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Chapter Five

Rhett had gone into Jonesboro a few times to take care of business for Scarlett. He would buy supplies although they were more expensive than in Atlanta it was more convenient. Scarlett would hardly leave the plantation and silly man that he had become he didn't want to be away from her for even a night. She wanted to stay at the plantation and manage the workers and the fields. At night, Rhett had explained to Scarlett what was going on in the South now that the war was over. He explained everything to her in simplistic words especially why it was so important for the men to get the vote back.

Rhett noticed that Mr. Wilkes and Will were not telling the women how bad things were in the outside world, but he told Scarlett everything that was going on. He also explained to her why she should care about what was going on in the outside world.

Soon Rhett knew he was going to have to pry her away from Tara and Mr. Wilkes. He could make a lot of money in Atlanta with the new Republican government. Also, he had picked his last boll of cotton. His hands were in pretty bad shape also.

Rhett knew that since Wade was in bed with them Scarlett wouldn't do anything of an intimate nature, so he let her sleep while he got up to face the day.

Later in the week, Rhett was on the front porch repairing the swing that the Yankees had broken. There had been so many other things that had needed to be repaired that a swing was low on the list. Rhett was fixing it because he wanted to sit in the swing with his wife so they could get away from everyone else who were in the parlor. Besides wanting to avoid Mr. Wilkes, he wanted to avoid Scarlett's sisters. Suellen was always whining about something, and Careen was still so incredibly sad. Rhett had never done well around people who were grieving.

Melanie walked out on the porch and shut the door. She said, "Are you alone?"

"Yes."

Melanie moved so her back was against the house, and she could see if anyone else was around. While not looking at him she said, "Nobody else can hear what I am about to say. He is the one that got away and Ashley gives her just enough encouragement to keep her holding on. He is not the one she loves. She loves you and she would be lost without you. Even if she doesn't know she loves you. She loves me too even though she doesn't know it either. Look at her actions not her words. She stayed in Atlanta for me, and she helped deliver Beau. She got you to get us out of Atlanta. That was for me too. She wanted her mother to take care of me after the birth of Beau. Who does she turn to when she needs help deciding an issue? Who has she turned most of the minor decisions over to regarding the running of Tara and then never questions your decisions? The man that actually has run a plantation or the man who she trusts even if he has no experience in the matter. Who has she pretended to be married to?"

"What? How did you know?"

"Scarlett would have told me in Atlanta if you two had gotten married."

"We are legally married now. We got married in August."

"Good. I have known about Scarlett and Ashley's relationship before Ashley and I got married. India made a point of telling me all about it. I had hoped that Scarlett would have outgrown her crush on Ashley because of her feelings for you. I had hoped that Ashley would realize that his leading Scarlett on was wrong. Ashley so enjoys her worshiping him. I think it also happily reminds him of his life before the war when he was calling on her before we got engaged. As I said for her, he is the one that got away but

"He was calling on her before the war?"

"For nearly two years. Ever since he came back from his Grand Tour. He would read her romantic poetry."

"How do you know that?"

"India told me that she would see Ashley carrying the book when he went to Tara. According to India Scarlett thought he was going to ask her to marry him."

"Who is India?"

"Ashley's sister. Take her away from Georgia. Take her away from the South."

"I will get her into Atlanta before the end of the month."

"That will be good enough for right now. At least, until we move into Atlanta."

As Melanie made to leave the porch, Rhett said, "You knew she didn't love your brother?"

"Yes, my brother would not have stood a chance with the belle of five counties. I guess she married Charlie to spite Ashley. By marrying him she made Charlie's last days happy ones. I also think she would have made Charlie a good wife."

"Why have you not ever said anything?"

"Because I am happy that Scarlett is my sister-in-law. I admire her a great deal. She is so brave, spirited, and has such a joy of living. All the things I lack. I know I would not be alive if Scarlett had not taken care of me. As I said she stayed with me in Atlanta, delivered my baby, and got you to get us out of Atlanta. All things I could never have done if the roles were reversed."

That statement reminded Rhett of the statement Mr. Wilkes had made in the library. Rhett had to agree with both of them. Neither one had spirit or a joy of living.

Rhett said, "I think you sell yourself short."

"Would you have risked your life to just get me out of Atlanta? We both know you wouldn't have. You did it because you love her. You just can't help yourself."

Rhett gave Melanie a chagrin smile and said, "If I could have left her, I would have a long time ago."

With that Melanie left the porch and Rhett let her go. Melanie knew that Ashley loved her, but she was tired of Ashley and Scarlett mooning over each other. She had to get Captain Butler to take Scarlett away thus out of Ashley's world. If Scarlett was in Europe or the North maybe Ashley would see her as something more than his best friend.

Rhett decided to settle for ninety percent of Scarlett's love. He recalled that although Scarlett would always tell Wilkes about their latest crisis usually over the supper table, she would always look at him for the answer to the crisis. He was always the focus of her attention because Scarlett knew he would solve her problem while Mr. Wilkes would not. He was going to follow Miss Melly's advice. He was going to take her on a grand tour of Europe and the United States. At the very least get them into Atlanta while leaving Wilkes here at Tara.

