Journal Entry Monday 25th of September 1865 Brian A. Kinney The Stockwell investigation lingers on. At least I am back in Georgia after following a fruitless lead to Alabama. Something has paid off. The laundress was able to clean the piece of cloth I found at the Peachtree Creek. It is a light blue cotton material with yellow pansies. I’ve been told by the laundress that the fabric is quite common among serving women and farms wives. The laundress has also told me she knows the fabric has not been sold since the beginning of the war almost four years ago. She advised me to check with Mr. Johnson the owner of the general store he should have a list of the ladies that ordered or bought yardage from that bolt of fabric. I checked with the general store owner Mr. Johnson. As much as he despised helping a Yankee soldier he gave me a list of 28 women that have bought the fabric. The fabric has not been sold since the war began. I’ve crossed out many of the women on the list due to their age. I discounted any woman that lives over 35 miles from the creek. I also crossed out 10 women that I have been told have died. I have narrowed the list to 8 families that I need to talk to. The Taylor’s name appears on the list. I have received another bit of information I must follow. The laundress also mentioned that Colonel Stockwell liked loose women, liquor and cards and all can be found at a little non descript building just outside of town. I’ve seen the building many times and dismissed it. I’m told that the place does its best business after 10:00 p.m. when most of the town is asleep. I shall ask around and find out more about this new development. The laundress has become a source of information to me in a place where even the soldiers are uncomfortable around me. It doesn’t hurt that I pay her for her information. Money always seems to loosen lips. ************ I laid my pen down. That was enough writing in my journal for one night. At least it gave my continued association with Justin some validation. The troops won’t think a lot of it when they see us together if they thought I was still questioning him about his knowledge of Stockwell’s death. Schmidt has already questioned my continued association with Justin. Although, after the look I gave him I’m assured he will never question me on anything again. I checked my watch. It was late. I had an assignation. ------------------ JUSTIN Daphne and I had been disagreeing most of the night. I was trying to talk quietly to keep from waking my parents. Daphne was being difficult because I wouldn’t allow her to come to the creek with me. “I haven’t been swimming in months. I won’t bother you and Brian. I just want to get out of the house. I haven’t had any fun lately. I just follow you to the warehouse everyday, read books and then it’s back home,” she pouted. I knew Daphne was right. I’d been really busy lately with the factory helping Father and then Brian had come into my life. I hadn’t spent a lot of time with her. She was probably bored and feeling neglected. “Daph, I don’t have time for your theatrics. I want you to stay in my room with the door locked. I promise tomorrow we’ll find something to do. We can go pick berries. Okay?” She pouted but relented, “Okay.” I hugged her and kissed her on the forehead. “Good, I should be back before morning.” I slipped out the window; climbed down the tree and made it to the place I’d tethered a horse earlier in the evening. I was determined nothing would make me miss my assignation with Brian. ----------- BRIAN Justin was late. I was beginning to believe his tardiness might be a pattern. I’d secured my horse when I first arrived. I had a blanket and my gun near me. I’d found a place close to the shack and well hidden. The time had allowed me to contemplate my life. I had been thinking about what would happen when my term of service was up. I would leave Atlanta and return to New York. I no longer considered it my home. There was nothing in New York for me. I would pack my belongings say my goodbyes and leave New York. After that it was on to the Western Territories. The last few days my mind had been going over the loneliness I would endure if I went to the territories alone. I knew I’d never ask Michael to move out to the territories with me. For one reason he’d never last. Michael was definitely a city boy. He was also a pampered, whining Mama's Boy. I couldn’t see myself spending my life with him. Plus I didn’t get a jolt from Michael when we were together. Fucking him was good, but I’d had better. I thought of all the lonely nights I’d spend in the territories setting up camp, building a cabin, and farming the land. I leaned back in the grass and looked over the creek. The moon reflected on the ripples in the creek. Lately my mind