Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Margaret Mitchell and MGM Studios.

Chapter 7

Scarlett's point of view

It seemed that instead of the new beginning the spring had promised to be, my problems just mounted. We had never had enough to eat, but the work was so plenty that we could hardy bear it. Suellen constantly complained about my behavior while desperately waiting for her Mr. Kennedy's return. After a while I started to wait for him, too. I hoped he would soon take Suellen off of my hands. Careen was a dear as always helping where she could. I often watched her interactions with Will. My sister seemed to not notice Will's attention or she chose not to notice. I made a mental note to talk to her about the issue as it wasn't nice to hurt Will's feelings when he was so much help around here. All I knew about planting vegetables and cotton was based on my reading, but fortunately Will was able to help in the practical side because before the war he owned his own farm. And finally, I had someone to turn to with my questions, someone to turn to for advice. As Ashley had the same upbringing than I, he wasn't that much of a help. He helped me all he could, but I always had to supervise his work as he had no idea on his own what to do.

Pa's condition hadn't improved. He still had his rare clear moments, but those were few and far in between. As time passed I got used to his delusions and took no notice of his queerness. But at least he was there while mother… I chose not to think about my mother and her passing at all because most of the time my thoughts were focused on providing food for my family and on means to make money. I simply didn't have the time to mourn her loss.

One afternoon I was still working in the fields with Will and Dilcey when we saw Careen running towards us. I was immediately alarmed.

"Scarlett! Scarlett!" She shouted breathlessly. "A carriage is coming!

I locked eyes with Will for a split second before I started giving orders. "Careen, run and tell Ashley, too. Will, get the gun and meet me out in the front." Everyone obeyed instantly.

I rushed to the front of the house my mind reeling with this new information. Who could it be? Nobody in the country had a carriage these days so it could only mean carpetbaggers or tax collectors. However, all of our preparation was for nothing as I watched as Frank Kennedy slowly climbed out of the carriage.

"Mr. Kennedy." I sighed. "You gave us quite the fright."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss O'Hara. I didn't mean to." He apologized profoundly and at least he had the decency to look ashamed. His eyes widened when he saw Will stepping out from behind a pillar with a shotgun which he lowered upon recognizing Frank. Well, we had prepared for the worse.

"I will tell Suellen that you are here." I said and turned to leave when he stopped me.

"Please, Miss O'Hara, I need to talk to you… privately." He said and he looked a bit embarrassed. I was immediately intrigued.

"Alright." I nodded. "We can go to Pa's office." So I led the way while Frank silently followed me.

In the office I sat down in my usual spot behind the desk while Frank obediently sat across from me. At first we simply stared at each other. He should be the first to break the silence as he had something talk about. I started to get annoyed at his continued silence, and I was just about to leave him with a huff when he finally cleared his throat in nervousness and spoke up.

"Miss Scarlett, on my last visit I attempted to talk to your father, but he seemed rather odd…" I didn't let him finish as Pa's condition was no concern of his.

"I know. I'm the head of the family now." I said somewhat tensely. "What business do you have with Pa?"

I watched in amusement as he blushed slightly and cleared his throat in discomfort. "Well, the thing is that I would like to ask for your sister's hand in marriage. If true love means anything to you, you won't refuse my request." He finally said. I sighed as indeed true love once meant something to me, but I refused to think about Rhett Butler any more.

I stared at him blankly. "What do you…" I trailed off in wonder. That was certainly new as I had always assumed that he had already made their engagement official. I looked at him sharply. "Are you telling me that all these years you have never talked to Pa?"

"I merely hinted at my intentions." He looked extremely uncomfortable, but at my questioning look he continued. "You have to understand, Miss Scarlett, Suellen is much younger than me and I was afraid that your father would refuse my request."

Now he was looking at me hopefully, and I couldn't help making him sweat a little. "I don't know, Mr. Kennedy. These days the living circumstances are hard." I hinted.

"Oh, you have nothing to worry about. I managed to use what little capital I had left and I launched my own business in Atlanta, but I wouldn't want to bore you with business details." He explained, but this didn't bore me at all. It made me curious.

"So is your store running well?" I asked.

"Yes, Miss O'Hara. It had already made me enough to marry on." He looked hopeful again.

