Tara

Scarlett O'Hara Butler awoke in her bedroom at Tara, with a determination to make this day better than yesterday, and tomorrow better than today. Since Rhett left, she'd been intent on doing just that, and she was making progress. Whenever thoughts of Rhett nudged their way into her head, she shook them away, knowing if she let them linger, she'd go crazy with grief. Thoughts of Bonnie haunted her still, and while those were of a different kind of sorrow, she knew she had to push those away as well. She was well aware these feelings would never completely go away, so she did the best she could at burying them to a part of herself that she hoped wouldn't have to visit very much.

The first few days she had been at Tara were the most punishing. It was difficult for her to deal with her sorrow, and would cry so much that she mostly stayed in her bedroom. It was Mammy who finally came and convinced her that she had to get out of there eventually.

"You bettah nevah fo'get who you is, Scarlett O'Hara," she had said to her. "You got more gumpshun than anybody, and you bettah not act lak your life is ovah cuz some man done left ya."

"But Mammy, what am I to do? I can't live without Rhett! Maybe my life is over!" she cried again.

"I don't know wut ya gonna do about him, but I ain't worried about Cap'n Butler, I just worried about you. My Lamb ain't eatin' or sleepin' like she should be."

"Oh, how can I when I have to figure out a way to get him back," she said forlornly, but with determination. "I have to come up with a plan to make him…"

"Oh, no, you ain't thinkin' up no plan Miz Scarlett!" Mammy said in horror. "You ain't chasin' aftah Mist Rhett lak you did Mist Ashley."

"Well, I can't just sit here and live my life without him! What do you expect me to do?"

"Well, you ain't chasin' after him, that fa sure. Where did it git you with Mist Ashley?" She didn't wait for Scarlett to answer. "Nowhere! What you gonna do is let him come ta you."

"But Mammy…"

"Don't but me, Missy! You not gonna make a fool o' yaself. Gemp'man hate ta be chased. Dey lak ta be the one who does the chasin'"

Deep down she knew Mammy was right. It was just that, well it was hard to just sit there and wait. She felt like she had to take control of the situation. That's how she'd always lived her life, by taking control.

"I'm not going let my life just pass me by, Mammy! I have to do something!"

"Dat's right, you do. But it ain't gonna involve connivin' to get back Mist' Rhett. It's gonna be getting' my Lamb back, my Scarlett."

"I don't even know who that is anymore, Mammy," she said, feeling sorry for herself, burying her face in the pillows.

"Well, I do, and you will too, once ya git outta dat bed," Mammy said as she yanked backed the bedcovers. "Put on a pretty dress, Miz Scarlett! You got so many pretty clothes you brought back from Atlanta." She reached into Scarlett's closet and pulled out a pale green day dress, with puffed sleeves and lace around the collar. "Put dis on. Ah'll help ya."

Scarlett grudgingly picked her head up. Just looking at the dress perked her sprits a little. She'd gotten that dress in one of the finer shops in Atlanta almost a year ago, and hadn't even worn it yet. She slowly stood up and managed a slight smile.

"Dere, dat's my Lamb! Ya need to show dat pretty smile some mo'. Let's git ya dressed an' den go down to the parlor. Dere's some folks down dere from Savannah come ta call on Miz Suellen."

Scarlett's spirts didn't exactly soar on hearing that news, as she wasn't too keen on friends of Suellen, but company was company, and she hadn't seen anyone besides the members of Tara's household since she'd been there. If she could do anything at all to help her situation, it was get back out into the world a little.

"Okay, Mammy. Help me put the dress on," she said, holding up her arms for Mammy to tighten her stays. "Pull them tight. If I can't feel good, at least I can look good. Oh, and find my pearl drop necklace. It's around here somewhere, in my valise I think. It'll look so pretty with that dress."

Mammy chuckled to herself. Her Lamb was gonna be all right.