Proofed by lawdymissscarlett

A/n: I have good news and bad news. See the end for that.

Thank you for the reviews: lucasta, lawdymissscarlett, Joyce LaKee, Diana and the guest

I just realised 8 Favourites and 23 Followers: I'm sure some of you review but those of you don't, well don't be shy. Tell me if you like it. My speed of updating dramatically increases in proportion to the rise in the no. of reviews. Reviews are stimulating.

Enough about reviews, I know I promised the BBQ in this chapter well I already went past the world count of 4,000 [Edited the chapter and made it 3560] in this chapter so… the next chapter I swear!

Chapter 6: To the Barbeque

The night before the barbeque, in Jonesboro, Rhett Butler was having dinner with less than pleasant company. He finally realised why Scarlett called Frank Kennedy an "old maid in breeches" and that too in just one afternoon. In his previous life Kennedy had not been this irritating; he was polite as a well-bred gentleman ought to be and a little cold. He obviously did not like him then but now this had changed.

As a Charlstonian gentleman of considerably good repute Rhett was used to boring and irritating people. His own father for instance or his wife and the rest of her family yet Frank Kennedy surpassed them all.

It all started normally enough. Just like last time they had exchanged pleasantries and other things before seriously discussing business, only this time Frank was warmer. Once business was concluded, Frank invited him home – just like last time only this time he absolutely insisted. Last time he had coldly offered lodging in his homes which Rhett had politely declined.

Now that he was dining with him Rhett regretted accepting his offer. Frank Kennedy thought him to be a high bred gentleman and was eager to befriend him. They both had afternoon tea together, and Frank was eager to know Rhett's opinion on the war.

"The war is inevitable," Rhett said truthfully.

"I agree with you, how long we can stand to be humiliated by the Yankies," Frank added passionately, "I plan to join the army, though I'm not as young as many of the country bucks, I will probably join the home guard to protect the ladies."

Rhett only nodded, the war brought back memories he tried hard to supress. It was the war when he courted Scarlett, then Widow Hamilton. It was the war that made her the women he loved and then hated.

Presuming Rhett had nothing to say Frank went on, "Would you be joining the army too, sir?"

"No, I plan to be a blockade runner," said Rhett automatically, without thinking.

"You think the Yankees would try and obstruct our waterways?"

"I have a shrewd guess that they will, and then the Confederacy will need her every sailor to trade."

"Yes, but if England helps us?"

"I have a feeling they won't"

"You are so brave Mr Butler, I mean to be in the Army is not as dangerous as this. Fighting Yanks in the sea, crossing the Atlantic often," Frank Kennedy fussed and he continued to until Rhett feigned a headache to escape him. Even then he insisted his sister knew of some herbs that cure headaches.

"I'm sure all I need is some bed rest. We can conclude our business tomorrow morning?"

"Well actually tomorrow morning we have a barbeque in the county, I was hoping to go there, and perhaps you will accompany me too? Then we can finish our business later in the afternoon."

Rhett agreed, secretly glad because he wanted to Scarlett.

Alone in his bed he thought about her and then his wife. They were polar opposites. He almost felt like Henry VIII, Scarlett he thought was Anne Boleyn and Caroline a weird mix of Jane Seymour and Catharine of Argon. He wondered if Henry too felt like him with his need to wipe out all memories of Anne, when marrying Jane. Anne had betrayed the King just like Scarlett betrayed him. Each married the man for power then was labelled as adulteresses, yet both were innocent.

Funny enough Anne's "illicit" relations with her brother George among other things was what lead to the end of their marriage and if he was not mistaken Ashley's first name was George too and he was Scarlett's brother by marriage.

Dinner was a silent affair, Rhett didn't speak and Frank apart from usual his fussing over the food and drink didn't either. Then Rhett went back to bed and was plagued by thoughts of Scarlett. Perhaps it was because he was in the house of her second husband or perhaps it was because he was so close to her, and her beloved Tara, so close to meeting her.

Rhett drifted off to sleep dreaming of Scarlett.

~SC~

The sun had not risen yet India was awake so she could be up and about for preparation by daybreak. She dressed up in one of her nicer morning dresses and then wrapped her wrapper over it.

