Off To War (War Between The States)

by Sara R. Turnquist

  “Are you prepared to make your vows?”

  John and Elizabeth both nodded. And so they repeated after the chaplain.

  “I, John, take thee, Elizabeth, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance.”

  “I, Elizabeth, take thee, John, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance.”

  “Forasmuch as John and Elizabeth have consented in holy wedlock, and have pledged their troth; by the authority committed unto me as a chaplain of the U.S. Army, I now declare you husband and wife according to the ordinance of God, and the laws of the United States, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

  “You may kiss your bride.”

  John leaned in, putting his hands on either side of Elizabeth's face, and met her lips for a kiss to seal their union. As he pulled away, he wiped her tears with his thumbs before he took her hands in his.

  “And now it is my happy privilege to congratulate Dr. and Mrs. John Taylor!”

  A cheer sounded from the crowd and soldiers from either side of the aisle stepped forward to raise their sabers in the air, making an arch for them.

  John held out his arm. Elizabeth took it and allowed him to lead her under the arch. Once they were through, the sabers were re-sheathed. John and Elizabeth gazed at one another and sighed. They had done it. They had actually gotten married!

  But what was to be done from here? Elizabeth knew there were no plans beyond the ceremony. In their haste to make wedding preparations, they had not sought out the colonel in time to secure alternate bedding provisions so that they might stay together after the wedding. Just yesterday, when John went to the colonel he discovered that nothing could be done on such short notice. They would be consigned to their separate accommodations tonight.

  Melanie stepped into their path. “Let me be the first to say 'Congratulations'!” She reached out to hug Elizabeth. “I'm also supposed to tell you that the women have planned a wedding supper. It won't be anything fancy, but I think it will be great.”

  “I know it will be,” Elizabeth said, so touched by the thoughtfulness. Did their generosity know no bounds?

  Everyone, it seemed, approached them to offer their congratulations and wish them a long and happy marriage. John and Elizabeth received each person graciously, grateful for their family away from home. Once all the guests made their way by and they were alone, John turned to her.

  “Shall we make our way to dinner?” John squeezed the hand he had not released since the ceremony began.

  Elizabeth shook her head. “Not yet. I want to spend a few more minutes just being Mrs. John Taylor.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “Oh?” John had a mischievous smile on his face as he splayed his hands across her back.

  She hugged him close to herself, her face in the crook of his neck. “We have waited so long for this, I can't believe we did it.”

  John rubbed her back. “I know. But we did. And we'll return to Boston as man and wife when this is all over.”

  Elizabeth was struck with that thought. “John, what about our parents? How could I have forgotten to write and…”

  He held up a hand. “Already taken care of.”

  She smiled. Of course he would think of that.

  He tucked that stubborn, errant curl behind her ear. “You are so beautiful, Lizzie. You take my breath away.”

  Her face warmed as she leaned into his embrace once again. “And I truly am, now and always, your Lizzie.”

  After several seconds, John turned his head to whisper in her ear. “I think we'd better head toward the party or I fear we might miss it.”

  Elizabeth pulled back reluctantly and nodded. She wrapped her arms around one of his and let him lead her toward the dining area.

  The women of the camp had indeed outdone themselves. Among the other camp staples, they made a rare treat — warm biscuits. One of the men brought out his fiddle and there was dancing around the fire in celebration of the blessed event. A special evening everyone took part in.

  The war was forgotten for the moment, the threat of battle no longer looming. Rather, the music and food filled everyone's senses for this evening. This respite, however, would end as curfew neared.

  Elizabeth loathed parting with John and retiring to her own tent. She caught John's eye and knew he thought the same thing. But what else could be done?

  Melanie stepped up to Elizabeth and took her hands. “There's one more surprise. One I can't take all the credit for. That is, I had something to do with it, but there was also Dr. Smith and the colonel…”

  “What is it, Melanie?” Elizabeth laughed.

  Melanie looked at Daniel. “I think we should blindfold them.”

  Daniel agreed and so they went about blindfolding John and Elizabeth.

  “This had better be worth it,” John muttered.

  “If I know Melanie, it will be,” Elizabeth assured him.

  They allowed themselves to be led through the camp. Elizabeth became clueless as to where in camp they were after just a few steps and a couple of turns. It wasn't long before they stopped. Melanie told them to wait a moment. Then Elizabeth felt someone working the blindfold tie. And then she could see.

  “Ta-da!” Melanie shouted.

  Before her stood a tent, one of the larger ones. The flaps were open and a lantern illuminated the inside. Elizabeth didn't understand.

  “We can't accept this,” John said. “It's too generous.”

  Accept this? This tent was for them? Just for them? Elizabeth had assumed they'd be staying in their regular accommodations for a while, perhaps until they went home. She'd never imagined that they'd be given a tent in the family section of camp, much less a spacious tent like this.

  “It's too much,” Elizabeth echoed John's protest.

  “Nonsense. After all you've been through? After all you've sacrificed? No one thinks it's too much. Besides, the colonel approved it, so it's done.”

