Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Eight

After the front door was shut, Rhett wanted to throw something. He knew as well as Scarlett did that, he would not be having sweet dreams for a long time. Damn that Bitch! He could hope that she didn't find anyone to give her three hundred dollars. Not a lot of men of the South had that kind of money. Who was he kidding? She would not restrict herself to Southern gentleman. Who was he kidding? She could walk into Belle's and offer herself up for three hundred dollars and she would have more takers than Belle could count. If he was there, he would take her up on her offer even if he wasn't first in line.

Rhett turned to the private that was waiting to escort him back to his cell. He said, "Would you get a message to my lawyer, Eric Saltpeter?"

"Sure, Rhett. What do you need?"

"Tell him that I said, 'Get me the hell out of here.' Thanks."

"I will go as soon as I get you back to your cell."

As Scarlett walked out of the Fire House, she knew he would offer her marriage now to get her. She would make him work for that privilege. She also realized that she would never be able to bring Rhett to heel. It would be enough humbling of him for him to ask her to marry him.

So lost in her thoughts of Rhett, Scarlett hadn't heard Frank Kennedy. She was grateful for the ride home. Even more grateful when she heard him mention that he had five hundred dollars in the bank.

When Scarlett heard Frank say, "Soon Miss Suellen and I will be able to marry."

"Oh Frank. I'm so sorry. I thought she had written you and told you. Suellen has married another man. She has married Will Benteen. He is a man that has been living with us since the war was over. I guess because of how much time they spent together they developed feelings for each other. Last month they went to the courthouse and got married."

Scarlett again thought of growing old, and tears formed in her eyes. If she had been a caring person, she would have felt bad at Frank's expression, but she didn't. That made her feel better. She was not becoming a caring person.

Two weeks later she and Frank were married at the courthouse. When they got to Hamilton House, Scarlett told Aunt PittyPat that she and Frank had gotten married and that they would be living with her from now on. There wasn't much PittyPat could say about it because she didn't own Hamilton House, Scarlett and Melanie did. Furthermore, she had barely been getting by these last few months, therefore she needed someone to support her.

When Mammy was helping Scarlett get undressed that night. Scarlett informed her that she had married Frank, Mammy gave her a disapproving look. Scarlett said, "I don't know why you are looking at me like that. You knew what I was doing this entire two weeks. You have always known what is going on. You have never said a word because you know as well as I do that Suellen would never have given me three hundred dollars to save Tara."

"You are right about Miss Suellen. Yet, it just isn't right."

"I did what I had to do to save Tara. Our home. My mother is buried there. Did you want Emmie Slattery taking mother's position as mistress of Tara? I certainly didn't. That could not be borne. Did you want Pa being thrown out on the street? I certainly didn't," When Scarlett saw the tears in the older woman's eyes. She softened her approach. She did not want to hurt Mammy, but she was not going to allow anyone to sit in judgement of her anymore. She softened her voice and said, "No, you didn't and that is why you didn't say anything these last two weeks. We will be going to Tara tomorrow. You will be remaining there. Careen and Suellen need you."

"Yes, Miss Scarlett. I think that is best."

That night when Frank tried to initiate relations Scarlett said, "We aren't doing that. I don't want any children."

"What about my husbandly rights?"

"What about them? I did that with Charlie, and it hurt too much. So, we only did it once. No, I'm not taking any chances."

"I could divorce you for refusing me my husbandly rights."

"But you won't because you would die of embarrassment if everyone knew I wouldn't have relations with you even once. Besides, if you try, I will tell everyone we did have relations and I don't know why you are lying about it. By the way I need a check for three hundred dollars, or I will have our marriage annul because you couldn't perform your husbandly duties."

The next day, Scarlett, Frank, and Mammy took his buggy down to Clayton County Court House and paid the taxes. Scarlett planned their arrival at Tara for dinner time so she could see everyone's expressions at once. As they were walking in the house, Scarlett said to Frank, "Suellen didn't marry anyone. She had still been waiting for you," Scarlett walked into the dining room, she said, "Congratulate us! We just got married yesterday."

Scarlett enjoyed the look of horror on Suellen's face and the look of shame on Frank's face. Scarlett was a cruel, vindictive woman. Scarlett laughed inside as Melanie tried to turn that awful act into something noble.

Scarlett said, "Ashley, you will have to stay a while longer. I will have to live in Atlanta now that Frank and I are married."

Scarlett enjoyed the agony on Frank and Suellen's faces. She enjoyed the uncomfortableness of Melanie. Melanie was appalled at Scarlett's actions, but she would remain loyal to Scarlett, nonetheless. The shame on Ashley's face is the best. He is feeling shame about his actions in the orchard and about her marriage to Frank like he somehow caused her to marry Frank.

Frank felt like such a fool. He had been hoodwinked by a mere child. He had been taken in completely by Scarlett. He berated himself for at least not checking her story out, but he had been caught up in the excitement that was Scarlett O'Hara pursuing him. He had been such a fool in so many ways not the least being not realizing that someone as sexually exciting as Scarlett would never be interested in him for his sake.

