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| Illustration for "ALEXANDRA'S MIDNIGHT(S) AT GETTYSBURG" created by the author. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen J. Williams. |
"Someone or something is trying to change the outcome of the American Civil War and Mr. Tibbs must prevent the Time-Line from being altered; so it's back to 1863 and the forthcoming Battle of Gettysburg. Jericho must discover the plot and who's behind it and quickly, for he also knows that someone is about to betray the temporal detectives - is it a spy, time-traveller or something more sinister? Alex has her moments at Midnight - twice! - and persuades the local old Sheriff not to lock her up!"
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Concept date: 13th October 2017
HUMAN YEARS:
Gregorian Calendar: MDCCCLXIII
Muslim Calendar: 1279 - 1280 [AH]
First published: 20th January 2020
Status: COMPLETE & PUBLISHED.
Revisions: 4 [last revised March 2019]
Version: Final.
Published Episode No. 10
Previous episode: "Alexandra investigates Cordless, Cordless & Fraser Solicitors.)."
Next episode: “Alexandra's dirty weekend in 1970's Brooklyn."
Angel-in-charge: Margret
Team Assigned: Team 74
Mission: 1 - 941270 - 10 – 1863
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Gregorian Calendar: MDCCCLXIII
Muslim Calendar: 1279 - 1280 [AH]
Hebrew Calendar: 5623 - 5624
Christian Calendar: 1863AD
Christian Calendar: 1863AD
This episode is specially extended and has a reading time of approximately 90 minutes.
This story can be found in "The adventures of Alexandra: Series 1" which can be obtained from 'Amazon.com' and all good bookshops!
This episode is LINKED to the following episodes of the "ALEXANDRA" series:
NONE CURRENTLY.
EPISODE NOTES:
This is the alternative ADULT version of the original story/episode:
"BETRAYAL AT GETTYSBURG"
which is published [both in print and online] in "THE TEMPORAL DETECTIVES" series. It will differ from that episode in some respects. Both series' are written by the author: Stephen J. Williams. To visit that website's page for the original version of this episode please click on 'DETECTIVE' icon in the Navigation Bar at the base of this story: IF AVAILABLE.
It should be understood that the ON-LINE version published on this site is normally the most current version available of this story.
"ALEXANDRA'S MIDNIGHT(S) AT GETTYSBURG.”
The original illustration for this episode was created by the author, as was this episode, which was also conceived and written by him. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without written permission.
"ALEXANDRA'S MIDNIGHT(S) AT GETTYSBURG."
by Stephen J. Williams
1. THE SECRET LOST AT GETTYSBURG. [Monday 29th June 1863]
The rebel picket found the body slumped against a small tree; the young man had been stabbed through the stomach and still clutched his pistol in a dirty, gloved hand. The old sergeant prodded the corpse with his rifle and wiped his face with his free hand. "Fresh, only could have been dead a couple of hours."
The young corporal coughed and pointed to the body; "His been run through with a fuckin' sword I'd say, look at the gap on that cut." A couple of other soldiers stared down at the dead man and one scratched his head; "He's got a cocked pistol in his hand ready to shoot, yet someone got so close that he could run a fuckin' sword through him - that don't make sense!"
The sergeant examined the pistol; it had not been fired. One name came to mind; 'Black sword'. That's when the old man noticed the dead man's other hand; the remains of a torn piece of paper was still tightly held in his fingers. He pulled it gently from the dead fingers and pushed on his spectacles to read.
"Looks like a piece from some map." He turned the fragment about in his hand and could make out just one place name; 'Gettysburg - 1863'. He stared down at the young dead man and told his Corporal to search the body thoroughly. "I think he could 'ave been riding for the damn Yankee's." The corporal grunted and started through the man's pockets and even searched his hat and boots.
The old sergeant looked about; whoever killed him had probably taken his horse - you couldn't get far around these parts without a horse - Far in the distance he could make out a figure on horse back. He pulled a small brass telescope from his canvas sack and focused on the figure. "God damn it, he's lookin' back at me with a damn scope!" He exclaimed and lowered the telescope; "Some fella in a yellow dust coat, but he has only one horse with him."
"Look see Sargent; this was stashed in a hidden pocket, sewn into his shirt." The young corporal held out a small silver, rectangular box with a black glass front and the sergeant took it carefully, turning it in his hands. "Ain't never seen anythin' like this before." He muttered and struggled to open it. He stared at the inside, as the box was now in a couple of pieces. "What fuckin' useless shit is this!" He laughed and threw the broken box onto the mud and grass.
"Yankee Calvary coming' fast up the road!" One of the pickets waved his hat from the thick bushes on the opposite side of the road and everyone dashed into the relative safety of the woods, to watch the Yankee Calvary patrol ride past.
"Who ever killed that young fella must 'ave robbed him sarge, didn't have a plugged nickel on him." The young corporal shouldered his rifle and fell in behind his colleagues, for the long walk back to the rebel encampment.
The old sergeant nodded and rubbed the fragment of paper between his fingers; he had never seen paper like it and he had spent seventeen years working the presses for the main newspaper at Richmond, before joining the colours and fighting in the army of North Virginia under General Robert E. Lee.
"Strange paper and even stranger little useless box." He muttered to himself and wondered why the notorious character 'Black sword' had killed the young fella - but then, he didn't have another horse when spotted by the picket - strange stuff indeed.
He had heard a couple of rumours about the fella in the yellow dust coat from some boys in the 22nd. Apparently he had killed two men over Greenbrier way with a fucking sword - a fucking black sword - before they even managed to pull their god damn pistols out!
He chuckled to himself and pushed the paper fragment into his pocket. He would report all that his picket had found to Captain Joe 'Shamrock' Delaney and so he headed for the Captains tent. He stared about the growing city of tents, horses, waggons and men - if many more arrive; then a great big battle is in the offering here.
He spat and wiped his mouth and beard and told his men to rest and get some grub on. The old sergeant made his way to Captain Delaney's tent, clutching the fragment of strange paper. He passed the two strangers leaving the good captain's tent; they nodded and raised their hats and started to talk quietly with each other. The sergeant laughed; the men called the pair 'Too tall and way short."
They were apparently 'whisky drummers' trying to sell their stuff to the officers in the army - probably to both God damn sides! Still, they claimed to be English and so they were 'neutrals' in this bloody war and could visit any side they wanted - and sell their whisky to whoever they wanted. It was a very good war for some people, the sergeant mused as he arrived at the captains tent.
He shouted out his name and stood outside until Captain Delaney called him in. The Captain was a big, powerful Irish man who came from Virginia and sported a black beard to match his hair and eyes. He was sitting on a rough wooden chair with his boots off, rubbing his feet with whisky and cold water. He took a couple of swigs from the same bottle that he had applied to his feet and coughed.
The sergeant pulled open the tent flap and stepped in; he saluted and stood in silence. Delaney looked up and didn't smile; "What you got for me Frank?" The old sergeant recounted the events of the patrol; the dead body, the piece of strange paper, a Yankee cavalry patrol and that strange fellow who carried an old black sword. Captain Delaney stood and leaned upon the small desk that was cluttered with personal objects and maps.
The sergeant actually jumped when the captain swept everything from the table with one hand - except the whisky bottle - and cussed loudly. He grabbed up the bottle and took a long hard swig and cursed some more. Finally, he composed himself and straightened his open tunic. "The bastard in the yellow dust coat killed the boy?" he asked the old soldier with clear anger in his voice. The sergeant nodded that 'Black Sword' must have done so - who else around here carries a fucking black sword?
The captain stared at the fragment of paper and cursed again. "Was any money found on him?" The sergeant said the boy had probably been robbed by who ever killed him. Delaney stared at the old sergeant with some suspicion, but then dismissed him and sent for young Lieutenant Tom Harvey - who he could trust - to inform the local Sheriff; he would pay the man a visit later, to discuss the death.
Alone in his tent, Captain Delaney sat nursing the whisky bottle and then slowly placed the whisky bottle upon the empty table and pulled his officer's truck from the rear of the tent and slowly opened the chest. He rummaged inside for a few seconds and pulled out a dark canvas bag and placed it on the table. Slowly he unwrapped the bundle and ran a hand across the strange object that lay before him.
His thoughts were interrupted by a shout outside his tent; "Sir, the scout Mister Sage is here!" Delaney covered the object up and slumped in his chair. The scout pushed his way in and unbuttoned his long dark dust coat, the two white pearl handled pistols, hanging from each hip were immediately noticeable. The scout folded his arms and stared at the whisky bottle - he said nothing.
"That bastard McIves has killed young Benny and probably has the map." He held up the fragment and then handed Mister Sage the whisky bottle. "Sorry to hear that Joe, I know you liked the boy." Sage took a swig and wiped his mouth, then slapped his dust covered hat against his leg. "Its gonna break his mothers heart when I tell her." Delaney muttered and accepted the bottle back.
"Those two fuckwits I hired with that money you gave me, to kill McIves let him get too close despite all what I told them." Sage grunted and added; "They won't make that mistake again; he killed the pair without getting a scratch." Delaney sighed and placed a hand upon the hilt of his sabre; "If I ever catch up with that bastard, we'll see how good he is with a sword."
Sage nodded and pulled a half smoked cigar from his coat and placed it in his mouth. Delaney tossed him a large match and Sage struck it against his boot and lit his cigar. "More bad new I'm afraid; that other bastard Jericho Tibbs is on his way here." Delaney groaned and ran several fingers through his beard. "Can you get another copy of that damn map before the fight starts?"
Sage blew smoke from his mouth and nodded; "Yep, but how do we get it here in secret, under that fucker's Tibbs nose; his bound to know about me if McIves is on the scene." Delaney leaned back on his wobbly chair and half smiled; "Just get the map to her and she'll do the rest."
Sage actually chuckled, then picked up the whisky bottle again; "Don't leave this around Joe, those other two retards don't have a clue. You won't be able to buy a bottle like this for another couple of years here in the States." Delaney nodded and accepted the bottle back and placed it in his officer's chest. "No money was found on his body, so McIves must have the money we arranged to pay that slimy little rat for his information. See that he gets what's due to him."
The scout pushed his hat back on and said softly; "That will be a pleasure." He turned and left the captain alone. Sage would make sure that the little rat and his dirty whore of a girlfriend would get what's coming to them. He chuckled and glanced back at the tent, then walked over to Major Canter's HQ located in a small seed barn, by the little stream. Sage chuckled; the Major was a known misogynist and a terrible racist - he also didn't mind killing off the battlefield - a perfect choice.
2. MRS. PHILADELPHIA HAZZARD.
The four riders skirted the little ridge and headed into the quiet green valley; ahead lay a small farmhouse and outbuildings with a solitary horse tied outside. “That’s Clem Hazzard’s place.” Jericho said simply and spurred his mount forward. Wilson looked awkward on his horse - riding horse’s wasn’t his strong point. “We could have hired a carriage in Gettysburg for the price of these four beasts.” He muttered, holding tightly onto the reins.
Jericho smiled at the big man; “Didn’t have many horses in the NYPD then?”
Wilson nodded; “Not near me. Damn beasts, all hair and teeth - reminds me of my damn Mother-in-law!” That made Jericho laugh and the little group headed for the farmstead that stood out against the small mountains which made up the background.
Owen was a natural horseman and guided his mount with a light touch and clear skill. “I first rode a pony when I was five. Riding was the one real thing that I missed about home when Father sent me to the Monastery.” He spoke to Alex who was riding ‘side-saddle’ with equal skill and balance.
“I really have difficulty envisioning you as a Monk Owen; you definitely don’t have a Monk’s attributes.” Alex said softly and then saw the woman’s figure standing upon the farm House’s wooden porch, arms folded across her clean white apron, she raised a hand in greeting and Jericho waved back; "That's Philadelphia – Clem’s wife.”
The little group pulled up at the farmhouse and dismounted, well Wilson didn’t quite dismount, he sort of slid from the horse and managed to land on both feet. He growled at Owen, when he gave the big man a little applause.
Owen helped Alex from her saddle whilst Jericho dropped from his mount and handed his reins to Owen, who tied the horses together at the hitch post and then joined the others in the farmhouse. Mrs. Philadelphia Hazzard welcomed her visitors with fresh brewed coffee, biscuits and gravy. They sat at the large dining table, eating and chatting. Philadelphia had been a Temporal Agent for Jericho for some years, joining her husband Clement after they married, who had been working for Mr. Tibbs since his teen years.
Wilson was mopping up his breakfast with gusto and thanked Philadelphia, he had not tasted such good biscuits and gravy since he was a boy and stayed at his Grandmother’s a couple of times a week. He sat back and grinned; “That makes the damn horse-ride worthwhile!”
Everyone laughed and then the door swung open and Philadelphia’s other guest sauntered into the Dining Room. Jericho and Alex recognised him at once; it was ‘Strange-ways Stevens’ a well known train and bank robber who had worked for Jericho on a casual basis over the years. “My guts are giving me gripes and that’s the second damn visit to the thunder box in an hour.” He moaned and slowly sat down; Philadelphia handed him a black coffee, stirring a large spoonful of sugar into the cup.
“You’re not gonna like what I’m about to say Jericho, but you need to know about a strange pair hanging around that blue-belly Army of the Potomac, the one under that General Meade. They stick out like tits on a bull. Apparently, they are English Whisky Drummers, looking to sell their wares. But they isn’t right, as I was telling Phil here, they talk real strange and don’t know shit about anything. But it’s what I caught a glimpse of that will scratch your interest.” Strange-ways leaned back in the chair and sipped his coffee.
“It was a small, dark rectangular box with a class front that had tiny pictures or drawings on – it fits in your hand and Strange-ways says the little fat one of the pair was whispering into it. The tall skinny one kept looking about while he did it.” Philadelphia topped up Owen and Wilson’s coffee cups and sat down. Jericho rubbed his chin and sat back; thinking.
Owen looked quite puzzled by that; "How could they use a mobile phone here; there's no satellites or towers to carry the signals and who the hell would they call?" Wilson nodded his agreement at that statement, but Jericho made no comment and only Alex caught the strange look upon his face.
“I take it you know that the Reb army under ‘Granny Lee’ is about thirty miles south of us, heading north. The Blue-bellies are about the same distance south heading north in pursuit. The Reb’s have been using the Mountains to screen their movements. The pair should meet up tomorrow somewhere near Gettysburg and that is gonna be a dandy of a fight!” Strange-ways laughed to himself and drained his coffee cup – looking for a refill.
Jericho turned to his team; “About six weeks ago in this time, there was a breach of the Time-Line and it wasn’t a natural hit. Two human’s crossed over from the year 2018. Doc Underhill and his team investigated and found nothing. There have been no changes to the current Time-Line, so the pair have kept a very efficient ‘Low Profile’ here – until now, I suspect. But just a few months ago a breech occurred and someone crossed over from 2016 - why are time travellers arriving here in force, at this time and place? "
"The battle." Alex said quietly, adding "They were going to try and change the outcome of the most important battle of the American Civil war - but how?"
"Don't forget your old friend - McIves was reported in this year some months ago - is that another coincidence?" Wilson sat back and sipped his coffee, but Jericho just nodded and finished his breakfast.
“I ain’t told you the best bit yet, Jericho.” Strange-ways accepted more coffee from Philadelphia and some fruit cake to help ease his growling stomach; “Them strange pair have been seen hanging around with an actor, who we know works for General Longstreet; he commands the reb’s First Corps under old ‘Granny Lee’. The actor was the bugger that warned the reb’s about the Yankee’s movements – he has the ear and confidence of Jim Longstreet; so what if them pair from the hereafter, get the damn actor to rat out the Yankee’s plan’s and change what the South intend to do here?”
Jericho nodded and smiled; but said nothing in reply. He glanced across at Alex and she took up the conversation.
Alex sipped her coffee; “Where’s Clem, Philly?”
Philadelphia sat back down and gripped her cup with both hands; “He’s over at the Mercy Hospital; old Doc Hogan is down with the fever again, so he has to help out.” Alex placed her cup upon the table and smiled; Clem Hazzard could never turn his back on a cry for help!
Jericho considered what he had heard and pushed his hands through his dark wavy hair and sat back in the rough chair; Doctor Clement Hazzard was a man of principle – that’s what Jericho liked and admired about the man – and that hospital will surely need all the Doctors and Surgeons it can get hold of, in the next few days.
“I’ll catch up with Clem when we ride to Gettysburg; is there anything you want us to deliver Philly?” Jericho leaned forward and drained his cup. The others knew that was a signal to finish their late breakfasts and get ready to saddle up again. Wilson groaned to himself, his arse and thighs were already feeling the effects of the short ride from their ‘Jump Point’ and he really didn’t relish another couple of hours on the back of that damn horse.
Philadelphia smiled and rose up quickly from her chair and smoothed down her apron; “There is indeed Jericho; I’ll fetch them from the kitchen.” Philly had prepared two apple pies; one for her husband who adored apple pie and another for Jericho’s team. The thought of her apple pie produced a smile on Wilson’s face and he volunteered to look after the pies. Owen commented that he would also look after the pies - particularly from Wilson!