I sighed. "Alright, Mr. Kennedy, you have my consent." I held up my hand before he could start his profound thanking. "When do you plan on marrying Suellen?"

"Oh, as soon as possible. I think this summer would be perfect, but I will let her decide." He said with a huge smile on his face. "Thank you so much."

"Alright." I dismissed him with my hand. "Go tell Suellen the good news."

Without another word he rushed out of the study and in his haste he almost knocked Melly over. She looked at me in bewilderment.

"What happened to him?" She asked.

I stood up and walked to the doorway to tell her.

"Well, it seems there will be a wedding at Tara in the summer." I said with a faint smile.

"Oh, he finally asked for Suellen's hand?" Melly clapped her hands in excitement. I simply nodded at her enthusiasm which I couldn't share. My sister would have her happy ending while I could barely manage to have a future at all.

As Suellen started to plan her wedding I had to realize that she had no idea about the changed circumstances around us. She had thought that we had spare money to spend on her wedding and I was just mean and hateful in not giving any to her. Furthermore, she wanted to invite the whole county to see her marrying Frank, and that would have cost even more. These days we were in constant arguments as she refused to see reason, and finally Melly put a stop to our growing irritation with each other. Her advice was gentle and practical.

"Oh, Scarlett, I know that you are telling the truth about the money, but also know that you can still afford to provide her with some." I looked at her like she was mad. The money I had we needed for food and supply, and not for a spoiled girl's wedding gown. At my pointed look she thought better of her initial suggestion. "Alright, then why don't you ask for Mr. Kennedy's help? It's his wedding, too and I'm sure he would be happy to help."

"That's a good idea, Melly." I said, and then added thoughtfully. "Let's just hope that he can handle Suellen as well as he thinks."

After a lengthy discussion with both Frank and Suellen we were finally able to come to a compromise. We would hold the ceremony at Tara with only the family and our neighbors as guests, and Mr. Kennedy would pay for the food and Suellen's dress while I provided a small contribution as her dowry. As we finished that discussion I asked Mr. Kennedy to come with me to my office. I had a plan: I knew that the cotton that we could salvage wouldn't earn us too much money, but if my estimate was correct it would allow us to buy some very necessary items and cottonseeds so the next year's crops would be more. The only thing I needed was a business connection, and I had remembered that Mr. Kennedy used to buy cotton with Rhett… But I quickly dismissed that last idea. Rhett didn't matter any more.

As we arrived to my office, Mr. Kennedy looked at me expectantly no doubt thinking that I wanted to discuss the details of my sister's dowry.

"Mr. Kennedy I will cut to the chase immediately. I have a business proposition for you." I stated matter-of-factly.

"What kind of business proposition?" He asked in interest, and he looked slightly surprised.

"If my estimate is correct the cotton that we are picking now would earn us at least 200 dollars. Do you still have business connection in that area?" I asked.

While he was thinking he was stroking his whiskers, and I couldn't help thinking that Suellen was insane to marry such a fussy man. "I think I can help you, Miss O'Hara. Some of my old business associates are still interested in cotton. I will ask around for you, and on my next visit I will be able to tell more." He promised. And we parted on good terms as I knew that although he was annoying he was a gentleman who could be trusted.

Now that one sister was taken care of it was time to concentrate on Careen and Will as my little sister still didn't show any signs of being interested in another man. So one day after dinner when she retired to her room, I decided to follow her to get some insight of her affairs.

I softly knocked on her door. "Careen, darling, it's me." I said.

"Come in!" She called out softly.

I found her on her bed preparing for the night. So I sat down behind her and helped her undo her hair while we spoke.

"Is there something you need my help for?" She asked quietly. I smiled at her kindness as unlike Suellen she was willing to help with whatever I asked for.

"Not at the moment. I merely wanted to talk to you." I started carefully not knowing whether she was ready to discuss such an emotional subject.

"Oh." She wondered momentarily. "About what?"

I sighed. "I don't really know how to proceed so I am going to be blunt." I cautioned her. "I noticed that Will pays you special attention and I was wondering what you think about it."

She quickly turned around and looked at me with wide eyes. "What do you mean paying special attention to me?" She asked in bewilderment.

