Well here it is, Chapter 3. I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long. I have very good reasons which begin with my aunt having emergency surgery, and end with me in a fog from pain killers because I had my tonsils taken out. Well enough excuses, without further ado, the next chapter…
Marcos was growing tired of waiting. The shipment was supposed to have arrived two weeks ago. Every day this week he had gone out to the docks, only to hear the ship still hadn't come in yet. He knew that there was really nothing that could be done, nature was not a force that could be tamed. There was no one else out here on this cold January morning except an older gentleman who appeared to be doing nothing more than enjoying the sea and the dock workers waiting for the next ship. Marcos wouldn't even be out here now that he knew his ship wasn't coming today, but his wife had said she would meet him here today. She had promised to follow once her Aunt Eulalie was ready to leave. Taking another glance around, he covertly studied the other man. Something about him seemed familiar, as though he should know him. After trying to pass the time by looking for other people and watching the crew unload the ship, Marcos again began to study the familiar stranger. He was tall, broad shouldered and, after some thought Marcos decided, he had to be at least fifty. He certainly didn't look fifty at first glance… 'Hopefully in fifteen years I will look that well,' Marcos thought as he pulled out his watch. Suddenly he felt small, gloved hands covering his eyes.
"Guess who?" said a poorly disguised voice.
"Mmm, Jane? Sarah? or maybe…" he trailed on as the hands left his eyes and pushed him playfully. "Oh, Scarlett!" he exclaimed as he hugged her and lifted her of the ground and over his shoulder.
Scarlett began to laugh joyfully, and suddenly stopped remembering where they were, speaking in a hushed, concerned whisper, "Put me down! What if Eulalie were to see us, she would be would be scandalized!"
"What? My brave, beautiful wife afraid of what her "silly old aunt" thinks?"
"Well, no, but being in the South makes me think of my mother. Especially-"
"Say no more," Marcos said as he lowered her and looked over to the older gentleman he'd seen earlier. The man's dark eyes seemed to be transfixed on Scarlett, staring outright, completely unabashedly, Marcos knew his wife was beautiful, but was a little agitated by the man's unrelenting stare. He took Scarlett's arm and began walking away from the docks, "I know how much your mother means to you, we shall be the picture of propriety. So my darling wife, now that we are actually IN Charleston and not out at your Aunt Pauline's prison, forgive me, plantation, what do you want to do? Also, whatever possessed her to live so far away from town?"
"I don't know, and I don't particularly care, probably a decision made by Uncle Carey. As to what we should do, I was thinking, hopefully we can just have an evening alone? I'm rather tired of sitting with my aunts and discussing gossip," Scarlett replied as she batted her eyelashes, even though she knew her old tricks never really worked with Marcos.
"Well let me think about that…" Marcos continued, "I would hate to miss a night with your Aunt…"
"You can go on all you want, she really does like you though. I shall forever be the least favorite niece, a thorn in her side. Not that I mind… Still, I cannot wait to get back to Tara and the children."
"I know, I'm anxious as well." Marcos turned to her and took a serious tone, "I'm sorry that we haven't left already. I'm sure you're upset about not being able to spend time with the children."
"Well the week we spent with them during Christmas was nice, but they love Tara as much as I do, taking them away would have been cruel," she reasoned. Attempting to return to their playful mood she coyly added, "Besides your ship can't be delayed much longer."
"You do sound amazingly assured," Marcos said as he realized the older man seemed to be approaching them. Perhaps he did know him after all. He questioned Scarlett with mock sincerity, "Do you know something I don't know?"
"Perhaps I do," Scarlett said with a suggestive smile, as they neared the carriage she had arrived in a few minutes earlier. "And you had better hope it does or you'll find yourself alone with my aunt because I'll go back to Tara, with or without you."
"Hello Scarlett," came a greeting from behind.
Slightly startled, she turned to face to speaker, Marcos instinctively placed his arm around her waist. He could see her discomfort as she looked upon the man, realizing who he was.
"Why, Captain Butler," Scarlett said with her best Southern belle voice. Marcos could not suppress his amusement. She was certainly laying it on thick! Two years away from the South had lessened her accent considerably.
