat heavily in the corner chair. “I was afraid of that.” Her voice lowered along with her head, leaving her hair to hang around her face. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can’t even explain what’s happening.” She blurted out along with a volley of tears and frustration. “That’s why I didn’t take the kid’s hand last night when he reached out to me. After what happened with Jared, I didn’t want to make the same mistake.”
The sobs racked her frame. Feeling awkward Camden didn’t know what to do. Instinctively he walked over to her and knelt in front of her, lifting her chin up with his finger and tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Hey…okay, don’t cry. I’m sure there’s some explanation for all this.”
Tonya slid out of the chair and into his arms, curling up into him like his cat Sheba back home. But she continued to cry, sniffling and trying to talk in between her sobs. Placing his arms around her back, he held her and let her cry. He didn’t know anything about what she was going through…he’d only learned that ghosts were real, but she was dealing with some major shit.
Camden had no answers but as she her sobs subsided into hiccups and occasional sniffles he sensed a moment of odd contentment in holding her. Emotional women weren’t his thing. But so far, he hadn’t done badly for an early morning without any coffee.
#
Tonya paid for coffee and bagel sandwiches before they headed off to Vickie’s place. They picked up a couple more cups of plain black coffee just in case anyone else needed some. Camden wasn’t sure who all would be at Vickie’s. If it was anything like last night, they might have to make another coffee run.
There were just the four of them and Jared appeared to be more confused than he had last night.
“Coffee?” Camden held out the paper cup with the cardboard protector full of coffee.
The ancient man studied the odd container and took it but couldn’t quite figure out the plastic lid.
“Here, let me get you a mug,” Tonya offered.
Why hadn’t he thought of that? Of course Jared would be more comfortable drinking out of a proper cup.
“Cream or sugar?” she asked, pouring the steaming, black brew into a good sized mug instead of one of Vickie’s tea cups.
“Now I ain’t one for all them fancy fixin’s, miss. Never could afford such.”
Tonya smiled. Camden realized he liked her smile. It was much better than the frazzled, distraught complexion she’d had earlier. Her hair was still a mess and her face was plain, washed clean of make-up, either from crying or just the hours of wearing it off.
“Well, you are welcome to both. It’s not a luxury any more. It’s quite common to have.” She offered him the mug of black coffee but gestured to the condiments on the counter.
If Jared thought cream and sugar were fancy fixings, Camden probably shouldn’t mention Starbucks various combinations of ‘coffee’. It would blow the poor guy’s mind.
“I just got off an Internet group discussion with my friends,” Vickie blustered into the room from down the hall. “They’re at a loss, again. It seems like I have all the luck when it comes to odd paranormal activity.”
Tonya slumped into her crestfallen state. Oh God, Camden hoped she wasn’t going to start crying again.
“I’m sorry, Vickie. I don’t know what to do.”
“Well for one, I was teasing.” She laughed. “And two, losing sleep and fretting about something out of your control is not going to solve anything. I need you energized. If your aura and energy levels start fading, we are going to have more trouble than this.”
“What do we need to do?” Camden asked, swallowing a sip of hot coffee.
“First, you need to take Mr. Evansworth to the barber. A shave and a trim of his matted hair is going to help.”
“Sorry, ma’am. I haven’t had proper time to bathe in a month of Sundays. We’ve been trekkin’ up from Virginy north with General Lee.”
“I’m not faulting you, Jared. Just thought it might be a nice change of pace for you. A hot bath, some clean clothes, and proper grooming will help you feel a bit more in place.” Vickie nodded to Camden. “Mr. Phillips will take you out to get squared away.”
“Um…I would be glad to, Vickie, but I’m without mode of transportation.” Camden cleared his throat.
“That’s not a problem. I have Allen taking you in the limo. I’ve made special arrangements with The King’s Closet on Main for some proper clothing and then Mr. Davis over at The Gentleman’s Joint for a bit of grooming. I trust them, or more importantly, they like Kenneth’s business. Confidentiality is their code. Kenneth is footing the bill,” Vickie instructed.
“In the meantime, young lady,” Vickie turned to Tonya. “You have work to do. You are going to the historical society and scouring records with April until you find everything you can on our guest. That will be our first step.”
“Will I be able to return home?” Jared asked warily.
“We are going to try, but it depends on what History dictates. Right now, you are somewhere between two worlds in two different times. Let’s hope history can repeat itself.”
Chapter Eight
Over two hours of historical files later, Tonya was able to narrow down the actual name of their unearthly guest. A record of Jared C. Evansworth having joined up with Kershaw’s Third, South Carolina Regiment in May of 1862 during the reorganization of the units, gave the first insight into their subject. Originally from Spartanburg County, the twenty-four year old had gone on to serve as a corporal, but that was the end of his records. There were no records of his mustering out in any of the archives searched.
“It’s not unheard of,” April said as way of support. “The records kept during those times were very limited.”
“Do you think he might have been one of the missing or a deserter?” Tonya whispered, thinking it such a harsh term.
