Kindness of Strangers
Chapter 25
Emmie gritted her teeth in pain and dug her fingernails into the bedpost as Scarlett ruthlessly yanked at her corset strings. "If you make it any tighter I shall faint!" Emmie exasperated.
"Are you sucking in?" Scarlett snapped. "It shouldn't be this difficult! You're not letting yourself go- are you? You can be quite a glutton when you want to, you must stop that you know. It will ruin your figure."
"I am sucking in- and I'm not a glutton!" she sneered with an ugly frown. "It's only tea Mother, I think I have the right to be able to breath!"
Scarlett rolled her eyes and tied the corset tightly before stepping away, "I don't know why I help you at all Emmie, all you ever do is whine."
Emmie stuck her tongue out as Scarlett turned her back and opened the wardrobe. Emmie crossed her arms, "What are you doing? I already picked my dress!"
"Oh, don't wear that old thing. Wear this one instead."
Emmie gasped as a full-skirted white dress with a large red bow and matching red accents was thrown into her arms, she naturally frowned in disapproval, "Oh Mother, but it's so boring and childish, really!"
Scarlett smirked, "This from the girl who claims, 'it's only tea'. If it's only tea that dress will suit you just fine."
She huffed and pouted for a good few minutes before complying and stepping into the simple and girlish dress.
He will laugh at me! Emmie thought with dread as she peered at herself in the mirror. She had always looked younger than her age, but now she felt she really was that somewhat awkward twelve year old all over again. But she fixed the messy strands of hair and complied to come down stairs.
Much to Emmie's horror Austin had already arrived and was having what seemed to be a rather entertaining conversation with Rhett. She swept into the room and grabbed onto Austin's arm somewhat possessively. "I hope you weren't waiting too long Mr. Wyatt. I didn't know you were here." While she gave Austin her sweet delicate smile when her eyes turned on Rhett they widened telling him to leave.
Rhett smirked at this and held back a laugh, yet he watched her carefully back. He had talked to Austin a few minutes before and genuinely like the young man. But simply as a young man, not as a potential bachelor for Emmie.
Scarlett completely disagreed with Rhett in this viewpoint. From what she had heard and seen of Austin, he seemed like the perfect match for the stubborn and unbending Emmie who often claimed that no man could ever tame her. Scarlett thought Austin certainly could.
"I hope Papa wasn't too much of a bother." Emmie sighed as she led Austin into the sitting room where the tray of tea and snacks were already neatly laid out.
Austin smirked as he sat in a large armchair, "I found him quite amusing. It was no trouble at all."
"He didn't harass you, did he? He can be a little overbearing and protective sometimes."
"I would not blame him for being like that. After all, the thing he has to protect is very special."
Austin's obvious compliments somewhat irritated Emmie, as she found them common and hackneyed. Yet as she poured the cups of tea she could not fight the light blush that came to her cheeks. "What other lines do you use on poor young girls like me?"
He laughed, "Your sharp tongue rather amuses me. I do not use lines on young ladies Miss. Butler. That's child play. I'm not a child... neither are you. I thought our conversation could be somewhat more mature."
Emmie looked up and frowned at the amused smirk and glint in his eye, "If you are going to be unpleasant and vile-"
"There you go again giving yourself airs!" Austin continued to laugh at her. "Tell me Miss. Butler, you have never had a calling gentleman over before have you?"
"Gentleman? I see no gentleman here."
"Ouch! How clever you are, but you avoided the question."
"I only just got back from Paris, I haven't had time. But I have plenty of suitable callers. Most much more well-mannered than you." she snapped defensively.
Austin took a sip from his teacup and frowned, "Do you really want a goose of a husband? A well-mannered, submissive, fool?"
Emmie glared, "Well-mannered men do not have to be submissive and foolish! What an unkind thing to say."
"I rather think Beau Wilkes is one of those gentlemen though. He has so much chivalry it makes me sick."
"How dare you!" Emmie hissed leaping from her seat, "How dare you speak of Beau like that! He's half the gentleman you'll ever be!"
Austin smiled with triumph, "So you do like the Wilkes boy! I figured as much. He turned you down for Margaret didn't he? That proves he is a fool. Always putting honor first..."