3. THE BOARDING HOUSE.
Old Strange-way’s muttered that he was never given pies; by anyone, never mind Philadelphia. But cheered up when Philly told him he could finish up the biscuits and gravy. Then Jericho took Strange-ways to one side and gave him some instructions and several silver Dollars, which put an even bigger smile upon his face. The foursome stated their goodbyes and mounted up, heading down the rough road to Gettysburg.
“We’ll get rooms at old Ma Crabb’s boarding house, just on the outside of the town, The Rebel army will occupy the town tomorrow and we’ll be away from it there.” Jericho informed Alex as the group rode towards the North Gettysburg turn-pike with some determination.
It was Wilson’s sharp eye that caught the figure trailing some miles behind them; a lone horseman with a distinctive bright yellow dust coat. “He’s been behind us since we left the Hazzard’s place.” Wilson told Jericho, but the group didn’t slow or change course and reached the boarding house a couple of hours later. They could see the figure in the distance and it vanished beyond small woodland – heading south.
“Heading towards blue or grey?” Wilson grinned and they dismounted; Owen walked the horse’s towards the Boarding House’s Livery stable, tossing a silver dollar in the air that Jericho had given him to pay the stable boy. They walked into the lobby of the house and were greeted by old Ma Crabb’s eldest daughter; Victoria. A sour faced spinster in her late thirties with dark greasy hair and missing teeth – she didn’t smile when she looked up from her paperwork on the front desk.
“You’ll have to keep your nigger outside; Negro servants sleep in the stables loft room.” She said simply and gestured towards the door; “We only charge two bits for that.” She added and again pointed towards the door; “Go on boy, just follow the damn horses.” Before Wilson could comment, Jericho tugged gently on his sleeve and nodded towards the door; “You knew to expect this.”
But Alex was having none of 'this': “Mister Wilson is a free man and entitled to respect and proper treatment when he’s paying for a room here!” She tapped the desk gently with her hand and added quietly; “He’s name is MISTER Wilson Franklyn for your register.”
Miss Victoria Crabb actually smiled and folded her arms, nodding her head she muttered; “You don’t say Missy!” Standing in the doorway to the kitchen was another woman; tall and thin, wearing a drab grey dress and watching the row develop between Victoria and the beautiful young lady. Smiling, she was clutching a handful of old books that Ma Crabb had given her for the school.
Miss Lillian then noticed the young man standing next to the lovely lady and her smile vanished; "Fucking Jericho Tibbs." She whispered to herself and wondered where young Benny was. Samuel, Ma Crabb's grandson ran past her and through the kitchen door towards the yard, all excited. His aunt (Victoria) had sent him to fetch Sheriff Rook, to the full blown argument happening in Reception.
Miss Lillian sighed and followed the boy through the kitchen and into the street. Young Samuel was already pushing through the doors of the Sheriff's office, shouting. Miss Lillian stood quietly in the street, as several Union Troopers rode past the dry goods store behind her. She knew that the battle was only a day away now and nothing must interfere with the plan. She would tell Rook to tread carefully in his dealings with that bastard Tibbs.
It was with some relief to her, that Jacob 'pudding' Davis wandered from the Jail with Samuel next to him. Sheriff Rook's deputy was fat, useless and avoided any kind of confrontations - if he could - she would be able to manipulate him easily. Miss Lillian called Jacob and Samuel over and spoke quietly to the sweating deputy who constantly wiped hid face and neck in the late sunshine.
Apparently the good Sheriff was in the Mayors Office, being briefed about the two enormous armies that were converging on the town - along with the entire town council. They were clearly trying to avoid any panic setting in - most hoped that the Union army would occupy the town before the rebels and confine the fighting to the fields and roads around Gettysburg. Lillian chuckled at that; some hope!
Suitably 'advised' by Miss Lillian, the reluctant Jacob headed for the reception area, hitching up his wide trousers and nervously adjusting the badge that hung from his dirty white shirt; stained with sweat and food debris. She watched him go and headed for the rear of the undertaker's, where Troy and Dauphin would be waiting with the waggon and for her instructions. But all she could think of was Benny.
Apparently the good Sheriff was in the Mayors Office, being briefed about the two enormous armies that were converging on the town - along with the entire town council. They were clearly trying to avoid any panic setting in - most hoped that the Union army would occupy the town before the rebels and confine the fighting to the fields and roads around Gettysburg. Lillian chuckled at that; some hope!
Suitably 'advised' by Miss Lillian, the reluctant Jacob headed for the reception area, hitching up his wide trousers and nervously adjusting the badge that hung from his dirty white shirt; stained with sweat and food debris. She watched him go and headed for the rear of the undertaker's, where Troy and Dauphin would be waiting with the waggon and for her instructions. But all she could think of was Benny.
The loft above the barn was quite large and packed with hay; Wilson and Jericho were still chuckling to themselves as they laid blankets out and prepared to settle in for the night. “Well, you told old sour face straight baby girl!” Wilson smiled broadly and eased his sore back down upon the hay and laughed to himself – again. “Fancy not knowing what ‘racist’ means.” He turned to Jericho and whispered; “But she certainly knew what ‘white trash’ meant!”
Jericho grinned and sighed, pulling the blanket about his shoulders. Old Ma Crabb had intervened before the row at the front desk actually required the local Sheriff being called. His useless deputy; Jacob had done nothing really - except stare at Alex and wipe his fat face – It could have been the worst outcome possible for a team of temporal Detectives trying to keep a low profile.
But old Ma Crabb settled the matter: for a dollar they could all sleep in the hay loft. “Sorry boy’s, I sort of lost my head a little there.” Alex explained and pulled bits of straw from her hair and skirts. But the rest of the team rejected her apology with some humour; “I think the best bits were: frustrated old spinster and pea-brained.” Owen said quietly and chuckled loudly.
“Let’s get some sleep people; we have a long day tomorrow.” Jericho said and still smiling, curled up in his rough blanket. “White trash was my favourite part.” He softly added and drifted off to sleep.
In the street below the loft’s big window, a lone horseman pulled his bright yellow dust coat off and watched the lamp light flickering through the glass and also smiled. He rattled the little black drawstring bag which contained ten silver Yankee dollars – apparently a down payment for some murder.
4. BEFORE MIDNIGHT IN THE STABLES.
Alex slipped away very quietly and crept down the back stairs of the stable and found the horseman by the rear doors. He smiled broadly and the pair embraced with some passion. Alex kissed him and whispered; "we don't have long darling. The boys and me are sleeping in the hay loft, thanks to my big mouth."
McIves just chuckled and kissed that 'big mouth' gently. Alex grabbed his hand and they disappeared into a vacant horse box and McIves tossed down his saddle blanket. There was plenty of moon light streaming through the big window for the lovers to enjoy each other in the shadows. They didn't undress fully, McIves pulled down his trousers and 'long John's', gripping hold of his big erection, whilst Alex tugged down her big bloomers with some difficultly and put them to one side. She looked relieved to get the bloody things off.
McIves gestured to his tight bodice; "Get them out for me darling. You know how nuts I am about your big tities and especially, those bloody nipples of yours." Alex sighed, but pulled open the bodice and her magnificent big tits popped out; nipples erect. McIves grunted his satisfaction with that and told Alex to use her bag as a pillow; he would fuck her in the good old fashioned 'Missionary Position'. Then they would swap to doggy style because he wanted to fuck her arse.
Alex shook her head; "I'm not letting that bloody thing of yours up my bum without proper lubricant." She folded her arms and didn't smile. McIves simply grinned and produced a small jar of Vaseline from his pocket. "Came prepared my darling. Now open your bloody legs!" He climbed on top of her without further comment. She held onto his shoulders, as he pushed his big cock into her wet vagina - after slapping a little Vaseline on the tip and stem - and started to thrust with a growing smile on his face. Leaning on one hand, he gripped a big tit and stuck his mouth over the nipple. He sucked and squeezed hard. Alex was really trying to keep herself from moaning loudly; sounds would carry far at night, especially in a quiet town with two bloody big armies facing each other on the outskirts. People would tent to shot first and find out later.
Alexander McIves was thoroughly enjoying Alex. She was taking his big cock really well and keeping the damn noise down. He fucked her hard in the straw and simply didn't hear or see the man behind him. He heard the safety come off the rifle and felt the cold end of its barrel on the back of his neck. "Easy there boy, Just pull your cock from the slut and get on your back. No quick moves or I'll blow you both to hell." McIves stared into Alex's eyes and she whispered; "Do as he says, the bloody rifle is pointed straight at your head." McIves nodded and slowly pulled from Alex and rolled onto his back. He slowly tucked his cock away and stared at the man with the gun, who smiled at Alex's open legs and fanny. He grunted; "Fucking McIves! I might have known. Poking a dam whore in the back of a stable at midnight. With two fucking big armies about to kick shit out of each other. Only you my friend."
Sage Columbine snapped on the safety and swung his rifle onto his shoulder and eased onto a large harness and tackle box. He pulled out a half smoked cigar and stuck it in his mouth. He gestured to Alex, who was pulling down her skirt and petticoats. She sat in the straw and pushed her heaving breasts back into her bodice. "Who's the bloody great looking whore? Can you afford a tart like that?" He slapped his coat pocket and some coins jingled; "Shit man, how much is she? I bet she's a fucking five dollar whore."
McIves rose from the straw and shook his head. "Thanks for the warning about those two idiots Delaney sent after me. I owe you one. Her name is Alex; she's a good friend of mine." Sage nodded and gestured back to to Alex who was staring at the big rough man with deep blue eyes and big shoulders. "I really wish I had a good friend like that; even if she charged me full price."
"You two know each then?" She said quietly. Sage chuckled; "Yes my girl. We sure do." McIves helped Alex up and smiled; "Sage and I have worked together since we met up at he battle of Bull Run. He's from 1925 originally." Alex sighed: another bloody time traveller, the bloody place was full of them. "Ah, she's that bloody time cop your always on about. Man, she could arrest me any day." McIves grunted, then stared into the stable; there was a man's figure laying in the dirt.
"Who's that?" He asked Sage. "Some fucker who was about to shoot first and ask about you later. I think they were about to off you and take turns with the girl. You have quite a few enemies my friend." McIves slapped Sage on the arm; "Another one I owe you." Sage chuckled again; "Forget about it man, You pulled me out the shit as many times." He rose from the box and tipped his hat at Alex, adding; "The other bastard got away. So watch your back. Keep your rifle in one hand, Fuck your friend doggy style and keep an eye out. No one is going to shoot that piece of honey."
Alex sighed and then realised she needed to pee; her fanny was still full of bloody Vaseline from their unfinished lovemaking. She walked back around the stables and found a quiet spot, in a small woodshed and squatted down. She groaned a little with relief as she pissed hard on the floor. She almost jumped and pissed on her damn shoes, as she heard the soft voice chuckle; "Alex, your one hell of a woman!"
"Sweet Lord, you certainly could make a girl happy with this." She whispered as the big cock came alive in her hands. As it grew, she thanked heaven for the Vaseline, that was still smeared around and in her vagina; she would need it, to take this monster. Sage's mouth and tongue found hers and they crashed together. His hands gripped her hips and she pulled herself into his big strong arms. His cock found her vagina like a ferret down a rabbit hole. Alex wrapped her long legs around his waist and her arms around his big shoulders. He drove his cock into her hard and deep. Her groans were subdued by his tongue buried in her mouth. He fucked her hard against the shaking wall for some minutes, Then lowered her onto the floor and continued to fuck her hard in the missionary position.
6. ASSISTANCE FROM A STRANGE PLACE.
Alex suddenly sat up, and rubbed her eyes gently. She looked about the hay loft and wondered why she had woken up - it was still dark.
The lamp was casting a dull yellow light about the place and she could smell something sweet. Jericho also stirred and sat up, as something dropped from his chest into the hay, he pushed about and pulled up a small black drawstring bag, wrapped in a piece of paper, held by a length of green string.
Wilson leaned upon his elbows and nodded to the bag Jericho held up; "That sounds like coins rattling." Jericho opened the handwritten note carefully and held it by the lamp. The look upon his face was priceless, he coughed and shook his head in disbelief.
"What does it say?" Owen asked, yawing and stretching - he was used to being aroused from sleep in the middle of night - life in the monastery had seen to that. "I almost started praying again." He chuckled to himself, kneeling in the soft hay.
Everyone looked at Alex as she held the single red rose up for all to see. "Where does anyone get a fresh cut English rose in the middle of America in 1863?" She asked with real bewilderment in her voice, adding; "I found it next to my bag." Which she was using as a makeshift pillow.
Jericho tossed the bag a couple of times and everyone heard the coins it contained; "Ten silver dollars paid to a certain 'Black eyed Benny' for a little murder." He spoke softly and pushed the bag into his coat pocket.
"Murder of who?" Wilson asked and Jericho smiled a little; "Me." He said simply.
Alex accepted the note from Jericho and read it aloud;
"Jericho, I believe someone paid 'Black eyed Benny' - a new young killer, ten silver dollars to end your time here. You wont be able to question Benny's soul - he was originally from 2016! When I encountered him, he was a carrying a torn map of Gettysburg and Ma Crabb's boarding house was marked on it. I suspect someone knows you and why your here - go carefully. McIves."
There was silence for a few seconds and Jericho started to chuckle, taking the note from Alex and placing it with the money bag. "Bloody McIves!" He muttered and slumped back into the hay and consulted his small fob watch, which was set to local time, it showed 4.45 am.
"The sun will be up in an hour." He looked through the large window and could see the flickering of several blazing torches. Wilson wandered to the window and peered out; "Looks like a couple of Sheriff deputies are bringing a body slung over a horse." He turned and smiled at Jericho; "Young 'Black eyed Benny' I would assume."
"Why would he help us - McIves I mean?" Owen asked, pulling bits of straw from his hair and jacket. Jericho didn't answer, but sat thoughtfully rubbing his chin, wondering what McIves was doing here in 1863 and more importantly; who else knows that Temporal detectives are on scene?
Jericho looked up and could see his three colleagues grouped around the hayloft window, watching Sheriff Theodore Rook's men unloading the body outside the jail, which was directly opposite the stables. "They are telling the Sheriff that rebel troops are camped just a few miles from here. But no rebel cavalry has been seen and that's strange apparently." Owen called back to Jericho, still brushing himself down from the straw.
"No cavalry, did you say no cavalry?" Jericho asked and pulled his mirror from the depths of his frock coat pockets. Own walked back over and helped Alex brush down her coat; "Yeah, they seemed to be fascinated that the rebels have no real cavalry with them." Jericho read, then re-read his mirror and nodded to himself. That could well be the answer to why there were repeated breeches to the time line, here at this period and place.
A thought crept into his head and Jericho had a very strong feeling he could be on the right line of thinking here - the rebel cavalry arrived too late to really influence the outcome of the battle - a defeat for the rebels. What if someone managed to get the rebel cavalry here nice and early? Would that be enough to change the result? Who could do that? Or was he missing something else?
7. THE PIE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. [Tuesday 30th June 1863]
The team took breakfast at Brady's eating house on South Street and rather strangely - to Jericho and his team - none of the early morning patrons objected to Wilson sitting at the table with his white friends. They had told the owner; Tom Brady, that they were reporters from the Citizens Compiler Newspaper, based in Washington DC, and were covering the exploits of the Union Army.
The large camera, tripod and film cases carried by Wilson and Owen drew attention, with many amazed that a black man could take photographs, but they were truly amazed when told that Alex was a reporter working for that title.
One dissenting patron paid his bill and left muttering; "Niggers and women working together, what the fuck next?" Tom Brady half smiled and almost apologised to them for the man's comments; "That's Billy Logan; he and his family are dirt farmers who fled Carolina at the start of the war - they didn't want to fight for anyone - rebels or union. He's all mouth; don't pay any mind to him."
But one man did pay some attention to the little group of strangers; Sheriff Theodore Rook finished up his plate and sipped his coffee, watching Jericho and his team carefully over his cup. He threw a couple of bits on the table and wiped his face with a napkin. standing, he looked down at his fat and already sweating deputy; "I'm gonna have words with them strangers from the east - stay here."
He walked slowly to their table, scatter gun slung over his shoulder. Sheriff Rook was in his early forties and a former cattle man who had fallen on hard times before he was elected Sheriff - after he shot dead two outlaws, trying to rob the local post office. He was known as fair, but hard - you didn't mess with Rook unless you were prepared to pull your pistol and use it.
Jericho rose slowly from his chair and held out his hand; "Good morning Sheriff, my colleagues and I are getting some breakfast before we head to the union camp. We're reporters from..." But Jericho never finished his greeting, Sheriff Rook waved his hand aside; "I heard tell who you people are. Old ma Crabb's grandson painted a pretty picture 'bout what occurred at his grandma's boarding house."
The table went silent, except for Owen deliberately slurping his coffee and Alex stared at the big man, who was wearing a bright red waistcoat with a silver star pinned to it. The sheriff wiped his face with a gaudy yellow hankie and blew his nose. "I hear tell that this pretty little thing told Victoria, in no uncertain terms, what she thought of her."
