The next few weeks were hard at Tara. Rhett being there the whole time was the only relief Scarlett had. They had to pick cotton...all of them. Suellen was always complaining and Scarlett was the one who would have to deal with her. Careen wasn't too much of a bother, though she still was so annoying to have to deal with. Wade was quiet most of the time...Rhett would tell him stories at night and entertain him. Melanie was too weak to even get out of bed and the baby was constantely crying for milk. And Scarlett's father got crazier as each day went on. And Scarlett's stomach would growl all the time of hunger.
One hot day Scarlett was working with Rhett in the fields picking cotton while the others were gone somewhere off in the distance.
Scarlett sighed and wiped her face with her hand because of all the sweat and dirt that was on it. She sat down on a rock and sighed again and took off her shoes. Tons of rubble came out of them and dirt. Rhett came over to Scarlett and he sighed too and sat down next to her.
"Oh--it's so hot--" Scarlett said wearily and fanned herself with her hand.
Rhett sighed again and said, "Yeah, nothing like a hot day for hard working--", then he turned to her and stared at her. Her hair was messy, her face was brownish from all the mud and dust. But her eyes--were still sparkling green.
Scarlett smiled and said, "You know--I never thought I'd see the day when Rhett Butler was dirty and working." She laughed and he laughed too. "I never thought I'd see the day either of us was dirty and working."
They both continued working in silence.
Scarlett stopped and said, "Rhett--I can't stand this silence! We've got to talk about something--or you say something."
Rhett laughed and said, "Well--we can tell some things we don't know about each other. Or perhaps something that happened?"
Scarlett laughed and said, "Okay--hmm--I got one--when I was little the boys and I used to climb trees. I'd always be the fastest. We'd race to see who was fastest at running. Pa would always find out and he'd threaten to tell Mother or Mammy and from Mammy it would pass onto Mother. We came to an agreement that he wouldn't tell whenever I climbed trees as long as I didn't tell when he rode his horse. He could ride as fast as he wanted and could jump however many fences he wanted just and I could climb trees and race with the boys. Somehow though, Mother seemed to always find out what the both of was doing."
Rhett laughed, "I can imagine you climbing trees. Somehow I can imagine you doing anything."
She smiled then said, "Now it's your turn. Come on--"
He was silent for a second then said, "I killed a man--"
Scarlett's mouth dropped open and she quickly became excited. "You killed--! Oh--what happened! Why did you kill him?"
Rhett laughed loudly and said, "It was a fight with this young lady's brother--"
He started telling her how he fought this lady's brother because of what he did. Not meaning to kill the man, he did because if he hadn't he would have gotten killed himself. In the end everybody was in tears for the lad and ended up glaring at him coldly.
"How exciting! You didn't get hurt?" Scarlett said with enthusiasm.
"Yes I did actually--right here." Rhett said as he pulled up his shirt to reveal the scar. It was pink andmostly blending with his skin color. It was almost all the way across his stomach and almost to his chest.
She gasped and put her hand on her mouth.
"Oh--it looks like it still hurts." Scarlett said quietly.
"It doesn't--it did at the time, I must say. Very terribly in fact." Rhett said grinning at her shocked, white face.
Scarlett swallowed as he let down his shirt and he laughed.
"Now, my dear, it isyour turn."
"Oh yes--I don't have anything as exciting as that! I don't think I have anything else--"
"Oh yes you do--"
"Alright--just let me think!" Scarlett said with an annoyed look.
Rhett laughed and they both were silent for a moment.
Suddenly Scarlett said, "I have one!...It was a fortune."
"A fortune?" Rhett said with a half grin half questioning look.
Scarlett smiled and looked back. She was talking to the Tarleton twins that day before the barbecue.
\\\ "Look, honey. You've got to give me the first waltz and Stu the last one and you've got to eat supper with us. We'll sit on the stair landing like we did at the last ball and get Mammy Jincy to come tell our fortunes again." "I don't like Mammy Jincy's fortunes. You know she said I was going to marry a gentleman with jet-black hair and a long black mustache, and I don't like black-haired gentlemen." "You like 'em red-headed, don't you, honey?" grinned Brent. "Now, come on, promise us all the waltzes and the supper."