Shrugging, April went on to search a few more data bases of possibilities she had personal access to, being the director. “You have to remember the term, ‘deserter’ was often misconstrued. There were times when men would leave one unit and not be included in the muster roster, only to have joined up with another unit but never legally removed from the first. There were those, especially in the South who deserted only because their wives and mothers wrote letters agonizing over the fact that the Northern troops were invading their lands and burning their communities. They wanted them home because they were at a loss.”
“So technically it wasn’t as horrible as death or court martial?”
“Don’t get me wrong, some men were made examples of, depending on their unit. But for the most part, there were just too many on both sides of the war to do mass executions. Even after the war, Abraham Lincoln pardoned many of them. Those who were convicted may have been literally branded with a ‘D’ scorched into their hip.”
“Wow. I guess it was a different era.” Tonya sighed.
“But I’m not finding too much on what happened to our friend.” April tapped away. “Perhaps I’m going about this all wrong.” She stopped, tapping her fingers against her chin in thought. “Let me contact a few people. In the meantime, you look like hell and something tells me you haven’t eaten or slept since Jared arrived.”
“I can’t. I’m so wound up…”
“Now you know how I felt when I brought James to life.”
“But you figured everything out. It was your ability to touch artifacts. Your gift of psychometry,” Tonya noted.
“It’s more than that. It took me awhile to realize, stubborn as I am at times, but James…Kenneth taught me how to believe in fate and understand the unique pull on time and reason. There are things beyond our control, beyond scientific logic that are placed before us. We have to understand when fate is there under our noses and what we must do with our lives. Don’t discount anything…ever.”
“No matter how crazy?”
“Especially if it seems crazy and irrational. That is wh
en God, fate, kismet, whatever powers at hand deem us to take action.” April brushed a wisp of hair out of her face and smiled reassuringly. “Now go home. Get some sleep and something substantial to eat before your father has my ass. Because if he gets on me, then my mother gets on me…that is one fiasco I don’t want to endure.”
Tonya smiled. “I hear you. Will you call me if you find anything important?”
“You’ll be the first to know, so keep your cell phone on hand.”
Tonya hugged April. “Thank you so much, April. I wouldn’t know what to do without your guidance…in everything.”
“Yeah well, don’t fall in love with ghosts…it gets complicated.”
“But if fate leads me there, I have to follow, right?” she teased.
April stuck out her tongue. “Shut up. Stop taking everything I say so literal.”
What were the odds, though? April and James? Sean and Millie? Could she be the reason Jared is here in this time frame? Was he her destiny?
#
“Are these supposed to fit so tight? I’m afraid my man parts might be at risk.”
Camden noted the jeans design in relationship to the worn cotton trousers Jared had been wearing. Never wearing a pair of old fashioned cotton trousers himself, he didn’t have a comparison.
“It’s how they are styled. You’re fine. Nothing will be hurt…unless you zip your man parts up in the zipper.” Camden laughed.
Jared looked down, opening the narrow placket of material to expose the metal teeth he’d just zipped. “It does look a bit dangerous.” Glancing up, he reached for one of the dozen or so shirts their clothing clerk had brought out for him to try. “Whatever happened to buttons and hooks? They were fine and didn’t look so menacing.”
“We still have them, but not as often, mostly on slacks. But then, they still have zippers, too.”
“God almighty!” Jared shrugged into a t-shirt. “I might as well be neckid!”
Camden noticed the lean lines of Jared’s torso. He had an athletic build which he hadn’t suspected beneath the loose fitting, hundred and fifty year old clothing. The Confederate soldiers weren’t always afforded a uniform. Most wore what they had on their backs when they’d enlisted.
It was a good thing Tonya wasn’t here. She might be staring at the ripped abs and broad shoulders stretching the navy blue t-shirt tight. Nah, he couldn’t see Tonya as he had other girls. She was a serious, nerd girl. Jocks were not her thing.
Jared took the shirt off, grumbling about how uncomfortable clothing were. The clerk suggested a larger size. Trying it on and looking at himself in the three way mirror, the t-shirt was much more relaxed fitting and he approved.
Walking out of the men’s clothing store with three pairs of jeans, two pairs of khaki’s, various t-shirts, collared sport shirts, and button downs, they headed over to the shoe store for loafers, tennis shoes, and Italian leather dress shoes. Thank God this was all on Kenneth Miles’ tab.
“Now where to?”
“You have an appointment for grooming.”
“But I bathed already. Miss Vickie showed me how to use the water spout thing.” He mimicked the shower head with his hands. “It was very nice. I will need to get one when I return home.”
“This is about your hair and beard. You look grizzly and much like a homeless man.”
“I’ve been marching all over Northern Virginy and across the damn Potomac and you’re worried about my appearance? Don’t you know there’re more important things to worry about? The South is on the verge of victory. Our views and our lifestyles will not be subject to harsh judgement. Our homes will not be burned and crops devastated by those damn Yanks. We’re fighting for our rights to be free, to govern as we see fit.”
Vickie had privately instructed them that history was not to be discussed. Although he knew he was in 2015, Jared was not to know anything differently about life as he knew it until they could figure out what to do. If they could send him back in time, the less he knew about what happened in his future, the better. His time line couldn’t be altered.
