Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Three

Scarlett had a good time dancing for she did enjoy dancing very much. Rhett Butler was a great dancer which, made it even more fun, but she would only dance the required number of dances that she had to dance. Captain Butler kept bidding on her to dance and Melanie kept accepting for her.

As they had danced, Rhett, with a twinkle in his eyes, asked, "What have you been doing since the last time we met?"

"I got married to Charles Hamilton."

"And?"

"I stayed at Tara while he went to Columbia, South Carolina."

"How did he die?"

"He got the measles. A lot of the boys died from measles and other diseases before the first battle."

"Not a very heroic way to die."

As Rhett walked her back to her booth, she said, "Is there really any grand way to die? Thank you, Captain Butler."

When they danced the next dance Rhett said, "Don't you think we should be on a first name basis considering…."

"Don't speak of it! Ever!"

Rhett laughed. Rhett was finding this girl delightful. Yes, he would certainly enjoy spending time with her in and out of the bed. He did enjoy dancing with her. She was probably one of the best dancers he had ever partnered with.

He said, "I've been in South Carolina also. I have a fleet of six ships running the blockade. I am making a tidy profit."

"Really?"

"Yes, the longer the war continues the better the profits will be."

"I wish I had some money to invest but all Charlie left me was property. I wish I could sell it, but the only thing people will give me for it is Confederate dollars. I want gold."

"You need to find some money. The easiest way to make money is during the destruction of a civilization. The next easiest way is the rebuilding of a civilization."

As Scarlett turned to go back to her booth she said, "Thank you for the dance."

"Mrs. Hamilton, may I call on you?"

"Of course not. You aren't received especially by me."

Rhett found the jewelry donation basket. He convinced the young man guarding the jewelry to let him exchange a five-dollar gold piece for the two wedding bands. Fortunately for Rhett there were only two wedding rings in the basket. He retrieved the rings. He knew how he would get received into the Hamilton household. Rhett now knew the Mrs. Hamilton was a widow. It would be no time at all before he made her his mistress.

When the bazaar was over Captain Butler had escorted the ladies to their carriage. As they got in their carriage, he had handed them their wedding rings and said, "Somethings are too valuable to give up."

Scarlett had been immediately suspicious, but Melanie had been impressed. Melanie said, "Do come to Sunday dinner. Next Sunday dinner, not tomorrow but the one after that. At noon."

Rhett had said, "Of course."

Scarlett had sighed. When Rhett looked at her, he smirked. Scarlett had to be sure he didn't see Wade then she would make sure Rhett Butler never entered their home again.

Scarlett had not received much backlash from the events of the bazaar because Melanie had been the one accepting the dances. Her father was in Atlanta by Friday. He had come to Atlanta to buy the monthly supplies, but his wife had also charged him with the duty of talking to Scarlett about her behavior.

Scarlett met Gerald at the train station in PittyPat's coach Thursday evening.

After they got into the carriage Gerald said, "When Mrs. O'Hara got Mrs. Bonner's letter, she was not happy with your behavior."

Scarlett interrupted to say, "I know what I did was wrong, but Melanie was accepting the dances, so I knew she thought it was alright. We thought of all the money the cause would lose and we felt I couldn't say no. I feel like Charlie would have understood."

"Don't sit there and pretend it was all a sacrifice on your part."

"Yes sir."

"It will be alright because Charlie's sister was the one accepting for you but if I hear any more of this sort of foolishness, I will come up here and bring you home."

"Yes, sir."

"You have to think of Wade now, not just yourself."

"Yes, sir."

"Now let me see a smile," Scarlett smiled. Gerald continued, "We will speak of it no more."

Scarlett gave her Pa her demurest smile and said, "Thanks, Pa."

Scarlett was a different person than the one Rhett had taken advantage of that day over a year ago. In most ways Rhett Butler had shattered all her illusions of the world. She no longer had an idyllic life with men paying homage to her. She was no longer the belle of five counties. She was now a widow with a child. Charlie was dead. She had a bastard child that she prayed that nobody ever knew about especially that unreceived jackass.

She didn't want to admit it, but she was no longer important to anyone especially not Ashley Wilkes. Ashley hadn't loved her enough to marry her. It didn't matter why the bottom line was he hadn't loved her enough. In fact, she now hated Ashley for he had trifled with her affections. He had led her on with all his romantic poetry reading. He knew that he had been leading her on. She knew because of what he said in the library. He had said, 'I never at any time said or did anything to lead you to believe I was courting you.' She had thought, 'Except call on me every week and act like a suitor.'

Scarlett knew she would never be that carefree, naive child she had been the day the war had started. The one good thing was that she could stop pretending to be stupid. She could finally let her intelligence show. She was going to find a way to profit from this war. She wanted to be rich. She wanted to be able to leave the South and move far, far away if misfortune befell her and someone found out about Wade. She wondered if that unreceived jackass would tell anyone that they had relations. She decided yes if he could benefit from it. That was a wild card that she couldn't do anything about so she wouldn't think about it.

