Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Chapter Seven

Wade and Will came back from the field. Wade hugged his Uncle Rhett and introductions were made. Careen came out to the porch to greet her husband and Will asked her, "How are you feeling?"

Careen smiled that indulgent smile that wives give their husbands when they think they are being overly protective. Careen said, "We are fine."

Rhett looked at Scarlett and raised his eyebrow. She looked back and nodded her head. Rhett stood up and took his leave. Rhett said to Wade, "I will be back to see you in a few days."

She walked with Rhett to his horse. She said, "If you need any help building your house let me know I will be happy to help."

Rhett asked her, "Can you find some workers and a foreman?"

Scarlett volunteered the men that worked at the cotton gin. They were not working right now and Mr. Jones could probably be their foreman. Rhett said he would be in touch. He got on his horse and rode away.

Rhett did start calling on Scarlett. He came over at least once a week. They talked about a lot of things and Rhett still teased but he never crossed the line into mocking or hateful. Much to Rhett surprise Scarlett had developed a sense of humor. Scarlett found Rhett a perfect sounding board to all her ideas of making Tara and the gin profitable.

Soon Rhett's little house was built. It had a bedroom, front room, a kitchen, a porch and a stable. He said that was all he wanted right now. Rhett spent most of his time in Atlanta doing whatever it was that he did to make money but he was always there at any social gathering. Of course, he was there for Genie's first birthday party. Scarlett told Rhett he could not carry Genie around all day. It would raise too many questions. Melly, Beau, Ashley, Frank and Suellen came down for the day. Ashley was constantly staring at Rhett. He finally asked Scarlett, "What is he doing here?"

Scarlett said, "He is the one who bought Twelve Oaks."

Ashley asked, "Is he going to farm it?"

Scarlett said, "No."

Ashley said, "Why did he buy it then?"

Scarlett said, "So he would be invited to all the county events and he is courting me now."

Ashley almost screamed, "You are letting him court you?!"

Scarlett kept smiling and said, "Yes."

Ashley said, "You are too good, fine and pure for the likes of a man like Rhett Butler even considering your unfortunate accident. He is nothing but a brutal, coarse boar."

Scarlett continued smiling but she said in a tight little voice, "No he isn't. Good day, sir."

Rhett had overheard everything said between Scarlett and Ashley and smiled to himself. He was in her heart. Now he just had to make her acknowledged that she loved him. But he had the time.

Later that month Careen had a baby boy who they named Will Jr. He was a pretty baby and their Pa was so proud. Will said he was perfect and his timing was perfect. Will Jr. was born before they had to start harvesting the cotton. Rhett took Scarlett into Atlanta for the day to buy gifts for the baby. Wade begged to go with them but Rhett said," No. It is just going to be your mother and me." They took Rhett's buggy to Atlanta and went shopping at several stores until they were both happy with their selection of clothes. They had dinner at the National Hotel. They ran into several people of polite society. They stopped into see Miss Melly and had a nice long visit. Finally, they returned to Tara. It was after dark when they got home but nobody said anything not even Mammy.

The next day Scarlett waited for Rhett to come over before she gave Will and Careen the gifts. Everyone was pleased with the difference in Scarlett since Rhett had started courting her. She looked soft and was softer. It was also obvious to anyone who looked that Rhett was crazy about Genie. Mammy gave Scarlett a knowing look. Scarlett was amused. Everyone could think what they wanted but nobody could prove anything.

