Unsettled Graves: A Crossroads of Kings Mill Novel (The Crossroads of Kings Mill Book 3) (12 page)

“Crap! Here they come,” Camden mumbled under his breath.

Tonya turned to where Camden was looking. The dapper looking Barbie and Ken couple could be seen shining above the rest of the crowds.

“Does your dad’s hair move at all?” Tonya whispered, smiling at the couple waving at their son over the tops of bobbing heads of grazing customers.

The choked mirth trying to force its way out of Camden’s mouth got lost in a haphazard greeting from his mother running to him and squealing as if she hadn’t seen him in years. “Nope. He and my mother invested in Aqua Net in the eighties…the super-sized cans.”

Tonya grinned, biting her tongue as the couple made their way to their son.

“Mom, Dad…this is Tonya Mead. She and I have been working together at the historical society. Tonya these are my parents, Mark and Tracy Phillips.”

“Oh, it’s so good to meet you, Tonya.” Tracy squeezed her cheeks between her palms. “Cammie has told us so much about you. How you’ve been such a big help showing him around Kings Mill.”

Cammie?
He was not going to live that one down.

And yes, his father was a boob man, his eyes darted directly there before meeting her eyes. “Yes, we can’t wait to hear more about all the things you’ve been doing together.”

Was there insinuation in his father’s voice? Oh ho…this was going to be an interesting night.

“The rest of the group are out back. We’ve all been invited to join them.” Camden guided them to the side door of the tavern.

They made their way out onto the rough-hewn styled, wraparound porch to the back patio where five more long tables were filled. The last table was reserved every week for Kenneth Miles and guests. Camden led them to the front of the table where Kenneth was seated.

He made the proper introductions down the line—from Kenneth, April, little Danielle in a high chair between them, to Tonya’s dad, Chris. The Wilton Women of course were there as was Jared and Joshua.

“Boys, won’t you slide on down and make room for Mr. and Mrs. Phillips?” Kenneth asked, wiping his Old Bay seasoned fingers on a clean paper towel. He shook Mark Phillips hand. “Please, sit down and join in. My treat.”

“Tonya, why don’t you come over here and sit between your father and me?” April said, licking her fingers from the butter dripping down the ear of corn she’d been eating.

Making her way over to the other side of the table, she was across from Camden but next to her dad who gave her an awkward hug without using his season encrusted hands. Conversation ensued once more among the guests.

“So you’re Kenneth Miles?” Tracy asked all agog about dining with a billionaire celebrity, but her look of fascination of his casual clothing had taken her off guard.

“Yes. Why yes, I am.” Kenneth smiled warmly.

“Forgive me, but I always imagined you much…
older
.”

“Sweet cheeks, what have I told you about talking out of turn?” Mark patted his wife’s knee, but Tonya didn’t miss the look of total commanding control from under his gleaming white smile.

“It’s quite all right, my good fellow. I must admit there are days when I feel as young as all of my thirty-five years and some days I feel closer to three hundred years.”

Pretty darn close to the truth where Kenneth Miles was concerned. He was a nearly three hundred year old spirit inside of the frame of a thirty-five year old man. There was a cacophony of subtle coughs from the older Wilton Women at the far end of the table. Tonya turned her head and smiled down at them. Vickie waved and winked. April on the other hand had given Kenneth a not so subtle kick under the table. He only grinned at her and went back to talking with the new guests.

No one else seemed to notice or care as the waitress came by to take the new arrivals drink orders and place a fresh basket of hot rolls on the table.

Things could get very interesting if the truth were ever exposed.

#

Conversation was pleasant as they ate. Tonya watched as mug after mug of sweet tea were consumed by Camden’s folks. His mother wasn’t at all happy getting her hands dirty breaking into the crab. She opted for a chef’s salad with crabmeat instead and Mr. Phillip couldn’t make a move without wiping his fingers every time he touched a part of the crab. Where everyone else used their fingers to dig out the sweet meat he used the small silver appetizer forks to dig into the cracked shells. For shame if he were to soil his neat sports manicure or his light blue golf shirt.

