A/N: I am not too sure on where my story will go, I'm letting my mind go on its' own and writing out its' thoughts. This is my first fanfic so please have pity on my writing. I made Rhett 9 years older than Scarlett. I also gave a shot at writing Mammy's way of speaking, hopefully not all too bad.
Disclaimer: I do not own GWTW.
It's been five years since the war ended. Scarlett is 21 years old, Wade 4 and Rhett 30. Scene starts with Scarlett figuring out what to do about the taxes.
January 1866
Will Benteen had gone to Jonesbro to have the horse's shoes replaced. While being in town, he heard talks of taxes being raised on Tara. Someone had wanted to buy Tara at the sheriffs' sales price. He knew that if the taxes were not paid, Scarlett and her family would be thrown out from their home. Scarlett, having not been to Jonesbro in a while, knows no news of this and he himself would have to tell her.
In Scarlett's mind she questioned what she was going to do. Where and how was she going to get the money to pay for the raised taxes? "Rhett! Rhett Butler!" she bellowed out loud. Ashley had mentioned that the only person he knew of having any money at all was him, and he was in Atlanta. She also thought of Grandfather Robillard, Ellen's father, in Savannah. He was filthy rich, but yet an old mean thing. Since the war had been over he'd come back from overseas. Knowing the chances was slim in her Grandfather loaning her any money, she decided it would be best to ask him first before asking the low down cad Rhett Butler. She went ahead and wrote him a letter in her mother's office.
Cher Grand-père,
I hope the war has been kind to you and you are well. I have received letters from both Aunt Eulalie, and Pauline that you were away overseas during the war and since then been back. I hope your travels were pleasant. I am writing to you to ask for your help. I am in need of $300 for taxes on Tara. You see, I have already paid the taxes but since the war has been over, it has risen. Grand-père, you are my only hope in having to have Tara as a home. Tara may not be what it once was, but it is to me where I still and will always get my strength and hopes. As you know, mother had passed away from typhoid and father is not himself. With no one else to turn to, I turn to you. I shall be waiting for your answer Grand-père.
Sincèrement de votre petite-fille,
Katie Scarlett O'Hara
Having finished the letter she went to find Will to tell him to take it to Jonesbro tomorrow to be sent out. She knew that if her grandfather did not give her the $300 for the taxes she would have to turn to Rhett Butler in Atlanta. With this in thought, she had to make plans on going to Atlanta if her grandfather denied her the money. Just the thought of dealing with Rhett gave her a headache. He was a rich man, and would want collateral. Her earbobs she knew he wouldn't want, but her body, he'd asked for twice, may just make the deal. Walking back towards her mother's office Mammy stopped her to ask about the taxes on Tara.
"Mis Scarlett, wut we gon do about them taxes?"
"Why Mammy, have you been ease dropping on my conversation with Will?"
Growing up and being cared for by Mammy, Scarlett realized she had always been in the knowing of things. To be exact, she had known of everything. She was not at all surprised or even mad to know that Mammy knew of this situation.
"Nom Mis Scarlett, I waz not eaze dropin on noh ones! Will had lef the parlor dors open en ies jus herd."
"Well Mammy, I have written Grandfather Robillard to ask for the money to pay the taxes. I know he is an old stingy man, but yet he is the only wealthy family member I can turn to in this situation. If he denies me of the $300, I plan on going to Atlanta to see if I can borrow it."
"Mis Scarlett, who youse be planin on borowin money from in Lanta? Why duh only one I herd bou havin any was duh no good Captin Rhe…."
"Fiddle dee dee Mammy! Whoever I borrow money from is none of your business but my own. Would you rather have Tara be sold to some scalawags, or carpetbaggers? Or even worst, sold to a family like the Slatterys. Would you want Emmie Slattery to be walking in Mother's home, when she was the one to kill her?"
"Ies wud rather be wif Ellen den seen Tara go to them scalawags, carpetbeggars, or them non good ol Slatteries! Mis Scarlett, ies hopin Mista Robillard does give ya them money, for ies would have failed Mis Ellen if ies let you gone tah Lanta tah do somthin no good as to barrow money from Captin Rhett Butla."
Two weeks passed and Scarlett was getting nervous. Nervous at the fact that her Grandfather had not replied to her letter; nervous on the fact that she would have to go to Atlanta to ask Rhett for the money. She hated that she couldn't rely on anyone else to take care of this situation but herself. No longer was she the young carefree belle of Clayton County, but the one person everyone in the household depended on. She was a young woman who had lost her mother too early, whose father had become a child to take care of, had become a wife and mother herself from a careless decision so quickly made, no sooner to regret. From wife to a widow she would become for Charles death from the measles would be known from a letter. Yes, she'd wed Charles Hamilton in spite of Ashley Wilkes marrying Melanie Hamilton. There was never any affection towards Charles; only that he was to be used as a pawn to get Ashley jealous. Scarlett had loved Ashley Wilkes since the day he came home from his grand tour of Europe so many years ago. She'd known; had thought he held love for her too, but after throwing herself at him three weeks ago and being pushed away, she questioned what it really was that Ashley felt for her. He kissed her with such passion she felt as if she'd finally made him see it was always her he had wanted. Her wishes were soon dissipated with his words of honor and loyalty to his wife. It tore her to pieces to know that he would never leave Melanie. That he will never take her away from the burdens she was carrying. It cut her so deep that she couldn't bear to think about it at all. "I will think about it tomorrow," she whispered to herself.
