The Long Journey Home

And Yet So Far...

Dewy finally stopped at dusk. He had asked permission to sleep in a barn and for his horse to graze. The lady of the house brought him food and coffee. The man of the house was a bit apprehensive, but eventually allowed him to stay. Dewy left a small thank you in the form of a dollar, and rode away before dawn. If he’d figured correctly, he had about three days more until he reached Texas. It felt like an eternity.

Unless, of course, he found the train.

According to the kind folks, he could even board Bess in the cargo hold and ride clear from Alexandria all the way to Houston. Then, they’d given him a train voucher, saying it had been purchased for their cousin, but the cousin had fought and died, like so many others, and now it was going to waste.

Dewy smiled as he pushed Bess into a gallop, promising to slow her down a little as the sun grew warmer. He hoped to make it in time to board. That would cut his trip by almost a full week. He could be home in those same three days.

“Gee-up.” He urged Bess on, seeing home on the horizon.

~~~~~

Ellisa opened another letter from Dewy. She was beginning to entertain the idea of his homecoming; the very thought brought a broad grin to her features.

Dearest Ellisa,

As I travel across the southern United States, I am astonished at the devastation we have caused. It seems every story ends the same: “The Union Army did damage, our son, or sons, died in a battle.” I find it almost too great a pain to bear.

I left the farm of the Monroes and am headed toward Louisiana. I am hoping to make my arrival in Comfort near Thanksgiving, but one can never know for sure.

I pray this finds you well, and I hope beyond words that you will once again accept me. Leaving you was inevitable as far as things of war, but my heart stayed in Comfort with you. I’ve thought of you endlessly, imagining our discussions after I return. I replay events we shared and long ago conversations.

Be blessed, sweet Ellisa. I will see you face to face again very soon.

Yours forever,

Andrew “Dewy” Montgomery

Her heart swelled with a sudden longing for Dewy to be home. Ellisa could no longer deny her love for him, or the fact that she needed him by her side. Now she had to pray and pray hard for the Lord, and Dewy, to forgive her the bitterness and anger she felt towards him while he was away.

~~~~~

Philip Montgomery found ways to continue “accidentally” meeting up with Emma Jenkins. He thought the young woman kind, and she was beautiful as well. He took a deep breath as he dressed for Sunday services. He would meet his mother and father, and they, no doubt, planned to have him over for dinner afterwards. The harvest was almost in completely, and they would celebrate Thanksgiving in a few days.

He thought of Dewy and wondered how he would spend the day, and if he would even eat. He still resented his brother and wasn’t sure he could fathom what a homecoming would be like, but concern welled up in his being nonetheless for his younger sibling. 

Shaking his head, he snorted. “As if I actually felt sorry for the boy. I won’t be so welcoming. I’ve had to see the pain and damage he’s caused first hand.” He only spoke aloud to keep his thinking from changing like it seemed his father’s had. “Maybe Miss Jenkins will want to go for a walk after service.”