Thank you for the kind reviews, Zouss, Tohru 12, Missysammy and violet blossom. Your reviews are so kind and keep me writing. Well, here's chapter 2... I hope you all enjoy.
Part 2
Rhett still avoided Scarlett. The days turned into weeks, until time floated by in a blur. She stayed busy at the mills and Rhett at the bank, while they only exchanged a few words a day during dinner, when they had to be civil for the children's sake. Scarlett wondered often if it was because of her confession. Maybe Rhett felt sorry and obligated to her because she had wanted the baby and he hadn't.
"I'll talk to him later, tonight when Bonnie, Wade and Ella are asleep," she thought and then focused her attention back on the mill ledgers, Ashley had made a mess out of them. Rhett had tried unsucessfully to get her to sell the mills only a week before. But she wouldn't listen to him for all his pleas as if he cared for her health. Fiddle-dee-dee, get rid of the mills indeed. She had worked hard for them.
Yet her curiosity was piped and she thought about the moment Rhett and her had shared a few weeks before."Could he love me?" she pondered. "Oh, how stupid I am, he doesn't love me!" Still, she thought of the possibility again, causing her to laugh at her own foolishness.
Mammy of course was in the room picking up Scarlett's discarded clothes when she heard her giggle. Suspiciously Mammy asked, "Miz Scarlett why ya laughin' for?"
"Why Mammy is it a crime to find something amusing?" Scarlett asked amused of Mammy's suspicion. But she hoped Mammy couldn't see what was really lurking in her eyes.
"No, Honey chile' but ya havnt' laughed for a very lon' time."
"No, I suppose I haven't... I was just thinking of something amusing."
But Mammy obviously thought it was very important.
"Well den whut was it?"
Scarlett smiled and then said, "Well it was very amusing actually." She quieted her voice to a whisper causing Mammy to move closer. "I thought that...well I mean I thought that Rhett might love me. But I know it's silly."
Mammy shook her head and then asked, "Whut do ya think honey?"
"Fiddle-dee-dee! I am not that naive Mammy, I can see perfectly clear that Rhett doesn't love me. He only feels guilty about the- baby."
"Miz Scarlett your a stubborn bline' mule. If ya Cant see Mistah' Rhett lovez ya?"
"Love me? Who Rhett? He doesn't love me. Have you lost your mind?"
"No honey," Mammy said softly, "ya jus' wont lisen. One day ya"ll see ya love him too. Aint a man more patient, ya'll see."
Scarlett was very irritated now with the turn in the conversation. "I don't care to discuss this. I don't love Rhett and he certainly doesn't love me, it is quite clear!"
Mammy shook her head again. "Good nite my lam'. Sure stubborn, sure stubborn," she muttered as she walked out of the room.
That night, she lay awake in bed waiting for Rhett to come home. It was already two o'clock in the morning, and she couldn't keep her eyes open much longer and drifted off to sleep. She was soon awakened by a heavy rain fall. Thunder sounded again in the distance, and all of a sudden her door was pushed open. Bonnie and Ella tumbled sleepily into her darkened room.
"Where's daddy?" Bonnie demanded in a small voice. "I am afraid of the booms."
Scarlett easily lied, "I don't know, Bonnie." But she did know Rhett was out carousing the streets or out at that Watlings. Oh how mad she was at him. He would tuck Bonnie in every night and wait until she had fallen asleep, then he'd sneak off like a thief. The least he could have done was check on her. She even left her door slightly ajar but not once had he come in.
She turned her attention to Ella. "Are you afraid of the thunder too Ella?"
Ella nodded her head.
"Why don't you both sleep with me tonight?" Scarlett sweetly asked. She'd show Rhett she wasn't a bad mother. And it was lonely sleeping alone, especially since Rhett was being so difficult. She wondered darkly if she had to spell everything out for him? She wanted him back but did she have to beg him? But no, she wouldn't stoop so low as to beg for affection from her aloof husband. No, Scarlett O'Hara didn't beg.
Bonnie and Ella both smiled and scrambled into her bed eagerly. They fought for the covers and made sure Scarlett was between them. Suddenly, Scarlett didn't feel so alone with her daughters beside her. Memories returned to her of doing likewise with Carreen, snuggled on each side of mother. Ellen would soothe and recite Bible stories in a gentle voice, and she would feel safe and warm...
"Mommy?" Bonnie suddenly asked,"do you think Mr. Butler's afraid?"
Scarlett laughed and held Bonnie closer. "Of course he isn't. He is in the stable."
Bonnie seemed satisfied with that answer and soon fell asleep and so did Ella. Scarlett lay awake watching Bonnie and Ella sleep. "I'll be a good mother. They wont be afraid of me, Rhett wont be the only one they come to," she thought, pushing a loose curl away from Bonnie's milky face. She felt an odd maternal instict in her chest, an odd feeling of tenderness she had never felt for any of her children. Bonnie was really a little, fearless thing and so determined!
