Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the many reviews and the feedback.
To my guest reviewer who said she didn't like that Scarlett had given up control of Tara. I want to point out that Scarlett only gave Suellen 49% of Tara, so she is still in charge. As far as your idea of Scarlett and Will getting together and running Tara. I have a story like that in the works. I just haven't decided how it will end.
Chapter Eleven
After four weeks, Rhett called at the Hamilton House. He had to see the baby and see if he saw himself in her features. His excuse was that he had a present for the baby. Scarlett joined him on the porch because it would be improper for her to receive him inside the house without Frank being home. The present was a sterling silver rattle. It was far too expensive for her to accept but she did anyway. With Rhett riding with her every day back from the mills her reputation was already in bad shape.
He looked at the child. The little girl looked mostly like her mother even for the green eyes, but she had the reddest hair. He said, "She looks very muchly like you. That is fortunate. Yet she reminds me of someone."
"She isn't yours. She is Frank's child. She even has his red hair."
Rhett smiled really big, and he said, "No, she is mine. Her hair is the same color as my mother's"
Scarlett scowled, "Damnit."
Rhett laughed and said, "What is her name?"
"Ella Lorena Kennedy."
"I like the first and second name. As much as I would like to claim Wade and her, I cannot. That would brand them as bastards. I don't want to do that.
"I'm glad you don't want your bastards to be branded as bastards".
Rhett smiled at her comment. He said, "Why did you hire Mr. Wilkes?"
"He needed a job. I needed a manager while I was in my confinement."
"So, you rescued Mr. Wilkes."
"No, Ashley rescued me. I needed someone I could trust to run that mill and Ashley kindly agreed to stay in Atlanta and help me."
"What kind of businessman is he?"
"He is not as good as Johnny, but he does make a profit."
Rhett's expression said he didn't believe her, but it was true. She couldn't spend all her time running the mills anymore. She had to try harder to make sure Frank stayed alive.
"When will you be receiving visitors again."
"In two more weeks."
"You, of course, will continue to receive me."
With a mutinous look Scarlett said, "Of course, Captain Butler." Scarlett knew that Rhett couldn't prove anything, but he didn't have to. He just had to make allegations and she and the children would be ruined. She didn't think Rhett would tell anyone about the children, but she wasn't one hundred percent sure.
As Rhett walked away from Scarlett he wondered if she knew that Old Frank was in the clan. Rhett hadn't said anything about her husband being in the clan to Scarlett. Old Frank dying because he was in the clan was alright by Rhett. He didn't care how the man died, just that he did.
Scarlett thought Frank believed the child was his but why wouldn't he. He was such a simple man that it would never occur to him that the child wasn't his.
Frank was overjoyed with Ella. He never thought he would have a child. He thought Ella was perfect. He was secretly incredibly happy she looked like Scarlett and not him. He knew he was not a handsome man. Yet he was thrilled to no end that she had his red hair.
He had known when they got married that Scarlett had married him for his money, and he hadn't cared. He was fond of Scarlett, but she definitely wasn't his type. She was just a smoke screen. The reason he had married Scarlett was because she was a very sexy woman. With Scarlett as his wife nobody would ever believe that he preferred men to women. He had also felt safe marrying Scarlett because she was such a self-centered woman that she really didn't care what he did as long as he left her alone. Although over the last few months she had been taking particularly good care of him.
He felt bad about leading Suellen on all those years, but he would never have married Suellen for she would have asked too many questions. She would have wanted to be a real wife to him. It took all his determination to complete the marital act that one time with Scarlett. He could never do it again. In fact, to reach completion he had to think about his special friend. He was so thrilled that he had gotten a bun in the oven on his first attempt.
Frank knew that Captain Butler had escorted his wife home from the mills before she had gone into her confinement, but he didn't care. He knew that people pitied him, but he was alright with that. Anything to keep people from looking too closely at his activities. He also knew that his wife hated Captain Butler, so he knew they weren't doing anything inappropriate. His wife's hatred of Captain Butler made it easier for Frank to pretend that Rhett was calling on him and not Scarlett. Based on Scarlett's hatred of the man, Frank had briefly wondered why his wife allowed Captain Butler to escort her through Shantytown, but he had not dwelled on it overly long. He was just glad she did. He would not want anything to happen to Scarlett.