"Why would that make him fool? You don't know anything about me. What you suggest is that looks is all that matters! I will never marry a man who sees me as property and flaunts me at parties!"
"Ah, so you want a man to marry you, for you. That never happens. While it's important, money and attractiveness appeal to men much more." Austin said gravely crossing one leg over the other.
"You really are an atrocious man!" Emmie cried, "How could you say such things?"
Austin stood and approached her, "Because they are true, and I always speak the truth. The one good trait that graces me I suppose?"
Emmie sniffled and looked up at him, "I suppose."
"Glad to see you approve," he smirked before tilting her chin up with his finger, "Will you smile for me now?"
"Why should I?" Emmie huffed furrowing her brows. She did not like Austin handling her so.
"Because I'm sorry for upsetting you, and want your forgiveness." he added grabbing her by the waist and pulling her closer to him.
Emmie's eyes widened in surprise and she glared at him harshly, "I won't! Turn me loose, and don't hold me like that! I'll tell my Mother on you." she warned.
But Emmie was further shocked when Austin disregarded her threat and kissed her so deeply and passionately that she felt as if her breath was stolen from her. She could hardly breath with her corset pulled so tight, Austin's kiss made her nearly fall weak at the knees. Of course Emmie knew letting Austin kiss her in such a manner was disgraceful, and while she longed to smack him she stood there clinging to him desperately, never wanting it to end.
"Do you forgive me now?" he smirked.
Emmie caught her breath and nodded her head, too dazed to answer him.
"And you won't tell on me, this will be our little secret?"
She nodded again, almost obediently. Although he had pulled away from her, Emmie remained latched onto his jacket afraid she would fall if she let go.
Austin laughed at her lightly and broke away from the grasp that turned her knuckles white, "Good day Miss. Butler."
After Austin left her in the sitting room, Emmie collapsed on a near by couch and laid there for many minutes in silence before sitting up suddenly and screaming in anger. She leaped up and threw pillows at the big curtain drawn windows.
"Damn him! How dare he! How dare he!" she roared, as if the events of a few minutes before just sunk in.
It had been many years since Emmie had thrown a temper tantrum, and this was certainly one of the worst ones yet. Luckily for everyone, there was nothing more in the sitting room than books and pillows, or Emmie may have done some serious damage.
Scarlett and Rhett were shocked to find Emmie in such a state and demanded to know what was a matter, but Emmie refused to tell them. They would be appalled with her, when it was not her fault. And they would not understand why she really was so upset. She was not outraged that Austin had kissed her, Emmie enjoyed that very much. She was more enraged at herself for not stopping him. She had become just what Margaret had taken her for, a foolish, lusty girl.
Emmie would not dare tell Scarlett or Rhett about her incident with Austin, but Emmie was silly and somewhat proud of this rebellious nature in the back of her mind. She had to share it with someone, someone she could trust.
She could think of no one better than Beth. Beth who had met Austin the day before, Beth who was so shy and isolated from the rest of the world. Surely she would love to hear such news, as it would be light and amusing for the modest little creature who seemed constantly surrounded by harship and grave occurences.
So Emmie set out to visit her delicate little friend, of whom she had grown to love very much. When she saw that Beth was not out working like she always was, worry shook her to the core. Beth was deticated to the small little farm her parents had thrust upon her and would not rest until the days work was done. Even when it was done, Beth much more enjoyed laying about outside then being cooped up in the small stuffy house she had been born and raised in. Something was amiss, that much was certain, and Emmie was determined to figure out just what that was.
Her answer was given when she reached the door, for when she opened it she found a doctor inside. "What's going on? What's the matter? Where is Beth!" Emmie demanded with such authority and care, that if class differences could not be seen between them one would have thought they were truely sisters.
"Girl, you best get out of here." the doctor warned as he gathered up his things, "Scarlet fever resides here, you best not be catching it."
Mention of such a deadly disease hardly fazed the girl and she looked at the doctor with disgust, "I don't care. You think I care if my Beth has scarlet fever? Let me see her, I demand it."
The middle aged man shook his head in disbelieve but obeyed to Emmie's command, seeing he would never persuade her otherwise. "Who are your parents girl? Why aren't you at home?"
"You must be new..." Emmie muttered, everyone knew who she was- where she came from. "Who I am is no concern to you."
