Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Four

Rhett walked to Belle's. He was greeted by a few people, but most people snubbed him. He was used to it. It didn't bother him like getting snubbed in Charleston bothered him. He guessed because these people hadn't known him since he was born then turned their backs on him.

When he entered the saloon, several men greeted him. He saw Moses the bar tender but no Belle. Rhett walked up to the bar and said, "Let me have a whiskey."

"Certainly, Captain Butler. Welcome back. How long have you been gone?"

"A little over a year. We left in April, and it is the last of May now.

"Is Belle in?"

"Belle sold out about two months after you left town. Jim Thornton asked her to go with him to Galveston. Within a week she had sold her half and they had left town."

"Who is Jim Thornton?"

"He is a man from New Orleans. He made a lot of money off the war just like you, Captain Butler."

"How long has she known him?"

"A long time. It seems they knew each other back in New Orleans."

"So close friends."

"I guess so. He would always tell Belle that she was the only reason he would come to Atlanta."

Rhett knew in that moment that he hadn't been the only man in Belle's bed. Of course, he hadn't been faithful to her either, but it annoyed him, nonetheless.

When Jim had asked Belle to run away with him. She was happy to go. Jim was rich, fun, and good in bed. Maybe not as good as Rhett but then again it would be a while if ever that Rhett was back in her bed. Jim hadn't been as attractive as Rhett either, but he wasn't ugly. She decided that Jim was a sure thing while Rhett was definitely a maybe. In addition to that with Rhett knowing about the handkerchief incident he would not be as trusting of her, and he might start really checking the books. No, she had decided to leave town before Rhett discovered her theft. Despite the fact she had made peace with her maker she still wasn't in any hurry to meet Him. She had also decided that Rhett would make her death as painful as possible.

No, she had to make sure Rhett never found out about her having cheated him for the last ten years. At this point she was fairly sure he never would. Either way Rhett would have to find her. She and Jim were not going to Galveston but Denver. Belle didn't think that Rhett would try to track her down, but she had to give out as many false clues as she could. Just like Jim's last name was not Thornton but Upshaw because she had never introduced Jim to anyone, he had never corrected her when she told people his last name was Thornton.

"Who did she sell it to?"

"Leslie Sawyer."

"Who is that?"

"A Yankee."

"Who is running the saloon?"

"Mr. Sawyer."

Rhett took his whiskey and went to sit at a poker table. After playing poker for an hour, Rhett rose to leave. He had found out all the gossip. He loved the fact that men gossiped a lot more than women did. He also was told of several business deals he might be interested in. They probably weren't completely legal. He would have to consider the ramifications of being involved in illegal activity. The legality of making money was never something Rhett had been concerned about until now. He now had to think about how this affected Scarlett and the children.

As Rhett was leaving Moses motioned him over. When he got to the bar, while pointing at a man, Moses said, "That is Mr. Sawyer."

The man looked to be around thirty-five. He was a big man with blonde hair. Rhett walked over and said, "I'm Rhett Butler."

The man turned and said, "My partner?"

"Yes, but I would be willing to sell my half for the right price."

"What price would that be?"

"Five hundred dollars."

"Done. I will get my attorney to draw up the papers."

"I am staying at the National Hotel."

As Rhett walked back to the hotel he was pleased with the offer for his half of the brothel. He could make a lot more money if he held on to the investment, but he was quite sure Scarlett would not like the idea of him owning a brothel despite the fact there was good money in that trade. He was especially glad Belle was out of Atlanta. There was no telling what trouble she might cause him and Scarlett. Belle knew too many of the naughty things he had done that he would rather Scarlett never knew about.

While Rhett was at the saloon, Scarlett had sent a note around to Melanie asking permission to call on her the next afternoon. Within thirty minutes, Melanie was at the hotel. Scarlett and the children went down to the lobby to meet them. Scarlett invited them to have a snack at the restaurant in the hotel.

Scarlett said, "While living in London the children and I got into the routine of having a meal every afternoon. I just had to do it. Sometime those supper parties we attended didn't serve the meal until ten o'clock at night. That is just too long for me to go without eating."

Melanie laughed. Soon they were seated and soon Melanie was holding Genie. Melanie updated Scarlett on everything going on in Atlanta, how Ashley was doing in his job, what Beau was doing, and how close the men were to getting the right to vote back.

Scarlett told Melanie of traveling all over Europe and visiting the landmarks. She spoke enthusiastically about Florence, Paris, and Zurich. She spoke of their life in London. She told her sister-in-law about how much better the medical care was in Europe than in the United States. Scarlett discreetly didn't tell Melanie that the South was so far behind even the North in medical care that it was embarrassing.

Wade and Beau chatted with each other while Scarlett helped Ella feed herself.