had been straying to a small blond with bright blue eyes and a Sunshine smile. I had been thinking of changing my life. Maybe he could be one of those changes. It would be too dangerous to take him with me to stake my claim, but maybe after I had gotten settled, built a cabin, started the farm I could come back and get him. It would be hard arduous work carving out a living in the territories and eventually I’d need some help. Justin was slight but inside that slight youth was a backbone of steel and a strong will and determination. These were attributes that would certainly be needed in the wilderness of the territories. Plus Justin had some knowledge of farming the land and raising farm animals. He told me that at the beginning of the war he and Daphne had helped tended his mother’s small garden and taken over caring for the few farm animals that were left. Justin would be very helpful in building up the farm. Although, I wouldn’t take him with me for the first year I was in the territories I couldn’t leave him here in Georgia. After my assignment here was over I’d take him back to New York with me. I would have to take Daphne too. Justin would never leave Georgia without her. They could stay with Justin’s uncle. If that wasn’t feasible they could stay with Ms. Debbie. I knew Debbie would take them in and watch over them. I let the thoughts float around in my mind. Now that the thoughts were there I felt sure of them. I consoled myself with the fact that I wasn’t in love I was just realistic. I was a man that enjoyed fucking. I knew it would be hard to find a partner in the wilderness of the territories. Taking Justin with me would be good sense. I wouldn’t have to go out looking for someone to fuck, which was a potentially dangerous prospect. At least by taking Justin with me I’d have a partner that I enjoyed fucking with me. I’d have someone to talk with that was intelligent and most importantly that I trusted. Justin was clean and free of disease since I was his only lover. Plus he could help around the farm. I realized I’d made my decision. Tonight after we’d fucked a few times, I’d ask Justin to come with me. These thoughts were floating through my mind when I heard the sounds of a rider approaching. I stood up and watched Justin’s horse trot toward me. Justin’s blond hair glowed under the glow of the moon. Before his horse came to a complete stop he jumped down and ran into my arms literally throwing him self against me. I captured him in my arms lifting him up locking my lips with his, my tongue seeking entrance to the wet sweetness of his mouth. Justin let out a soft moan as I greedily devoured his mouth. I was starved for him and I could tell he was starved for me. His fingers gripped my hair and held me tightly. Our kiss was carnal and needy. Justin broke the kiss, gulping in air. My mouth laced on his neck licking and kissing. He smelled of sweat and his own unique scent. I licked my way back up to his mouth. I pulled back and looked into his lust filled bright blue eyes. “You’re late,” I admonished softly. “Daphne was being difficult. She wanted to come with me.” “I’m glad you left her at home. What I have in mind is only for two people.” His smile lit up his face. “I hope I’m one of them.” “Most definitely,” I assured him with a squeeze to his round ass. I let him slide down my body taking a few moments to ground my hard cock into his and then finally I let his feet touch the ground. He leaned heavily against me. He was so new to passion even the slightest stimulation still left him a little weak in the knees. Eventually he straightened, turned and pointed to the lantern. “Do you think it’s wise to have a lantern? Aren’t you worried someone might see us?” I shrugged. “We are too far from everything for the light to be noticed. Don’t worry I checked. No one is around.” That seemed to assure him. I picked up his gift from the ground and handed it to him. It was wrapped in inexpensive brown paper and tied with straw twine. Justin turned it over in his hands a few times before looking up at me. “What is this?” I smirked, “Open it and find out.” “Okay. Let’s sit down.” I followed his lead and sat on the grassy banks. I watched a little impatiently as he slowly and meticulously opened the package making sure not to tear the paper or the bow. He pulled the edges of the paper apart to reveal the soap. First he looked a little confused. He looked up with me. There was a slightly hurt expression on his face. “Are you trying to tell me I stink?” He asked his bottom lip quivering. I let out a sigh. I wondered if I knew what I would be getting myself into taking him with me. He was certainly prone to theatrics. I debated my decision only for a split second. I pictured my life without him. The bleakness of it