He turned to go, but stopped and spoke to Jericho again; "You reporters like to stick your snouts in people's business don't you?" he didn't wait for Jericho to reply, adding; "Never mind the Rebels or Yankee's, you should speak to Miss Lillian, the school ma'am. She'll tell you a story to curdle your milk and that's a fact. You'll find her place next to the school house on the Old Turner's Pike. She ain't been here long, but she knows her stuff alright." He actually chuckled and wandered out the café, with his deputy in tow.
The group finished their breakfast and made their way back to the stables in relative silence. They passed a couple of black labourers, loading a waggon, who stopped and raised their hats to Alex and Wilson.
"Word spreads quickly. We need to be really careful now - especially you and Wilson." Jericho spoke softly to Alex, adding; "Whatever our feelings are about the people of this period, we must complete the mission - can you imagine the future if the South win this battle?" Alex nodded, but said nothing, thinking what on earth the local school teacher knew, that would interest reporters, here to cover the union army. But maybe the Sheriff does.
Wilson kicked the boot and told the owner to stand up - he had actually drawn his revolver. But a skinny boy emerged from the bale of hay, armed only with an empty pie dish. He had a well worn confederate infantry uniform hung about him - at least a couple of sizes too large. Alex sighed; the boy was even younger than Owen - a deserter from the army now camped a few miles away.
He was shaking and Alex slowly took the pie dish from him; "Put it down Wilson, he has no gun and he's just a boy." That's when she saw the piece of paper stuck to the pie dish and prised it from the still sticky bottom.
Jericho quietly accepted the paper from Alex, who was giving the boy water from her canteen. "Since when did America in 1863 have laminated paper?" Wilson asked with some apparent sarcasm in his voice.
12. STUCK IN A BIG BATTLE. [Wednesday 1st July 1863]
They had crossed a small dirt road, between thin trees and broken fencing, when the first bullet struck a tree next to where Owen was standing; adjusting the girth of his horse. Everyone fell from their horse's and crawled into the tree's for cover as bullets started to slap into trees and bushes around them.
Wilson found some large stones to hide his bulk behind and was joined by Alex. "Who the fuck is doing all the shooting!" She shouted and bullets ricocheted off the stones and hit the bushes nearby. "Bloody rebels - lots of them, down by that old died up creek bed and they're coming this way." Wilson flipped onto his back and checked his pistol, then saw Jericho gesturing at them. He and Owen were hunkered down amongst some thick bushes - the ground around them kicked up; as bullets hit the dirt.
Wilson reached into his pocket and pulled out his vibrating mirror - it was Jericho calling; "No arguments - jump now. You really cannot become a prisoner of these people. Get to Clem's place when you jump back - you may need another horse. They seem to have all ran off." Wilson was about to argue about leaving, when Alex slapped his arm; "Get the fuck out of here - you know what these bastards will do to a captured Black man!"
Reluctantly he nodded his agreement and activated the mirror - he was gone in an instant and she snuggled closer to the rocks. Alex could see several armed men approaching the tree's where they were sheltering; two carried rebel flags and one was clearly an officer - he carried a sword and was actually wearing a proper grey uniform.
Jericho yelled across to Alex; "Pull your skirts up and use your petticoat as a white flag!" The bullets were now flying thick as flies, so Alex grabbed up her dress and pulled down her frilly white petticoat, exposing her long legs and thighs. Owen groaned and shouted to Jericho; "Wilson won't be happy at missing that treat!" Jericho just shook his head and then noticed the firing had stopped - then he saw why; Alex was waving her white petticoat above her head, with her dress still pulled up!
"Clever boss; No man is going to shoot that." Owen actually grinned and with Jericho, rose from the bushes - hands in air. Alex was decent again, when they joined her with the Confederate Officer and a small group of soldiers; all very interested in introducing themselves to Alex. But the officer waved them away and spoke directly to Jericho; "Miss Alexandra tells me you are reporters from the Citizens Compiler Newspaper, based in Washington DC, covering the fighting here. I had heard tell from the town, that there were some nosey Yankee reporters hanging about the place."
"That's us Sir, we're covering the war for our readers up North. But we appear to have lost our cameraman and our damn horses. You can't miss him - a big coloured man who's a freeman and well spoken." Jericho removed his hat and wiped his brow; "As I say Sir, he's a free born man of colour."
The officer just grunted; "If he's a nigger - then he's a slave. I don't go for any of this 'freeman' shit - he's contraband," The officer pushed his sword back into its scabbard and called over for the sergeant. Jericho was impressed that Alex kept her tongue firmly in her mouth, especially with the look she gave the rebel officer.
"Grab a couple of boys and take these Yankee reporters to Captain Delaney; he'll know what to do with them." The officer lifted his hat to Alex and re-joined his men, who were forming up in the dried Creek Bed. Jericho watched as the officer spoke to two men and they joined the sergeant. The old sergeant shouldered his musket and with the two scruffy men - one had no shoes - ordered the reporters to follow him; with hands on heads.
"That name rings a bell." Whispered Owen to Jericho and Alex; "Wasn't that the name of the rebel captain that the deserter mentioned, I mean the one talking to Clem Hazzard?" Jericho nodded; yes. But was watching the quiet conversation between the two men, one had pulled a coin out and tossed it in the air. Jericho turned to Alex and said quietly; "I don't think they're taking us to the their captain. I think we will never make the rebel encampment." She nodded her agreement; "We need to reach our mirrors, how do we do that with our hands up?" She whispered, than clearly heard one of the soldiers laughing about 'going first'.
Jericho and Alex exchanged glances; "Distraction time....and press that button as quickly as you can." Alex sighed and suddenly broke step, groaning and grabbing her ankle; she slid to the dirt, moaning about her ankle. The shoeless soldier pointed his musket - with bayonet attached - straight at her; "Get up you Yankee trollop." He said quietly.
Alex babbled on about her ankle and pointed to it, as she pulled her skirt right up - not forgetting she had removed her petticoat earlier - The soldier was getting a first class, close up look at what was on offer. He lowered the musket a little and smiled. The other soldier pushed him shouting; "I won the fucking toss, she's mine first."
The sergeant pushed between the two, but said nothing as the roar of cannon drowned out any thinking or speaking. The ground was moving with shell fire, with dirt thrown up several feet into the air - the noise was unbearable. There was no time to do anything - except find cover.
Jericho grabbed Alex and together they fell down a small incline and scrambled for a horseshoe shaped group of rocks and dived in. "Where's Owen?" Alex shouted above the noise of the bombardment. Jericho didn't know and could now see lines of blue soldiers appearing - thousands of them.
"The bloody battle has started!" He shouted and added; "We appear to be in the middle of a bloody big battle - and I mean a big battle!" He pulled his mirror out and jabbed at the emergency icon; he, Alex and Owen were returned instantly to outside the lighthouse.
"They're all dead. The soldiers that were escorting us, they were caught by the cannon fire. I saw it happen - bloody awful." Owen was brushing dirt from his clothes and he still looked a little shocked by what he had just witnessed. Alex gave him her hip-flask and wiped his face with a hankie. It had little splatters of blood from the three soldiers. "There wasn't much left of them." He whispered to Alex and took a big swig from the hip-flask.
"Wilson's calling." Jericho muttered and answered his mirror., after a few minutes he looked up; "Well, Wilson has made contact with Clem and we must return at once."
13. THAT'S NOT HISTORY.
From a small group of trees, Jericho, Alex and Owen sat and watched, the sky. It was filled with whistling cannon fire and screaming of shells, as both armies clashed in the fields and roads of Gettysburg. Owen was keeping an eye on the small dirt road which lay behind the trees; "Nothing yet." He wiped sweat from his face with a gaudy red hankie and grinned at Alex; "Poor old Wilson missed the best bit - you'll have to hitch up your skirts again, so that he doesn't feel left out." He chuckled and checked his mirror.
Alex simply ignored him and spoke to Jericho; " I did wonder why old Sheriff Rook took the trouble to tell us about Miss Lillian and her supposed strange story that we would be interested in." Jericho nodded; "Well he couldn't really tell us directly that the lady was involved in a gunpowder plot to blow up the rebel HQ. What intrigues me is who told the conspirators, that the rebels would use the widow Thompson's house during the battle - that type of knowledge could only have come from time-travellers."
Alex had to agree with that and wondered when Wilson would turn up with the waggon - she didn't wait long. "They're here." Owen rose from the damp dirt and brushed his trousers down. Alex did the same with her dress and straightened her bonnet. Jericho gestured towards the approaching waggon and keeping low, they quickly departed the tree's for the dirt road.
They were clad to see Wilson and watched with great interest as Jericho and Clem Hazzard stood under a large tree and discussed some matters, for several minutes. Finally, they walked back towards the waggon. Alex whispered to Owen; "I'd love to have been a fly on that tree."
They joined Wilson; climbing aboard the canvas covered waggon, on which someone had painted - in black tar - 'Hospital' on both sides. A single brown horse - with saddle - was tied behind it with bulging saddle-bags. Clem helped Alex aboard and she smiled to herself, as Clem Hazzard kissed her hand and asked her about being a female doctor; he was good looking and charming.
Philadelphia was a lucky lady, she mused and asked Clem about the full saddle-bags. "Medical supplies, I think I may need them." He explained with a smile.
Wilson slapped the reins and the horses pulled away. Owen was impressed; the big man knew how to drive a two horse waggon. Wilson spoke quietly with Jericho; "Sheriff Rook has no great love for the Yankee's, but he doesn't think much of the Confederates either. He found out about the gunpowder plot from 'Strangeways Stevens', who got drunk one night whilst playing poker with the sheriff and his brother-in-law; he blabbered out every detail. Luckily Sheriff Rook didn't pay any attention to his talk about 'small & tall' being time travellers."
Jericho nodded; "Why Miss Lillian?" Wilson smiled at that comment; "Pillow talk. It appears that the respectable School Ma'am really does like cock. 'Small & Tall' serviced her - together; she became part of their plan to blow up General Lee. It was her that told 'Strangeways' of the plot - he was yet another lover - and introduced him to 'small & tall'. Apparently it was him who told 'small & tall' about a certain Jericho Tibbs - for money. So they arranged for one of their number [Black eyed Benny] to knock you off, when you arrived - 'Strangeways' would give them the nod."
"Bastard traitor.." Muttered Owen, then smiled; "Fancy old Miss Lillian being a sexually liberated woman long before it was invented." Jericho turned round; "Say that again." Owen shrugged his shoulders and repeated what he had said. Alex smiled at Jericho; "You have that annoyingly 'I know' look on your face."
Jericho just smiled and pulled his mirror out.
"Why didn't the Sheriff arrest the fuckers; if he knew about the plot?" Owen asked and passed his hip-flask round the little group. Clem Hazzard answered that one;" When the Sheriff had obtained all the details, he wondered who to call - But who could he call? The Northern Army wouldn't be exactly unhappy, if General Robert E. Lee disappeared in a puff of smoke. The Confederates? He doesn't hold with their principles and he already had a run-in with Captain Delaney over the death of 'Black eyed Benny'. So he did some exemplary police work for an ex-cattleman; he infiltrated the group to find out more."
Jericho rubbed his chin; "Clem, what was the 'run in' between Captain Delaney and the Sheriff over the dead gunman?" Clem waved away the offered hip-flask - he didn't touch alcohol -and settled back in the jolting waggon; "He wanted the Sheriff to raise a posse and get after McIves, he really wasn't happy about the death of ;Black eyed Benny'. I saw the reason when the Sheriff had me examine the boy's body. The Sheriff refused his request point blank; he wasn't about to take out a group of armed men, when they were surrounded by two enormous trigger happy armies."
Jericho looked up from his mirror; "Delaney is of this time; he's a known historical figure. But we know that Benny was from 2016, he had to be a descendant of the Captain." Jericho looked out the waggon, you could still see cannon fire and hear fighting in the distance; tomorrow would be the second day of battle.
He turned back to his team; "Miss Lillian Scott is the key to all this." and returned to his mirror. Everyone exchanged glances and Alex just had to ask; "How so Jericho?"
Jericho smiled; "Miss Scott hails from Delaware and probably breached the time line in 2016 with our nasty little friend Benny; who is her oldest son by the way. Young Benny Scott was on the run for murder in 2016 and his darling mother knew the best place to hide him and where, he would be useful to her plans. None of them counted on McIves appearing on the scene."
"How did you get onto her?" Wilson sounded a little amazed and Jericho jerked a thumb at Owen; "He told me." Everyone stared at Owen who simply shrugged his shoulders; "What the hell did I say?" he asked. Jericho chuckled; "You said; 'Fancy old Miss Lillian being a sexually liberated woman long before it was invented' - and of course, remember, the Sheriff stated that she hadn't been around here long. I looked her up and found she wasn't from this time."
He pushed his mirror back into his coat pocket; "According to Human Records, she was born in 1975, got married, had three children and guess who was the oldest?" He smiled at his team; "All three children were not by her estranged husband and that poor sap is a teacher of History and surprise, surprise, he is an indirect descendant of the Confederate General James Longstreet, who, if her plan went right, would be standing next to General Lee, when the bloody house disappears in a big explosion."
"Holy fucking shit, she wanted to bump off her estranged husband before he was even fucking born!" Owen exclaimed; "Now that's one way to get away with murder." Alex smiled; "And it would not effect the outcome of the battle and thus the North would still win the civil war., would it not?"
Jericho turned again to Clem; "Best tell them about the messenger pies." and chuckled. "When I was called to cover old Doc Hogan, Miss Lillian was the one who conveyed the request. Being a kindly lady - apparently - she stayed with Philly and helped her bake some pies. She placed another copy of the map under the cooked pie that Philly was going to send to me. What she didn't realise was that Philly helped me with my assignments from Jericho and Philly caught on. So Philly placed a message under your pie - you just didn't eat the damn thing quickly enough!"
Owen folded his arms; "Why put the map in your dish, if you were loyal to Jericho, that doesn't make sense?" Alex had to nod her agreement with that.
Clem chuckled; "Miss Lillian knew that she, Captain Delaney and old Doc Hogan would be enjoying the pie after our dinner together and she would be serving the meal. She could retrieve the new map, without any danger of her being caught with it, and pass it onto Delaney; who was her direct ancestor and whose descendant - according to Jericho's search of Human Records - was her lover and father of her first child; that bastard 'Black eyed Benny'."
He grinned and held up his hands; "She also had the delicious irony, that dumb Temporal Detectives would be responsible for delivering the map that would change the battle. It didn't matter if the great general Lee and Longstreet were killed. Any of the other Confederate generals could, following a bloody map like that, turn the battle, if necessary. But there was a huge fly in their pudding and they had to deal with that." Clem looked at Jericho, who took up the story:
"She had to get rid of her husbands ancestor by killing Longstreet, but she still needed the North to win because somehow, Delaney must survive the war and produce descendants; her being one of them. Had the North lost here, the war would have dragged on for another four years with the North still winning in the end. The good Captain Delaney would have had a very, almost certain chance of being killed in the much longer conflict. I checked with the Senior Time Controller about the alternative time-line, that extended war would have produced and there is no Miss Lillian Scott of Delaware." Jericho smiled and accepted the hip-flask from Owen.
"Now you don't read about this in the bloody history books." Chuckled Owen, but Alex voiced her concerns; "Who are 'small & tall' and what the hell are they trying to achieve? Wilson coughed; "Never mind them; who was the bloody big fly in their pudding?"
Clem smiled and spoke softly; "'Black eyed Benny' had taken ten silver dollars off Delaney to kill Jericho, but I met up with McIves; he was passing through to Washington on matters that he didn't talk about. I told him what 'Delaney had arranged with Benny about Jericho's murder and he muttered that he had a debt to pay to Jericho and said he would deal with it - and he did. He became a big fly in their pudding because that could wreck their plans, if Jericho was still around."
"Now for small, tall and Miss Lillian." Muttered Jericho, as the widow's Thompson's house came into view - the confederates had not occupied it yet. Union forces were encamped there - for the moment - Doctor Clem Hazzard unfurled the Union flag and it flew from the 'hospital' waggon.
As they walked to the lighthouse, Owen suddenly remembered the assignment Jericho had given him regarding the dead confederate deserter and he pulled Alex to one side; "Should I bother to give Jericho the story, that the young dead deserter told Little Kate the Collector?" Alex shrugged her shoulders; "Seems a bit pointless now, but what was it?"
Owen sighed; "Well, he said that he was betrayed and the bugger with him pulled out a 'Bowie' knife and gutted him before he could use his pistol. They were on the ridge together; waiting for Miss Lillian and the waggon."
Alex looked puzzled; "So McIves didn't kill him?"
Owen nodded; "Nah, he didn't. it was 'Strangeways' that knifed him, came up from behind and gutted him like a fish - even with the pistol cocked - the boy never suspected that his companion would do such a thing - they were conspirators together. 'Strangeways' dropped his money bag with all those silver dollars in, during the fight. He couldn't stop and pick them up because someone else had appeared." Owen started to walk to the lighthouse, arm in arm with Alex.
