Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Fourteen

After Scarlett had been attending sewing bees and committees for a week, Mrs. Meade made a comment about Scarlett inviting Bullock into her home, Scarlett said, "I didn't know who he was. Rhett told me to put him on the guest list and I did. I thought he was one of Rhett's business partners."

Mrs. Elsing said, "Fellow crooks you mean."

Mrs. Meade looked at Mrs. Elsing and said, "True. Captain Butler doesn't mind doing business with that slime."

"Rhett is now not going to do business with Republicans and Scallawags anymore."

"Making money explains why Captain Butler associated with that white trash but why did you, Scarlett?"

"They were fun. After the war years, starving for eighteen months, working extremely hard to build up my sawmills.."

Fanny Welburn interrupted to say, "Acting like a man."

Scarlett ignored her and continued, "I just wanted to have fun. I know how foolish that was now. Rhett and I both have seen the error of our ways. We won't be associating with them anymore."

"We will see."

"Mrs. Meade I now know the value of a good reputation," Here Scarlett put an embarrassed look on her face. She continued, "That was why I convinced Rhett that for the sake of our children we had to behave like a proper Southern gentleman and lady."

Mrs. Merriwether said, "It will be a cold day in Halifax before I ever receive that traitorous Rhett Butler in my home."

"As I told you Mrs. Merriwether, in the end Rhett joined the Confederate army."

"Yes, you did tell me that, but I don't believe you."

"How can I prove that to you."

"Tell me who he served under."

"I will ask Rhett about it and let you know."

On the way back to Melanie's home, Melly said, "Ashley is so much happier with his job as a law clerk."

"I'm glad. He was like a fish out of water as the manager of a sawmill. Not that I regret giving him the job for it kept you two in Atlanta."

"Do you know that he rarely talks to anyone at work?"

"Really."

"The only person he talks to is Mr. Gibson."

"It certainly is a better fit for him."

"He has gotten a couple of raises."

"You and Ashley and the rest of your family must come to Christmas dinner at the mansion, even India."

"Alright."

That night in the family parlor, Scarlett did ask Rhett, "Where did you serve when you were in the Confederate army?"

"The artillery. The regular artillery not the militia artillery. Why?"

"When I told Mrs. Merriwether again that you had served in the army, she didn't believe me. When I asked her how I could prove it to her, she said to tell her your commander. I guess she plans to write him and ask him about you."

"My commander was Colonel Carrollton."

"How did you get in the artillery instead of the regular army?"

"When they found out that I had gone to West Point although I didn't graduate, they put me in the artillery. Which is probably why I survived the war with all my body parts."

"I'm so glad you did. Some of your parts are very dear to me," Scarlett then blushed. She said, "Why did you get expelled from West Point?"

"I got very drunk."

"Why did you get expelled for that."

"It is against the rules to have alcohol at the academy. Just getting drunk caused them to expel me."

Scarlett's eyes got big, and she said, "Did you know that would happen?" With Rhett's nod, she said, "Why did you get drunk? You never get drunk."

"It was right after I found out that after graduation, I had to serve in the army for five years. That was not for me."

"Why did you go in the first place? It doesn't make any sense. You were the oldest son therefore you would have inherited the plantation. Usually, it is the second son that goes into the army or becomes a lawyer or a doctor."

"My father thought the discipline would do me good. When I refused to go, he threatened to disown me. So, I went. Robert went to West Point also but after I was disowned, he didn't go back because he then was the heir apparent."

"Did your father know you would have to spend five years in the army?"

"I don't know. If he did, I'm sure he thought that discipline would do me good also. He probably thought he would live long enough for me to take over after I got out of the army."

"I guess you showed him."

Rhett smiled and said, "I certainly did. I am going to go to the bank every afternoon and help southerners with their financial needs."

"Are you going to get an office?"

"No, I am going to get a desk and just put it on the main floor. Everyone will be able to see me, and I can see everyone. I will then know if someone needs help."

"That's smart. You are so smart about financial things."

"Thank you, Dear," Rhett wondered if he would ever not be thrilled when Scarlett paid him a compliment. Probably not because she so rarely did it. Not because she didn't think him wonderful, but because she never felt any need to tell him or as she would say flatter his conceit. He continued, "I am also going to start taking the children for a walk in the park when the weather permits."

"Are you going to try to get Genie to soften the matrons' hearts?"

"She is a very charming little girl."

"Of course, she is. She gets it from both sides."

"When was the first time you told Mrs. Merriwether about my service?"

"When she tried to talk me out of marrying you."

"That old busybody. I'm certainly glad you didn't listen."

"Unfortunately, I wasn't very polite at the time. I told her a bunch of stuff and finished it off by saying I would marry you even if you had fought for the Yankees. I just never thought we would ever care about getting received again. You are right, Dear, us getting received again will be doing the impossible."

"If anyone can do it, it will be us. Us and our very charming daughter."

