Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Eleven

Scarlett walked back to the gathering and spoke politely to the guests. There wasn't much food put out because Scarlett wasn't going to waste money feeding other people.

After everyone had left Scarlett called her sisters into her mother's office and showed them Pa's will. Suellen said, "You always were the favorite."

Careen said, "Do you have any money to give me for a dowry to the Catholic church?"

"No. You can pretend to be a nun right here in Clayton County. You can wear somber clothes, read your bible, and run around the county doing good works."

Neither sister knew for sure if Scarlett was mocking their mother or not because that was exactly what their mother had done.

Suellen said, "Are you going to continue sending money to support Tara?"

"For a while but it does have to become self-sufficient. I am not going to support you all forever."

"What about our aunts?"

"They have no place else to go. Go on now. I need to look at the books."

Ten minutes later, Will stuck his head in the door and said, "Suellen and I will get married at the courthouse when I take you back into town.

"Fine."

Ten minutes later Ashley walked into the office, he took a seat on the sofa. She held up her hand so he wouldn't speak. Finally, she looked at him and said, "What can I do for you, Ashley?"

Ashley was staring at his hands. Finally, he said, "I need to borrow ten dollars so my family and I can get to New York."

"No. I don't think New York is right for you. You need to come to Atlanta with me."

"Scarlett, you and I should not be in the same town together. Who knows what will happen?"

"Nothing is going to happen between us again. I love Melly too much to ever betray her that way unlike you. Speaking of Melly, I think she would wither up and die in New York. She needs to be amongst her people. Her people live in Atlanta. I will get Frank to give you a job as a clerk. You and Melly can return with me this afternoon. Go pack your bags."

Ashley slunk off. This was his only choice. He was living on Scarlett's charity. He had to do what she said. And she was right. Melly would wither up and die in New York.

Ten minutes after that Melly came to Scarlett's office. Scarlett thought, 'One more interruption.'

Melly said, "Scarlett, you are so wonderful. Ashley said we aren't going to New York because you need him in Atlanta."

"Yes, I do. Now go pack your clothes. Oh, just for your information, Frank and I don't share a bedroom because his snoring is awful."

"That is fine, Darling. Ashley and I can share a bedroom."

"Wonderful!"

Five minutes later Eulalie and Pauline were in the office. Eulalie said, "Dear, now that your father is dead. Can Pauline and I have the master bedroom?"

Scarlett was amazed at the audacity of her aunts. They were the poor relations that were living off the O'Hara's charity and they thought they should be entitled to the biggest bedroom in the house. She said, "No, the master and mistress of Tara will sleep in the master bedroom. That will be Will and Suellen. They are getting married this afternoon."

"Our room is so tiny for the two of us."

"At least you have a room. Now get out of here. I must finish the books."

Twenty minutes later Scarlett was finally ready to leave for Atlanta. Before everyone got in the wagon, Scarlett pulled Will aside and said, "You and Suellen move into the master bedroom tonight. Don't let my aunts' guilt Careen into giving up her room. Those old hags should be grateful we took them in and not demand more."

Will didn't know what had happened with the old women, but he agreed with Scarlett completely. The old women still acted like queens while in truth they were unwanted and unhelpful poor relations.

The group rode into Jonesboro. Most people had to ride in the back of the wagon, but Scarlett made room for Melly on the buckboard. She said, "Melly, it is just too rough for you to ride that way."

Of course, Melly had Beau sit on her lap. It was rare that Melly let the boy get too far from her. He was just too precious to her.

The group went to the courthouse to see Will and Suellen get married. It was a simple ceremony. Scarlett saw how excited Suellen was and was happy for her. Scarlett knew that Suellen thought all her cares were going to be over now that she was married. Scarlett knew that Suellen had a rude awakening ahead of her but at least Will was a nice man who bathed regularly. She had not believed it when Frank told her that he rarely bathed because bathing made one sick which might be true in his case because Frank did get sick every time he took a bath.

After the service was over Will and Sue returned to Tara to begin their new life. The Wilkes and Scarlett got on the train to Atlanta. The ladies chatted happily about what the room assignments were going to be once they got to Hamilton House. Ashley said, "It won't be for very long. We will soon get our own house."

Melly said, "It would be cheaper for us to stay at the Hamilton House, Darling."

"That is true, but I want you to be mistress of your own house for the first time in your life. It will not be as fine as Twelve Oaks, but you will make it lovely."

"Thank you, Ashley"

Scarlett knew the real reason Ashley didn't want to live at Hamilton House. Living in the same house would be too much for his libido. She looked at Ashley and smirked. Ashley blushed.

They got to Atlanta a little bit before four. As they arrived, Rhett was leaving Atlanta. He greeted the group. He was gratified to see how disappointed Scarlett was in his departure. She said, "Where are you going?"

"To Chicago."

"When will you be back?"

"In time for our business meeting Thursday," Scarlett gave him her pleased smile. He said, "I must board the train. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Rhett."

The entire time Scarlett was questioning Rhett he had been smiling at her indulgently. She was the only person who he would allow to quiz him in regard to his movements.

While Rhett was on the train, he decided to give Mr. Kennedy another year before he helped the old man to the other side.

