Chapter 99
Rhett stood on the river bank with Scarlett by his side. He walked a few paces and turned. He was looking intently at the ground. "I must have fired the shot from here" he said, picking out a spot with the toe of his boot. Scarlett was quiet. She was recalling when Cathleen Calvert had first told her the story of how Rhett had shot the Charleston girl's brother in a duel.
"Well, this Mr. Butler took a Charleston girl out buggy riding. I never did know who she was, but I've got my suspicions...And, my dear, they stayed out nearly all night and walked home finally, saying the horse had run away and smashed the buggy and they had gotten lost in the woods. And guess what- He refused to marry her the next day! He said he hadn't-er-done anything to her and he didn't see why he should marry her. And, of course, her brother called him out, and Mr. Butler said he'd rather be shot than marry a stupid fool. And so they fought a duel and Mr. Butler shot the girl's brother and he died, and Mr. Butler had to leave Charleston and now nobody receives him"
Scarlett had been more curious about the Charleston girl before but she hadn't spared a thought for the poor dead brother. Now that reality was taking shape before her and she didn't like it at all. Rhett had actually killed a man at this very spot. The very thought sent chills down her spine. She kept her eyes on the flowing river and the distant riverboat, hoping that Rhett wouldn't suspect her own nervousness.
He stood brooding by himself at the spot. But when he came back to Scarlett, she saw that his eyes looked pained. Instantly she grasped his hand, offering what little reassurance she could give.
"He was a young, hot-blooded kid- just a boy, Scarlett- probably only fourteen or fifteen. And I was older than him by five to seven years. And he called me a coward. He called me a coward for not jumping up with gallantry and marrying his fool of a sister. I call that girl a fool because she had actually expected me to fly to her side, fall on my knees and ask for her hand in marriage. I've never heard of a more silly reason. Just because we happened to come late that night- I didn't want to be pushed around like that- by sentiment or insults- When I fired the gun, I wasn't thinking straight. I only wanted to get out of the rat trap. I forgot in that moment that I was a good marksman. When that kid died, I started packing. It was only later I realized that no other family would receive me-"
Scarlett took his arm in hers and they quietly walked down the river bank.
"Well, Rhett- sometimes it helps not to care so much. You told me that before, didn't you? That people always had a choice and deserved what was coming to them. That boy must have known that he was courting death when he challenged you. And you couldn't help fighting back."
"That's right" agreed Rhett, softly patting Scarlett's hand on his arm. "But I was ostracized and I think it was unfair-"
"Yes, it was unfair, Rhett. It must have been terrible for you."
Scarlett walked in silence after that and even Rhett seemed to sink into gloom. Then she spotted a small boat being pushed out into the river and asked if they could go sailing. To her surprise, Rhett agreed and they went for a impromptu ride along the length of the river.
"Look, Rhett- Were there really so many boats in this river when you were younger?" asked Scarlett. She saw Rhett sitting rather pensively and gave his shoulder a friendly nudge. He stirred from his reverie and stared in the direction her hand pointed. "No, not so many" he said, distractedly.
Scarlett removed her glove and dipped her hand in the water. "It's warm" she said. Again, Rhett did not reply and she took his hand and pushed it into the water.
"Stop it!" said Rhett, cuttingly.
"I'm sorry, darling. I was only trying to get you to relax. You look so angry just now- as if everything you said happened just a few days ago-"
Rhett's frown cleared up at once. He stared at Scarlett for a long time. Then suddenly he said, "Scarlett, when we go home, you must promise to tell me everything that happened between you and Ashley Wilkes."