Jubal's Gold

Jubal’s gold

by

Rabb Marcellus

Copyright © 2014 by Rabb Marcellus

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without written permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Novels by Rabb

Chapter 1

Present day, Mid-summer

The Jar

It was no more than a clearing, really; an overgrown dirt road which led to an old homestead. The house had long since collapsed on itself and rotted away, leaving only the foundation stones.

Jackie Dixon moved cautiously along the old foundations. She wore snake boots that came up nearly to her knees. Red cargo shorts showed her shapely legs and a white T-shirt revealed her ample breasts. She was a strapping 5’-11" and could hold her own in any contest of strength. Her pretty, freckled face and red hair betrayed her Irish roots, as did the blue of her eyes. She swept the ground with a state of the art metal detector, all the while listening to the tone in her earphones for that squeak that indicated a find below ground.

So far there was none, just a tone that punctuated every pass. She moved inside the foundations and began her slow methodical search, hoping to find that belt buckle or silver spoon lost decades or centuries in the past.

Suddenly the tone went from a low buzz to a high shriek and Jackie stopped and backed up, trying to find the spot and reproduce the sound on the detector. She swept back and forth slowly until she was satisfied she had the location.

Nick! she yelled, looking around, Nick! she yelled again.

Her husband, Nick Dixon looked up from his search. He was obviously a former athlete, a towering 6’-4. Bermuda shorts showed off his long, hard legs while a tattered T-shirt displayed large, muscular arms and torso. A Tom Selleck mustache, and curly blonde hair completed the ruggedly handsome image. He pulled off his headphones and looked at her disgustedly. Can’t you see I’m concentrating over here?"

Jackie yanked off her headphones, I found something — right here!

Nick released his headphones to fall around his neck and walked up the hill to her location. What? he asked.

Jackie swept the ground with her detector, holding her headphones for him to hear. Listen, hear that? she said with a growl, trying to suppress her anger with his impatience.

I do, Nick replied.

So, now what?

So, now you dig a hole! Nick replied.

You mean, with a shovel!

Exactly!

I thought you were going to do that part, Jackie batted her long lashes and grinned sweetly.

Right! Nick turned and headed for their Jeep.

Are you sure we should be doing this? Jackie asked as he stomped away down the slope.

Doing what? he yelled back over his shoulder.

Digging on someone else’s property, she replied.

Nick opened the back of the Jeep. He grabbed a shovel, a small hand pick and started back in her direction.

This place is abandoned, he replied, climbing back up the hill. No one has been around here in decades, maybe longer. So why not?

Jackie dropped to her knees, and used her pocket knife to mark the area with deep strokes forming a square in the dirt. I know if I owned this land, I’d be pissed off if someone did what we’re doing.

Nick arrived with the tools, Get over it, Jackie. If we didn’t do this, someone else would. Whoever owns this property is probably dead and gone. Nobody alive today probably cares one way or the other. He put the shovel point at the edge of the dirt square, placed his foot on the tool and shoved it into the soil.

He dug straight down, frequently rechecking the sounding with the detector. After a few minutes of digging, the shovel blade hit a solid object with a soft clink. Nick looked up at Jackie with a smile, Bingo! He got down on his knees and dug with his hands, slowly uncovering a bundle wrapped with oiled rags. Nick removed the dirt carefully, starting with the edges first and slowly, methodically revealing more of the small bundle.

He got his hands under it, and then lifted it out of the hole. It was heavy and Nick felt the rush of discovery as he lifted it up for Jackie to see. Let’s see what we have here? he said, as he slowly unwrapped the bundle.

Jackie watched as Nick unrolled the packet to reveal an old quart jar with a severely rusted lid. He turned the jar sideways and held it up high to let the sunlight shine through.

They both gasped and Jackie fell on her knees to get a better look. Inside the jar was a stack of gold coins and some letters. Nick dropped the bundling and moved his hand to unscrew the lid, but Jackie stopped him. Not here! she said. Let’s take it home before we open it. It looks old. We might need to be very careful with this.

Nick nodded agreement and they stood up. He carried the jar down to the Jeep and placed it in the back. Jackie followed, Let’s go home, right now and open it…please? she urged and pursed her lips.

But we’re just getting started at this site, Nick could see the excitement in her eyes. Oh, okay, he said reluctantly, closing the hatch. I could never resist that pout of yours! Let’s go, I’m with you.

Chapter 2

Jubal Rawlings – Georgia, 1864

They say if you find a high place, and you look out across the Southern Appalachian Mountains, you can see the hills and ridges fold across each other, forming deep valleys and gorges. During the summer, a blue-gray mist forms across the valleys. The Cherokee Indians call it Shaconaqe, or place of blue smoke.

