Carl and the others decided to sleep with the Home Guards that night. I had no desire to spend another night on the hard ground. Up until a day ago I was still aching from the experience of Friday night.
Realizing my frailty Carl had thoughtfully put an inflatable mattress in the bed of the pickup for me to sleep upon should I desire to. I did.
After the show in the woods I made my way back up to the parking area and lowering the tailgate crawled onto the bed, spread my blanket and laid down. The sky was spectacular. It's been a long time since I've seen so many stars. The Milky Way was like a ribbon of light across the heavens. I didn't even see any aircraft. Then, as I lay there feeling as though I could fall right into the sky a meteor shot across the heavens. Blue-green and glorious. Then another and another. I remembered that the Persied Shower was due that weekend and as I watched, literally dozens of streaking meteors lit up the night. Some going from horizon to horizon, others were cris-crossing in their paths. I thought of my dear sister who had passed away unexpectedly on July 12th and as a especially bright golden colored shooting star filled my watering eyes I said to myself, 'That one is Donna.'
I fell asleep and had wonderful dreams until awoken by the sensation of something on my face. Carls truck must be a sexual attractant for grand-daddy longlegs cause there were dozens of them all over me and the truck. Fortunately there was a can of repllant in the cab and they soon went away.
Meanwhile Carl was having his hat eaten by a deer that was attracted by the salt in the sweatband. I drifted back off to sleep dancing with Josetta.
A Sunday in the park
Sunday morning broke cool and clear with a ground fog about half as thick as that of the previous morning. I pulled on my shoes and slid out of the truck pausing to spread my wool blanket so the dew on it would evaporate. I grabbed my water bottle and toothbrush, (wooden with hog bristles of course) and a little packet of salt mixed with tooth powder, then picked my way through the nearby brush to perform my morning ablutions.
I went to the civilian encampment and stoked up a fire and fixed myself a meal of fried salt pork, eggs and potatos on bread. As I was finishing this up and cleaning my utensils Carl and the rest came up the road. He showed me his tattered hat and cursed 'Bambi' for the damage done. He also said that a gang of feral pigs had held a night long meeting in the corn field. Making sleeping difficult with their snorts and squealing arguments. I told him about the meteor shower. How pleasant a night I'd had in the truck bed and thanked him for his thoughtfulness. I gave him a slice of bread and some of the fried pork along with an egg and then made some coffee in the double boiler. This did some good in lightening Carls mood.
I then walked around the grounds sipping my coffee while taking a few more pictures of the battlefield and the old buildings in the early morning light. Josetta and her friends were brushing out and braiding each others hair when I got to the old house. I wished them a 'good morning ladies' and they inquired if I would accompany them to the Sunday church service. Usually I don't attend those things but the opportunity of spending some time with Josetta as well as demonstrating a virtuous bit of character seemed the proper as well as advantagous thing to do. I asked them at what time the service was to be held and they informed me that it would be at ten o'clock. I told them I would be happy to attend with them and excused myself to return in suitable attire.
When I got back to the truck I put on what I thought would be a proper Sunday outfit. Not much different from the courting rig of last night but more somber with black trowsers, matching vest and long black frock coat. White high collared shirt and cravat. I put a blue bonnet flower in my lapel and went to meet the ladies. On the way my mates saw me and as they squatted or simply sat in the dirt around their smoky campfire. They asked me, 'Who died?'. I told them of my mission and then they started teasing me about how my attending church was nothing more than a hopeless gesture from an old sinner that the Devil wouldn't even want. Then I mentioned that I would be doing so with Josetta and her friends. They suddenly understood my reasoning. 'Thats one really beautiful gal.' said Dave and the others nodded in agreement. Then with a snort he added, 'I guess she likes hanging out with grandpa.' I took this in with good humor and replied that they were a bunch of envious old married men and I didn't blame them for preferring to sleep with each other on the ground out in the woods rather than with their wives. I then dusted myself off and departed for the women's house.
