Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Chapter Twenty-Eight

They went to Tara every September and every April for Scarlett to do the books. Scarlett and all her children always felt renewed by these visits. Rhett had a good time while they were there because his family enjoyed it so much. He had customized the house to his needs. Rhett wouldn't want to spend more than a week there but he did have a good time while he was there. During their September of 75 visit the entire family had gone over to Tara to visit Mammy's grave. Scarlett had ignored Suellen. Suellen eyed Scarlett angrily. Ella had eyed the Benteen girls warily and Bonnie looked ready to fight. Susie, Solange, and Alice looked warily at Ella and Bonnie. Nick was holding his father's hand and Rhett had given Lizabeth to Wade to hold in case he needed to break up a fight. Rhett's eyes were constantly moving because anyone of these females could start a fight. After about thirty minutes Scarlett was ready to leave and her family got in the buggy and went back to Tara Too. As they were leaving Scarlett thought of the rocking chair and she remembered she had rocked Wade in it when he had been sick during that year after the war was over. She left the rocking chair with Suellen and marveled at the memory she had recalled.

Ella had a birthday party with Pansy Picard at their new home. Scarlett again had too much food and made everyone take home food in the little tins. The same little tins she had given them last year. They had all been returned to the store.

The next week the annual fund raiser. Rhett had negotiated with one of the local dance halls for the Beautification of Confederate Graves to have their fund raiser there at a discount price. The deal was that the committee would get the discount rate but every ticket had the name of the dance hall printed on it in big letters. Rhett bid for Scarlett to dance with him again. Rhett loved doing that because Scarlett always preened like that seventeen-year-old widow from all those years ago.

Elizabeth and Rosemary arrived at the end of October and they had a smaller party to celebrate Ella's birthday for just the family.

The person who hated Scarlett Butler hurt. She felt so bad about the death of the pony. She would not do anything else to cause pain to Scarlett Butler. It wasn't easing her pain.

In the summer of eighteen seventy-six they went to Niagara Falls. They also toured Washington, New York, Boston, Gettysburg and Philadelphia. There were several centennial celebrations they attended while traveling in the North. While they were in the North after the children had retired for the night Scarlett said, "Tell me the reason why you were expelled from West Point."

Rhett said, "The official reason or the real reason."

Scarlett said, "Both"

Rhett said, "I had brought Emily Kline into the dormitory. Females were not even allowed on the grounds much less in the dormitory."

Scarlett said, "And?"

Rhett said, "She was the commandant's daughter. She was not an innocent. She had chased me and I finally let her catch me. I learned a lot about pleasing a woman from her. We had been having relations in the woods behind the grounds but this night it was cold. So, I attempted to sneak her into my room. I succeeded in sneaking her in but failed in sneaking her out. She pretended to be an innocent and I was the one that corrupted her. I was expelled for conduct unbefitting an officer."

Scarlett said, "Is she the one I should write the thank you note to?"

Rhett laughed uproariously. He said, "She was not alone in the education of Rhett Butler. I met a Baroness in London who invited me into her home and taught me everything there was to know about pleasuring a woman. I lived there for six-months before she sent me on my way. And there was a Duchess in Germany that refined my talents."

Scarlett laughed. She felt a twinge of jealousy but she pushed it away. It was long before he met her and she did appreciate her husband's skills in that area.

When they got to Gettysburg Scarlett became sad. Scarlett turned to Rhett and said, "Why am I so sad?"

Rhett said, "A lot of your childhood friends were killed at Gettysburg."

Scarlett said, "Why Rhett? Why did we fight that war?"

Rhett put his arm around her waist and said, "Old men boasting and young men dying for the wrong reasons. I don't know. The rich planters were bound and determined we would leave the union no matter the cost. All the important people were pushing for succession and war. I have always thought there should have been a peaceful solution to the impasse."

Scarlett said, "Oh Rhett" And although it wasn't proper Rhett wrapped her up in his arms and soothed her.

They soon took the family back to the hotel and played games with the children.

That trip had started a tradition. Every summer Rhett took the family some place new. They went to California, Texas, the northern United States, and southern United States over the next several years.

They continue doing everything they had been doing for the last five years. Wade went to school, Ella and Bonnie were being taught by Miss Lucas, Scarlett was attending sewing bees and committee meetings, Rhett was managing his fortune, going to Tara bi-annually and Rhett and Scarlett were watching the children grow.

In the summer of eighteen seventy-seven while the Butlers were out West Scarlett's Aunt Pauline died. Scarlett sent her regrets but she would not be able to attend the funeral. When they got home from their trip there was a letter from her Aunt Eulalie telling her what a horrible, ill-mannered person she was and on and on. Scarlett just smiled and told Rhett, "If I had come back for the funeral, she would have criticized me for that. So why interrupt our time away." They did continue to send her a check each month to cover her expenses.