The next Thursday when Rhett arrived at the Hamilton House, he found the Wilkes were living there. Supper was particularly good, and the conversation was entertaining. In the parlor, Melly said to Rhett, "Do you know what our Scarlett did?"

Rhett was always amused when Melly referred to Scarlett as their Scarlett. He said, "No, what?"

"She wouldn't let Ashley move to New York. She got Frank to offer him a job in his store."

"What were you going to do in New York, Mr. Wilkes."

"I had a friend who I went on my Grand Tour with whose father owns a bank. They were going to give me a job as a teller. I was hopeful it would lead to something better."

"Mr. Wilkes, I am a part owner in the First Atlanta Bank. I will go by tomorrow and secure you a position at that bank as a teller."

"That would be very nice, Mr. Butler."

"Think nothing about it. I am quite fond of your wife and would like her to stay in Atlanta."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"Now I must take my leave."

"I will walk you out, Rhett."

When they got to the door, Rhett said, "Where are you going to be tomorrow?"

"Selling lumber, the same thing I do every day," Rhett looked at her. She sighed and said, "I will be at the town square around eleven."

"Until then." He kissed her and walked out the door.

Frank had seen Rhett kissing Scarlett. He knew then that they were having relations. If Scarlett came up pregnant, he would tell everyone that she was a whore and that the baby was Butler's. He had just about had enough.

Frank had come to Scarlett's room that night. He said, "I think as your husband I am entitled to my rights."

"No."

"I know you are having relations with Butler."

"No, I'm not."

"I could divorce you for this."

"But you won't."

"Come on, Sugar. Just once."

"No and don't call me Sugar. Please leave. Your stench is permeating my room."

Frank left in a huff. He was extremely angry. He had no proof. The shame would ruin him. It was bad enough everyone thinking Scarlett was having relations with Butler, but it would be ten times worse if everyone knew for a fact they were. The worst part was Butler would just take Scarlett away from the scandal. He would be left to deal with the outfall. Everyone would be looking at him with pity. He also knew that Suellen had actually married Will Benteen. There would be nobody for him. He had never understood why Suellen had loved him, but she had. He had betrayed her. That shame would be with him always.

Scarlett didn't think twice about Frank's behavior. He whined about his marital rights just about every two weeks. Scarlett was really getting tired of Frank. She wished he would do her a favor and just die.

The first thing out of Rhett's mouth the next day was, "Why didn't you let him go to New York?"

"Because he would have taken Melly with him."

"Are you that fond of Melly."

"Yes."

"And?"

"That's all."

"Neither you nor I will do anything for anyone unless we expect to benefit from the act. Spill it, Dear."

"I saved Melly's life after Beau was born with your help, of course."

"Which I have not been compensated for."

"You negated the value of the act by deserting me at Rough and Ready."

Rhett shook his head and said, "Go on."

"I let her and Beau live at Tara for an entire year before Ashley returned from the war. Then I let the entire Wilkes family stay at Tara for almost another year. Now she will be eternally in my debt. She will be constantly defending me to the matrons and you too to a lesser extent."

"You are right. Not that I care what the matrons say."

"I don't really care either but if I am going to live in the South I want to be received in the South."

"You know we don't have to live in the South. We could live in Paris. Come. Run away with me."

"No, I still don't want a passel of brats."

Rhett burst out laughing. He said, "I missed my opportunity for you to ever be my mistress, didn't I?"

"You know you did."

"Alright. Let me go get Mr. Wilkes a job."

"Goodbye. I must go home for dinner."

"Goodbye."

After Rhett got Ashley a job as a teller Ashley's mood seemed to brighten. He and Melanie rented a house behind the Hamilton House. It was a little squat house, but it was big enough for them. Most important Ashley could afford it on his salary.

One day at the end of August Rhett and Scarlett ran into each other. They talked for a few minutes. Rhett said, "With any luck Frank will get himself killed because he is in the clan."

Scarlett stared at Rhett. Finally, she said, "That stupid, foolish, lying bastard. He is putting everything I have worked for at risk."

"I thought you knew."

"He swore he wasn't. That is what his political meetings are. Clan meetings."

"Yes."

"Rhett, I am no fonder of the freed people than anyone else but why risk everything we have worked for. Why bring the Yankees down on us?"

"Hell, Baby, I still don't understand why the South seceded from the union in the first place?"

"Tell me what you are talking about."

Rhett explained everything to her. She said, "Why is getting the vote back so important?"

"The best way to explain it is like this. The people who made the decision whether to leave the union or not were people that the good men of the South elected to office."

"They were stupid fools, but I understand what you are saying. The only way we are going to get the Yankees out of Georgia is by getting the vote back."

"Yes."

"Alas, I have to go sell some lumber."

"Good luck. I will see you Thursday."

"I am going to be in a bad mood the rest of the day knowing that Frank is jeopardizing my future."

"Would you rather I had not told you?"

"No, Honey, how do you know?"

"Captain Jaffrey is watching all the political groups."

"Thanks," She started to reach out and put her hand on his arm, but she quickly shoved her hands behind her back. She said, "Goodbye, Baby."