David leaned in and brought his hand to his mouth, pretending to whisper: “I’ve seen others use this self-deprecating ploy to end arguments. There’s no rebuttal to it. It’s pure genius. Best just to move along and pretend it never happened,” David said, playing along with the humor.
“Hmm, quite right Lad, quite right,” Doc responded with a slight nod and subtle wink.
“So how far of a stone’s throw away were you?” David asked.
“We had just left Dalton, on our way to Chattanooga when I received word of your… escape,” Doc said, stepping carefully over the last word.
“DALTON!” David blurted out in surprise. “Like in the Battle of Dalton?”
“Yes David. Why, were you there?”
“Not only was I there, I was probably responsible for supplying you with some of your patients,” David said, feeling uncomfortable with his words.
“I don’t understand. Why would you be responsible for my patients, unless…”
“Unless he was a Confederate soldier in that battle,” Gen. Sherman cut in, answering the question. Turning to David, he said “Maybe you should fill Jeb in on some of the details.”
David nodded approvingly to Gen. Sherman, then smiled cryptically to Doc.
“Well, in a nutshell… after I was captured in Chattanooga, they sent me to the Andersonville prison camp. I was able to escape, but I stumbled into the enemy again. I didn’t tell them who I was, so I think they figured I was just another farmer they could recruit. I was then forced to fight. When I saw a chance to escape, I grabbed it and voila, here I am,” he said, struggling to sound believable.
“You fought as a Reb?” Doc asked, in disbelieving tone.
“Still have the uniform to prove it,” David said, now smirking.
“Quite a story, wouldn’t you say Jeb?” Gen. Sherman asked.
“I’m speechless,” Doc said to David, widening his eyes slightly, his cryptic signal only detected by David.
David nodded in understanding and replied, “Well, those are just the rough details. I can fill you in further when we have more time.”
“From what Gen. Grant told me, you two will have plenty of time to discuss the details,” Gen. Sherman said.
“Why is that?” David asked.
“He thinks it would be befitting if you were sent back to your previous position under Gen. Thomas, performing surgeries with ole Jeb here,” Gen. Sherman said, pointing.
David smile broadly. Turning to Jeb, his said, “Just like old times, eh?”
“My thoughts exactly, Lad,” he said with a cryptic smile.
-----*-----*-----*-----
As the two stepped from the tent, David suddenly remembered an issue he needed to resolve with Gen. Sherman. He stopped and pointed to his tent.
“That’s mine, Doc. Why don’t you head on over and I’ll catch up shortly. I need to discuss something with Gen. Sherman.
“Certainly, David,” Doc responded in pleasant tone. “Mighty fancy living, I might add. Hope you haven’t become too accustomed to it yet?” he joked.
“Don’t tell me you’re still living the simple life,” David joked in return.
“You know me. I don’t fancy rubbing elbows with the aristocracy,” he retorted, rolling his eyes in disgust. “When we return to Gen. Thomas’ command, we’ll be living as soldiers again.”
“I was afraid you’d say that,” David teased, then added, “I wonder if Gen. Sherman will let me take the tent with me.”
Jeb smiled, his great white beard opening wide, showing his white teeth.
“It’s SO good to see you again Lad,” he said.
Before David could speak, Doc turned and headed away. David smiled to himself and re-entered the general’s tent.
-----*-----*-----*-----
Geoff paced the grass floor of David’s large twelve foot by ten foot canvas tent. Every few passes, he sat in a wooden folding chair and waited. Fidgeting wildly, he stood and continued his pacing back and forth.
After nearly a half hour, he walked to the opening of the tent and peered outside searching for David. With no luck in his sighting, he turned back inside and continued his pacing.
With grass now lying worn and flat, he sat in the wooden folding chair once more and thought about David’s predicament. The last visual he remembered was of him being led away by guards.
“Man, not good. What could he have done to get himself in trouble? It just doesn’t make any sense,” he said to himself out loud.
Shifting in his chair, his mind continued along negative tangents.
“If they grabbed him, maybe they’ll be grabbing me next,” he said. “Maybe I should just leave… get out of here before they grab me too.”
His mind now frantically raced as he tried to think of how he would survive on his own. Tapping his fingers wildly on his leg, he felt frustration over the unknown.
“But why? Why would they grab him? He can’t be in trouble,” he blurted.
He thought about the looks on the guard’s faces and the authoritative posture they held while marching David away.
“No, he’s definitely in trouble, that’s for sure,” he said with certainty.
The more he thought about David’s plight, the more he resigned himself to the same fate.
“I’m next. I have to be next. We’re both connected. Whatever he did, I’m sure those bastards will blame me too.”
