aonovan1990

@@@@@As if I could feel anything at all Ashley shook his head with slow, heavy swings from side to sideHe was like a mortally wounded animal brought down by a pack of predatorsFrom his throat burst one tearing sob, and he turned away"Forgive me, Scarlett, I beg of youI had no right to burden you with my troublesNow I have the shame of this outburst to add to my other shamesBe merciful, my dear, and leave meI will be grateful if you will go now Scarlett fled without a wordLater she sat at her desk with all her legal records neatly stacked in front of herIt was going to be even harder to keep her promise to Melly than she'd expected Clothing and household goods weren't nearly enoughAshley wouldn't lift a finger to help himselfShe was going to have to make him successful whether he cooperated or notShe'd promised Melanie And she couldn't bear to see the business she had built go under Scarlett made a list of her assetsThe store, building and trade It produced nearly a hundred a month in profits, but that would almost certainly go down some ? when the Panic got to Atlanta and people had no money to spendShe made a note to order more cheap goods and stop replacing luxury items like wide velvet ribbonThe saloon on her lot near the depotShe didn't actually own it, she leased the land and building to the man who did, for thirty dollars a monthPeople would likely be drinking more than ever ? when times got hard, maybe she should raise the rentBut a few more dollars a month wouldn't be enough to bail out Ashle