Alex remembered the coins scattered about the boys body and no-one had questioned why they were there! She stopped; "So those coins were from Jericho, he gave 'Strangeways' them at the farmhouse. We should have guessed that 'Strangeways' had done the killing by the presence of those damn coins. We could have known about the two timing rat earlier."
Owen nodded and continued with the story that the boy had recounted to the Collector; "The boy - whose name was Jacob Sanderson from Mississippi - had been working for Captain Delaney, posing as a deserter to infiltrate a nest of Union spies; that was us by the way. He was told to acquire the pie at all costs because the little dinner party, arranged for the delivery of the pie, had to be called off because they suspected Rook was on to them - especially after the row between Delaney and Rook over Benny. But hunger got the best of him and he ate the bloody thing and suddenly, we were onto him."
Jericho turned and gestured for Owen and Alex to catch up; dinner was roast lamb tonight. Alex said quietly; "What was he and 'Strangeways' doing on the ridge and who turned up after he had been killed?"
Owen gripped her arm and smiled, in that dumb manner that infuriated Wilson; "They were going to blow up the house after everyone had set the explosives and gone. Someone [the boy didn't know who] had paid 'Strangeways' to carry it out - he [Jacob] thought it was Captain Delaney because he turned up on the ridge after the boy was murdered. He couldn't see what the Captain did because the Collector took his soul then. But the odd thing is, the Captain didn't set the explosives off because we know that the ill-fated Union picket removed them later - now that's a strange twist eh?"
Alex sighed; "Also, why didn't Delaney pick up the scattered silver dollars and if 'Strangeways' was in collusion with him; why did he run off so fast that he didn't even have time to pick up the money? and what was Delaney going to do with that dam glass skull?" She believed that there was more to this mission than had been worked out and should Jericho hear about what Owen discovered; would it alter the results achieved by the team?
The captain must have returned to the farmhouse for some reason and why pay Steven's to blow up the damn place before anyone was even in it? Alex sighed and the thoughts swirled about her head.
They followed Jericho and Wilson into the lighthouse and she smiled to herself; there could be a very lively dinner conversation tonight!
5. AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THE WOODSHED.
She saw Sage sitting on some uncut wood, smoking the cigar stub. He smiled and tipped his hat back, adding; "Something real sexy and arousing about a woman with her skirt up, fanny open and pissing in front of a man. God dam, it's some turn on." Alex couldn't stop and had to finish. She stood up and didn't pull her dress down. She said quietly; "I should really thank you for saving me from those two. I should also thank you for saving McIves. They two would have had us easily."
Sage nodded and rose from the wood and walked up to her. He simply took hold of her and pushed her against the wall. His hands pulled open her bodice and grabbed her heaving breasts. His mouth was on her nipples and he was squeezing hard. Her hands ran down and pulled open the button on his trousers and her eager hands grabbed his cock. She was still sexually aroused from the failed love making with McIves; she needed cock.
They rolled about on the dirt floor. like desperate animals. She managed a couple of squirts and gripped his shirt and trousers. He said nothing but thrusted hard and quick, gasping a little and feasting on her big shaking tits. Quite brutally, he held her down and started to fuck her harder; then roughly pulled his cock from her and rolled Alex onto her stomach. He pulled her dress up and threw it over her head. She felt those big rough hands, pull apart the cheeks of her arse and she couldn't help groaning quite loudly as he pushed his cock into her anus. She thanked heaven for that bloody Vaseline that now covered his cock. He fucked her quivering bum hole ard and Alex covered her mouth with both hands and squirted again; her cum splashing into the dirt.
Sage gave no quarter to her arse and fucked it hard. Finally, he pulled out his dirty cock and dragged Alex's head around to him and shoved it into her mouth; she sucked for a about a minute before he exploded onto her tongue and down her throat. She swallowed the sour tasting cum in a couple of gulps; she could taste her own arse in the semen. He kept his cock in her mouth for some minutes and so, she continued to suck and lick it with some relish. Finally, he eased it from her mouth and wiped it against her face. He grunted and patted her head like a dog. "I think that's the sort of thanks I really do like." He pulled her up and kissed each breast, then pushed his cock back into his trousers and did the buttons up slowly. Alex was gasping and panting, she wiped her mouth and face with her pulled up petticoats.
Sage picked up his rifle and dust coat, then walked to the door. he turned and smiled; "Your a good girl Alex. McIves deserves a woman like you. Until we meet and fuck again. Goodnight my sweet little lady." He waved and was gone. Alex managed to tidy herself up and brush down her dress. She pushed her breasts back into the bodice and slowly walked out the woodshed. She just managed to stop herself screaming, young Samuel, Ma Crabb's grandson was standing with an illicit cigarette, smoking and grinning; "Christ Miss darkie lover, you are just what Aunty Vicki said you were; a fucking whore. How much did you charge him for that fuck up your dirt box? I bet it was at least two dollars worth!"
Alex was about to say something, when the boy held up her bloomers and laughed again; "I'm gonna give these to the Sheriff and tell him about you loving darkies and getting fucked in the shit hole for money." He quickly ran off into the night, leaving Alex really angry and upset. She crept back into the hay loft and laid down, managing to fall asleep. Her arse ached, but the little animal inside of her had been well satisfied by Sage Columbine and his rough sex with her.
6. ASSISTANCE FROM A STRANGE PLACE.
Alex suddenly sat up, and rubbed her eyes gently. She looked about the hay loft and wondered why she had woken up - it was still dark.
The lamp was casting a dull yellow light about the place and she could smell something sweet. Jericho also stirred and sat up, as something dropped from his chest into the hay, he pushed about and pulled up a small black drawstring bag, wrapped in a piece of paper, held by a length of green string.
Wilson leaned upon his elbows and nodded to the bag Jericho held up; "That sounds like coins rattling." Jericho opened the handwritten note carefully and held it by the lamp. The look upon his face was priceless, he coughed and shook his head in disbelief.
"What does it say?" Owen asked, yawing and stretching - he was used to being aroused from sleep in the middle of night - life in the monastery had seen to that. "I almost started praying again." He chuckled to himself, kneeling in the soft hay.
Everyone looked at Alex as she held the single red rose up for all to see. "Where does anyone get a fresh cut English rose in the middle of America in 1863?" She asked with real bewilderment in her voice, adding; "I found it next to my bag." Which she was using as a makeshift pillow.
Jericho tossed the bag a couple of times and everyone heard the coins it contained; "Ten silver dollars paid to a certain 'Black eyed Benny' for a little murder." He spoke softly and pushed the bag into his coat pocket.
"Murder of who?" Wilson asked and Jericho smiled a little; "Me." He said simply.
Alex accepted the note from Jericho and read it aloud;
"Jericho, I believe someone paid 'Black eyed Benny' - a new young killer, ten silver dollars to end your time here. You wont be able to question Benny's soul - he was originally from 2016! When I encountered him, he was a carrying a torn map of Gettysburg and Ma Crabb's boarding house was marked on it. I suspect someone knows you and why your here - go carefully. McIves."
There was silence for a few seconds and Jericho started to chuckle, taking the note from Alex and placing it with the money bag. "Bloody McIves!" He muttered and slumped back into the hay and consulted his small fob watch, which was set to local time, it showed 4.45 am.
"The sun will be up in an hour." He looked through the large window and could see the flickering of several blazing torches. Wilson wandered to the window and peered out; "Looks like a couple of Sheriff deputies are bringing a body slung over a horse." He turned and smiled at Jericho; "Young 'Black eyed Benny' I would assume."
"Why would he help us - McIves I mean?" Owen asked, pulling bits of straw from his hair and jacket. Jericho didn't answer, but sat thoughtfully rubbing his chin, wondering what McIves was doing here in 1863 and more importantly; who else knows that Temporal detectives are on scene?
Jericho looked up and could see his three colleagues grouped around the hayloft window, watching Sheriff Theodore Rook's men unloading the body outside the jail, which was directly opposite the stables. "They are telling the Sheriff that rebel troops are camped just a few miles from here. But no rebel cavalry has been seen and that's strange apparently." Owen called back to Jericho, still brushing himself down from the straw.
"No cavalry, did you say no cavalry?" Jericho asked and pulled his mirror from the depths of his frock coat pockets. Own walked back over and helped Alex brush down her coat; "Yeah, they seemed to be fascinated that the rebels have no real cavalry with them." Jericho read, then re-read his mirror and nodded to himself. That could well be the answer to why there were repeated breeches to the time line, here at this period and place.
A thought crept into his head and Jericho had a very strong feeling he could be on the right line of thinking here - the rebel cavalry arrived too late to really influence the outcome of the battle - a defeat for the rebels. What if someone managed to get the rebel cavalry here nice and early? Would that be enough to change the result? Who could do that? Or was he missing something else?
7. THE PIE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. [Tuesday 30th June 1863]
The team took breakfast at Brady's eating house on South Street and rather strangely - to Jericho and his team - none of the early morning patrons objected to Wilson sitting at the table with his white friends. They had told the owner; Tom Brady, that they were reporters from the Citizens Compiler Newspaper, based in Washington DC, and were covering the exploits of the Union Army.
The large camera, tripod and film cases carried by Wilson and Owen drew attention, with many amazed that a black man could take photographs, but they were truly amazed when told that Alex was a reporter working for that title.
One dissenting patron paid his bill and left muttering; "Niggers and women working together, what the fuck next?" Tom Brady half smiled and almost apologised to them for the man's comments; "That's Billy Logan; he and his family are dirt farmers who fled Carolina at the start of the war - they didn't want to fight for anyone - rebels or union. He's all mouth; don't pay any mind to him."
But one man did pay some attention to the little group of strangers; Sheriff Theodore Rook finished up his plate and sipped his coffee, watching Jericho and his team carefully over his cup. He threw a couple of bits on the table and wiped his face with a napkin. standing, he looked down at his fat and already sweating deputy; "I'm gonna have words with them strangers from the east - stay here."
He walked slowly to their table, scatter gun slung over his shoulder. Sheriff Rook was in his early forties and a former cattle man who had fallen on hard times before he was elected Sheriff - after he shot dead two outlaws, trying to rob the local post office. He was known as fair, but hard - you didn't mess with Rook unless you were prepared to pull your pistol and use it.
Jericho rose slowly from his chair and held out his hand; "Good morning Sheriff, my colleagues and I are getting some breakfast before we head to the union camp. We're reporters from..." But Jericho never finished his greeting, Sheriff Rook waved his hand aside; "I heard tell who you people are. Old ma Crabb's grandson painted a pretty picture 'bout what occurred at his grandma's boarding house."
The table went silent, except for Owen deliberately slurping his coffee and Alex stared at the big man, who was wearing a bright red waistcoat with a silver star pinned to it. The sheriff wiped his face with a gaudy yellow hankie and blew his nose. "I hear tell that this pretty little thing told Victoria, in no uncertain terms, what she thought of her."
Jericho coughed slightly and nodded; yes.
"Well, you being reporters and the like, I'm sure old Ma Crabb wouldn't want her name plastered across the Northern papers, so I'll leave it at that. I got damn two huge armies sitting on my porch and a young fella killed with a damn sword to sort. Just keep your noses clean, that's all I ask."
He turned to go, but stopped and spoke to Jericho again; "You reporters like to stick your snouts in people's business don't you?" he didn't wait for Jericho to reply, adding; "Never mind the Rebels or Yankee's, you should speak to Miss Lillian, the school ma'am. She'll tell you a story to curdle your milk and that's a fact. You'll find her place next to the school house on the Old Turner's Pike. She ain't been here long, but she knows her stuff alright." He actually chuckled and wandered out the café, with his deputy in tow.
The group finished their breakfast and made their way back to the stables in relative silence. They passed a couple of black labourers, loading a waggon, who stopped and raised their hats to Alex and Wilson.
"Word spreads quickly. We need to be really careful now - especially you and Wilson." Jericho spoke softly to Alex, adding; "Whatever our feelings are about the people of this period, we must complete the mission - can you imagine the future if the South win this battle?" Alex nodded, but said nothing, thinking what on earth the local school teacher knew, that would interest reporters, here to cover the union army. But maybe the Sheriff does.
8. SHERIFF ROOK.
Alex made her way to the Sheriff's office and found him alone; in the back room cleaning a rifle. His big deputy had been sent to a family argument at the Barber's. He looked up as she appeared in the doorway and smiled; "Well, I wondered when you would turn up here sweet thing. I didn't want to ruin your standing with your colleagues, speaking to you at Bradley's place. I mean, what would they say, if they knew their respected friend sold her fanny and arse to damn men like McIves, who's wanted for murder and that Rebel scout; Sage, who's killed more people that damn smallpox."
He reached into the desk and pulled out Alex's missing bloomers. "Got the evidence and a witness. I can charge you with being a common prostitute, unlawful and un-natural sex, committing acts of gross indecency in a public place and that's just for starters. My friend Judge Harold Caine will give you five to seven at that woman's prison. Now, big mouth, how does that sound?"
Alex smiled broadly and walked up to his desk; "Now come on sheriff, a good Boston Lawyer would make hay with those charges, you know that." The sheriff grinned, gesturing to the cell's; "Yeah, your probably right, but that would mean the trial wouldn't be held for months. In that little room, you would wait; for months." Alex stared at the small room, a bed and bucket the only furniture. She turned to the sheriff and smiled, as he pulled the cell keys from his desk; "I'm sure we can work something out here sheriff?" Sheriff Theodore Rook stared at her and rubbed his chin; "What you got in mind sweet thing/"
Alex was bent over the sheriff's desk, her skirt and petticoats held up above her bum and was trying to read the reports on his desk; something about missing gunpowder. She yelped and turned her head to the sheriff, who was standing behind her, thrusting his cock deep into her bum hole. "Careful Sheriff, I'm not lubricated properly and you are in my back passage, for heaven's sake!" He just grunted and continued to bury his hard cock in her arsehole. gripping her wobbling bum cheeks with both hands. "You got a wonderful arse sweet thing." He muttered and leaned over her, getting deep as he could go. Alex held her skirts and petticoats with one hand now; the other gripped the desk.
"Sweet bugger, you shove that any deeper into my back passage and I'll feel your cum hitting the back of my throat." She groaned, now bent fully over the desk, both hands gripping it now. The old sheriff was using every inch of her anus and thrusting hard. He gave her pink little bottom a couple of slaps and reached round to her breasts. "Get, them big tities of yours out sweet thing. I'll have some of them." Alex sighed and unbuttoned her dress, His hand was in there in an instant and he wasn't gentle; squeezing her breasts and particularly pinching her nipples between thumb and forefinger. "When I've emptied by baby sauce in your back passage; I'm going to spend some time suckling on them." He said and groaned a little; but didn't stop thrusting his cock in Alex's back side.
Alex was staring at the dirty floor, with teeth gritted; she had never suspected that the old sheriff would last this long in her arse. Especially after she had sucked his cock so hard - really hard - for almost fifteen minutes. She pulled up on her elbows and groaned a little; "Are you going to cum any time soon?" She asked, but Sheriff Rook just chuckled; "No sweet thing, it'll be while yet. But i do come real quick, if the lady does a little something special for me." Alex's bum was already tender enough and she really wanted the old sheriff to cum and get this damn well over, "What little something special is that sheriff?" She asked, wishing to save her backside from more abuse. She was actually, starting to get sore now. He whispered in her ear and she sighed - loudly - and nodded; "Anything to get you to bloody cum."
The old sheriff sat on his chair with Alex on his lap. Her skirt and petticoat pulled right up and he was carefully peering over her shoulder. He was still quite firm and buried up to his balls in her arse. She was facing the desk, with her legs wide open and pulled up. "Come on sweet thing, get going." The sheriff sounded quite inpatient. Alex shook her head and grimaced; "I can't force it, it'll happen when it does." The sheriff was gripping a loose tit with each hand and squeezing hard.
Alex sighed, then yelped; "I think it's happening!" The sheriff groaned with real pleasure as Alex started to piss. She realised that Sage was right about a woman pissing in front of a man; that it was a big turn on for them. Her stream of piss was hitting the metal bucket on the floor below the chair with some force. Suddenly, Alex gripped her skirt hem as she felt the old sheriff filling her back passage with his cum. "Thank heaven for that," She whispered, then stared at the doorway.
Sour faced Miss Victoria Crabb and her nephew, the nasty, peeping little shit, Samuel were standing there. Samuel waved a fist in the air and shouted; "That's it sheriff, give the dirty darky loving whore a good poking in her dirt box!" His other hand was down the crotch of his ragged pants.
Miss Victoria slapped the boy about the head and told him to go home. He left really reluctantly and Miss Victoria walked over to the desk and sat on the other chair clutching her handbag with both hands. Alex slowly pulled down her dress and half smiled. The sheriff grunted and not very gently pulled his flaccid cock from Alex's arse - finally. He coughed; "What can I do for you Vicki?"
"Not in front of the whore Teddy." was all she said, as Alex pushed her tits back into the bodice and slowly lifted from Rook's lap. She felt his cum ooze from her gaped bum hole and run down her inner thighs. She straightened her clothes and turned to sheriff Rook; "Have I sorted that little problem about the charges out now Sheriff?" Rook nodded and slapped her arse hard. "You sure have sweet thing, now get."
