Early morning sunshine drenched the windows as a gentle breeze fluttered the curtains. Scarlett woke to the peaceful sounds of birds in the trees just outside the window and the tickle of the breeze on her face. Then she remembered Rhett's sunburn and looked over at him. His face seemed better but as she looked at his arm, her stomach tumbled. The flesh was raw and angry and the sight of it sent her to the chamber pot to empty the contents of her pregnant stomach.

The sounds of her retching awakened Rhett, but he felt lifeless and groggy. Somewhere in his mind, he was ordering himself to her, to help her. But his body disagreed and consequently, other than some rustling of the sheet, nothing happened. Finally, she returned to bed, trying to get her stomach under control.

He watched her, regretting his inaction and embarrassed by it. He wanted to reach out, to touch her, hold her, but when he began to move his arm, the agony drove an expletive from him. Her attention was on him again, immediately.

"Rhett? What is it? It's your arm, isn't it?"

All he could do was nod in agreement. She bolted from the bed, calling for Emma. The two women looked carefully at the burns. "He still has da fever in it, Miz Scarlett," Emma proclaimed . "Got da fever bad…"

"Yes, he does. We need to get it out. You keep putting the compresses on his arm. I'm going to find Will and have him send for a doctor." Scarlett dressed quickly and headed downstairs, looking for her brother-in-law.

She found him in one of the sheds in the back. He'd finished his morning chores and was washing up before heading in for breakfast. "Mornin' Scarlett," he greeted her with a small smile. "Good morning, Will. I need you to send for a doctor. Rhett is worse this morning. His arm is…bad, like it had never healed almost."

Will's smile disappeared as concern replaced it. "Well, ain't no regular doctor since Ole Doc Fontaine died. All we have is the army doctor and folks don't call on him lessin they just really have to."

His news stunned Scarlett. "No doctor? But he must have one…but a Yankee? I don't want any Yankees at Tara."

"Me either, but if Rhett needs a doc that's all the choice we got."

Scarlett mulled it over briefly. "Then I suppose we'll just have to tolerate a Yankee. Since he's a doctor, maybe he'll be civil, at least."

"Okay. I'll fetch him then," Will said as he began to move towards the barn. Scarlett began walking back to the house and just as she entered the kitchen, she heard Will riding off to find the Yankee doctor.

Rhett was miserable. His arm felt like it was on fire, it burned so much. Emma told him that was a good thing; that he hadn't seemed to feel anything when the arm was burned originally. The doctor had told them then that there was no pain with the worst burns. As hard as it was, pain was a good thing. Rhett wasn't too sure. He'd give anything for the pain to go away. "Fetch me some brandy," he told Emma.

"Na suh, I ain't gonna do dat," she replied softly. "Da docta might have sumun ta give ya dat is even betta and if you's already had da liquor, then you can't have what da docta has fo' ya."

Rhett grimaced. "Just one glass, Emma…please."

"Na suh. You ken beats me if ya wanna but I ain't gonna."

Her refusal made Rhett angry but he blanched as she talked about beating. "Emma," he snapped. "I'd never beat you or any of the others. Stop talking foolishness."

Emma smiled. "I knows you won't Mista Rhett. You always treats us black folks right. Yo a might nicer then yo daddy. He beats us all da time."

Rhett settled back into his pillow. "Yes, he did. And seeing that made me swear I'd never do it. I've beaten a few men in my life, but for good reason. I'll never lift a hand to those who work for me."

Scarlett came in with a fresh bowl of water. Together the two women wrapped his arm in the cool compresses. "Scarlett, a glass of brandy, please," Rhett requested.

Scarlett's hands stopped and she stared at him. Emma cleared her throat. "I tol' him I wouldn't git it fo' him," Emma said. "Da docta might have sumun betta." Scarlett thought about his request and Emma's response. "She's right, Rhett. Will went for the doctor and should be back before long." Rhett sighed, surrendering to the will for the two women caring for him.

Scarlett was wrong. It took most of the morning for Will to find the doctor and bring him to Tara. When he came, an army major and some troopers came with him. Everyone in the house heard the group as they rode up the lane to Tara. For Suellen it was a horrible reminder of when the Yankees had come to Tara during the war. She'd been sick, of course, but she could still remember the sounds. She stood on the front porch with her arms folded and glared as the men dismounted. Scarlett joined her on the porch a moment later and for once, the two sisters were in complete agreement. Having the Yankee doctor come had been a bad pill to swallow. Having several Yankees at Tara was intolerable.

