I don't have to go to school until 12:30 today because of testing so I guess I have nothing better to do than post. Like I said before I have been working on this for a while so I already have the first few chapters written, so here is Chapter 3. Please remember to tell me what you think.
-Of course I own nothing.
"Colum look at that beauty over there, the gray one." Scarlett leaned over the rail in excitement.
Colum looked at Scarlett with amusement, "If you are considering riding the hounds I wash my hands of you."
"Riding the hounds, what's that?" Scarlett didn't take her eyes off of the horse when she asked this question.
Colum let out a light chuckle at Scarlett's child-like amazement with the horse. "Have you never heard of fox hunting?"
"Oh Fox Hunting they do that in Virginia, but I've never been. Well, I can always look can't I?" Scarlett too busy picturing herself on the horse in front of her to hear what Colum was saying next.
Colum tapped Scarlett on the shoulder, "Hello Scarlett darling are you listening to me?"
Scarlett snapped out of her daydream, "I'm sorry what were you saying?"
"I was saying that man over there is staring at you quit intently." Colum pointed to a man on the other side of the pen they were standing at.
Scarlett looked to where Colum pointed and was shocked. "Oh dear lord not now!"
"Scarlett what is it? Do you know him?" Colum could tell there was something about the man that upset Scarlett.
Scarlett turned her back on the man and Colum did as well, "Scarlett what is it?"
"It's him, he's here." Scarlett was quickly looking for somewhere to hide.
Colum placed his hand on Scarlett's shoulder. "Scarlett calm down. Now who is it that is here?"
"That was Rhett, he's here." Scarlett looked over her shoulder and her face paled a bit more.
Before Colum could ask what was going on he heard a strange voice call from behind him. "Hello Scarlett. Imagine running into you here."
Scarlett pushed a smile to her face, "Why Rhett it seems you just show up in the most unexpected places this week."
"It seems that way doesn't it?" Rhett smiled sarcastically at Scarlett.
"Please forgive my manners. Rhett this is my cousin Father Colum O'Hara and Colum this is Mr. Rhett Butler." Scarlett decided to play as if Colum didn't know anything about Rhett.
Rhett shook Colum's hand, "It's nice to meet you father. I do believe Scarlett mentioned something about you the other day when I visited."
"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Butler." Colum replied simply.
"I came over here wondering if you would like to join me in the refreshment tent, Scarlett?" Rhett looked at Scarlett.
Scarlett contemplated for a moment, "All right."
Colum realized this was probably a time for Scarlett and Rhett to be alone. "I believe I will continue to look around while you two talk." Colum looked at Scarlett for approval and when he saw it he walked away.
Scarlett took Rhett's offered arm and he led her to the tent. Once inside the tent they settle at a table with a cup of tea for Scarlett and brandy for Rhett.
"Rhett how long are you planning on staying in Ireland?" Scarlett had to know how long she would have to deal with Rhett being around.
"I haven't actually decided yet. I've been here for about two weeks and I have enjoyed it very much. It's a beautiful country. I know realize why you seem to like it so much." Rhett had been in Europe for quit sometime but he felt no need to tell Scarlett that.
Scarlett wasn't happy with his answer but decided to take it. "Yes it is beautiful here but have you ever thought that there is a reason I didn't tell anyone I was here, that maybe I was trying to get away from someone?"
"I can't imagine who that would be, besides I came to look for horses. I heard that Ireland had some of the best horses in the world." Rhett looked at some of the horses as he said this.
"So you came here for horses with no idea you'd run into me?" Scarlett loved horses but she couldn't imagine traveling so far to buy them.
"Well I had heard rumors that you were in Ireland." Rhett knew Scarlett was too level headed to think of going so far just to buy something.
Scarlett thought that maybe Rhett was hiding something or at least not telling her the whole truth. "Where is your wife, didn't she accompany you on this trip?"
"No she didn't." Rhett gave a vague answer.
Scarlett was surprised Rhett would go off and leave his precious wife at home. "Well why not?"
There was a slight sign of grief on Rhett's face. "Anne passed away a few months ago."
Scarlett was completely shocked, she wasn't expecting such a response, "Oh my, what happened?"
"She…uh…she died in childbirth, her and the baby." Rhett tried to hold back his emotions.
"Rhett I am sorry for your loss." Scarlett truly felt awful for Rhett.
Rhett grinned slightly, "Come now Scarlett. You know how I hate liars."
"When I said I was sorry it wasn't about Anne it was about the baby. There were many times when I wished that Anne were dead, I know how much you love children." Scarlett couldn't care less that Anne was dead.
"Speaking of my love of children, what do you say to me taking the children out for a picnic or something?" Rhett missed his step children very much.
Scarlett hadn't been ready for this question, "Rhett I'm not sure that is such a good idea. I don't want you getting their hopes up and then leaving them again. I don't think they would be able to handle it."
"I don't plan on abandoning them again, Scarlett. I want a relationship with them. I love them as if they were my own children. If fact I consider them my own. You can't take them away from me Scarlett." Rhett didn't like the sound of where Scarlett might be taking this.
Scarlett seemed frustrated, "And you Rhett Butler are the one talking to me about not taking children away from someone. You, the one who took my precious Bonnie away from me for months. The precious months that I could have spend with her before she died. So don't you dare sit there and lecture me."
Before Rhett could respond Column returned, "Scarlett I hate to rush you along darling but if we don't leave soon, we'll never make it back before dark."
Scarlett jumped at the chance to leave the awful conversation. "Yes you're right Column. Good bye Rhett." With that Scarlett jumped from her chair and started to walk away
"Wait Scarlett," Rhett jumped up and caught up with her, he wasn't quit ready to end the conversation, "would it be alright if I came by to see the children again before I leave?"
'NO!' Scarlett's mind screamed, "I don't really think that is a good idea. It would only give them false hope. I'll send them your love." With that Scarlett turned again walking away.
Rhett was shocked, he knew she was upset but he hadn't imagined her saying no. He couldn't believe she was denying him the right to see the children. Rhett was finally realizing that he had done more damage than he had thought when he walk out that second time and divorced Scarlett. He realized that if he wanted to get Scarlett back he would have to let go of his pride and just go for it.