seemed to stretch out before me. My mind was made up theatrics and all I wanted him with me. He was still staring at me lips quivering, eyes watering when I put his mind at ease. “You smell fine. It’s a gift. I know it’s not much but I liked the smell. It’s citrus. It comes from California where I hear it’s always sunny and bright. It reminded me of you.” He sniffed the bar. “I like the smell.” Instantaneously his lip had stopped quivering, and his watery eyes became bright with lust. I had enough time to brace myself as he launched himself in my arms for the second time of the evening. I hugged him to me. “If you like the way that smells you are going to love what I’m going to do with it and you,” I whispered in his ear. He pulled back to look in my eyes, “What are you going to do with it and to me?” I stood up and pulled him with me. “We are going for a dip in the creek. Bring a bar of soap with you. I want to get you squeaky clean so we can try something new.” ---------------- JUSTIN We were lying on grassy banks sweaty from our vigorous bouts of making love. Or in Brian’s words fucking. My head rested on Brian’s bare muscular chest, my hands drawing little patterns on his wet skin. Brian’s hands were playing in my hair. He was smoking a cheroot. I loved the dark rich smell of it. I watched the smoke drift in the air carried away by the warm night breeze. We’d played in the water. The shallow end. I wasn’t a good swimmer and I refused to go too far in the water. Brian had lathered the soap in his hands and washed my body. I loved the light, clean, crisp smell of the citrus soap. Brian soaped the linen cloth he brought and used his finger to penetrate my hole. He kept working until he had two fingers deep in me and he moved them around over and over again. I was getting turned on just from that. Brian rinsed the soap from my body, pulled me out of the water and on to the bank. That’s when the real pleasure began. I couldn’t believe what Brian had done to me. He’d made me get on all fours and trailed his tongue down my body. I though he’d stop but he pulled the cheeks of my ass apart. Then he did the most sinful thing. He put his tongue in my…ass. Over and over again until the pleasure from the stimulation was so intense I screamed and begged him for more. It was the most exquisite torture. I felt as if I was floating and suffused with pleasure. I had looked over my shoulder at one point and saw Brian’s face buried between the cheeks of my ass. It was the most decadent, pleasurable thing…most likely in the whole world. In all my imaginations on what it would be like to make love to a man the delicious wickedness of what Brian did to me never entered my mind. Just the thought of it made me blush. After I’d released my seed from the intense ecstasy of it Brian flipped me over on my stomach and said gruffly, “Suck me off.” I’d gotten on my knees and took as much of his long cock in my mouth as I could. With his guidance I’d learned to control my gag reflex and take him deeply in my mouth until he slid down the back of my throat and my nose brushed the hair on his groin. I took his deep thrusts in my mouth and managed not to gag when he spilled him seed down my throat. I couldn’t swallow it all. It was so much. Some of it trailed out of my mouth and down my chin. After Brian had stopped thrusting his dick in my mouth he gingerly pulled his dick free from my mouth, dropped to his knees and licked his seed from around my mouth and chin. Then we kissed a long deep wet kiss. Afterwards he made love to me. It was the gentleness of the first time. Brian was still patient and careful but his touches were firmer, he demanded more of a raw response. When he threw my legs over his shoulder and entered me, he pushed in so hard I teetered on the brink of pleasure and pain. Brian barely gave me a second to adjust to his thick length and width before he was thrusting in me deeply, forcefully. Only when my mind was so muddled with the mixed sensations of pleasure and pain, I didn’t know which, did Brian finally brush that sensitive spot inside of my ass and sent me hurtling over the edge into a white hot pleasure that left my body shaking from the sheer force of it. We’d made love again a little slower, with more lingering touches, I muttered soft words of affection and Brian only muttered grunts. I realized Brian wasn’t a man that would mutter or whisper words of affection or love. He would probably show it but never utter it. I let out a contented sigh snuggled closer to my lover and began to drift off. “I want you to come with me when I leave Georgia.” For a moment I thought I was hearing things. Hearing the words that I hoped he’d say to me. I leaned up supporting my weight on my arms. “What did you say?” I whispered breathlessly. Suddenly