On the morning of May 18, that persistent haze hung over a mule train winding its way down the wooded ridge, following an overgrown game trail. At the head of the train was a Confederate cavalry officer named Jubal Rawlings. He rode easily on his big chestnut horse, looking back frequently at the mules and the men of his command. They moved slowly through the forest, a small Confederate cavalry force charged with a delicate mission.

Jubal Rawlings had recently been attached to the 4th Georgia Cavalry under the command of Colonel Jeremiah Carlisle, stationed at the Old Federal Mint at Dahlonega, Georgia. Federal troops under the command of William Tecumseh Sherman were moving south from Chattanooga and Jubal, since he was from the area, had been assigned to hide a ton of the Dahlonega gold at a site of his choosing.

The gold consisted of 400 five pound bars, with a Confederate mint stamp indicating weight and grade. They were loaded into strong boxes and then onto ten pack mules each carrying forty bars, twenty bars each side, creating a two hundred pound load.

Jubal had been assigned another fourteen men as an armed escort. All were members of the local home guard and all were familiar with each other, as well as with Jubal. The small contingent had left Dahlonega on the morning of May 15, 1864. They had moved north into the low foothills of the Southern Appalachians.

Jubal kept them off of the main roads, preferring instead the game trails he’d used for hunting during his youth. It was slow going but it was safe from Union patrols and others who might be interested in two thousand pounds of solid gold. Jubal stood in his stirrups and twisted to see behind him.

His second in command, Sergeant Charles Pike, rode behind him along with six other mounted troopers. The mules were strung together and attended by the remaining men with four of them bringing up the rear of the column. Jubal sent one man out in front, as a scout, in an attempt to prevent any surprises. The column moved slowly between the trees following a gently descending slope.

Pike rode up closer to Rawlings. He was a rugged man, wearing a slouch hat pulled low over his eyes and a tattered, homespun uniform. A rough, overgrown beard framed a mouth with most of its teeth missing; those remaining were stained with tobacco juice. Pike always wore a pair of Colt 44 revolvers at his waist, which he adjusted as he came alongside Jubal, How much further Capt’n?

Jubal turned and looked out across the valley; his youthful face, covered by a beard that was only now beginning to thicken up. He also wore homespun trousers, however, his uniform coat had been given to him by the Confederate army along with boots and an officer’s hat. His light gray eyes peered into the haze, as he sat tall and straight in the saddle.

He wore a long cavalry saber on one hip and a Colt 1860 Army revolver on the other. He tried very hard to look and act what he felt was the role of a Confederate cavalry officer. There’s a stream at the bottom of this hollow, he motioned with his chin. If we follow that stream for a ways, it should take one more night and most of the next day, Sergeant. Jubal spurred his horse with his heels and moved on down the trail.

Sergeant Pike spit tobacco juice and wiped away the drivel. We’re leavin’ a hell of a trail Capt’n. Once again he rode up behind Jubal, following the trail as it continued to wind its way downward between tall pines. Any Yankee commander worth his salt won’t have no problem trackin’ us."

You have a better idea, Sergeant?

No, sir, Capt’n. I’ll jest be glad to get rid of all this gold. Makes a man positively giddy!

I feel the same way, Pike. Jubal led the way down the slope and into a small, shallow stream that wound its way north. The column followed the stream with Jubal in the lead until the end of the day. He found a small clearing near the stream and called a halt. We’ll camp here in this clearing, Sergeant.

Pike turned his horse around and galloped back to organize the column for the night.

Rawlings reined his horse to the left leaving the streambed and climbed the bank to the clearing. Soon the camp was established, horses and mules picketed and several campfires burned as the twilight began to fade into night.

Jubal surveyed his men. There were five campfires with several men grouped around each, their faces clearly visible in the flickering light. He looked across his own fire at Sergeant Pike who was lying on his side, poking the fire with a stick. We should be there by noon tomorrow, Sergeant.

Pike looked up, nodding. What is this place, Capt’n?

When Colonel Carlisle asked me to do this, he had no idea where to put the gold except that he didn’t want the Yankees to get at it. Jubal shifted his position and lay back on his saddle, hands behind his head. I grew up around here. He looked around, his hands sweeping across in front of him. When we were young, there was an old man who owned a farm on this creek. His name was Ezekiel Hamilton, and there was a high bluff with a cave above the stream. All the kids called it Ezekiel’s hole. He smiled, That’s where we’re going.

Pike leaned forward, You’re gonna hide a ton of gold in a cave? What’s to keep someone from findin’ it?

The bluff above the cave is just loose limestone. We brought enough black powder to blast above the cave and collapse the entrance.

