9THE END OF SCARLETT
by Delia Lavender
(This is affectionate fanfiction. I do not own "Gone With The Wind" or
any of its characters.)
"Scarlett dear, soon you will be in Heaven...you will see our Lord Jesus. You will see our mother again…you will see Pa and Bonnie and Melanie."
Carrine...now Sister Catherine. She had inherited Ellen's soothing voice and cool hands. So good to have her here. Carrine.
Scarlett couldn't see, but she still could hear. She could hear Suellen's peevish, harsh voice coming from the hallway.
"Come away, Sister...she's gone. Nothing we can do. Come away...the doctor is here. Scarlett can't hear you."
Oh yes she could. Bitter, nasty old Suellen.
"Let her alone, Suellen...let her be."
Will's voice. Kindly, reliable Will. Scarlett was grateful to him. He was actually leading Suellen away, out of earshot.
Finally, some peace.
Scarlett began to drift…
She could barely remember the accident. She had been in the buggy...she had been on her way to visit Ella. Ella had had a baby, just a few days before. Wade Hampton had also been visiting...he had brought his wife and two children.
Elias, Uncle Peter's nephew, had been driving the buggy. Elias was very good with horses...very gentle and cautious. But then, up ahead, a horse had suddenly thrown it's rider, it had…
It had happened too fast. Elias had been thrown from his seat. She remembered his screams for help. People had come running…
There had been nothing more, for quite a while.
Concussion. Coma.
"Nothing more to be done".
That was young Dr. Mead's pronouncement.
So many people had visited. So much coming and going. It was tiring.
She recognized most of them. She felt sorriest for Ella and Wade. She remembered feeling it, when Wade put his little girl onto the bed for a moment, so she could kiss her good-bye.
She could feel the kiss. She wished she could kiss her back.
Her granddaughter, little Ellen.
'She looks just like Mother." thought Scarlett "I wonder if the new baby will look like Pa. That would be nice. I wish Ella would stop crying. She's wearing herself out...she should be home in bed.'
But she couldn't tell her that. Hopefully, Carreen would have a word with her.
Scarlett drifted in and out of consciousness.
Scarlett dreamed. Mostly, they were good dreams.
"Scarlett," murmured Melanie "Don't worry about anything. All is well".
"Daughter," said Ellen "Your father and I are expecting you. It won't be long now. We will sit and talk. We'll have tea in the parlor".
"Mommy...come watch me ride my pony. Don't fret...I'm fine now...it's safe."
"Scarlett, please forgive..."
'Oh no...' thought Scarlett 'It's that ass, Ashley, again.' She was so sick of him. So very tired of him... 'Go away, Ashley!'
She was beginning to forget things. How many husbands had she had? There was Wade's...what was his name? He'd been Melanie's brother. And Ella's father...he had been old. He ought to have married Suellen...she could remember their engagement... so why didn't he? What had happened?
But only one husband meant anything to Scarlett.
Bonnie's father, Rhett Butler.
A surge of pain went through her. She should never have out-lived that husband.
When did she find out? A year ago, two years, ten? She couldn't remember…
So handsome...Rhett had been so handsome. Someone she could lean on.
Apoplexy. She vaguely remembered hearing about it. It had killed him.
Scarlett didn't understand. What had gone wrong with them? Why had their marriage failed? Was it losing Bonnie? Was it...was it because she'd been a fool?
Was there really a Heaven? Would she go there? Who would she meet? She hoped it wouldn't be Ashley or her first two husbands.
And then, for a while, things went black.
She couldn't see, but she could hear.
In her room, several people were crying. There was a soft voice reciting prayers...was it the local parish priest? He sounded half-familiar. She felt someone touch her forehead…
Then it was dark, and she heard nothing more.
She did not know how long the darkness lasted, but the darkness surrounding
her gradually lightened. She could see again.
She was standing erect, near the cape jasmine bushes. She held one of the fragrant blossoms in her hand. She lifted it to her nose…
"Lamb, come inside soon. It's almost time for supper."
Scarlett lifted her head. Mammy was at the window, smiling down at her. Scarlett smiled back. She had missed Mammy terribly.
But now she was home, safe at Tara, and Tara was shining and new. She looked around. The light was golden, illuminating the brilliant green of the lawn, the trees and the bushes.
She, also, was shining and new. She was young and strong again. She had an appetite and she was wearing her favorite dress, the one she had worn to the Wilkes barbecue.
Everyone was waiting for her.
She heard footsteps on the gravel path, they were coming toward her.
"Darling...there you are. I've been looking for you."
And then Scarlett saw him: handsome, dapper, holding his hat in one hand. She saw his twinkling black eyes, and the smile below his moustache.
"Rhett!"
He bowed slightly, then took her into his arms.
He kissed her, and there was no need for words.
And then Scarlett, leading him by the hand, took him inside for supper.
The End