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Scarlett could feel the gentle patting of her wrist but still could not see. She could hear the faint whispers around her but the words seemed far away.
"Scarlett; open your eyes my dear." Rhett stroked her face when he saw her eyes begin to open.
Scarlett's eyes fluttered open; her sight was blurry but she could see the concern etched on Rhett's face. He had hold of her waist and she was propped casually across his lap; his arms were warm around her, but her body felt cold. Before her vision could fully return a wave of heat rushed down her throat causing her vision to blur and her head to spin; that idiot just poured whiskey down my throat, she thought.
"Rhett I..." She coughed and tried to catch her breath. "Stop Rhett..."
His eyes searched her face anxiously, "Scarlett, are you feeling better now darling?" He held her in place gently but effectively.
"I – I must've fainted, I'm so sorry." When her vision returned she looked about the room; the Yankee captain had returned and was looking at Rhett suspiciously.
"Alright Marshall, she's fine now. It seems dear Scarlett couldn't handle the truth behind my incarceration." Rhett flashed the guard a smile and watched him leave.
Scarlett started to rise from Rhett's lap; he helped her into a sitting position and held her back allowing her to regain her wits.
"Oh, Rhett, I'm so sorry. This is so embarrassing." Scarlett felt her face flush. She must have looked terribly pitiful like that – how long had she been that way anyhow.
Rhett turned her face to his; his eyes startled her, in them was both anxiety and what she thought was anger. "Scarlett, what is it your not telling me. I know it isn't concern for my life that caused you to faint, there is something bigger going on here. What is it? Why are you really here?"
Scarlett sighed, "Please don't be angry with me Rhett. I know you'll take this wrong, but I needed money for Tara." She searched his face and saw his gesture for her to go on. "My Pa's old overseer Jonas Wilkerson wants to buy Tara from me; he knows I have no money and Pa...Well Pa is sick. Rhett, I can't let Tara go, I can't! I knew you had money, but Rhett, I swear to you I really am scared for you! Please understand I had to ask you, I didn't have any other choice." The faint prickle of tears threatened to show themselves through her thick lashes, she quickly turned her head away from Rhett; surely he would mock her for showing how vulnerable she was.
He pulled her face back to his, "Scarlett, you needn't put on a show for me; you could have just come out and told me it was my money you were after." He saw tears begin to well in her eyes; she was truly scared and his heart broke for her. It had been hard enough to leave her that night so long ago, but the knowledge that her fate had come to this made him want to slap himself for being so foolish.
A tear fell from her eye, "Rhett, I don't only want your money. When Belle told me you were here I..." She stopped herself from continuing; she could see the mockery rising in his face, anger began to swell in her chest.
She couldn't be telling the truth, he thought, but the look in her eyes is sincere. She was truly scared for him; he couldn't believe it. "Scarlett, how much do you need?" He asked quietly.
A spark of light flickered in her eyes, "300 dollars Rhett, that's all and I promise I will pay you back!" She almost screamed out of happiness.
"Shhh, Scarlett! You must not speak loud, the Yankees will hear you! I can manage 300 dollars, but you will have to wait for me to send for Belle. She can lend you the money from her funds and I will repay her if and when I make it out of this mess." He lifted her out of his lap and into a standing position directly in front of him, "Scarlett, I will see that Belle gives you an adequate amount of money for both the taxes and the food you need, I know that's why you fainted, isn't it?"
Scarlett was embarrassed that Rhett could read her so easily, well, of course he did – it was written all over her too thin body. She rested her head on his chest; his hands stroked her back gently, she loved the feeling of being in his arms...even if he didn't know it.
"Thank you Rhett, I will pay you back as soon as I am able. I—I feel so horrible for having to ask you for anything, but I guess you can consider this penance for leaving me that night." Rhett smiled down to her; how could she be so selfish and shrewd, and yet so beautiful and naïve.
"You must give me two days, Belle will come to visit me herself then and I can relay the message to her. I wouldn't dare put it in writing for the Yankees to collect. Come back then and see me so I can make sure that everything transferred correctly." He held her face for a moment contemplating kissing her; he couldn't do it. Rhett knew Scarlett must still hate him for the way he'd acted that night two years earlier; the pain of leaving her was still fresh in his heart too. He feared that he may never be able to tell her how much he cared for her – being hanged would hinder his revelations for sure, he thought with a smirk.
She held his hands in hers for a brief moment and stared him in the eyes; no mockery lie in them, only concern. She mouthed 'thank you' one last time before she turned to go. The door slid open and she started down the hallway to the entrance.
"The only penance is watching you leave me once again my Scarlett." Rhett thought to himself.
When Scarlett reached the outside air she breathed in hard; thank God for him, he must care if he is going to help me so. Scarlett felt as if the burden of the world had been lifted from her shoulders; Melly, Sue, Careen, everyone – they would eat, and Tara would still be O'Hara land. Scarlett soon realized that she'd stood outside the jailhouse long enough for people to begin to notice; she had been so lost in her thoughts she hadn't moved.
"Oh, Aunt Pitty...!" Scarlett suddenly remembered how long she must've been gone; she hurriedly started toward Pitty's house. Just as she was about to round the corner to Peachtree Street Scarlett noticed a man out of the corner of her eye; he had been walking behind her since she left the jailhouse.
She quickly turned to face him, "I'll kindly ask you why you're following me sir?" Scarlett's eyebrow was raised and her mouth held taunt.
The man was very large, standing at least 6'5"; his sandy brown hair was combed back onto his head. His clothes lacked anything to be desired; he looks as if he hasn't washed in days, thought Scarlett. "Well Ma'am, I seem to have noticed you back in town – when you were coming out of jailhouse. I wanted to get your attention then, but you seem to be in a hurry." His drawling voice reminded her of Rhett somewhat, but this man had eyes that scared her – they were mean. Mammy had told her stories of men who were malicious and crude; she said a woman could always tell by a man's eyes if he had good intentions.
"Well sir, I am in a hurry so if you would please let me be I would thank you." Scarlett turned to walk away from him, but was caught by a hard grip on her arm.
The two of them were standing in a secluded area of the street; Scarlett thought to scream, but her throat seemed to close. "As I said miss, I wanted your attention. Do I have it now?" He sneered at her in a way that made her skin crawl. "My name is Hayes Brady; now miss, tell me your name."
"You will release my arm immediately or I shall scream. If this is how you attempt to gain the attention of ladies you are very misguided." Scarlett jerked her arm from Hayes's grasp and began to back away from him. Before she could get far enough away to try and call for someone on the streets a hard hand came down on her face; she felt the impact like a rock. Her mind skewed for a moment and she fell to the ground. How could she have gotten into such a terrible situation so quickly! Weak from hunger and the exertion of walking in a tight corset, Scarlett's mind went blank for the second time in less than an hour.
Hayes lifted her from the ground and quickly carried her into an alley. He had to get away from Peachtree Street quickly, otherwise he would be caught. This woman was going to be his if he had to steal her to make it happen; his reason for being in Atlanta was his former acquaintance Rhett Butler, but this woman changed everything – for now.