Alex walked quite awkwardly to the door and only heard the start of the conversation between Miss Victoria Crabb and Sheriff Theodore Rook; it was about money and a very quick marriage; it appears that Miss Crabb’s younger sister – Violet - was now expecting an unhappy little event and the Sheriff was involved in it somehow. Miss Victoria was pointing out that the girl hadn’t finished school yet and things needed to get done quickly and he was certainly expected to play his part in proceedings.
Alex chuckled to herself and then realised she needed a proper sit down toilet. Having cum poured into her bum was like having a bloody enema sometimes. She only just made the 'Thunderbox' [toilet] behind the Hotel. She sat - much relieved - and wondered about the sheriff and Miss Crabb. Then realised she hadn't asked him a single damn question about the bloody School Ma'am or recovered her frigging bloomers!
9. SOMEONE IN THE STABLE STRAW.
They quickly saddled the horses and that's when Wilson noticed the open saddlebag, he peered inside and shouted to Owen; "Someone has lifted a pie!" Owen and Alex joined him and agreed that one pie had gone. "Its the one with Clem's name on - thankfully." Wilson said with some humour. But Owen pointed down to a large stack of straw and quietly said; "There's a ragged old boot sticking out and I think there's a leg attached to it."
Wilson kicked the boot and told the owner to stand up - he had actually drawn his revolver. But a skinny boy emerged from the bale of hay, armed only with an empty pie dish. He had a well worn confederate infantry uniform hung about him - at least a couple of sizes too large. Alex sighed; the boy was even younger than Owen - a deserter from the army now camped a few miles away.
He was shaking and Alex slowly took the pie dish from him; "Put it down Wilson, he has no gun and he's just a boy." That's when she saw the piece of paper stuck to the pie dish and prised it from the still sticky bottom.
Jericho quietly accepted the paper from Alex, who was giving the boy water from her canteen. "Since when did America in 1863 have laminated paper?" Wilson asked with some apparent sarcasm in his voice.
The paper was unfolded in silence and Jericho held it up for his team to see; it was the battle plan showing the first day of fighting at Gettysburg - a laminated photocopy taken from a very famous book of the battle - printed in 1986.
Jericho pushed the map into his coat; "Can you imagine if this map fell into Rebel hands - it would change the outcome of the battle, the war and world history in one foul blow."
Jericho pushed the map into his coat; "Can you imagine if this map fell into Rebel hands - it would change the outcome of the battle, the war and world history in one foul blow."
"I don't want to state the obvious, but what the fuck was the map doing hidden in Clem Hazzard's apple pie?" Owen gave the boy some biscuits he had saved from breakfast and added; "There's only one person that could have placed it under the pie and why the hell would she do that?"
Jericho pulled the money bag from his coat pocket that McIves had left with him and tossed it in the air a couple of times, the coins rattling together; "These are the same ten silver dollar coins that I gave 'Strangeways's Stevens' yesterday and where did we last see him?"
"At Philadelphia's place." Owen said and sighed; "And that's where the pie came from."
"We've been played for suckers Jericho." Wilson sat on an upturned crate and shook his head with some sadness. The young deserter raised a bandaged hand nervously; "Do you mean doc Hazzard?" Alex nodded and the boy waved his injured hand about; "He fixed my hand up, a couple of days ago before I decided that the army wasn't for me. He's two friends gave him whisky for free and said that Captain Delaney would get the prize, when young black eyes turned up."
"Doc Hazzard was drinking with a confederate captain and two whisky drummers, is that what your saying?" Jericho asked the boy directly, who nodded yes vigorously, adding: "He said the south was about to rise again - I didn't understand that Sir, we ain't down yet!"
Alex saw the expression change on Jericho's face and that puzzled her; "What's up Jericho?" She asked quietly and Jericho pulled her aside and whispered; "Oh yes, we've been played for suckers - but nothing is always what it seems." He actually grinned and tossed the boy a couple of silver dollars; "Get yourself some clothes that won't draw the attention of your Adjutant Generals men. Best you get out of the city on the quick. Go now!"
The boy pocketed the coins and profusely thanking everyone, disappeared through the rear door of the stables. Alex folded her arms and smiled at Jericho; "What have you just worked out - I see it on your face."
Jericho shrugged his shoulders; "We best join that young boy and get out the city too." They left the stables and mounted up, heading out to the foothills.
10. THE GUNPOWDER PLOT.
It was Wilson who spotted the school house and a shabby timber built bungalow standing some yards away. There was a single horse waggon tied up outside and Owen pointed out, that the two labourers who raised their hats to Alex and Wilson, had been loading the same waggon back in Gettysburg. "Must have been collecting some supplies for Miss Lillian." He said, then noticed that the waggon was deep in the dirt. "It's certainly loaded with something heavy."
Jericho waved his group towards the buildings and they tied their horses outside. "I can hear something - like a woman moaning." Owen lifted his hat and wiped his face. Jericho and Alex walked to the side window of the bungalow and peered through the dirty glass, whilst Owen and Wilson checked the waggon.
Alex actually put her hand over her mouth to stop amazed laughter from blurting out - Jericho just shook his head and smiled a little - Miss Lillian, a skinny thirty year old 'respectable', white school teacher was quite naked - apart from her ankle boots - sandwiched between the two black labourers, who oddly enough, were also stark naked, apart from their boots. She was now moaning loudly and shouting that the boys should fuck her harder - especially the one in her arse.
Alex and Jericho turned away and chuckled, as Wilson and Owen approached - they were both grim faced - Wilson jerked a thumb towards the waggon; "You had better see what's under that canvas sheet Jericho." He asked Alex about what had made her laugh. She pointed to the window; "You best take a look." Alex giggled a little, which intrigued Wilson and Owen, who both went straight to the window.
Alex and Jericho walked to the waggon and pulled the filthy canvas tarpaulin open a little and peered in. Jericho rubbed his chin and said quietly to Alex; "What the hell would a school teacher want with ten barrels of gunpowder - there's enough there to blow up a small town." They were joined by Wilson and Owen - laughing and wiping their faces; "That's one old white spinster that don't mind coloured folk!" Wilson managed to say between chuckles. Owen said nothing; he was still a bit shocked at what he had seen. Finally, he turned to Wilson and asked; "How is it possible.....I mean doing it with two men at the same time?"
Alex patted Wilson on the shoulder and between giggles said; "We'll leave you to explain that one to our resident novice monk." They returned to their horses and rode a small distance from the settlement and dismounted. Jericho and the team concealed themselves in a clump of trees. They passed a brandy bottle amongst themselves and waited. It was about half an hour later that the two men emerged from the bungalow and climbed aboard the waggon.
They headed it south along Old Turner's Pike and their singing could be faintly heard. "There, at the rear of the bungalow." Owen suddenly rose from the trees and pointed down to the settlement. From the rear of the bungalow came a single rider; it was Miss Lillian and she was following the waggon at a distance. "In this time and place, a white woman just being seen alone with black men could get her lynched." Jericho said grimly and they mounted up and followed the little convoy.
It stopped outside a small grey stone built farmhouse and the two men jumped from the waggon and pulled back the tarpaulin. That's when Jericho and his team spotted the group of riders coming into the farmyard from the south lane.
Watching from a small ridge, Jericho pulled his mirror and scanned the buildings and yards. "There doesn't appear to be anyone in the building - no wait, there's two men inside with shovels and crowbars!" His team was concealed by the ridge they hid behind, but could see down into the small farm. "What the fuck are they doing?" Whispered Owen and then he gripped Jericho's arm; "Jericho, according to my mirror we're on Seminary Ridge; along the Chambersburg Pike and that's seems an important place during the forthcoming battle - my mirror has called it up; this house belongs to an old widowed lady: Mary Thompson."
Jericho was watching the five riders dismounting and greeting Miss Lillian, who had now joined the group. "Well Sheriff Rook and his large deputy are two of them, who's the other three men?" Alex whispered to Jericho who suddenly sat up and asked Owen to repeat what he had just said - which he did.
Jericho wiped his face and pointed down to the house; "This house belongs to the widow Thompson and during the battle, it was the Headquarters of the Confederate Army of North Virginia. General Robert E. Lee will direct his army from here." Everyone sat in silence as they watched the barrels of gunpowder being unloaded. Large white grain sacks - empty - were also removed from the waggon by the two men and handed over to Sheriff Rook.
Wilson grunted; "Look there, those two men. One is tall and skinny and the other is short and fat. Do you think they are our whisky drummers?" Jericho nodded, he now had a pretty good idea of the plan was and it certainly wasn't about changing the outcome of the battle - the North will win here.
"They're filling the sacks with powder - very carefully, I must say." Alex spoke softly and realised she needed to pee. Muttering her excuses, headed for a thick clump of bushes to relieve herself. "Who is that fifth man?" Puzzled Owen and Wilson shook his head; "Dunno, but he's a big lad and carrying two pistols - a gunfighter?"
Their thoughts we interrupted by a stifled scream from Alex, who ran back from the bushes in some haste. She was still trying to pull down her dress and petticoats; so everyone gained a glimpse of her thighs as she struggled with her clothes. "Now that's a pleasant treat." Murmured Wilson - grinning.
"I've just pissed on a dead man!" She yelped and the group made their way to the clump of bushes, moving quickly, but keeping low.
It was the young confederate deserter, laying face up in the wet dirt - half concealed by loose branches and leaves - in one hand was an old, large 'Navy' pistol, the other lay across his open stomach. The intestines had spilled out and lay sprawled down his legs. There were several silver coins scattered about his body. "He must have been killed only a few hours ago, probably just after he left us." Alex said quietly, now recovered from the shock; her medical training had kicked in. She knelt down and examined the open wound. It was finely sliced, but deep.
She rose slowly; "He was killed with a large knife or maybe....." Wilson interrupted; "or a bloody sword and we know who carries one of those." They exchanged glances with the same thought - why would McIves kill the boy? Owen rubbed his face; "How the fuck does McIves do that?" He waved a hand at the boy; "I mean, get so close to someone with a cocked pistol and kill them with a fucking sword, without being shot?"
No-one could answer that - not even Jericho.
"Well it means that McIves has been here - but before the gunpowder turned up and why was he here?" Jericho pointed to the dead boy. "I had suspected that he was a 'plant', to foster suspicion against Clem Hazzard. The scrap piece of paper could easily have been placed in the pie tin after the pie was removed - apparently eaten by the boy - and left for us to find. Then that odd comment for a soldier deserting the Confederate army, do you remember it: "He [Clem Hazzard] said the south was about to rise again - I didn't understand that Sir, we ain't down yet!" Not the talk of someone about to walk away from the cause. I suspect that someone is playing a very clever game with us."
"Let's get to Clem Hazzard's place for now." Jericho added, staring down at the boy. He then spoke to Owen; "Call up Dispatches and find which Collector attended this dispatch [death] and find out what he said." They quietly returned to their horses and set off for Clem Hazzard's place. They would bed down for the night there and Philadelphia made them most welcome, she was more than happy to have such company with her husband absent.
Jericho waved his group towards the buildings and they tied their horses outside. "I can hear something - like a woman moaning." Owen lifted his hat and wiped his face. Jericho and Alex walked to the side window of the bungalow and peered through the dirty glass, whilst Owen and Wilson checked the waggon.
Alex actually put her hand over her mouth to stop amazed laughter from blurting out - Jericho just shook his head and smiled a little - Miss Lillian, a skinny thirty year old 'respectable', white school teacher was quite naked - apart from her ankle boots - sandwiched between the two black labourers, who oddly enough, were also stark naked, apart from their boots. She was now moaning loudly and shouting that the boys should fuck her harder - especially the one in her arse.
Alex and Jericho turned away and chuckled, as Wilson and Owen approached - they were both grim faced - Wilson jerked a thumb towards the waggon; "You had better see what's under that canvas sheet Jericho." He asked Alex about what had made her laugh. She pointed to the window; "You best take a look." Alex giggled a little, which intrigued Wilson and Owen, who both went straight to the window.
Alex and Jericho walked to the waggon and pulled the filthy canvas tarpaulin open a little and peered in. Jericho rubbed his chin and said quietly to Alex; "What the hell would a school teacher want with ten barrels of gunpowder - there's enough there to blow up a small town." They were joined by Wilson and Owen - laughing and wiping their faces; "That's one old white spinster that don't mind coloured folk!" Wilson managed to say between chuckles. Owen said nothing; he was still a bit shocked at what he had seen. Finally, he turned to Wilson and asked; "How is it possible.....I mean doing it with two men at the same time?"
Alex patted Wilson on the shoulder and between giggles said; "We'll leave you to explain that one to our resident novice monk." They returned to their horses and rode a small distance from the settlement and dismounted. Jericho and the team concealed themselves in a clump of trees. They passed a brandy bottle amongst themselves and waited. It was about half an hour later that the two men emerged from the bungalow and climbed aboard the waggon.
They headed it south along Old Turner's Pike and their singing could be faintly heard. "There, at the rear of the bungalow." Owen suddenly rose from the trees and pointed down to the settlement. From the rear of the bungalow came a single rider; it was Miss Lillian and she was following the waggon at a distance. "In this time and place, a white woman just being seen alone with black men could get her lynched." Jericho said grimly and they mounted up and followed the little convoy.
It stopped outside a small grey stone built farmhouse and the two men jumped from the waggon and pulled back the tarpaulin. That's when Jericho and his team spotted the group of riders coming into the farmyard from the south lane.
Watching from a small ridge, Jericho pulled his mirror and scanned the buildings and yards. "There doesn't appear to be anyone in the building - no wait, there's two men inside with shovels and crowbars!" His team was concealed by the ridge they hid behind, but could see down into the small farm. "What the fuck are they doing?" Whispered Owen and then he gripped Jericho's arm; "Jericho, according to my mirror we're on Seminary Ridge; along the Chambersburg Pike and that's seems an important place during the forthcoming battle - my mirror has called it up; this house belongs to an old widowed lady: Mary Thompson."
Jericho was watching the five riders dismounting and greeting Miss Lillian, who had now joined the group. "Well Sheriff Rook and his large deputy are two of them, who's the other three men?" Alex whispered to Jericho who suddenly sat up and asked Owen to repeat what he had just said - which he did.
Jericho wiped his face and pointed down to the house; "This house belongs to the widow Thompson and during the battle, it was the Headquarters of the Confederate Army of North Virginia. General Robert E. Lee will direct his army from here." Everyone sat in silence as they watched the barrels of gunpowder being unloaded. Large white grain sacks - empty - were also removed from the waggon by the two men and handed over to Sheriff Rook.
Wilson grunted; "Look there, those two men. One is tall and skinny and the other is short and fat. Do you think they are our whisky drummers?" Jericho nodded, he now had a pretty good idea of the plan was and it certainly wasn't about changing the outcome of the battle - the North will win here.
"They're filling the sacks with powder - very carefully, I must say." Alex spoke softly and realised she needed to pee. Muttering her excuses, headed for a thick clump of bushes to relieve herself. "Who is that fifth man?" Puzzled Owen and Wilson shook his head; "Dunno, but he's a big lad and carrying two pistols - a gunfighter?"
Their thoughts we interrupted by a stifled scream from Alex, who ran back from the bushes in some haste. She was still trying to pull down her dress and petticoats; so everyone gained a glimpse of her thighs as she struggled with her clothes. "Now that's a pleasant treat." Murmured Wilson - grinning.
"I've just pissed on a dead man!" She yelped and the group made their way to the clump of bushes, moving quickly, but keeping low.
It was the young confederate deserter, laying face up in the wet dirt - half concealed by loose branches and leaves - in one hand was an old, large 'Navy' pistol, the other lay across his open stomach. The intestines had spilled out and lay sprawled down his legs. There were several silver coins scattered about his body. "He must have been killed only a few hours ago, probably just after he left us." Alex said quietly, now recovered from the shock; her medical training had kicked in. She knelt down and examined the open wound. It was finely sliced, but deep.
She rose slowly; "He was killed with a large knife or maybe....." Wilson interrupted; "or a bloody sword and we know who carries one of those." They exchanged glances with the same thought - why would McIves kill the boy? Owen rubbed his face; "How the fuck does McIves do that?" He waved a hand at the boy; "I mean, get so close to someone with a cocked pistol and kill them with a fucking sword, without being shot?"
No-one could answer that - not even Jericho.
"Well it means that McIves has been here - but before the gunpowder turned up and why was he here?" Jericho pointed to the dead boy. "I had suspected that he was a 'plant', to foster suspicion against Clem Hazzard. The scrap piece of paper could easily have been placed in the pie tin after the pie was removed - apparently eaten by the boy - and left for us to find. Then that odd comment for a soldier deserting the Confederate army, do you remember it: "He [Clem Hazzard] said the south was about to rise again - I didn't understand that Sir, we ain't down yet!" Not the talk of someone about to walk away from the cause. I suspect that someone is playing a very clever game with us."
"Let's get to Clem Hazzard's place for now." Jericho added, staring down at the boy. He then spoke to Owen; "Call up Dispatches and find which Collector attended this dispatch [death] and find out what he said." They quietly returned to their horses and set off for Clem Hazzard's place. They would bed down for the night there and Philadelphia made them most welcome, she was more than happy to have such company with her husband absent.
