Chapter 7

The bitterness of the damp cold streets bore through Scarlett's boots the next morning as Ashley helped her and Mammy down from the carriage and across the muddy path to the Mils office. Beau was perched at the small desk with a charcoal pencil doodling on a sketch pad.

His face brightened as his pretty Aunt Scarlett entered the office followed by Mammy.

"Good Morning!" Beau piped up running up for a hug. His soft brown eyes smiled up at Scarlett, as if Melanie was sending her a message from heaven.

Mammy took the small boy in her arms and cooed soft words in the boy's ear, that made him nod.

Ashley beamed at Beau exuberant smiles and behavior, but directed him to get back to his sketching, and he obediently returned to the desk followed by Mammy.

Scarlett sat at the larger desk, where the ledger was already opened for her to inspect. As usual there were uneven rows, and numbers that didn't add up to the invoices, and Ashley was relieved as her brows knitted together and one sigh after another heaved in her chest, that Hugh knocked on the door calling Ashley to meet with a new client.

It was nearly an hour when Scarlett had the books looking decent and together that she thanked her sister that she had not gone to Tara. Ashley lacked the discipline and perfectionism needed to keep the books straight, but she was happy when Ashley brought the new client in to meet Scarlett.

He was an older man, in his fifties, but well dressed and well spoken.

"Scarlett, this is Mr. Davies. He has come to inquire for some of our lumber for his building project."

Scarlett shook the man's hand and gleamed a smile, "Nice to make your acquaintance Mr. Davies. And what kind of project have you in mind that Kennedy and WIlkes lumber was your first stop?"

The man blushed, and smiled, "Well ma'am, I'm acquiring some land in rural area, and I'm planning to build a farmhouse, barn and stables. I owned a factory in North Carolina, but my son has taken over the running of it, so this is a dream I have had for a long time, to raise horses."

Scarlett sighed and smiled at a beaming Ashley, he would think a "dream" would be a wonderful idea.

"Well, I am happy we may help you with your, dream, sir."

Ashley followed Scarlett outside to the carriage with Beau and Mammy in tow, leaving Mr. Davies with his dream and a glass of water at the desk.

Once outside, Scarlett was serious with AShley, "This may be a very profitable venture with Mr. Davies. See if you can get his entire order up front, and give him a small discount, so he thinks he's getting it cheaper."

Ashley smiled.

"Listen to me!" Scarlett hissed, "The books are a mess, Beau could do a better job if I showed him."

Ashley went pale, as though she had slapped his face, "Scarlett? I have tried-"

"I don't need you to "try", I need you to "do" better."

Ashley's soft eyes drooped, and he nodded.

Scarlett's head started to tingle again, and her heart beat fast in her chest. Mammy saw her sway out of the corner of her eye, and hurried over to steady her.

"Scarlett?" Ashley asked concerned holding her other arm, "Are you feeling well?"

Scarlett just shook her head negative as her arms and legs turned cold, and the need to run unwillingly stayed in her mind, but her legs would not will it.

Mammy barked for Jonah, who scooped Scarlett up and sat her in the carriage, as Mammy slid in next to her patting her hand.

Ashley looked inside the window, "I'm sorry that I upset you, I hope you feel better soon. Beau and I will call on you in a few days."

Mammy watched Scarlett rub her temples and fidget with the fringe on her sleeve as the carriage made its way back to town. Scarlett's spell went away, and then a surge of tinglling renewed in her stomach and her limbs became cold again as she began to shake.

"Chile, what's wrong with you?"

Scarlett's throat was dry and she could barely speak.

"Miz Scarlett, you need to go see ?"

"No," Scarlett said, as if a child was asked to go, "I'm just tired, and upset."

"Well, I'm gonna put you up in bed, and you are going to have some real food, none of that coffee and toast for breakfast."

Scarlett was so tired and her spell was lasting longer now, so she gave Mammy no protests, which made the old woman worry even more.

As the carriage turned near the square, Scarlett remembered the market, and called out to Jonah, "Stop at the market."

"What you think you doin'?"

"Mammy, we need to go to the market, I don't have hardly anything in the house to eat."

"You not gonna fall out again?"

"I'll be fine."

At the market, Mammy followed behind her with the basket stocking up on the squash, beans and potatoes at the market. It wasn't very crowded as the chill in the air had a bitter bite. The Old Guard was tucked away in their homes, no doubt. As they made their way to the butcher, Scarlett saw the stiff trot of India Wilkes approaching from the east side of the street. Scarlett prepared herself to shun the "greyhound" as Pilar had called her, and a small smile spread across Scarlett's face, that made India stop in her tracks.

"What are you smiling at?"

Scarlett stared her straight in her eyes, and said, "Nothing, now."

India looked down her snout at Scarlett, and opened her mouth, and her squeaky voice chirped, "You are vile, and I refuse to speak to you on this street."

