Later, in a bar across town, Ashley stared into this second whiskey. He did not usually indulge these days, but after this afternoon, he needed something.

"But, I don't understand any of this", he said for the third time. "She says she comes from the future, and is a descendant of ours, but at the same time Bonnie is..." Ashley trailed off. He carefully watched Rhett's face to see if he were upset at this tactless slip, but Rhett seemed lost in thought.

Rhett pondered his lone drink, then downed it in one quick shot. He waved the bartender away when he approached with an open bottle.

"I will admit I'm relieved you saw her too", Rhett smiled ruefully. "I know it's very hard to swallow. I had a tough time with the idea. But, think about the strange things she showed us. That amazing device with pictures coming to life, the electric powered lamp, and that tiny music box."

"You mean the little, music playing square? That empty three player? My God..." Ashley stared into the bar mirror so intently the bartender gave him a furtive, anxious glance, "There was a whole orchestra in that tiny thing! As clear as if we were sitting in front of it."

"Yes.", Rhett closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He stared at his hands for a moment, then went on. "She has objects we've never seen. She knows things about us no one else knows, and she took scars away from my body which had been there for decades."

He suddenly stared intently at Ashley. "You do realize, if you bring Mrs. Wilkes to that shack, your worries about her health may be over."

A rapid sequence of confusion, shock, and joy flashed across Ashley's face. He swallowed his last sip of whiskey, and turned the glass over on the bar. "She said that stick could heal wounds or disease. There were so many other marvels to look at, I hadn't really thought of it until now."

Rhett scowled, "You would of thought she'd mention that, if she were trying to persuade you to become involved in whatever this is. I also don't like the way she kept pressing us to bring our wives and telling us time was running out."

"But if there's even some chance I could get Bonnie back..."

Rhett trailed off, staring down at his hands again.

Ashley looked at Rhett for a long moment before he spoke. "I think we need to ask ourselves what we stand to gain, and what we stand to lose if we bring our wives to that shanty."

"The worst which may happen is we look like fools. Even my sweet little wife will probably tease me in private if I bring her to a run-down shack on this side of town, and this is some sort of elaborate hoax or prank.

"However, the best that can happen may be a miracle for both of us, and our children. I'm sure Scarlett would be eager to come here if she understood there was a chance of this all being for real"

Rhett laughed ruefully. "You're overestimating Scarlett. Getting her to this side of town would not be easy. Unless you ask her."

Ashley drew himself up on the bar stool. "Sir, I am not sure what you are implying."

Rhett's eyebrow cocked up as his mouth twisted into a bitter smile. "She would go into a field of broken glass if you asked her. You are, after all, one of her oldest and dearest friends."

Ashley looked at Rhett, his face expressionless. "I think we should both go ask her."