Part III
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"That's what faith is, you see. Not the question 'Do I believe?', but the answer-- 'Yes I do'." - Vickey Mosely/Susan Proto in Life Cycles 9: Journey
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Nearing the Coast of Georgia
The ride up to had been filled with stories of childhood memories. "So your brother actually put molasses in your hair?" he asked. "Yes, it took the better part of three hours in a creek to get it out. My parents were ready to kill him. Plus I was to go riding with Ethan that day. It was very traumatic at the time." They both laughed. "I'm sure it would have been a sight to see. It reminds me of the time I got my hand stuck up a pipe." She looked at him, "A pipe? What were you doing?" He laughed, "Well I was trying to prove that metal expanded when heated and I guess it got too cool to quickly and it got stuck. We had to go to a blacksmith just to get it out."
Lizzie laughed until her eye caught the eye of a ragged soldier "I'm sorry you have to see this." he whispered. She didn't say anything. She had heard and even seen a few soldiers, but every time she did it would remind her of her own family letting the anger grow. Her hatred for the Yankee's was rising once again until Gordo took her hand and held it in his. "I'm so sorry." he said. "I'll move past this. We are all going to have to move past this, but to know the destruction of what happened to those men, sometimes it is just too much." Gordo nodded and let her go, moving past the haggard face of the man.
"Exactly where are we going Gordo?" she asked as soon as they were in the center of the town. "We are going to the sea. I'm hoping to catch a ship back to New York." "Will we be married on this ship." "Yes, my captain is on this ship." "You were on a ship?" "The USS Ottawa. I'm hoping it hasn't left yet. She was suppose to be heading back to New York very soon." "Have you seen many horrible things?" she hesitantly asked.
"I've seen things that I wish I could erase from mind. Things that still haunt me at night. I am not the same person I was when I left for the war. It stole my innocence. I didn't even see it coming, but it left, and I am now standing on unequal ground shouting for answers that are not coming." Lizzie stayed silent for a while, they were both left to their thoughts wondering what they should do or say next.
It took a good two days from the time they started to make it down to where the USS Ottawa was stationed. Gordo parked the carriage at the port like he had explained to Brandon. From there Brandon should be able to get it back. As he approached the dock he saw the Ottawa still sitting out there and sighed with relief. He went back to get Lizzie when he heard his name being called. He turned around to see a huge man with red hair and freckles, "Gordon?" he asked. "Davidson?" he asked. The men hug, "Are you coming back to the Ottawa?" he asked. "Actually yes, I was going to ask Captain Scott if I could get a ride back as a passenger." "What do you need to do that for?" "I'll show you." Gordo said walked to the carriage where Lizzie had been patiently waiting. "I have someone I would like you to meet." he told her.
She looked at him for a moment, "You kept me in here for the better part of ten minutes." she told him. "Yes, I did, I am sorry, but I have a friend I would like you to meet." That made her even more cautious. A Yankee was going to inspect her! The very thought made her upset, but Gordo would be there and as he promised he would fight for her. "All right, but only because you offered so politely." she told him. Grabbing his pro-offered hand and stepped out of the carriage. She came to look at a huge man that didn't seem to fit his face. He was okay looking, but he had red hair and she had never seen such a huge man with red hair. He looked odd, out of place and Lizzie began to wonder what New York had to offer her.
"Davidson this is my fiancée, Elizabeth McGuire, Lizzie this is Officer Henry Davidson." The man bowed and took Lizzie's hand kissing it. "It is very nice to meet you Ms. McGuire." he said. "The pleasure is mine." she responded. "Well if you want the Captain he is in William's Tavern." he told Gordo, wondering what on Earth had possessed his friend Gordon to marry a Southerner. "Thanks Davidson." he said and placed his hand on the lower part of her back and walked her toward the tavern. Davidson shook his head and went on with what Scott had ordered him to do.
The tavern smelled. There was no doubt about it. It was a horrible smell of dirty men, booze, and the undeniable stench of defeat. Lizzie had to breathe through her mouth just to breath. "Gordo, I believe I saw a general store across the street, please come and get me when you are ready." Gordo relieved that Lizzie wouldn't have to endure any more of this shook his head, "All right, I'll be there in a few minutes." It took everything she had not to run.