I see, Pike replied thoughtfully. Is that what you really wanna do, Capt’n?

What do you mean, Sergeant?

Pike just shook his head and looked into the fire. Capt’n, I ain’t never had nothing. Grew up dirt poor on an old farm that barely fed us. Ma and Pa had a bunch of young’uns. He smiled, and looked up from the fire. Hell, I had to steal a horse jest to get into this here cavalry. He spit and wiped the drivel from his beard. His blue eyes looked directly at Jubal. Two thousand pounds of gold is a mighty temptation!

Jubal replied, Is that what all the men think, Sergeant?

Yes, sir, I reckon so.

So, you want to betray your oath to the Confederacy and split it up fifteen ways, is that it?

I didn’t say that, Capt’n! Pike looked back into the fire and used his stick to move the burning logs. Capt’n, I believe this war is lost. The Yankees will be in Atlanta before ya know it. We jest don’t have the ability to stop ‘em.

Sergeant, Jubal asked, why are you fighting this war, do you own any slaves?

It ain’t about slaves, Capt’n. We never had none. Couldn’t afford hardly anything, much less slaves. He looked up again. My home, my state, is being invaded by them damn foreigners. We have to fight to defend our homes from bein’ burned and our families from bein’ kilt! If the damn Yankees had jest left us alone… he muttered.

Jubal replied, At first, if you remember, it was to preserve the Union. Now, it’s free the slaves. Seems like neither one is the real reason.

You own any slaves, Capt’n?

Three, Jubal replied. When I was a kid, my ma took a trip to Atlanta. While she was there, she happened to see a slave auction. There was a slave woman and her two boys, small boys, toddlers really. He looked down into the fire. Ma didn’t like the institution of slavery. She thought it in-human. But she could see that the Yankee slavers were going to separate the three of them. He paused a moment, Ma was a devout Christian, a Baptist. She convinced Pa to buy them as an act of compassion, to keep that mother with her children and give them a decent home with us. Jubal looked up at the stars through the tree branches. It took every penny they had saved and then some. We had a big farm and I had seven brothers and sisters. We all had to work the land to survive. Like any farm, we grew food. We had a few hogs and some cattle. We grew some cotton as a cash crop. The work was hard and it never ended.

So, what happened to the slaves?

We had a small cabin and Ma cleaned it up for them. She taught Martha, that’s what she named the slave woman, she taught her to speak English and showed her how to do things. The slaves had to work, just like the rest of the family, and Martha understood that. They became a part of our family.

Pike spit his tobacco juice into the fire and watched the steam leap up into the air. He wiped his mouth, Sounds like you loved yourn slaves.

Jubal shot him a dirty look before replying. I grew up with Martha and her two sons. I cared for them, just like I cared for my horse or my dog.

Do you think they’re human? Pike asked, Like you and me?

Human? Of course, they’re human, Jubal replied, frowning at Pike’s ignorance. I just wonder what happens when the Yankees free them all. Who feeds them? How do they survive? Are the Yankees going to free millions of slaves and then just walk away?

Hell, Pike replied, we’re barely makin’ it ourselves. He looked back at Jubal. So you had this big farm, with slaves and a big house, no doubt. I guess two thousand pounds of gold ain’t temptin’ to you.

We never had anything, Jubal replied. No more than the necessities, no extras.

You had schoolin’.

Ma and Pa taught us to read and write, some arithmetic and enough history to get by. I didn’t have to steal a horse, but I brought nothing else from the farm. He smiled, A man could do a lot with a ton of gold!

Pike leaned forward intently, Then, let’s take it Capt’n. The war is lost and we could get a new start with that much gold, he smiled greedily.

One more word out of you about that and I’ll personally blow your head off. Jubal drew his revolver and pulled the hammer back to emphasize the point. I said an oath and so did you, Pike. We’re going to bury this gold just like we promised. And when the Confederacy needs it…

Pike interrupted, All of us will know where to find it!

Do you know where you are, Sergeant? Do you know the name of this creek? Do you have any idea how to get out of here and back to Dahlonega?

Pike shook his head, Jest by following the trail back, I figure.

What if the Yankees are following us? You said it yourself, we’re leaving a hell of a trail. Fifteen horses and ten pack mules. The Yankees probably know there was more gold at the Dahlonega Mint. They’ll figure out what’s going on and track us down.

Pike nodded reluctantly, So what happens when we get to the cave?

We’ll lead the mules into the mouth of the cave and unload the strong boxes. I’ll show you where. Then, we’ll pull the packs off the mules and let them go. I’ll order Corporal Rice to place the charges above the cave entrance on the bluff. Then, as soon as everything is done, we blow the charges and return to Dahlonega.

"What about