Chapter 12
Remy stood at the front of the tour bus, holding onto the silver rail while the bus was in motion.
“If you look out the window right over there,” Remy said, gesturing, “you’ll see what is now a railroad track.”
Remy glanced out the window at the railroad tracks. As with everything else on her battle tour, the site of so many deaths affected her much more deeply now that she knew some Civil War soldiers personally.
“The Union attacked the Railroad Cut later that day. The men hiding in the deep trench were unable to get out, making them easy targets. It was like shooting fish in a barrel, with no hope for escape, except for surrender. Many Confederates were slaughtered in the cut, and many were taken prisoner.”
Those poor men, Remy thought. The Railroad Cut was a sad story, but telling it several times a day certainly made it lose its emotional power after a while. Now that she had two dear friends who had been Confederate soldiers, it took on a whole new meaning.
“Our next stop is the McPherson Barn. We’ll get out for a few minutes so you can take some pictures if you like. The fields around the house were the site of bloody fighting on the first day of the battle. The McPherson Barn is the only part of the original farm that still stands.”
Once they arrived at the McPherson Barn, Jesse and Remy got everyone off the bus and told them they were free to wander around for a few moments. An attractive young woman was chatting Jesse up. Don’t bother, Remy thought. His heart belongs to somebody else.
Remy strolled around the old farmhouse and looked out onto the fields. She thought of all the men who took their last breath here. At least most of them were at peace now.
“Awful lot of blood spilled right ‘round here, huh?” came a gruff, angry-sounding voice right next to her.
Remy was startled by the strange man in the Union uniform with the black hat. He’d seemed to come from nowhere.
“Yeah,” Remy said cautiously. She looked around and didn’t see any other tours in the area, and they were in the middle of a huge field. I know this guy wasn’t on our tour.
“That Railroad Cut was a real horror show,” the man said. Then he let out an eerie laugh. “Well, for them Rebs it sure was.”
A shiver went through Remy as the truth dawned on her. The guy had a good laugh at her frightened expression.
“That’s right, sweetheart,” the man said. He touched her arm, and she jumped back from the shock of the cold. “I was there that day. Yes, sirree.”
Remy surveyed his large black hat and blue uniform. “You were with the 6th Wisconsin. They wore those big black hats.”
“Yep. You were right ‘bout those guys getting slaughtered like fish in a barrel.”
“How-how did you know I said that?” Remy asked nervously.
“Oh, I’m a member of your tour! I was on the bus, even though you couldn’t see me.”
Remy remembered how Avery had told her that ghosts could be invisible when they wanted to be. It was beyond creepy to think this guy had been around all this time and she had no way of knowing.
“I like hearin’ you tell that story. Brings back memories. I was havin’ a real bad day that day. Real bad. And killin’ folks has a way of makin’ you feel better, ya know?”
No I don’t know, you disgusting pig. Remy stared at him, keeping her face neutral. She didn’t want this awful man to get a reaction out of her, which was obviously what he wanted.
“They was surrenderin’ left and right. Throwing their guns down, their hands in the air.
‘Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!’ they yelled.
” The man laughed again. “I let some of ‘em go, captured ‘em up, ya know.
But I shot two of them. Just for fun. They had no weapon no more, so I just shot ‘em. Boom boom. Dead.”
Remy swallowed hard to hide her revulsion and heartache.
In a matter of seconds, this horrible human being had probably made two widows.
Maybe there were a bunch of kids that had to grow up fatherless because of this bastard.
She thought of Avery’s pained expression when he spoke of his daughter grieving his death.
Remy was about to try to turn and casually walk away, pretending she was indifferent to the monster’s words, when Jesse suddenly came dashing up.
“You son of a bitch,” Jesse growled. His hands were clenched and his eyes wild. He was clearly infuriated but trying not to make a scene in front of the tourists. “You’re the one who’s been botherin’ Lucy.”
Remy’s eyes lit up with recognition. She knew some guy had been harassing Lucy at the tavern. It had never occurred to her that it might have been a ghost who was taunting her.
Jesse looked at Remy with concern. “You all right?”
“Fine!” Remy said brightly, looking over at the hideous Union soldier. It was getting tougher by the second to act like the man wasn’t upsetting her. Not only was he being horrible to her, but he had hurt Lucy as well.
“Ellis,” Jesse said menacingly. The man looked surprised that Jesse knew his name. “Leave Remy alone. And quit botherin’ Lucy.”
