Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell up to page 283; the end of Part 2

This section was filled with war information, which is kind of boring to me because like Scarlett, war does not interest me. So here's a little summary to make my final comments understandable:

The Southern people are still content despite food shortages, death, illness, and poverty. The Confederacy has won important battles, and rumors begin to circulate that the war will be settled at an impending battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. As the battle begins, news of widespread casualties slowly gets back to Atlanta. A large crowd of women gathers before the newspaper office to wait for casualty lists. Melanie, Scarlett, and Pittypat learn that Ashley has survived, but nearly every family in Atlanta has lost a relative in the fighting. Stuart and Brent Tarleton, the twins we met at the beginning of the novel, have died. The Confederacy loses the battle at Gettysburg. At Christmas time, Ashley comes home briefly. Scarlett loves seeing him, but wishes she could speak to him alone. Just before he leaves, she gets a moment with him. Ashley asks Scarlett to look after Melanie if he is killed. Scarlett quickly agrees and then kisses him passionately. Ashley kisses her back but quickly breaks away as Scarlett proclaims her love, and he hurries to the train station looking agonized....Possibly showing he shares the feelings of love? The Confederate army has lost ground and Atlanta suffers from cold and hunger. Atlanta openly hates Rhett as a food hog. Scarlett is burdened with two new problems now as Ashley has been captured, and Melanie is pregnant. Rhett has learned of Ashley’s imprisonment and tells Scarlett that Ashley could have won his freedom by betraying the Confederacy. Scarlett asks why Ashley would have refused such an opportunity, and Rhett, who claims he himself would have accepted, replies that Ashley is too much of a gentleman, quite similar to what her father had previously said.

I don't see why Scarlett chooses to put herself through this nonsense. She knows the more she thinks about, talks to, and in this case kisses Ashley, the more unhappy she will be that he is not hers. When she kisses him passionately and he kisses back I think it is kind of a turning point in their relationship. Not only are both people intrigued by what the kiss could have meant, but both have crossed a boundary. However, this relationship can't really grow now that Ashley has been captured, which is quite unfortunate. And I'm sure Melanie's pregnancy doesn't really help Scarlett feel better about where she is with Ashley, not that she can complain though because she already has a kid. So yeah, I liked this section for its actions and drama, but I gotta admit I'm kinda starting to lose faith in Scarlett's judgment and decision making.