Part Two, Chapter One
Working The Land
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"And the wind swept through Georgia..."
To split tje Confederacy. to leave it crippled and forever humbled, the Great Invader marched... leaving behind a path of destruction sixty miles wide, from Atlanta to the sea...
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Tara had survived the hell and famine of defeat...
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"My back's near broken," Anne Maria complained as she picked cotton. "Look at my hands. "Mother said you could always tell a lady by her hands."
"I guess things like hands and ladies don't matter so much anymore," said Beth. "You rest, Anne, you're not well yet, and I can pick cotton for the both of us."
"Courtney's hateful, making us work in the fields like-" she was cut off by Courtney walking up to them.
"Too bad about that," Courtney said, though she didn't care. "I can't do everything at Tara all by myslelf."
"What do I care about Tara?" Anne Maria asked. "I hate Tara!"
Courtney put down the bucket she was carrying and slapped Anne Maria's cheek.
"Don't you ever dare say you hate Tara again!" Courtney snapped. "The same as hating Pa and Ma."
Courtney walked over to put the bucket she was carrying down, where she was met by her father.
"Eliza Courtney, there's something I must speak to you about," said Geoff.
"Yes, Pa, what is it?" Courtney asked.
"I've been talking to Katie and Leshawna and I don't like the way you've been treating them. You must be firm with inferiors but you must be gentle with them, especially darkies."
"Yes, Pa, I know," said Courtney. "But I'm not asking them to do anything I'm not doing myself."
"Nevertheless, Eliza Courtney, I don't like it," said Geoff. "I shall speak to Mrs. Austen about it."
Eugenia went inside carrying a buckett with her. She put it down and saw Zoey coming downstair in a white nightgown and blue dressing gown.
"What are you doing out of bed, Zoey?" Courtney asked.
"Courtney, darling, I must talk to you," said Zoey kindly yet urgently. "You are all working so hard. I can't lie in bed and do nothing.
"Go on back upstairs," Courtney ordered. "You're as weak as a newborn colt."
"Please, Courtney, let me help," Zoey begged.
"Stop being noble," said Courtney. I've got enough on my hands without you making yourself sick so you'll never be any use."
"Oh, I didn't think of it that way," said Zoey.
She turned around and went upstairs.