A/N: I've re-uploaded this chapter because a forgot a bit in the scene.
In Gone With The Wind, Scarlett's name is Katie Scarlett. I wanted to call Courtney Katie Courtney, but since there is already a Katie in this story, I didn't think it would work, but today, I came up with the perfect name. Okay, not really, she's named after someone. So if you go back to the second chapter, as only Scarlett's father calls her Katie or Katie Scarlett, you will see that Courtney's name is now Eliza Courtney. If any of you know where I got that name from, you get a virtual cookie.
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Part One, Chapter Twenty
The Burning of Atlanta
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Duncan carried Zoey outside with Courtney and Katie, who was carrying Tyler. Courteny saw a huge fire in the distance.
"What is that?" Courtney asked nervously and slightly fearfully.
"Our gallant lads must have set fire to the warehouses near the depot," Duncan said. "There's enough ammunition in the boxcars to blow us to Tara. We'll have to hurry to get across the tracks."
"You're not going that way!" Courtney gasped.
"We have to," said Duncan. "The McDonough Road's the only one the Yankees haven't cut through yet."
Duncan placed Zoey in the back of the carriage and Courtey, after Katie handed him to her, placed Tyler next to her. Katie got in back of the carriage and Courtney got up front with Duncan.
"Oh, wait," said Courtney urgently. "I forgot to lock the front door."
She started to get up, but Duncan pulled her back down as he laughed.
"What are you laughing at?" Courtney demanded.
"At you," said Duncan, "locking the Yankees out."
With that, they were off.
They rode up and hit a slow-moving line of men.
"Oh, dear," said Courtney, "I wish they'd hurry."
"I wouldn't be so eagar to see them go, my dear," said Duncan. "With them goes the last semblance of law and order."
Some men threw some wood into a store window and Courtney looked frightened.
"The scavengers aren't wasting any time," Duncan continued. "We've got to get out of here, fast."
He whipped the horse to make it move.
"There's a horse!" a man called. "Get it!"
Some man ran up to the horse and tried to grab it. Duncan got on the horse's back and punched him. They made a turn.
"Down the alley," another man called, "cut them off."
As they rode down the alley, a large group of men tried to take the horse. Duncan began beating them away.
They were finally able to make their way past.
"Miss Courtney!" Katie screeched.
They reached a train with ammunition on it and a fire burning right behind it.
"They haven't left much for the Yankees to take, have they?" Duncan said. "We'll have to make a dash for it before the fire reaches that ammunition."
As they rode, the carriage knocked over some crates and some fire got in their path. Duncan got up and tried to move the horse, but the horse wouldn't budge.
"Come on!" Duncan said.
He kept trying to move the horse until he got an idea.
"Throw me your shawl," he told Courtney and Courtney did as she was told.
Duncan placed the shawl over the horse's head.
"Sorry, but you'll like it better if you don't see anything," Duncan told the horse.
He finally got the horse to move and run through.
A moment later, the fire reached the ammunition and exploded.
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Duncan drove the carriage slowly in a long line of wounded, sick, and weak Confederate soldiers. One man who was practically laying on a horse, fell. Two other soldiers went to help him.
Duncan stopped the carriage.
"Take a good look, my dear," said Duncan. "It's a historic moment. You can tell your grandchildren how you watched the old South disappear in one night."
Duncan turned around as did Courtney. They watched a soldier, a rather young looking one at that, wobble around weakly before he fell. A soldier who was walking right behind him picked him up and started to help him walk.
"They were going to lick the Yankees in a month," Duncan continued with slight distaste. "The poor gallant fools!"
"They make me sick," Courtney spat, "all of them! Getting us into this with their swaggering and boasting.
"That's the way I felt once about their swaggering and boasting," said Duncan.
"Duncan, I'm so glad you aren't with the army," said Courtney sincerely. "You can be proud, now, proud that you've been smarter than all of them."
"I'm not so proud," said Duncan.
He whipped the horse and they were off again.