Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Thirty-Five
While his wife was still recovering from the birth of his son, Rhett went out and bought a pony for his daughter for her third birthday. Rhett told the children and Scarlett to come out to the backyard. He had a surprise for Vicky. When Scarlett saw the beast standing there she wanted to scream. Ella did scream then Vicky screamed and they both ran back into the house. Scarlett didn't say anything. She just turned around with Kenny in her arms and walked back into the house.
Wade said, "It looks like a fine pony, Dad. I'm sure Vicky will like it once she gets use to it."
"Thank you, Wade. Would you like to be the first to ride the pony?"
Wade had smiled at the way his father had asked the question. He had said it like it was a great honor to get to be first. Not like Wade was the only person still standing there.
For the next month Rhett tried to coax Vicky into riding the pony. He had Wade ride the pony to show her that the pony was safe. Rhett put her on the pony and as long as he kept his hand on her back, she was fine. When he tried to remove his hand Vicky would start screaming immediately which would frighten the poor pony. The pony would start trembling which scared Vicky even more which made her scream louder. Rhett had to quickly remove Vicky from the pony before the horse started bucking. Rhett had promised to buy Vicky a new doll if she could ride the pony across the yard by herself. She wouldn't even try. After a month when Rhett carried Vicky to the backyard, she started screaming and clinging to him the minute they got to the back yard. Rhett had not freed Vicky of her fear of the pony. He, in fact, thought he had managed to make her more frighten of horses.
Scarlett had stood by and prayed that Vicky never lost her fear of horses. She had truly prayed like she hadn't prayed in years if ever. She knew she would not be able to talk Rhett out of this idea because he so wanted their daughter to be a fine horsewoman. She didn't know why but she knew he did.
She was so happy when Rhett finally gave up on the idea. She decided that when Vicky had come back, she had brought a fear of horses with her. Scarlett didn't really understand what had happened, but she was glad Vicky was not going to die jumping.
Rhett bought a buggy and would drive his children around Atlanta in it. Ella was in seventh heaven for she always got to hold Kenny.
The pony became Wade's. Wade discovered there was no place for him to safely ride his pony, so he didn't ride it very often.
After Scarlett was back on her feet, she asked Mr. Jackson to meet her in her office. She sat at Rhett's desk because it was so much more massive and imposing. Mr. Jackson sat on her chair which was tiny, dainty and feminine. Scarlett did not know why she was being so formal with Mr. Jackson or why she felt she had to appear more impressive, but she did. If she remembered she would ask Rhett about it, knowing full well she would forget all about it after this meeting was over. After Mr. Jackson was seated on that miniscule chair that Scarlett was afraid would break under his weight, Scarlett said, "How is Wade doing in his lessons?"
"Wade is doing great. He is a bright boy who is eager to learn. It is a pleasure to teach him."
"And Ella?"
Mr. Jackson said, "She has a quick and nimble brain, but she is easily distracted. She is sweet and eager to learn."
Mrs. Butler smiled. She said, "Ella is the kindest, sweetest, nicest person probably in the world. We are lucky to have her in our family."
"I agree completely."
"Her father wasn't very bright, so I am glad to hear she has a nimble brain." Scarlett was not going to tell Mr. Jackson that she had drunk too much brandy when she was pregnant with Ella. She guessed she should have known but nobody told her not to drink while she was pregnant.
By this time Samuel knew that Mr. Butler was not the oldest two children's father. Rosemary had told him when he had wondered why Wade nor Ella looked like their parents. Samuel would not have known otherwise because Mr. Butler treated them all like they were his children.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Mr. Jackson, are you happy with your position as tutor?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Are you looking for other employment? For I feel my husband pays you a nice salary and provides you with room and board."
"Yes, Ma'am, your husband does pay me a nice salary. I am happy here in your household. I enjoy teaching Wade and Ella and I am looking forward to teaching Vicky. I can tell she is a very smart little girl."
"Yes, she is. Probably too smart for her own good," Scarlett smiled a proud smile. She continued, "I value loyalty above all else. My slaves that did not run away I kept fed the entire year and a half after Sherman marched through Georgia. It would have been much easier for me to have run them off, but I didn't because they stayed by my side. Those four people are still employed by either me or my sister. Thank you for your time, Mr. Jackson. I just wanted to remind you that good paying jobs are hard to find in the South. I believe we treat you very kindly and respectfully."
"Mrs. Butler, I am grateful for this position. You do treat me kindly and respectfully. The pay I receive is consistent with my duties. It would be hard to find a better paying job with the skills that I have."
"See that you remember that. You may go now."
When Samuel left Mrs. Butler's office, he felt like he had just been threatened in the nicest possible way. Samuel had not really lied to Mrs. Butler when she had asked if he was looking for another job. He just hadn't answered the question. Mrs. Butler need not worry that he would leave her employment there were no good paying jobs available with his skills. He could start his own business, but he didn't have the money to do that. No, he and Rosemary would have to remain friends for a while longer.
After Mr. Jackson left her office Scarlett hoped he thought she might fire him if she found out he was looking for another job so he wouldn't look for another job. He didn't know it, but she would never fire him. She wasn't going to tell Rhett about any of this. She didn't know what he would say but she was sure it wouldn't be complimentary.
When June came Rhett took the family down to Tara for a week. They took the pony with them. Rhett could see how happy Wade was at Tara. The girls were happy also but not like Wade. Rhett knew that if Wade had his way, they would live at Tara. Rhett also knew he could never stand to live in the country, so Wade was out of luck.
