[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

One day in July, Cade Calvert died.

This excellent soldier of the Confederacy survived the years of cannon fodder during the war, but in the end he did not survive the wasted time of injuries.But thinking of what the survivors will suffer, Scarlett can only feel dejected.With Cade's temperament, it may be a bleak happiness to be able to die in her career with a clear conscience and not have to fight with the Yankees for the survival of her family - but she still feels sad for Cade's death.She had lost her childhood friend again, just as she had lost the Tarleton brothers.

Cade walked peacefully. The blond man seemed to be asleep in the recliner he usually sat on, but this time the sun could no longer warm his body.There was a relieved smile on his lips.Seeing her brother like this, Catherine could not even utter a complete sentence, sobbing.

The last of the Calverts was eventually buried in the family graveyard next to Mr. Calvert Sr.'s cairn.There are continuous cedars growing on both sides of the road, and people send off their friends with a heavy heart.The O'Haras, who are now caring for Catherine, had a Protestant pastor brought in from Atlanta to preside over the funeral -- even though they were actually Catholics.Catherine was moved by Tara's kindness, and Gerald and Ellen also promised Cade's grave that they would take good care of his sister.

"I think Cade will be at ease," Melanie said at last. "He loves us all as much as we love him. His soul must go to heaven."

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

After the funeral, Tara's atmosphere was obviously much gloomy.Losing a familiar friend is a blow to anyone, but life must go on.A week later, Uncle Peter's visit brought a little joy to Tara.The confused old negro gave Scarlett a hard look, and then angrily accused Mellie of leaving Aunt Pitt alone in Atlanta, making the old lady tremble with fear.His unbelievable remarks made everyone laugh, only Scarlett pouted, thinking of the great help he had asked her before, and reluctantly said anything.The blushing old black man suddenly remembered what Aunt Pete told him.Hastily he drew a letter from his bosom--it was the letter that made Mélière weep.

"Honey, I'm coming back to you..."

It's Ashley Wilkes' news, that's right!Mr. Burr, who was imprisoned with Ashley, was lucky to have a mule to travel. This gentleman took Ashley's letter home first, and then passed it to Aunt Pitt, and now Aunt Pitt sent Peter to deliver it to May. Rani!Ashley is alive and coming back soon!The people in Tara were crying and laughing with joy, Xiao Bo slapped his hands in a daze, and was hugged by Catherine with tears in his eyes, and Melanie kissed the letter again and again, thanking God non-stop.

"My dear," cried her face with a gleam of joy, "my dear, I'm coming back to you!"

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

As usual, everyone knows that it will take at least a few weeks to get from Illinois to Georgia, and it may take months if you rely on your legs.But whenever the shadow of the soldier turned into Tara's avenue, the girls couldn't help looking up.Every skinny soldier with a beard and rags could be Ashley, and if not, might bring news of him.The work at home was almost impossible, and everyone was anxious and happy for Mei Li.

However, as the weeks passed, there was no news from Ashley.Tara gradually got back on track, rebuilding her home and entertaining soldiers were proceeding in an orderly manner.Scarlett is more involved in the first part. She has experience in repairing fences, weeding, and plowing, and can help everyone avoid many detours in previous lives, but sometimes she will also join in the reception of soldiers.

If the soldiers were too sick to go any further, Master Tara had to take them in.Several soldiers, some unnamed, had died silently in the living room downstairs for weeks.Tara buried them in shallow pits in the family cemetery, and tried to write letters to their loved ones and pray for them through known clues.When Will Benting was brought by his companions on horses, the girls thought he would also be a member of the cold tomb, but he survived.

The man with light red hair has a gentle temperament from his face.His complexion was slightly sallow, and his eyelids, once or twice opened, revealed light blue eyes.One leg had been sawn off at the knee and replaced with a poorly made wooden leg.Will looks emaciated, but he's restrained in moaning even in the worst moments.He suffered from acute pneumonia.

Of course Scarlett knew Will, and Will was her right-hand man in her previous life.She knew very well that this was a rare good man, capable man (the latter point may be more important to Scarlett), and although he was missing a leg, he was better than Pork.Therefore, Scarlett tried her best to treat Will, and she took time to visit him several times, hoping that Will would recover soon.