Harvesting began in August and almost everyone was in the fields. At the end of the month while they were having supper Pa said, "My wife has been dead for four years now. It seems like it was yesterday. I still miss her so." Everyone at the table made compassionate statements. The next day while everyone was busy. Gerald saddle the horse and rode him to Butler's Place. Rhett happened to be there and Gerald asked, "Do you plan on marrying my Katie Scarlett?" Rhett said, "If she will have me." Gerald said, "Good." Then turned around to ride back to Tara. Rhett felt something was wrong. He quickly saddled his horse and followed Gerald. He heard Gerald yell out, "Ellen, watch me take this one." Gerald never had a chance. The horse was not a jumper and he came to a complete stop at the fence. Gerald flew over the fence and fell and broke his neck. He died instantly. Rhett saw the whole thing. He jumped off his horse and ran to Gerald side but the man was dead. Rhett felt such sorrow because he like Mr. O'Hara but also because of the pain this would cause Scarlett. She loved her Pa so.

Rhett put Mr. O'Hara's body across his horse and led both horses to Tara. He hoped he ran into anyone but Scarlett but his hopes were dashed when he saw her. She had a happy smile on her face for him. Oh God! No! She was just beginning to come out of her despondency. She looked at Rhett and saw the utter sadness on his face. She saw the horse and knew her Pa was dead. Scarlett put her arm around Rhett's waist and walked with him back to the house.

They had the funeral the next day. An eight-month pregnant Suellen and Frank arrived in the morning on the first train. Will met them at the station. There was only the wagon to transport them to Tara. Rhett said, "We need to buy a bigger buggy." Scarlett looked at him and smiled such a loving smile. Everyone in the county came to the funeral. Frank gave the eulogy since he was the oldest male relative. When he was almost finished Mrs. Fontaine took Scarlett to the house. Mrs. Fontaine said, "He's not really dead if you don't hear the dirt hitting the coffin." Rhett went with them. Scarlett just sat with Rhett on the porch holding his hand but she was pressed up against him. When people started coming back to the house Scarlett squeezed his hand and said, "Let's get the food ready." Scarlett and Careen laid out quite a spread for the mourners. Later after Frank and Suellen had left Careen said to Scarlett, "Suellen is so happy with Frank but I would have gone to a convent first." Scarlett started laughing then Careen started laughing and it took them awhile to stop laughing. It really wasn't that funny but they both just needed to laugh. Rhett said, "It was quite the turn out. Your Pa was a popular man." Scarlett smiled and said, "Yes he was but most of the people came for the free food." She and Careen again thought it was the funniest thing. Rhett and Will looked at each other and both decided that laughter was better than tears any day.

In September Suellen had a baby girl who she named Ella Lorena. She was a sweet child but unfortunately looked too much like her father.

Rhett continued courting Scarlett all throughout the fall. They had a lovely Christmas. Rhett gave Scarlett an emerald ring surrounded by diamonds as a Christmas present. She smiled at Rhett when she opened it and said, "Yes. You have wormed your way into my heart." They were married the second day in January of 1869.

In the spring Rhett built Scarlett a home at Butler's Place that was a monstrosity. He thought it was so ugly it was almost an eyesore but she loved it so he grinned and bared it. He at least had convinced her that the outside should be a colonial style home. The inside could always be re-decorated. He adopted both Wade and Genie and asked Wade to call him Papa. Rhett assured Melanie Wilkes that when Wade got older, he could go back to Hamilton at any time.

Rhett knew that Scarlett loved him. She had told him so. After they were married, he laughed at how she immediately figured out how she could get more yield with very little more expenditure by combining Twelve Oaks land with Tara land. Rhett loved that part of her. He loved his wife and would never change her. But he was always so happy when he saw that young girl from the pre-war years. He usually only saw her when he was giving her a gift or when he was making love to her.

Scarlett ended up burning her Pa's will because her sisters loved Tara as much as she did and both had sacrificed for it. After she married Rhett, she asked him to give her the money to buy Suellen out of her share of Tara which he did but first she had to commit to giving him another child. Rhett Butler never did anything without expecting something back. Scarlett was fine with having another child but she never gave up an advantage either so she didn't tell Rhett.

It was over twenty years before Scarlett could give up her strong box of money. She knew she was being silly holding on to her strong box especially considering she was married to a millionaire but it provided her a security that Rhett could not.