Chapter Forty Six

Scorn and Duty

The horse's hooves thundering on the packed dirt of the road kept pace with the thundering in Eli's chest. His hands gripped the reins, the muscles along his arms tightening from the strain of keeping them going in a straight line.

His eyes kept darting to Scarlett, whose limp body was swaying with the movement of the buggy. He gritted his teeth and slapped the reins pushing the horses harder toward Atlanta. A few times the road became blurred but Eli never waivered, he kept going for his main concern was getting Scarlett to safety and getting her the help she needed.

Time lost all meaning to Eli. The realization that he loved Scarlett pushed him to the breaking point of his endurance. Nothing else mattered to him at that moment. The world be damned as long as Scarlett lived, was his only thought.

When he didn't think he could push the horses or himself harder or longer, he did and finally the faint outline of Atlanta in the early dusk came into view and he knew her Aunt Pittypat's home was just ahead. The gas lamps were just being lit when he reached it and without preamble, he brought the team to a staccato stop on the dirt road and jumped down from the wagon with an unsteady thud. He raced around the other side and pulled Scarlett down, cradling her in his arms once again.

"Help! Someone help!" he yelled as he kicked the small white gate open and lurched through to the neat walkway. "Somebody, help!"

The door opened a sliver as Uncle Peter glared out to see who was causing the ruckus in front of his mistress's house. "Oh, lawd have mercy!" he gasped and threw the door open. "Miss Scarlett, lawd have mercy!"

Eli stumbled forward just as Uncle Peter reached out for them. His vision blurred again and sharp, hot pain shot through him like fire causing him to lose his grip momentarily. "Get her help now!" he commanded Uncle Peter. "She's lost a lot of blood and needs a doctor! Go!"

"Lawd have mercy," Uncle Peter repeated as Eli began to sway and fell to his knees. It was at that time that he saw a brownish red stain spreading out across the younger man's back as he grabbed Scarlett to keep her from going to the ground with him. "Mr. Eli, you been hurt, too."

"Get the doctor now!" Eli gasped angrily, unconcerned with himself. "She's not going to die, do you hear me?"

'Uncle Peter, what is all this commotion-" Aunt Pittypat stopped short when she and India came into the door way and saw the scene before them. "What in the world? Scarlett? Oh my, oh my!"

For a moment Eli and India locked eyes and he saw a momentary glint of satisfaction when she turned to her icy gaze to Scarlett lying prone in Uncle Peter's arms. "For God's sake, get her help," he implored once more before he fell limp on the ground.

"Lawd have mercy, Miss India, help me get them in ta' house and I'll run fo' the docta'."

"No, I'll go," she answered quickly as reached for Scarlett. "I can go faster than you."

"Oh dear, oh dear!" Miss Pittypat's fat little hands flew around uselessly. "We have to tell Captain Butler, he was here looking for her. Oh dear, what shall we tell him?"

"Let's get them upstairs and I'll take care of all that," India snapped as she and Uncle Peter lifted Scarlett gingerly.

After both Eli and Scarlett were taken care of India raced toward Dr. Meade's with an urgency she did not feel. She may hate Scarlett but she wasn't going to be accused of letting her die or that Eli Barrett for that matter. It took longer to find Dr. Meade than she had counted on but eventually she found him at the livery where he was returning from another call. He quickly threw his black bag back in and shot toward Aunt Pitty's with great speed leaving India to go tell Rhett Butler the fate of his wife.

A quick, heavy knock on the front door broke Rhett from his worried thoughts. He stepped toward the sound of the voices coming from the great entry way. Coming from his study his glance landed on India Wilkes as she spoke to the housekeeper. She looked up and saw him and pushed herself forward in quick steps.

"Captain Butler, we have Scarlett.'

"You what?" he glared down at her.

"She's at Miss Pitty's right now. She's been hurt, I'm not sure what's happened. Eli Barrett's with her and he's been hurt as well. That's all I know-"

Before India could finish, Rhett raced for the door yelling for his driver to get his horse ready. India was left standing in entryway alone with the housekeeper. For the first time she was inside Scarlett's home or 'The Mausoleum" as it was called secretly by the townsfolk. Envy, bitter and sour rose in her throat at the lavishness of her surroundings. It was just like Scarlett to be so ostentatious and brazen in her décor. Her eyes scanned the huge red, carpeted staircase to the upper landings where heavy, expensive furniture dotted the landscape along with gaudy, gilded framed paintings.

The housekeeper Hetty, stared at India expectantly. "Miz Wilkes?"

"Yes, I suppose I'll be going now," India cleared her throat, embarrassed at being caught staring like a commoner.

"Wait!" a voice called down from the right side landing as the figure of Darcy Olson came running down the staircase swiftly. "Wait, please. I saw Mr. Butler just leave. Is it Scarlett?"

"Yes," India answered with a short nod.

"Is she alright? I've been so worried," Darcy ran toward her breathlessly. "Oh, please tell me she's alright."

"I don't know. She was unconscious when she was brought to us, but Dr. Meade is on his way."

"Unconscious?" Darcy blue eyes widened in fear as her face registered the information, "the baby?"

"I don't know, Mrs. Olson. I've told you what I know."

India took in this young woman who Scarlett had taken under her wing. While she was pretty enough, she didn't understand the appeal at all. She knew Ashley had been seeing her thanks to Scarlett's scheming but the last thing Ashley needed was another woman to muddle his already muddled thinking. He needed to think about his son and his family. A little flicker of animosity crawled through her. Besides, why should anyone have the chance at happiness when she herself was denied it?

"Oh no, I've got to see her!" Darcy started for the door but India stopped her.

"Before you go, may I speak with you…. alone?"

