AN:Thanks for the fantastic reviews guys. Lol. I'm weirdly struggling with this one and the jumps between sections. If something pops up in a chapter that feels a bit off like it needed a scene before to explain it or more within that section to explain it, feel free to drop a line saying that. I was trying a 5k range per posting, but I apparently write ending scenes naturally at like 3k. Again thank you so much for the reviews! I am glad you guys are liking the lighter Scarlett and Rhett.
Reminder: o-o-o (means same day) -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- (means a time jump has occurred)
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Part Four
April 1868
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"My dear I never thought the day would come that your sister would leave us alone in the house," Rhett said walking into the parlor to sit next to Scarlett on the sofa.
"We are heavily chaperoned," she nodded off at the children playing on a rug on the opposite side of the room. Wade was playing with some farm animals Will had whittled for him and trying to teach his sister the sounds they made. Scarlett wasn't sure she wanted her son to teach Ella to "moo" sure it would lead to the child calling for her by name, she'd never get mammy to tend to Ella if she called directly for her mother.
"They're occupied as are Mammy and Prissy," he wove his fingers through hers.
"Mammy only wants you to think she's occupied so you'll let your guard down."
"However, did you have so many beaux with her?" He began to trace patterns across her wrist with his thumb.
Scarlett smiled, unexpectedly being taken aback to all of the boys calling on her. "I imagine she wasn't quite as diligent until I started gathering beaux."
He smiled and then closed his eyes enjoying the quiet, "I am not sure if I am more grateful that your sister has left the house or that she has taken the baby with her."
Scarlett let out a light laugh, grateful her sister enjoyed showing off her little girl. Scarlett loathed the idea of having to feed and care for another one. "She has Suellen's temperament."
"She certainly doesn't have Will's," Rhett dryly added. "None of your children ever squalled as much."
"I would have fled the state."
He let out a laugh. "Iris sounds as if she'd be so delicate and lady-like."
Scarlett let out a laugh, "She was born with blonde hair and blue eyes, she reminded Will of the flowers that grew by his family's farm."
"That child is practically bald," Rhett regarded her with a disbelieving look.
"Her hair fell out," Scarlett smirked, she shouldn't have enjoyed her sister's misery at the flaxen locks being lost, very slowly being replaced by an unimpressive brown.
"Is hair supposed to fall out for children?" He regarded her with another look.
"According to Mammy it does."
"I suppose that is why I nearly never see the baby without a bonnet."
"Mammy says the house is too cold for the baby. Even Ella wore one all throughout winter."
"I shan't inform Mammy it's spring," he teased. "Speaking of which, let's take the children for a walk. The weather is beautiful."
"You know we can't hide behind a tree from the children," she informed him.
"The idea never crossed my mind."
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They didn't hide behind a tree, he kissed her slowly and leisurely as they sat upon a blanket with Ella playing with her dog by his feet. Just down the hill from them there was a field of wildflowers that Wade had been eager to explore.
"My dear, I do believe you brought me here on purpose," Rhett said pulling away from a kiss.
"I don't know what you mean, we were just out walking and I thought we could use a break," she innocently looked up at him, more than ready to resume their kiss before Wade returned.
"Just how many beaux did you bring here?" He questioned.
She said nothing.
"Perhaps I should ask Suellen how often she gathered cream indigo while under your care."
"Don't you dare unless you want to be sleeping in a house with a leaky roof."
"I would happily sleep under a leaky roof if you were by my side," he said dropping his head for another kiss.
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There was an ease that came with having Rhett around. An ease, which she thought she had prior to him. She realized it one night laying alone in her bed, replaying the day and thinking of the next one ahead.
The year before had been perfunctory. She had gone about her tasks. She had taken care of the children, of Tara. Day in and day out.
With Rhett though, she slid through the day easily, but never without thought. It was always with thought, so many transitions and shifts, excitement and tranquility, but it was with an ease that had been so long gone from her life.
He filled the breakfast table with conversation.
The ride with Wade to the schoolhouse had often been silent and it still was at times, only now conversation occasionally peppered the ride. The ride there was always filled with such anticipation, knowing that once Wade was dropped off, she could move closer to Rhett. It was so nice to simply be near Rhett, feel the heat of him, the smell of him, a clean musk that made her want to press her body in closer to his. Just sitting near him would have likely been enough. The safety of him, the comfort, but then he would slow the wagon when far away from anyone who could be passing by and sweep her into his arms.
Kissing him was so varied. Moments of feeling weak and helpless, moments of feeling powerful and bold, moments of utter ease as if they'd been doing such a thing their whole lives. She understood why her mother warned of men like him, why the world warned of men like him. It would be so easy to give in. She had thought it on Aunt Pitty's porch, she had thought it when he told her he was joining up, she had thought it as he proposed. Or rather she hadn't thought it, until after. Just the same as the day he came to Tara, the ride to the schoolhouse, the night of her party and every kiss since.
It wouldn't be so awful to be married to Rhett Butler if she could kiss him whenever she wanted. If he could be laying next to her in bed, her head resting on that strong shoulder that could carry the world, passing the time with conversation until sleep claimed them.