11. ALEX'S ASSIGNATION BY THE WOODPILE.
Alex had noticed that the basket by the pantry door was almost empty: it was used to keep wood for the kitchen stove and so being her usual helpful self, she picked it up and headed for the woodpile. She stopped and smiled; there was a young black boy chopping wood in just his trousers and boots, sweating openly as he swung the axe with great skill. Alex introduced herself and found he was called Jesus! "I would have thought Adonis would be more appropriate." She whispered to herself. He had a magnificent torso, sculptured by hard work and had a big smile as well. He leaned on the axe and informed her that Mrs. Hazzard paid them a few cents to cut wood for her. It helped feed his large family of siblings: his father was a 'freeman' and thus, so was the family. But it meant the family had to work hard to scrape a living.
She placed the basket down next to him and smiled, admiring his wonderful toned body, now covered with sweat and glinting a little. She noticed a scar on his near perfect body and gently touched it. "Some white boys took pot shots at me when I were young." He said quietly and without hesitation, she ran her hand down his heaving chest. Young Jesus may not have had any kind of formal education, but he knew what the nice white lady was saying by her touch. He smiled and Alex really smiled back.
He certainly knew how to use his chopper, yes, the other one! and was very well built in that department and Alex received the full benefit of it and his skill with women [already!] Under the big tree that dominated the backyard, Jesus showed Alex all he had learnt about making white women happy and she was really happy about it. With her blouse undone and bodice pulled open, he handled her big breasts with rough, hard worked hands and soft mouth. She pulled up her skirt and petticoats to allow the eager young man to pull down her panties: very quickly it should be said and mount her gently at first, then with more force once he was comfortably in.
Her back against the tree, legs open and in the air with both hands gripping his shoulders, Alex let young Jesus fuck her hard and fast which she absolutely loved and told him so. Now leaning on both hands he drove his big cock deep into her with sledge hammer like force and Alex had a surprising early orgasm which certainly made his thrusts more comfortable and less painful. But she still groaned and moaned under his delicious assault, tossing her head about and telling him to fuck her like a cheap whore: which he certainly did. She suffered another exquisite orgasm and moaned loudly, then fell silent as she stared up at the big black man standing over them, arms folded and shaking his head. Jesus also looked up and ruefully smiled, "Just helping the nice white lady out papa." Alex managed a smile as she felt Jesus empty his balls inside of her with a gentle groan and no cussing which was unusual when that normally happened. The big man sighed and said quietly to Alex; "May I?" She nodded slowly as she felt Jesus pull from her and jump to his feet, pulling up his trousers and braces.
The big man, now smiling, pulled his braces off and dropped his trousers as Alex's eyes widened and she whispered hoarsely, "Bleeding hell! Like father like son!" The big man pushed between her legs and mounted her as quickly as his son had done and now Alex really did groan: he fucked her like a steam hammer switched to turbo. The pounding was so hard, that she had to push a hand over her mouth to stop screaming the place down. She had multiple ejaculations under his very rough fucking and actually cussed him and his big cock; along with shouts of "Fuck me!" several times. It was a sight too much for young Jesus and he knelt by Alex's head and pushed his new erection into her open mouth. That certainly made the place a lot quieter! She sucked so hard that the young man thought his balls would disappear: deflated by her incredible suction mouth. Soon the trio changed position with Alex being 'spit-roasted': she was being fucked in her mouth and fanny at the same time and she loved it! Finally father and son came together and Alex swallowed the son's load down noisily and with lot's of slurping and licking to finish. Both men stood, adjusting their trousers as Alex squatted by the base of the tree - carefully keeping her skirt and petticoats up - and pissed like a horse with some relief. She noticed that her puddle of pee contained a great deal of cum and she groaned with pleasure.
"Come on boy, Ma will have supper ready." The big man slapped his son's back and the pair turned to walk away, then the big man stopped and lifted a hand to Alex, "Thank yo ma'am for your kindness." They both walked off talking about the work planned for tomorrow! Alex pushed down her skirt and petticoats, easing her bosom back under her blouse and started to collect bits of wood and fill the basket. She heard Philadelphia calling, saying that supper was ready.
Alex walked awkwardly back to the house carrying a full basket of wood for the kitchen stove. She was smiling and thinking how the two big woodcutters had certainly 'filled her other basket'.
12. STUCK IN A BIG BATTLE. [Wednesday 1st July 1863]
They had crossed a small dirt road, between thin trees and broken fencing, when the first bullet struck a tree next to where Owen was standing; adjusting the girth of his horse. Everyone fell from their horse's and crawled into the tree's for cover as bullets started to slap into trees and bushes around them.
Wilson found some large stones to hide his bulk behind and was joined by Alex. "Who the fuck is doing all the shooting!" She shouted and bullets ricocheted off the stones and hit the bushes nearby. "Bloody rebels - lots of them, down by that old died up creek bed and they're coming this way." Wilson flipped onto his back and checked his pistol, then saw Jericho gesturing at them. He and Owen were hunkered down amongst some thick bushes - the ground around them kicked up; as bullets hit the dirt.
Wilson reached into his pocket and pulled out his vibrating mirror - it was Jericho calling; "No arguments - jump now. You really cannot become a prisoner of these people. Get to Clem's place when you jump back - you may need another horse. They seem to have all ran off." Wilson was about to argue about leaving, when Alex slapped his arm; "Get the fuck out of here - you know what these bastards will do to a captured Black man!"
Reluctantly he nodded his agreement and activated the mirror - he was gone in an instant and she snuggled closer to the rocks. Alex could see several armed men approaching the tree's where they were sheltering; two carried rebel flags and one was clearly an officer - he carried a sword and was actually wearing a proper grey uniform.
Jericho yelled across to Alex; "Pull your skirts up and use your petticoat as a white flag!" The bullets were now flying thick as flies, so Alex grabbed up her dress and pulled down her frilly white petticoat, exposing her long legs and thighs. Owen groaned and shouted to Jericho; "Wilson won't be happy at missing that treat!" Jericho just shook his head and then noticed the firing had stopped - then he saw why; Alex was waving her white petticoat above her head, with her dress still pulled up!
"Clever boss; No man is going to shoot that." Owen actually grinned and with Jericho, rose from the bushes - hands in air. Alex was decent again, when they joined her with the Confederate Officer and a small group of soldiers; all very interested in introducing themselves to Alex. But the officer waved them away and spoke directly to Jericho; "Miss Alexandra tells me you are reporters from the Citizens Compiler Newspaper, based in Washington DC, covering the fighting here. I had heard tell from the town, that there were some nosey Yankee reporters hanging about the place."
"That's us Sir, we're covering the war for our readers up North. But we appear to have lost our cameraman and our damn horses. You can't miss him - a big coloured man who's a freeman and well spoken." Jericho removed his hat and wiped his brow; "As I say Sir, he's a free born man of colour."
The officer just grunted; "If he's a nigger - then he's a slave. I don't go for any of this 'freeman' shit - he's contraband," The officer pushed his sword back into its scabbard and called over for the sergeant. Jericho was impressed that Alex kept her tongue firmly in her mouth, especially with the look she gave the rebel officer.
"Grab a couple of boys and take these Yankee reporters to Captain Delaney; he'll know what to do with them." The officer lifted his hat to Alex and re-joined his men, who were forming up in the dried Creek Bed. Jericho watched as the officer spoke to two men and they joined the sergeant. The old sergeant shouldered his musket and with the two scruffy men - one had no shoes - ordered the reporters to follow him; with hands on heads.
"That name rings a bell." Whispered Owen to Jericho and Alex; "Wasn't that the name of the rebel captain that the deserter mentioned, I mean the one talking to Clem Hazzard?" Jericho nodded; yes. But was watching the quiet conversation between the two men, one had pulled a coin out and tossed it in the air. Jericho turned to Alex and said quietly; "I don't think they're taking us to the their captain. I think we will never make the rebel encampment." She nodded her agreement; "We need to reach our mirrors, how do we do that with our hands up?" She whispered, than clearly heard one of the soldiers laughing about 'going first'.
Jericho and Alex exchanged glances; "Distraction time....and press that button as quickly as you can." Alex sighed and suddenly broke step, groaning and grabbing her ankle; she slid to the dirt, moaning about her ankle. The shoeless soldier pointed his musket - with bayonet attached - straight at her; "Get up you Yankee trollop." He said quietly.
Alex babbled on about her ankle and pointed to it, as she pulled her skirt right up - not forgetting she had removed her petticoat earlier - The soldier was getting a first class, close up look at what was on offer. He lowered the musket a little and smiled. The other soldier pushed him shouting; "I won the fucking toss, she's mine first."
The sergeant pushed between the two, but said nothing as the roar of cannon drowned out any thinking or speaking. The ground was moving with shell fire, with dirt thrown up several feet into the air - the noise was unbearable. There was no time to do anything - except find cover.
Jericho grabbed Alex and together they fell down a small incline and scrambled for a horseshoe shaped group of rocks and dived in. "Where's Owen?" Alex shouted above the noise of the bombardment. Jericho didn't know and could now see lines of blue soldiers appearing - thousands of them.
"The bloody battle has started!" He shouted and added; "We appear to be in the middle of a bloody big battle - and I mean a big battle!" He pulled his mirror out and jabbed at the emergency icon; he, Alex and Owen were returned instantly to outside the lighthouse.
"They're all dead. The soldiers that were escorting us, they were caught by the cannon fire. I saw it happen - bloody awful." Owen was brushing dirt from his clothes and he still looked a little shocked by what he had just witnessed. Alex gave him her hip-flask and wiped his face with a hankie. It had little splatters of blood from the three soldiers. "There wasn't much left of them." He whispered to Alex and took a big swig from the hip-flask.
"Wilson's calling." Jericho muttered and answered his mirror., after a few minutes he looked up; "Well, Wilson has made contact with Clem and we must return at once."
13. THAT'S NOT HISTORY.
From a small group of trees, Jericho, Alex and Owen sat and watched, the sky. It was filled with whistling cannon fire and screaming of shells, as both armies clashed in the fields and roads of Gettysburg. Owen was keeping an eye on the small dirt road which lay behind the trees; "Nothing yet." He wiped sweat from his face with a gaudy red hankie and grinned at Alex; "Poor old Wilson missed the best bit - you'll have to hitch up your skirts again, so that he doesn't feel left out." He chuckled and checked his mirror.
Alex simply ignored him and spoke to Jericho; " I did wonder why old Sheriff Rook took the trouble to tell us about Miss Lillian and her supposed strange story that we would be interested in." Jericho nodded; "Well he couldn't really tell us directly that the lady was involved in a gunpowder plot to blow up the rebel HQ. What intrigues me is who told the conspirators, that the rebels would use the widow Thompson's house during the battle - that type of knowledge could only have come from time-travellers."
Alex had to agree with that and wondered when Wilson would turn up with the waggon - she didn't wait long. "They're here." Owen rose from the damp dirt and brushed his trousers down. Alex did the same with her dress and straightened her bonnet. Jericho gestured towards the approaching waggon and keeping low, they quickly departed the tree's for the dirt road.
They were clad to see Wilson and watched with great interest as Jericho and Clem Hazzard stood under a large tree and discussed some matters, for several minutes. Finally, they walked back towards the waggon. Alex whispered to Owen; "I'd love to have been a fly on that tree."
Philadelphia was a lucky lady, she mused and asked Clem about the full saddle-bags. "Medical supplies, I think I may need them." He explained with a smile.
Wilson slapped the reins and the horses pulled away. Owen was impressed; the big man knew how to drive a two horse waggon. Wilson spoke quietly with Jericho; "Sheriff Rook has no great love for the Yankee's, but he doesn't think much of the Confederates either. He found out about the gunpowder plot from 'Strangeways Stevens', who got drunk one night whilst playing poker with the sheriff and his brother-in-law; he blabbered out every detail. Luckily Sheriff Rook didn't pay any attention to his talk about 'small & tall' being time travellers."
Jericho nodded; "Why Miss Lillian?" Wilson smiled at that comment; "Pillow talk. It appears that the respectable School Ma'am really does like cock. 'Small & Tall' serviced her - together; she became part of their plan to blow up General Lee. It was her that told 'Strangeways' of the plot - he was yet another lover - and introduced him to 'small & tall'. Apparently it was him who told 'small & tall' about a certain Jericho Tibbs - for money. So they arranged for one of their number [Black eyed Benny] to knock you off, when you arrived - 'Strangeways' would give them the nod."
"Bastard traitor.." Muttered Owen, then smiled; "Fancy old Miss Lillian being a sexually liberated woman long before it was invented." Jericho turned round; "Say that again." Owen shrugged his shoulders and repeated what he had said. Alex smiled at Jericho; "You have that annoyingly 'I know' look on your face."
Jericho just smiled and pulled his mirror out.
"Why didn't the Sheriff arrest the fuckers; if he knew about the plot?" Owen asked and passed his hip-flask round the little group. Clem Hazzard answered that one;" When the Sheriff had obtained all the details, he wondered who to call - But who could he call? The Northern Army wouldn't be exactly unhappy, if General Robert E. Lee disappeared in a puff of smoke. The Confederates? He doesn't hold with their principles and he already had a run-in with Captain Delaney over the death of 'Black eyed Benny'. So he did some exemplary police work for an ex-cattleman; he infiltrated the group to find out more."
Jericho rubbed his chin; "Clem, what was the 'run in' between Captain Delaney and the Sheriff over the dead gunman?" Clem waved away the offered hip-flask - he didn't touch alcohol -and settled back in the jolting waggon; "He wanted the Sheriff to raise a posse and get after McIves, he really wasn't happy about the death of ;Black eyed Benny'. I saw the reason when the Sheriff had me examine the boy's body. The Sheriff refused his request point blank; he wasn't about to take out a group of armed men, when they were surrounded by two enormous trigger happy armies."
Alex sipped at the hip-flask; ""What was the reason you saw?" She asked Clem and passed the hip-flask to Wilson. Clem sighed; "It was realised by everyone who saw the body; the family resemblance between the two - Delaney and Benny - was really obvious, two pea's in a pod."
Jericho looked up from his mirror; "Delaney is of this time; he's a known historical figure. But we know that Benny was from 2016, he had to be a descendant of the Captain." Jericho looked out the waggon, you could still see cannon fire and hear fighting in the distance; tomorrow would be the second day of battle.
He turned back to his team; "Miss Lillian Scott is the key to all this." and returned to his mirror. Everyone exchanged glances and Alex just had to ask; "How so Jericho?"
Jericho smiled; "Miss Scott hails from Delaware and probably breached the time line in 2016 with our nasty little friend Benny; who is her oldest son by the way. Young Benny Scott was on the run for murder in 2016 and his darling mother knew the best place to hide him and where, he would be useful to her plans. None of them counted on McIves appearing on the scene."
"How did you get onto her?" Wilson sounded a little amazed and Jericho jerked a thumb at Owen; "He told me." Everyone stared at Owen who simply shrugged his shoulders; "What the hell did I say?" he asked. Jericho chuckled; "You said; 'Fancy old Miss Lillian being a sexually liberated woman long before it was invented' - and of course, remember, the Sheriff stated that she hadn't been around here long. I looked her up and found she wasn't from this time."
He pushed his mirror back into his coat pocket; "According to Human Records, she was born in 1975, got married, had three children and guess who was the oldest?" He smiled at his team; "All three children were not by her estranged husband and that poor sap is a teacher of History and surprise, surprise, he is an indirect descendant of the Confederate General James Longstreet, who, if her plan went right, would be standing next to General Lee, when the bloody house disappears in a big explosion."
"Holy fucking shit, she wanted to bump off her estranged husband before he was even fucking born!" Owen exclaimed; "Now that's one way to get away with murder." Alex smiled; "And it would not effect the outcome of the battle and thus the North would still win the civil war., would it not?"
"What is now of equal importance, to us anyway, is finding how Miss Lillian and her murdering brat managed to jump through time and arrive here." Jericho turned to Clem, adding: "Any ideas on that would be welcome." Clem leaned back against the side of the waggon and blew his nose into a clean white hankie. "Delaney has a strange object stored in his travelling chest. I heard from his young soldier servant whose hand I fixed up, that he keeps it hidden. But the boy caught sight of it once when cleaning up in his tent. I don't know if this makes sense to any of you, but it was a human skull made of glass - beautiful but strange."
Jericho sighed; "A 'Da Vinci skull' - there were seven originally. I know we have recovered three, but there is still four out there and this must be one of them. They are 'free time portals' and they can take a living human to any place in history, provided you have a key to fix the time you want to visit."
Wilson coughed and waved a hand about; "They are named after the great man himself because it's suspected that he used one. But they have a big drawback; you must have another object from the time you wish to visit, so logically, they can only take you backwards in history. After all, few living humans possess stuff from the future."
"Miss Lillian's husband was well into history and may have possessed relic's from his ancestor from this time. All she had to do was match it with a 'Da Vinci' skull and she's away." Owen reasoned and sipped a little brandy.