I couldn’t seem to breath. Brian sat up and so did I. His tanned chest glowed in the moonlight. He looked so beautiful. He reminded me of the Greek and Roman gods I’d seen pictures of. He didn’t answer me right away he inhaled his cheroot and slowly blew out the smoke. “It won’t be easy at first. I’ve been thinking of Nevada or Arizona. Both are barely civilized but if we move near the border of either state we can easily get to California. I won’t have you completely in the wilderness. I’ll try to stake a claim as close to a fort or town as I can,” He inhaled his cheroot and blew out the smoke and quickly continued, “It won’t be easy and the living conditions will be harsh for a few years. If we stick with it I know we can build a good life together. I’ll protect you with my life, Justin. I’ll share everything I have with you. And of course, we will bring Daphne with us. For the first year you can stay in New York with her. Then it will be your decision whether you will allow her to come out to the territories with you.” I had to interrupt Brian, “Why will I have to wait a year to go to the territories? I thought you wanted me to go with you?” Smoke trailed out of Brian’s mouth as he talked, “I do want you to come with me to New York, but not the territories.” He saw the confusion on my face. He explained. “The first year in the territories will be the hardest. It will be harsh and dangerous. I want to spare you that. I’ll leave you in New York. You can stay with your uncle or with Miss Debbie and Uncle Vic. Miss Debbie is my best friend’s mother and Vic is his uncle. They are more like parents to me than my own. You can stay with them while I’m out in the territories. I’ll send…no I’ll come for you once I’ve built a home and planted our crops. Will you come with me?” “N-No. I…I can’t.” I whispered miserably. Brian seemed shocked, and then resigned by my answer. He stood and walked to the edge of the creek and looked out in to the thick brush. He looked so beautiful standing there bathed in the moonlight. Like a Greek sculpture. His naked body was a work of art. He was so comfortable in his nudity. While we made love I didn’t even think about my nakedness, but once it was over I became shy. I stooped down and pulled on my trousers. I came up behind him. For a while I looked into the vast thickness of the brush with him. It was time. Time to come clean. Time to tell the man I loved a horrible truth about me. Time to watch his eye fill with revulsion when he found out my secret. I took a deep breath. I touched Brian’s shoulder. “I can’t go with you.” Brian flinched away from my touch. I dropped my hand and continued talking to him. “I made a deal with the devil.” Brian looked over at me confused. I smiled wanly, “My father and I made a deal. He promised to hold a secret if I promised to go to college, marry the woman he chose for me, and take over the factory. I gave up my freedom on that promise.” Brian turned and looked down at me. His hazel eyes were unreadable, “What secret is worth your freedom?” “One that if revealed would bring harm to Daphne.” Brian arched his eyebrow, “What is the secret, Justin.” I looked down at my toes that were wiggling in the damp grass. It took a few moments to garner my courage but I finally did, “You came here to investigate Colonel Stockwell’s death. I know who his murderer is.” Brian lifted my chin with his finger, “Who is his murderer?” I could tell by Brian’s demeanor and the softness of his question he already knew my answer. I gave it to him anyway, “I killed Stockwell.” I expect Brian to shove me away from him or look upon me with disgust but he still had the same unreadable expression on his face. He did not release my face. “Why did you kill him?” I shuddered. I tried to remain calm. I hadn’t told the whole story to anyone. Not even my father. I looked at Brian. His eyes were steady and calm. I held his gaze as I repeated the story. “I had promised Daphne that I would take her to the creek to swim. She loves swimming. She’s a very good swimmer. We usually slipped out the house late at night.” I closed my eyes and let the horrendous memories of that night come forth. I heard my voice, it sounded like it was coming through a tunnel. “I had promised Daphne we’d sneak out the house and go swimming. As we were preparing to leave my father knocked on my bedroom door. It was late and I didn’t want to talk with him. He was adamant that we talk. He was drunk. I could smell the liquor on his breath. I didn’t want to start an argument with him so I followed him to his study. He was in another one of his *plan my future moods.