I had to smile at her surprise. She was so naïve when it came to the matters of the heart. She only had one beau and she was still very young to be well acquainted with men's behavior. I saw that she really needed my help.

"Before I tell you that I need to know something." I paused as I knew that the next minutes would be hard for her. "Do you still love Brent?"

I could see that she was thinking it over carefully. "I think I do." She said quietly.

Well, that wasn't too good, but I pressed on nonetheless. "Are you completely sure? Do you still think about him all the time?" At her crestfallen expression I quickly added as part of my explanation before I offended her. "I am asking these questions because I want you to think about them. I might be wrong, but I think what you have felt for Brent was rather an infatuation than love. And I think that Will is a very nice man who deserves happiness as much as you do. Maybe you should give him a chance."

She looked thoughtful for many long minutes. "Do you think that he loves me?" She whispered as if saying it out loud would make it all the more real.

"It is clear as day in the way he always looks at you." I answered honestly.

"I don't know, Scarlett. Everything seems so confusing." She confessed in a slightly frustrated tone.

"You don't have to make any decisions now. Just think about what I said, and the next time you see Will look at the signs." I said softly and hugged her gently. "And don't worry, everything would turn out fine."

She returned my hug tightly. "Thank you, Scarlett."

"You are welcome." I said and stood up to leave. "Good night!"

As I closed the door behind myself I leaned back up against it and sighed deeply. If only I could be so sure about everything turning out just fine.

However, I had more serious problems than my sisters' love life. Our former overseer, Jonas Wilkerson started to pay too much attention to Tara till one day he deemed it time to pay a visit with his new wife. When Careen alerted me to a coming carriage I rushed to the front of the house and I arrived just in time to see Jonas Wilkerson helping Amy Slattery out of the carriage.

"Stop right there!" I called from my spot. "Get out of my land!"

The memory of Mammy telling me the cause of mother's death was still fresh in my mind, and now that white trash had the gall to come to Tara. I was seeing red with anger and resentment.

"Now, calm down. My wife and I…" Wilkerson started to say, but I interrupted him with a bitter snort.

"Your wife! It was high time you married her after taking care of those bastard children." I cried indignantly.

"How dare you speak to my wife that way!" Wilkerson said angrily while Amy huffed at me, but at my sharp look she had the sense to get out of my sight and climbed back into the carriage. "I came here today to pay a friendly visit and offer you some business."

"I don't care why you are here. I'm not in the habit of making business with the likes of you." I said tauntingly.

"Oh, I see that you are still high and mighty." He replied in kind. "But I know all about you. I know that your father turned into an idiot and I know that you don't have enough money to pay the taxes. So I came here to make an offer on Tara."

I quickly bent over and grabbed a fistful of the red earth of Tara and with the same monument I threw that right into his face. "That's all you are ever going to get from Tara!" I shouted.

His shock only lasted for a moment and he continued to threaten me. "You will pay for this. I will buy this land and I will enjoy turning you out with your whole damn family."

And with that he turned and climbed back into his carriage, and thankfully rode away. I would worry about that later. A sudden movement from my right caught my attention, and I saw Pa riding our only horse, chasing the retreating carriage. I was horrified as I knew that the horse was too tired after a whole day of long labor in the field to be ridden like that, and my fear just increased when I saw Pa preparing to jump a fence. The following events happened so fast: the horse missed the fence and Pa was thrown out of his saddle. He lied on the ground motionless.

"Pa!" I cried in a horrified tone and started to run towards him even though I knew I was late. In a matter of minutes I lost my beloved Pa. When I finally reached him I threw my arms around his neck and cried in anguish. I had no idea how long I had been crying, but when I felt arms around my shoulder trying to remove me from Pa I fought back with everything I had. I wouldn't let go of Pa, I simply couldn't. When I felt another person trying to calm me down I knew that I was outnumbered, but I didn't give a damn, I fought harder. Ashley and Will brought me bodily back to the house all the while I shouted at them and kicked and hit wherever I reached them. They made me drink a glass of whiskey not knowing my habit of drinking so only one cup failed to do anything to my nerves. So I grabbed the bottle out of Will's hand and drank straight out of the bottle. I only dimly registered their shocked expressions, but I was beyond the point of caring. The rest of the day was a blur, but I was pretty sure that I had drunk that whole bottle of strong liquid.

