Ch. 3- Scarlett
Even during the war, Scarlett had never witnessed quite this level of pandemonium. People were running in every direction. Mothers were calling out for their children while fathers dug through piles of mangled steel. Finally, when help began arriving, a moderate level of order started. She helped as she could but felt mainly like her efforts mattered little.
Another passenger train had collided with theirs, and the damage was extensive. She'd crossed herself more times than she could count as she walked past bodies covered in sheets and various linens in a sad attempt for respect.
Just as she'd turned to return to get Jenny and Cat- other transportation was being arranged for the uninjured passengers- she heard a man shout. "Oy! Over here. There's a baby in this one, I think."
She looked over to a group of men pulling something from a badly wrecked car; as she watched, she saw a badly crushed baby bassinet. She moved forward, praying that the baby wasn't inside.
As she got closer, a male stepped forward. "Don't go further; you don't want to see inside."
It was not the first time she'd heard that in the past few hours. Some cars were so mangled that the people inside were not recognizable. Still, she couldn't turn away without knowing the baby's fate. It wasn't lost on her that it could have easily been Cat, and she shuddered at the thought. Scarlett moved to where the bassinet sat in the dirt and looked inside.
Her heart stopped when she saw a pale-looking baby, unmoving, surrounded by fabric and cushion. She reached out to touch the baby's face when its tiny hand popped up, stretching. The baby was alive.
Quickly, she moved to pick the infant up, noting how tiny it was. Small, dark-colored eyes opened and peeked up at her. A little bottom lip poked out as the softest mewing cry erupted from within.
Instinctively, Scarlett cradled the child to her and looked around. Hoping to see a parent to give the child to. Everyone was focused elsewhere, and no one seemed concerned about the child. The tiny squeaks against her chest continued, and she wondered if the poor thing was hungry.
Scarlett spied an individual in a uniform and walked toward him. "Sir?"
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
"Yes, however-"
"I'm sorry, ma'am; you'll need to meet with the others in your party and begin evacuating the area." He gestured toward the side where people were gathering and walked away.
The second encounter was a uniformed officer, who at least stopped momentarily to hear her out. He advised Scarlett to take the child to the meet-up area they sent all the uninjured passengers to in Savannah. It seemed a wild notion to tell someone to bring another person's child with them, but she understood that everyone on the scene had more critical problems.
Hours later, the two women and two babies were seated in the area designated for the first-class passengers. Scarlett had attempted several times to see if anyone had reported missing a child, but no one seemed to be able to help her. When the child started to cry in earnest, Scarlett had chosen to find a small private room and feed the child herself. She rationalized that a wet nurse would do the same, and it wasn't like she didn't produce more than enough milk for Cat.
She watched down at the tiny baby- much smaller than Bonnie or Cat had been, and wondered where his mother was. Jenny had changed the baby as soon as they arrived at the meet-up and informed Scarlett that the little one was a boy. She couldn't imagine being separated from Cat, especially after such an incident, and then realized she hoped the mother was alive to miss the child.
Finally, the railroad sent a liaison to the building, and extensive coordination was implemented. Wagons with baggage began arriving and being doled out to the passengers. A list was passed around, not unlike the lists passed out during the war, to inform families of which soldiers had been killed, injured, or captured. The list had names and dispositions of the individuals, including which hospitals the injured were at. It did nothing, however, to help Scarlett find out to whom the little boy belonged.
She and Jenny had taken turns walking around the hordes of people and asking if anyone was missing a child. There had been a few, but those were all older children. No one seemed to be missing the baby. Scarlett approached an officer once more as people began to leave and make their way in every direction.
"Sir. I need assistance, please."
"How can I help you, ma'am?"
"I was in the train accident, and I'm looking for someone." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a list, but Scarlett stopped him. "You misunderstand. I have an infant that was in the accident as well. He was pulled from one of the cars. No one has claimed him."
The officer nodded, and his expression grew vague. I've spoken to almost all of the passengers, ma'am, except a few who were in such bad states that they were taken immediately to the hospital. I don't suspect any of them will make it, though. No one mentioned missing a baby."
"Oh. Well, what shall I do with him? I'm heading to Atlanta."
"There's an orphanage up the road just a ways. Large house with a black fence around it. You can't miss it. They already have a few kids from the accident. I'm sure they can help you."
"Oh." She said again. "I see. Thank you."
