CHAPTER SEVEN

Captain Archibald Walker

“You’re a Union soldier?” asked Luc with some concern.

“Yes, sir. I was. The war was over when I was passing through this property. In fact, that beautiful woman over there gave me a safe place to stay for the night. June 3rd, 1868.” He pointed to Martha, who gave a smile and nod to the young Captain.

“Well past the end of the war,” whispered Luc. The young soldier nodded. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure. I was in New Orleans for meetings between former southern Army officials and city officials. It was nothing unusual. We were continuing to discuss the ways we could rebuild the South and bring her prosperity back. I thought our talks went well.”

“Who did you meet with?” asked Montana. Archibald stared at the beautiful woman, noticing that she was wearing trousers. Trousers!

“Careful what you say,” smirked Luc, knowing the thoughts of the man. “Women wear pants in this time, and my wife is no exception. She’s a brilliant engineer. In fact, she is a weapons engineer.”

“Weapons! You design weapons to be used by men?”

“I design weapons to be used by men and women in the military,” smirked Montana.

“Fascinating. And he allows you to do this?”

“Allows me? No. He supports me in doing this. Just as I support him.” Luc cleared his throat, gripping Montana’s hand.

“I think we’re getting off track here. So, you finished your meetings in New Orleans, and you came here? Why? It’s south of New Orleans.”

“I was supposed to meet a ship not far from here and take her up the Mississippi River to Vicksburg, where I was to meet with more soldiers.”

“And what happened?” asked Montana.

“I don’t know. I don’t think I even knew I was dead until I saw all of you and you told me. As I said, that beautiful woman over there allowed me to stay in one of the gar?onnières for the night. There was a terrible storm, and my ship was delayed, but she allowed me to stay longer.

“I tried to stay to myself. I didn’t want to be a bother for Miss Robicheaux, but she insisted on me joining her for dinner every evening with other guests.”

“Did anything strange occur?” asked Montana.

“Only that she allowed that gentleman, her right-hand man Franklin, to eat at the dinner table with the guests. It didn’t bother me. He was a fine man. Worked hard, treated me with respect. Treated everyone with respect, but you could tell some of her other guests didn’t like it.”

“Was there an argument? Was anything said?” asked Luc.

“No. She wouldn’t allow it,” smirked Archibald. “That’s a formidable woman right there. She demanded respect for herself and her staff. Franklin included. I admired her. I was here five days total, then had to move along. I didn’t get far.”

“We’ll speak with Martha and Franklin to see if they know of anything.”

“This is a strange world I’ve woken into,” he whispered. “The homes seem somewhat familiar, though very close together. There was nothing here other than the mansion and the outer buildings, the barn, mill, gar?onnières, and a few others when I was here.”

“Yes, the world is a very different place,” smiled Luc.

“May I ask, are those men over there giants? Is this a fairyland?” asked the captain. Luc turned to see Tailor and Alec. He chuckled, shaking his head.

“They look like giants, but one of them is my brother, and the other a man I consider my brother.”

“A brother,” whispered the captain. “We could have used your people when I was here to speak to the others. A man such as him would not have been taken lightly.”

“No. I don’t think anyone has ever taken Alec or Tailor lightly,” smiled Luc. “Were you married, captain?”

“Oh,” he said, clearing his throat. “No, sir. My parents died of the pox when I was a child. I was raised in a military academy. I had no wife of my own, nor did I have a girl back home.”

“I’m sorry,” smiled Montana.

“Your red hair reminds me of the fires at Natchez,” said the young man. “It’s beautiful, yet I suspect deadly as well. Especially for your husband.” Montana laughed, shaking her head.

“I promise you this, captain. I only use my deadly red hair for good with my husband.” Luc winked at the young man.

“Truth.”

“Why am I here?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” said Luc. “I mean, I think my mother had something to do with it, but I’m not sure.”

“Your mother? Is she a sorceress? A witch?” he whispered. Luc opened his mouth to speak, then couldn’t think of what he would say.

“Archie, I’m honestly not sure,” he said, shaking his head. “My mother seems to have a number of strange skills, and I can’t figure out how, why, or what.”

“Sometimes it’s best to not know,” smiled the younger man. “She doesn’t appear to be a harmful witch or evil in any way. In fact, when I saw her, I thought I’d truly traversed to where I was supposed to be.”

Luc looked at his mother and father, both calm and casual in their demeanor. If Archie didn’t know that he was dead, perhaps he was stuck between heaven and earth for a reason. Maybe the others were as well.

“I can hear you thinking,” smiled Montana, kissing her husband’s cheek. “I’ll go ask the others to investigate.” She left the two men alone, walking toward Gaspar and Alexandra.

“Please don’t be offended, but your wife is perhaps the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

“I don’t see how that could offend me,” said Luc. “I agree with you completely. She’s also brilliant, kind, loving, and truthful. I have loved her since the moment I met her.”

“Were you a soldier?” he asked. Luc stared at him, then realized he didn’t have to keep any secrets from a ghost. “You act like a soldier.”

“All of my brothers and I were soldiers. In fact, almost every man you see here served our country. I was an Army Ranger.”

“A Ranger?”

“Yes. They are elite soldiers with special skills, sent into the worst battles known to man. We climb, we swim, we hike, we do it all.”

“I suspected that you were more than a normal man. There is a glow about you.” Luc laughed at that, shaking his head.

“Is there anything I can get for you, Archie?”

“I don’t know,” he frowned. “I don’t know what I need or what I can have.”

“Fair enough. For now, why don’t you just relax and observe? There might be something that nudges your memory about that night.”