This is a continuing story, if you would like to read the from the beginning, the letter A : Aces and Eights But... each letter/story stands alone as well. Enjoy:)
Be sure to mark your calendar for April 29th! Jefferson Bass, author's of the Body Farm series will be right here on Gladiator's Pen to promote their new book The Inquisitor's Key.
Escape
The Union prisoners were gathered to the center of the
Confederate camp. Ben growled as a soldier prodded him with the bayonet. “Mind
getting that stick out of my back Johnny?”
The Confederate scoffed. “Just keep movin Yank.”
Ben searched the crowd of fifty other captives for his men.
He spotted Charlie and Douglas to his left, Jackson to his right. He managed to
make eye contact with each. After three weeks, this might be their best chance
at escape.
The Confederate captain finally made his appearance. Ben
wasn’t interested in his long winded speech about the Southern man’s rights as
a nation. Ben didn’t care any more he had enough blood on his hands for several
life times. He wanted to go home, raise cattle and his son.
The speech went on and while some of the other rebels
shouted and cheered. Ben’s attention was called back to the egotistic captain
when he heard a familiar voice cursing the southerners.
Tighe, one of the older men in their company, flanked by two
large soldiers. One of them gave him a hard shove with the butt of his rifle up
the steps of the gallows as the captain spoke. “This man, will serve as an
example to you rabble. As further warning against outbursts. Corporal, string
him up.”
Ben looked at each of his men. Charlie was wound ready to
spring as he glanced back to Ben to get an order. Ben carefully motioned with
his hand to hold.
Tighe stood swearing at his captures and issuing curses unto
their decedents as the rope was tightened around his neck. The Captain lowered
his arm and the hatch beneath the Federal dropped open.
Ben gasped, as he watched the big man struggle, the rope had
not snapped his neck. His instinct took over as he spun grabbing the bayonet
from the Confederate next to him and driving it into his neck.
He could hear shouts of those around him s fighting broke
out. Prisoners against their jailers. Ben picked up the fallen rebel’s musket
and turned. Tighe still struggled, but he didn’t have long.
Ben saw Charlie and Douglas almost to the gallows and raised
the rifle. He had only one chance and no time to aim true. His finger squeezed
the trigger and hoped.
The bullet struck the rope and Tighe fell to the ground,
fingers clawed at the rope to get more than a gasp of air. Charlie and Douglas
reached him first. Ben grabbed a pistol from another fallen soldier as he made
his way through the fighting to them.
They had limited ammo and were in the thick of enemy
territory. Ben looked back at his men who followed him into the woods. They
were sure he could help them escape. He had to hope they were right.
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