* After we went to the study he continued to drink. I told him I had no intentions of going to Dartmouth or any of the other colleges he’d chosen for me. I told him my plans for leaving Georgia and taking Daphne with me. He became angry and started shouting. I shouted back. I finally left him in the study cursing and yelling. I went back to my room and I couldn’t find Daphne. I knew she’d probably gone to the creek,” I paused. This was the part that always choked me up. I can still remember the panic and the fear. I let out a long sigh and continued. “When I made it to the creek I heard a scream. It was Daphne. She was struggling with Stockwell. Her dress was torn and he’d pent her to the ground. I screamed at him to let her up. He was surprised to see me and let Daphne go. She scrambled to her feet and ran to me. He laughed at us. He told me there was nothing I could do to stop him. That I was just a little pansy assed boy to cowardly to fight in the war. He advanced on me. I told Daphne to run,” I smirked thinking of how she stubbornly refused to leave me. “Anyway Daphne didn’t leave. She told me she’d never abandon me. Stockwell charged me like a wild animal and knocked me to the ground. We scuffled on the ground. He was so strong. He wrapped his hands around my neck and started chocking me. I couldn’t break his hold. Daphne jumped on his back and as he tried to shake her off I managed to kick him in the stomach, and he released his grip on my neck. I grabbed his gun from his holster. He stood up and so did I. I told him to just back off. He laughed in my face. He told me I didn’t have the guts to shoot him. Then he told me he was going to kill me and when he was through with Daphne she’d wish she was dead too. I would never allow anyone to harm Daphne. So, when he charged the second time I pointed and shot.” I could still hear the loudness of the shot…feel the burning and tingling in my fingers. I could still see the shock on Stockwell’s face as he realized he’d been shot. I could still see the blood oozing out of the wound. I let out a deep breath. I could feel Brian’s fingers soothingly massaging my scalp. I continued. My voice had gotten quieter. Now that I’d told the worst part of the story I wasn’t as agitated. “I dropped his gun and grabbed Daphne’s hand and got us out of there. The next day my father called me into his study. He’d followed me when I left the study the previous night. He saw me shoot Stockwell. He threatened to turn Daphne over to the army. He said he’d tell them that she had killed Stockwell. I told him I’d tell the army the truth that I had shot Stockwell. He laughed and said he would tell them that I was trying to protect her by taking the blame. He said everyone knew how protective I was of her. I believed him,” I shuddered as I recalled what he said next, “He told me that the army soldiers would use her and pass her around and then they would hang her. I couldn’t have that. I told him I’d do anything to protect Daphne. That’s when he told me what I’d have to do to protect Daphne. He told me if I went to the college of his choice, married the woman he chose and took over at the factory he’d remain silent. So, I made a pact with the devil.” I didn’t speak for a few minutes. I struggled to get the next words out of my mouth. “Are you going to take me to jail now?” I shivered at my next thought, “Will it hurt much when they hang me?” It was silent for a while. Brian continued to massage my scalp as I stared into his unreadable eyes. He didn’t answer my question. I saw a flash of anger enter his eyes before he was able to cover it with that unreadable expression again. He squeezed my arms tightly. I knew I’d have bruises the next day, ”No one is going to hang you,” he said vehemently. “How many people know what happened?” “Me, Daphne and my father.” “You haven’t told anyone else?” Brian’s fingers tightened on my arms. “No.” His fingers relaxed their grip. “Good. Then I can clean this mess up. Did he hurt her?” I knew what Brian was asking. He wanted to know if Stockwell had raped Daphne. “No. I made it in time.” I heard him give a sigh of relief. “When you shot Stockwell where did he fall when he died?” “He was still alive when Daphne and I left. He was on his knees cursing.” Brian’s voice was thoughtful, “So, Stockwell was alive when you left.” He said to himself more than ask me a question. “Where did you shoot him?” I thought about it. “In the upper right chest. He screamed dropped to his knees and grabbed his chest.” “After he fell did you shoot him again?” Brian’s expression turned serious. “No. I dropped the gun and grabbed Daphne. I just wanted to get her out of harms way. She was hysterical.” “What was Daphne wearing that night?” “A blue dress with some type of flower pattern. I burned it the next day.” I could see Brian’s mind working. His expression was unreadable. He seemed so cool and calm but I could tell his mind was taking