Gordo moved further into the tavern trying to find their captain. He moved up the stairs finding him slumped in his chair, passed out, with liquor bottles surrounding him. He couldn't believe this was his captain. Gabriel Scott was normally very put together and never even had so much as a piece of lint on his uniform if he could help it. The man who was normally very reserved and shy no longer looked as if he held any position in the Untied States Navy at all. He moved over to slap his face and get him to wake up. Finally the captain came to, "Gordon is that you?" "Yes Scott, what is going on?" "Oh someone has found out I am the Captain of a Yankee ship and decided to treat me. I was in here drinking it off, when I passed out I suppose."
It took the Captain a good five minutes to get all of his bearings straight and when he did he really noticed Gordo. "Hey I thought you were going off to try farming." he said. "I was drunk that night and found myself at a farmhouse that did not belong to me." "Oh, so what are you doing back here?" he asked. "I found something that I want to make mine. My fiancée and I were hoping that you would marry us and let us sail back with you to New York." For a moment Gordo thought Gabriel was going to pass out again, but he stood there thinking for a moment, "Yes, I suppose I can. We leave tomorrow though, do you think you can make that?" he asked. "She is already here." "Where I don't see her?" he said. "No she is at the general store. Would you like to meet her?" Gordo asked. "I suppose if I'm to marry you I should." Gabriel said, finding it very hard to found stable ground.
"Come on let's get you out of here." Gordo said and helped Gabriel to his feet and down the stairs. Once they were out Gabriel stood back because he hadn't seen direct sunlight for some time. "It's okay come on..." he didn't get a chance to finish because he noticed a huge fight in the street with his wife right in the middle of it. He left Gabriel to fend for himself and walked out to where his wife was. "What is going on?" he demanded. "Are you Captain David Gordon?" the man asked. "Yes, why?" as the words of confirmation flew so did the stranger's fist. Gordo flew to the ground, but before everything went black he heard Lizzie shout out, "Matthew!"
When Gordo's eyes opened he saw Lizzie's face smiling at him, "Thank goodness you are okay." She looked past him at someone else, "And it looks as if you will be allowed to live." Gordo tried to see who she was talking to and when pain hit his forehead stopped trying. "Do you think you can get up?" she asked. "I believe I can." he said and with her help did. When he turned around he saw the man that hit him and was about to say something and so was he apparently, but Lizzie stepped between the two of them. "No fighting you two. Gordo this is my brother, Matthew of the Confederacy. Matthew behave yourself. He didn't do anything to you." she said. "No, he helped defeat our army, kill dad, and is now going to marry my sister."
Lizzie's eyes narrowed and although Gordo had only known her for a good week knew that it wasn't a very good sign. "Listen here Matthew McGuire, Gordo is not responsible for the whole downfall of the Confederate Army. He didn't kill Dad and I agreed to marry him. He didn't force me into it. Now if you can not be in the same presence with him then please go home, otherwise you can see us off as we go to New York." she said in a very calm deadly voice. Matt had pestered his sister enough to know that voice and hung his head with defeat. His sister was going to marry that Yankee and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
"Fine, but who is going to marry you?" he asked. "Gordo's captain." she answered. Gabriel who had helped bring Gordo into the tavern looked up at Lizzie. "You're going to marry my sister?" Matt asked. Gabriel didn't like that tone and was about to protest, but Gordo's fiancée already took care of that, "Yes he is. You are welcome to the ceremony which will be this evening, but if you are going to cause trouble don't bother!" "Fine, and at what time is this ceremony?" he asked. This time both Lizzie and Matt looked at Gabriel, "Um, seven o'clock tonight?" he asked looking at Gordo who had to sit back down. "Fine with me." he said. Gabriel looked at Matt, "Seven O'clock sir." "And where will this ceremony take place?" he asked. "On the Ottawa." Gabriel answered. "I'll be there." he said and then left.
Lizzie turned back to Gordo, "Are you okay?" she asked. "Yeah I'm fine. Nice to meet your brother." he mumbled. She sighed, "He is only trying to protect me. I am his only sister and you are a Yankee." she pointed out. "True. So seven o'clock tonight?" he asked. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." she smiled.
As far as wedding ceremonies on a US Navy ship it was really quite beautiful. Even if it wasn't the groom and bride would never have been able to tell. Even Matt let his sister have a nice wedding. If she was going to marry the Yankee at least let it be as nice as possible. "So when will I see you again?" he asked before he left. "I will write Mamma when we get settled and we can find a time then. Don't worry Matt. I will be okay. He promised me he would take care of me and I can help myself too." she said. "I know, I love you Lizzie." "I love you too Matt." she said and brother and sister hugged and then Matt left. Now it was time for the honeymoon.