The service was held at the shelter house and conducted by a self-appointed 'Reverend James' of our enemy, The Holmes Brigade. They are from the Lexington-Kansas City area and while they were our 'enemy' at this event usually we are on the same side and are longtime friends.
Rev. James is a stout, somewhat portly man who has a fondness for public speaking. His style of preaching is that of softly spoken passages of scripture punctuated with thunderous pronouncements of damnation awaiting each member of the flock. I don't much care for it but I was committed now and steeled myself to endure.
I met the ladies walking towards the shelter house. They looked very attractive in their Summer dresses, flowered bonnets and sun parasols. Smiling sweetly Josetta took my arm and we proceeded. As we walked I told her how pretty they all looked, especially her. She patted my arm and whispered that I need not be so formal and to call her 'Josie'. We arrived and took our seats among the other two dozen or so attendees.
The service started with a hymn and a prayer then another hymn and finally the predictable fire and brimstone sermon. After throwing the required fear of God into us we were assured that God was merciful and would only torture us for a few thousand years at best. Then came The Lords Prayer and a chorus or two of 'Amazing Grace'. This was followed by a soldiers prayer and the service concluded with a benediction relating some sort of parabel about big possums in little trees and ugly ducklings turning into swans, etc.
We then departed for our camps to awaited the time for that days event. I spent a pleasant hour conversing with Josie about our respective occupations, our families, our pasts and what we wished for the future. We agreed to meet again before we left for home. Once again, a squeeze of my hand and a kiss on the cheek. I've been widowed now for two and a half years and involvment with women hasn't exactly been a priority but this little woman was getting to me. She might be not much more than half my age and we may never see each other again but if there is a possibility that my old heart could hold that of another again I'm game if she is. At least I know the ropes.
Life is good and 'church' didn't hurt me one bit!
High noon
After parting with Josie I went back to the truck and changed into my battle clothing. Todays crowd promised to be bigger than yesterdays. A long line of SUVs and pickups full of kids and parents was pouring into the lots around the battlefield.
I went to the camp and found the guys playing music for some kids and their parents. Sat down on a stump and listened, occassionally joining in on choruses taking a nip of the Cluney from Carls flask when no one was looking. I figured that having a drink or two after church wasn't nearly as much of a sin as shooting at someone on Sunday even if it is only play acting.
Carl or Dave had somehow got or stole a whole chicken and were roasting it on a spit over the fire. There was rice in the boiler and corn roasting on the coals. After an hour of roasting and basting the chicken was pronounced done and put on a big enameled platter for carving along with the rice and corn. They had also traded or bought a jug of home brew to drink. A tub of butter and several loaves of bread completed the meal. The chicken was done to a turn and very tender. We devoured everything in minutes then went over to where the Amish were making ice cream and had some for fifty cents a bowl. They were using real cream and fresh ground vanilla beans. It's just about the best stuff ever to give you a headache for a minute or two. Josie and her friends walked up. I bought them all bowls of ice cream as well. We sat down together around a picnic table and made 'oohs' and 'aahs' while we ate it up. Josie put her foot on mine, glanced at me and smiling lowered her eyes to the ice cream and continued eating.
The time for todays battle was to be at two o'clock so we had another hour to get prepped. Dave insisted we go to the gun and drill.
The last battle event
The senario for today was almost the same as yesterday except we were going to stretch it out by fifteen minutes and get captured. We practiced our drill and after thirty minutes of it Dave pronounced us ready. Today I was going to be #1 and Ed would be at my position of the day before. We rotate on the gun so that each of us knows the others job and can continue in the event of one of us getting 'killed'. It often happens at these event that prior to the battle slips are drawn from a hat and you are either 'killed', 'wounded' or 'missing in action'. At Athens it was pretty cut and dried so the drawing of slips was eliminated.
This time when the action started we managed to get off five rounds before we were overun and captured. Dave decided to get killed rather than captured so he died bravely yet foolishly trying to escape after surrendering. The rest of us were marched off with the others to the holding area for prisoners. Once there we were put through a mock interrogation and either took the loyalty oath and parolled or were bound over for prison. Thus ended the Battle of Athens.