Ellis scoffed. “What are you gonna do about it? You’ve been like I am now. You know how it works. I can be invisible and see anything I want. I can watch ladies get undressed, watch ‘em in the shower, and they’ll never know.”
A sick feeling settled in Remy’s stomach. Had he watched her before without her knowing?
Ellis leaned in and sneered at Jesse. “I’d love to take a good look at that pretty girl of yours without her clothes.”
Jesse’s hands shook with rage, but he managed to keep his voice steady.
“First of all, you can’t watch Lucy naked because you know damn well you can’t follow her home.
If you tried to go outside Gettysburg and where the battles were, you’d just vanish and have to go back.
Second, Lucy always knows when you’re around. She can sense your evil presence.”
Relief and triumph coursed through Remy.
Her own apartment was just outside of Gettysburg, so she would be safe from Ellis at home.
She also felt a sense of satisfaction that Ellis didn’t have an answer to Jesse’s words at first. Jesse was right.
Lucy was sensitive and always knew when a ghost was present.
Ellis cackled. “True. She always knows when I’m around. Except that one time when she and you were fu—”
“Shut your filthy mouth,” Jesse said, his steady veneer beginning to crumble. Lucy was his weakness, and Ellis knew it. Threatening her was the best way to get a rise out of Jesse.
Ellis turned to Remy. “I’m so happy I shot those guys in the Railroad Cut as they were beggin’ for their lives. I only wish I’d have been able to shoot more. I’d have killed that mick Irish guy of yours, too, if I could have. Woulda shot him right in the head.”
Turned out he knew Remy’s weakness as well.
She gathered every ounce of strength she had, looked Ellis straight in the eye, and smiled.
“All right, everyone!” Remy said in a cheerful voice. “Snap a few more pictures, and let’s get moving to the next stop!”
With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Remy tried to put the awful man out of her head as they headed toward Little Round Top. She was looking forward to seeing Avery, but she had no intention of telling him that Ellis had been harassing her. There was nothing Avery could do to stop the man, so there was no sense in worrying him.
The Blue and Gray Tour bus arrived at Little Round Top, and the tourists scattered to take in the view.
“Excuse me, Miss?” said one of the moms on the tour. “I’m so sorry—I forgot your name?”
“Remy,” she replied with a smile.
“Yes, Remy! Would you mind getting a picture of us?” the lady asked, holding up her phone and gesturing toward her kids.
“No, of course not!” Remy was eager to see Avery, but she genuinely liked making the tour enjoyable for her guests so she really didn’t mind.
Jesse walked over to where Avery was waiting while Remy took care of her tourists.
“Here, why don’t you guys go right over there and stand by those rocks? That way, I can get a great panoramic view of the battlefields behind you.”
“Perfect!” the mom said as she pulled her kids close.
Remy took her time in lining up the perfect shot. It always pleased her to know that the pictures she took would be proudly displayed to people’s friends and families when they got home from their trip.
Remy took a few pictures, then handed the cell phone back.
“Thanks!” the mom said, smiling as she reviewed the photos.
“My pleasure,” Remy said. She looked around to see the other tourists seemed content for the moment. A ripple of excitement went through her as she went to visit her favorite guy.
Remy got close to where Jesse and Avery were standing, then she stopped in her tracks. Both men were glaring at her. They looked furious.
What in the world could I have done to make them mad at me?
“What?” Remy asked, alarmed.
“Has that horrible man been bothering you?” Avery asked, his eyes blazing.
“And what’s this about you not eatin’ supper?” Jesse demanded.
“Oh,” Remy said with a sigh of relief. They weren’t angry at her. They were angry on her behalf.
Avery walked over and stood close to her. She had to look up to meet his eyes because he was so tall.
“Darling, are you all right?”
“Yes, Avery. Really. I wasn’t going to tell you about it because I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Remy,” Jesse said softly. “I knew money was tight for you, but I didn’t know it was that bad. I can’t let you go hungry. You’re welcome to come to our place and have dinner with Lucy and me anytime.”
“Oh, Jesse, I’m fine,” Remy said with a wave.
“But Remy—” Jesse started to argue.
“That’s so sweet of you, Jesse. But really. I’m okay! My paycheck hit the bank, and I can get food now. It’s usually not a problem—just sometimes when my college loan payment is due, things get a little tight.”
Avery and Jesse exchanged worried looks, but Remy was determined to stay strong. She’d made it this long without having a man take care of her, and she wasn’t about to lean on one now.