The next morning I didn't feel the headache or my usual muscle strains after a long day in the field. No, this morning was different. I didn't feel anything any more. I was numb, and I would stay like that for a couple of weeks. After Pa's death I had spent the next couple of days locked in the study and I had drank all day. I didn't think that I had a sober moment in those days so it was up to the others to prepare Pa's funeral. I went through every motion of every day as a routine without comprehending anything that went around me. Sometimes I would catch Melly or Mammy looking at me worriedly, but I gave no outer sign that I noticed their increasing worry. As a result of my mental state I had few recollections of Pa's funeral or our friends visiting us. Ironically it was little Beau who helped me out of my numbness.

One afternoon I was sitting on the porch with Melly as was my habit for a long while, and little Beau was playing around us. I absentmindedly watched his antics while I felt Melly's eyes on me the whole time. Suddenly, the little boy stopped playing and came over to me. He pulled a little on my skirt in order to gain my attention.

"Auntie Scarlett, can I sit in your lap?" He asked in his childish voice.

I looked down into his trusting and innocent face and I felt my protective walls crumble to the ground. I could no longer keep reality out when it looked me in the face with such an honest and hopeful expression. I knew at once that I had to go on strongly if not mine, but my family's sake. After all I still had a family…

"Of course, Beau. Come here!" I helped him into my lap with a weak smile. I heard Melly exhale in relief.

I let Beau play with my hair while he told me everything that had happened to him that day. When there was a lull in his story I turned to Melly. "You can relax, Melly. I will be fine." I assured her, but I was too aware of the doubt in her eyes. Well, in time she would see. Yes, I only needed time.

As the weeks passed on I started to function as normally as I did since my return to Tara, but deep inside I knew I had changed, and I would never be the same again. Gone was that carefree and lighthearted girl who had not a worry in the world because when I needed something I could always count on my father to fix it. But now I had no one to turn to for help or guidance, I was on my own. As a part of my new routine each day I went to the family cemetery to pay my respects to my parents, and each day I informed Pa about Tara's state. That was my only option at mourning his loss as life went on without him.

True to his words on his next visit, Mr. Kennedy had indeed good news: he had found a buyer for my cotton. Now my only task was to pick it till the due date, and in order to do that I made everybody work in the fields with the exception of Suellen. She point blank refused to help me stating that she didn't want to ruin her hands before her wedding. I was tempted to slap her to show her closely how my hands looked like, but Melanie's gentle presence stopped me.

"I will work instead of her, Scarlett." She promised honestly. I simply sighed knowing that I couldn't make her work in the field in the burning sun. Although she was much healthier, she had never truly recovered from childbirth.

"Thank you, Melly, but you have your own work to do." I reminded her. As she so wished to help me with the work, I gave her an easy task: she was in charge of our clothes, and of course little Beau was a very active child.

For the next couple of weeks most of us worked from dawn till late at night, but somehow we managed to finish picking all the cotton, and it was ready to be delivered the following day. I had never felt more exhausted in my life, but Tara and my family fluttered across my mind. They were the only reasons that I pushed forward.

For my meeting with Mr. Kennedy and his business partner I had to at least dress presentable, and I had only left one dress that could work. It was one of my old dresses – a dull gray one – that I was thin enough again to be able to wear. After putting the dress on I looked in the mirror, but I was horrified at the sight. The cut of the dress only intensified my thinness and it brought to light how desperate I was for that money. It wouldn't do at a business meeting, but my only other dress was dirty and in rags. I needed to find a solution, but then I remembered that Melly had a grayish shawl that I could use to disguise my form. Unfortunately, it didn't help much as it just showed that I wanted to hide something.

I was pacing in the parlor thinking about all kinds of options when suddenly I looked at the deep green velvet curtains. I went closer and examined the condition they were in, and when I found them perfect I pulled hard on them. The heavy curtain rod made such a loud noise that Mammy rushed into the room.

"What was that awful sound?" She questioned, and then she noticed the curtains in my hand. "What did you do that for?"

