Chapter 2

The second Scarlett made it to the long drive that wound through Ballyhara town she hiked her skirt and ran. Was that Collum's body lying there? She asked herself as she ran. It was! With a cry of shock and pure hatred for the British soldiers she ran faster.

When he heard her cry, Rhett had scooped Cat into his arms and ran after her. When he finally caught up to her she was kneeling on the ground beside her cousin.

"Collum! Collum, say something please!" cried Scarlett with tears streaming down her face.

"Katie Scarlett.." was his weak reply.

"Oh thank goodness! I thought I'd lost you." she breathed.

"Scarlett," Rhett cut in. "Your going to lose him if you don't stop the bleeding."

"Oh, Rhett your right." she said while quickly tearing a length from her skirt and putting pressure on the wounds.

"Mrs. O..." came the weak call from the church a little ways away.

"Rhett, keep pressure on the wounds for me! I'm going over to see whose calling me."

As she got up, she saw Cat's face for the first time since leaving the tower. The poor little girl was white as snow and looked like she would fall over any minute. Someone just turned four should not have to see this , no one should. Scarlett thought to herself. I wish there was something I could do, but there isn't.

"Kitty Cat, are you OK?" asked Scarlett.

"Cat's scared Momma. Who hurt Collum?"

"Very bad people." said Rhett.

"Very Bad." said Scarlett in total agreement.

With that Scarlett started walking towards the church. There were debris everywhere, and she had to step over many large stones to make her way. Around the center of the church, Scarlett was on her knees in an instant, and the next she was running back to Rhett.

Finally after what felt like eons she got to Rhett and told him to go get Mrs. Fitz and bring her to be near Collum so they could take care of both of them. Five minutes later Rosaleen Fitzpatrick was beside Collum, and Rhett had gone in search for horses to take them all to Kathleen's house.

***

Rhett walked for mile after mile in search of horses. Finally, after an hour of searching he found Half-Moon, Comet, and Ree who was Cat's shetland pony named with the Gaelic word for King. Then a few minutes later he ran across two team horses and them too.

When he returned to Scarlett & Cat, he had five horses in all. He hitched the team horses to the buggy, and then found three saddles for the other horses & then changed Collum from his priests robe into normal clothes because he was a wanted criminal. Then he put Collum and Mrs. Fitz into the buggy, and finally they set off for Kathleen's house.

***

When they got there, Kathleen was happy to see them, never in all the world expecting that her brother was wounded.

"I was worried sick about you!" said Kathleen. "Especially when I saw your house go up in flames! It was very scary when you can see it from twelve miles away, it was almost as bright as day here. By the way Scarlett, are you going to introduce me to your friend or do I have to introduce myself?"

"This is Rhett Butler, Cat's F-A-T-H-E-R." said Scarlett giving Rhett a look that said finally! He took it knowing he deserved it.

"Momma," said Cat "What does what you said just spell?"

"I'll tell you later sweetheart." said Scarlett.

"OK!" said Cat.

Meanwhile Kathleen had been starring daggers at Rhett for what he had done to Scarlett. Finally she held out her hand stiffly and said "How do you do Mr. Butler? I'm Kathleen."

Rhett taking her hand said "Hello Kathleen, it's nice to meet you, and please call me Rhett."

"Kathleen," Scarlett broke in, "we have an emergency. Come look." Then with that, she took Kathleen to see Collum and Mrs. Fitz in the buggy.