The Negros could be very lazy and today was a big day. She was to lead by example. Twelve Oaks was a well-managed plantation, better than the Calvert's (the Yankee governess was not fit for the job) and the Tarleton's (Beatrice Tarleton was too busy with her horses.)

In fact the only Plantations that clearly surpassed her plantation was Tara, which was under Mrs Ellen O'Hara's efficient and experienced management and Mimosa, which was managed by two ladies: the experienced Old Miss and the middle-aged Young Miss who had the right balance of experience and capability.

India was quite efficient for a girl of only twenty but sometimes she resented her duties. Twenty was young and though India was a mature girl managing Twelve Oaks was a tiring job. When she got tired, which was very unusual, she resented even Honey and Melanie, because Honey was of no help and if Melanie was to marry Ashley then Twelve Oaks would be her responsibility. Later she would forgive them, knowing it wasn't really their fault. Honey was so silly that she couldn't really help if she tried and Melanie was too sickly otherwise she would have married Ashley already.

The one person she couldn't forgive though was Katie Scarlett O'Hara; try as much as she would. Scarlett was a spoilt brat, carefree when she had so many worries. Her worst offense though was taking away Stuart even when she didn't want him. Now everyone called her an old maid behind her back and she was stuck being the Mistress of a plantation instead of its princess.

She sighed as she passed a sleeping Honey on the way to Kitchen and Melanie came out of the room, almost as if responding to her sigh.

"India, darling, do you want me to do something," asked Melly sweetly.

"No Melly, you must rest," said India, "you came here after a lot of travelling and it's your day today, you have to look your best, not someone tired out."

"Oh I can hardly rest, to think in less than a day I be engaged to Ashley. I knew this would happen one day long ago but I never imagined what it would be like –"

"It's natural to be excited, but still you should rest or at least try to. Now back to bed, if you can't sleep then lie down."

"Oh India you are so sweet and considerate," said Melly.

"Now," India had to practically order, before she finally did. After makinging sure she lay beside Honey, India went to the kitchen, knowing she wouldn't be able to come out until after the guest started arriving.

~SC~

Scarlett woke up late, later than usual that is. None of the slaves dared wake her up for they were so scared of Miss Scarlett, it was up to Mammy, but Mammy was busy. By the time she came in to lace her, she was surprised to find her asleep.

"Mammy I'm tired leave me alone," came the response when she tried to wake her.

"Why you is tired mah chil'?" Mammy was concerned, "You is not feelin' well?"

She pressed a fat black hand on her forehead, and then looked up for any visible signs of ailments. Not finding any of them she said, "You is not gwin' to no barbeque?"

As if a spell broke when mammy uttered the word barbeque, she woke up.

"I'm not unwell mammy," said Scarlett, "it's just I feel like I didn't get proper sleep."

"You was sleeping fine at nigh' honey chile, and en de mornin' too. Ah sees it wid mah own eyes. May be it them dreams you was telling me about when you was little?"

Yes, though Scarlett as she hurried to do her daily routine, she did tell Mammy her dreams when she was little hoping Mammy would make some sense out of it.

"You was dreamin' bout sommin' las' night Miss Scarlett?"

"I'm not sure Mammy," said Scarlett, "It was an old woman, maybe Old Mrs Fontaine."

"Ef dat is all you remembah," said Mammy, "Ah don' remembah any of mine."

"I don't either," said Scarlett, "Just bits."

"Wha' 'bout da dream you was having when you was 14," said Mammy, "about the ball."

"Not a ball, a barbeque – much like this one," Scarlett paused; yes it was a barbeque at Twelve Oaks. Bits and pieces of the dream came back to Scarlett as Mammy tried to "remembah" with fondness what the little miss had said back then.

"And you were a belle in the dream, surrounded by beaus. Of course you was jus' 14, all girl dreams of beaus at 14. Now you got all the beaus you dreamed may be more."

But Scarlett wasn't listening; she had remembered Stuart, Brent, Charles and Frank all fighting for a spot near her. The Cade Calvert along with the Fontaine boys: Tony and Alex were eager attendees to her court in the garden of Twelve Oaks. Scarlett was convinced that today was the day when she will attract all the men to her.

"Whut mah lam' gwin ter wear," Mammy broke Scarlett out of her thoughts.

