Title: My Version Of GWTW
Chapter 3
Eventually, Kate gave away a few waltzes to a few of the boys but then Rhett approached and saved her from the multitude of bad dancers that the farmer boys were. They danced beautifully, Rhett and she, and made all the other dancers feel inadequate. The only other people who could dance like them were Marvelle and Galvin. The last dance she saved for her father. Finally the party ended and everybody left including Rhett fore he had business in Atlanta to attend to.
Kate went with Rhett to the station to drop him off and pick up a few odd and in things they needed at the farm. She put all the stuff in the wagon and headed home she didn't see anyone cleaning up outside but the lights inside were on. Maybe they were too tired, it wouldn't be the first time, thought Kate.
She put the horse and wagon away and walked up to the house to get Pa to help her carry the stuff into the house. She approached the house and got the shivers, it was too still on the farm for comfort. Something was going on inside that house or had already happened. Kate didn't know which but she was about to find out. She also didn't see a trembling figure peek out from around the corner of the house.
Kate hesitated, the front door was open a crack. We never, ever leave the door open even a crack especially of late it was too dangerous, the war was too close for that. Especially for the Lynch's who were a confederate family who lived in Yankee territory. Kate opened the door and took a deep breath to prepare her for the worst but nothing could have prepared her for what she saw. She screamed a wailing cry that combined both a scream of fear and a wail of pain and misery. Her father, Galvin was laying on the floor with a chest wound from a bullet. His eyes were open and he was still breathing. Oh thank God. Kate knelt down and then looked toward the back of the house and that's when she saw it. Her mother with her face scrunched up with horror and pain. Kate rose and ran toward her and saw that who ever was there was most definitely a man for her mother had been raped and killed, for sure. Then she heard it, a raspy voice coming form her father's usual calm, soothing Irish brogue. What was he saying? She got closer and heard him say her name desperately. She ran to his side with tears strolling down her cheeks.
"Listen to me, Kate. We don't have much time. A group of Yankees came barging in here and took me for a surprise. They took your mother and yes, they raped her and killed her right in front of me eyes. Then they took your two younger sister Theresa and Becca but they were sleeping so they didn't see anything." He paused for a breath of air.
"What about Lissa, Pa?" I asked rapidly.
"She snuck out through the window, they never saw her. They don't know she exists, thank God. Kate don't try to save me and don't call the police about our deaths. I don't want to be a casualty of war that will be starting in a month or so. Find Lissa and go to Tara, keep the farm; it's in your name in my will. Try to find Theresa and Becca but they might be lost causes. You can report their kidnapping. Find Rhett, give him this letter and watch out for him. He often needs help even though he doesn't know it. You will find your letters long with your sisters with my will. I love you, so did your mother. Do as I say, my darling. Good-bye. Don't forget us and don't lose hope. It is all that's left in a world as torn as ours."
"How could I forget you?" said Kate in a soft whisper after Galvin passed away. She shut his eyes and it looked as if he passed away peacefully, even if she knew he didn't. Then she walked over to her mother pulled down her dress fixed her face so it wasn't fear on her face just peace. She bent down and kissed her mothers face, "I love you, Momma," she said as the tears came uncontrollably. She sat there for an hour or more though it felt like days, with her knees pulled into her chest as she let the tears came. Then she went over to her father wiped away her tears and said confidently, "I'll do everything you say. I'll be strong. You won't have to worry about me, Pa. I'm strong." Then she got a ferocious look in her eyes. "Pa, I'm going to give you something to be proud of. I'm going to be the best at everything that crosses my path. I'll be the best mother, sister, friend, wife, farmer, hostess, dancer, musician, mid-wife, nurse, herbalist, or anything else that comes my way. You'll look down from heaven, see me, laugh and say that's my girl. You and Ma taught me everything I need to know to make my way in the world and in style, no less." as she proclaimed this she bent down and kissed him on the cheek in such a way it was like sealing a deal.