Once, when Scarlett came to visit him, Will was talking nonsense because of a high fever, and he was struggling to get up and fight in a coma.Karin, who was guarding him, expressed deep uneasiness to her sister.

"He seldom speaks, and occasionally grunts a few times before rushing to the battlefield." Karin worried, "He never called his mother, wife, sister or lover's name - a person must have relatives in this world! Listen! Looks like he doesn't have any relatives."

The younger sister, Karin, is weak and kind-hearted, and her family arranges for her to take care of the sick.Will has been under Karin's care since he entered Tara.When Scarlett heard what Karin said, she couldn't help thinking that in her previous life Will liked this thin little sister, but it was Will himself who finally persuaded her to agree with Karin to become a monk.Her mind was elsewhere.

"Maybe the situation will be different in this life." Scarlett secretly said, "At least without my intervention, Su Allen will definitely marry Frank, and Karin and Will are not impossible."

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

Although the Weir was slender, his physique was still strong, and he gradually improved under the careful care of everyone.Finally, one day, his pale blue eyes fully recognized everything around him, and his eyes fell on Karin who was sitting by the bed.The youngest of the O'Haras was praying slowly from her rosary, the morning light shining through her blond hair.

"So I'm not dreaming?" He said flatly, "I hope I didn't cause you too much trouble, miss."

He recovered very slowly, but he hardly caused trouble to others. He lay quietly all day long, looking at the magnolia tree outside the window.His peaceful and magnanimous silence won the favor of many people in Tara. Karin sat by his bed for the whole afternoon without saying a word.Scarlett and Su Allen were also willing to chat with Will, and they always felt much calmer afterwards.

One afternoon, when Will Benting was sitting in a chair, Scarlett talked to him about Karin.

"She prays for too long, as if she has nothing else to do." Scarlett worried. "I think Karin is too thin, and she walks around the house like a light ghost. It's really worrying about her." .Will, I think she likes to talk to you very much, can you persuade her?"

In fact, Scarlett exaggerated about Karin's situation.In this life, Ellen is still alive, Gerald is not crazy, and Karin is not the lifeless and trance-like look in her previous life, and it is impossible for Ellen to let her be depressed like that.Of course, Scarlett said this because she wanted to find out Will's mind.

For her little sister Karin, Scarlett has always had some sympathy for her.In her previous life, she was annoyed at her younger sister's hastily becoming a monk, but after calming down, Scarlett recalled that Karin became a monk after Tara had gone through the most difficult time-and she had thought about it early in the morning.In other words, Karin stayed at Tara to help her older sister (although the younger sister couldn't actually help much due to her health).In this life, Karin still dedicated her heart to God, but not being engaged to Brent made Karin's nostalgia a little less dependent. Scarlett really hoped that her little sister would be with Will.

But Will replied in his characteristic straight voice, "Let her go, Miss Scarlett, it will comfort her."

Scarlett continued to chat with him on this issue: "Words of consolation—I think that in Tara, Karin is indeed the one who was hit the hardest by the defeat. Su Allen didn't care much. Mom was strong in her heart, and Dad relied on her, Me, I have Tara." The more she talked, the more she felt that Karin really lacked something to miss, "I think she may be too lonely, the family is very busy, and my mother doesn't have time to talk to her."

Will's pale blue eyes looked at her from under sandy lashes, and his voice was natural and gentle.

"Miss Karin has been praying for South and Tara - and 'him' of course."

"'Him'?" Scarlett didn't realize it all at once.

"Yes, 'he'," Will said. "It was the young man named Brent who died at Gettysburg. Karin cared about him."

"Oh—" hearing him mention Brent, Scarlett couldn't help feeling sad, "You mean she still can't forget—" Brent has been chasing Scarlett, and the last letter before his death was to her Yes, Scarlett has been unwilling to give Karin hope throughout her life, but the little sister is still unrequitedly in love with this big boy, "But why is she willing to tell you this?" Scarlett questioned, "I mean , Karin and Brent—Of course I have no other opinions, but why would she tell you..." After all, Brent was chasing after her sister before, so how could Karin be willing to mention herself to Will, whom she hadn't known for long? What about crush?

Will didn't answer the question.