Kindness of Strangers

Chapter 11

"Emmie! Emmie, get back here!" Scarlett scolded the little girl who went running down the stairs with her dress not yet buttoned, and her hair only half done up in green ribbons. Scarlett watched her from the top of the stairs in irritation, how shameless Emmie was to go running through the house practically half dressed!

"Daddy! Daddy, where are you going!" she cried. "Don't leave!"

Rhett placed his things down and turned, laughing at the sight of the small child. "Why, Emmie! You know better than to go around half dressed."

"I don't care." she pouted, "Take me with you!"

"Oh no, not in the state you're in."

Emmie furrowed her eyebrows in anger, "Well, aren't you going to say goodbye?"

Rhett laughed again at Emmie's amusing ways, "Ah, but of course!" he swooped her up and kissed her on the cheek "A good-bye kiss for you!"

Emmie giggled loudly, "Now one for Mother!" she declared as Rhett set her back on the ground.

Scarlett raised her brows at Emmie's demand and smirked at Rhett, wondering if he would obey the bossy little thing.

"The sooner I leave Emmie, the sooner I get back. Do you want anything while I'm gone?"

Emmie cocked her head in thought, "A dress! I want a new dress Daddy!"

"You have so many dresses Emmie." Scarlett interjected from her spot at the top of the stairs.

"Please Daddy?" Emmie pouted ignoring Scarlett.

Rhett smiled down at her, "Why of course I will! And it will be a magnificent green, to match those pretty little eyes of yours."

Emmie squealed with excitement, and wore a sweet little southern belle simple. Rhett wondered where Emmie had learned her behaviors, certainly not from Isabella.

How ridiculous! Scarlett thought to herself, That silly little thing has enough dresses to last her a lifetime. And if I ever see green again it will be way to soon!

"Let's play a game Mother!" Emmie decided not long after Rhett had made his departure.

Scarlett finally finished tying the last ribbon in the child's hair, "Like what?"

"I want to play dress-up!"

"Oh no!" Scarlett countered. "Not after I just finished dressing you! And not with my dresses, if that's what you're thinking!"

"Why not?" Emmie demanded turning in her seat to face her.

"I just told you why not Emmie, go outside and play instead."

"I'm tired of playing outside!" she whined, "I hate being outside!"

"And I hate little girls who don't do what they're told to do." Scarlett snapped back nudging the child out of her seat.

Emmie stomped her foot and crossed her arms, "I won't play outside! I won't do it!"

Scarlett's temper escalated immensely at Emmie's pouting and disobedience, "Yes, you will!"

"Then you'll have to catch me first!" she screamed back taking off through the house again.

"Emmie!" Scarlett screeched. "Stop it! Stop it this instant!" She had no intentions to chase after the girl, but Emmie was persistent and continued to scream through the house.

Scarlett stepped out into the hall and caught Emmie by surprise who giggled and turned and ran in the other direction towards the staircase. Scarlett glared in irritation and followed the child at her own leisurely pace. "Be careful." Scarlett warned as Emmie started tromping down the large staircase.

"You can't catch me!"

"Emmie, be careful!" Scarlett repeated.

Emmie continued to laugh excitedly caught up in the thrill of the game she had started. She rushed down the stairs still, hardly paying her footing any attention.

Scarlett watched in horror as the small girl toppled down the remaining of the staircase. She couldn't breath, she couldn't hear, she couldn't see. But most of all, Scarlett couldn't believe it.

Thomas poured a drink and smiled, "What a pleasure to see you Rhett! Things are going well with Emmie I hope?"

Rhett took the drink and nodded, "Yes, very well Thomas. Why, she's no trouble at all."

"That's good to hear. Now, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Actually Thomas, there is. I would be very greatful if you could inform me of how Isabella and Henry passed. You see, Emmie has actually begun to have nightmares but she can't say what of. I was thinking, just maybe it had to do with their deaths? She seems to have forgotten them... but perhaps her subconscious?"

The elder man rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "Oh... oh I see." Thomas paused taking time to explain, "Well Rhett, to my knowledge Isabella and Henry drowned."

"Drowned?" Rhett repeated astonished, "That isn't possible. Isabella hated water, she told me so herself. She would never go near it."

"I don't know what to tell you then Rhett... that's how it happened. The coroner determined it."

"Well that doesn't help me any..." he grumbled setting his glass down and leaning back in the large armchair.

Thomas looked at him with interest, "Rhett, what do you think my granddaughter is having nightmares about, exactly?"

Rhett looked up at him, "Considering their shocking, untimely deaths, I thought perhaps Isabella and Henry... well, I thought perhaps they were murdered and Emmie got caught in the middle of it. London can be a pretty nasty place sometimes, you know?"

"What an interesting thought." Thomas frowned, "But highly unlikely, if Emmie was caught in the middle of such a thing why wouldn't the murder take care of her as well? It's all very unlikely, don't you think?"

"No." Rhett said standing, "No, I don't think. And learning that their supposed deaths are of drowning only makes me that much more suspicious."

"Well what are you going to do? Tell such things to the three year old? You'll only scare her more if you're wrong."

"I bet I'm not far off." Rhett muttered collecting his hat, "And I don't bet on things I'm not sure of. Good-day Thomas, hopefully our next meeting can be a less morbid one."

Thomas nodded, "Yes Rhett, I hope so."