“Camden has been diligently working on his paper for his history scholarship. The research he’s been doing with the South Carolina historical society on finding out about missing Confederate soldiers has been an informative experience. I’m thoroughly enjoying his insight into the topic.” April continued her conversation with Tracy across the table.

“I’m so proud. He’s always been into athletics that I didn’t think he’d be interested in history at all. When he hurt his knee…”

“Tracy, that’s enough. His knee is fine. This little hobby is fine for now, but Camden needs to focus on making the football team. Practice begins in two weeks, son.”

You could’ve heard a pin drop as every head turned to Mr. Phillips…well except for Camden who looked as if he wished hell would open up and swallow him whole. It would be preferable to what was coming, Tonya was sure.

“Dad, I told you I’m not trying out for football.”

“And I just made a donation to the boosters that says you are. End of discussion, Cam.” His father’s voice was low, his gritted smile and glint in his eye spoke volumes. He was controlling. “I agreed with your mother that this field trip for a few weeks to Kings Mill would look good on a resume, give you a well-rounded outlook, and make you look smart. But a degree in history is not going to get you anywhere unless you want to teach history to a bunch of high school students.”

Tonya swore she could smell smoke rising from April’s t-shirt collar. Kenneth, the charismatic man he was, placed a loving hand on his wife’s. “Dear, I think Danielle needs changing. Could you be a love?”

“Of course.” April stood abruptly, viciously wiping her hands clean of seasoning and lifted their daughter out of the high chair. She was so irked she nearly forgot to unlatch the little strap around her. “Excuse me a moment.” She plastered a smile on her face and met everyone’s eyes except Mark’s before rushing with the baby away from harm.

Tonya had never witnessed April’s fury but something told her it wouldn’t be pretty. The guy had some major balls somewhere. Camden had turned gray but his clenched knuckles were feverishly red…and it wasn’t just from the Old Bay.

“Dad, history is more than a hobby. I’ve learned quite a bit since I’ve been here. And so what if I want to teach history? What’s wrong with that?”

His father wasn’t backing down. “You are going pro bowl. You were all star quarterback your senior year in high school.”

“So were hundreds of other kids from hundreds of other high schools around the country. Doesn’t mean I’m pro or even want to be,” Camden stated.

“Cammie…” his mom pleaded.

“Mom, stop! No, I am not going to back off…” He swung his arm in emphasis and knocked over Jared’s mug of ale. Jared jumped up as the cold brew hit him in the lap.

Everyone on that end of the table went into action to clean up the mess and try to distract the argument between father and son. The awkward moment hung thick as Spanish moss in the air around them.

Jared turned around to brush the residual suds off of his pants. Glancing across the dining patio and stopped.

“What the hell are them damn Yanks doing here?” he bellowed loudly, silencing the whole dining area.

Tonya looked around him to see four men dressed in Union soldier uniforms, probably on their way to the weekend reenactment up in Gettysburg. Oh shit! The four men stood up. Tonya wasn’t sure what they were thinking, but they came over to confront Jared.

“You a Johnny Reb?” The biggest one of the group came over, sizing Jared up.

“Damn right I am!”

“Hey guys…we got us one of Lee’s Boys.” He spit on the ground, getting into the act. “Where’s your uniform, cuz? Oh, that’s right…they don’t have any. They steal them off their dead friends.” He turned to laugh with his friends.

And that’s when the fight started.

Jared planted the first punch dead square on the man’s jaw before launching himself into the guys chest and beating him into the ground. The guy’s friends joined in trying to get Jared off of him when Joshua frog jumped one of the guy’s backs and wailed his fists left and right into the guy’s ribs.

“Get off of him you sons of beasts!” Joshua fought using made up curse words that sounded close enough to be the real thing.

Kenneth went to try to be the voice of reason and ended up being on the raw end of one big Yankee deal who decided smashing him into the table like a WWF wrestler was fair game.

Soon it looked like a free for all. Food went flying, people were pummeled with glass mugs, crab mallets, and bodies… Tonya could only stand there her mouth gaping in awe. Even Mr. Phillips wasn’t safe as somehow he ended up with melted butter sauce down the front of his knit top. You would’ve thought someone had just shot him.