Instantly, he stood and searched around the tent. Hanging off a tent post was David’s haversack. Resting against David’s cot was a rifle. At the base of his bed was a footlocker. He rushed to it and flung it open.
“Cool,” he said aloud.
Reaching in, he found a colt revolver, a box of cartridges, some extra clothing, and some hardtack crackers. He pulled out what he needed and laid the articles on the bed. Grabbing the haversack behind him, he began to fill it.
Worry festered in his mind. He now reasoned he was truly alone. He could no longer count on anyone for his survival. He felt fear of what lay ahead… and fear that he might fail to save his brother.
He stood and shouldered the pack. Taking one last look around, he grabbed the rifle, then made his way to the exit. He peeked outside, barely taking notice of those around. Quickly, he exited.
Outside the tent, his head darted to the right. All seemed clear. He looked to his left. Walking toward him, he noticed a short, portly older gentlemen heading his way. With the man’s long white beard and round belly, his first thoughts were of Santa Claus. He shot him a nervous stare, then hurried away, marching double-time speed toward the open field.
“Son, a word with you if you please,” Geoff heard the man call out from behind him.
He pretended not to hear and quickened his pace.
“Son, stop where you are,” the voice demanded, his tone now stern and uncompromising.
Geoff looked over his shoulder. Following behind him, he could see the older man hurrying along, trying to catch up.
He thought for a moment, then began to run. Instantly, he felt a crushing weight on top of his. As the two men fell to the ground, he felt the man’s arms and legs wrap around him in both a headlock and leglock fashion, effectively preventing him from moving. With the scratchy feeling of the man’s beard rubbing against his neck, Geoff knew exactly who tackled him.
“Back off Santa,” Geoff shouted in anger. “Don’t make me lay the smack down on your wrinkly ass.”
As he tried to wiggle out of the locks, the older man held him tighter.
“First of all, my ass isn’t wrinkly and second, my name isn’t Santa… it’s Jeb Morgan if you please.”
Geoff heard the name, but refused to believe it. His thoughts raced with confusion.
‘Couldn’t be’ he said inside his mind. ‘What are the odds?’
Suddenly, he heard another voice calling from behind them.
“Jeb, you all right?” the voice shouted in panicked tone.
Geoff heard the voice and instantly knew it was
David.
“David?” he shouted back.
“Geoff?” David responded in surprise.
“You two know each other?” Doc said as he began to loosen his grip.
David stood over the top of the two and smiled.
“I can’t leave you two alone for a second, can I?” he bemoaned. He laughed a moment, then continued, “Doc? Meet Geoff Robbins. Geoff? Meet Doctor Jebediah Morgan.”
“Oh my God,” Geoff responded simply.
“Who in blazes is Geoff Robbins?” Doc responded, still holding his grip.
David squatted down low, stared at the two for a moment, then spoke:
“Doc, it’s ok. You can let go now. Geoff’s with me,” he said.
Slowly, the old man released his grip, letting Geoff move away. The two stood and eyed each other with a strange stare. As a smile began to spread across Geoff’s face, Doc turned to David.
“Would it be too much to ask for an explanation?” he said in disgusted tone.
“It would be my pleasure. But maybe we should move to a place less conspicuous and more private… such as my tent?” David asked.
“Agreed,” Doc responded simply.
Before they could take another step, David made formal introductions.
“As I was saying before… Geoff, this is Doc Morgan. Doc, this is Geoff Robbins. Now why don’t you two kiss and make up, ok?” he said, jokingly.
Doc extended his hand. Instantly, Geoff grabbed it and shook.
“I’m very pleased to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you,” Geoff said, still shaking Doc’s hand.
“I’m sorry Lad, but it seems you have me at a disadvantage. I know nothing of you… but I have a suspicion I’m about to find out,” he said, flashing David a knowing stare.
-----*-----*-----*-----
Inside David’s tent, the three discussed the details of David’s and Geoff’s time travel. With Geoff seated on the bed and Doc seated in the wooden chair, David began to speak.
“First of all, to start, I just want to say thank you for saving my life.”
“I wasn’t aware I saved it,” Doc responded, his expression now confused.
“The story Gen. Sherman reported was actually true. After I left you, back at Chattanooga, I almost made it to the time portal when I was stopped by two Rebel soldiers. We had a struggle and I was able to overpower them. Unfortunately, it was only for a moment. As I was running for the time portal, one of them shot me in the back as I was stepping through it.”
“I’ll be darned,” Doc responded in surprise. “So the rumors were true after all.”
“Absolutely,” David nodded.
“Rumors have been surfacing about you vanishing into thin air ever since you left. Because we had planned this from the start, naturally I was thrilled to hear you had made it back to the future. You can only imagine my horror when someone had reported you wounded. I’ll tell you truthfully Lad, at that moment, I felt I had lost a son.”