  “I don't know what to say.” Elizabeth couldn't tear her eyes away. She couldn't imagine that this would be her new home. Her first home with John, the place where they would first live as man and wife.

  “You could say 'thank you',” Melanie teased.

  “Thank you, a million times over!” Elizabeth exclaimed, pulling her gaze from the tent to look at her friend.

  “Yes, thank you,” John added.

  A sly grin crossed Melanie's face. “Daniel and I don't wish to keep you up any longer, so…”

  She let her sentence trail off.

  “Lizzie, you've had a long day. I'll go with Melanie to collect your bag and then get mine.”

  “No need,” Melanie said. “I…”

  “Now, stop right there,” John said. “I cannot let you collect our bags. I'm perfectly willing and able to do that.”

  “What I was going to say is that I…that is we…already did that. Your bags, both of them, are already in your tent.”

  “Oh,” John said. “Well, we owe you another 'thank you'.”

  “It was nothing.”

  “It means everything to us that you went to all this trouble.”

  Melanie just smiled. “I think it's getting close to curfew, so we'd best be on our way.”

  Elizabeth went to Melanie and grabbed her in a fierce hug. “Thank you, dearest friend. Thank you.”

  Melanie hugged her back.

  Once Elizabeth released her, Daniel took Melanie's hand and they walked off into the moonlight, disappearing around a couple of tents as they made their way back to their side of camp.

  John came up behind Elizabeth, putting his hands on her shoulders and pressing a kiss to the side of her face. “Want to go inside?”


  She looked over her shoulder at him and nodded.

  He took her hand.

  Once they were inside the tent, Elizabeth got a better look at what had been set up for them. Melanie and whoever else had been involved in this surprise had been busy collecting every extra sleeping mat they could find. The bed was a series of sleeping mats built up to create a makeshift double bed that was maybe three or four inches deep. Compared to sleeping on one thin mat on the ground, this bed looked luxurious.

  They had found a small table to serve as a nightstand, currently serving as a stand for the lantern. Their bags were stashed in the opposite corner. And a new nightshift for Elizabeth lay on the bed. Someone had forfeited her nightshift to provide Elizabeth with one after hers had been sacrificed for her wedding dress. Truly, the women in this camp had been too generous.

  John was behind her. His arms wrapped around her. “Would you like to get dressed for bed?”

  She felt a rush of nervousness. Since they had expected to spend their wedding night separated, she hadn't prepared herself for this part. But it was John. He was as familiar to her as her own reflection and closer to her than any other. She trusted him implicitly.

  Turning in his arms, she pressed her lips to his. The kiss they shared felt different than any other. It became hungry, a kiss that wanted more and anticipated more to come.

  “Let me get the light,” John said, his voice full of emotion.

  She released him long enough for him to put out the light.

  He maintained contact by holding her hand. And then he felt his way back to her embrace. As their eyes adjusted to the dark, they fumbled their way onto the makeshift bed, still locked in each other's embrace.

  John pressed tender kisses to Elizabeth's face, lips, and neck while she held him close.

  “John,” she said, softly.

  “Yes?” he breathed.

  “Promise me it will always be like this. That we will always be like this.”

  “Always,” he said, kissing her deeply. “Always and forever.”

  Epilogue

  “ELIZABETH? ELIZABETH THOMPSON…er…Taylor? Is that you?”

  Elizabeth turned to see a beaming red-haired beauty making her way through the crowd.

  “Melanie, how good to see you!”

  “And my goodness, look at you! I had heard, but seeing is believing.”

  Elizabeth placed a hand on the swell of her belly, nodding. “We're so excited. Won't be long.”

  “What are you hoping for?” Melanie's face broke out with a smile.

  “Oh, I just want a healthy baby.”

  “And I want a little girl with blonde curls like her mother,” John said, coming up behind Elizabeth. “I found us some seats.”

  “Look, John, it's Melanie. Do you remember her? From the 16th Regiment?”

  “I think so. It's good to see you are doing so well. And your husband, is he…”

  Elizabeth elbowed him. “John,” she admonished, “Melanie isn't…”

  “Actually, he was just grabbing my wrap from the carriage.”

  Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.

  “Here he is now.” A young man came over to Melanie and handed her a shawl. “Daniel, I'd like you to meet my good friend Elizabeth and her husband John. Both from the 16th Regiment.”

  “Ah, I was a soldier there myself. Doctor, is it?”

  “Why, yes sir, it is.”

  “I definitely remember you.”

  “I'm so sorry that I can't place you.”

  “It's all right. There were many soldiers, but only three doctors.”

  The music indicated that the ceremony would begin in moments.

  “We'd best get to our seats,” Elizabeth said. “Care to join us?”

  “Of course.” Melanie hooked Daniel's arm.

  Once they were all comfortably seated and the congregation settled, the wedding ceremony began. Melanie kept her eyes peeled for her dear friend and when he appeared she knew she had never seen him so handsome as he was for this most special occasion. She watched his face even as his bride, a beautiful brunette, appeared. And his reaction was priceless.

