Summary: During the intense first day of the Battle of the Wilderness, Adam finds himself staring down his youngest brother, someone he had hoped to heaven he\u2019d never meet on the battlefield. A terrible day only gets worse when Adam realizes he and Joe aren\u2019t wearing matching uniforms. Part one of the Allegiance Series.
\nRating: G
\nWord Count: 2197<\/p>\n
The Wilderness<\/a> The Wilderness, Virginia<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A cloud of smoke threatened to swallow him as he threw himself to the ground, ducking beneath the next volley of iron. When he coughed, his shredded throat screamed for water; his depleted lungs crying out for relief.<\/span><\/p>\n It was during times like this Adam had to remind himself why he was even fighting this war in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n For unity.<\/span><\/p>\n Bang!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n For peace.<\/span><\/p>\n Bang!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n For the freedom of all.<\/span><\/p>\n Bang!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n The familiar crack of a tree falling stopped the eldest Cartwright\u2019s next shot and sent him diving for cover. No one shouted timber as the giant oak hit the ground with a <\/span>thud.<\/span><\/i> Even if they knew they\u2019d have been heard, there wasn\u2019t time.<\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s never time\u2026\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Somewhere along the line, someone lit another fire.<\/span><\/p>\n This is a forest, for crying out loud! Why can\u2019t everyone just\u2014<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u201cColonel, get down!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Stumble, duck for cover, and hope for the best. It was a life-saving pattern Adam desperately wished he could shake. Yet, if he wanted to survive this massacre, he couldn\u2019t. Instead, he dove behind the freshly fallen tree and prayed it would stay out of range of any flying sparks long enough for him to catch his breath. And reload his rifle\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Several screams pierced the air as he fumbled for another bullet. He bit out a curse when his hand came up empty.<\/span><\/p>\n It was pure chaos. All of it. A hell no one had asked for, yet every able-bodied man had been forced to endure.<\/span><\/p>\n The sound of bullets whizzing mere inches past his head used to set his skin on edge. As time dragged on, however, the feeling had become a normalcy, one Adam didn\u2019t waste his precious mental energy on anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n Through the thick haze, he tried to discern if the one shooting at him was friend or foe. <\/span>Or if they can even tell they\u2019re firing at anyone at all.<\/span><\/i> If only they didn\u2019t have to deal with the fires. Whoever came up with that brilliant idea of distraction was going to become well acquainted with Adam\u2019s fist at the end of the day. <\/span>If this day ever comes to an end\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n It seemed an eternity since Meade had marched his troops into the thick forest, and yet the sun had only just begun its slow journey into the west. They still had a half hour or so before the general would call it quits. After all, you couldn\u2019t fight in the dark.<\/span><\/p>\n But you could worry. And plan. And think far too much about everything you left behind.<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes, the twilight hours took a heavier toll on Adam than the daytime. Under the sun, he knew his enemy; he had a tangible target. One he could name. When darkness wrapped its blanket around the world, he fought a different kind of battle. The many demons that refused to leave him alone.<\/span><\/p>\n The face of a boy soldier who lasted all of ten minutes on the field. The echoes of Pa\u2019s last letter, which had arrived months ago. Thoughts of Hoss and Joe, who no doubt felt as though their older brother\u2014their protector\u2014had abandoned them, choosing to fight someone else\u2019s war over staying home to fight for them.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s everyone\u2019s war.<\/span><\/i> Knitting his brows, Adam sucked in a breath and readied his rifle. <\/span>We\u2019re all responsible for our action or inaction.<\/span><\/i> Though he\u2019d run out of ammunition, his bayonet still got the job done. <\/span>Every one of us.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n He only hoped Pa would come to understand that someday. That Hoss and Joe, especially, could someday understand what had driven their brother to defend states he\u2019d never even been to before. To pledge allegiance to his country in such a dangerous way.<\/span><\/p>\n Someday.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Readying himself, Adam breathed a silent prayer for protection before jumping back into the fray. Another bullet flew past his ear, nearly taking it clean off.<\/span><\/p>\n Too close. That one was too close.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n He had at least a minute, maybe more, before the enemy fired again. Less if the soldier was skilled.<\/span><\/p>\n It was now or never.<\/span><\/p>\n Heart thumping out its never ending battle march, Adam repositioned his bayonet and leapt through the smoke. Though the enemy wasn\u2019t much more than a dark shadow, he didn\u2019t need a perfect portrait to know where to aim.<\/span><\/p>\n The chest. <\/span>Always aim for the chest.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n The desperate maneuver had quickly become second nature until Adam was sure he could kill with his eyes closed. A necessary evil, yet one that haunted him during those long, sleepless nights.<\/span><\/p>\n The dull <\/span>thunk<\/span><\/i> of steel against earth warned Adam of his mistake, but his brain took two seconds too long to register the failure. Someone slammed against him before he could even take a breath, tackling him to the ground with enviable energy.<\/span><\/p>\n Images of his family bombarded his mind and he knew now wasn\u2019t his moment to die.<\/span><\/p>\n Not now. Not <\/span>ever,<\/span><\/i> it seemed. Not when he had brothers who still needed him.<\/span><\/p>\n With a strength he didn\u2019t feel, Adam shoved the enemy off, then rolled on top of them as he grappled for the knife at his belt.<\/span><\/p>\n Hands tugged at his collar, struggling against their inevitable end. Adam pushed them out of the way. He needed a clear shot of the man\u2019s throat.<\/span><\/p>\n Just one clear shot\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead! Kill me!