"Scarlett, there's another one." Suellen announced scowling, as a new man walked up Tara's driveway.
Scarlett rolled her eyes, not looking up from the laundry. Since the war had ended there had been an endless stream of men flooding the plantation. Some stayed an evening others a few days and still more longer. Most of them ill or weak and not willing or able to help. She would have gladly sent them on their way but Melly wouldn't hear of it.
"Wade go tell Mammy there's another," she yelled to the boy who was carrying sticks to the house for fire.
As the sound of steps became louder Scarlett looked up and her heart skipped a beat. The man walking up the drive looked different then the other men. He was not dragging himself up the drive but walking rather gracefully in strides. And the closer he got Scarlett could faintly hear that he was singing.
It was in hearing the singing and the song that Scarlett eyes flashed with recognition.
"Rhett," she said breathlessly.
Since he had left her the day of the siege, Rhett constantly found his way in to her thought. She hated him for leaving her but that was not always what she remembered when she thought of him. Often she thought of his strong arms holding her when he came and the fact he'd brought a horse or that he'd come at all. Reality hit Scarlett strongly as she was the head of the house now and she knew all too well that people were not helpful. And then there was the other thought that crossed her mind, most frequently at night, of him kissing her. Never before had she been kissed like that, her body reacted to his touch in a way that was foreign to her. It was that kiss most of all that had distanced Ashley from her mind. Although she never went a day without thinking of Rhett she found that she could easily go a day without thinking of Ashley, especially when things got particularly bad. Scarlett was not yet conscious of the fact but she wanted Rhett and wished for him often. She wanted him there because she knew he would be a help, part of her knew Ashley would not be any help to her and therefore never wished for him.
"Glorious weather is it not Mrs. Hamilton?" Rhett called cheerfully.
Torn Scarlett did not know what to do, part of her desperately wanted to run and hug him, let him hold her and tell her all would be fine. Yet the other part of her - the part that even war had not yet erased - was stubborn and angry. She might not always think of it but she did not forget that he had left her and she did not forgive him. The war had also not erased her desire to be the belle of the county and it would never do for her to appear that she had missed him.
"What are you doing here Capitan Butler? How is it that you weren't shot and killed?"
"I ask myself that very thing everyday. Now come, admit that you are glad to see me - alive and well." Rhett teased the familiar glint in his eyes.
"Why should I be? I haven't forgotten how you abandoned me when Sherman came." Scarlett responded defiantly but with a hit of good-humor.
"You're fine." he said stepping so close that there was no space left between them. "And I will say you look quite fine Scarlett."
Suddenly, self-conscious Scarlett stepped back and patted down her hair. She looked a mess and she knew it. Her dress was old and torn, her boots even worse off, her hair frazzled, and as she pulled down her hands she saw how dried and blistered they were.
"Shut up." Scarlett snapped. "You have some nerve coming to my house and insulting me. I-"
"I assure you Scarlett that was no insult. You look-"
"Uncle Rhett!" Wade cried racing up to them.
"Well, if it isn't Wade Hamilton. My goodness aren't you a big boy." Rhett said embracing him. "How old are you now?"
"Five," Wade said holding up his hand.
"An old man." Rhett said setting him down.
"Why Capitan Bulter, what a surprise." Melly greeted joining the group, Beau on her hip.
"Mrs. Wilkes," Rhett replied in all seriousness. "How good it is to see you . And is this the fine boy I met upon our last meeting?"
"This is Beau." Melly said proudly. "I must thank you for everything you did for me and my boy. Mr. Wilkes and I are eternally grateful."
"Your husband has returned?"
"Not yet but I know he is alive and will come as soon as he can." Melly said smiling a sad small smile.
" I'm sure he will."
At that the bell from the house began to chime.
"What's that?" Rhett asked.
"Figures," Scarlett snorted. "You manage right on time to eat up some of our food."
"Supper," Rhett said grinning his sly grin.
"Don't get any ideas. There are a houseful of people here and I don't care how hungry you are you aren't getting extra food."
