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BRIGHT LOVE

Oh it was such an exciting day. The bands played, banners were hung and even old man Sevensen closed his mercantile and pulled his wagon out on the street so he could stand up in bed to see.

Abigail, you should've seen our brave boys as they came marching up Beal Street. There wasn't a single man of them that wasn't as brave as he could be. Oh the glory of it all! Marching off to teach those Yanks a lesson they'd never forget. At least that's what we believe at the time.

Us girls were just about as misbehaved as we could be. We were so excited. I was the youngest of the three, no more than fourteen I guess. You know how young girls get so excited and carry on.

Well, we squeezed right up front, so close I could have reached right out and touched those horses. Julia, my oldest sister, had on her very best cotton dress with special silk trimmings. I had worn an old thing that showed that I’d used it to help mama render lard.

Oh but Abigail, when the horses past carrying those fine and proper officers, with their gray tunics and gold buttons, I swear I about swooned to my knees.

And before I hardly had the time to recover, another decorated band came up and that big bass drum made my chest flutter, it came so close. Then all that was followed by row upon row of some of the handsomest young men I guess I ever did see. Someone later said they were marching up to Chickamauga, not too far away.

Every one of them Abigail, had their big guns shouldered and just a stepping right along like they had business to take care of and that they were going to take care of it right now. Well you never seen the like of cheering and waving. I thought Mary June Chambers was going to join their ranks, she was so excited.

Men were waving; women were fanning their bonnets, no mind to their hair. And oh Abigail, you never heard such a hurrah go up as when that brave Commanding Officer of all those men, got off his horse with his sword belted and went over and shook Mayor Tombaugh’s hand.

And behind him came even more troops. Some had their proud gray uniform tunics and some wore all manner of colorful clothing.

One of those brave soldiers ran out of his place and grabbed himself a girl he liked. . . It was Addie Thompson I think... and he kissed her right on her lips, right there in plain view of everyone.

Oh, it was such a wonderful time. That's when I saw another soldier leave the ranks. He had loose blond hair and the most wonderful blue eyes. He came right at Julia and I was sure he was going to grab her and kiss her right there.

I can see him now, even after all these years. His wonderful face just kept getting larger and larger until suddenly I realized he had passed poor Julia and had swept me up in his strong arms like I was as light as a feather. He pressed me full to himself and boldly took my lips as if he owned them for himself.

I'll tell you Abigail, it was my very first kiss and it was the most wonderful experience I've ever had before or since. Well... I just went completely limp in his strong arms. I swear Abigail, he could have had his way with me, for I was as helpless as a fly on a jam jar. My ears were ringing, my neck was on fire and I never ever wanted him to let me go.

And no sooner had he taken my fresh lips and satisfied himself, he spoke to me in the deepest, most angelic voice, I ever heard any mortal use. Abigail, I swear that young man ask me if I'd wait and marry him when he returned!

Well as I said, I was but a child of fourteen; never so much as been away from my daddy’s lap. But I was so excited and it was so wonderful and I, so wooed by him... that I instantly yelled out above all the cheering, that I would.

Oh God Abigail, I'd have married that man right there in the street; right in front of everyone if he'd wanted. And then as soon as I told him yes, he swept me up again and gave me the longest and best kiss ever. I thought he was gonna crush me until I'd have to be buried that very day.

I was plum silly with shock I guess, for he quickly released me and darted back toward those marching ranks. I could hear Julia scolding me and saying she'd never take me anywhere with her again.

Suddenly, I was being swept off my feet again! My wonderful knight in gray coat had returned. But this time he thrust a ribbon from his tunic into my hand then said in his wonderful voice for me to keep it until his gallant return.

Then he kissed me again one final time and I went completely out in his arms. When I came to my blamed senses, he was gone and I could hear Julia, still scolding, saying that she was going to tell father what I’d done.

I've had his ribbon all these years. It's dirty now... not like when he pressed it into my pale hand that day. I've never forgotten my very first kiss. He never did come back you know.

If he's married some other, I stand yet the better for his wonderful kisses... and if he's dead and a molding in his grave, I forgive him either way.

The End

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