Marcos suddenly knew why he had seemed so familiar! Scarlett had described this man when she had shared her life story. He looked at the Rhett Butler. So this was the man who had carelessly let Scarlett go. He certainly looked exactly like Scarlett had described. Marcos realized that Scarlett was looking at him expectantly. She must have just made the formal introductions. Extending his hand Marcos said almost excitedly, "How nice to finally meet you Captain Butler, I've heard so much about you."
"I feel as though I'm at a disadvantage," Rhett replied as he shook Marcos' hand a bit loosely.
'He must be in shock,' Marcos thought and tried to say something to start a light conversation quickly, "What brings you to the docks on this fine day?"
"I was merely taking my daily walk. I like to come by the docks, reminds me of days long since passed," Rhett responded as he gestured towards the busy docks.
"Oh, it's a wonder I haven't run into you before! I've been here nearly every day this week waiting for a ship to come in," Marcos said amusedly.
"Well I've lately been out of town," Rhett spoke distractedly as he continued to stare at Scarlett.
"Scarlett's only just come to town today," Marcos offered. "We have lately been visiting her Aunt Pauline."
"She's finally returned to her plantation," Scarlett added.
"That must be quite the daily drive."
"Oh, I've become accustomed to it. It is a welcome change. We spent a week at Tara, and Scarlett absolutely refused to go anywhere. We did do a fair amount of walking though," Marcos said attempting to continue the conversation.
"It is always wonderful to see Tara, especially at Christmas," Scarlett smiled as she spoke.
"Oh, of course, I take it Wade and Ella are there now?" Rhett said, as he appeared to finally regain composure.
"Yes, I didn't have the heart to bring them to see Pauline and Eulalie during their winter break," Scarlett said as she realized they had found something comfortable to converse about."They do love Tara."
As Rhett began to reply, a woman's voice came from with in the carriage, "Scarlett?"
"Yes Aunt 'Lalie?" Scarlett questioned with mock sweetness as she turned to face the carriage, to the amusement of both men standing before her.
"Child, we should hurry. I feel the weather could turn nasty at any moment."
"Of course Auntie, just a few more minutes."
Scarlett began to apologize for the interruption, but was cut off.
""Well give the children my best. I suppose you have somewhere you need to be," Rhett said as he made a gesture toward the carriage. "I did not realize I was keeping you, my only intention was to say hello."
"Oh, you were only delaying our eventual torture," Scarlett began, Marcos nudged her slightly as to remind her that her aunt's hearing had not failed her.
"Aunt Eulalie came with me from the plantation, she insisted I not travel alone. I think she simply wished to return to the city and saw an opportunity to do so without offending Pauline," Scarlett explained in hushed, slightly irritated tone.
"Nonetheless, I am certain she would object to the impropriety of this," Rhett said unable to suppress a smirk, "Not that that hasn't stopped you before."
Scarlett smiled and made eye contact with Marcos as she spoke, "No one would know better."
Marcos once again extended his hand, "It really was nice to make your acquaintance Captain Butler, and perhaps we'll see you again before we leave."
Scarlett also extended her hand and added, "Yes, it would be nice to see you again before we leave."
Rhett shook Marcos' hand, more firmly this time, and kissed Scarlett's hand, "I will try to find the time to call on you." He bowed slightly and began to walk back towards the docks.
Marcos looked at Scarlett and laughed, "That was awkward now wasn't it?"
She also laughed and said, "Not as awkward as I always feared it would be."
Feigning a look of hurt Marcos questioned, "So you think of Rhett Butler quite often?"
Scarlett rolled her eyes and hit his arm, "You know I did not mean to imply that."
They laughed again as they got into the carriage, completely unaware of the man who stood watching them.
I tried to make it good, let me know how I did. Thank you to all the people who have reviewed and added me to your alerts. I was honestly blown away by the response I got. I hope I continue to meet your expectations. I will try to update sooner, but my friends and I are all home from college for the holidays, so it may take a little while. Thank you once again, and Happy Holidays!