[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

Scarlett pressed her face against the cold wall, leaning her whole body against the wall of the room.The wall supported her who was tired and prevented her from falling down easily.The sound of a powerful heartbeat was transmitted from the wall to the eardrum.That was her own heartbeat, that was Scarlett O'Hara's indomitable strength.Scarlett put her hand over her heart, and there was a letter there.She showed a slight smile, got up slowly, and took out the letter to read.

After tearing off the outer layer of the envelope, the words "To Miss Scarlett O'Hara" were so familiar.Rhett's handwriting was always dark and thick, like his bushy eyebrows.Scarlett looked at the envelope for a moment, then found a knife and opened it carefully without mutilating any excess.She unfolded the letter.

"Mr. Ashley Wilkes was imprisoned on Rock Island. Out of delicate psychology, I do not want to repeat the glorious deeds of Mr. Wilkes here. However, I still express my sincerity to this gentleman tribute.

Another: Thank you for your concern, dear girl, but I believe that the situation you said will not happen, I have always been calm-headed.If it's even possible, it's only for you to keep your promise and miss me.Heartless kitten, your 'letter' is really short.Guess if I will put it in my heart if I am infatuated? "

At the beginning, he was still pretending to praise Ashley, but then he began to flirt with her!When Scarlett saw the end, she could almost imagine that Rhett said this sentence in a frivolous tone, "Guess if I will keep it in my heart if I am so infatuated"?Feeling hot on the face, he hurriedly took the letter away, but couldn't help but take it back and read it again.

Rhett Butler always does!Scarlett snorted softly, not noticing that the curvature of her mouth was widening.Her mood suddenly brightened up, although she was still a little tangled.Rhett, this guy always likes to exaggerate his words, and then people can't figure out the truth at all.So in his previous life, he occasionally declared that he loved her carelessly, which made her very angry, thinking that he regarded her as a self-righteous fool.So much so that in the end, she habitually distrusted him and habitually... ignored his feelings.

Thinking of this, Scarlett's heart trembled.

Scarlett folded the letter carefully and placed it in her bodice, just close to her heart.She was sore and sore in her heart, but finally she couldn't help but smiled slowly.

--------------

When May came, Sherman led the Union Army to attack Georgia again, pointing directly at Dalton, a hundred miles northwest of Atlanta.

Scarlett heard the news at the post office. The word "Sherman" was like a thunder, exploding in my ears.Anxiety and urgency weighed heavily on her heart, and Scarlett worked even harder to help the family produce, and tried to smuggle it to her cabin, as if she was fighting for her life with time.

The people of Tara were not disturbed by the news that Dalton was far away, almost on the Tennessee front.Tennessee has been battling big and small for three years, and people are used to seeing it as a distant place.What's more, Georgia, which has not been invaded by war, is now the Confederate granary, machinery factory and material center. General Johnston will never let a Yankee break in.Everyone was full of courage and optimism, but Scarlett knew that it was only less than four months before the war reached Tara.

Less than four months.

One morning in early June, Scarlett hurried home with a heavy heart.There have been many refugees who have left their homes on the roads of Georgia. They are staggering and dull, but they really look like high-class people.Most of them are accompanied by one or two loyal old blacks, carrying large bags and small bags, with firm but stupid eyes.Scarlett stopped to chat for a few words, and the few words about the destruction of their homes coincided with everything in memory.She could only grit her teeth and wish people good luck.

Up and down Tara is also short of food and clothing, but the parents are still hospitable to these refugees who have lost their homes.Scarlett was cruel enough to leave her cabin property untouched, and there were still days to go.

With pain in her eyes, Scarlett made up her mind to try to persuade her parents to pile up the cotton in a hidden place when she got home.Because of her efforts in this life, most of Tara's cotton was sold off, but this year's new ones, no matter what, don't let the Yankees do it cheap!She was thinking all the way to find an excuse, when she suddenly saw some soldiers leading a group of black slaves on their way in the countryside, Scarlett hurried up to inquire, and saw that the leader was an acquaintance:

"Mr. Kennedy, what are you doing?"

Frank Kennedy, with a ginger mustache, quickly took off his hat and greeted her: "Miss O'Hara." He giggled, rubbing his hands, "General Johnston wants to strengthen the defenses and dig another round of trenches around Atlanta. Afraid that Scarlett wouldn't understand, he gestured with his hands, "Trenches, that's it, for soldiers to hide. If there is no one in the army, let our munitions team find a group of strong black slaves from the countryside." "

Scarlett's heart skipped a beat, and she looked for someone behind him: "Have you been to Tara?"