\\\
"Yes--a fortune.Mammy Jincy, which is the one who told me the fortune,said that I was marry a gentlemen with jet-black hair and a mustache. Why, I don't even know anyone with jet black hair and--"
Scarlett stopped working and turned toRhett, her eyes wide.
"Jet-black hair and a mustache huh?" Rhett said and chuckled. He looked a little surprised yet there was something in his eyes that she didn't understand.
"Yes." Scarlett whispered looking at him.
They stared at each other not a word. They seemed to be getting closer and closer to each other. They were so close now then suddenly they heard the loud complaining screech of Suellens voice yelling, "Scarlett!"
Scarlett looked down and got out an annoyed and disappointed sigh, "Yes Suellen!" she yelled back.
Suellen walked closer to them and said, "Oh Scarlett--can't I stop working--my hands feel raw and my back! Please can't I--"
"Suellen! How many times do I have to tell you--it's unfair for everyone else to work, and you rest! Everyone is as tired as you are." Scarlett said sharply.
Suellen said this time in a whining tone, "Scarlett--please. I feel so tired. I can't stand this heat. Can't I just--"
"No Suellen--get back to work. We've got to do something around here if we want to eat. Besides--you have to do something for Tara."
Suellen whined, "Oh! What do I care about Tara, I hate Tara!"
Scarlett had enough. She walked over to her and slapped her hardly. "Don't you dare ever say again that you hate Tara! It was the house we grew up in--have memories in--Tara represents Ma and Pa!" Scarlett said. "It's the same as hating them if you hate Tara!" Scarlett said a little quieter then yelled, "Now get back to work!"
Suellen put her hand on her cheek for a long time, more shocked than hurt and walked away sobbing.
Scarlett looked at Rhett again and was breathing heavily. She had yelled like she had never yelled just now and slapped her sister as hard as her arm would allow.
He suddenly laughed loudly and said, "As I said before I can imagine you doing anything. Don't you think you were being a bit too harsh though?" He said with a devilish grin.
Scarlett scowled and said, "Don't be a varmint.No I don't think I was being at all too harsh. She's the annoyingest person alive and someone needs todo something so she can just shut up and work!"
That being said he laughed again and they both went back to work.
----
The next few days were a little easier. Suellen stopped complaining to Scarlett, instead complaining to Careen. Melanie was getting better and was able to walk around and carry her baby, but still not able to work yet. Scarlett's father seemed to get worse everyday. Sometimes he'd be his merry self and then he'd bewaiting at the door for Ellenlittle puppy waiting at the door for it's master. Then after a while of waiting he would cry and realize that Ellen was dead. Each time everybody started getting more depressed. Scarlett had hoped that he would come to sense after a while but her hopes began to fade after weeks and weeks of this strange and crazy behavior. Rhett and Scarlett worked more every day and they two seemed to be the only ones actually working and not complaining.
Over the next few days Scarlett seemed to get closer to Rhett. They'd sometimes sit and talk outside after dinner staring up at the night sky. Neither Rhett nor Scarlett ever mentioned Mammy Jincy's fortune Scarlett mentioned that day. It was like they both were waiting for either of them to bring it up. Everyone seemed more glad of Rhett because Scarlett was in better moods when he was around. But still Scarlett got as mad at anyone who wasn't doing what they were supposed to do.
----
One day Scarlett was going into the house and taking a little rest when she heard horse hooves.
"Who could that be?" Scarlett wondered cluelessly.
She looked out and looked closely and suddenly fear tugged at her heart.
"A Yankee! Saints preserve us, it's aYankee! What do I do?" She thought desperately.
Then she suddenly remembered the revolver she had in her room that Rhett had given her for safety a while back on rough-and-ready in case he was gone and a Yankee ever came.
She ran upstairs and quickly as she could and grabbed it.
She walked slowly to the top of the stairs and watched as he went room to room searching for anything valuable. She slowly went down the stairs as he seemed indulged by something in a room that was out of view of the stairs. She took off her shoes, fearing they would make noises and she went quietly down the stairs dreading every step, hoping the stairs wouldn't creak.
She had the gun behind her and suddenly the Yankee came running out of the room and her heart raced as he looked at her and pointed his gun and said, "Who's there? I'll shoot if you move any clos--" he stopped his sentence halfway as he got a look at her and grinned sort of evily. "You alone little lady? Look's like this house isn't empty as I thought." She looked at him disgusted and he said, "You ain't very friendly are ya? Got anything valuable besides these earbobs?" he said as he carelessly shook the box that had been Scarlett's mothers.