Scarlett eyed the group suspiciously. "My goodness," she declared. "We ask for a doctor and we get a whole troop of Yankees. Let me guess, Captain," she said as she eyed the leader. "You were hungry and decided to take the opportunity to relieve us of our meager supplies. Not surprising, since you Yankees took everything we had every time you came through here before."

"All due respect, Ma'm," the major responded as he approached her. "It's Major….Major Paul James. And those weren't my troops and…if you will recall, that was war." His dark blue eyes settled on her, appraising not only her physically, but as an enemy as well.

Her green eyes met his blue ones as she sized him up too. "Major…James. I'm Scarlett Butler. And…all due respect, we were a household of women and our invalid father. Not much of a threat to you Yankees in any circumstances. Yet you chose to take every morsel of food on the place, leaving us and our Negroes to starve."

He looked up and down coolly. "You seem to have survived. Rather well, I might add…"

Just then, another officer stepped onto the porch. "Excuse me," he said quietly. "I'm Doctor Peter Gilbert. I understand someone needs attention?"

Scarlett turned her gaze to the other man. He stood quietly, an air of gentleness around him as he waited for her response. Sighing, she succumbed. "Yes, my husband. He was burned several months ago in a fire and yesterday he had too much sun. His arm is…well, it looks …" she sighed again. "You'll just have to see. Please, follow me."

The doctor fell into step behind her, as did the major. When Scarlett heard other footsteps, she paused to look back. "You and the doctor may come in, Major James. But your men stay outside. There is no threat here that needs their attention and I'll not have the household upset by their presence."

A flicker of anger flashed across his face but was quickly hidden. He stared at her defiantly as he called back over his shoulder. "Sergeant Gregory, you and the others can rest under those trees. I'll see if the lady of the house can spare a cool drink for you."

"Thank you, Major." As they moved into the house, Scarlett turned to Mammy. "Would you see that the troopers have something to drink…and perhaps some biscuits or something to chew on." Mammy nodded and headed down the hall to the back of the house.

Suellen still stood on the porch, glaring at the troopers as they moved to the trees and tied their horses. Will led his to the back to put in the barn. Anger boiled just below the surface. If Scarlett hadn't come here with that vile husband of hers, we wouldn't have Yankees on our front lawn…

Scarlett and the two men made their way upstairs and into the bedroom. Doctor Gilbert moved quickly to Rhett. Major James stood back. He'd seen enough of these kinds of injuries during the war and had no desire to be any closer. Once he was satisfied that there was indeed, a medical need in the house, he slipped out of the room to head back downstairs.

Doctor Gilbert assessed the wounds carefully, studying the blisters and burns. As he did so, Scarlett studied him. He was a handsome man she decided. As swarthy and dark as Rhett was, he was the opposite. His hair was light brown with hints of grey throughout, although she couldn't see any patches of the lighter color. He had brilliant blue eyes, lighter than those of his superior. Although he was wearing a beard, she detected a cleft in his chin that she supposed gave him a boyish appearance without the beard. In fact, she mused, he had the type of features that would always hint at youth well into old age. But most of all she was impressed by his gentleness. Everything about this man, his voice, his touch, his look, was gentle. Scarlett prided herself on good instincts about people and her instincts told her that despite being a Yankee, this was a good man.

She edged towards the bed, watching as the doctor began to apply a salve to Rhett's arm. Rhett looked up, into her face and frowned. He hadn't missed her assessment of the doctor and now she was edging closer to the man. Jealously reared its ugly green head and he fought to contain his anger. Scarlett glanced up and saw the clouds gather in Rhett's eyes. What is upsetting him so…

Downstairs, Major James followed the hall to the back of the house and into the kitchen where Mammy and Dilcey were loading a tray of cool tea and some biscuits. Prissy stood with Pork, ready to carry the goods outside. "Pardon me," he said. "Might I have some of whatever you are taking to my men?" His tone was kind and Mammy smiled. "Yes suh, you jes' set youself here," she said as she motioned to a chair.

Major James sat down as he was instructed and a plate of food and glass of tea were placed in front of him. He took a long sip of the cool liquid but left the food on the plate. "So you Yankees are taking our food again," a raspy voice croaked behind him. Startled, he turned in his chair too quickly, knocking over his glass. Dilcey moved to sop up the tea with a rag as the Major leapt to his feet, the tea soaking his pants. Suellen laughed when she saw the results of her accusation, bringing the Major's attention back to her.

