*Unedited*
January 1866
Savannah, TN
Cannon fire echoed in the distance as she made her way across
the battlefield. Mist covered the ground and hid the bodies she knew were
there. She didn’t know where she was going, but something was calling out to
her.
The smell of smoke choked her as she neared what looked like
a pond. It wasn’t filled with water though because water wasn’t red in color.
She could almost believe it was blood. There were men lying at the edge taking
a drink while others were floating in the middle of it. She wanted to ask if
they were all right, but something held her back.
Shaking her head, she walked around it to continue through
the Peach Orchard. It was still too early for the fruit to bloom, but there was
growth on the branches. Some of the trees were missing branches while others
were nearly chopped down. She knew cannon and musket balls were responsible for
the damage the trees sustained.
The wind whipped around her as she crept through the carnage.
The voice calling out to her became more and more familiar with each step she
took. The voice also grew louder with each step. The same voice had her
crossing the Tennessee River during the battle to find who was calling her.
“Rachel,” the voice cried out.
“Colton?” she questioned as she looked around. She finally
recognized the voice. Why had it taken this long?
“Rachel, help me,” Colton cried.
“Colton, where are you?” she asked as the mist started to
rise.
“I’m here,” Colton answered.
She finally looked down as the mist cleared to reveal the
ground and the prone bodies of soldiers. They were not just Confederates, but
Union as well. The grass was stained as the pond was with blood. Glancing
around, she finally saw Colton.
He was slightly to her left, lying on his back. She walked
over to him and knelt down next to him.
“Colton,” she breathed as she cradled his head in her lap.
“I’m sorry,” he gurgled out. “I’m sorry, for leaving you and
for not coming home. I love you, and I wish we could have had more time
together. I know you do not understand my reasons for joining, but you will one
day,” he promised.
She couldn’t say anything. Tears streamed down her cheeks and
she choked back her sobs. Logically, she knew he was dying, but she didn’t want
to accept it. She was only sixteen. They hadn’t been married a year. She
couldn’t lose him. They’d planned to have a family together. What would she do
without him?
“Colton,” she whispered as her tears landed on his cheeks and
nose. “I love you. You can’t leave me.”
“I wish I didn’t have to, but you will continue on in your life.
I know you will find someone who is broken and together the two of you will
heal,” he stated.
“No, I will not find someone. Do you think I will forget you
so easily?” she questioned.
“You will never forget me, but you will love again.”
She shook her head before wiping her cheeks. Closing her
eyes, she took a deep breath. “Don’t leave me,” she pleaded.
The battle raged around them, but she didn’t care. No one
seemed to bother them, either.
“Rachel, I love you,” he whispered, as his breathing grew
labored.
She ran her fingers through his hair. It was matted with
blood, sweat, and mud. She watched as his chest rose and fell, but it didn’t
rise again.
“No,” she cried as she tried to shake him awake.
Nothing worked to revive him. He was gone.
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