Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Four

Later that night Scarlett heard two men in the street singing "Peg in a Low Backed Car." She jumped up and put on her dressing gown and ran down the stairs. In front of the house was her Pa and Mr. Butler. She shushed them. Scarlett hissed at them, "If you wake Wade up you will see the full force of my Irish temper. Pa, get in this house and go in the parlor."

When Scarlett realized her father couldn't walk straight, she allowed Rhett to help her father into the parlor.

After Rhett had placed Mr. O'Hara on the settee in the parlor he asked, "Would you like me to help you remove his boots?"

"No! He has slept in them before. Just leave."

Rhett turned to her and smiled and said, "I will see you Sunday for dinner."

"Just leave."

"When did Mr. Hamilton pass away?"

"July 4th. Leave."

As Rhett walked to the door, he said, "Independence Day." The way he said it was with a double meaning.

Scarlett smiled and said, "Cute. Now go!"

After Rhett had left Scarlett locked up the house and when back to bed and quickly back to sleep. Rhett was not so lucky. Thoughts of Scarlett in and out of that wrapper kept him awake most of the night.

The next morning Gerald did not feel particularly good, but he got himself up, ate breakfast, washed, and changed his clothes. Uncle Peter was going to take him to a general store and then Gerald would walk to the train station. As he was leaving, he said to Scarlett, "I told Mr. Butler that if he brought shame to you, I would kill him," Scarlett nodded her head. Gerald continued, "I was not joking when I said that if you do something else inappropriate, I will come and get you. I will make you return to Tara where you can live out the rest of your life until you learn to behave properly. There are lots of people in Atlanta that will keep Mrs. O'Hara informed of your behavior. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Pa. I will behave."

"You are my daughter. You are a spirited lass and at times it is hard for you to behave properly. It was the same for me at your age. If I had practiced more self-control, then I wouldn't have had to leave Ireland. It has all worked out for me but there are no guarantees that it would work out for you. People were more forgiving when you were a young girl but now you are widow, and more is expected of you. As I said you are a mother, and you have to think about Wade now."

"Yes, Pa. I will behave as a mature woman."

"That's a good girl. Give me a hug. Come see us soon. Your mother misses you."

Scarlett smiled and said, "I will."

Gerald left to buy his supplies and catch the train to Jonesboro.

Scarlett sighed after her father left the house. Yes, she was her father's daughter. It was more than she had his jaw line and his nose. She had his temperament. Pa was right if she had practiced more self-control and had behaved properly the day the war started, she would not be in her current predicament. She just had to pray everything worked out for her also.

Rhett Butler did come to the house for Sunday dinner. Wade was just six months old and was still taking all of his meals in the nursery. The conversation was pleasant with Melanie and Aunt PittyPat doing most of the talking. If Rhett asked Scarlett a direct question she answered it, but she really didn't participate in the conversation. She hated this man with every fiber of her being. It was his fault that she now had to behave like an old woman instead of the young girl she was. She wanted him out of her house and out of her life.

Judging by the cold shoulder Scarlett was giving him Rhett was going to have to figure a way to insert himself into her life. As he thought about it, he came up with a plan.

After Sunday dinner, Rhett asked to speak to Scarlett privately. She refused and said, "No, it would not be proper for us to be alone."

Rhett smiled and said, "We can go on the porch. We will be alone, but your virtue will be safe," As Rhett looked at the glaring face of Scarlett he continued, "I have a business proposition."

"Alright."

After they were on the front porch, Rhett said, "Do you still want to invest in my shipping business?"

"Yes, but I still don't have any money just property."

"Maybe we can come to a business arrangement."

With doubt and skepticism in her voice Scarlett said, "Go on."

"I will loan you some money using your property as collateral."

"Collateral?"

"Something of value that you give to me in case you don't pay off the loan."

"How much will you lend me?"

"Tell me about the properties."

After Scarlett had finished telling him about her properties Rhett had said, "I will lend you a hundred dollars against those properties. We will make it an arrangement between friends. I must leave to go to South Carolina. When I get back, I will call on you."

"No, you will not be allowed to call on me. You are not received."

Rhett laughed and said, "You do want to be part of my shipping line?"

"Alright I will receive you."

Rhett smiled and said, "I will see you when I return."

"Yes, fine. Now leave."

Rhett left a few days later to return to South Carolina and then on to Paris. Rhett was planning the seduction of the enticing Mrs. Hamilton. He knew what he would do he would buy her a pretty green hat.

Two weeks later Scarlett went to Tara for a month visit. She knew she had to convince not only her father but her mother that she would never do anything that outlandish again. No matter what. She enjoyed being in Atlanta because it was more fun than Tara therefore, she had to calm her parents' uneasiness about her behavior. Furthermore, her parents wanted to spend time with Wade. He was there only grandchild after all.

There were more social events happening in Atlanta than in Clayton County. There were single men at the hospital she could flirt with and who would entertain her. She also like Melanie. She was nice and she was fun in a quiet way. She talked in a way that Scarlett could understand even when she was talking about something Scarlett knew nothing about. Most of all Melly love taking care of Wade. She thought that was good for Wade. She did love the boy after all he was her son, but she was still working at getting close to the child because of who his father was.