"Let's retire."

Since it was only eight thirty Rhett knew why they were retiring, and sleep had nothing to do with it. Nonetheless, he was very happy to retire at eight thirty. He was also incredibly happy he had quit smoking. He needed every bit of stamina he could get to keep up with Scarlett.

Later in the week when Scarlett saw Mrs. Merriwether at another committee meeting, she told the older woman the information Rhett had given her. The older woman said, "I am going to write him this afternoon. When he writes back denying Captain Butler ever served under him, I will be sure and show you the letter so you will know that your husband is a liar."

"My husband is not a liar." Which Scarlett knew was a lie. Rhett was an extremely good liar. After all he had been lying to her most of their relationship. She didn't think he was lying to her now, but she also knew that if he didn't want to tell her something he would just lie about it. His conscience was a flexible thing. So was hers so she wasn't going to judge him for that flaw. If it was even a flaw.

The women of society were not warming up to Scarlett and she knew it would be exceedingly difficult to get them to ever happily receive her, but they weren't shunning her either. These same women had not liked her even before she had run a sawmill or married Rhett. She knew Fanny still blamed her for Tommy's death, but she hadn't asked any of the men to go avenge her honor. Honor again was inconveniencing her life. Rhett just had to get himself received again for the girls' sake.

Rhett did start taking the children for a walk in the afternoon after Wade got home from school. Although the ladies of society would not speak to Rhett they did smile at the children. When Ella and Genie said 'hi' the ladies would smile at the little girls and say 'hi' back.

Hi was one of the few words Genie would say regularly. That and Dada, Ella, Wawa which they had decided was Wade, and Mama. Nobody knew if Mama was Scarlett or Mammy or both of them.

After a while even Wade started saying 'hi' to the ladies. The children were always smiled at, and the greeting returned. Rhett stood back and let his children take center stage. Yes, Genie was incredibly charming but now that Wade and Ella felt safe and secure in their worlds Rhett was noticing that his stepchildren were charming also. Not as charming as Genie but as charming as their mother.

Rhett started attending the Democratic Party meetings which were held at Linden's General Store. As he walked through the door every man in the room stared at him. Ashley Wilkes came over and greeted him by saying, "Are you interested in joining the Democratic Party?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then come with me and we will get you a whiskey. The first fifteen minutes is spent socializing then we will sit down and talk about what needs to happen in the next several months so we can get the Democrats back in power."

Sam Baker, one of the men whose life Rhett saved, came up and said, "Welcome. We are always looking for fresh new ideas."

All the men whose lives Rhett saved spoke to him while the rest of the men were looking at him with wariness which didn't surprise Rhett. Up to seven months ago he had been a Scallawag. It would take them a while to accept that this tiger had changed his stripes. Of course, he hadn't really changed his stripes, he was just pretending to change them for Genie's sake.

At around nine the meeting broke up. As Rhett got on his horse to ride back to the mansion, he reflected on how surprised he had been that Mr. Wilkes had greeted him so warmly for he knew the man hated him as much as Rhett hated Mr. Wilkes. He guessed Mr. Wilkes wanted Rhett's money to spend on their political causes also. What a hypocrite. Rhett then smiled and thought so am I.

As Rhett rode home he thought, 'Genie is worth it. Genie is worth it.' When he walked into the parlor and saw Scarlett smiling at him, he thought, 'You are such a fool. To be going through all of this just so she doesn't have to move away from that piece of dirt she loves. Fool or not I will do anything just to make her happy.'

Scarlett said, "How was it?"

"Horrible."

"Are you going to go back?"

"Of course, I am going to go back. I will keep trying for a year then maybe I will be able to convince you to move to New York."

"Thank you, Dear."

"Come along. We are going to retire, and you can thank me properly. You can do that thing I always enjoy."

"What specifically are you talking about? You enjoy all of it."

"Ah, Baby, I certainly do especially with you."

Scarlett giggled and took Rhett's hand.

Scarlett invited the Wilkeses and the Hamiltons to her home for Christmas dinner. Everyone accepted. Probably because Melly browbeat them into it. Also, because the older Hamiltons knew that the only way they were going to see Wade was through Scarlett. Neither PittyPat nor Henry thought very much of Scarlett, and they thought even less of Rhett Butler but nonetheless Scarlett had custody of Wade Hamilton. Therefore, the only way to get access to the boy was through them.

Scarlett had invited Suellen and Will to have Christmas dinner with the Butlers, but the Benteens had turned her down. Scarlett was fine with that. She had only invited Suellen to dinner so she could show off her mansion.

The Christmas dinner was good and there was a lively conversation about politics and the ladies' committees. Scarlett looked at Ashley and he was almost the man he was before the war. She knew now that she had only wanted him because he was handsome and such a great catch. Later she had only wanted him because he was the one that got away. She turned and looked at her husband and was so glad Ashley had turned her down no matter what his motives were.