At that moment she heard the key latch click. She quietly slid off the bed and retrieved her wrapper. And opened the door quietly giving one last glance to make sure the girls were still asleep. Once Scarlett shut the door, she walked quietly but quickly, looking for Rhett lest she miss him. All of a sudden she collided with something wet, and screamed.
It was Rhett! His hair was disheveled and his fine suit was soaking wet. "He must of got caught in the storm," she thought. Suddenly she couldn't help but giggle at Rhett's confusion and appearance. She put her hand on his forearm and said, "I'm sorry but I couldn't help but scream, you do look like a frightful sight."
Rhett couldn't help but laugh either. "I suppose I do, my pet. May I ask why you're running in the house in early hours of the morning? Mammy is not after you I hope?"
Scarlett shook her head. "No, nothing like that. I wanted to speak to you about us."
Rhett raised his black brows in question. "Us?"
"Yes, can we go some place where there's light?"
"To my room Mrs.Butler or... the dining room, since Bonnie is asleep."
"Both Ella and Bonnie are sleeping in my room," she explained. "They were afraid."
"I rushed home as fast as I could to be here if she woke up but alas the rain was pounding heavily outside," he explained.
It wouldn't do for the household to see her and Rhett talking in the wee hours of the morning. And she was very curious to see his room. Not once had she seen it and Rhett didn't enter her room either, not since that night he had carried her up the stairs... She looked up at him, who met her with a questioning stare of his own.
"Lead the way," he murmured. "I do believe you know where my room is."
Scarlett didn't know if he was baiting her but she started off towards Rhett's room with him following close behind her. A strange feeling went to the pit of her stomach. It's not as if they were about to make love but the thought of the intimate notations of going into his room made her heart beat rapidly. She berated herself, it's not as if he had touched her since that dark and passionate night he had carried her up the stairs.
Once they entered his room, Scarlett couldn't help but observe it. It was well furnished and smelt of brandy and cigars, causing her to lightly enhale. Beside his bed was Bonnie's small vacant one with rumpled blankets. While she observed his room, Rhett watched her intently, wondering what she was up to. He went to the side board and poured some brandy, sitting back and lounging in his leather chair. He cleared his throat causing Scarlett to slightly jump and another strike of thunder hit outside for an instant. She let out a small, audible intake of breath.
"You're not afraid of the thunder are you?" he kindly asked, watching her.
She was about to deny it but she smiled, laughing a little self consciously. "I suppose I'm just like Bonnie and Ella. I know it sounds silly but it reminds me of the war... I was so terrified then." Scarlett adjusted her night gown and sat across from him.
"You needn't be frightened, Scarlett. Or live in fear, as long as I'm here you know I'll take care of you, don't you?"
"Yes," she skeptically said. She knew Rhett would always provide for her but he hadn't been there when she had needed him, wanted him so desperately. But she thought back to the time when he had taken her out of Atlanta and the fire, when he had drove her when she was pregnant with Ella and had helped her purchase the mills. She wondered why she realized it now, how Rhett had always been there for her, that is until recently.
"Well my pet you wanted to talk about "us" as I believe you put it. I'm curious as to know why. There has been a you and my money but never an "us."
She stared at Rhett with wide green eyes, clearly confused of his comment. But she decided to ignore the comment and said cheerfully, "What a silly thing to say, of course there is an us. We are married after all."
Rhett laughed loudly. "Please, Scarlett drop this act of marriage and the "us." Spit it out, what do you want, money?"
She frowned at Rhett slightly and then replied. "Of course not, I have my own money. I was wondering if... well I mean will... will you go walking with me as we used to? It wouldn't have to be far," she quickly added. "Why, it could be in the backyard for all I care."
Rhett watched her with raised brows, watching her with his keen eyes and she squirmed under his gaze.
"What did you just say?" he asked after a moment.
She couldn't help but laugh. "Did I really shock the famous blockade runner Rhett Butler? Really, you aren't that surprised are you? It's just we used to be... well and I thought a short walk would be nice. You will walk with me won't you?"
He grinned at her child-like behavior. "She really is a child," Rhett thought with a sigh. He laughed shortly and then said, "Of course, my pet if it pleases you. As long as there is no other motive?"
Scarlett's eyes flashed. "Really Rhett, if you don't trust me I don't see why we're even married. Great balls of fire! Can't I ask you something without you suspecting something?"
"You forget Scarlett you wanted it that way," Rhett stated with amusement laced in his dark eyes. "You were fond of me and in love with my money."
Her Irish temper began to rise. "You black hearted varmint, we were having a pleasant conversation and then you change it to a nasty one. If you're not ready this evening I'll go walking alone, thank you!"
"Now, don't get your feathers all ruffled, I'll be ready for our "walk." Now I'm going to change, you can leave unless you want to stay and watch?"
Scarlett's eyes widened and she rushed out of the room. She heard his laughter from the hall as she began her dark trek across the hall to her room. "The cad," she muttered but she couldn't help but smile.
TBC