While Scarlett and her group were still eating, Rhett returned to the hotel. He saw them in the restaurant, and he joined them. Rhett kissed Scarlett's cheek and Scarlett as always put her hand around his neck to draw him closer. Rhett showed great restraint by not taking Genie out of Melanie's arms. After he was seated, Rhett showed no restraint when Genie reached for him. Scarlett smiled an indulgent smile at him.

Rhett saw the pictures on the table and picked them up while juggling the baby. Rhett picked up the picture of the two of them. He said, "I will have to get a smaller version of this picture to put in my watch."

"I will take care of it, Darling. I will even buy you a new watch."

Rhett said teasingly, "With my money?"

"Of course, Darling."

Melanie then uttered words that Scarlett had hoped would never be uttered again. She said, "Her eyes are as blue as the Bonnie Blue Flag."

Rhett said, "Bonnie Blue Butler. What do you think, my dear?"

"No, Rhett. Genie."

Rhett looked at Scarlett and her anxious face. When Genie reached for Melanie, Rhett handed the child back to the woman. He said, "Of course, Honey. I just thought it was cute."

"Rhett, I don't want to remember anything about the war."

"Then we won't. Genie it is."

"Thank you, Rhett." Scarlett reached out and grasped Rhett's hand. He smiled indulgently down at her, but Scarlett didn't care. He had given her what she wanted. She wanted her daughter to not have the nickname 'Bonnie' because it always reminded her of the war. She also wanted to call her daughter Genie in honor of her genie. The spirit that had helped her change her life for the better. She certainly missed her advice, but she didn't want to tell Rhett about the magic lamp. He would ask too many questions.

Scarlett turned to Beau and said, "I don't want the rest of my fruit. Would you like to have it?"

Beau had said, "Yes, ma'am."

As Scarlett looked at Beau and Melanie, she was pleased to see that both of them were much fatter than they had been a year ago. It looked like Melly had new clothes on. Beau was wearing some of Wade's hand me downs. She guessed that Ashley was finally making enough money to make ends meet. That pleased her very much.

While they were finishing their mid-afternoon meal there was much scurrying around amongst Atlanta's gentry. All the ladies wanted to be the first person to tell someone that Rhett and Scarlett Butler were back in town. There was much discussion about whether anyone was going to call on them. Every woman had declared that they would not call on Scarlett. Not only had she behaved shamelessly while she was married to Mr. Kennedy but her quick marriage to Mr. Butler was not to be condoned by calling on her.

There were several women who felt their husbands would like for them to call on the couple. Afterall the man had saved their husbands' lives. It was finally decided that a select few would call on the Butlers. Fanny Welburn, Abby Baker, Maybelle Picard, and Jenny Bonner but not any of the matrons. They decided to all go together the next afternoon.

While the women were trying to decide about what was the right and proper way to treat Scarlett, the men were talking about how Butler had killed Frank Kennedy and got away with it. They all thought it was strange that Kennedy had gone missing shortly before Butler arrived. They had come to the conclusion that Butler killed Kennedy and then pretended to show up at the scene. One man said, "Butler is one of the best shots in the South. You know he could have killed Kennedy without even getting close to him."

In reality, Rene had found Frank's body about ten minutes before Butler had showed up.

The good women of Atlanta got a rude awakening the next afternoon for Scarlett wasn't going to play nice with them. When a note was sent up to let Scarlett know that the ladies were in the lobby to see her, she sent a note back down telling them that she would not be receiving them. Scarlett was not going to let them snub her. Rhett had burst out laughing when she had. He said, "You have burned that bridge. Did you enjoy it?"

"Yes, I did. Nonetheless, Darling, we will be gone in three months. We are not going to live in the South. I am just here to visit with Melanie and check up on Tara."

Since she had blossomed into a woman practically no other woman had ever liked her. She could count on one hand the number of women who had been her friend. God's Nightgown! Her own sister hadn't even liked her even before her marrying Frank.

The ladies were humiliated by Scarlett's actions and swore to never speak to her again. Of course, not a one of them thought it would matter to Scarlett in the least.

Later that week, Scarlett and Rhett went to see Henry Hamilton. After they were seated in Henry's office, Scarlett said, "Rhett wants Mr. Powe to handle all our legal business. Would you get all my files together so I can take them to him?"

"Of course, Scarlett. It will take me just a minute," After Henry had gathered up all her legal paperwork, he handed it to her. As Scarlett stood up, Henry said, "If Mr. Powe has any questions just have him drop by or send me a note."

"Of course, Uncle Henry."

"When are you going to let Wade visit with his Hamilton relatives?"

"Anytime you want. Just drop by the hotel and I will let you visit in the lobby."

"Maybe you could bring him to Hamilton House."

"Maybe. I will let you know if I decide to do that."

Scarlett knew Henry Hamilton did not approve of her activities during the war, or her running the sawmill, or her marriage to Rhett. She had been tired of him sitting in judgement of her every time she needed his legal opinion. She was moving to Mr. Powe because they would have a strictly business relationship.