by Larry Hunt
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Homecoming
Getting back on the road to Gettysburg Malinda and Luke both know they have to make up some of their lost time. Although it was for a good cause, their rescue of the Anthony family has delayed them for over a month. Malinda is beginning to think they will be fortunate to return to Scarlett before Christmas.
The road up the Shenandoah Valley has been good, and the, families they meet along the way, have been cordial and friendly. There aren’t too many evenings they have to camp out in the open; most families they meet offer them food and shelter for the night. Malinda is grateful for these small amenities, she hates to sleep on the ground; although, she had rather die than admit that fact to Luke.
The length of the days is beginning to shorten, and the leaves in northern Virginia have already turned to brilliant brown, reds and yellows. Malinda is amazed at the panoramic scenes she views lining the sides of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Picturesque? She thought the sight of this fall foliage belonged on a postcard. The days are lazy and serene. It is a perfect fall.
How sudden this tranquility can change! They travel up the picturesque Shenandoah Valley getting closer and closer to Winchester, Virginia. Rounding a curve in the road just a few miles out of Strasburg they meet a band of armed men emerging from a trail leading into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. These men block the road.
Slowly riding up to the first man standing in the middle of the road Luke asks, “Sir, what is the meaning of this? Please step aside out of our way!”
“Not before you pay the toll,” answers the demanding highwayman.
Luke pats his .44 with his hand and says again, “Move, or I will pay the toll with this.”
“That Colt of yours only got six shells Mister. I don’t believe you can kill all of us.”
“You’re right there friend, but I can guarantee you Sir, six of you won’t be around to count noses to see who is left!”
Riding up from the rear of the group is a well-dressed outlaw. Well-dressed if compared to the other rabble standing in the road. “Hold on there! We don’t want no trouble, just pay your toll and be on your way. We call it War retribution for the South.
“So, you fellers are Southern men? Whom did you ride with?”
“Sir, we are all loyal Virginians, we fought to the very end with our leader General Robert E. Lee.”
“Bobby Lee huh? I guess you fellers didn’t hear he surrendered at Appomattox? The War’s over.”
“Yeah, it might be over for him, but it ain’t over for us. It will never be over for us - the true Sons of the Confederacy.”
“Well, you boys ever heard of Jefferson Davis?”
“Jefferson Davis? You don’t mean the head of our government President Jefferson Davis? Darn right, if’n he hadn’t of got caught we’d have moved to Mexico and still be fightin’ them Yankees. Now give us your money!”
“Hold on there, let me reach inside my coat pocket, I have something I would like you to see,” Luke said holstering his pistol.
“All right, but you take it slow. You pull out one of them palm pistols, and I’m aimin’ to kill you right here and now.”
Luke reached inside his coat and withdrew the note written by Jefferson Davis granting him safe passage. He handed it to the closest bandit.
The outlaw handed it to the man in charge, “Here Captain you knows I can’t read.”
The Captain unfolds the scrap of paper and reads, “Why, this here is written on official Confederate paper and signed by President Jefferson Davis himself. It says for us to allow free passage to this man Luke Scarburg. Well, I never...”
“You think that’s good enough for you gentlemen, you Sons of the Confederacy?” Luke said mockingly.
“It shore is Mister Scarburg, we’re sorry to have troubled you. You may proceed, and good luck to you both.”
Riding out of sight of the bandits Malinda questions Luke, “Son, where in the world did you get that note from Jefferson Davis?”
“Ah, Mother, that’s a long story.”
From Winchester, Virginia they travel up the road to Charles Town, West Virginia. From Charles Town, it is only a two-day ride to Frederick, Maryland. From Frederick, the journey is less than forty miles to their destination - Gettysburg. As they pass by Frederick Luke says to his mother, “We’ll be in Gettysburg in two or three days.”
“Son, I can hardly wait. Do you believe Mr. Anthony was telling the truth about seeing Matthew at the rail fence?”
“Mother, why would he have a reason to lie to us? Yes, I think he saw Matthew, and Matt was alive at that time. The question is: what happened to him later?”