"Mother, Mother!" Wade had called her out from her thoughts.
"Yes Wade?"
Scarlett knew that she was not a good mother to her son, a younger version of Charles now 4 years old, Wade Hampton Hamilton. He was born during the war only to be deprived from having a father. He has a mother, but was deprived of a mother's affections for a child because she knew nothing of mothering. Melanie was a better fit for being a mother to Wade, but truthfully she was only a loving Aunt; for she was a mother to Beau Wilkes. Growing up, Scarlett had always wanted to be like her mother, Ellen. Kind hearted, patient, caring, understanding, and soft tongued; a true lady and mother Ellen was. Everyone had respected and looked up to her. Yes, she indeed tried being like Ellen, but failed miserably. Scarlett ignored all the sins she had committed and pretended that she was still going to be just like Ellen. Now after the war she knew deep down she could never be like Ellen. She murdered a Yankee and knew it was a bloody god forsaken sin. She have loved, still love Ashley, a married man, yet another sin to hide. For better or for worse no one would know how the war had changed her except herself. One thing she knew for sure was to try being a better mother to her son. To care and love her child like her own mother had done to her.
"Mother, Wade hungry."
"It's almost noon. I suppose a snack before lunch will be alright. Prissy!"
"Yessim Mis Scarlett?"
"Prissy, take Wade into the kitchen and find anything for him to snack on. Maybe a bit of baked sweet yams will do."
"Yessim, cum hea Wade."
As Prissy took Wade towards the kitchen, Scarlett heard a wagon pulled in. She knew this morning Will had gone into Jonesbro to see if any letters had come for her and knew indeed it was Will arriving back. He walked through the doors with not one letter in his hand but two. One to Melanie from Aunt Pittypat and the other addressed to herself from her Grandfather. Already knowing its' contents in Aunt Pittypat's letter, as usual about when she would expect their arrival, she moved quickly to open her own letter from Grandfather Robillard.
Cher petite-fille Katie Scarlett,
Mesvoyagesétaient en effetagréable.Comme vous le savez, je ne suis plusjeunecomme je l'étais une foiset j'ai vuassez dela guerredans ma vieàêtremalade. (My travels indeed were pleasant. As you know, I am no longer young as I once was and have seen enough war in my lifetime to be sick of it.) I do hope that you have not given up on learning French for it will be used mostly in my home. I am willing to give you the $300 on the condition that you will come to Savannah to stay with me until I die. I will see that you bring your son Wade Hamilton along with you. If you were to agree with this offer, I would provide you with all you need. A small amount of allowance would be given to you for your personal expenses monthly until my passing. Je vaisêtre en attentede vous entendre. (I shall be waiting to hear from you.)
Sincèrementvotre grand-père
PierreRobillard
Scarlett, only recognizing a few words in French, asked Ashley to interpret it for her. While growing up, Ellen made sure Scarlett and her sisters had French lessons. Ellen coming from a French background wanted her daughters to know and speak its' language. As they grew older, their interests on a second language waned and Ellen, having Scarlett for a daughter, knew she could not force anything on her.
She found Ashley in the parlor with Melanie and Beau. Ashley gladly read the letter and told her what her grandfather had written in French. He too had somehow found out about the taxes and could not do anything about it to help her. Right away after interpreting it for her, he knew she was going to take the offer and go to Savannah with Wade. Tara was her home and she would do anything to keep and save it from others' hands. Already knowing her answer to this proposition, he kindly asked her what she was planning to do.
"Scarlett, are you planning on taking up this offer with your Grandfather? You wouldn't have to; maybe there could be another way."
Ashley deeply did not want her to go. He looked up to her for strength and energy. She was a part of his past that he couldn't let go; a past that he wanted to be the present, but it was long gone when the war swept through. The days of riding about with no worries, barbeques in the spring with all of Clayton County, relaxing under beautiful big trees and reading and dreaming about what was to come. With Scarlett gone, only memories would be left to ponder about.
"Absolutely! There isn't anything I wouldn't do to save Tara. How bad could it be anyways? He is my Grandfather. Nothing bad will come to me and Wade if we're to be with him for a while. Of course Wade and I would still visit Tara every now and then; even Grandfather wouldn't be able to tie me down from coming home."
"Are you sure of this Scarlett?" asked Melanie with a doleful look on her heart shaped face. "You would have a hard time communicating with him if he were to speak French mostly."
"I think it would be fine, if he wants to me to speak French I shall just take it up as a challenge and learn it. Knowing Grandfather, he would already have someone there waiting to tutor me. I will just have to deal with it. Even though it gives me a headache at trying to understand it, I will try."
"But Scarlett…"
"Please Melanie! This is my decision and nothing could make me change my mind."
"Alright, if you think that is best then I will agree with you. Having been through so much with you these past few years will only make it harder to part ways Scarlett. I will truly miss you."