The officer tipped his hat to her and walked away. Quickly, Scarlett gathered Jenny and the babies, and the four made their way up the road and to the building described by the officer. A plaque on the fence outside declared it to be St. Mary's Institution. In smaller letters beneath the name, read "for Orphaned and Abandoned Children."
With Cat in Jenny's arms and the baby in hers, she walked up the stairs and knocked on the large door.
A portly woman in a black gown opened the door and greeted them. "Yes?"
Scarlett cleared her throat and spoke. "Hello. I have a child from the accident today- I was told to bring him here?" She moved her arms to show the bundle wrapped within.
The woman sighed and nodded. "Best come in then."
Scarlett followed them inside, gesturing for Jenny to do the same behind her. As they approached another room, the woman turned again and spoke. "Your nurse and the other child can wait here. We don't allow extra people back into the nursery. Not enough room as it is."
Scarlett nodded to Jenny, who sat down in a chair with a smiling Cat and followed the woman inside.
"I'm Marsha, the Matron of the house. I have three other staff and 20 children in our care, counting the two others brought in from the accident today."
"Scarlett O'Hara." She said, introducing herself. She still went by Scarlett Butler in Ireland but traveled this whole trip as Mrs. Scarlett O'Hara, a widow.
"Well, Mrs. O'Hara. Do you know anything about this one?"
"I'm afraid not. I saw when he was pulled from the wreck, and I took him. I haven't been able to find anyone who is looking for him. The officer who sent me here believes his parents are probably dead."
"May I?" Marsha held out her hands, and Scarlett gently transferred the baby over to her.
She watched as Marsha unswaddled the sleeping infant and looked over him, no doubt checking for catching diseases. "Unfortunate. Even though he is a mite small, he seems well cared for."
"What will happen to him here?"
"He'll stay here for at least a month. It's my policy in case other family members are interested. Then, as soon as someone is interested, they can adopt him. Marsha moved with the child, and Scarlett followed her into another room. This room was cramped, filled wall to wall with small cots. She looked on in sadness as she saw babies of varying ages sitting in their cribs, crying or playing alone. There was no adult in sight.
"This can't be where he'll stay?"
Marsha looked back to Scarlett with defeated eyes. "I'm afraid so, ma'am. They're fed and changed here, with a roof over their head, but not much else. I barely make enough to employ the three staff I have now. The city pays us a little, and there are small adoption fees in some cases, but mostly, we operate on the charity of others."
Scarlett felt a knot grow in her stomach, and suddenly, she was sick with the idea of leaving the little tike. "How often are they adopted?"
"It depends. The younger ones have a better chance. People want to start fresh. The chances of adoption go down as they age. This one will have a good chance."
"How are the parents chosen?"
Once more, Marsha looked uneasy. "I meet them all myself, of course, but really, nothing stops an adoption. We wouldn't be able to help others if we don't let adoptions occur as they are available."
"So, just anyone could come in and take the baby?"
"As long as they are not in any known immoral work, yes."
Scarlett paced back and forth before turning on her heel and looking out the window. "Marsha. Would it be possible- that is- could I house the baby, at least for the month we're waiting to see if anyone comes forward for him?"
Marsha smiled knowingly. "It's hard to turn away a face that young and precious, isn't it, ma'am?"
"Yes."
"What do you plan if no one comes for him?"
"Well, I-I don't suppose widows can adopt a child, can they?"
Marsha appeared to think for a few moments. "We don't make it a rule to allow adoption to unmarried individuals; however- a mother- and one who can clearly provide a promising future for the child- would be considered, though it's not a guarantee."
"I could take him with me now, though? To Atlanta?"
Marsha nodded. "I'm sure he'll get more than he needs with you than here, fighting for attention. I'll need your address, though, and a few forms must be filled out before you leave."
Scarlett nodded. She'd made her share of impulsive decisions in the past, but this one might take the cake. She smirked to herself. Going back to Atlanta was going to be challenging enough, and now she would be divorced with TWO wards, one real and one not, in tow. She could just imagine how the Old Guard would set to talking as soon as they set eyes on her. Still, she couldn't find that she cared too much. She'd spend a month at Tara, help Suellen with whatever she needed, and then she and Cat- and maybe the baby- would return to Ireland, all very neat and tidy.
A/N: Thank you! I was so happy when I woke up to some review after just publishing the story last night! It definitely helped speed this chapter along. If you haven't seen the Scarlett sequel, this probably seems a bit OOC for Scarlett, but she grew a lot during the time she was away from Rhett. I hope it's not so far fetched that I've made any of you lose interest. Much love - Shell.