It was all simply so different than it had been. Calverton filled their morning, then they would return to Tara, Rhett retrieving his stallion either to return to Calverton or go into town, while she would get Ella down for her nap before settling down with Tara's business. Rhett would arrive back at the house with Wade, Wade still small enough to sit in front of Rhett on the horse.
It was very nearly her favorite sight of the day.
Rhett hadn't blended into their family, he'd made their family finally blend.
Engaging with the children so much easier, he had the same natural ease as Will.
Conversation flowed around the table.
The nights passed with conversation, games, reading aloud and one night dancing. She and Suellen had started talking about the last party they'd had at Tara, and in a moment of agreement they both admitted how much they missed dancing.
There was a flurry of activity as the music box her father had given her for her 12th birthday was taken from a table in the parlor, they and the children all hurried from the family parlor to the empty formal parlor. Will had tapped his wooden leg and accepted the chair Rhett had carried in and settled back with Iris in his arms and Wade and Ella next to him as Rhett took turns spinning the women around the room to the four tunes the box played. Scarlett had even taken Wade as a dance partner, attempting to instruct her son in the basics of dance.
Oh yes, there was an ease in their lives now. The missing piece found in Rhett Butler. She knew it wouldn't last, but she would savor it while it did.
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The O'Hara sisters didn't fight loudly, Rhett imagined most wouldn't even notice they were fighting, but they did constantly. Through small comments or looks, conflict often filled their interactions. In the last five weeks he had been drawn into numerous minute battles between the two women, attempting to play mediator.
Biscuits or cornbread.
They were seated at the kitchen room table, a room Scarlett did her best to avoid, but Suellen planning the week's menu meant Scarlett would risk Mammy trying to put her to work, which Mammy had accomplished, just as she always did, Scarlett was prepping vegetables that they would take with supper.
He had absolutely no interest in biscuits or cornbread. The country fare had been a delight the first few weeks, but frankly at this point it was a delight when he got one of Gerald O'Hara's provincial Irish foods. His palate had grown spoiled from years of travel, years of tasting new delights. Oh he longed to take Scarlett to New Orleans and expose her to creole food, he'd take her to the finest restaurants as well. How she had been at the restaurant at her birthday, the woman experienced food, well frankly when he thought about Scarlett experiencing food, he'd forget his promise to Will that nothing would happen under his roof.
Biscuits or cornbread…His mind returned to the confounding fact that they were attempting to draw him in, he gave his best attempt at not snapping, "I trust you ladies to decide the menu, the meals are always wonderful," and slipped out the kitchen door where he had seen Will escape to with young Iris.
Will's blue eyes lifted just ever so for the interruption in his tranquil evening. Iris in her father's arms, awake and quiet as she only ever was with him.
"You're a strong man Will Benteen to have survived a year with those two."
Deep lines appeared around Will's eyes as he smiled, even though his lips barely lifted. "They both just want the same thing."
"To be right?" Rhett supplied and moved to leave against a column and light a cigar.
"To be heard."
"Occasionally I believe the entire county can hear them," Rhett smirked.
"They hear, but do they listen?" Will shifted the baby lightly, "This year's been good for them."
"I shudder to think of what they were like before."
Will let out a light laugh that time. "They understand more now. Why one does what they do. They respect each other even though they don't show it."
"You're certainly a braver man than most. I imagine you count yourself lucky that the third sister didn't also return."
Will's eyes looked away, "It wouldn't be a hardship to have Miss Careen here. For a long time, I thought she was an angel at my bedside."
Rhett said nothing.
"All three are good people. Different people for sure, but good people. Frankly, the best I've ever met. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them and Miss Melly."
Rhett continued to remain silent.
"It was a gift."
"Your life?" Rhett questioned.
"That," Will nodded, "but to be given this. To be given such a clear purpose in life. Tara, the O'Haras. I admire you, Rhett for making your own way." His eyes lifted, "Many ways from what I've heard."
Rhett smirked.
"But when they saved my life, then that life had one purpose, this," he gave a slow nod out at the darkening fields. "It's amazing when everything else fades away and you can see the one thing you're meant for."
In his mind he saw a 16-year-old Scarlett ascending a staircase and then the look back, the look in her eyes when she saw him watching her. He saw her in his arms at the bazaar as she came to life. Saw her as he said goodbye to her when joining up. Saw her in the buggy as they rode to the mills. Saw her with Ella for the first time. Saw her as she came down the stairs on the night he proposed. Saw her at the top of the stairs when he arrived at Tara.
He wanted to shake away the thought, to fight against it. The darkening sky and Will's voice though. He let it stay with him, "It is, isn't it," there was a hint of wonder that trailed through Rhett's words. For it was a wonder, so many other things as well, but above all else, a wonder.
