Hello dear friends, this my first attempt to write a story and then try and post it anywhere on the net. So please bear with me. I would like to thank many people for pushing me to the limit in ways to post a story like this. Chris my friend way out in Sunny California. Thanks a million. Justin Case Thank you for giving the courage to even begin to think about posting something like this.
To Michael my friend out in Arizona thanks a million for the wonderful chats and the encouragement you have given me.
To Ryan and Tommy out in Texas thanks partners with out you two giving me hope and the love you have shown me I am in your debt. In many ways the love you two show inspires me to continue to write this long tale of love and war.
Finally but never in the least part my wonderful Friend, my best friend of all time and my life Mark way up in the wilds of Arkansas. Thankyou for your love and support on my darkest days with out you I would have been a ship in a storm with out any hope but you are my Lighthouse shining bright over the stormy seas of life. Without you I would be nothing. You have been there always in my dreams in my life and in my Soul.
I would love to hear all comments on this story so please E- mail me at Swarri1349@aol.com
Thanks Stephen
Prolog
A compact Dodge pickup truck bumped down the patched one lane paved road. " Are you sure this is the right way John?"
"Yes Adam, it is remember the old man at the little store said, take the right fork of the road and continue down that fork, " look there is the fire tower and the old Warrington place. So we have about one mile to go to the turn."
The two teens looked out the windows at the green woods and soon passed by a thick grove of cedar trees and Heart Cemetery.
"Look Adam, Heart graveyard the road is right up there."
They came to the sharp curve in the road. A green county road marker read Holloman Road and a yellow sign lower down warned them the road was a DEAD END. Adam down shifted the truck into 2nd gear and brushed the golden blonde hair out of his blue eyes as they proceeded down the rutted dirt road. John had his lightly tanned arm out the window and his baseball cap cocked slightly to the right looking peacefully at the surrounding area.
"Old man Hancock said the place is four miles down this road," said Adam.
"Road, what road?" laughed John
They rode in silence thought's racing through their minds at what might lay ahead.
Adam had met John several months ago in a chat room on the net. They learned they only lived fifteen miles from each other in Madison County. They also learned they shared many of the same interests and hobbies the Civil War era being one. The best one of all had to be was they both were gay no longer did they feel like they where the only ones in the state their age. Adam and John became the best of friends.
About two weeks before this Friday trip in April. John had discovered some old letters and papers written by his great, great uncle Johnny during the Civil War at his grand father's place. John could not wait to tell Adam about the discovery and soon made plans for this trip and here they where now heading to Holloman Plantation in Southern Yazoo County.
Trees hung over the narrow road that quickly was beginning to turn into nothing more than a trail. Soon they saw their first glimpse of Holloman House. Their young hearts quickened into a fevered pace.
Adam parked at the base of the old brick lamppost that marked the beginning of the main driveway and shut off the engine.
The boys climbed out and began to gather their supplies a camera, bags of snacks, candles, a cooler of drinks and a battered notebook. John walked ahead and stood in front of the brick base and was looking around. Adam just stood by the truck and looked at John. John was a perfect boy in Adam's eyes brown haired and green eyed. There he stood clad in his trademark exploring gear. A baseball cap, tank top and blue jean shorts that really showed of his fine legs.
"Come on Adam and quit staring into space." John started walking towards the house and Adam followed behind staring at the perfect butt on the perfect boy.
Adam caught up with John and they walked side be side each other up the over grown drive. " Man this place must have been huge before the war"
"Yeah Adam it was", said John
Soon they came upon the house itself. Massive in the afternoon sunlight the peeling paint revealing the old dry gray wood. The plastered Greek columns holding up the upper portions of the roof and 2nd story balcony showed the hand made rounded bricks.
The heavy oaken door still stood firmly in place a testament to the workmanship of the men who built the house. The deep dark wood was cracked and dry having not seen a caring hand to oil it in more than 6 decades. The thick-glassed high arched windows were dirty but still intact. Few people knew about this grand old lady deep in the woods and the ones who did know no longer cared. A man named Freemont from Maryland had bought the house and lands years ago.
Adam slowly walked up to the door and pushed, the door moaned and slowly began to open and before the eyes of the two teens stood the darkened foyer and the bare hardwood floors covered in dust.
John sat the cooler and the sacks down right inside the door and grabbed Adam's free hand it was damp with sweat. " Shall we enter", asked John as they took their first steps into Holloman house. The cool dry air met the boys and shivers ran up their backs and the old floors squeaked. They walked through the foyer and glanced up at the crystal candleholders that still hung from the brass chains and tallow candles were still in their sockets.
"Wow looks like time forgot about this place," said Adam.
"Yeah it is creepy but at the same time inviting" John said as he looked at Adam wander struck.
"Where to begin?"
" I don't know, Adam"
They stood in the front hall looking at the peeling wallpaper. To their left was a large room. An old roll top desk sat in the center in front of the high window. Long bookshelves lined the walls. It was the library. The boys slowly entered the room.
"Whoa, everything is huge. This desk makes dad's look like my desk at school and you know how big dad's is."
Yeah, John I do"
John walked over to the desk and tried to open the top part, it was either stuck or locked. So he then tried the middle drawer and it slid open. Adam was looking along the walls and in the corners for anything that looked interesting.
"ADAM, come over here" John called.
Adam raced over and stood beside John, in the center of the drawer was a large black ledger. Slowly John removed it and blew off the dust, then brushed part of the desk off in order to lay it down.
"Wow, Look how old it is! Could it be a Journal?"
"Dunno, Adam could be."
John opened the cover of the book. In a bold handwriting on the first page: Holloman Plantation, Yazoo County, Mississippi. John turned to the next page.
