Chapter 45

           ThatnightwhenFrankdepositedherandAuntPittyandthechildrenatMelanie’sandrodeoffdownthestreetwithAshley,Scarlettcouldhaveburstwithrageandhurt.Howcouldhegoofftoapoliticalmeetingonthisofallnightsintheworld?Apoliticalmeeting!Andonthesamenightwhenshehadbeenattacked,whenanythingmighthavehappenedtoher!Itwasunfeelingandselfishofhim.Butthen,hehadtakenthewholeaffairwithmaddeningcalm,eversinceSamhadcarriedhersobbingintothehouse,herbasquegapingtothewaist.Hehadn’tclawedhisbeardevenoncewhenshecriedoutherstory.Hehadjustquestionedgently:"Sugar,areyouhurt—orjustscared?"

           WrathminglingwithhertearsshehadbeenunabletoanswerandSamhadvolunteeredthatshewasjustscared.

           "Ahgotdarfo’deydonemo’nt’arherdress."

           "You’reagoodboy,Sam,andIwon’tforgetwhatyou’vedone.Ifthere’sanythingIcandoforyou—"

           "Yassah,youkinsen’meterTara,quickasyoukin.DeYankeesisafferme."

           Frankhadlistenedtothisstatementcalmlytoo,andhadaskednoquestions.HehadlookedverymuchashedidthenightTonycamebeatingontheirdoor,asthoughthiswasanexclusivelymasculineaffairandonetobehandledwithaminimumofwordsandemotions.

           "Yougogetinthebuggy.I’llhavePeterdriveyouasfarasRoughandReadytonightandyoucanhideinthewoodstillmorningandthencatchthetraintoJonesboro.It’llbesafer....Now,Sugar,stopcrying.It’sallovernowandyouaren’treallyhurt.