Prisoner in Time (Time travel) (43 page)

“He’s here, Sir.”

Instantly, David stiffened. His mind raced with anxiety as he tried to understand the source of his troubles. A moment later, Gen. Sherman stepped outside the entrance to his tent. His face looked stern, his posture cold and rigid.

Stopping in front of him, David said, “Sir, is there something wrong?”

“Follow me inside,” Gen. Sherman replied bluntly.

“Yes Sir,” David responded simply.

As he stepped forward, the two guards moved behind him. David looked nervously over his shoulder as he was now being ushered into the tent.

Gen. Sherman stopped short and stared at David.

“I believe you two know each other,” the general said in a dramatic tone.

He stood aside, extended his hand and motioned David to pass him.

David took another step and stopped. His heart began to beat wildly.

“My God Lad, it really
IS
you!” shouted a voice from the rear of the tent.

“DOC! Oh my God, Doc, what are you doing here?” David responded, in shock and surprise.

Instantly, the two hurried toward each other. As Jebediah Morgan extended his hand, David brushed it aside and hugged him. In the quiet of the tent, two men remembered the last moment they embraced, shortly before David left for the future just five months before.

“You’ve lost some weight,” David teased.

“And you’re looking well yourself,” Doc responded, barely able to speak.

“When I rode away, I thought for sure I’d never see you again,” David replied, tears welling in his eyes.

“I thought the same Lad. I’ve been distraught ever since.”

As the two pulled away, smiles beamed from the other officers around the room.

David turned to Gen. Sherman and asked, “How… how did you know? Where did… Who told…” With his mind spinning, David could barely finish a thought.

“I thought you’d be pleased,” Gen. Sherman responded with a great smile that spread across his face. “As soon as you arrived, I sent off a telegraph to Ulysses informing him that you’ve been found. After several exchanges, he insisted we send for Doc Morgan… he knew you two were close. As luck would have it, this ole coot was just a stone’s throw away. I know that Gen. Grant wanted to be here too, but regrettably, he’s engaged in affairs elsewhere with Gen. Lee.”

Looking over to Gen. Sherman, Doc Morgan said, “Old coot? We’re near the same age, and the last time we tangled, I believe I emerged victorious.”

“That was near twenty years ago in our Indian fighting days. Since then you’ve gained weight, and I’ve gained intelligence. I suspect it might be an even match now,” Gen. Sherman joked.

Doc leaned toward David. Pretending to whisper, he said aloud, “See how Bill employs skillful double talk to diffuse the argument? He took all the momentum out of that exchange. How can we continue with the humorous banter after that?”

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.