Yet when she was packing her trunk to go back to Atlanta when her mother suggested that she leave Wade at Tara, Scarlett point blank refused. She said, "I would die if I didn't have Wade with me." And Scarlett knew it was true.

On the train the next day she smiled at the boy as he sat in Prissy's lap. He immediately smiled back. The smile made her happy and scared all at the same time. Happy to see the smile. Scared because she didn't recognize the smile which meant it must be from Jackass's side of the family.

Scarlett and Melanie worked at the hospital. Scarlett had a hard time dealing with the severely wounded, so she spent her time with the soldiers that were on the mend. She did flirt a little with them but not so much that Mrs. Meade or Mrs. Merriwether would think she was being fast. Scarlett was very proper these days. She didn't want anyone talking about her or looking at her life too closely.

Scarlett was grateful that Melanie loved spending time with Wade. She loved him but there was only so much time she could spend with him. She did marvel at all his accomplishments after Melly pointed them out. Scarlett wondered how Melanie knew so much more about children than she did. She knew that Melanie was baby crazy, and Scarlett guessed that explained it.

Rhett returned after about four months. He came to call, and Scarlett received him. It was November. She had been out of deep mourning long enough that there was no question on if it was proper for him to call on her. The ladies of polite society were so happy to welcome him into their homes because he was a war hero. Scarlett found it highly amusing since she knew for a fact, he was only a blockade runner for the profits.

Rhett had brought her a present. Scarlett hadn't even opened it. She and Melly were sitting on the divan in the parlor when Rhett had presented the hatbox to her. Scarlett had said, "Mr. Butler, I am afraid you have misunderstood our relationship. I don't want a suitor at this time. I am still mourning the loss of my husband. I want a strictly business relationship. I will not accept any gifts from you."

Melly said, "If you wish to bring gifts for the entire household then that would be appropriate"

Rhett said, "You must accept it. You are the only woman I know that would do justice to the hat," Rhett took the top off the hatbox and inside was a beautiful green hat. Scarlett looked at it wistfully. He continued, "You are the only person who could do justice to the Paris creation."

Scarlett laughed and said, "You are not going to get me to change my mind."

"You know you don't look good in black."

"I know but I will not dishonor my husband's memory by not wearing black the prescribed amount of time."

Rhett accepted defeat and said, "As you wish." He put the lid back on the hatbox.

"How is our investment going?" Scarlett knew that women would always want to talk about her, and she could no longer give them a reason to talk about her for Wade's sake. She didn't want anyone looking too closely at her or her activities. She didn't want her parents hearing any rumors about her especially not this soon after the hospital bazaar incident. They had just now truly begun to trust her to behave herself again.

Rhett was surprised at her statement. He knew she had not loved her husband yet despite her rebellious nature she was adhering to strict decorum. He sat down across from the ladies. He laid some greenbacks on the tea table and told the ladies of his adventures.

Scarlett had made enough on her investments to help with the living expenses of the household. Pa was having a hard time getting cash money. He couldn't get cash money until he had sold his cotton which he couldn't sell until it got to England.

At the beginning of December, she went to Tara so she and Wade could spend Christmas with her parents. She missed them and she missed Tara. She stayed until after Wade's first birthday. Everyone who saw Wade commented on how much he looked like her, but they could see Charlie in him. That is when she decided that people saw what they wanted to see.

At the first of February Wade, Prissy and Scarlett returned to Atlanta. Melanie had written to say how much she and Aunt PittyPat were missing her and Wade. Rhett called on the Hamilton House soon after Scarlett had returned from Tara. Scarlett was still making sure that Rhett never saw Wade. He knew she had a child because Melly was constantly talking about Wade. She had managed to never let Rhett see the child. If anyone would figure out that Wade was not Charlie's son, it would be that jackass.

By this time Wade was a year old. He was a handsome boy. Sometimes he reminded Scarlett of Rhett Butler by the way he held his head or the look on his face, but she was sure she was the only person who would see the connection between the man and the boy. Scarlett knew he was a very smart little boy. Scarlett would always say to Melly, "Wade is so smart just like Charlie."

Melly always looked so proud, and she would say, "Yes, he is."

"I think he is looking more and more like Charlie every day."

"I do too."

Rhett came to call after he heard Scarlett was back in Atlanta. Scarlett continued to maintain that she and Captain Butler were no more than business associates which Rhett decided was pretty close to the truth.

Rhett had made some progress with his relationship with Scarlett for she allowed him in the house even when he didn't have any profits for her. She found he was amusing and entertaining. He was an attractive man. He didn't mind spending money on her although his gifts had to be things for the household and not her. When he brought hair pins, he brought enough for Melly and Aunt PittyPat also. When he brought fabric or thread, he brought enough for all the ladies to make a new dress. Yet Scarlett never let herself forget that he was not an honorable man, and he did not want a respectable relationship with her.