[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

Catherine was smiling quietly at her—not the kind that tried to be friendly and understanding, but a genuinely peaceful smile.Scarlett suddenly realized that Catherine had changed a lot, maybe everyone after the war, but the war also taught people to be careless.

"No matter what." She thought to herself, "Catherine won't become the same down and out after marrying Hilton in her previous life. Something good will happen anyway."

Catherine itself is a comfort to Scarlett.

Scarlett and Catherine walked slowly along the long avenue, talking now and then.Catherine looked uneasy, but so did Scarlett herself.Choosing to go for a walk on such a happy night that belonged to the wedding, Scarlett guessed that Catherine also had a heavy heart, and she didn't understand what it was.Scarlett doesn't know much about Catherine's life in Tara recently, she just needs to know that her family will treat her kindly.She was very surprised to find that the innocent and gentle playmate had become this quiet woman beside her. How tired Catherine looked.

"A quiet night will make people feel like going back in time." Catherine whispered, "I miss them very much..."

Scarlett nodded.She thought of the Calverts' Pine Flowers estate--inherited by Catherine and her Yankee stepmother.The former Yankee stepmother forced Catherine to sell the pine flowers immediately for money because she had to go back to the north and could not use the manor.Catherine was naturally unwilling in every possible way, but she couldn't buy the other half of the ownership from her stepmother.What's more, now that she is taken in by Tara, there is no one to cultivate Songhua, but there are still taxes to pay.Scarlett had no idea what Catherine was going to do, but there was a decision to be made—whatever that decision was, it was bound to be difficult.

They walked for a while, and Catherine stepped on a stone and fell. Although Scarlett grabbed her arm in time, Catherine still had a few bruises on her legs.

"It hurts a little," she said, "otherwise I'll go back first."

Just as Scarlett was about to speak, she suddenly heard the faint sound of horseshoes behind her.She turned around, took a few steps forward, and looked into the distance with the awning in her hands.A figure on horseback emerged from the night, and she recognized Tommy Wellborn, whose golden hair was shining in the moonlight, and Scarlett beckoned to him.

"Hi, Tommy!" she called out.

The horse came to a screeching halt a few paces away from her, and Tommy pulled the reins tightly.Scarlett came quickly to the side of the horse:

"Aren't you planning to go back overnight?" She asked with a smile, "Or come out to relax?"

Blue eyes meet green ones - but only for a split second.Tommy smiled: "I came out to look for you, Mammy said she saw you go out." Turning to Catherine again, she nodded politely, "Miss Calvert." Catherine lifted the hem of her skirt and gave a slight salute.

Scarlett felt unbelievable, Mammy saw her going out and didn't stop her?Did she also see that Scarlett was in a bad mood and wanted to take a break?But even more incredible is--

"When did you get her over again?" Scarlett asked suspiciously, and then cried out, "Yes, Tommy Wellborn!"

Tommy smiled helplessly: "It seems that you are fine."

Scarlett smiled awkwardly. Tommy stared at her for a while, then smiled suddenly, and stretched out his hand as an invitation: "Are you interested in horse racing? Miss O'Hara."

"What?" Scarlett thought she had heard wrong.

"Interested in horse racing? Scarlett." Tommy asked again, with a smile on his face. "I thought you would like to do it at this time—Miss Calvert, how about you?" The latter question was obviously out of Be polite.

Scarlett’s heart moved violently, and she had to say that this was a good idea—riding a gallop, letting the wind blow everything to the back, running wildly, laughing heartily... Spurred by a competitive heart, you chase I rush!Racing horses with Tommy sounds like teenage girlhood!And, Scarlett knew, it was more than that.That kind of feeling will almost be—running from Girls’ Time, roaring all the way to the present, and then galloping to the future.Really, Scarlett liked the proposal so much!If it wasn't for his last mention of Catherine to make Scarlett realize the current situation.

"Oh, Tommy," she said listlessly, "some other day. Catherine fell down and her leg is not very comfortable. Now that you are here, take her home."

Tommy was obviously disappointed by this unexpected situation, but he quickly adjusted his mood and said with a smile, "Then next time." Then he got off his horse and asked Catherine, "Can you still get on the horse?"

"Sorry to trouble you." Catherine blushed and said shyly.She nodded nervously, and climbed onto the horse holding Tommy's hand.Tommy held on to the reins, trying to keep the snorting horse as tame as he could.

"Oh, Scarlett," he said very apologetically, "it seems I must—you'll be all right by yourself?"

"What could happen." Scarlett smiled at him comfortingly. "It's so close to Tara, not to mention I'm carrying a gun. Take Catherine home, Tommy, I want to walk a little longer by myself."