Friday morning Rhett saw Scarlett and an older man walking down the street. Scarlett had her arm linked with the man's and was laughing at something he was saying. Rhett immediately knew who the man was and why he was in Atlanta. Mr. O'Hara was here in Atlanta to tell him to stay away from his daughter. Rhett had to decide if he would try to avoid Mr. O'Hara or make himself available to him but he did follow the couple with his eyes from where he was standing at the entrance to the National Hotel. Rhett decided that if he saw them again, he would invite Mr. O'Hara to have a drink with him at The Painted Lady. Without noticing Rhett began to follow them. When he recognized what he was doing he told himself it was just because he was curious where they were going. He then saw them walk into a two-story building. Rhett continued walking down the street and passed the building where he saw a shingle in front. The shingle said, "Henry Hamilton Attorney at Law." Rhett was wondering if they were going to see the lawyer on Scarlett's account or her father's. He continued walking around the city. He needed to head back to Charleston soon he needed to bring in some more goods.

Scarlett and her father had gone to see Henry Hamilton on both of their accounts. Scarlett had managed to convince her father he needed a will by using Charlie as an example of an unexpected death. Gerald O'Hara knew his daughter was a lot smarter than she led people to believe. After all he had known her all her life. He had known her before she understood that women were not supposed to be smart. Since her marriage and the subsequent death of Charlie she had become a lot more practical than people would think a seventeen-year-old girl could be. Case in point her demanding he draw up a will. He also knew she was selfish, self-centered, vain, and too proud for her own good. He told Mr. Hamilton that he wanted to leave everything to his eldest daughter Katie Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton except one thousand dollars to each of his other daughters. He knew she would take care of everyone else. She was a natural born leader and a rather good one when she used her charm instead of trying to bully people. The only thing that disappointed him about his eldest daughter was her lack of a maternal interest in his grandson.

An hour later when Scarlett and Gerald left the lawyer's office, she had her father's will in her reticule. She wanted to keep the will, so it didn't get lost. She would get a small strong box and she would put Pa's will in there. As they were walking back to the Hamilton House, they crossed paths with Rhett. They stopped and Scarlett introduced the two men. Gerald said, "I remember you from the Wilkes Barbeque. You had a very unpopular opinion that day. It is good to know you are doing your part for the cause."

Rhett said, "I will continue to help the cause as long as it is profitable to me."

"We need to get together later and have a drink and talk about that. Where can I meet up with you?

"I will be at The Painted Lady later this evening playing cards."

"Good. Where is that located?"

"In Five Points. It is on Mission Street."

"I feel like playing poker tonight also. I will see you then."

Rhett looked at Scarlett and Gerald and said, "Until we meet again." He then walked off.

After supper as Gerald was getting ready to go to The Painted Lady, Scarlett asked him for his money. Gerald said, "Puss, I am an excellent poker player. You remember me telling you that is how I got Tara was in a poker game."

Scarlett smiled and said, "Yes Pa I know that is how you got Tara, but you didn't actually win it fair and square. You got that fool who owned it drunk and he foolishly bet Tara on a rotten hand."

Gerald smiled at his daughter and said, "So I have told you that story. It seems I gave you too many details. But don't worry I can drink anyone under the table."

"No disrespect Pa but you are at least twenty years older now and there may be a man who can drink you under the table now."

"You think Captain Butler can drink me under the table?"

"Yes, I do."

"I don't need my daughter telling me what to do. I am a grown man, and I am not a fool. You will find almost all of my money in my carpet bag." Gerald smiled and walked out the door.

Scarlett smiled and watched him go. She did find over a hundred dollars in her Pa's carpet bag. She felt better then. She knew her Pa was going to get drunk, but she didn't want him losing the money for the supplies.

Gerald found The Painted Lady and Rhett was sitting at one of the tables playing cards. Gerald ordered a whiskey and waited for a seat to come open. When the hand was over Rhett said, "Sam, get up and give my friend your chair. You can lose your money tomorrow night." Everyone around them laughed. Gerald sat down and found out what rules they were playing by.

He then anted and turned to Rhett and said, "For the most part Katie Scarlett can take care of herself but if you bring shame to her, I will not call you out I will just shoot you in the back. Trust me. I am not a gentleman. I am just pretending to be one." He then laughed.

Rhett knew he wasn't kidding and said, "I understand, sir."

They then proceeded to drink and play poker the rest of the night. Rhett had told Belle to pretend that she didn't know him, so Gerald was none the wiser about their relationship. It wasn't the first time Belle had pretended she didn't know a man and it wouldn't be the last time.