*July 5th 1863, the city of Vicksburg has fallen to the Union army. Our last shipment of cotton burned at the warf to prevent capture. We have hidden most of our staple crops and corn in the woods and swamps also all our gold and silver. Most of the slaves have run off to follow Mr. Lincoln's army. Fifteen stayed, these are some of the loyalists' people I know of either color. I set them free last night now they help us as free men and women.
I pray the boys are safe. Sarah and I have not heard from them in a week now. *
John Kingston Sr.
" Wow a logbook of the family and plantation".
"Uh huh", Adam
"This is not Uncle Johnny's this was his father's office". John said as he flipped through the rest of the book. Just everyday life on the plantation but on the last page dated January 16th 1865.
Sarah gave birth to our second son today around the hour of noon the mid- wife momma Sallie brought fourth our second just as she did our first son. I do not know why it took us so long in between children it is a mystery of God's will. All this humble servant of God can say is. May the Lord Bless James Lee Kingston.
J.K. Sr.
"Wow, John" Adam was dancing around in excitement. "Your great, great grandfather."
"Greatness", John grabbed Adam around the waist and hugged him then to Adam's great surprise John kissed him on the cheek. Adam was taken back for a second. Was it just the excitement of the moment or did John really love him Adam hoped it was both.
The boys stepped apart. John was blushing a bright red and looking down at his feet " sorry dude"
"For what, John you kissing me?"
"Yeah man please don't hate me for it."
" John I could never hate you. You are one of the greatest friends I have. You bring me happiness I have not known in a long time for once in 17 years I have someone to share my life my hobbies with and John I have had the same feelings for you since the day I met you."
" Really Adam"
"Yes John". Adam walked over to John grabbed him and kissed him full on the lips tasting John like he was a fine wine. Adam could feel the heat of John's silky mouth and the powerful soul that was inside the wonderful boy. A power that Adam never wanted to lose.
The boys pulled apart. "Wow" this has become a grand adventure". Smiled John.
"Yeah, lets explore and see if we can find anything about Johnny".
"Ok" Adam
The two boys went through the rest of the drawers in the desk and found nothing else except for papers and some old Confederate money. Then they left the library. They explored the rest of the first floor. Family rooms they found nothing in the music room except for the grand piano covered in dust and slightly out of tune. Then they looked into the study, sitting room, and Sarah's sewing room. Then they came upon the dining room. A massive oak table was in the center and shelves lined one wall a large woolen cloth hung in the ceiling with a rope leading to a room on the side. "Wow a pre Civil War ceiling fan".
The boys walked back to the front foyer. "Let's have a soda and a snack Adam".
"Ok"
Adam opened the cooler and passed John a Coke and a ham sandwich on Wonder bread. Then grabbed him one of each. They ate in silence for a few minutes. Adam watched John eat as he leaned back against one of the columns his legs spread and knees up in the air giving Adam a almost direct view of what was under those shorts. Adam began to see John in a different light for the first time in his young life Adam was falling in love.
John looked up and saw Adam looking at him. "Can't keep your eyes off of me can you" as he smiled.
"Nope" said Adam as he blushed a little and felt the heat stir inside him.
John continued to smile "well my eyes have never seen such beauty as what is sitting in front of me now Adam"
Adam knew there was only one thing sitting in front of him and it was he. Adam's heart soared to a new height.
They finished lunch. John grabbed the bag of candles and took Adam's free hand as they began to walk towards the grand staircase leading to the 2nd floor. The old steps were solid but like all stairs they squeaked. The 2nd story contained eight bedrooms all larger than most living rooms either boy had ever seen. Each of the rooms was still furnished. Over stuffed chairs stood in the corners night stands beside the bed, brass candle holders mounted on the walls and whale oil lamps adorned the rooms and the old now faded rugs still lay on the floors.
The first bed room was the guest room, then they found John and Sarah's room each had mysteries but they wanted to find one above all. The 3rd room must have been Jamie's the toys tucked away in the closet and the chalk and slate.
They came to the fourth room the corner room. The boys eyes lit up like diamonds a sword hung on the wall behind the bed. The dark red rugs lay on the floor and the large bed was covered in protective cloth to keep away the dust. The boys started to look around there were old moth eaten clothes in the closet and dressers personal letters tucked in smaller drawers. They where amazed at that all of this still existed as if only last year some one lived here not 80 something years ago or longer. They continued their search looking for a diary a journal there had to be one. Adam was about ready to give up and sat down on the bed.
"OUCH" something sharp had stuck him in the right butt cheek. "What in the hell poked me?"
John rushed over. "Let's find out." So they pulled the protective cover off the bed and John gently eased his hand beneath the mattress. John found a old book and he slowly pulled it out and they saw what had stuck Adam in the butt. The book had a small brass lock and hasp and the hasp was sticking up. John laughed " Adam I think you found what we was looking for but not the way most people do it."
" O shut up" as he rubbed his sore butt.
John opened the book and a small gasp escaped his lips and he wet them because suddenly they were dry and his eyes widened. On the front page in a gilded hand read: The recollections of the Life and Times of Johnny Kingston.
John slumped onto the bed all of his energy drained just by reading those first words of his great, great uncle.
"O my God Adam you found it"
"Found what?" Adam looked over and saw John's pale face Adam walked over and sat down beside John. He read the words on the front page in the old ink that had turned brown the same color of dried blood. Adam placed his arm around John and hugged him close and placed his other hand on John's and they turned the page together.
April 1858
Today I met the most wonderful lad. His name is Adam Ross and a young man named Billy Freemont. I was on a lark in Natchez and decided to get lunch at King's Tavern..
Adam looked at John and they looked at each other and they read on together arm in arm on that big bed.