"Well, why don't you just keeping walking, I don't recall starting this conversation. By the way, you should be really proud of Beau's sketches, he was making a lovely sketch of his father when I saw them at the office this morning."

"Scarlett, you best leave my brother alone or I-"

"Is that what you are doing these days, India, worrying about your brother's virtue because nobody is wanting yours?"

India's face turned purple, then red and she stormed off toward the other side of the street.

Mammy witnessed the entire scene, and sat there with her mouth gaping open, "Miz Scarlett, why you acting like po' white trash?"

"Mammy, stop it. This is the best I have felt all day," Scarlett's voice sang, and for a moment she sounded like the sixteen year old belle.

At the butcher, Scarlett let Mammy do the ordering and nodded with approval, as the bill was settled. Mrs. Elsing came in just as the last of their orders were being placed, and smiled at Scarlett with a small nod.

" Good day, Mrs. Elsing," Scarlett chirped.

"Good day," answered the old woman, as she eyed the packs and packs of brown papered meet in Mammy's basket.

"Mrs. Elsing, the pork is beautiful today, perhaps you should get some for supper," offered Scarlett, thinking that the money she was using at the butcher was courtesy of her mills.

"I will have to look at it, thank you."

Scarlett nodded as she left the butcher and headed out in the street. Mammy looked at Scarlett and asked, "Are you feeling well, Miz Scarlett?"

"I feel much better walking, Mammy. I was just upset, the books was a mess and the Mills are doing terrible."

"Miz Scarlett, that ain't none of your worries. You should not even worry about that place."

Scarlett turned and said, "I promised Melly that I would take care of Ashley and Beau. I have to worry about it."

"You can't help people that don't help hisself," Mammy said what she had thought for so long, "And I think that Miz Melanie wants you to keep an eye on them, not do everything for them, you do too much."

Scarlett opened her mouth to speak, but Mammy went on, "I only saying this, cause my lamb is sick, you looked right poorly at that Mill, and you yelled at Mister Ashley. I's tellin' you, you need to rest."

Scarlett saw concern in Mammy's dark eyes and lowered her head, "Okay, Mammy."

At the end of the square the carriage waited for them, and Mammy urged Scarlett to get home as it was almost time for dinner, and she needed a rest. As they approached the carriage, a small figure walked toward them waving. Scarlett waved back and met Pilar at the corner.

"Scarlett, you haven't left yet?"

"Pilar, I'm glad to see you. No, plans have changed, my sister decided to visit family in Savannah, so I'm here for a few more weeks. Do come by and visit."

"No, no. It is my turn to return the hospitality. Won't you come to brunch at my house on Saturday morning. My cook is from New Orleans, and I know you will enjoy it. Why don't you come, too."

Pilar extended her hand to Mammy, and the old woman's eyes went wide.

"We would love to Pilar. I'll bring Mammy, maybe she can get some tips from your cook."

"Oh, yes, you will love my Nereesa, she cooks the best gumbo and her crepes are superior to your, pan cakes?"

Scarlett laughed, "Oh, I know just how delicious they are! We will see you Saturday, what time?'

"About eleven, that's when we eat."

"That sounds like a great time, I can get my beauty rest."

Pilar reached over and kissed Scarletts cheek and pet Mammy's hand, "We will be glad to see you."

As soon as the carriage door closed Mammy glared at Scarlett, "Now who is that?"

"Mammy, her name is Pilar. She's is from New Orleans."

"She is too friendly with black folks, I kno' not what to do when she asked me to her house. It ain't proper."

"In New Orleans people are very friendly with black folks. Some of them are even married to whites."

"What? Na' that lady, she talk funny? Is she from another place?"

"No, she's born in New Orleans."

"Why she talk funny, and she is sun burnt, people in Na' Awlins, don't mind the sun?"

"She speaks Spanish, her family is from Cuba. SHe is naturally dark skinned, Mammy."

Mammy just shook her head, "You know you could be friends with these Atlanta ladies, and not dos' gypsies from Na' Awlins-"

"Those "ladies" as you call them, are evil and malicious. They hate me, and Pilar is the first "lady" who has shown me some kindness, so enough about her. We are going to eat at her house on Saturday."

"Who eat pancakes at 11 o'clock, that is too late for breakfast and too early for dinner."

"Fiddle dee dee, Mammy, Rhett and I ate breakfast at noon in New Orleans."

"Miz Scareltt, I don't need to kno' that."

Scarlett suddenly blushed at what she led to with her statement, and changed the subject, "I just want to take a nap as soon as I get in-"

"No you isn't you gonna eat sumpthin, first, you looking so pale."

Scarlett settled back and felt her stomach growl for the first time in weeks, and actually felt like eating a pancake, some grits and a hot cup of coffee.