We went and broke camp, changed into our normal clothes and packed our gear up. Then we went to the gun and with much effort got it aboard the trailer and stowed the implements. Dave and Ed still in their battle clothes bid us good-bye and left. Carl and I walked back to his truck and got in. I told Carl I needed to go see Josie before we left. He rolled his eyes and said 'OK'. I went to their house and we exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addys along with mailing addresses. She looked so different in blue jeans and a sweatshirt but the smile was still the same. I turned to go and looking back she held out her arms . This time I got a real kiss and a real hug. She was like holding a sparrow. I could feel her breathing and heartbeat. Her friends were all watching, pointing and smiling at us. She promised we'd see each other this Fall at Lexington or Fort Scott at Christmas. She's called me several times since then. I'm just a lucky old man I guess.
Carl had driven up to where I was and had seen the whole thing too. His only response was to pass me the flask and map. Then we hit the road.
The road back
We headed due southwest into the heart of the 'Little Dixie' country. This area which lies mostly north of the Missouri River from St. Louis to St. Joseph in the west was once the agricultural engine of Missouri. Large hemp, cotton and tobacco plantations with grand columned houses once lined the river along its entire length. The naturally pro-southern population was said to be more 'Dixie than Dixie'. Many of the little towns have names like Richmond and Savannah. This was the area we were going to travel back through. Our first stop was in Glasgow. A river town of senic beauty situated on the river. It was the scene of several battles and was occupied by both sides often during the war. It still enjoys a brisk economy and is also home to the oldest drug store/soda fountain west of the Mississippi. The downtown streets are cobbled with river pavers and lined with beautiful old buildings that say much about the history of the place. The quiet side streets are home to broad lawns and fine old antebellum houses set back among old oaks with carriage paths winding to them. A lovely old town with friendly folks who will proudly invite you in to see their wounderful homes. We stayed there long enough to have a banana split, a real fountain coke and get some gas. then we moved on east towards KC.
Through dusty little half forgotten towns and villages we drove. stopping only for the unusual and usually closed attraction along the way. We crossed the river briefly to find the place where the fierce bushwacker 'Bloody Bill Anderson' was killed. Its near the town of Orrick on the side of a hill leading to a draw down to the river. A small marker on the highway pointing to a stile over a fence said 'Cemetary'. We got out and made our way over the fence and up the hill following a rude path. Near the top in a meadow was a bronze marker that listed Bloody Bill along with others who were ambushed there and killed. He was buried in Richmond after having his head shoved onto a pike and placed outside the town. He was buried in the old Mormon cemetary since he was deemed unfit for Christian burial. It was unmarked for years but now has a marker and flowers left by unknown admirers appear on the headstone periodically.
We crossed back over the river and continued to Keteysville the home of Confederate General Sterling Price. Its now a shabby little town with not much to reccommend it other than the statue of the General in front of the crumbling Victorian courthouse.
Then we hit Lexington and I paid a visit to my oldest cousin. Her name is Virginia. Shes the daughter of my Aunt Minnie whom I dearly loved. Tiny little fiesty woman with more energy than I. She had us in to her 1880s era house and I related what we'd been doing and other family news since I'd last seen her in June at the family reunion down in Metz. She invited us to stay in her home anytime we were in town. Carl played her a couple of tunes and she rocked and laughed at the old songs. Old Zip Coon' is one of her favorites. We then left there and without anymore stops made it back to KC by seven o'clock. I unloaded and after making some plans to get together Carl left.
Now all I had to deal with was laundry and cleaning up after my two little whirling dervish dogs so happy to see me that they lost their bladders.
That concludes the Athens trip.
Hope ya'll enjoyed reading my scribbles!
Click here for a link to Part 1 and Here for Part 2, in case you missed any.
Many people love mysteries. It's exciting to put ourselves in the shoes of a detective and try to figure out "whodunit" as we turn the pages of a mystery novel. But there's a cliffhanger that we'll never resolve—until we experience it ourselves. 