"Let me see," said Scarlett as she looked in her wardrobe, she knew exactly what she wanted to wear but didn't know how to convince her Mammy.

She pulled out her green plaid taffeta, frothing with flounces and each flounce edged in green velvet ribbon. It was her favourite dress, for it darkened her eyes to emerald. But there was unmistakably a grease spot on the front of the Basque.

"Oh I can't wear this!"

"Why not"

"Look at the grease spot its right in front."

"How 'bout this one," said Mammy as she pulled out her black bombazine, with its puffed sleeves and princess lace collar.

"It's goes with my complex, but it did make me look old."

"Ad' this one," said Mammy as she pulled out her rose organdie with long pink sash.

Scarlett thought hard then said then said, "I wore it last summer when the Hamilton's visited Twelve Oaks. They are going to think this is the only dress I have!"

"Ah is gwin ter lacin' you fo it," said Mammy impatiently, "Ah need to go fetch you Miss Careen an' Miss Suellen trays.

Mammy left after lacing her tight. Her waist was now 17" and she was quick to pull out the green sprigged muslin she had worn yesterday. It was an afternoon dress, something Mammy would not allow. It was not suitable for a barbecue; for it had only tiny puffed sleeves and the neck was low enough for a dancing dress. But she wanted to wear it and wear it she would. After all she was not ashamed of her neck and arms and bosom, even if it was not correct to show them in the morning.

She continued to admire herself in the mirror until heard shuffling footsteps, and huffing of breath. Mammy was coming back. Mammy came in with the tray laden with food. Seeing Miss Scarlett with the Afternoon dress, Mammy's expression changed to one of horror.

"You ain' wearin' dat. It ain' fittin' fer mawnin'. You kain show yo' buzzum befo' three o'clock an' dat dress ain' got no neck an' no sleeves. An' you'll git freckled sho as you born, an' Ah ain' figgerin' on you gittin' freckled affer all de buttermilk Ah been puttin' on you all dis winter, bleachin' dem freckles you got at Savannah settin' on de beach. Ah sho gwine speak ter yo' Ma 'bout you."

"If you say one word to her or I won't eat a bite," said Scarlett coolly. "Mother won't have time to send me back."

Mammy sighed resignedly, beholding herself outguessed. Between the two evils, it was better to have Scarlett wear an afternoon dress at a morning barbecue than to have her gobble like a hog. She carefully dropped the twelve yards of green sprigged muslin over the mountainous petticoats and hooked up the back of the tight, low-cut basque.

"You keep yo' shawl on yo' shoulders w'en you is in de sun, an' doan you go takin' off yo' hat w'en you is wahm," she commanded. "Elsewise you be comin' home lookin' brown lak Ole Miz Slattery. Now, you come eat, honey, but doan eat too fas'. No use havin' it come right back up agin."

Scarlett obediently sat down before the tray.

"I wish to Heaven I was married," she said resentfully as she attacked the yams with loathing. "I'm tired of everlastingly being unnatural and never doing anything I want to do. I'm tired of acting like I don't eat more than a bird, and saying I feel faint after a waltz, when I could dance for two days and never get tired. I'm tired of pretending I don't know anything, so men can tell me things and feel important while they're doing it. Why is it a girl has to be so silly to catch a husband?"

"Ah specs it's kase gempmums doan know whut dey wants. Dey jes' knows whut dey thinks dey wants. An' givin' dem whut dey thinks dey wants saves a pile of mizry an' bein' a ole maid. An' dey thinks dey wants mousy lil gals wid bird's tastes an' no sense at all. It doan make a gempmum feel lak mahyin' a lady ef he suspicions she got mo' sense dan he has."

"Don't you suppose men get surprised after they're married to find that their wives do have sense?"

"Well, it's too late den. Dey's already mahied. 'sides, gempmums specs dey wives ter have sense."

"Someday I'm going to do and say everything I want to do and say, and if people don't like it I don't care."

"No, you ain'," said Mammy grimly. "Not while Ah got breaf. You eat dem cakes. Sop dem in de gravy, honey."

"If you don't come down soon we'll be leaving you Missy," Gerald O'Hara bellowed at the top of his voice.