An explosion sounded followed by the mechanical cocking of a rifle. Everyone paused in mid-statue. Millie Taylor stood poised, smoking rifle in hand with it cocked and ready to shoot again at any moment.

“I don’t care who started this fight, but I’m finishing it right now. Next person to pull a punch, I’ll nail him between the eyes! I ain’t losing my license over a bunch of wankers ruining my party. So I suggest if you ain’t sitting and eating, you’ve been fighting. Pick up your tab and leave my tavern real peaceful like… You don’t want to see me mad. It ain’t pretty.”

She fired off the shot anyway. Heads ducked. No one knew where she’d aimed. “That was just a warning.”

Turning around, she walked back into the tavern as April, with a crying Danielle, came out to see what was going on.

The wait staff busied themselves cleaning up the mess. Some folks stayed to help them while others, including the Wilton Women, tended wounds. Bags of ice were brought out for bruised eyes and jaws, clean flour sack towels were bloodied from noses and split lips.

Well, Camden was no longer the center of attention. That was a plus.

Jared was more than ready to go back to battle. Vickie had made sure his clothing he’d arrived in weeks ago was properly cleaned and donned for the reenactment. He fit right in with the rest of the Confederate actors who’d traveled from around the world to participate in the annual event every first of July weekend.

Gettysburg had basically been transported back in time. Campsites of white canvas pup tents and brigade headquarters were set up in the original fields and outposts, buildings that still stood from the original battle played their parts in housing the great generals and their aides. Both men and women had worked painstakingly in their hobbies to bring every historical detail to life from the finest of cameo brooches and chatelaines to the brass buttons and mutton chops on the everyday soldier.

Jared blended in without a hitch and the Confederate reenactment troops welcomed his authenticity into their group. April had made all the arrangements for him to be placed in Kershaw’s brigade. He wouldn’t come into play until later on in the afternoon in the southern part of the battlefield near the old Peach Orchard.

Camden welcomed the opportunity to slip away from his parents when Tonya suggested they stake out a spot for the family to congregate and view that part of the battle. Tonya would need to be there to make sure things went all right with Jared. There were no guarantees that any of their hopes would come to fruition. All of their plans of sending Jared back to his time was based on assumption. For all they knew, he was trapped forever in the present.

Helping Tonya spread out the large lawn blanket and set up the folding chairs and canopy for the rest of the group when they arrived, it was his moment to relax. Tonya offered him a bottle of water from the cooler they’d brought along with picnic foods while the waited for the others to dwindle in from town.

“Thanks,” Camden took a swig of water, emptying nearly half in one gulp. “I needed that.” He recapped the water bottle and sighed as he sat in one of the canvas sport chairs.

Tonya looked uncomfortable. The ride up had been kind of quiet. They’d recapped what had happened at the tavern last night, well the fight that Jared had gotten into anyway, but the real issue was still waiting on edge.

“Did you talk with your folks last night?”

There she’d asked. What she really wanted to know. “We talked and then I went back to the apartment. I figured with Vickie keeping Jared and Joshua for the night, I had the place to myself.”

“And?”

“I tried. As you can tell last night, talking to him does me no good. My dad won’t listen and my mom isn’t strong enough to stand up to him. I have no choice. I’ll be leaving next week for football training.”

She had no clue what that was like. He’d put up with being the obedient son for so long. He’d been in every athletic club his parents supported since he was in T-Ball and paraded around as Mark Phillip’s son at every fraternal function his father was a member of.  He was tired of being the golden boy and just wanted to be his own person. William & Mary was far enough away from South Carolina without being half way around the world, a good place to start. Nobody there knew him from Adam…even if his father was trying to influence the coaches and athletic boosters there with his money.

“So that’s it? Are you going to just lay down and join the football team? I thought you were set on winning the scholarship?”

