Here is Chapter 3. I really hope everyone likes it. It's the longest I have written so far. I think ya'll will like this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own any GWTW or SCARLETT characters.
The next morning went rather rapidly. Scarlett had Mrs. Fitz pack all the belongings and then she and Cat went for a late breakfast in the dinning hall around 9:00. Scarlett walked with Cat along the ship's deck because she knew she wouldn't have much time to be with Cat much this day.
The boat ported in Charleston a little earlier than expected. Scarlett kissed Cat's head and put her light green bonnet on.
"You want be used to this much sun, sweetheart. Scarlett said to Cat.
"Mrs. Fitz?" Scarlett asked rather serious
"Yes, Ms. Scarlett?" Mrs. Fitz answered
"Listen very careful to me. When we get off the ship and head for the train station you mustn't refer t o me as Ms. Scarlett, or Ms. O'Hara or anything. I don't even want you to walk close to me."
"I'm sure I don't understand, Ms…um..." Mrs. Fitz stammered.
"Just walk a few steps be hide me. Enough to see where I'm going but not enough to notice that we are traveling together. And I want you to act like Cat is your daughter." Scarlett explained
"My daughter, Ma'am, I…" Mrs. Fitz started confused
"Listen I have my reasons, and I…um… I'll explain it all later." Scarlett said, not really sure how she would explain it.
"Now is it all understood?" Scarlett asked kissing Cat's forehead again and handing her to Mrs. Fitz. "You won't even acknowledge me."
"Yes, Ma'am." Mrs. Fitz said.
"Good, at the train station though we can talk. Its just here in town we…" Scarlett was cut of by the sounds of footsteps exiting the ship.
"Ready?" Scarlett sighed, more to herself that to Mrs. Fitz
As the three made there way to the top deck Scarlett ran over things in her head. She had thought all last night about how she was going to solve the matter of caring Cat around. She figured that if anyone should see her then that would be fine, as long as she wasn't in Scarlett's arms. With Mrs. Fitz walking a few steps be hide her it would look as if Cat belonged to her instead of Scarlett. Then no one would suspect a thing.
Scarlett quickly made her way to train station which was only a couple streets down from the Charleston harbor. Every once and a while she would glance over her shoulder and make sure Mrs. Fitz and Cat were still be hide her then she would continue.
Scarlett stood waiting outside in the long line of people waiting to get tickets for the train. The hot sun was beating down making the temperature extremely warm. Scarlett had missed days like this but as she looked towards Cat and Mrs. Fitz she saw they weren't quite as comfortable. Cat was fussing form being held so long and Mrs. Fitz was obviously not used to the heat. Scarlett had no choice. She walked over to them and instructed Mrs. Fitz to go in one of the shops on the corner. It would be cooler in there and Scarlett would come get them as soon as she got the tickets.
With that Mrs. Fitz gladly made her way to the neatly decorated basket shop. She walked into the store happy to find it was cooler than standing outside in the unbeatable heat.
"Oh what a beautiful child." A white headed woman said as Mrs. Fitz removed Cats bonnet.
"Oh, thank you Ma'am." Mrs. Fitz responded
"My goodness, Anne, come here and look at this adorable child1" The woman said
Another brown headed lady joined the woman and put on a fake like smile.
"Yes, mother Butler she is." The woman agreed
"What's her name?" The older white headed woman asked
"Katie Column." Mrs. Fitz answered, remembering Scarlett's wishes not to have there names revealed.
"Katie." The woman smiled. "What a beautiful name; for a beautiful girl."
.Cat grinned.
Just then a tall dark featured man in a Panama hat entered the store.
"Find anything?" He asked both women.
"Well just a marvelously beautiful child." The older woman replied
"Really?" The man said walking toward the women
As joined the ladies he stopped dead in his tracks. There was something about this little girl that sent chills up his body.
"Isn't she the prettiest child you have ever seen?" The elder women asked
"Indeed." He said taken back in thought.
"Are you from around here?" The brown headed woman finally spoke up
"No Ma'am, we're from Ireland." Mrs. Fitz replied
Cat's green eyes were affixed to the man's and when he smiled at her she grinned back letting her dimples play and her eyes sparkle.
"So you and your, eh, daughter are from Ireland?" The man replied.
"Yes, sir. She was born there." Mrs. Fitz said.
"Well, if there are any other children half as beautiful as this one then Ireland is surely blessed." He said smiling at Cat as if he had seen her somewhere before.
"Darling, we really must be going if we are going to look at that other shop on the way home." The brown headed woman replied politely taking the man's arm.
"Oh, yes that's right my dear, we really should be going." The older woman agreed.
"It was very nice meeting you." The white headed woman smiled.
"Yes, goodbye." Mrs. Fitz said
The man stood looking at the child and then regained his composer.
"Goodbye my dear." The man said to Cat
As the two woman left with the man right be hide them Cat answered back.
"Bye." She said waving her small hand
The man thought his heart could have broken into a thousand pieces that moment. Without turning around the three left.
Only minutes later did Scarlett come in and get Mrs. Fitz and Cat.
"Ma'am?" Mrs. Fitz asked "I must tell you something."
"Not now, Mrs. Fitz the train is just about to leave for Jonesboro." Scarlett answered in a hurry and then three quickly boarded the train.
So what did ya think? I guess its safe to assume that everyone figured out that the man was Rhett, the older woman was his mother, and the younger woman was Anne. But if you didn't, I thought it would make it a tenser situation if I didn't use their real names. lol. Please send me a review.