"She won't live long, I'd hate to tell you. So you best be saying your goodbyes. I only hope you don't catch the fever in the process."
Emmie had ignored the doctor from that point and went directly into the small bedroom and sat at Beth's side. For a moment that's all the young girl could do as she stared with a heavy heart at her friends thin face splotched with red rashes. She had seen Beth's health was not in great shape the day before, but she never expected this. Beth must have been suffering long before she returned, it would be just like her feeble little friend to not tell her in worry that she may frighten or disturb Emmie. The truth was Emmie was much more distraught now as she sat on the small wooden stool and knew for certain that while she may be able to escape the fevers clutches, Beth stood no chance.
"You should not be here Scarlett Anne..." Beth whispered softly as her big dark eyes fluttered open, "But I'm glad you are... so very glad."
Emmie could not control the tears that sprung to her eyes as Beth smiled weakly at her presense, "Oh Beth, why didn't you tell me? I could have taken it then, but not now! You can't leave me, you just can't! You are my conciense, my morals. Without you I shall be lost more than ever. I can't let you go- I won't."
"You can and you will... poor Scarlett. You are too hard on yourself, and don't give yourself credit... for the characteristics you possess. You are the kindest friend I have ever known. You are modest and considerate and would do anything to help another... like yesterday. Yesterday when you ruined your baby soft hands- just to help me."
She scrunched her eyes and felt the tears land in her lap, "I'm not any of those things Bethy. I'm selfish and shrewd. Ignorant and heartless."
"You have never shown me any such qualities... if you could do one thing for me Scarlett Anne... do you know what it would be?" the girl breathed with such shallowness Emmie had to lean in to hear her.
"What Beth, I'll do anything."
"Let people see you, the way I see you. Don't lock your heart away as you often do... you have such a big heart Scarlett Anne, although you may not know it. Although you may protest and insist it isn't there- it is. It has always been there. But something made you shut it up... hide it from the rest of the world." Beth shut her eyes and continued, "may I dare say I helped you discover it again? I think I did... it would be nice to know I did something good in life besides tending to the feilds I love so much. Although land can never leave you, it can not love you in return. No one had time to love me, except you Scarlett dear, and for that... for that I will always be grateful."
Beth's speech touched Emmie so deeply she weeped shamefully, "If you leave me Beth I have nothing else to live for! Nothing else to fight for!"
Beth watched her friend sob for many minutes, she had wished to spare Emmie such pain but perhaps it was fate that they were able to say goodbye instead of never knowing. It was in these minutes that Beth remembered something Emmie herself knew very little of, "Your mother once told me about a plantation she owns..." Beth began with a gentle smile on her face as she remembered Scarlett's description of the red earth, never ending cotten feilds, and beautiful white estate for which the land was known for.
Emmie looked up from her hands and wiped her tears, "Tara? Mother told you about Tara?"
"She did, and it sounded so lovely... I wish I had the chance to see it."
"I haven't seen it myself..." Emmie muttered slightly ashamed.
"You will see it one day, I'm sure... and when you do you can think of me and then maybe you won't be so lonely. Maybe when you visit Tara one day you can know that I will always be with you. If we had seen Tara together in life, I'm sure it would have been our place. It can still be our place if you want it to be. So don't you see? You have many things to live for. Your mother who loves you more than you know, your papa who dotes on you. And Tara. You'll always have Tara."
"Oh Beth... I could remember you without some silly old plantation. You've been so much to me. Helped me in so many ways... but I will try to get on without you, although I don't want to. Whenever I'm at Tara I shall think of you always, and never stop doing so as long as I live."
This was enough assurance for Beth who gave Emmie one last smile. One last glimmer of light in those large dark eyes in which she found so much comfort. And as a large gust of wind broke through the weak windows of the bedroom, Beth was gone.
I can not claim Beth as my own, as some of you may notice she is nearly just like Beth March from Little Women. I simply made a few alterations to fit her into Emmie's world more easily. Although short-lived, Beth is a large symbol in my story. I will not reveal what she stands for, as some of it is obvious, and the other not so obvious part is for my readers to decide for themselves! The chapter is long, and took a dramatic turn- but I hope you guys enjoyed it. Can't wait to hear from you!