Scarlett left Mammy at Tara and took Prissy with her back to Atlanta. She loved Mammy just as she had loved her mother. Well as much as she could love anyone, but she was tired of people telling her what she could and couldn't do. She didn't have to put up with anyone lecturing her on what was proper and what wasn't now that her mother was dead, and her father was an idiot. Furthermore, Mammy could see too much, and she didn't want anyone knowing what she was doing.

Scarlett would take care of her family for just like Rhett had said the Irish in her wouldn't let her abandon them. Furthermore, she needed someone to take care of the plantation. Someone had to work the land to make the plantation profitable. Or regardless of her love of Tara she would sell it. She wasn't carrying anyone least of all Suellen or Ashley.

Rhett got out of the Fire House on February second. The first thing he did was wire his London attorney that he had obtained his pardon. Scarlett had been absolutely right about his money being under an assumed name. She had also been correct in how much money he had. He had two million. He decided that she was a lot cleverer than he had thought.

Jacob Marley, his London attorney, had wired Rhett a thousand dollars. Rhett was not a man that normally trusted other people. He trusted Mr. Marley because Rhett had put the fear of God into him when he had told the man, "If you try to steal my money, I will hunt you down and torture you. You will be begging me to kill you in the end."

Mr. Marley was a small, timid man and was immediately sure that was what Mr. Butler would do if even a penny came up missing.

Once he had some money, he went to the National Hotel and retrieved his trunks. He had paid off his bill for their stabling of his horse and buggy. He got a suite. As soon as he was in the suite, he had ordered a bath. He was going to get all cleaned up and visit Mrs. Hamilton. He was going to get her to offer herself to him again by promising to buy Tara at the sheriff's auction. He would promise to outbid anyone else. He was hoping that she still needed the money.

Rhett arrived at the Hamilton House in the early afternoon. His hopes were dashed within the first few moments of his arrival at Hamilton House. Uncle Peter had answered his knock. Rhett had said, "Is Mrs. Hamilton home?"

"Mrs. Kennedy has gone down to Mr. Kennedy's store to check on it."

Keeping his emotions in check Rhett said, "Where is Mr. Kennedy's store?"

"2000 Main Street."

"Thank you."

Uncle Peter didn't reply. He just shut the door. Uncle Peter had never liked Rhett Butler because in Peter's opinion he was nothing but white trash even if he did come from one of the finest families in the South. Besides Captain Butler's presence always got Miss PittyPat upset.

Scarlett had sent the clerk to go get some dinner. She had been going over the books at the store. It appeared that everyone in polite society owed Frank. It was amazing that he made as much profit as he had. She would put a stop to that right now.

When Scarlett saw Rhett walk through the door, she thought, 'He got himself all cleaned up. I wonder if he was going to offer marriage or just reoffer a position as his mistress. The second. He still thought he could talk me around especially after my behavior at the Fire House. He looks absolutely absurd in that top hat and cape. I would never have thought Rhett could look absurd, but he does. Where did he think he was going? To meet the queen of England. He looks so incredibly out of place in this dingy store and with me still in rags. I hope he takes his hat off soon or I might laugh in his face. I can't do that. I need to borrow money from him.'

She smiled at him. Rhett smiled back. She said, "I'm so happy they didn't hang you."

"Me too. Why did you marry Frank Kennedy?"

"You know why? He had the three hundred dollars I needed."

"But why did you marry him? Why not just make him the same offer you made me?"

"Silly. He would never accept that offer. That would have been ungentlemanly of him to take advantage of a young girl. He wouldn't have given me the money either. So, I had to marry him to get the money."

"If you had waited, you would have had access to all my millions."

"Millions, is it? Rhett, you have suddenly gotten so much more attractive."

Rhett burst out laughing. After Scarlett realized that she couldn't completely con Rhett she had decided to stop pretending with him. She wanted someone who she could be completely honest with. Well, maybe not completely honest. That would just be stupid to be completely honest with anyone.

Scarlett had to smile every time she looked at Rhett in that ridiculous top hat and cape. It was so hard not to laugh. She had seen in Harper's Bazaar during the war that top hats were coming into style for men, but she never thought she would actually see a man wearing one. The man had no fashion sense.

Scarlett knew that if he did ever offer her marriage, it would simply be to get access to her body. She walked from behind the counter where she had been looking at the books. She gave him a quick hug then linked her arm in his. She said, "Come sit down by the fire. Let's talk about the money you are going to loan me."

"Am I now."

"You know you will. We will have to have a reason for us to continue interacting. Afterall, I am a married woman now. You can't call on me anymore."

"I guess I can't. Maybe I will start calling on Miss Hamilton."

"I knew it. I knew she was really the one you wanted to see during the war," They laughed. She continued, "Besides, you have to atone for not being there for me at the Fire House and your behavior at Rough and Ready."

'I have nothing to atone for."

Scarlett smiled. Yes, she had been right at the Fire House. No guilt whatsoever.