  But she had known he would one day meet a special woman who would love him the way he deserved to be loved. And that was why Melanie was here today. To celebrate her dearest friend, Jacob Moore's, wedding.

  Also from Sara R. Turnquist

  CHAPTER ONE

  A Journey Must Start Somewhere

  “Ismene, look!” Alonah said, pointing out the window of the carriage.

  Ismene leaned over to Alonah's side of the carriage and allowed her gaze to follow where her handmaiden pointed, but she couldn't get excited. Her eyes had been watching the sloping topography of the countryside for days now as the carriage drew them closer to her destiny. The noble chariot had long since passed the familiar sites of her native land, and this new world around her was harsh. There was no comfort to be found here for her despondent spirit. Suitable, since the life awaiting them at her final destination offered no consolation either. She had left Greece, her home, far behind. And for what? To become an Egyptian? A bitter taste filled her mouth at the thought of it.

  “Have you ever seen anything like it?” Alonah did not turn her gaze away from the window.

  The sand sparkled and shimmered as if a hundred-thousand tiny diamonds were hidden there. Still, she mused, the waters around her village were just as captivating. And the landscapes outside her bedroom window in Greece were lush, green, living.

  “No, I haven't,” Ismene admitted.

  She peered over at her handmaiden who was so captivated with everything around them. How she longed to share her fears with Alonah! But could she trust her with these secret thoughts? Dare she speak her true feelings about the life that lay ahead for her?

  It was not the life Ismene had planned or even wanted for herself. If only it were possible to command the caravan to turn around and return her home. She did not want what lay ahead: a wedding. Her wedding. Ismene's father had arranged for her to wed Pharaoh Ptolemy II's highest general. She had always known her noble station would require her marriage to be strategically made. It was always to be a political maneuvering for her family and an unavoidable reality for her.

  Even knowing this, she had done something quite senseless—she had fallen in love. Yes, this was the worst thing of all about her predicament. Bitter tears stung her eyes as she knew she could never be with him—her Thelopolis. Thelopolis had been her childhood playmate, her most trusted friend. And that caring friendship had grown into adolescent love. It was a comfortable love that she had found stability in. For just one moment, she allowed herself to remember the details of his face—details she could have traced blindfolded. His deep hazel eyes were full of life and happiness. They had darkened when she had told him she would be leaving for Egypt, for a new life, and a husband.

  “Please,” she had cried, unable to contain her overwhelming sadness. “Say something!” She desperately needed him to find the words to assuage her grief.

  He had remained silent. Wasn't his heart breaking too?

  Wrapping her arms around him, she had clung to him. “I need you to say something!”

  “I know, Ismene.” Thelopolis wouldn't even turn to look at her. He wouldn't move. “I am sorry, my beloved.” He had choked on the word. “I have nothing to say that could bring you comfort.”

  But she would not let him escape her. She had turned his face to look at her. That's when she saw the tears that were escaping his eyes. He had twisted away.

  “Tell me you love me. Tell me your heart is breaking as much as mine. Tell me we'll be all right!” she said, tears streaming down her face. She didn't even bother to wipe them away.

  He then moved so she could see his tears. “My heart is breaking, Ismene. No ocean has known the depths of my love for you. But I will not lie to you. I cannot say that we'll be all right.”

  Fresh tears poured out of her eyes and sobs racked her body. He had then pulle
d her into a firm embrace and held her so tightly she feared she couldn't breathe, but she didn't care.

  The carriage hit a bump in the road, and it pulled Ismene from her reverie. There was moisture on her face. Ismene raised a hand to her face and felt the tear that had escaped.

  Alonah was looking at her, an eyebrow raised. “Milady, are you unwell?”

  “I'm all right, Alonah. Perhaps a little sand in my eye.”

  Alonah seemed satisfied with her response and returned her attention toward the carriage window.

  Ismene, too, let her gaze wander across the waves of sand and tried to clear her mind. It wouldn't be right for her to be in tears for the first meeting with her husband-to-be. She had allowed herself much of this trip to mourn the loss of what was and what would never be. Today, she was to face her destiny.

  “It's all so fascinating!” Alonah was so taken with their surroundings.

  “Yes,” Ismene said, somewhat distracted. She was glad Alonah had a pleasant attitude about their venture.

  “And all so different!” Alonah took a deep breath. “It even smells different.”

  Ismene crinkled her nose, trying to draw in the scent of this new place. She couldn't discern what Alonah was talking about.

  Alonah was more of an adventurer than Ismene had thought. She had been Ismene's handmaiden for years, but they weren't as familiar with one another as one might assume. In general, Ismene preferred to do most things for herself. So Alonah had never been necessary, in Ismene's opinion, or, for that matter, utilized. Still, Ismene's mother had sent Alonah with her for good measure. Her mother had insisted that it was only proper of her station that she take at least a handful of servants, lest her future husband think his wife a pauper. An argument had ensued about the logistics of taking a small entourage with her on such a lengthy journey. To which Ismene's mother relented, only because Ismene would have more servants in the house she was to run than were in the one she was vacating.