One night while on the porch, Will and Rhett were drinking their late father-in-law's hooch. Will said, "Let the boy stay for a couple of months."
"I might get her to agree to a month."
"Try. I enjoy the boy being here. It will be his to run someday. Something ain't right with Sue anymore."
Rhett knew that meant that Suellen wasn't able to conceive another child. Rhett said, "It might just take a little longer."
"No, not with Sue. All I have to do is take off my pants."
Rhett laughed and agreed. He probably could get Scarlett with child just by thinking about it.
Rhett said, "I will talk to her about it."
Scarlett gave permission for Wade to spend a month at Tara. When they returned to Atlanta, Scarlett told Mr. Jackson, "You have a month off. I don't think Ella will forget everything she has learned in a month. You can do some more traveling."
Samuel sent Rosemary a telegram that said: Month off STOP Can I come visit STOP
Rosemary's return telegram said: Yes STOP Will arrange your boarding Robert STOP
Samuel's return telegram said: Leaving at six tonight. STOP
Samuel was lucky that Robert liked him and was willing to put him up for a month. Samuel was also lucky that Elizabeth liked him and was willing to give Robert money to cover the expenses of boarding Mr. Jackson. Robert's paycheck barely covered his expenses. He was too practical to even consider turning down the money. Robert knew the money was Rhett's which actually made it easier for him to accept the money. Rhett had made his life more difficult, so he liked getting Rhett's money secretively. He would never accept it if Rhett was ever to try to give him money but if his mother wanted to give him Rhett's money, he would take it. His mother always gave him more than enough money to cover the expense of Mr. Jackson.
Samuel and Rosemary spent the month talking. They did attend some social events. They went to a play, a traveling lecturer, a séance, a musical soiree, and many events in people's homes. Elizabeth chaperoned them at all of these events.
Samuel and Wade returned to Atlanta on the same day. Wade remembered Uncle Will's advice from last time and told his mother how much he missed her. It wasn't a lie. He really had missed his mother.
Mrs. Butler asked Samuel, "How was your time off?"
"It was good."
"What did you do?"
"I traveled."
"Where did you traveled to?"
Right then Samuel knew that Mrs. Butler knew something was going on between him and Rosemary Butler. He said, "I went to Charleston to court a young lady who lives there."
"You have been to visit Rosemary in Charleston?"
"Yes Ma'am."
Mrs. Butler turned around and left Samuel in the foyer with his trunk. He heard her shouting, "Rhett! Rhett!"
Samuel wondered if Mrs. Butler would fire him for courting her sister-in-law. He wondered why. He wondered if he was going to be employed by the end of the day. He hoped he would be. He enjoyed teaching Wade and Ella. They both wanted to learn and they both were respectful. He liked Mr. and Mrs. Butler. They treated him with admiration and courtesy. This was a good position and good positions were hard to find in the South right now.
Samuel took his trunk to his room in the servants' quarters. He unpacked his trunk. When he didn't receive a summons by the time he got in the bed, he decided he was still employed.
He did wonder what Mr. and Mrs. Butler had said to one another. He wondered if his job had ever even been in jeopardy. He wondered if Mrs. Butler didn't think he wasn't good enough for Rosemary. Surely not. He was a gentleman after all.
Samuel would have been shocked to learn that Mrs. Butler liked him too much to even consider the possibility of losing him.
Mr. Jackson's position was never in jeopardy. His romance was. Scarlett had burst into Rhett's office and told him, "You have to break up this romance between your sister and Mr. Jackson."
"How would I do that?"
"Tell Rosemary you don't approve."
"I do approve," Scarlett glared at Rhett. He continued, "Even if I didn't approve of Mr. Jackson calling on her. I have no control over Rosemary with the entire disowning business. If Robert gave Mr. Jackson permission to call on Rosemary which I believe he did, there isn't anything I can do about it."
Scarlett continued to glare at him. She said, "You could threaten to cut off their funds."
Rhett looked at Scarlett and said, "Are you seriously suggesting that I threaten to throw my mother and sister out on the street because a fine, upstanding, socially acceptable man with all his body parts is calling on my sister? A man that I approve of."
Scarlett just gave Rhett a mutinous look. Rhett stared at Scarlett until she finally said, "No."
"Remember, sweetheart, Mr. Jackson has to get a better paying job before they can get married. Don't tell me that you are so hard-hearted that you would break-up a romance just so you won't be inconvenienced. Just so you won't have to find another tutor for your children."
"No, I'm not that cold and unkind."
"I suspect that if we did manage to break them up that Mr. Jackson would quit out of protest."
"Yes, he seems to be the type that would do something like that."
Rhett smiled. The way Scarlett had said that last statement he could tell she didn't think that was a virtue. He said, "So we won't do anything, right?"
Scarlett begrudgingly said, "Right."
Rhett coaxed Scarlett back into a better mood and by the end of the evening he had convinced her that there was no way Mr. Jackson would be able to find a better paying job. Later that night after Scarlett laid sleeping in his arms Rhett wondered if there would always be another man in their relationship. Not that the situation with Mr. Jackson was anything like the situation with Mr. Wilkes but he was not happy with his wife being so overly attached to another man. The only thing that made it tolerable was knowing his wife was hopelessly in love with him.