All Scarlett could think of at this moment was, "Get your hands off my mothers things." She wanted to shout that, in fact, right in his face but she didn't dare shout--or speak unless spoken to.
"You Yankees have been here before?" She asked and kind of assumed.
The Yankee came closer and looked curiously at her and said, "What have you got hidden behind you?"
She froze and thought, "Oh no."
He came so close she could smell his stinking breath and couldn't stand it any longer. She pulled out her gun and pulled the trigger not daring to look or aim. Fortunately she aimed correctly and she heard a boom of the gun and a boom of him falling.
She looked at the dead body and felt proud and shocked at the same time. She looked away and felt sick. I just murdered a man! Oh God, even if it is a Yankee! Her mind reflected on the scripture in the Bible that she remembered her Mother saying. She heard her mother's kind soft voice saying these commandments. She flashed back to a day when her mother was putting them to bed. Suellen and Careen had been in Scarlett's room not wanting to go to bed.
\\\ "Mother I don't want to go to bed!" Suellen whined. "Mother I don't think I will be able to sleep." Careen said kindly. "No Suellen you have to go to bed, you need rest for tomorrow is another day in which you need strength. Careen darling, I know if you close you eyes you'd be able to get to sleep. I remember when I was a little girl it was difficult to get to bed so my mother told me to just shut my eyes and relax and it always would work." Ellen said gently to the both of them. "Mother, will you tell some stories, you know which ones." Scarlett asked. "Alright, Scarlett dear. I will after I come back." Scarlett watched as Ellen took both Suellen and Careen and put them to bed. Ellen came back and sat down on the chair next to Scarlett's bed. "Now, which story would you like me read?" "Oh any story Mother, it helps me get to sleep faster." "Alright, I'll read the one of Moses." Ellen began reading how Moses had taken the children of Israel and parted the sea. It always made Scarlett ask how that was possible. Her mother would always patiently reply, "God was helping Moses and He would always do miracles." Scarlett would always reply "Oh" and think nothing of it listening to more of the story. It came to part where Moses held the Ten Commandments which were on a tablet which God had written on. Ellen would read the Ten Commandments to her: I. I AM THE LORD THY GOD, THOU SHALT NOT HAVE strange gods BEFORE ME. "Now Scarlett, dearest, I know you won't do any of those things. Will you darling?" Ellen asked. "Of course not Mother. I would never." Scarlett replied sleepily. "Alright darling, goodnight."
II. THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN.
III. REMEMBER THOU KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH DAY.
IV. HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.
V. THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
VI. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
VII. THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.
VIII. THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.
IX. THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S WIFE.
X. THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S GOODS.
\\\
She gasped and thought, "Oh God--what would Mother say if she knew I did this! Oh I can't think about this now!" She looked at the body again and sighed. She knew she was probably as pale as aghost at that moment--looking at all the blood and the ugly face deformed by the bullet.
Just then Rhett came running in and saw the Yankee on the groundand her paler than a white wedding gown. He looked at her and at the Yankee and smiled.
"Scarlett--you really can do anything can't you--I must say though, I didn't even thinkthat Scarlett O'Hara had the nerve to kill a man. I never doubted the strength--" Rhett laughed.
"Rhett this is no time for jokes--I just killed a man. That is not a joke. Even if it is a Yankee--I've just done murder!" She got paler and sat on the bottom stair as if she had lost all energy.
He smiled, then looked at the body in disgust and said, "Well, we have to burry the body somewhere. Where? In the backyard?"
Scarlett not looking up said, "Yes--I think that would be the best place."
Suddenly Scarlett heard yelling and screaming from outside and heard, "Scarlett! Was that you? Scarlett--are you okay?"
She ran to the windowopened itand yelled, her voice breaking, "Uh--I-uh--"
Careen ran up closest to the window and looked up and said, "Scarlett what was that? What happened?"
Rhett came behind Scarlett and into the view of the window and said, "It's alright--Scarlett was uh--cleaning the revolver and it went off by accident, barely missing her head. She's a little terrified."
Careen sighed and said, "Scarlett--really--we thought it was--well never mind. Please be more careful." Everbody started agreeing and telling her to be more careful and scolded her.
