Since the day Ashley left Melanie hadn't been the same. She had been a little more gloomier. Sometimes she would be sitting in the parlor frowning but then other times she'd be giggling or smiling for no reason at all. Scarlett was the same, still bored and still having nothing to do. The war was getting worse by the months but nothing for them to worry about yet.
One day Melanie went out for a reason no one knew. And when she came back she had the biggest smile on her face.
Melanie rushed up the stairs to Scarlett's room. She opened the door and said, "Scarlett! Scarlett! Oh Scarlett, I'm so happy!"
Scarlett looked at her and got extremely annoyed.
"What is it? Is Ashley coming home again?"
"No. But I wish that were true." Melanie frowned for a moment then she looked up and smiled again, "Scarlett! It's not that. You won't believe it!"
Scarlett scowled, "Melanie Wilkes you had better tell me and you better tell me quick because I promised Wade I'd play soldiers with him."
Melanie giggled and said, "Oh Scarlett, you see well--I've come to tell you that--well--I"
Scarlett sighed and said, "Melly, if you don't tell me right this minute--"
Melanie smiled and said, "Alright I'll tell you. I'm going--to--to have a baby!" Melanie blushed a little but was still excited.
Scarlett was shocked. "Well at least she won't be as gloomy as before." she thought.
"That's fine Melly. I'm glad." Scarlett said trying to sound happy.
"Yes I know! Thank you Scarlett. I wonder if I should tell Aunt Pitty yet." Melanie walked away thinking.
The next few months went by and Melanie got more futhur into her pregnancy. She usually stayed in bed and rarely got out only to go downstairs and eat. The war was getting worse by the days. And the Yankees were coming closer and closer to Atlanta. Scarlett was nursing the soldiers that were wounded everyday and rarely had time to spare.
Everything was chaotic in Atlanta. People rushing everywhere and people riding out of Atlanta and into Atlanta. It was hard to even walk on the sides of streets it was so crowded.
"Scarlett." Dr. Meade called. "Hand me that towel. You needn't be daydreaming! We've got work to do." Dr. Meade said and Scarlett quickly handed him the wet towel and watched as Dr. Meade put it on the soldiers face. "Hand me another." Dr. Meade ordered and Scarlett quickly handed him another towel. "Oh Dr. Meade, do you think the Yankees will get into Atlanta?" Scarlett asked. He looked up and smiled hopefully and said, "Now don't worry about that child. We just have to wait--and see--" He had a little worried look on his face then quickly continued what he was doing.
Another doctor called Scarlett and she quickly rushed to aid him.
By the late afternoon Scarlett was tired and felt so sick seeing all the blood and the dying.
"I'm goin' home now. I haven't seen my family in days. Scarlett you can take a break if you like also."
Scarlett nodded and sighed with relief.
"Another minute in this hospital will kill me!"
She walked out of the hospital to see the streets still as busy as it was. She ran and tried not to get trampled by the horses that were storming everywhere.
"Oh!" Scarlett cried full of frustration. She thought she heard wrong but she heard someone calling her name. It was Rhett!
"Scarlett! Woah. Climb in you shouldn't be walking on the streets with all this going on."
"Oh Rhett! Thank you! Please could you drive me to Aunt Pitty's" Scarlett said loudly as she climbed into the buggy.
Rhett smiled as she climbed into the buggy.
"I'll bet your sick and tired of all that nursing."
"Oh Rhett, I'm am! I also have so much I have to do...Aunt Pitty is thinking of leaving Atlanta, oh, and Melly is expecting. And--oh!"
She covered her mouth and gasped.
Rhett laughed loudly and said, "Scarlett no need to get embarassed. Almost everyone in town knows since she was nursing over 5 months ago and so abruptly quit. Everybody knows that pregnancy is the only thing that will keep Melanie Wilkes from nursing and helping the Cause."
"Oh." Scarlett said quietly.
They pulled up in front of the house and Rhett turned to her and said, "Well here we are."
They both stared at each other for a moment then Scarlett said loudly, "uh--Thank you Rhett. I don't know if I could've made it here without you." She ended sarcastically.
He laughed loudly and said, "Your most welcome Scarlett."
"Good bye" Scarlett said just loud enough for him to hear, and she jumped out of the buggy and walked on the front porch. She opened the door to find Aunt Pitty and Uncle Peter rushing around the place.
"What?" Scarlett said confused.
"Oh no! They're leaving!" Scarlett thought.
Aunt Pitty came up to her and said, "Oh Scarlett, you're finally back!"
"Aunt Pitty you aren't leaving!" Scarlett cried.
"Oh Scarlett, I don't know what else to do! People are leaving everyday now! And oh Scarlett--Uncle Peter don't forget--"
"I won't Miss Pitty Pat. Come on now letsa geta goin'."
They both walked outside and Scarlett ran after them.
"Wait--don't leave yet! We're coming too! All of us, Melly, Wade, Prissy, and I! Wait don't leave I'll be right down." Scarlett shouted at them.
She was about to run into the house when she heard Dr. Meade yell her name.
