A Note from the Author: I've had a ball on this site thus far; thanks to all of the WONDERFUL folks who've reviewed my other story. It's not quite finished, but I wanted a little break from allegory, symbolism, and Irish fairytales. So, why not try a bit of adventure? Please feel free to throw out constructive criticism. Believe me, it's inspirational!

The Rhett Butler Affair

Chapter 1:

8 November 1873

The week before, Rhett Butler had spent all his moments tracing and retracing his steps around Atlanta. He was like a lost little boy, orphaned and without a mother to comfort him. He had a mother, yes, but she was far away in Charleston, living out her old age in blissful solitude, with no desire for him to intrude upon it. Butler had a wife as well, although he wished he did not. He had heard it said amongst the Irishmen in his acquaintance that the devil is a woman. Ha! Butler thought, the devil is a woman, and her name is Scarlett O'Hara.

"You ain't fit fer nothing!" the whore, Belle Watling had said to him when he showed up outside her sporting house, looking more a like a washed up drunk than a respectable gentleman. "Look at you, Rhett! Ain't gonna let her beat you like that, are you?"

Belle had called for her man to haul him into the place, had him cleaned up and shaven.

"And no whiskey fer you neither!" Belle had ordered.

A week later, and Rhett was looking more presentable. He was sitting on Belle's own silk-sheeted featherbed, gazing at her over the top of the newspaper.

"You look like yer in a trance," Belle observed. He might have been listening to something far away. As Belle continued to watch him, Rhett persisted in his stance, not looking away from the door.

"Think she's comin' back fer you? That what yer waiting for, Rhett?"

The poor thing is lost, Belle mused, all that he had went with that baby girl, and then Scarlett treated him so rotten.

"Rhett?" Belle tried again to break up the tension. Rhett continued to sit still, though Belle knew he was listening to her. "You got to git up and git on with life. Understand? Where did yer wife go, anyway?"

"The white elephant." Rhett stated simply, his voice low.

"Don't talk nonsense. You ain't had a drink in days! I knew she skipped town after Miz Wilkes's funeral and took her boy and girl with her. I hope she went to hell where she belong!"

"Oh be quiet, won't you, Belle?" Rhett choked.

"Fine. But I'll say it again, Rhett. You ain't got to let her ruin you."

"If she has," Rhett said in a slow, hypnotic voice, "I let her do it. And if I had it to do over again, I would let her do it again." Rhett leaned forward in the big bed, not breaking his gaze.

"What was that?" his eyes moved toward the door. There was a brief silence, followed by a pounding coming from directly below them.

"Probably some drunk that don't know we're closed on Sunday." Belle shrugged her shoulders. There was silence again, then a blast of activity. Belle's girls downstairs were all shouting curses and catcalls which combined into one loud swarm of noise.

"Miz Watling?" Belle's light skinned Negro, Philemon, was standing guard at his mistress's door, his wide eyes big and round like a scared child's.

"Well? See what's going on!" Belle was already opening the safe which held her license and other necessary documents. "Is it the law?"

Rhett got up from the bed and walked towards the door before Philemon could open it.

Two plainly dressed men in brown suits were standing there, waiting.

"Captain Rhett Butler, if you please." One of the men said calmly.

"He's been here with me all evening. You gents'll have to take yer business elsewhere tonight." Belle scowled at the officers, both of whom did not even give her a second glance.

"You are Mrs. Watling?" the second man rubbed his chin. "The owner of this establishment?"

"I run it." Belle said evenly. "And I can vouch for this man. One of my regulars."

The first man circled around Rhett, as if appraising him. After his inspection he glanced at the other man and nodded, as if to say 'that's our man'.

"We have no qualm with you, Mrs. Watling. But if you continue to harbor fugitives, there may be trouble for you. Now sir, you are Captain Rhett Butler, formerly of the Confederate States Navy?"

Rhett surveyed the men with a look of casual annoyance. "That is indeed my name, gentlemen, but as we all know, the war has been over for quite some time. And as Mrs. Watling has already said, I have been here all evening, so certainly, I can be in no trouble."

"You're under arrest, Captain Butler."

"On what charge?" Rhett began to laugh loudly. "And who is it that's arresting me?"

The first man took a badge out of his jacket pocket. "We're Pinkerton's, Captain Butler. And the United States government has a case a mile long against you. Racketeering, extortion, piracy…but the conspiracy to commit treason charge is why we're here."

Rhett's eyes widened slightly. "And just who am I supposed to have betrayed, gentlemen?"

"The eight Americans that have just been executed by the Spanish government in Cuba. On a ship owned by you, carrying orders signed by you."

"I am at a loss, gentlemen." The agents recognized the fear in Butler's eyes.

"You'll come with us, Captain Butler."

"I'm familiar with the city jail," Rhett regained his confidence. "And I expect my lawyer to be present. You can call Henry Hamilton here in town to represent me while my own lawyer travels from New Orleans."

"Captain Butler, we have orders to escort you to Washington, where you will await a federal trial. Your lawyer can come to you there."

Rhett's eyes flashed toward the door, then the window, then back to the two Pinkerton detectives holding their pistols. "Make it easy on yourself, Captain Butler. If you've done nothing wrong, then it will be settled in Washington."

"No!" Belle let out a little scream. "You can't just take him!"

"Mrs. Watling, we can. Now I'd advise you to quiet down your girls downstairs, or we'll have the constable shut you down for disturbing the peace. Captain Butler, if you please."

The man motioned for Rhett to hold out his arms, which he did. The handcuffs clinked with a peculiar sound of finality.

"Now then, we have a train to catch."

Rhett's face slowly was drained of its color as the two Pinkerton's stood on either side of him, each taking hold of one of his arms. He took one last look at Belle, who was sobbing freely.

"Don't let Scarlett know about this, Belle. You hear me? Don't you dare let her know!"