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A loud cry woke Rhett up, a pitiful and mournful cry, years of habit was the only thing that allowed him to grab his robe before heading out the door. His arms being rammed into sleeves as his long legs took him down the hallway towards the nursery. Fear gripped him. In his mind he knew that babies cried, children cried. Suellen's child cried constantly when without her father. Scarlett's though, they were never more than a few hiccupping cries that could be soothed in seconds. He knew though, from six weeks in the house that the noise was not emerging from Suellen's child, but Scarlett's. Another cry joined in just as he closed the sash of his robe. The nursery was even darker than the hallway, Rhett thanked god for that gleaming brass bed.
"What's wrong?" he asked in the direction of Wade's bed and the darkened figure of the boy. He had Ella in his arms in a second, he could see her red face filled with misery and cries that didn't abate even though she had been picked up.
"I was sleeping, why is she crying?" Wade cried.
Rhett filled with relief as he realized the boy's cries were a tantrum from being awoken in the middle of the night. Rhett's hand went to her face, she didn't feel any warmer than usual. "What's wrong my sweet Ella," he asked, knowing full well she wouldn't be able to answer. In the weeks before figuring out what Ella wanted had been a fun guessing game, but in this moment with her angry limbs flaring and no answers within his reach, it was misery.
"What's wrong?" Scarlett asked emerging with a candle like an angel in the doorway.
"She won't stop screaming."
"I can see that Rhett," she rolled her eyes and put the candle down. "Come to Mama," the little girl quickly left his arms and went to her mother's and her cries changed to that of a low misery.
"You promised she wouldn't cry anymore," Wade accused with his own level of misery.
"I'm sorry, she's still little, she's still going to cry every once in awhile," Scarlett swayed with the baby.
"But I was sleeping!" The exhausted little boy exclaimed.
"I know you were," she sympathized with her son, "Rhett, the dog's at your feet."
He was confused for a moment, too caught up in the sight of Scarlett, her hair brushed into waves that bounced at her shoulder, even though he knew they'd trail down her back if she turned. Her dressing gown was green, not the deep emerald or even kelly that he knew she preferred. A softer lighter green, very near the shade of her eyes without a single stitch of all the flounce and fuss he knew she adored. The shade reminded him of seeing a tree or a field first thing in the morning with a mist in the air. The beauty and the mystery within her eyes, the promise of so much. Somehow in all of the ways that he had seen her, he had never seen her as beautiful as she was in that moment, with her head bent towards Ella soothing her daughter.
"Her toy, it's at your feet," she said oblivious to the moment.
He looked down, sure enough the stuffed dog he'd brought her back from England that was always in her hand or nearby was at his feet. "Is this what you want my pet?" he questioned handing the little girl her toy, which she took desperately from him.
"Not in your mouth sweetheart," Scarlett said removing an ear from her daughter's mouth.
"Mama," Wade whimpered.
"I know darling, I'm sorry. I'll take her to my room."
"You take her," Rhett nodded, regretful he had to lose the sight of Scarlett like this, "I'll get Wade settled again."
"Thank you," Scarlett's eyes had already gone sleepy again and lids were beginning to lower. She said goodnight and used her candle to light another before leaving the room.
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He didn't knock as he went to her door, unwillingly to cause any further disruption to the evening's sleep. Ella had appeared to be settling back down the moment her toy had been returned to her, but he wanted to check on her and see if there was anything he could get Scarlett. Like a drink. He could certainly use a drink and he'd admit to keeping a bottle of brandy in his room if she could use one.
Her room was set below the hallway, just a handful of steps, but it gave him the vantage of seeing her as if she were upon a stage, framed by the posts of her bed, lit only by her candle and his. She was in bed, in her nightgown, it was undone and pulled to the side and Ella's fair hair only obscured part of her mother's breast as she nursed, allowing Rhett to see far more of the alabaster skin than he had in her dresses.
He would wonder later if she was tired, if that was what had held her eyes to his for moments longer than they should have, but they were both still and quiet for a moment before she pulled the bedding up to cover herself.
"Apologies my dear, I was wondering if you needed anything."
"No, I'm fine thank you. Did Wade get back to sleep?"
"He did. I don't believe I've ever seen him so cross."
"Wait until tomorrow."
"His sleep wasn't disturbed that terribly."
"You won't be able to tell that tomorrow," her chagrined response.
He smiled back and hesitated at saying his goodnight. Unsure how such a frantic and fear producing start could have so quickly led to the comfortable ease of the night. A sense of purpose, a sense of knowing he was exactly where he should be with exactly who he should be with. It had begun to solidify in that jail cell or more precisely it had begun the moment she left the jail cell.
Caring for Scarlett. The location didn't matter. The time didn't matter. He imagined the years ahead of him would be far less than the years behind him. The great thrill and the adventures could be left in the past. At times there was a sense of peace to her out in the country, comfortable and secure. Others he could see she was hiding, but moments like this. Moments like this were all he wished for her.
He wanted nothing more than to be closer to it. To walk down the few steps and across the room. To slide off his slippers and robe and climb into bed. To wrap an arm around her shoulder and take the weight of her body into his.
Such a simple thing. Once he'd thought something like that so insignificant. It wouldn't be though. All those small moments, moments just like this one. He imagined they would mean a great deal more than all the moments that came before them.
So he stood for a few moments more.
Thanks for reading!