Reconstruction Days and Cracker Nights (revised)

This is the story of the Fortners, who rise from the ashes of the Civil War to become major landholders in the wilderness of Florida. Loosely based on the lives of my great-grandparents, George and Dorothy Fortner, it's the story of men and women making the transition from war to peace, facing tragedy and loss with love and passion as they discover what it takes to turn an American dream into reality. I'm reposting this because crazeesharon asked what happened to this story. Thanks for taking an interest in this story.

• Chapter 1 - The Rebel War"It's June, 1864, in Macon, ..."
• Chapter 2 - The Wind of War (revised)"Sherman attacks Atlanta, an..."
• Chapter 3 - The South is Doomed "George makes the toughest d..."
• Chapter 4 - Salt in the Wound"The road to Florida tempers..."
• Chapter 5 - The Funeral in the Woods"The Forners bury their frie..."
• Chapter 6 - Florida Bound"The Fortners arrive in the ..."
• Chapter 7 - The Apalachee Nation"When the Fortners arrive in..."
• Chapter 8 - The Emerald Coast"The Fortners arrived in Apa..."
• Chapter 9 - The Long Winding Trail"The Fortners travel to Fort..."
• Chapter 10 - Cooks Hammock"The Fortners set up camp in..."
• Chapter 11 - The Yellowhammers and the Andalusian Bull"The Fortners travel to Ceda..."
• Chapter 12 - Tawana"George discovers an Indian ..."
• Chapter 13 - Marshtackies"The Fortners are compensate..."
• Chapter 14 - The Battle of Olustee"George finds himself smack ..."
• Chapter 15 - The Transformation"The Fortners leave their ha..."
• Chapter 16 - Manatees and Indian Mounds"The Fortners winter in Crys..."
• Chapter 17 - Tampa"The Fortners settle near Ta..."
• Chapter 18 - The Cattle Drive"The Fortners make their fir..."
• Chapter 19 - Muley"George hires a drover."
• Chapter 20 - Lightning Strikes"The Fortners make their thi..."
• Chapter 21 - The War Is Over"The Fortners learn that the..."
• Chapter 22 - The Stove and Bathtub"The Fortners spend the nigh..."
• Chapter 23 - A Man Called Henry"The Fortner hire a freedman."
• Chapter 24 - The Swamp Monster"The Fortners experience a s..."
• Chapter 25 - The Horse Race"The Horse Race"
• Chapter 26 - The Heart is a Warrior"George suffers a stroke. He..."
• Chapter 27 - A Passing of the Torch"George senior makes his las..."
• Chapter 28 - The Indian Way"George Junior comes to anot..."
• Chapter 29 - The Anti-cracker"George meets a cancer in th..."
• Chapter 30 - Captain Ahab and the Mullet Fishermen"George and Henry ride South."
• Chapter 31 - The Seminole Nation"George and Henry arrived in..."
• Chapter 32 - Pay-Hay-Okee Love"George and Tawana pick up w..."
• Chapter 33 - To Be or Not to Be"George takes a leap of faith."
• Chapter 34 - The Wedding Day Cometh"Tawana gets cold feet as he..."
• Chapter 35 - The Wedding"George and Tawana celebrate..."
• Chapter 36 - On Top of the World"George and Tawana consummat..."
• Chapter 37 - Homeward Bound"George, Tawana, and Henry h..."
• Chapter 38 - The War is Over!"Homecoming, will it be bitt..."
• Chapter 39 - Second Generation Crackers"The story jumps ahead in ti..."
• Chapter 40 - On the Dusty Road to Florida"The Childs' family leave So..."
• Chapter 41 - The Fortners"Alice tells her family's st..."
• Chapter 42 - The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg"Tawana's daughter comes to ..."