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