\u201d At this impassioned cry, Adam froze. \u201cKill me now and get it over with!\u201d He couldn\u2019t move. Couldn\u2019t breathe. \u201cI <\/span>dare<\/span><\/i> you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Because he <\/span>knew<\/span><\/i> that voice. He knew that\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Adam swallowed so hard, it hurt. \u201cYou say that to everyone you come across, kid?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As the smoke cleared, Joe\u2019s shocked expression came into view. Adam couldn\u2019t remember ever seeing something so beautiful. Nor so equally terrifying.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2026?\u201d His little brother\u2019s voice trembled. Though, Adam supposed he wasn\u2019t so little anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n Children didn\u2019t march into battle. Men did. He just wasn\u2019t sure he was ready for Joe to be <\/span>that <\/span><\/i>grown up yet.<\/span><\/p>\n Not yet.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Not <\/span><\/i>now.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n The cries of the fallen echoed on every side, suffocating Adam far quicker than the smoke ever could.<\/span><\/p>\n Sheathing his blade, Adam braced himself against the onslaught of emotions that battered his mind and heart. Anger, terror, guilt, hopelessness, and a certain kind of protectiveness he only felt when Joe was around.<\/span><\/p>\n When Joe was in danger.<\/span><\/p>\n He slid off his brother and jerked the boy to the side. Into a small cluster of bushes and fallen trees, his fists all the while clinging to Joe\u2019s uniform.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat the <\/span>hell<\/span><\/i> are you doing here?\u201d He ground out through clenched teeth. \u201cYou\u2019re supposed to be back at the Ponderosa!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo are you!\u201d Joe shot back with equal vigor, his own eyes blazing hotter than the surrounding fires. \u201cWhat\u2019d you have to leave for, anyway?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n There was a lot to unpack in that sentence. Too much for the little time they had left.<\/span><\/p>\n It was then that his brain came to the painful realization that Joe\u2019s attire didn\u2019t match his own. Pale grey stood in stark contrast to Adam\u2019s dark blue.<\/span><\/p>\n Oh, dear Lord.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n When Joe spoke again, his voice had lost its flame. \u201cWere you really gonna stab me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n With a huff, Adam scanned the ground for his rifle. He couldn\u2019t look at Joe. Couldn\u2019t see him in that blasted uniform.<\/span><\/p>\n Not yet.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u201cI was going to stab <\/span>somebody.<\/span><\/i>\u201d Adam forced himself to keep breathing, despite the seizing of his chest. \u201cI never expected it to be you. Joe, what\u2019re you <\/span>doing<\/span><\/i> here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The boy had the audacity to crack a grin. That stupid, wonderful little grin that Joe only flashed when he knew he was in trouble.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDid you miss me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDid I miss you\u2026\u201d Adam muttered, mostly to himself as he spotted his weapon. \u201cWhat kind of fool question is that? I thought you were back with Pa and Hoss! I thought you were\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Safe, damn it! I thought you were <\/span><\/i>safe\u2026<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019m not, Adam.\u201d That tone was back again. The fire that Joe inherited not only from Ben, but from Marie as well. A double dose of fire for the youngest Cartwright son. \u201cSo get that through your thick skull before we both die arguing about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Snatching up his rifle, Adam shot Joe a hard look. \u201cNo one else is dying today.\u201d So firm was his voice that he could almost forget men were still dropping like flies.<\/span><\/p>\n And they had been for the better part of the day.<\/span><\/p>\n And they\u2019ll keep on dying until this war is won. Grant will settle for nothing less than a Union victory.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Which meant Joe would have to <\/span>lose. <\/span><\/i>One way or another, his brother would lose.<\/span><\/p>\n And there\u2019s nothing you can do about it.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2026? Do you\u2014?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n A splintering <\/span>crack<\/span><\/i> that pierced the air nearly sent Adam into a panic. Because it wasn\u2019t just him now. It was Joe, too. They were both at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n Now, he had to protect them <\/span>both.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u201cLook out!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Joe was already on his feet, scrambling out of harm\u2019s way even as Adam dragged him along. Some distant part of Adam\u2019s mind told him to let go of his brother. They could move better that way. They would be <\/span>safer<\/span><\/i> that way.<\/span><\/p>\n Yet, he just <\/span>couldn\u2019t.<\/span><\/i> His fingers either weren\u2019t getting the message, or were ignoring it completely because they clamped down harder on Joe\u2019s arm.<\/span><\/p>\n A short tumble later, they were on the ground again, barely escaping death by falling oak.<\/span><\/p>\n Still heaving, trying in vain to catch a breath, Adam turned to Joe. \u201cDoes Pa know you\u2019re here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Joe began, his voice dripping with sarcasm, \u201cI just snuck off one fine afternoon and didn\u2019t say anything. Of <\/span>course<\/span><\/i> he knows I\u2019m here!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Another hard stare was enough to crack Joe\u2019s fa\u00e7ade.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, he <\/span>knows<\/span><\/i> I\u2019m here\u2026\u201d Joe shrugged, pausing to fiddle with his rifle. \u201cI mean, I’m sure he got my note\u2026 And I\u2019m sure Hoss explained things to him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou left Hoss alone back there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Joe whirled on him, eyes blazing again. \u201cYou left us alone! You left <\/span>me<\/span><\/i>\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThe Allegiance Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAllegiance<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMay 5th, 1864<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n