"Miss, you see I haven't gone there yet." Frank laughed straight, feeling embarrassed, "You have to be careful when picking black slaves for the Confederacy, and you can't make mistakes."

Like an old lady.Scarlett thought in distaste, and gave the quartermaster she always hated, who took away Tara's output like a locust, a sweet smile: "You really have a heavy responsibility——Captain Kennedy, what happened to Atlanta?"

Frankton felt flattered, but embarrassed again.I really don't want to let go of this opportunity to show off my knowledge in front of the big beauty, but how about scaring her by saying it?He said carefully, "Our men have the Yankees on the Kenny Lock Line—we've secured the railroad. Don't worry, Miss O'Hara, they won't make it. Our men will Protect everyone."

Kenny Lock Mountain Line - only 22 miles from Atlanta. Within 25 days, the Confederate Army had retreated [-] miles to protect the railway!Frank said it lightly, but Scarlett knew that those place names that used to be related to picnics and gatherings have since become names of wars... She forced a smile:

"I can't disturb your work anymore. Captain Kennedy, I'm going back to Tara first."

Frank said yes repeatedly.Scarlett turned her head away, and galloped home as soon as she hit the horse.Thank God she was out with a brooch today!Scarlett stopped the horse, grabbed Mammy anxiously, and begged, "Mammy, I... I lost that emerald brooch that Mama gave me! My God, it's on the way... so many refugees, I dare not go this way again! Sister, can I let Big Sam accompany me to find it?"

Mammy's chubby body was shaken violently, and her dim old eyes were full of suspicion: "Scarlett, dear, what trick are you playing with me?"

Scarlett is going crazy, she is really anxious, Big Sam is a strong laborer who can top three, and he is also the most authoritative leader among the black slaves, loyal and brave, he is hundreds of times better than Jonathan, how can he let him be like this? time to go?So the look on his face is also genuine.Seeing her attitude, Mammy immediately softened her heart, and coaxed: "Ask Elijah to accompany you. Big Sam has to go to the field with Mr. Gerald. He is the foreman."

Scarlett is running around in a hurry, foreman!The foreman would be picked by that damned Frank Kennedy too!She was heartbroken, and simply pulled Mammy aside, and said quickly: "Mammy, I met Mr. Kennedy on the road, and he was going to pick up a group of strong black slaves to dig trenches for the Confederacy. You know Big Sam must He will be picked, and Mom will definitely let him go, but the family needs Big Sam!"

Seeing that Mammy didn't refute immediately, but narrowed her dim old eyes and thought about it, Scarlett hurriedly added: "Without Big Sam, Dad will have to supervise the work himself, and Mom will be the only one at home by then! Mammy Mo, mother's body really can't work anymore, you know best..."

"Okay." The old nanny was very decisive, which surprised Scarlett, "Take Big Sam to find your brooch, and the nanny over to Miss Ellen said."

Scarlett felt relieved—she knew Mammy would be on her side!Yes, Mammy would force her to learn southern lady manners, but that was only for Ellen's sake.The old man loved her and Ellen the most, and she would do anything for these two babies.Everything she has done these days would not have gone so smoothly without the help of Mammy several times, intentionally or unintentionally!

Seeing Mammy twisting her fat body to find Ellen, Scarlett took a deep breath, called Sam's name and ran towards the cotton field.

------------------

By the time Scarlett took Big Sam around outside for a few times, it was already dusk.It wasn't until Frank's team went far away that it was impossible for Mom to let Big Sam catch up alone, Scarlett let the frustrated Big Sam "discover" the brooch in a patch of grass, and greeted the happy silly go home alone.

Seeing that Tara was brightly lit from a distance, Scarlett's heart tightened, and she insisted on asking Big Sam to go to her room.Before she showed the expression of "I found the brooch with great difficulty", Dilsey came out and said, "Miss, Miss Ellen has been waiting for you for a long time."

Knowing that she couldn't hide the fact that she met Kennedy today, Scarlett secretly sighed, did this man like an old girl break his mouth, or did Su Allen complain?Thoughts turned in a hurry, Scarlett threw them all away.She walked into the hall with her head held high, and she couldn't help being taken aback.Ellen was sitting alone on the sofa doing her needlework.The mother looked up at her, serious.Scarlett opened her mouth, but still couldn't speak first.

Looking at such an eldest daughter, Ellen couldn't help sighing.She also opened her mouth, but said nothing.The mistress of Tara stood up, with a tired expression, and said to Dilcey, who was standing beside her silently like a ghost:

"Take her back to the room to rest."

She added:

"Take a good rest and stop running around outside."