in everything I was telling him and disseminating it. “Do you loathe my presence now that you know the truth?” I whispered. Brian’s eyes flashed with something unreadable before he pulled me to him in a heated kiss that stole my breath from my body. If I thought Brian was rough before I wasn’t prepared for this. I found myself on the ground my pants roughly pulled from my body. Brian maneuvered me on all fours and he draped his body over mine. I felt the blunt head of his cock at my entrance and before I could prepare myself he invaded me in one long, smooth, forceful thrust. It knocked the breath from my body. If he had not been supporting me with his arm around my waist I would have fallen to the ground. I finally understood the difference between making love and fucking. Brian had fucked me once tonight, made love to me once and he was fucking me again. This ride was rough, hard and quick. Brian gripped my hips and pounded into my ass. I could only hold on for the ride. I didn’t know what emotion or force drove Brian I only knew that I’d take anything for him. Even this hard ride. He came with a forceful thrust knocking me flat on my stomach. He flipped me over engulfed my hard cock in his mouth and with a few sucks I was releasing my seed down his throat screaming his name. He sucked me dry. He rolled over and pulled me with him. After such a rough, turbulent bout of fucking I needed this. The quiet and the gentleness after the turbulent storm. ----------------- BRIAN I had escorted Justin home after his revelations. Well, after I’d fucked him within an inch of his life. I was so desperate. I couldn’t understand the desperation that I felt when he asked me if he would be hanged. The idea of anyone hurting him brought out such a fierceness in me. I’d always been protective of Michael but nothing like I felt about Justin. I’d be damned if anyone hurt him. I was rough with him last night. Probably rougher than I should have been. He was still so new to fucking. The kid took the rough ride and begged me for more. I nearly pounded his ass into the grass and he was withering and moaning in pleasure and begging for more. I had to shake the thoughts from my mind. Now was not the time. Right now I had to protect my lover and get him away from his father. I was bone tired. I massaged my temples as I took a seat at my makeshift desk. It was late morning. I hadn’t slept a wink. When I got back to my quarters I’d bathed the scent of fucking from my body, dressed, ate with the men and retreated to my office. I was looking over the preliminary report on Stockwell’s death. There was just something strange about his death. Justin said Stockwell’s was screaming and cursing at them when he and Daphne left him. I stood up and paced. I ran my hand through my hair. The facts just weren’t adding up. I took another deep breath, calmed my nerves, sat back down and went over the report again. There was a picture of Stockwell’s body naked body. He was laying on a table in the undertaker’s office. The picture was of poor quality. I looked at the picture again. That’s when I saw it. I took out a magnifying glass and study the image again. There were bruises on his shoulder that looked like finger marks. I put the picture aside and read the report again. Stockwell was wet when he’d been found. It hadn’t been raining the night he died. He had been pulled from the creek. How did Stockwell end up in the creek. A few scenarios were running through my mind. First, Stockwell was still alive when Daphne and Justin left him. I believe someone came along. Found a wounded, and weak Stockwell and it was the perfect chance. They pushed him in the creek and drowned him. Now that I’d let it play through my mind it made perfect sense. Justin may have shot Stockwell but I don’t think the wound was life threatening. Someone else came along and finished Stockwell off. The mostly likely suspect was Justin’s father. If Craig Taylor saw the whole thing why didn’t he stop Stockwell when he was chocking his son. Or maybe he came upon them just as Justin shot Stockwell and left him. If that was the case a more sinister scenario had entered my mind. Justin’s father came across a bleeding and weak Stockwell and finished the job. The question was why. I doubted very seriously if it was to protect Justin. Now I had to find a motive. The reason Craig Taylor would kill Stockwell and blackmail his son. I thought about the information the laundress had given me about Stockwell and his vices. I wondered if Craig Taylor had those same vices. I stood up and grabbed my hat and gloves. I had to find a motive for Stockwell’s murder and release my lover from his pact with the devil. The only way to do that was to confront the devil. But first I needed to get some ammunition.