"Scarlett!" Dr. Meade said as he walked to her.
"Dr. Meade I'm leaving! Auntie is leaving and so is Uncle Peter and--"
"Scarlett you can't go! You've got to stay and help the hospital." Dr. Meade said firmly.
"Oh bother the soldiers...bother the hospital I don't--"
"Never mind the hospital or the soldiers but what about Melanie. She's expecting the baby really soon. She could have it anytime. Would you want to risk having the baby in that buggy."
Scarlett's heart sank. "Oh the baby!"
Scarlett was silent for a moment thinking then Dr. Meade spoke again this time in a lower voice.
"Scarlett, Ashley is fighting for the Cause--he may be wounded--he may be dead. We owe him a well born child."
Scarlett scowled, "Oh alright I'll stay, but it isn't for Ashley's sake but for Melanie's alone."
Scarlett yelled to Aunt Pitty and Uncle Peter to go without her then she turned back to go inside.
Scarlett stayed but she regretted it as each day went on. Melanie's baby hadn't come yet and it was almost as if she would never have that baby at all! Scarlett continued to work in the hospital but stopped after she heard one day that the Yankees were more near to Atlanta than ever.
Scarlett walked home from the hospital that day after she had heard that. The streets were almost all the way empty. Then she heard horses hooves. She quickly looked all about her and finally spotted a man riding like the wind down the street.
Scarlett ran out into the street and held up her hand and said, "Oh please sir, please."
"Yes Ma'am?" he stopped and looked impatient.
"Is it true that the Yankees are close--are they really going to get into Atlanta?" Scarlett yelled.
"I'm afraid so. You'd better head to a different place quick! If you'll excuse me ma'am." With that being said he kicked his horse hard and rode off.
"Oh!" Scarlett said quietly and ran home.
When Scarlett got there she quickly ran inside to tell Prissy to pack everything.
"Prissy! Prissy come here!"
Prissy came flying at the urgency in Scarlett's voice.
"Yasm' Miss. Scarlett?"
"Get everything packed! We're heading to Tara."
"Miss. Scarlett are the Yankees here! Oh lordsy!" Prissy started to get frantic.
"Stop it! Go get everything packed now! We haven't got time for this!"
Scarlett finished her sentence then ran up the stairs and ran to Melanie's room.
"Melly, Prissy's getting our things packed we're heading to--" Scarlett stopped abruptly as she saw the pain in Melanie's face. And then it hit her.
"The baby! It's coming now?" Scarlett asked, her voice sounded frantic.
Melanie nodded and said, "Oh I'm sorry Scarlett, this is just the worst time for it to happen. It--it started at daybreak."
Scarlett's heart sank. Yet again Melanie stopped her from leaving to safety.
"Oh--" Scarlett said quietly.
"Oh Scarlett you've been so good to me. I don't know how I can thank you. You'd probably be safe at Tara or somewhere if it weren't for--me" Melanie said sadly.
Melanie held out her hand for Scarlett to take. Scarlett took it and sat down in the chair next to the bed.
"Scarlett, I've been thinking--if I--if I don't make it through--you know--will you," her face winced with pain and she sighed, "will you take my baby?"
Scarlett let go of her hand and stood up and said loudly, "Melanie Wilkes you will pull through this! You will not speak this way. You will make it if I have any say in it and you'll have your baby. Don't talk that way."
Melanie tried to smile but pain was visible on her face and she turned whiter.
"I'm going to tell Prissy to get Dr. Meade--"
Melanie said quickly, "Oh no! You couldn't do that not when--oh--" Melanie couldn't finish her sentence and she held the bed sheets and started breathing quicker.
"Oh--Prissy! Prissy!" Scarlett ran out of the room and shouted.
"Yasm'!" Prissy said with a worried look.
"Go get Dr. Meade, Melly's having her baby."
Prissy looked shocked, "Mrs. Melly is--"
"God's Nightgown did you hear me! I said go get him and get him quick! Tell him that she's having her baby and to come right away!"
Prissy immediately ran out of the hall and quickly went out the front door.
Scarlett sighed tiredly. "I'll go get some cool water then."
Scarlett sat there fanning Melanie and occasionally wiping her off with a damp rag waiting for Prissy to come with Dr. Meade. It was visible that Melanie's pains were getting much more severe and that it was only a matter of hours until the baby came.
"Where is that Prissy! I don't know how long it has been...an hour maybe two. Or maybe it has only been a half an hour--how time goes slow."
Melanie looked at Scarlett and smiled a little and said, "Oh Scarlett, you're so good to me--"
"Hush Melly, you need to save your strength, and not talk to me--Dr. Meade will be here I know it--" Scarlett said and then laughed a little, "Mother says that it seems the doctor will never--"
Scarlett quickly stopped her sentence when she heard a door shut downstairs. She quickly dropped the fan on the floor and set the rag down and ran down the stairs to find Prissy standing there---alone."
Scarlett looked at her in horror, "Prissy--" Scarlett started causiously, "--whe--whereis Dr. Meade?"