Tommy nodded silently, then led the horse and walked steadily ahead.There was a clatter of hooves, and Catherine held the saddle firmly with both hands.So they went in the direction of Tara, and Scarlett stood watching and waved to Tommy.Tommy looked as if he was going to lead Catherine home like this, but Catherine was riding unsteadily and wobbling all the time.When they were almost out of Scarlett's sight, the horse stopped for a moment, and Tommy came up to Catherine.Catherine seemed to say something to him, and Tommy refused at first, but was finally persuaded by her.Then, he also got on the horse, rode behind Catherine, helped her fix the position, and then rode away.

Scarlett continued walking along the avenue.For some reason, she very much hoped that this road would be longer, so that she could figure out those messy things in her mind.However, after a while, before Scarlett could sort out her thoughts, the sound of horseshoes sounded from behind her again.The sound of the horse's hooves was cheerful, loud, and hurried, and it clearly ran towards her.Scarlett stood and waited—at first she thought it was Tommy going and coming back, but when the hooves came closer she thought otherwise.She waited with an impatience she didn't know why, and at last Rhett Butler appeared on horseback, and Scarlett's heart began to sing and pound.

"Scarlett—" the black-haired man called out the name that had been in his mouth for a long time, long and moving.He smiled lazily, but almost thrillingly, and when he was still far away, he stretched out his hand to her, and shouted, "Let me take you for a ride, Scarlett!"

Then, when his horse finally got close to her, Scarlett held out her hand too—very firmly.Rhett didn't stop the horse, maybe even slow it down.He just firmly grasped Scarlett's with his outstretched hand, which he did not intend to come back empty-handed, and then lifted her up with his wrist, the green skirt was like a butterfly's wing Flying around, the beautiful girl was already sitting in front of him, and he stretched out his arms to hug her.

"Scarlett!" He yelled even though he was so close, his arms were tight and strangled, "Scarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett!" Then he let out a series of loud laughs, letting them Let loose in the wind.

Scarlett felt a nagging euphoria and a desire to respond--but the wind blowing against her face made her laugh too, and she felt terribly happy.It couldn't be, there was no wind just now—she thought vaguely, then realized that Rhett's horse was going too fast, and brought the wind.Then she laughed louder and happier.

"Rhett!" she cried, sniffling.

He seemed determined to leave her stunned and out of breath, a frenzied ride that would drain her of energy—but the purest joy made both of them forget everything, and they didn't know how long it took them to stop down.In the darkness, Scarlett panted softly in Rhett's arms, and recognized some familiar scenes around her.Finally, she raised her eyebrows high:

"Lavlady's Village?" she said unexpectedly.

"That's right." Rhett gasped, and kissed her left cheek loudly.He also seemed tired and excited, his hand took hers, and then slowly calmed down in the darkness.Rhett issued a formal invitation: "Can I drive you home?"

"No." Scarlett said with a straight face, "Because I want to take your horse and throw you here, and then I will ride back on my own and tell everyone that you have kidnapped me." Then she couldn't help crying laugh it out.

"That's a good idea," Rhett said with a smile, catching his last gasps.Then he said gently: "But let me send you back from here, I always feel that this should be made up."

Scarlett looked at him steadily for a moment.

Then she turned around, threw herself into his arms all at once, and said sullenly, "I leave it all to you."

Lovely Village.The place where Rhett Butler had left her in the army two lifetimes ago... She gritted her teeth and walked back to Tara from here.Any of the dangers she experienced on this walk could have killed her, or worse.Scarlett thought she would not want to recall this.

Rhett Butler is a jerk.she cursed under her breath.

At first, she didn't feel like she was riding - because the return trip was so gentle now compared to the hearty, blustery ride it had been.However, the speed of the horse is actually not too slow—Scarlett couldn't help but suspect that the previous wildness was caused by Rhett's deliberate tossing.There was little wind—perhaps because he had shaded her face with his cloak—but the return journey was peaceful and comfortable, and slow at the same time.

Scarlett experienced every detail with uncanny clarity.How Rhett Butler held her arm tenderly and considerately, how quietly and firmly stood behind her, how lovingly stroked her black hair.She can even feel how gentle the wind is and how elegant the moonlight is.She felt their bodies pressed against each other, and she and Rhett rode through the woods together.The moonlight falls and the heart gallops.Again that soft, heartfelt feeling seized her again, and Scarlett was sure again that moonlight must be her weakness.Especially when she was with Rhett Butler.

They just stayed and rode together for a long time, very quiet, very peaceful, hugging each other tightly.For a moment, Scarlett felt that Rhett wanted to say something to her, but he didn't.He didn't say anything until they returned to Tara together, got off the horse and said good night to each other, and each went to their own rooms.

The moonlight was so good, and he didn't say anything.