Scarlett closed the window and said, "Well at least nobody knows I killed a man, but you certainly have made me look like a clumsy fool."
Rhett laughed loudly and started to take the body then groaned quietly and said, "It'll bleed across the yard and you can't hide that."
Scarlett thought quickly and ran up the stairs getting an extra cloth that she had and threw it to him. He wrapped it around the dead Yankee's head and started to carry him out but Scarlett quickly stopped him before he could get out of the door. "Oh Rhett--stop--Oh my God--I can't believe I hadn't thought of this sooner!"
Rhett had a confused look on his face and said, "What?"
Scarlett said, "Why, to look through his knapsack--or--pockets! If there's any money!"
Rhett laughed and said, "You know Scarlett--I'm really surprised I didn't think about that myself. Here--check this pocket--"
They searched his pockets and found tons of coins--earings--and things that looked stolen.
"To think that we could have buried all this money with him!" Scarlett sighed with relief and tookeverythingand was about to take it to her room then stopped and said, "Rhett--do you need any help or--"
"No my dear, I don't need any help--now you run along and store the goodies somewhere safe." Rhett said sarcastically.
Scarlett laughed and went up the stairs.
----
Days went by--weeks went by and they kept on working. Melanie had gotten much better over the days and started working too. She tried to work as hard as she could and sometimes if she worked too hard she'd faint and Scarlett would have to bring her in the house and pour water on her face. That happened repeatedly and finally Scarlett told her that if she really wanted to help her she'd work hard but not hard enough to faint so she would have to take time bringing her in. Melanie nodded and simply went back to work and still worked as hard but if she felt faint she'd just sit on the ground and fan herself and quickly get up again and try not to faint from the hot sun beating down on her and everyone else. Melanie repeatedly spoke of Ashley and asked Scarlett where he possibly could be and each time Scarlett would give the same answer.
"I don't know Melly, he could be anywhere!" Scarlett answered.
"Oh but Scarlett--do you think the war will be over soon? I think it will be--something's bound to happen. I just know it! Don't you think--maybe--we'll--Oh I can't think that! We just couldn't surrender could we?"
"Melly I don't care whether we do surrender or not I just want this good for nothing war to be over." Scarlett said.
"Yes--" Melanie said somewhat sadly, "I guess I feel the same way--"
Melanie sat down on the chair and her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh don't worry Melly--Ashley will be back all in one piece I know he will--oh Melly it's no use getting all worked up over this!"
"Oh I know--you're right." Melanie stood up and dried her tears and smiled and walked away and said, "I guess I'll go to my room now and check on Beau."
Scarlett looked at Melanie and suddenly felt sorry for her. Scarlett was lucky she didn't have someone she loved out in the war.
Scarlett walked out in the hallway and suddenly she heard horses hooves.
"It must be Pa coming from town with news of the war." Scarlett said aloud.
The door burst open and her father yelled, "Katie Scarlett! Katie Scarlett O'Hara!"
He ran to her and held her shoulders and shook them and said, "The war!"
Scarlett got worried and said, "What Pa? What about the war?"
"It's over! The war is over! We surrendered!"
Scarletts eyebrows went up and said, "Oh Pa! The war's over?"
"Yes Katie Scarlett! 'Tis over!"
Scarlett felt relieved.
"The war is over! This cruel war is finally over!" She thought over and over.
----
During the next few weeks soldiers started down the road and stopped at Tara and ended up staying. More and more soldiers poured in and soon there were enough soldiers to fill half a living room. They spared food so that every soldier had one. Melanie kept waiting anxiously to see if Ashley were coming. But soon the soldiers ceased to come and Melanie grew more worried.
One day Melanie was talking with a soldier and light came on her face and she walked to Scarlett and said, "Oh Scarlett--Ashley was taken prisoner--I just found that out by a soldier he was fighting along side with! Maybe he's on some northern road right now and a nice Yankee woman is giving her share of dinner to him and my Ashley will come back to me soon!"
Scarlett looked at her and said, "I hope so Melly, I hope so--"
----
Well, I hope you like this chapter! Sorry it took me so long to update!I have a music test tomorrow and I've been working night and day to prepare for it! I hope this long chapter made up for it! Well, I hope you all like this overall story. Please review!
-Katherine