AN: Sorry for the delay.
CHAPTER THREE
On arriving in Boston, Scarlett staunchly refused to set one foot off the boat. "I will not go
nearthose Yankees," she had huffed with a childish stamp of her foot in response to Rhett's
pleading. Finally, he convinced her to take a look at the busy port city, and with many
misgivings, Scarletttook her first footsteps into Yankee territory.
The docks were crowded, and many large men pushed and shoved, loading boats in the
crowded, salty smelling air. When Scarlett reached the streets of town, she made a small gasp of
surprise. There were so many people! And so many young women walking around without
escorts, but rather in groups of giggling friends. The Yankees may have been crude and
unpleasant, Scarlett soon realized, but they dressed so well. She looked hungrily into the many
windows of the stores that lined the streets, where maniqiuens wearing the latest fashions stared
coolly out from behind the glass.
On seeing her expression, Rhett laughed throatily, and took Scarlett's arm. "Come my dear,
youlook like a starving orphan staring into a bakery," he said, and when Scarlett began to
protesthotly, he dragged her into the nearest shop.
Scarlett emerged from the shop, laughing like a young girl. Tucked beneath Rhett's arm were
parcels containing lush velvets and dainty laces. It had been so long since she had dressed
prettily, and in frocks made of the rich fabrics she loved so well, and Rhett had promised her the
most beautiful dresses that could be made. The streets were still crowded with Yankee men and
women, but now they looked less vulgar to Scarlett's eyes. They were all so well dressed, and
she stored away ideas for her new gowns in her head as she watched the Bostonian women
strolling in the afternoon sun. Maybe Boston isn't all to bad she thought to herself as she
boarded the ship once more.
Cat tugged on Scarlett's dress, her almond shaped eyes staring pleadingly into Scarlett's
piercing green ones. "Mama, please let me go with Rhett on top of the boat!" the little girl
exclaimed. When Scarlett look questioningly towards Rhett, he explained that he wanted to take
Cat to the prow of the boat, where she could see the water in front of her and feel the ocean
breeze on her face. After giving a moments thought, Scarlett agreed, on the condition that she
would be allowed to go as well. It had been so long since she had watched the waves disappear
under the boat while the wind whipped at her hair.
Sweating lightly from the climb up to the prow of the boat, Scarlett was rewarded by the
cool breeze that lifted the tendrils of hair from her face and dried the beads of perspiration that
had formed at the back of her neck. She watched with a smile as Cat scampered around the
deck, flapping her arms like a bird. As she turned to face the water, she gasped at the beauty of
the sun sinking slowly down towards the horizon on her right. Rhett inhaled quickly, not at the
beauty of the sunset, but at the sight of Scarlett's face, which glowed with the soft light of the
setting sun. The light caught the loose pieces of hair around her face, lighting up like a halo, and
as Cat ran over to Scarlett in a rare moment of tenderness, the look on their faces as Scarlett
picked up her small daughter reminded Rhett of the Madonna with child.
That night, as Rhett held Scarlett in his arms, he whispered her name as she stirred sleepily.
She blinked several times, then turned her large green eyes to his dark ones, and a small smile
slipped across her face.
"Scarlett, my darling, I want Cat to know that I am her father."
Scarlett was instantly alert. "You want WHAT," she hissed.
"Calm down my dear, I'm not trying to steal our daughter from her, I simply wish her to
know that I am her father, and as we are getting remarried soon, I believe she should know,"
Rhett said calmly.
Scarlett's temper blazed, for reasons she could not know, but she answered quietly, "Rhett,
she would not understand, let her just think that you are her stepfather."
"Damn it all Scarlett, I will not have my own flesh and blood treat me as a stranger!" he
stormed before leaving her lying on the bed, slamming the door as he left.