The seclusion of their trips, via Kenneth’s limo and driver, kept the outside world to a minimum. For now, Jared would be housed with Vickie whose house had a simplicity of furniture from his time, even though her kitchen appliances amused him greatly. Her love of afternoon teas were standard tradition because of her partial southern upbringing so there was a kindred of souls.
Camden admired the spirit and strength of character. Having come from the South, he knew about the ways of life and the strong history. He’d even heard that some of his ancestors had fought in the Civil War, but he’d always taken it for granted. The Civil War was only history to him.
His family was part of the rich traditions of the South. At one time, they’d owned a plantation up in mid-state along one of the rivers. The Phillips name was popular in the Carolina’s. There were Confederate officers, plantation owners, founding fathers back into the time of the Revolutionary War and beyond with that name. His mother was even one of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
They’d come from the traditional, hard-working lands and fields in which their families had settled and built up. Having provided commerce in trade from cotton to tobacco and fought to bring the south back to the glory, they had before the War Between the States. It would be nice to share a bit of that southern pride with Jared.
They were secreted into the back of the men’s spa, The Gentleman’s Joint, where Jared’s hair was washed, dried, and trimmed. His reddish-blond beard and mustache were trimmed and shaped neatly. Toes and finger nails were sports groomed, removing weeks or months of filth caked beneath.
Camden went to take care of the payment, talking to the young lady at the registration counter. Holding her attention with his charm and good looks, Camden wasn’t a stranger to a flirtatious female. He enjoyed it. But her eyes drifted suddenly and her expression changed when the door behind them opened.
“Oh my!” the cute receptionist gushed breathlessly.
Turning around, there stood Jared, groomed and looking like a male model for a gentleman’s magazine. The receptionist couldn’t take her eyes off of him. Camden admittedly felt a sting of jealously. Usually he was the center of attention when it came to girls. Now he had competition.
Chapter Nine
Tonya, April, and the rest of the Wilton Women were enjoying afternoon tea when the boys returned from their mission. Every eye looked up, every voice hushed in an eerie silence. The ticking of the mantle clock echoed loudly.
“Oh Lord,” Dottie whispered in awe. “Houston, we have a problem.”
Maybe Camden wasn’t seeing what they saw. What was the issue? Other than the girl at the spa ogling Jared, he didn’t see anything wrong. Telling himself on the ride home the girl was just a fickle female. Jared did not look like a red-haired version of Chris Hemsworth as the girl had told him. Of course Jared had no idea who she was talking about. He’d probably never even heard of Thor.
“He cleans up good,” Vicki noted.
Dottie’s fixation on their historical friend didn’t bother him, seeing Tonya’s reaction was a bit disheartening. Just this morning she’d been crying in his lap.
“Amazing!” Dottie breathed.
Vickie exhaled a deep breath. “Okay, Dot, that’s enough.” The leveled look she gave the group individually made it clear that nothing more was to be discussed about Jared’s looks. “There is still much to learn and we need to get Jared back to his battalion before it’s too late.”
Jared nodded. “The general won’t be happy if I’m not there for another muster. I’m no deserter.”
“I don’t think you need to worry about it right now. We will make sure we get you back where you belong on time.” Vickie tried to smile, but Camden noticed the worried lines in her normally easy-going features. She just didn’t want to alarm anyone, especially their guest of honor.
“Let’s see what we can work out. In the meantime, why don’t you an
d Tonya take Jared and his new things over to your place, Camden? I originally thought he could stay here, but he might feel more comfortable with people his own age than sitting around with a bunch of motherly hens.”
“Speak for yourself, Victoria.” Dottie grumped. “I’m well in my prime. I might even be able to jump start the heart of our young friend.”
“I know how you are and jumping the young man is what I’m afraid of.”
Virginia threw down her linen napkin and stood to clear the dishes. “Would you two knock it off? I can’t be around you two without you bickering.”
“It’s my house. I’m entitled to speak rationally,” Vickie said.
April covered her face with her hand, or tried to, and Tonya jumped up to collect her tote bag, so they could perhaps beat a hasty retreat before things got too crazy.
“I think taking you guys back to your place is a perfect idea. Let’s go.”
Jared followed them out the door after saying his salutations to the lovely Wilton Women.
“I don’t think I understand. Why would jumping me be an issue? It’d be a hoot to see Miss Dottie jump that high…at her age.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re right, Jared. She’s too old to be jumping anyone,” Tonya replied, trying hard not to choke on her hidden mirth.
Camden wondered if engaging Jared in the history of slang would be considered in the rules. He sure as hell wasn’t going to be the one to address the issue.
#
Pulling up at the apartment complex, Tonya helped them grab the many bags and boxes of clothing and personal items the guys had purchased. She would stay just long enough to get Jared settled in before heading home. Still suffering from the inability to come to terms with Jared’s arrival, she only hoped that Miss Vickie and the rest of the women could come up with a solution before it was too late.
“You had to live on the top floor,” Tonya groused.
“It wasn’t my decision. I’m just here to work…”
Bumping into Camden’s solid back at the top of the stairs, she nearly ended up tumbling back down them if it wasn’t for Jared catching her from behind. “Hey! What’s the…”