The happy couple spent the next few hours in pure bliss. Jamie showed Thomas how to take her from behind like the animals do. It was a great way to have sex and Thomas liked it. He was a bit surprised when Jamie told him to slap her ass while they had sex. Thomas thought this was odd, but he did it to please his lovely wife. There wasn't anything in the world Thomas wouldn't do for Jamie. All she needed to do was ask. In time they finally fell asleep in each others arms. They remained that way until the next morning when Ruth came knocking at the door. Breakfast was ready and Jamie's father & brother were waiting. This was the day when Jamie & Thomas were leaving. They were heading north with Thomas's cavalry unit. There was a celebration planned in Washington D.C. for the war's end and Thomas was expected there. The Union soldiers sat around their camp fires eating their own breakfast. Soon they'd be pulling down their tents and packing their horses. Clayton had Ruth & the kitchen staff make a grand breakfast. Besides eggs & bacon, they made steak, ham, sausage, potatoes, biscuits, flapjacks, Grits & gravy. There was also a large pot of freshly made coffee. Ruth gathered some hands from the field and had them pack Jamie's things. A carriage was parked out front for her to ride in. A soldier would be her driver.
After breakfast, Jamie was given time to say her goodbyes. Thomas said his before heading out to tend to business. Sergeant Quincannon had everything ready. Thomas's tent was down and packed on a wagon along with his desk, chairs, table, cot and trunk. When Thomas appeared from the house, his men were already taking down their tents. A young 18 year old private name Michael O'Rourke would serve as Jamie's driver for the trip north. He stood near the carriage door ready to open it once the Colonel's wife appeared. Ruth made sure Jamie's things were on the carriage and ready for the trip. Thomas met with his officers and sergeants. The meeting broke up when Jamie was escorted to her carriage by Clayton & James. Jamie was helped into her carriage by James. He old her to take care and to remember who she really was. James still believed his sister wouldn't be happy playing a proper lady. Sooner, or later her hidden side would get the better of her. Then the cat would be out of the bag. James just prayed that Jamie would tell Thomas about her past before that happened.
Thomas climbed on to Shadow then rode out in front of his men.
" Sergeant Major Quincannon!......Wheel the men out to the right by fours! " Thomas said before he started to ride down the road. Quincannon barked out the orders to wheel right in fours. He followed Thomas along with the color guard then Jamie's carriage. The cavalry officers & troopers fell into formation behind the carriage. As one last salute from Thomas to Clayton & James. Thomas told his men to sing Dixie as they passed the plantation house. As the troopers passed by they broke into song.
I wish I was in the land of cotton, old times there are not forgotten,
Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land.
In Dixie Land where I was born in, early on a frosty mornin',
Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land.
Then I wish I was in Dixie, hooray! hooray!
In Dixie Land I'll take my stand to live and die in Dixie,
Away, away, away down South in Dixie,
Away, away, away down South in Dixie
Thomas lead his cavalry unit northward. It took a couple of weeks, but they made it to Washington the day before the Grand Review of the Armies took place. Thomas & Jamie would sat at one of the fine hotels in the city. The soldiers camped outside the city where they would wait until the time came from them to enter the city for the grand parade. That night Thomas & Jamie were invited to have dinner with General & Mrs. Grant. Later in the evening they would attended a grand ball at the White House hosted by President Andrew Johnson & his wife.