"I must see about Scarlett." Darcy insisted, confused by her request.

"Yes, I understand but this will only take a moment. It's about my brother."

"Your brother?"

"Ashley. You've been talking with him, seeing him haven't you?"

"Yes," Darcy nodded.

"May we speak alone?" she turned to Hetty, who nodded and moved away from the two women. Turning back to Darcy, India gave her a sweeping cursory glance before landing on her pretty dainty face.

"My brother has spoken fondly of you to me. It seems you've made quite an impression on him."

Darcy's expression relayed her further confusion at India's demeanor.

"My brother is… how shall I say it? Fickle, perhaps? That seems a good word. He's always been easily turned by a pretty face. He's never been serious about any of them since his wife died. Of course, the only woman who's ever held any interest for him other than Melly is Scarlett. She's been able to twist and turn him to suit her purposes for as long as I can remember. She's been in love with him since our childhood days in Clayton County."

"Miss Wilkes, I'm not sure why you're saying such things, but I must see about Scarlett. She's been nothing but kind to me since I've met her."

"Yes, so I've heard. She's taken you right in and given you a home and friends."

"Yes, she has and I'm grateful to her. Which is why I don't like your speaking of her in this way," Darcy stiffened. "Besides, I don't believe you. I saw the way you treated her that day we visited her Aunt Pitty and quite frankly, you were very rude to her and to me."

"If I was, I had every right," India clipped tightly. "Scarlett has ruined the lives of everyone she's ever come in contact with and she will yours too, if given the chance."

"Please leave now, I will listen to no more of this!"

"Very well, but heed my words, Mrs. Olson. Ashley didn't and it almost ruined him. He foolishly pursued her for months acting like a love sick school boy. But, once Scarlett could have him, she longer wanted him. As I said, he's a fickle man and when you came along, Scarlett couldn't wait to throw you in his path and he's done precisely what she expected him to do leaving her to go merrily about her way, unscathed as usual."

Darcy's face darkened with apprehension. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that Scarlett and Ashley would be together right now if not for her marriage to Rhett Butler. Ashley asked her to marry him and leave her husband only a few short months ago but then she found herself pregnant. Ashley was heartbroken of course, but he's managed to move on and now his attentions have landed on you. Perhaps you'll be just the thing he needs to get over his unhappiness in love since he no longer has Scarlett to pine over."

"Scarlett and Ashley? You're lying…"

"You mean she didn't she tell you any of this? Why, it's all over town about the two of them, ask anyone. There's even talk they were together before Melly passed away, but being he's my brother I hardly could listen to such lies. Melly was the sweetest, dearest person I've ever known and I couldn't believe anything that would hurt her. Oh dear, have I said too much?"
Darcy's face registered shock and disbelief at India's declaration.

"I can see I have," India managed to look ashamed. "I thought you knew, being so close to Scarlett and all. Oh dear, the baby…" she shook her head in dismay. "I do hope she doesn't lose this baby. It's the only reason Captain Butler has stayed with her and not already divorced her. That would be just horrible."

India realized she had hit her mark when Darcy's eyes began to well with unshed tears. For only a moment she felt regret at what she had done, but she quenched it. It was time this girl knew exactly who and what Scarlett O'Hara Butler was and it wasn't this saintly façade she had taken on herself. Of course, if Scarlett died that would solve everything and they would be much better off without her around to make everyone's lives miserable. Shocked at her own thoughts, India regressed and stepped backwards from Darcy. "Don't let me hold you any longer, Mrs. Olson. I'm sure Scarlett will need all the support she can get."

With that, India left Scarlett's home and a shocked and hurt Darcy Olson behind her. She walked alone for a long time running the events of the evening through her mind. She couldn't go home yet, not with everyone there worrying over Scarlett and that Barrett man. She wanted to feel guilty for her spitefulness, but she could feel none. Whether Scarlett lived or died was of no matter to her. She had done her duty and gotten help, that was all she was required to do as a human being.

She found herself in front of the cemetery and was surprised that she had ended up here. Peering through the heavy, iron gates she saw Melly's grave in the distance, the rounded mound of dirt still laying gently over it. She wanted to cry for the loss of her sister in law, she wanted to cry for the loss of everything she held dear, but for Scarlett she had neither tears nor pity. She knew Melly would be disappointed in her behavior if she was here and for that, she was sorry but that was the only thing she was sorrowful for. Scarlett deserved what she got and if that made her an old hateful bitty, so be it. It's what everyone thought anyway.

"India!" she heard her name being called and she turned to it. It was Maybelle Picard rushing toward her. "Oh India, we just heard about Scarlett! How horrible! Just imagine, kidnapped and held against her will and then almost losing her baby. And that poor Mr. Barrett shot trying to save her. I've heard he may not make it. Such a shame, isn't it?"

So, that was what happened. Feigning concern, India shook her head despairingly. "Yes, I was there when they came to Aunt Pitty's. Scarlett looked dreadful, I left of course to get help. I found Dr. Meade and Mr. Butler. I do hope she's going to be okay." It was more or less the truth and it didn't hurt for Maybelle to be made aware of that.

"I do hope so, as well. Poor Mr. Butler, he's positively sick with worry. It would be a shame if they lost this baby after losing that sweet, precious Bonnie," Maybelle dabbed at her eyes.

"We shall say prayers for them all, Maybelle," India patted her arm comfortingly.

"Yes, yes we will pray for them all. I must be running now, India."

India watched her walk away, still dabbing her eyes. Scarlett kidnapped. That should be of no surprise to anyone. The way she gabbed around town putting on heirs as if she were the Queen of Sheba. India released a deep breath and headed toward home. One way or the other, the outcome of this day would change lives, that much was certain.