Jericho turned again to Clem; "Best tell them about the messenger pies." and chuckled. "When I was called to cover old Doc Hogan, Miss Lillian was the one who conveyed the request. Being a kindly lady - apparently - she stayed with Philly and helped her bake some pies. She placed another copy of the map under the cooked pie that Philly was going to send to me. What she didn't realise was that Philly helped me with my assignments from Jericho and Philly caught on. So Philly placed a message under your pie - you just didn't eat the damn thing quickly enough!"
Owen folded his arms; "Why put the map in your dish, if you were loyal to Jericho, that doesn't make sense?" Alex had to nod her agreement with that.
Clem chuckled; "Miss Lillian knew that she, Captain Delaney and old Doc Hogan would be enjoying the pie after our dinner together and she would be serving the meal. She could retrieve the new map, without any danger of her being caught with it, and pass it onto Delaney; who was her direct ancestor and whose descendant - according to Jericho's search of Human Records - was her lover and father of her first child; that bastard 'Black eyed Benny'."
He grinned and held up his hands; "She also had the delicious irony, that dumb Temporal Detectives would be responsible for delivering the map that would change the battle. It didn't matter if the great general Lee and Longstreet were killed. Any of the other Confederate generals could, following a bloody map like that, turn the battle, if necessary. But there was a huge fly in their pudding and they had to deal with that." Clem looked at Jericho, who took up the story:
"She had to get rid of her husbands ancestor by killing Longstreet, but she still needed the North to win because somehow, Delaney must survive the war and produce descendants; her being one of them. Had the North lost here, the war would have dragged on for another four years with the North still winning in the end. The good Captain Delaney would have had a very, almost certain chance of being killed in the much longer conflict. I checked with the Senior Time Controller about the alternative time-line, that extended war would have produced and there is no Miss Lillian Scott of Delaware." Jericho smiled and accepted the hip-flask from Owen.
"Now you don't read about this in the bloody history books." Chuckled Owen, but Alex voiced her concerns; "Who are 'small & tall' and what the hell are they trying to achieve? Wilson coughed; "Never mind them; who was the bloody big fly in their pudding?"
Clem smiled and spoke softly; "'Black eyed Benny' had taken ten silver dollars off Delaney to kill Jericho, but I met up with McIves; he was passing through to Washington on matters that he didn't talk about. I told him what 'Delaney had arranged with Benny about Jericho's murder and he muttered that he had a debt to pay to Jericho and said he would deal with it - and he did. He became a big fly in their pudding because that could wreck their plans, if Jericho was still around."
"Now for small, tall and Miss Lillian." Muttered Jericho, as the widow's Thompson's house came into view - the confederates had not occupied it yet. Union forces were encamped there - for the moment - Doctor Clem Hazzard unfurled the Union flag and it flew from the 'hospital' waggon.
14. ONE MOMENT IN TIME. [Thursday 2nd July 1863]
The Union picket watched the waggon approach quite carefully, this was a quiet sector of the battle - at the moment - but they wouldn't take any chances. They raised their muskets and shouted for the waggon to stop.
Jericho and Clem jumped from the waggon and walked slowly to the soldiers. Wilson turned to the others and grinned; "Our boss is a clever old bugger; just watch."
Alex and Owen smiled as the soldiers saluted Jericho and called for their officer. "What the fuck!" Owen seemed quite amazed by this turn of events. Alex just shook her head and smiled. The waggon was waved forward and the picket soldiers raised their hats to Alex with shouts of; "Welcome Ma'am!"
They met the officer some way from the farmhouse - just in case - The officer carefully checked the badges and papers shown to him by Jericho and Clem. "I'd heard that General Meade had set up such a group and called it 'Military Intelligence', but never thought I'd meet any of them!" The officer smiled and listened intently, as Jericho outlined the dastardly rebel plan to blow up General Meade, while he stayed at the farmhouse. He immediately ordered a search of the farmhouse - a very quiet and careful search - and was absolutely astonished to find the bags of gunpowder beneath the floor boards.
Jericho also advised him to search on the small ridge; because there was the body of brave and committed confederate soldier, who had been hiding, ready to set the explosives off. Clem admitted that one of their operatives had already dealt with him - finishing him quietly; with no shooting to raise the alarm.
A corporal from the Union picket found the body and signalled its finding from the ridge. They watched as the barrels were removed and the officer shook Jericho and Clem's hands vigorously. They celebrated by passing a brandy bottle amongst themselves - the young officer really enjoyed that and he got to chat with Alex for some minutes; giving her his card and telling her to look him up, next time she was in Boston.
They said their farewells and the waggon passed down The Chambersburg Pike towards the Union Army positions. That's when Wilson spotted the solitary horseman approaching; you couldn't really miss him - he was wearing a vivid yellow dust coat. "McIves." Alex whispered to Owen and the waggon pulled up.
McIves wiped dirt from his face and grinned broadly at Jericho and raised his hat to Alex. "So you managed to dodge murder, execution and being blown up." McInes spoke to Jericho, who shook his hand. "What do you know of the pair called 'Too Tall and Way small'?" Jericho asked. McIves chuckled; "Sheriff Rook went after them after the explosives were discovered and thus he now has a free hand to deal with everything. He was a little astonished, that they escaped from him, despite being surrounded in a livery stable. He couldn't believe that they just vanished. All I know about that strange pair is that were from Scotland - originally - and they had some kind of connection with Captain Delaney."
Jericho sighed; he really wanted to catch up with that pair, but he asked about Miss Lillian. McIves's expression changed; "She and 'Strangeways' were caught by rebel troops just north of the town. They were camped down for the night, when the rebels surprised them. That bloody idiot 'Strangeways' pulled his pistol and was shot about four times by musket fire. The rebels searched the waggon and found Miss Lillian with two coloured men - unfortunately in a state of undress; The rebels didn't show any mercy; they lynched the two coloured lads and then shot Miss Lillian, after tying her to a big tree." McIves wiped his face and accepted Alex's hip-flask.
He continued; "At least they had the decency to bury them near 'Small Round top'. I heard it from a drunken Confederate soldier that the officer in charge; a certain Major Cantor hated women and coloured people in equal measure. Apparently he took great pleasure in the killings." He swigged the hip-flask and handed it back; thanking Alex.
Wilson interrupted and tapped his mirror; "A collector filed a report about collecting my two 'brothers' souls at the time, but, obviously, not Miss Lillian's. Here's the interesting bit; There was no collection listed for a 'Thomas Louis 'Strangeways' Stevens' at the time; he wasn't dead. Some how, he survived a multiple shooting! His soul wasn't collected for another year, in August 1864 to be exact."
McIves grunted; "The devil looks after his own." He jerked a thumb behind him, adding; "The rebels are now approaching here fast. I understand that old granny Lee himself is moving his HQ this way - towards the widow Thompson's place."
Alex leaned forward in the waggon and asked Jericho about the Union picket still at the farmhouse. Jericho didn't smile; "The rebels take the place after some fighting. None of the Union picket survives that scrap. That's how come the history books, say nothing of the Gettysburg Gunpowder plot - there was no-one left alive to tell the story - it was just one moment in time, that went unrecorded."
"But what about Sheriff Rook; he knew all about it." Owen asked, a little puzzled. Jericho nodded and folded his arms; "The Sheriff and his deputy, who were present at the farmhouse with the gunpowder, never told a soul about their involvement. They really didn't want the occupying Union forces to know that they thwarted a plot to blow up General Lee - they feared reprisals. But it didn't matter, just weeks after the battle, Rook and his over sized deputy were killed by renegade Union deserters, who were raiding the countryside around here. They took the story to their graves."
Wilson leaned back on the waggon seat and rubbed his chin; "What about that gunfighter, we saw with the Sheriff at the unloading of the gunpowder; the fellow with two pistols?" Jericho shook his head; "History doesn't record his involvement; he must have stayed silent about the affair."
McIves had suddenly become interested in Wilson's words and asked him; "Was he a big man, with two white handled pistols. The handles pointing away from him?"
Wilson nodded. McIves sat up in his saddle; "Keep an eye out for him Jericho. Had you searched his travelling bags, you would have found a strange Aztec Statue. He used to be an Archaeologist who went by the name of Doctor Sage Columbine. Sometime in the 1920's, he discovered the statute at some dig in Mexico; its a free travel portal and he's been using it ever since. I've encountered him a couple of times in other era's. A strange dark character."
McIves expressed his goodbyes and disappeared down the road; heading towards the Union lines. Wilson turned to Alex; "And our friend would know all about objects that carry 'free time portals'. That bloody black sword is cursed with one." Alex agreed with Wilson's deduction; she had suspected it for some time. then glanced at Jericho - deep in conversation with Clem Hazzard - and wondered why he hadn't dealt with the matter.
Everyone said farewell to Clem, who would take his horse into Gettysburg and offer his assistance to the Union Surgical Unit, now working there; with a wave, he disappeared towards the Union lines.
15. THE 'DA VINCI' SKULL. [Thursday 3rd June 1863]
Jericho told Wilson to head for the rebel lines - the back way!
"You get everything I asked for?" Jericho asked Wilson, who nodded and told Owen to unwrap the canvas bundle under the his seat. Owen pulled it through into the waggon and pulled it open. Alex just had to smile; "I take it we're going after that damn skull." Jericho chuckled; "Well, we can't leave the bloody thing laying around here, especially since Delaney knows what its capable of."
By the time the 'hospital' waggon reached the rebel encampment, the team had acquired their new identities. Jericho was now a Surgeon in the Confederate Army with the rank of Captain; his uniform even had authentic looking blood stains and he smelt strongly of chloroform!
Owen was wearing an ill-fitting and shabby Confederate uniform complete with old boots and 'medical orderly' armband. Wilson was unchanged; he was the good 'Doctor's' negro man servant and cook. He didn't have to dress up for that role. Miss Alexandra was now a Southern 'Belle' with blood stained apron and her hair tied up - she was a certain Captain Joe 'Shamrock' Delaney's sister from Virginia and had a pass from General James Longstreet to prove it!
They were stopped by several rebel soldiers guarding the dirt road into the camp and everyone was immediately impressed by Jericho's accent. He wearily explained to the sergeant, that he had to escort this lady to her brother on Jim Longstreet's order's, then make his way to the field hospital. He produced the pass and the sergeant examined it closely. But it was the skinny, younger man with pebble glasses that could actually read and agreed that was Longstreet's signature and the stamp was true.
The sergeant called a young officer over to the group and explained about the pass. The young man bowed and lifted his hat to Alex and told her that he would personally escort her to her brothers tent. Owen helped Alix down and volunteered to carry her travelling case for her - which was gracefully received.
Jericho and Wilson would wait with the waggon, near the cookhouse tents for the pair's return. They reached Captain Delaney's tent a few minutes later and the officer said farewell - reluctantly - to Alex, kissing her hand and bowing.
Alex and Owen didn't waste anytime searching the tent and pulled Delaney's travelling chest from under some horse blankets. Owen carefully opened the trunk and gently pulled the dark cloth back to reveal the eerie glass skull. "It's quite beautiful." Alex muttered and Owen carefully placed it into his canvas bag and covered it with a soft towel.
Alex pushed back the tent flap and stared about, then signalled Owen and the pair made for the Cookhouse tents, where several hundred men where starting to queue for their meals. Several cheered and waved at her - she returned a little lady-like wave and received even more cheers. That's when Alex cussed loudly and groaned, "I left my bloody bag in Delaney's tent!" She exclaimed and Owen also cussed, "We can't leave it there, it contains stuff from the future...drugs and stuff. We'll have to go back and risk it!" Alex shook her head and indicated for him to go on, "It's my bloody mistake and I'll go back and get it. Just get that bloody skull out of here. I'll be fine, I'll use my mirror if anything happens."
The Union picket watched the waggon approach quite carefully, this was a quiet sector of the battle - at the moment - but they wouldn't take any chances. They raised their muskets and shouted for the waggon to stop.
Jericho and Clem jumped from the waggon and walked slowly to the soldiers. Wilson turned to the others and grinned; "Our boss is a clever old bugger; just watch."
Alex and Owen smiled as the soldiers saluted Jericho and called for their officer. "What the fuck!" Owen seemed quite amazed by this turn of events. Alex just shook her head and smiled. The waggon was waved forward and the picket soldiers raised their hats to Alex with shouts of; "Welcome Ma'am!"
They met the officer some way from the farmhouse - just in case - The officer carefully checked the badges and papers shown to him by Jericho and Clem. "I'd heard that General Meade had set up such a group and called it 'Military Intelligence', but never thought I'd meet any of them!" The officer smiled and listened intently, as Jericho outlined the dastardly rebel plan to blow up General Meade, while he stayed at the farmhouse. He immediately ordered a search of the farmhouse - a very quiet and careful search - and was absolutely astonished to find the bags of gunpowder beneath the floor boards.
Jericho also advised him to search on the small ridge; because there was the body of brave and committed confederate soldier, who had been hiding, ready to set the explosives off. Clem admitted that one of their operatives had already dealt with him - finishing him quietly; with no shooting to raise the alarm.
A corporal from the Union picket found the body and signalled its finding from the ridge. They watched as the barrels were removed and the officer shook Jericho and Clem's hands vigorously. They celebrated by passing a brandy bottle amongst themselves - the young officer really enjoyed that and he got to chat with Alex for some minutes; giving her his card and telling her to look him up, next time she was in Boston.
They said their farewells and the waggon passed down The Chambersburg Pike towards the Union Army positions. That's when Wilson spotted the solitary horseman approaching; you couldn't really miss him - he was wearing a vivid yellow dust coat. "McIves." Alex whispered to Owen and the waggon pulled up.
McIves wiped dirt from his face and grinned broadly at Jericho and raised his hat to Alex. "So you managed to dodge murder, execution and being blown up." McInes spoke to Jericho, who shook his hand. "What do you know of the pair called 'Too Tall and Way small'?" Jericho asked. McIves chuckled; "Sheriff Rook went after them after the explosives were discovered and thus he now has a free hand to deal with everything. He was a little astonished, that they escaped from him, despite being surrounded in a livery stable. He couldn't believe that they just vanished. All I know about that strange pair is that were from Scotland - originally - and they had some kind of connection with Captain Delaney."
Jericho sighed; he really wanted to catch up with that pair, but he asked about Miss Lillian. McIves's expression changed; "She and 'Strangeways' were caught by rebel troops just north of the town. They were camped down for the night, when the rebels surprised them. That bloody idiot 'Strangeways' pulled his pistol and was shot about four times by musket fire. The rebels searched the waggon and found Miss Lillian with two coloured men - unfortunately in a state of undress; The rebels didn't show any mercy; they lynched the two coloured lads and then shot Miss Lillian, after tying her to a big tree." McIves wiped his face and accepted Alex's hip-flask.
He continued; "At least they had the decency to bury them near 'Small Round top'. I heard it from a drunken Confederate soldier that the officer in charge; a certain Major Cantor hated women and coloured people in equal measure. Apparently he took great pleasure in the killings." He swigged the hip-flask and handed it back; thanking Alex.
Wilson interrupted and tapped his mirror; "A collector filed a report about collecting my two 'brothers' souls at the time, but, obviously, not Miss Lillian's. Here's the interesting bit; There was no collection listed for a 'Thomas Louis 'Strangeways' Stevens' at the time; he wasn't dead. Some how, he survived a multiple shooting! His soul wasn't collected for another year, in August 1864 to be exact."
McIves grunted; "The devil looks after his own." He jerked a thumb behind him, adding; "The rebels are now approaching here fast. I understand that old granny Lee himself is moving his HQ this way - towards the widow Thompson's place."
Alex leaned forward in the waggon and asked Jericho about the Union picket still at the farmhouse. Jericho didn't smile; "The rebels take the place after some fighting. None of the Union picket survives that scrap. That's how come the history books, say nothing of the Gettysburg Gunpowder plot - there was no-one left alive to tell the story - it was just one moment in time, that went unrecorded."
"But what about Sheriff Rook; he knew all about it." Owen asked, a little puzzled. Jericho nodded and folded his arms; "The Sheriff and his deputy, who were present at the farmhouse with the gunpowder, never told a soul about their involvement. They really didn't want the occupying Union forces to know that they thwarted a plot to blow up General Lee - they feared reprisals. But it didn't matter, just weeks after the battle, Rook and his over sized deputy were killed by renegade Union deserters, who were raiding the countryside around here. They took the story to their graves."
McIves had suddenly become interested in Wilson's words and asked him; "Was he a big man, with two white handled pistols. The handles pointing away from him?"
Wilson nodded. McIves sat up in his saddle; "Keep an eye out for him Jericho. Had you searched his travelling bags, you would have found a strange Aztec Statue. He used to be an Archaeologist who went by the name of Doctor Sage Columbine. Sometime in the 1920's, he discovered the statute at some dig in Mexico; its a free travel portal and he's been using it ever since. I've encountered him a couple of times in other era's. A strange dark character."
