Rhett's POV

It has been 3 years since I walked out on Scarlett. I would love to say that I'm married and have a beautiful wife and children. I would love to say that but it would be a lie. I mean I've been with many girls and I go to parties but nothing is the way it was when I was with her. I've tried to convince myself to go back to her but it's a matter of pride. Scarlett is probably married to Ashley and raising Beau, anyway. She's probably forgotten about me.

One night I was out with Belle when Prissy came running towards us.

"Captain Butler! Captain Butler!" she yelled.

I laughed, "Poor Prissy. Did Scarlett send you all the way to Charleston to bring me back? Well you can tell her…" I stopped when I saw the tears on her face. "Prissy?"

"It's Miss Scarlett Captain Butler," She said starting to sob.

I grasped her shoulders, "What is wrong with her?"

"She's been shot."

I stopped and just stared at her. Unsure of what I should do, I felt the same as I did the day Scarlett fell down the stairs.

"Where is she?" I asked leaving Belle to fallow Prissy to her carriage.

"She is at Tara, sir."

"Why wasn't she at the house in Atlanta?"

"She had to sell it sir."

"What, Why? I asked climbing into the carriage.

"Well the day you left sir she sold the lumber yard to Mr. Wilkes but he was so distraught after poor Miss Melanie died, that he left, so she sold the house and came to Tara."

"She didn't go after Ashley?" I asked ashamed with myself.

"NO sir," She squeaked, "Sir, when you left she locked herself in your room for days. She would have died if I hadn't come over later that week sir."

I put my head in my hands. "Why did I leave her?" I thought. "What happened Prissy? Who shot her?"

"It was Miss Sue Ellen, sir, I think."

"Sue Ellen! Scarlett's sister!"

"Yes sir." She cowered.

"Why?"

"I don't know sir, I was bringing a letter to Miss Scarlett when I saw Miss Sue Ellen running down the path with a gun in her hand And I was so scared Captain Butler, I stood there and yelled for Miss Scarlett. I yelled and yelled sir but she wouldn't answer. I went inside and up to her room and there, there was so much blood!" She screamed and I didn't think I could take anymore. My poor Scarlett. "And I ran and ran to the doctor and brought him back."

"What did he say," I said snapping out of the visual picture I had made in my head.

Prissy started to cry again.

"No Prissy, what did he say!" I yelled grabbing her shoulders.

"He said she is holding on for you to come sir."

I dropped my hands from her shoulders. "No, NO, NO," I said placing my head in my hands again.

"I'm sorry Captain Butler," she said sniffling.

Quickly I wiped the tears away not willing to cry front of a lady. I turned to look at the moving world.

We reached Tara in a few days. As soon as the giant doors opened, I began screaming her name. "Scarlett! Scarlett!" I ran up the stairs and into her room. She was lying on the bed, her gorgeous brown hair cascading onto her pale shoulders.

On the carpet, there was a giant red stain. There were bloody bandages everywhere. I leaned against the wall trying to regain my strength.

"Rhett," she weakly mumbled.

Quickly I was at her side grasping her hand. The doctor came behind me and set his hand on my shoulder.

"Is she…" I asked my voice cracking.

"She lost so much blood; if she doesn't die from that it will be infection."

I held her hand to my face, the warmth-gone and replaced by an icy cold feeling. A tear slipped down my face as I leaned forward to kiss her forehead.