A week later Rhett had been splitting rails with Mr. Wilkes. Rhett had gone to get more branches. He had come upon his wife and Mr. Wilkes. Mr. Wilkes had been spouting off about him being a coward. Scarlett had been defending Mr. Wilkes to himself.

Rhett had entered the clearing. He said, "Honey, what are you doing here?"

Scarlett turned away from Mr. Wilkes. As soon as she saw Rhett Wilkes was forgotten. She cried out, "Rhett! There you are. I came looking for you. You will think of something. Ashley has no suggestions."

Rhett joined her. He said, "Of course I will, Baby. What is the matter?"

"They have raised the taxes on Tara by three hundred dollars. I don't have that money. We don't have that money."

"They can't just willy nilly raise one's taxes. Let me go into Jonesboro and talk to the Yankees and find out why they did this."

"Thank you, Rhett," Scarlett gave him a worshipping look that he would walk over hot coals to see again. "You will fix everything."

Rhett smiled down at her in acknowledgement of her statement. She smiled back up at him with that worshipping look that she usually gave to Wilkes. She had given it to Rhett when he had done something great, but she gave it to Wilkes just for breathing. Rhett knew why Wilkes couldn't give it up. It made a man feel like a million dollars. He said, "I will try. Who told you?"

"Will."

"Let me go talk to him and get all the information he has."

"Of course. Come with me. I left him in my office."

When Rhett saw Scarlett shiver, he grabbed his coat and put it around her. He scolded her by saying, "It is too cold for you to be out here without a cloak or a shawl."

"I know but I didn't want to take the time to go upstairs to get it."

"Baby, you should have. You can't get sick. We would be like a boat without a rudder if you went down."

"Yes, Rhett, you are right. I won't forget my shawl again."

Rhett pulled her to him and said, "Let me give you my warmth."

"Thank you, Rhett."

Rhett knew that Scarlett had dismissed Mr. Wilkes in that moment. She hadn't even told Wilkes goodbye.

As Ashley watched Mr. Butler and Scarlett walk away with Butler's arm improperly around Scarlett's shoulders, he had a wistful expression on his face. Scarlett's husband was his first real competition for Scarlett's affections. He was going to miss her devotion but maybe it was for the best as a gentleman he should not have let the relationship go on as long as he had.

Rhett would have to gently explain to Scarlett about what Mr. Wilkes had meant about him being a coward. Rhett was beginning to agree with Miss Melly. Mr. Wilkes was just the one that got away. Scarlett didn't know it, but Rhett was the one that she needed and depended on. Or maybe she did.

Rhett also decided that there were two Scarletts. There was the belle. A girl that was silly, empty-headed, and a flirt. That was the girl she was around Mr. Wilkes. Then there was the mature woman. A woman that was practical, down to earth, and a survivor. That was the woman that was around him.

When Rhett returned from Jonesboro, Scarlett ran out to meet him. As he got down from the horse he smiled. Scarlett running out to meet him would never get old. He said, "I was able to get them to drop the extra taxes by claiming that the family had been unionist. That we were just trying to survive after everyone else voted to succeed from the union."

"Rhett, we weren't. Jonas Wilkerson was out here while you were gone bragging about how he was going to buy Tara for the back taxes when I failed to pay them. He will tell the Yankees we weren't unionist."

"But can he prove it. No. It would be his word against ours. Normally they would want the patriarch of the family to sign an oath, but I explain to them that my father-in-law was not quite right in the head anymore. I offered to sign the oath but when they found out we got married on August twenty-ninth of sixty-four, they said we would have needed to be married before the war started. I laughed and said we didn't meet until the day the war started. The authorities agreed to drop the extra taxes because even though we were entitled to monetary reimbursement for having been unionist because my father-in-law can't sign the oath, they can't give us the money.

"Rhett, you are so wonderful. You solved the problem."

"Yes, I did. I think but if it comes down to it could you sign that paper if the Yankee's asked you to."

"Yes, to save Tara I certainly could, and I wouldn't be ashamed that I did."

On the drive back from Jonesboro, Rhett had decided that he needed to get into Atlanta. There was money to be made on the Republican government. Now was the best time to be able to get Scarlett to leave Tara. It was a lull in the planting season. He said, "We need to start thinking of moving to Atlanta."

"Why?"

"There is money to be made in Atlanta. Lots and lots of money. I need to make lots of money because my wife has expensive taste."

Scarlett had smiled and said, "Yes, she does."

"You go ahead and move to Atlanta, and I will stay here."

"No, you will move into Atlanta with me. I want my wife living with me so that if I have a need for her in the middle of the night she will be right there."

"Rhett!" Scarlett looked at her husband and she knew by the set of his face, Rhett was not going to budge on the issue therefore she said, "Alright but who will I leave in charge if I move to Atlanta? Pa can't do it."

"I guess Mr. Wilkes."

"No, I want an O'Hara to be running Tara."

"Then it will have to be one of your sisters."

"I guess Careen might be able to do it. Suellen won't do it. She has never liked living in the country and besides, she is soon going to marry Mr. Kennedy."

"Life is getting better in Georgia."

"Not quick enough."

"Baby, I need to explain some things to you. Walk with me."

"Alright."