After a reenactment weekend, Goose Tucker inadvertently brings home Civil War soldier Jefferson Eaves’ diary and is shocked to discover Jefferson’s spirit has come along, too. Through the diary, Jefferson tells Goose about his true love, Calvin, who was a former slave who fought for the Union. With no record of Calvin’s death or service found, Goose figures Jefferson might not want to cross over until Calvin receives due recognition. Jefferson also speaks of an acorn planted as a sign of commitment to their future. When reenactment leader Patrick O’Hanlon calls looking for the diary, he tells Goose about his plans to return down south to protest the chopping down of an old oak tree. Is this the tree that grew from Calvin and Jefferson’s acorn? Goose, with Jefferson in tow, decides to go with Patrick to find out. What happens between the four men once there is a lesson in healing and love.

Ghost Writer

“Dude!” I gave up on the fucking ammo, but still had a bitch of a time getting back on my feet. “Come on!”


I didn’t really feel like shooting anyway, even if just pretend, so I aimed the barrel at the ground. “Jesus. What’s the rush?”


I felt as if I was going to puke. Maybe I wasn’t good at running, after all.


“So, what exactly are we supposed to be doing?” I managed to ask, despite my queasiness and lack of breath,


“At the moment, trying not to get shot.”


The crackle of gunfire was relentless. I heard men all around me crying out, grunting loudly, and cursing a blue streak.


“Sounds like a plan.” Though it was moot, I played along, knowing my fate was in the roll of Patrick’s dice. “Guess things came up snake eyes for those poor guys.”


When I finally got a good look, I didn’t recognize the person with whom I was sprinting. My immediate assumption was that he had come with one of the other groups from another location nearby


Chapter 14