“It’s yours.” He sighed, opened the bottle, and finished the drink. He recapped the empty, thin plastic shell and crushed it in his hand. He knew in the end nothing he said mattered. His dad held all the strings to make things better or worse for him. “I might as well accept the fact I’ve never been great academically. Hell, I had to have someone write my papers because I couldn’t put a coherent sentence together even though I knew the answers to all the questions. I’m just not meant to be a scholar. You on the other hand…”

Tonya stood up in a huff. “I can’t believe you. You’re going to let your father dictate what you do for the rest of your life? Aren’t you?”

Was this a hypothetical question? No. She appeared to be waiting for his answer.

“Really? Do I have a choice right now? I don’t have two cents to rub together…”

“Neither does anyone else when we start out. You’re going to live on your father’s hand-me-downs? Or are you going to make a name for yourself?” She continued. “And what about Jared? Are you going to forsake all the work and research you’ve done on him just piss it away because daddy wants you to report to football training next week?”

“Look, I don’t see you making choices on your own. Don’t be putting all of this on me. You’re still living with your father and keeping under his rules, and those of everyone else in Kings Mill. Was it your suggestion to take on the scholarship to William & Mary or was it April’s recommendation?”

“Apples and oranges, Cam. We aren’t talking about different college majors. We are talking career choices and the rest of your life.” She threw back at him.

He knew she was right, but he didn’t want to accept the fact she was right…and that he was afraid to do anything about what he wanted. No, he was afraid of breaking out of his mold.

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’ll do what I have to do to get through college at least. My mind is made up.”

“No. Your dad made up your mind long ago. You’re just playing his puppet.” Tonya walked away from the tent.

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk…because I can.” With that she sauntered over the shallow ridge at a fast pace, away from him.

Damn her! Didn’t she think he wanted to walk, too? But yeah, the more he thought about it the more he knew…he was afraid to stand on the edge of uncertainty and take the first step away from everything he’d ever known.

#

By the time Tonya had returned his folks, Tonya’s dad, and the Wilton Women had arrived. Camden had been thankful for the buffer of the rest of the group, so he didn’t have to discuss details of next week’s day trip back to Myrtle Beach before heading to Williamsburg for varsity football orientation. It would be coming sooner than he hoped anyway.

He took the time to play some catch with Joshua while they waited for the battle to take place nearby. This gave him more excuse to stay away from the rest of the group. Tonya appeared a bit weary from her walk but that was her problem. He didn’t tell her to take an hour hike in ninety-eight degree weather in the hottest part of the day. But he noticed the occasional looks she gave his dad at times when his father spoke with someone in the group. Was she judging? Was she going to explode and go toe to toe with his dad?

Tonya helped set up the folding tables and lay out the picnic lunch the women had packed. Camden really didn’t want to get anywhere near her or his folks for fear of something setting either one of them off. He didn’t want to be trapped in the middle of any battles other than the upcoming reenactment. Truthfully, Camden didn’t know which one would be more volatile. 

He sat with Joshua as they ate fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, and washed it all down with Root Beer. The kid had been a great deterrent from the rest of his issues at hand, even in the evenings lately, though truthfully Jared and Joshua were closer.

“Will we really be able to see Jared and his brigade from here?” Joshua asked as Camden took him closer to the upcoming battlefield.

“Sure will.” He pointed towards the crop of skeleton-like peach trees. “See that area over there? They’ll be coming up from the west, into the orchard where they’ll attack the Union troops.”

“Will Jared’s troops win?” the boy asked hopefully.

The glow of pride in Joshua’s gaze hit Camden in the chest like gunshot. The ache in knowing the final outcome of the whole war, the massive amounts of deaths this battle alone produced on both sides, he couldn’t say it. As it was, Joshua really didn’t know the truth about anything going on. They weren’t really sure he knew he wasn’t in his time or place.

Camden ruffled the kids head and tried for a happy smile. “I don’t know. We will have to see, won’t we?”

#

Tonya couldn’t eat much. As time drew closer to the hour of the battle of the Peach Orchard and Rose Farm the nausea grew in her stomach. The walk she’d taken earlier was for her benefit more so than to get away from Camden. He had his problems but she had hers.

The echoes of battles long fought had begun their tattoo into her soul. She knew it was real. More and more her senses picked up the remnants of time. Not just everyday time but eras and moments of stress and strife. Those periods when souls were at their weakest. She knew that now. Vickie had taught her what she was about. It was up to her to deal with controlling it.