Prissy looked at her like a frightened little goat and said quietly, "I'z wents up all the way to where he was at---there were so many dead folks on the street it scared me so--" Prissy whimpered remembering what she saw--all the dead soldiers, "--and I'z tole him that Miss. Melly was gwine to have de baby but he says, 'I'z cain't leave these here folks for a baby, and tole me to go 'way 'n getz some one else to helps us." Prissy looked at her with a frightened look.
While heaing Prissy speak she was shocked, "I'm going to have to--oh no! He has tocome--he's just got to come--oh this can't be happening."
"Oh---" Scarlett groaned and sat on the bottom step of the stair andburried her head in herlap--breathing heavily and sighing.
"I'z sorry Miz Scarlett--really I is! Ya aren't gonna punish me now that the docta' cain't come?" Prissy said frantically.
Scarlett looked up and with a heavy heart she got up and said, "No Prissy--I'm not going to punish you. Do you know anything about delivering babies?"
Prissy looked doubtful and worried, "No'm Miz Scarlett, I don't know--"
Scarlett interrupted her and said, "Alright then--" Scarlett said frustrated then thought for a moment then said, "--go light the fire on the stove--keep boiling water in the kettle, get me the ball of twine and--all the clean towels you can find--and--and the scissors--and don't you dare come telling me you can't find them! Go get them--and get them as quick as you can!" Scarlett said a little more harshly.
Prissy nodded and ran to find the things that Scarlett had told her to get.
Scarlett ran back up to Melanie as she heard her crying out, "Oh--Scarlett come--oh--"
Scarlett got up to the room and Melanie was swishing around in the bed violently.
"It's getting worse!" Melanie said with tiny voice.
"Yes Melly, I know--it hurt that much too when I was pregnant with Wade." Scarlett said reasuringly.
"Is Dr. Meade coming?" Melanie asked.
Scarlett sighed frowned, "No Melly, he can't come--we'll manage without him and it'll be fine--" Scarlett started. "--I think." she said in a quiet voice.
The next hours were the worst hours Scarlett had ever had in her life. Melanie was grabbing the bed sheets and conceiling her pain instead of shouting. Her face was full of pain as the baby started coming.
"Oh Scarlett--it hurts! Oh it hurts so terribly! Please--help me--talk to me--" Melanie said her voice tiny and full of pain and helplessness.
"Oh Melly for the third time scream all your pains out instead of hiding it--nobody is going to hear you!" Scarlett looked in horror as she saw the baby coming.
"Oh God, Prissy the baby is coming--"
So Beaugaurd Wilkes was born that hour and Scarlett had never felt so tired and relieved in her life.
She had sent Prissy off a few minutes ago to get Rhett to take them out of this damn town and go back home to Tara.
She sat there on the couch near the door and looked at it--waiting for them to come. She looked at that door and suddenly because extremely tired--so tired--the door was turning foggy now and she was slowly falling asleep. And in an instant she was awakened by a loud cannon booming close by. She jumped and her heart was beating faster than it had ever beated and she sighed and suddenly heard horse hoves--the sound was coming closer and closer until finally it stopped and she heard Rhett say, "Woah--Woah--"
Scarlett sighed with relief and ran out busting the door open and cried, "Oh Rhett--is that you? Oh--I knew you'd come!"
Rhett grinned and got out of the buggy. "Well Scarlett--Prissy tells me that you needed me to help you on your journey from Atlanta--"
"Yes Rhett--we're leaving--" Just then a cannon sounded off and she cried, "Oh the Yankees!"
Rhett patted her shoulder and said, "No--those are just the remainder of our army trying to block them out."
Scarlett sighed with relief and said, "Oh thank God, then we still have time to get everything ready and leave."
"Just where do you plan on going?"
"Home--to Tara."
Rhett grabbed and looked at her sternly and said, "Tara? Don't you know they were fighting at Tara all day--we can't go to Tara--"
Scarlett cried out in frustration and anger, "We're going to Tara even if the Yankees were fighting all day there! And you can't stop me from going! I'm going home--"
Rhett said more harshly, "You fool, Tara's probably burnt to the ground! We're not--"
Scarlett's emotion turned on at that moment and she felt all her hurt, frustration, anger, and stress come pounding on her chest and she cried, "I'm going home if I have to walk every step of the way! I'll kill you if you try to stop me! You--you can't stop me! You can't--I'll kill you if you try--I will--" she was suddenly crying, hot tears running down her face as fast as rain falls in April. And suddenly she was in Rhett's arms and he was comforting her. Oh, it felt so good to be in the strong, warm arms of a man. Protecting her, and comforting her.
"Alright Scarlett darling--now, we shall go--now dry your eyes and stop crying." Rhett said softly and gently pulled out his hankerchief and wiped her tears away.
She looked at him and smiled and they both walked together into the house.
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Next chapter! I'm working on the chapter 6 now so it should be up maybe today...or perhaps tomorrow or Monday! Hope you enjoyed and will enjoy my story.
-Katherine