Chapter 3

Six months later, Reginald had just returned from a foray out west, in Indian Territory. He lead his black horse from the train car in which he was packed, saddled him, and rode through the streets of Atlanta, beaming proudly. God, he loved being a soldier. He'd been exchanging letters with Scarlett. Oh Hellfire, Scarlett! Would she ever be pleased to see him! But, family first. He rode to his parents' horse farm outside of town. When he got there, he dismounted and knocked on the door. A man answered it.

"My son does not have to knock!" He said happily. "Come in!"

Reginald ran a hand through his blonde hair and grinned. "Mother!" he called out. "I'm home!"

Mrs. Thorndyke practically bounced down the stairs. "Reggie!" She cried joyfully, squeezing him tightly. "You look so thin! How awful, do they feed you?"

"Tastes like trash," said Reginald, "but you can live on it."

"Oh you need real food!"

"Reggie!" A little girl ran towards hun, tripping over in her excitement. She giggled, dusting herself off. "My brother's the best soldier in the whole army!"

"Ooh I sent those wild injuns runnin'!" Reginald crowed, picking his sister up and kissing her cheek. "How are you, little miss Angel?"

"Fantastic now that you're here. Why, Miss Amy's coming for dinner too!"

Reginald's stomach fluttered. "Oh, ah… great."

"I thought you liked Miss Amy."

"I… I do, but…". A knock came at the door.

"Hello, Charlie," said Reginald's mother.

"Charles Hamilton!" Said Reginald happily. "You're here too?"

"I wanted to welcome you home!"

"You will stay for dinner, won't you?" Mrs. Thorndyke asked.

"Of course! Oh, by the way… you'll never guess who else is here! Miss Scarlett and her sisters!"

"They're staying too," said Mr. Thorndyke. "It's a little house party."

The O'Haras soon showed up, and Scarlett smiled as she saw Reginald. "Reginald Thorndyke, you handsome old thing you!" She said fetchingly, kissing his cheek. "Cheer up, you look inconsolable, what's wrong?"

"Well, you see, I…"

That was when a red haired lady with pale skin entered the foyer. "Hello, Reginald," she purred.

"Oh, ah… Miss Amy," he said, clearing his throat. "This is Miss Scarlett O'Hara. We're courting."

Amy's face fell. "But… but you love me."

"Oh I care about you, yes, but… but ever since you left me for that lawyer from Savannah…"

"That lawyer was… he left me for some Yankee girl from Maine!"

"Alright, now that is disgusting, he has no taste."

Amy giggled. "And… and now I know that I… that you make me far happier."

Scarlett smiled sweetly. "Oh that may be but you, my dear, will find he loves me."

"Course I love you, sweetheart," he said, kissing Scarlett's forehead.

"But this isn't fair!"

"No, Amy. Leaving me while I was away at Fort Buchanan fighting Indians two years ago wasn't fair. I'm with Scarlett now, and that's flat."

"But… but…"

"I'm sorry, Amy," said Reginald softly. "You broke my heart."