In December of eighteen seventy-eight Scarlett and Rhett were talking while shopping for presents for Christmas. It had been over six years since she had fallen down the stairs and lost her memory. Scarlett asked Rhett, "Why did Rosemary never marry?"

Rhett said, "She had a fiancé but he was killed in the war. She hasn't ever met anyone else that she is interested in. Since her brother was willing to pay her expenses, she didn't have to marry someone she doesn't love."

Scarlett said, "That was nice of her brother."

Rhett said, "Yes, it was. Although I did notice that Mr. Bowles was quite taken with her when we went to the supper and dance fund raiser last week.

Scarlett smiled and said, "And she was quite taken with him. In fact, he came to call yesterday afternoon. I sat in the parlor like a good sister in law and chaperoned them. It made me laugh because I was younger than both of them. All they talked about was different books they had read. It was boring to me."

Rhett laughed and said, "It will probably be the same when Wade starts courting girls.

Scarlett said, "It is hard to believe that we only have one more year with him before he goes off to school."

Rhett said, "Where does he want to go this week?"

Scarlett smiled at her husband and said, "University of South Carolina. He wants to be somewhere he can go sailing. I never thought he would love it as much as he does."

Rhett said, "As you know it can be very exhilarating. It was my first love. Then I found a young lady that was even more exhilarating."

Scarlett laughed and said, "And don't you forget it."

As they were walking along Scarlett started singing "When this cruel war is over?" when the song was over Rhett was staring at her. He said, "Did that just come to you?"

Scarlett smiled and said, "Yes."

Rhett said, "That's the first song we danced to."

Scarlett said with a smug smile, "When you bid one hundred and fifty dollars to dance with me?"

Rhett smiled and said, "Yes."

Scarlett said, "It must be a pleasant memory for me because I was smiling when I finished singing."

They walked along discussing what other Christmas presents they needed to buy. Scarlett said, "I keep getting a picture in my head of an old man with blue eyes the same color as Bonnie's. Do you think it is my Pa?"

Rhett said, "I don't know for sure but I would say yes because Bonnie's eyes are the same color as your Pa's eyes."

Scarlett said, "He looks like a very nice man."

Rhett said, "Everyone has always spoken highly of your father."

Scarlett sadly said, "I wish I could remember him and my mother."

Rhett said, "Careen looks like your mother."

Scarlett said, "I like her. She is so serene."

Rhett said, "I know that you wish you could get your memories back, baby."

Scarlett surprised him when she said, "Not all of them. Just a few select ones. I wish I had memories of my parents. I wish I had the memories of when my children were born and the first time I saw them. For the most part I don't want my memories back. I don't think I had that many pleasant memories."

Rhett didn't know what to say so he didn't say anything. Finally, Scarlett said, "I love my life now. I know I wasn't a very nice person before I lost my memory. The only person who liked me was Melanie and she is a saint. Now you like me and love me, the old guard loves me, my children love me, my in laws love me and Melanie still loves me. I don't want to go back. I don't want to lose what we have now. I am afraid that if I got my memories back, I would become that awful person again. That person did a lot of wonderful things. She kept thirteen people alive on next to nothing, she built a business from the ground up, she supported many people but she was hard and cold. She could never quit struggling. I am happy to let you take care of me and my relatives."

Rhett said, "I do love you. I enjoy spending time with you. We are each other's best friend. I never want to lose that."

Scarlett said, "I don't either. How did my parents die?"

Rhett said, "Your mother died of typhoid fever and your father died trying to jump a fence."

Scarlett said, "Tell me all about it."

Rhett told her the entire story. When he was finished Scarlett said, "Again more unhappy memories I don't want. If it had been me trying to convince my Pa to take the oath of allegiance I would have succeeded."

Rhett laughed and put his arm around her waist. Rhett said, "Yes you would have which would have been worse than inviting Governor Bullock into your home."

Scarlett said, "I am glad I didn't think of it then. The Old Guard loves me now but they still haven't forgiven me for that one."

Rhett said, "That's true."

That Christmas Scarlett had commissioned another large painting to be hung over the fireplace in the family parlor. She hired Gilbert Sullivan again. Scarlett was so glad that Rhett loved to have pictures taken because she had lots to give to Mr. Sullivan. When Rhett opened his present, he was stunned. Scarlett had Mr. Sullivan not only paint them and their children but she had him add Elizabeth and Rosemary in the painting also. For a minute she thought her stoic husband was going to cry until he got control of himself and made a joke about the picture. She laughed at his joke and didn't say anything about his tears.