"I'm coming Pa," Scarlett ran down.

~SC~

Inside the carriage, besides her sisters, Scarlett wondered if she was being controlled by her dream: a dream she did not remember until Mammy's prompting. No, she thought, Mammy was right; it was every girls dream to be the belle, to be admired above all. So she too wanted it, she was sure Suellen, Honey and all the other girls wanted it too. But they won't get it, imagining the girls' jealous faces, a pretty smile came on to Scarlett's face.

She was so happy at this thought that she joined in the last chorus of "The Wearin' o' the Green" and won Gerald's shouted approval.

"I don't know why you're so happy this morning," said Suellen crossly, "You know as well as I do that Ashley's engagement is going to be announced tonight. Pa said so this morning. "

"Stu and Brent already told me that last evening," said Scarlett.

"See Susie, Scarlett doesn't care about Ashley," said Carreen. "It's Brent that Scarlett cares about."

"Darling, I don't care a thing about Brent," declared Scarlett, happy enough to be generous. "And he doesn't care a thing about me. Why, he's waiting for you to grow up!"

Carreen's round little face became pink, as pleasure struggled with incredulity.

"Oh, Scarlett, really?"

"Scarlett, you know Mother said Carreen was too young to think about beaux yet, and there you go putting ideas in her head."

"Well, go and tattle and see if I care," replied Scarlett. "You want to hold Sissy back, because you know she's going to be prettier than you in a year or so."

"You'll be keeping civil tongues in your heads this day, or I'll be taking me crop to you," warned Gerald. "Now whist! Is it wheels I'm hearing? That'll be the Tarletons or the Fontaines."

It was the Tarleton ladies, Gerald was happy to see them, for he liked Beatrice Tarleton. She was his favourite in the country, second only to Ellen. She asked about Ellen and in turn Gerald asked after the men.

The Tarleton men were already at the barbecue. Gerald then talked about horses with Mrs Tarleton. Nellie, Mrs Tarleton's mare had foaled in the morning so there was a bit of a discussion on Nellie's young, then moved on to the Wilkes' engagement:

"Now, tell me, Mr O'Hara, is it illegal for the Wilkes to marry outside of their family? Because if—"

Scarlett didn't hear the rest of it for she hardly cared. Also she didn't like the fact that Ashley and Melanie would be the centre of attention the whole day. She frowned for a bit then remembered her plan. The dimples returned on her face, nobody would even look at them if I have my way.

The Tarleton girls noted this, for they were watching Scarlett like hawks. However none of them could make any sense of her frown or her smile.

Giving up they joined their mother and Mr O'Hara's conversation. They were talking about the Wilkes' marriage with Mrs Tarleton against it, for she was against all cousin marriage and Mr O'Hara supporting it for he believed that "Like marries like, only then thereis happiness."

After a bit of an argument the conversation turned to the War, almost abruptly.

"What have you decided to do about selling us the horses for the Troop? War may break any day now and the boys want the matter settled. It's a Clayton County troop and it's Clayton County horses we want for them. But you, obstinate creature that you are, are still refusing to sell us your fine beasts."

"Maybe there won't be any war," Mrs. Tarleton temporized, her mind diverted completely from the Wilkeses' odd marriage habits.

"Why, Ma'm, you can't—"

"Ma," Betty interrupted, "can't you and Mr. O'Hara talk about the horses at Twelve Oaks as well as here?"

Another large conversation followed, and no real decision was taken. Mrs Tarleton was afraid for her horses ridden by crackers and riff-raffs. While Gerald agreed he knew that the country did not have enough plantation owners' sons to make a full regiment.

Eventually the Tarleton's went ahead and soon Gerald too was off after the Tarleton carriage where he could continue his horsy conversation.

A/N: So the good news. We have reached a review count of 50. Thank you all who reviewed. As you can see this chapter had to be ended here coz it is so long so no BBQ this time but the next chapter has to be the BBQ now right? So am I wrong in expecting a Million reviews? Ok JK

I tried to shorten the chapter, but I wanted you all to see how Scarlett had changed and how she is just the same. So I liberally borrowed from MM, her words are italicized only to show you what remains of her Scarlett.

The bad news is I have my exam on the 7th so I shan't be updating before that :(