The Journey Home
Chapter Twenty Five
Accusations
Scarlett stepped out onto the porch and released a deep sigh of contentment. She walked to the edge where the steps led down to the ground and sat down on them. How strange it felt to be sitting here like this. Memories of another time when she was but sixteen filtered through her mind. She had been in this very spot when Stu and Brent Tarleton danced around her talking about the war, calling her honey and sugar pie. A soft smile escaped her lips, she had been so young then, so naïve about the world. Nothing could have prepared her for what was to come.
Since then, she had lost and she had gained and she had shed tears of sorrow and happiness along the way. But now, now she had a chance to make things right, the way they were supposed to be. She and Rhett could learn to love again, to live their lives together without something or someone holding them down.
There was no more Ashley, no more Belle, no more prying eyes and whispers of affairs, there was only them, she and Rhett. Why, they could travel anywhere they wanted and do anything they wanted! It was theirs for the taking. She began humming again and then, just as if she were a girl of sixteen, she threw her head back and suppressed a gleeful giggle. How wonderful life was!
"Hello," Eli's voice caught her attention. Scarlett looked up and saw him coming toward her. She straightened and smiled. "Hello, Eli."
"You're mighty chipper this morning," he mused as he neared her. "Something happen?"
"Oh, nothing," she shook her head. "I'm just… happy."
"Happy?" he repeated. "Then something did happen."
"Perhaps," she tilted her head, unable to control the grin that spread across her lips, "I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't talk about it."
"I see," he clasped his hands on his hips and cleared his throat. "Well, I'm glad to see that you're… happy."
Something in his voice made her take notice. Was that regret she heard? Surely not? Eli didn't see her in that light… or did he? He had never given her a reason to think otherwise, but seeing him then, his tone suddenly so different from before, and a certain frostiness that she had never seen until this moment, made her wonder otherwise.
"I suppose I should just come out and tell you what I've had on my mind," he started. "The time has come for me to leave here. It's been a pleasure working for you, but I'm only in the way now. You're husband can take care of things, and well, I… I just don't want to be tied down to one place any longer."
Scarlett stared at him, dumbfounded at his declaration. She blinked several times trying to comprehend what he said. "But, I thought…"
Eli's mouth twisted in a wry smile and his dark eyes penetrated on her face. "You thought what? That I would hang around indefinitely just hoping for a smile or compliment from you? I had a job to do, that job is over now that your husband is here."
His words rippled angrily through and her good mood was pushed to the side as she stood to face him. "How dare you say such a thing to me! You make it sound as if I went around all day batting my eyes at you begging you for attention."
"Didn't you?" he asked brazenly.
"I did not!" she vehemently shook her head.
"I don't think it matters anymore, does it?"
"I don't know what you're hinting at, but our relationship was merely business," she told him and yet she knew it was lie. She had thought of him more than a business deal, she thought he was her friend.
He smirked then and he tipped his hat back. "In that case, I'd say my stay here is for certain come to an end."
Scarlett barely kept herself from gasping. "Go ahead and leave then! I don't need you around here. I told you that from the beginning. You were the one who persisted on staying where you weren't wanted."
"And I told you then as I'm telling you now, I come and go when it's time and fortunately for me it's time. I'll send you a bill for my services rendered."
"Fine then, what are you waiting for?" she nearly screamed and then caught herself. Her hand flitted to her throat as she stared at him.
"Nothing," he answered flatly. "Nothing at all."
He turned on his heel and stalked to the back of the house, leaving Scarlett staring at his retreating form. She was stunned at the encounter that had just taken place. One minute she was happy and humming at the wonderfulness of her life and then next she was rocked by Eli's resignation. But, something more was going on here. Something she couldn't put a finger on. Before she could even think of the wisdom of her decision, she found herself following his footsteps and went after him.
As she rounded the corner she saw him heading for the barn and she picked up the pace of her footsteps to reach him. Once she finally made it inside, he was already in the stall lifting his saddle from the ground.
"Eli," she called him and he barely gave her a glance. "Eli," she called him again and crossed her arms angrily. "I'm not leaving until you tell me what's really going on."
"I thought I said what I needed to, what more do you need to hear?" he replied brusquely as he jerked his saddlebags from the hay-lined floor.
"I thought you liked it here, I thought-" she paused and took a breath. "I thought you liked working at Tara."
"I did."
"Then why are you leaving?"
"Because, it's time."
"You didn't think so yesterday, or the day before that," she shot at him.
"Yesterday is not today," he clipped and then stopped. "And today, things are not the way they were."
"What does that mean?"
He sighed impatiently and shook his head. "I'd rather not discuss it since it's really none of my business."
"You're not making any sense."
"And I don't care to explain myself," he quipped and turned from her.
With her frustrations mounting, Scarlett stepped toward him. "That's not fair. You're leaving and you won't tell me the real reason and then refuse to explain when I ask you."
"You don't know when to let it go, do you? You just keep pushing and pushing until you get your way." He had bent down to pick up his books. "You've obviously found what you wanted or needed, whatever the case may be with your husband. I'm only in the way now. There, now you have your reason."
"But-"
"What?" he looked up at her sharply. "Don't tell me I'm not in the way. I know when it's time for me to move on. I can see things have changed and when my presence is no longer needed."
She opened her mouth to protest but she thought better of it. Things had gone distorted with them very quickly and she felt a sense of danger in the air around them.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to finish packing. I'd like to be gone before nightfall," he replied and turned from her again when she said nothing.
