@@@@@The cottages that some Charlestonians had
@@@@@The cottages
that some Charlestonians had built on the nearby islands were
designed
to capture the cooler sea breezes in the hot humid days of the long
Southern summerThey were retreats from the city and the city's
formality, little more than unornamented shacks with deep shaded
porches and weathered clapboard siding perched on creosoted timbers
to
raise them above the blistering summer sands
In the cold driving rain the shelter Rhett had found looked derelict
and inadequate to stand against the buffeting windBut he knew
these
island houses had stood for generations, and had kitchen fireplaces
where meals were preparedExactly the shelter needed for shipwreck
survivorsHe broke open the door to the cottage with a single kick
Scarlett followed him insideWhy was he so silent?
He'd hardly said a word to her, not even when he was carrying her in
his arms through the thicket of low shrubs at the base of the sand
dunesI want him to talk, Scarlett thought, I want to hear his voice
saying how much he loves meLord knows he made me wait long
enough
He found a worn patchwork quilt in a cupboard"Take off those wet
things and wrap up in this," he saidHe tossed the quilt onto her
lap"I'll have a fire started in a minute
Scarlett dropped her torn pantalets on top of the soaked sweater and
dried herself on the quiltIt was soft, and it felt goodShe
wrapped it shawl-fashion then sat down again on the hard kitchen
chair
The quilt made an envelope for her feet on the floorShe was dry for
the first time in hours, but she began to shiverRhett brought dry
wood in from a box on the porch outside the kitchenIn a few
minutes
there was a small fire in the big fireplaceAlmost at once it bit
into the teepee of logs and a tall orange burst of flame leapt into
crackling lifeIt lit his brooding faceScarlett hobbled across the
room to warm herself at the fire"Why don't you get out of your wet
things, too, Rhett? I'll let you have the quilt to dry off on; it
feels wonderful