“We’re out of town now,” said Rhett briefly, drawing rein, “and on the main road to Rough and Ready.”
“Hurry.
Don’t stop!”
“Let the animal breathe a bit.” Then turning to her, he asked slowly: “Scarlett, are you still determined to do this crazy thing?”
“Do what?”
“Do you still want to try to get through to Tara?
It’s suicidal.
Steve Lee’s cavalry and the Yankee Army are between you and Tara.”
Oh, Dear God!
Was he going to refuse to take her home, after all she’d gone through this terrible day?
“Oh, yes! Yes!
Please, Rhett, let’s hurry.
The horse isn’t tired.”
“Just a minute.
You can’t go down to Jonesboro on this road.
You can’t follow the train tracks.
They’ve been fighting up and down there all day from Rough and Ready on south.
Do you know any other roads, small wagon roads or lanes that don’t go through Rough and Ready or Jonesboro?”
“Oh, yes,” cried Scarlett in relief.
“If we can just get near to Rough and Ready, I know a wagon trace that winds off from the main Jonesboro road and wanders around for miles.
Pa and I used to ride it.
It comes out right near the MacIntosh place and that’s only a mile from Tara.”
“Good.
Maybe you can get past Rough and Ready all right.
General Steve Lee was there during the afternoon covering the retreat.
Maybe the Yankees aren’t there yet.
Maybe you can get through there, if Steve Lee’s men don’t pick up your horse.”
“I can get through?”
“Yes, YOU.”
His voice was rough.
“But Rhett-You-Aren’t going to take us?”
“No.
I’m leaving you here.”
She looked around wildly, at the livid sky behind them, at the dark trees on either hand hemming them in like a prison wall, at the frightened figures in the back of the wagon—and finally at him.
Had she gone crazy?
Was she not hearing right?
He was grinning now.
She could just see his white teeth in the faint light and the old mockery was back in his eyes.
“Leaving us?
Where—where are you going?”
“I am going, dear girl, with the army.”
She sighed with relief and irritation.
Why did he joke at this time of all times?
Rhett in the army!
After all he’d said about stupid fools who were enticed into losing their lives by a roll of drums and brave words from orators—fools who killed themselves that wise men might make money!
“Oh, I could choke you for scaring me so!
Let’s get on.”
“I’m not joking, my dear.
And I am hurt, Scarlett, that you do not take my gallant sacrifice with better spirit.
Where is your patriotism, your love for Our Glorious Cause?