She’d walked to the orchard waiting for a sign to tell her Jared had made it to his scouting point. This time, she couldn’t…no, wouldn’t interfere. If even a morsel of his spirit remained she had to leave him be.

In reality, he was with the troops, awaiting orders to scout ahead. She wouldn’t know if he made it back until the ghostly souls of Andrew or John reported back to Vickie upon his return to the squadron. Then, there might be a possibility of time correcting itself…a slim, unknown possibility, one based on faith more so than science or history.

What was she going to do if nothing happened? What if Jared never returned to his proper time? She would lock herself up, as far away from anything historical as possible so she didn’t interfere with another past soul for as long as she lived. That’s what she intended to do.

Until she heard about Jared’s return to his regiment, she couldn’t stop worrying. Every glance at her watch as the minutes slowly ticked by, every furtive rolling of the eyes and shake of Vickie’s head, made her stomach clench in sickening dread.

By three o’clock she was a mess. The heat and her own feverish fear had her wanting to throw herself in the fake fray that was taking place over just north of them at Devil’s Den. She could hear the gunfire, the faint screams of the actors. Now she was even doubting the ghost soldiers ability to get away to communicate with Vickie. Surely by now there would be a sign.

Moments later Vickie stood up and Dotty went with her to the edge of the fencing separating the great field from the old Emmitsburg Pike. In the haze of summer heat, Tonya wasn’t sure if she saw the figures of two Confederate ghosts or not but both women appeared to be talking to each other and possibly another figure or two secluded in front of them.

They stood there for a while, what seemed to be hours but in reality was only a few moments. But Vickie took her time walking back through the sparse, dry grasses to their picnic site. She glanced at Tonya briefly and gave her a smile and subtle nod. Tonya felt the weight of one hundred and fifty years fall from her shoulders. Jared had returned from his scouting trip. History was now left to fate.

Walking to the edge of the field, she smiled down at Camden. He smiled back, sharing in the good news. Holding out his hand, she clasped onto it as he helped her down onto the slight ridge of ground to watch and wait for history to repeat itself.

#

Joshua situated himself in front of Camden, eager to see his friend Jared charge into battle. They weren’t sure where to look because they weren’t sure where in the unit he would be.

Bugles sounded the call to arms off to their left. General Longstreet’s brigade was about to go into action. Off to the right, down the road a ways, there were a line of dark blue Union troops ready, the ones closer to them would be waiting behind the lines, and over closer to Rose Farm…but it was time.

Suddenly the scene erupted in cannon fire. The sounds of artillery blasting every few seconds in between continuous pops of musket fire and the rebel yells and whoops of brave men charging forth onto the field to attack the end hook of the Union troops.

At first the chaos and cacophony of sounds rattled and shook the hallowed ground as the reenactors went into full production. Tonya could feel the intensity of the moment just by watching it transform but there was more…

She saw it all. Like a scene in slow motion the atmosphere around her changed. A building pressure in which she alone was encapsulated. So focused on the act in front of her she didn’t notice Vickie sit down next to her, wrap her arms around her, hold her as if to keep her from exploding from the environmental change going on.

The actors’ portrayal was joined suddenly by extras being added to the scene…emerging from the battle scene itself…wisps of shadows changing into uniformed men, charging into the fray. Residual ghosts trapped in the same moment, over and over, playing the same characters. Overwhelmed, Tonya nearly missed hearing Joshua yell out, ‘there he is, next to the flag bearer.’

Sure enough Jared led the way, charging across the field shoulder to shoulder with his fellow brethren of the south. Camden and Joshua eagerly cheered him on, trying to yell over the din of action. But all Tonya heard was faint echoing and she realized she was trapped somewhere between the present and July 1863, watching history unfold.

The Confederate flag wavered, slowly dropping towards the ground. The color guard had been wounded. Without missing a step, Jared grabbed the vivid banner and charged forward, yelling for his comrades in arms to carry on. Marching proudly he faced his foe…this wasn’t a man to desert his friends, his country. This was a leader among men.