She stood watching him for a moment and then she nodded. "Very well, if you feel you must go. I just want to you know, I will still think of you as a friend. A very good friend."
A laugh emitted from him as he shoved a shirt in the saddlebag. "Since the chance of my seeing you again will be nil, I don't think that will be necessary."
Scarlett had had enough! She clasped her hands on her hips as she looked down at him. "Why are you being so nasty? If you weren't being a skunk I'd almost think you were jealous!"
The words landed around them like a cannon being blasted. She sucked in her breath at her audacity. She backed up until she came against the stall wall. Eli stared hard at her and threw down the saddlebag.
"Jealous?" he threw at her. "You are a married woman or have you forgotten that? And in case you had forgotten it, you were reminded last night, weren't you?"
"I… I…" she stammered. "I don't think we should be discussing this anymore. I think it would be best if you did leave."
"You're right," he nodded.
The air around them had grown thick and Scarlett tried to move, but her legs wouldn't listen to her. Eli reached up to touch her face and that's when they both heard the pounding of horse's hooves. Suddenly, Rhett's angry voice filled the space were they were.
"Barrett! Where are you?"
Rhett! She felt her heart slam into her ribs when the scuffing sound of his boots neared them. Oh no! He couldn't see them together, not like this! She turned wild eyes to him and he cursed low under his breath.
"Stay here and don't move," he whispered. He left the stall and met Rhett out in the open space of the barn.
"Mr. Butler," he greeted him. "Something I can do for you?"
"There is."
Scarlett moved to crouch down and peek through the slit where the hinges of the door attached to the stall wall. She could see Rhett's controlled anger, which was masked by the coolness of his voice.
Eli nodded. "What is it?"
"I have some questions that I want answers to, if you think you can manage that."
"Depends on the questions," he replied unperturbed.
"Does it now? Well I'm afraid I can't settle for that answer. You see, my questions pertain to a rather delicate situation and I would appreciate your full cooperation."
"My full cooperation?" Eli questioned him. "About what?"
"I've made no secret about the fact that I don't trust you. You've never given me a reason to and quite frankly no one else has been able to refute my suspicions, either. Today my mistrust in you seemed to be confirmed when a man of questionable reputation mentioned your name."
"I'm not sure I know where you're going with this. I know very few folks in this area and even less know who I am. Perhaps you were mistaken on the name you heard."
"I can't say that I was. You see the pieces just fit together all too well."
"Mr. Butler, I have no quarrel with anyone and as far as I know, no one with me. Now, if you're accusing me of something get on with it, otherwise you're wasting not only my time, but your own."
"You're wrong on two counts, I do have a quarrel with you and you with me. Mrs. Olson losing her husband wasn't that much of a shock to you was it?"
"Considering I didn't know the man, no, but I do have sympathy for Mrs. Olson. No one should have to go through what she has."
"I couldn't agree more, which leads me to my next question. Was it worth it? Was it worth what Wilkerson paid you to see the pain on that woman's face as her husband was lowered into the ground? Was his life really worth a few more dollars in your pocket?"
Scarlett's eyes widened at Rhett's accusations. What was he talking about? Eli had nothing to do with James Olson's murder.
"Wait a minute here. You think I had something to do with that man's death? That I was paid by Jonas Wilkerson to commit murder?"
"Are you refuting it?" Rhett's gaze hardened as he spoke.
"Of course I am," Eli replied angrily. "I had nothing, NOTHING to do with that. I was hired by Ashley to protect your wife from Wilkerson and his threats against her. That's where my connection to him begins and ends."
"So I reason you have no explanation for what I overheard, then? Barrett is not a common name in these parts. In fact, I do believe you are the only one."
"I don't know what you think you heard, but I had nothing to do with Olson's murder." Eli clipped. "As for my name, whoever it was throwing it around was obviously trying to make trouble for me and I have no doubt it was one of Wilkerson's men, but I am NOT one of them."
Rhett stared at Eli, his black eyes snapping angrily. "So, you keep saying. But you see, Barrett I am a man who lives by instinct and mine are telling me right now that you are very much involved in what's happened and I won't stop until I have enough proof to put you away for the rest of your life."
"Then you are wasting your time because I am not involved and I won't be accused of something I did not have a part in and furthermore, you have forgotten one small detail, Mr. Butler. The day this happened I was with your wife… all day."
Rhett visibly stiffened at his words. Scarlett could see that all the way over to where she was hidden.
"I want you to stay away from Scarlett. If any harm comes to her, I will personally kill you, Mr. Barrett and I do not make idle threats."
Eli laughed harshly. "Is that supposed to scare me? I have no intention of letting any harm come to Scarlett and that also includes from you, Mr. Butler."
Rhett smiled then, but the smile was almost evil in its incarnation. "Don't cross any lines you can't cross back over. I am telling you, once and once only… stay clear of me and stay clear of Scarlett. I want you gone from Tara before the day is over, but don't think of leaving the county. If you do, I'll hunt you down like the dog you are and only one of us will come out of it alive… do not make any mistake about that."
With the finality of his omnious statement hanging in the air, Rhett turned on his heel and stalked to his mount in bold sweeping steps and pulled himself into the saddle. He gave Eli one more dark look before pulling back on the reins and wheeling his horse out of view. Scarlett slid down the wall and closed her eyes, suddenly, Eli's voice was above her.
"You can come out now, he's gone."