He wasn't a big man by any means. Barely average in height with broad shoulders and a slight paunch, common in men his age, the Major was unremarkable in appearance, except for his dark blue, very expressive eyes and the many lines of wear and worry on his face. Why he has beautiful eyes, thought Suellen, as she got a better look at him. But right now his eyes were showing frustration. "You have the advantage of me. We haven't been introduced," he said as calmly as he could.

Her eyes appraised him from head to toe before she spoke. "Well, I suppose the niceties of genteel folk is beyond you Yankees, so waiting for a proper introduction is too much to ask. I'm Suellen Benteen."

"That was your husband that came to get the doctor?"

"Yes, Will is my husband."

It was Major James who was doing the appraising now. While she wasn't as pretty as the other woman, this one was very attractive. The wear and tear of war and the hard life that followed shown in her face and her middle was growing a little stout, probably a result of bearing several of the children he saw playing outside as they rode up. But she was still a looker; if only she weren't so acidic, the Major mused. "Major Paul James, Ma'm. Pleased to meet you."

"I heard you on the porch; I know your name." She looked him over again with predatory eyes. "Where are you from, Major? I don't recognize your accent."

"Boston, Ma'm…well, just outside of Boston. I take it you haven't met anyone from Massachusetts before…"

"No one. Although, I did become too well acquainted with some Yankees from Ohio and Illinois during the war. They kept coming by and taking everything we had worth taking."

"Then please let me offer my apologies for their crass behavior. And let me assure you, that is not the intention of me or any of my men."

"Unless you are planning to repay us for what was lost, your apology means nothing. Now, if you'll excuse me…" And she was gone.

Major James stood, glaring at the door that she had just exited. Finally, he shook his head and smirked. Then sitting back down, he finished his tea and downed a biscuit.

Upstairs, Rhett was finding it harder and harder to contain his jealousy. First it was Wilkes and now she's eyeing this man…will it ever end? But as he watched her, he noticed that her eyes were on the doctor's hands as they ministered to his arm. After her initial assessment, she'd hardly looked at the man. Don't be an idiot, ole man. She isn't interested…well, not anymore interested than you are when a pretty woman walks by. Doesn't mean she wants to go after him…she loves you, remember? Just keep that in mind…she loves you…

Finally, the doctor finished. "Mr. Butler, you took an awful chance out in the sun. With those burns, you shouldn't go out without covering up and even then, limit your time outside. Your arm is going to take awhile to heal again. It must be kept clean and dry and wrap it once a day with this salve that I will leave. And under no circumstances are you to go out of doors until it is healed. You keep burning that arm like that, infection will set in, and you'll lose it. Am I clear…?"

Rhett nodded that he understood. The doctor placed the jar of salve on the bedside table next to a small bottle of laudanum and then turned to Scarlett. "You look wan, Mrs. Butler. And I detect a little green around your face…"

Scarlett nodded. The thought of Rhett losing his arm had been too much and her stomach was playing havoc with her. Before she could speak, however, she bolted to the chamber pot, emptying the meager contents of the offending organ. Dr. Gilbert moved to help her and grabbing a cloth, washed her face as she stood. "Now you must sit and rest, Ma'm. This is all too much…"

"I'll be fine," she told him, swiping his hand away. "It's just…well, I…well, you are a doctor, I suppose it is alright to tell you. I'm expecting a baby."

Standing up straight, Dr. Gilbert nodded in understanding. "Then you must let this kind woman here tend to your husband and you get some rest. With proper care and no more foolishness on his part, he'll be fine." Then turning to Emma, he asked, "You understood my instructions?"

She nodded. "Yes suh, I's ta keep it clean and dry and puts that salve on his arm onced a day."

"Yes." Then turning back to Scarlett he patted her shoulder. "Now, why don't you lie down awhile and if either of you need me, just send for me. I know you don't like Yankees in your house but I'll try to behave. And I'll also try to convince Major James that I don't need an escort."

Rhett chuckled. "Doc. There isn't a man alive that can stand up in the face of Scarlett if you get on the wrong side of her. Hell, your Major could bring a whole company of troopers and it wouldn't be enough."

"Rhett," Scarlett chided. "You do exaggerate…"

Looking sincerely at both of them, Dr. Gilbert smiled. "One thing I've learned since being here is that one doesn't cross a Southern woman. You all are as charming as any lady God ever created but come with ramrod backbones that stood in the face of an invading army. Very formidable, indeed. I wouldn't wish to cross any of you. Now, I think I'm done here for now. I'll try to stop by in a few days and see how everyone is doing." He nodded at them as they thanked him and then disappeared into the hall.

Scarlett curled up in the bed, next to Rhett and as they listened to the sounds of hoof beats fading down the road, both fell into a light sleep.

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