McIves expressed his goodbyes and disappeared down the road; heading towards the Union lines. Wilson turned to Alex; "And our friend would know all about objects that carry 'free time portals'. That bloody black sword is cursed with one." Alex agreed with Wilson's deduction; she had suspected it for some time. then glanced at Jericho - deep in conversation with Clem Hazzard - and wondered why he hadn't dealt with the matter.
Everyone said farewell to Clem, who would take his horse into Gettysburg and offer his assistance to the Union Surgical Unit, now working there; with a wave, he disappeared towards the Union lines.
15. THE 'DA VINCI' SKULL. [Thursday 3rd June 1863]
Jericho told Wilson to head for the rebel lines - the back way!
"You get everything I asked for?" Jericho asked Wilson, who nodded and told Owen to unwrap the canvas bundle under the his seat. Owen pulled it through into the waggon and pulled it open. Alex just had to smile; "I take it we're going after that damn skull." Jericho chuckled; "Well, we can't leave the bloody thing laying around here, especially since Delaney knows what its capable of."
By the time the 'hospital' waggon reached the rebel encampment, the team had acquired their new identities. Jericho was now a Surgeon in the Confederate Army with the rank of Captain; his uniform even had authentic looking blood stains and he smelt strongly of chloroform!
Owen was wearing an ill-fitting and shabby Confederate uniform complete with old boots and 'medical orderly' armband. Wilson was unchanged; he was the good 'Doctor's' negro man servant and cook. He didn't have to dress up for that role. Miss Alexandra was now a Southern 'Belle' with blood stained apron and her hair tied up - she was a certain Captain Joe 'Shamrock' Delaney's sister from Virginia and had a pass from General James Longstreet to prove it!
They were stopped by several rebel soldiers guarding the dirt road into the camp and everyone was immediately impressed by Jericho's accent. He wearily explained to the sergeant, that he had to escort this lady to her brother on Jim Longstreet's order's, then make his way to the field hospital. He produced the pass and the sergeant examined it closely. But it was the skinny, younger man with pebble glasses that could actually read and agreed that was Longstreet's signature and the stamp was true.
The sergeant called a young officer over to the group and explained about the pass. The young man bowed and lifted his hat to Alex and told her that he would personally escort her to her brothers tent. Owen helped Alix down and volunteered to carry her travelling case for her - which was gracefully received.
Jericho and Wilson would wait with the waggon, near the cookhouse tents for the pair's return. They reached Captain Delaney's tent a few minutes later and the officer said farewell - reluctantly - to Alex, kissing her hand and bowing.
Alex and Owen didn't waste anytime searching the tent and pulled Delaney's travelling chest from under some horse blankets. Owen carefully opened the trunk and gently pulled the dark cloth back to reveal the eerie glass skull. "It's quite beautiful." Alex muttered and Owen carefully placed it into his canvas bag and covered it with a soft towel.
Alex pushed back the tent flap and stared about, then signalled Owen and the pair made for the Cookhouse tents, where several hundred men where starting to queue for their meals. Several cheered and waved at her - she returned a little lady-like wave and received even more cheers. That's when Alex cussed loudly and groaned, "I left my bloody bag in Delaney's tent!" She exclaimed and Owen also cussed, "We can't leave it there, it contains stuff from the future...drugs and stuff. We'll have to go back and risk it!" Alex shook her head and indicated for him to go on, "It's my bloody mistake and I'll go back and get it. Just get that bloody skull out of here. I'll be fine, I'll use my mirror if anything happens."
Owen nodded and reluctantly headed towards the tree-line as Alex quickly made her way back to the tent. She slipped in and grabbed up her bag with some relief and turned to leave when the tent flap was pulled back. She smiled broadly gripping her bag and Delaney almost lowered his pistol. "Open the damn bag please missy. I want to see what you've thieved!" He waved his pistol slowly up and down to reinforce his words. Alex slowly opened it and held it out to him. He stared in and smiled. "Now that makes me happy missy. What are you doing in my tent, may I ask?" He lowered the pistol and and pushed it back into his side holster.
Alex now grinned and switched on her 'Southern accent' "Why, I came to see you sir, I have an urgent request about my young brother in the 10th Georgia, under Brigadier General Semmes care. Our mother lies dying and he needs to see her before she passes over. He's her only son sir, his two brothers have already fallen for the cause." Delaney grunted and rubbed his chin, staring at Alex. He shook his head, "No can do I'm afraid missy. We need everyone boy for this big fight. The damn yankee's will suffer a horrendous loss today and we'll push onto Washington itself!"
Alex turned on the tears and said quietly, "I know you have the ear of the general sir and just your signature can send him home with me, oh please say you'll sign and let the poor boy see his dying mother." Delaney sat on his chair and shook his head, "That's true, if I recommend the boy compassionate leave, the General will agree, but why should I do that missy?" Alex placed her bag on the ground and walked over to him and smiled broadly. She needed to exit from this situation without causing Delaney to change the timeline by her 'capture' and more importantly not suspect his precious skull had been stolen! [yet] For some reason she thought about the dirty [and horny] old sheriff. She knelt and gripped his arm smiling, "Why sir, I would be most grateful indeed if you sign that paper and would do anything for you to sign sir!" She repeated "Anything" twice. Delaney slowly smiled and nodded his understanding. One boy less wouldn't make a hell of a difference today and besides, he hadn't had a decent fuck for months! Well, not without paying for it.
Her skilled [and experienced] hands quickly had his fly buttons open and her head in his lap in seconds. She gripped his erecting cock and pushed it into her willing moist mouth. Her lips and tongue went to work and the captain groaned with real pleasure as she caressed his cock with that exquisite tongue and deep-throated it several times. He hadn't a 'blow-job' like this in years. This woman could be a two dollar whore with skill like this!
Now with her cumbersome dress held with both hands, Alex was sat upon his lap, legs open and pushing herself down with a little speed as his hands and mouth enjoyed her big breasts, now freed from her tight bodice. She stared up at the tent's apex as she rode him and sighed with a little disappointment: Captain Delaney was adequate in the cock department but no Casanova! His big hands finally left her tits and gripped her buttocks under the dress and pushed her up and down with some force. He had a mouthful of her right tit and was sucking the nipple like a vacuum cleaner on turbo. As Alex suspected, he didn't last long and the captain suddenly groaned and cussed, coming inside her far too quickly and sat back, letting her well sucked tit fall from his mouth.
Alex wiggled a little and felt his now flaccid cock slip from her and his cum trickle down her thighs. It had certainly not been the best sex she ever had! But it had served it purpose: captain Delaney would happily sign anything after that and Alex could make her way from the tent and re-join the rest of the team without any consequences to the current timeline. Plus they had his 'Da Vinci' skull in safe keeping.
She made her way back to the team a little unsatisfied - sexually - but the that would have to wait; for now. Alex could hear bugles and lot's of shouting. She realised that the men were forming up for more fighting. The final phase of the battle was about to take place: General George Pickett's men would soon be making their way across open ground to the the Federal lines in that famous charge which would be broken up with massive casualties for the rebels. It was the start of the Confederate's ultimate defeat.
16. MISSION COMPLETE, BUT YET SOME DISTURBING QUESTIONS REMAINED.
Jericho looked about and pressed the Travel App on his mirror and the team found themselves outside the lighthouse on a warm summer night. A three mast sailing ship could be seen on the horizon. Alex noted that the time was 7.35pm; as it always was.
As they walked to the lighthouse, Owen suddenly remembered the assignment Jericho had given him regarding the dead confederate deserter and he pulled Alex to one side; "Should I bother to give Jericho the story, that the young dead deserter told Little Kate the Collector?" Alex shrugged her shoulders; "Seems a bit pointless now, but what was it?"
Owen sighed; "Well, he said that he was betrayed and the bugger with him pulled out a 'Bowie' knife and gutted him before he could use his pistol. They were on the ridge together; waiting for Miss Lillian and the waggon."
Alex looked puzzled; "So McIves didn't kill him?"
Owen nodded; "Nah, he didn't. it was 'Strangeways' that knifed him, came up from behind and gutted him like a fish - even with the pistol cocked - the boy never suspected that his companion would do such a thing - they were conspirators together. 'Strangeways' dropped his money bag with all those silver dollars in, during the fight. He couldn't stop and pick them up because someone else had appeared." Owen started to walk to the lighthouse, arm in arm with Alex.
Alex remembered the coins scattered about the boys body and no-one had questioned why they were there! She stopped; "So those coins were from Jericho, he gave 'Strangeways' them at the farmhouse. We should have guessed that 'Strangeways' had done the killing by the presence of those damn coins. We could have known about the two timing rat earlier."
Owen nodded and continued with the story that the boy had recounted to the Collector; "The boy - whose name was Jacob Sanderson from Mississippi - had been working for Captain Delaney, posing as a deserter to infiltrate a nest of Union spies; that was us by the way. He was told to acquire the pie at all costs because the little dinner party, arranged for the delivery of the pie, had to be called off because they suspected Rook was on to them - especially after the row between Delaney and Rook over Benny. But hunger got the best of him and he ate the bloody thing and suddenly, we were onto him."
Jericho turned and gestured for Owen and Alex to catch up; dinner was roast lamb tonight. Alex said quietly; "What was he and 'Strangeways' doing on the ridge and who turned up after he had been killed?"
Owen gripped her arm and smiled, in that dumb manner that infuriated Wilson; "They were going to blow up the house after everyone had set the explosives and gone. Someone [the boy didn't know who] had paid 'Strangeways' to carry it out - he [Jacob] thought it was Captain Delaney because he turned up on the ridge after the boy was murdered. He couldn't see what the Captain did because the Collector took his soul then. But the odd thing is, the Captain didn't set the explosives off because we know that the ill-fated Union picket removed them later - now that's a strange twist eh?"
Alex sighed; "Also, why didn't Delaney pick up the scattered silver dollars and if 'Strangeways' was in collusion with him; why did he run off so fast that he didn't even have time to pick up the money? and what was Delaney going to do with that dam glass skull?" She believed that there was more to this mission than had been worked out and should Jericho hear about what Owen discovered; would it alter the results achieved by the team?
The captain must have returned to the farmhouse for some reason and why pay Steven's to blow up the damn place before anyone was even in it? Alex sighed and the thoughts swirled about her head.
They followed Jericho and Wilson into the lighthouse and she smiled to herself; there could be a very lively dinner conversation tonight!
"Whilst there was little chance of the current
human timeline being changed; if the plot to kill General Robert E. Lee
had succeeded, there could, still have been many unwanted - and potentially
dangerous - changes to the time line further down its length. On the balance of
things, the mission was considered a success for Team 74. Alex certainly had an interesting time and managed to keep her 'little secrets' safe!"
Frank Turner, the Confederate Army Sergeant who found young Benny's body
and the strange map [to him] was killed during 'Picket's Charge' on the last day
of battle. He had been married with four children and was a former coal miner who joined the colours. His soul was collected and processed.
Joseph Francis 'Shamrock' Delaney, the Confederate Army Captain who was part of
the plot to blow up the farmhouse, survived the war and married a local
Doctor's daughter and settled down in Ridgeway, Maine. He had several children
and died in 1881. He never mentioned or wrote about the Gunpowder plot. He was
known to be a historical figure of that period and it was with great surprise, that no soul was collected. Inspector Kate
Zaskinsky of Team 44 has been tasked with the investigation: there is no resolution yet.
Sage Columbine, the Confederate Army Scout was a time-traveller from 1925
and his dealings with the Gunpowder plot remain a mystery. He is known to
McIves [another time traveller] and his whereabouts - currently - are unknown.
He remains a missing soul.
Doctor Clement Aaron Hazzard, Jericho's human agent for this time and place
survived the war, but not his infidelity with a certain woman who had became
the new teacher. Her husband found the pair in bed together and shot both dead.
He was hanged for those murders despite a massive protest against the sentence by the locals. Clem's soul was collected and processed; his wife didn't attend the funeral.
Mrs. Philadelphia Hazzard, another of Jericho's human agents for the time and place continued to work for Jericho after her husband’s unsavoury death. She remarried in 1869 and had three children. She died in 1884 and her soul was collected and processed. Jericho and Alex attended her funeral.
Thomas Louis 'Strangways' Stevens had been Jericho's part time human agent for
the time and place. He had been shot in 1863 but survived for another year
before succumbing to his injuries. Jericho himself attended the collection of
his soul, but 'Strange ways' would say nothing about his actions during the
Gettysburg Gunpowder plot. He was quarantined until 2150.
Alexander McIves is a persistent time-traveller and well known to Jericho and Team 74. He has habit of 'popping' up on some of Jericho's missions and even assisting them on occasion! He remains an elusive fugitive from the Temporal Detectives Department and his soul is still missing to this day. Jericho always remarks that the man is 'an enigma wrapped in a puzzle' and he's right about that.....
Miss Victoria Crabb couldn't keep a civil tongue and in late spring 1868, she
spoke the wrong words to the wrong man; a hard-faced ex-soldier from Richmond.
He took great exception to what she said and that night, broke into her room.
He tied up Miss Crabb and raped her quite brutally. The suspect fled the scene
and was never captured - it was believed he had crossed into Mexico. Months
later Victoria Crabb died in childbirth and her soul was collected and
processed. The child survived and grew up in a Catholic orphanage, becoming a
Priest and working the missions in West Africa. He was a popular and much-loved padre.
Jacob 'pudding' Davis, Sheriff Rook's Deputy was killed, with the
sheriff, just after the battle by Union Army deserters. The only person to really miss him was Thomas Brady; the café owner! His soul was collected
and processed.
Lieutenant Tom Harvey - Confederate Army - never survived the battle. He was
killed during 'Picket's Charge' on the last day of fighting. He was twenty
years old. His soul was collected and processed.
Billy Logan - the unpleasant dirt farmer - new to the town, tried to flee with
his family before the battle started; unfortunately, some renegade Union soldiers
took pot shots at him and he was killed - shot off his horse - they robbed his
wagon, stole the horses, and raped his young wife. His soul was collected and
processed.
Troy and Dauphin Washington were two brothers who were slaves to the local
Hardware merchant and were also Miss Lillian's lovers and they
paid for that with their lives. Major Cantor hung the pair when he found them
with her. Their souls were collected and processed.
Miss Lillian Scott's audacious plan to rid herself of her husband cost her
dearly; her life and soul. She was a human who had died out of her own time and
so; no soul was collected. It remains missing to this day. back in her own time, her puzzled husband simply didn't know what had become of his wife and 'son'.
Benjamin 'Black eyed Benny' Scott had jumped back to 1863 with his mother
Lillian to avoid arrest for murder and assist in her plot to alter her estranged
husband’s fate. Unfortunately, he encountered 'Black Sword' and was killed. His
soul was not collected: since he was a human out of his own time and remains
missing to this day.
Thomas Arthur Brady, the café owner in Gettysburg, survived the war but died in
a Dysentery outbreak in 1867. His wife quickly remarried and she bore her husband six children over the years - she had none by Thomas. His soul was collected and processed.
Sheriff Theodore Rook took the story of the 'Gunpowder Plot' to his grave. He
was killed by renegade Union soldiers who had deserted and were now raiding his
district. He caught them dossed in a barn and he died in the subsequent 'shoot-out'. His soul was collected and processed.
Jacob Sanderson - A Confederate Army Private was killed on the ridge after playing the deserter for Captain Delaney - he was just sixteen years old and had ran away from his parent farm to enlist. His soul was collected and processed.
Michael Edward Cantor, the Confederate Army Major who brutally executed Miss
Lillian and the two slave brothers; Troy and Dauphin Washington, survived the
war and became mayor of his local town and a senior member of the local KKK. He
was known to have murdered over twenty coloured people in the troubled times
following the civil war. He died at 73 surrounded by his children and
grandchildren. His soul was collected and quarantined until 2600.
Samuel Flynn McDougal [the obnoxious little boy] grew up to be a dour, obnoxious man who was as popular as a rattlesnake in a lucky dip! But he had a real way with words, so he made his living selling 'Snake-Oil' travelling the post war western territories. Unfortunately he and his horse and wagon blundered onto Apache scared land one day and was caught by the natives who took exception to this. They didn't just scalp him but tortured him to death: he took three full days to die: tied tightly in a 'soaked' skin held over a fire. The skin slowly shrunk from the heat, crushing him slowly. His soul was collected and processed receiving nearly one hundred and fifty years in quarantine for two murders and a rape he never received human justice for: He tried to smart talk his way out of those 'little problems' but found out that you can't lie to an angel!
Peter Frederick Keppel, the young Union Army Lieutenant, who was killed when
the Confederate Army took his position at the farmhouse, had his soul collected
and processed. But several months after the battle, when his effects were
returned to his grieving mother, she discovered his final letter written on that
day. He described the plot in detail and confided to his mother that at last;
he had found the sort of woman that would do her son proud. His mother was so
embittered with grief that she destroyed the letter in anger, thus the
'Betrayal at Gettysburg' never appeared in official history of the Civil War.
The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865 and ended in defeat for the Confederacy but preserved the United States as we know it today: it would have been a very different world history had two America's emerged from the conflict! For more details about the battle that changed the course of the war and ultimately provided the Union with victory: click HERE for the 'WIKIPEDIA' entry.
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Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.