I ignored her questions. "Mammy, take them and make an appropriate dress out of them." I ordered.

"From Miss Ellen's curtains?" She asked in wonder.

I turned to her sharply. "They are my curtains now. And you better do what I said."

She didn't protest after that, but went silently to make the curtains into a good dress. I was very satisfied with the end result as the green dress made me look somewhat healthy and it hid all my disadvantages. It gave the prefect impression of a well-to-do businesswoman, and I just knew that I wouldn't fail in it.

When I took care of my attire I joined Will on the wagon and we set out for Atlanta.

It had been the first time that I came back to Atlanta since my departure, and the long journey conjured up unwanted memories about a dirt road and a searing kiss. Suddenly I wondered what Rhett would say if he saw me right now, but I dismissed the whole notion as he probably wouldn't even recognize me. Besides, there was no use of thinking about unattainable things and a long forgotten dream, and I filed Rhett Butler among those things. I knew I would never see him again. The loud noises and cries roused me from my deep thoughts as we neared the center of the town. I jumped a little in surprise.

"Are you alright, Scarlett?" Will asked not taking his eyes off of the road.

I smiled a little at my own foolishness. "Of course, I just have to get used to the noises of a busy city again."

It was the truth. After living in the country for so long, in the comfortable quietness of Tara, the busy Atlanta looked new and interesting. The town was as busy as ever, like the war had never happened although I saw a lot of new faces that I suspected were Yankees. While we stopped at one point to let another carriage go by a shiver ran down at my spine and I had a strange feeling that someone was watching me. I looked around, but saw nothing out of order. My eyes finally settled on the old firehouse and I was surprised to see that it was turned into a prison. Well, I assumed it to be a prison judging from those heavy bars and the Yankee soldiers standing in front. However, soon we moved on, and that strange feeling disappeared. We arrived to Mr. Kennedy's store and I noted with satisfaction that he indeed told the truth about his financial situation. The store looked well-kept and successful. I was all too aware of the fact that once Suellen married Frank we would never see any help from them, but at least I would be free of my troublesome sister.

Mr. Kennedy was his usual fussy self while he introduced me to his partner, and we soon came to an agreement. I was successful in gaining 250 dollars for the cotton, and the businessman expressed his interest in our next year's supply. We didn't linger long in Atlanta after that we only stopped by at Miss Pittypat's house – as Melly asked me to drop by at her house to check on her.

My dress helped me in keeping her believe that everything was perfectly fine at Tara. We only stayed for a cup of tea and I introduced Will.

"Oh, Scarlett, I have so many questions to ask." Miss Pittypat started to gush.

"Please, Auntie, I don't have that much time." I said with all the kindness I could master. I wasn't in the mood for her silly questions.

"Then tell me when will Melly and Ashley return to Atlanta. I am so afraid here all alone." She said on the verge of tears.

I sighed. "I'm sure that you had heard that Mr. Kennedy is going to marry my sister, Suellen." She nodded enthusiastically so I proceeded. "Mr. Kennedy offered a job for Ashley in his store, and to my knowledge he will start working there after the wedding." I explained. I hated to think about losing Melly so soon, but I understood Ashley's reasons in accepting the offer. He told me in private that he had felt useless at Tara, and he wanted to do something to support his own family. He wanted to start anew where he earned a living by working. I couldn't help, but think that after their departure I would be alone at Tara with Careen and Will. And if Careen finally realizes her feelings for Will, I will be completely alone. I guess that was my fate.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Miss Pittypat cried in happiness and clapped her hands.

After that we soon took our leave as we still had business to take care of. We proceeded to buy necessary supplies, seeds, clothes and food.

On our way back we made a stop in Jonesboro as my first task was to go to the bank and pay the taxes on Tara. As I came out of the building I saw Jonas Wilkerson and his wife. When he noticed me he flashed me an evil smile, but I just held my chin up and ignored him. They were the cause for both of my parents' death. Ever since Pa's death I had never heard again from Wilkerson, but I knew it could only be the quiet before a raging storm…


Don't worry in the next chapter Rhett will finally make an appearance, if fact the next couple of chapters will be from his point of view.

Thanks for reading, and as always I'm interested in your opinions.