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that Doc, but I think it was that sorrow that drove you to take action to save my life.”
“What action did I take? Or should I rephrase that: what action will I take?” he said, with great curiosity.
“Well, after I entered the time portal with my wound, a team of nurses and surgeons treated me and saved my life. The man responsible for orchestrating the surgery was none other than Dr. Phineas Morgan… your great great grandson,” David said with a smile.
“My what?” Doc exclaimed, now standing.
“You heard me right. Your great great grandson. According Dr. Phineas Morgan, he told me you learned about my wound shortly after the war ended and prepared your children and their future children to save me. It was a great plan, because it obviously worked like a charm.”
“I’m nearly speechless,” Doc replied.
David’s face turned uneasy and his eyes filled with worry.
“David, what’s wrong?” he asked.
“Doc, this really poses a problem. The only way I’ll survive is if you carry out your plan. I fear that now that you see me alive and in front of you, you might not carry it out with the same intensity as you did the first time, which might cause your plan to fail.”
Doc stood up from his chair and walked to David. He placed his hand on his shoulder and said, “On the contrary, Lad. Hearing your words has left little doubt in my mind of what I must do. You can count on me. I will save your life.”
Seeing the intensity in Doc’s eyes left little doubt in his mind of his friend’s word. He breathed a sigh of relief and continued.
“Now, you’re probably wondering what I’m doing with junior over here,” David said, pointing to Geoff in jest.
“The thought did cross my mind,” Doc responded sarcastically.
“Hey man, who’re you calling junior? I fought in battles, remember? I’m a man,” Geoff said, sternly.
Doc looked toward Geoff, then back to David and laughed. “The lad reminds me of my boys.”
David smirked, then responded, “Relax Geoff, I’m just teasing. After everything we’ve been through, I think you’ve earned the right to be called a man.”
Geoff beamed as David continued.
“Anyway Doc, why don’t you take a seat? This part of the story might take a while…”
For the next half hour, David elaborated on the details of Bobby’s surgery, their time travel and the battles they fought in together. Doc listened intently, surprised, enthralled and thoroughly entertained. At times, when David missed a detail, Geoff jumped in to fill the areas in question. As the old doctor listened, his expression turned from amused to worry.
“Lad, I’m very sorry for your loss. Losing a family member is the worst pain a person can experience,” he said to Geoff. “but like David, I too feel this endeavor of yours is fraught with peril. I beg of you to reconsider. I don’t see this ending well… for anyone,” Doc pleaded.
Geoff stiffened as he sat on the bed. He wasn’t prepared to hear the old doctor’s words. He considered them only for a moment, then remembered Bobby’s smiling face, the same image he recalled time and again. He stood and faced the two men.
“I appreciate the kind words, but going back without my brother isn’t worth going back at all. I made up my mind weeks ago. I’m going to save Bobby or die trying. That’s all there is to it,” he said resolutely.
Doc stared at Geoff; his mind processed the teen’s statement. Realizing there was nothing he could do to change his mind at that moment, he nodded simply in acquiescence.
Once again, he leaned toward David and said, “Yup, just like my lads.”
-----*-----*-----*-----
Chapter 12
May 11, 1864
Even before the sun’s rays began to set, the two followed Jeb Morgan off to the south to their new assignment with Gen. George Thomas and his Army of the Cumberland. Riding along on their newly requisitioned horses, the three made good time through the valley. As nighttime fell, they stopped along the banks of a stream and made camp.
With their dinner finished, the three sat around the edge of the fire for warmth and comfort. Excited by their reunion, their time by the fire was anything but quiet.
“I’m just amazed that you were able to get Gen. Sherman to allow you to take Geoffrey with us. It’s very unusual that the army allowed a talent such as a sharp shooter to go unutilized. What did you say to him to convince him to release the lad?” Doc asked.
Geoff stared at the old doctor for a moment, unsure of how to feel about hearing his full name used in general conversation.
David saw the look on Geoff face and responded. “Well Doc, Geoffrey over here,” he said, pointing. “was my personal assistant before the war. I promised the general that I could save far more lives with him helping me, than he could take while fighting for him.”
“Huh… and he bought that?” Doc asked.
“Hook, line and sinker,” David responded.
“I’m unfamiliar wi
th that term. I’m assuming that means yes?”
“Duh… that saying is older that dirt,” Geoff teased.
“I hardly doubt that Geoffrey. Dirt is the oldest thing on Earth,” Doc responded logically.
“Geoff, give Doc a break, huh? The term we’re using is relatively new, as are lead sinkers for fishing. They won’t be invented until the next century.”
Prisoner in Time (Time travel) Page 32