Roger Boughton

In God's Hands Roger Boughton

This novel takes place shortly before, during and after the civil war, however the conflict is not the theme of the story. It only shows how individuals lives were altered or changed because of circumstances. The story tries to show the feelings of the characters portrayed, it highlights greed, love, patriotism and with humor injected at various intervals. It is a fictional story designed around cities, towns, and landmarks in the southern United States. Clayton Rawllins, as a young man is infatuated by the beauty and splendor of the three masted sailing ships, and wants to become a sea captain on one of them when he becomes a man. His desires are interrupted by the Civil War. On a trip to Savannah, Georgia, he rescues a young lady, Yvonne De Vouex, who's buggy is being pulled along haphazardly by a run-away horse. He meets her again, they fall in love and later are married. As the story progresses Clayton becomes a Captain in the Army of the Confederacy, where he in involved in several battles, and is wounded. He is rescued by an Indian who he at one time had saved from death in a pool of water, filled with quick-sand. The young lady's father, Francis De Vouex has an opportunity to trade his daughter for property in Louisiana thus making him a prosperous land owner. Unaware that she is married he completes the transaction. Clayton, receiving a letter from Yvonne informing of these oncoming events. He travels to her location in order to rescue his wife from this fate. They then flee along the Gulf Coast, cross Bay St. Louis, and at Pass Christian he meets his old friend Peppie Fountain, the Sea Captain, who now is a blockade runner, involved in smuggling. He puts his wife aboard the ship which is bound for Mexico. This gives her safety from both the war and the wrath of her father. The war ends, Clayton proceeds by ship to Mexico picks up his wife, and they return home. They then take a trip to Vicksburg in order to investigate rumors that Clayton's mother lives there. Leavi