Frank hoped that Scarlett never found out that he was still a member of the clan. She would go on and on about his being a member until he would have to quit. He wouldn't mind not being in the clan, but the clan meetings were where he got to spend time with his special friend, Bob, every week.
When Ella was six weeks old, Scarlett got dressed to go out. When Frank asked her, "Where are you going?
"I am going to check on my mills?"
"You need to stay home. You have a baby to take care of now."
"I will stay home a lot more. I have two fine managers now. I am just going to check on how they have done since I went into my confinement. I will be home before dinner."
"See that you do. You are a mother now."
Scarlett didn't answer. She just walked out the door. She had been a mother for almost five years now. What did Frank think that little person was that lived in the house with them was but a child? Men were so silly sometimes.
Two weeks later when Rhett found out she was driving herself through Shanty Town, he met her at the bend in the road.
After Scarlett stopped her buggy, she could tell he was furious. Rhett said, "Why didn't you tell me you were back at work? Do you want to get yourself assaulted or killed?"
"I didn't tell you because I don't want you escorting me home."
"Nonetheless, I will meet you here every day to make sure you get home safe and sound."
"You can't. People will gossip about us for being alone for that long."
"I don't want anything to happen to the mother of my children."
"What is in it for you?"
Rhett laughed and said, "The only way I can claim my children without ruining them is by being married to you so I have to keep you alive until we can marry."
"I told you I didn't want to marry you."
"And I told you, you will marry me. As soon as old Frank is dead. You know I am ruthless enough to do what I have to do to get access to my children."
When Scarlett looked at Rhett's face, she knew he would ruin her and her children to get what he wanted. Although marrying him would ruin her also.
Rhett continued to call at the Hamilton House. For Rhett it was wonderful and horrible all at the same time. It was wonderful to be with Scarlett even if she still was giving him looks of hate. It was horrible to know that Frank was sleeping beside her every night. He refused to consider the fact they might be doing something else. It was wonderful to see his children. It was painful when Wade started calling Frank 'Daddy.' Rhett knew that Scarlett had coached Wade into doing that because she smirked every time Wade did it. It was awful when Wade called him Mr. Butler. When Rhett suggested Wade call him 'Uncle Rhett' Scarlett had said, "Mr. Butler it would be inappropriate for Wade to call you anything, but Mr. Butler." Rhett had just sighed, and Scarlett had smirked.
He had two reoccurring fantasies during that time. One involved Scarlett and the other involved Frank. The one involving Scarlett was of a sexual nature. The one involving Frank was of a homicidal nature.
Six months after Ella Lorena was born Frank Kennedy did a very irresponsible thing. He went on a clan raid.
That Wednesday evening as far as Scarlett knew Frank was at his political meeting. Scarlett had gone over to Melly's because Aunt PittyPat was acting stranger than usual. She left the children with Mammy. Unfortunately, Aunt PittyPat went with her. India was there so it was awkward. Scarlett wished India would get over something that happened a lifetime ago. It really hadn't mattered in the end for Stuart died at Gettysburg.
Scarlett noticed that Melly kept looking at the clock. Suddenly Scarlett knew that Frank hadn't been going to political meetings but clan meetings. Maybe they were one and the same, but she knew that Frank was in the clan. After they had helped Tony Fontaine and the Yankees had threatened to confiscate everything they owned, she had made Frank promise her he would not be part of the clan. Frank had sworn to her that he wasn't in it. He had lied to her. God's nightgown!
Scarlett said, "What damn fool thing have the men done?"
India and Melly were shocked at Scarlett's language, but she didn't care. Frank can't die.
Melly said, "They went on a raid in Shantytown. Several men had been robbed lately and the men felt it was time to clean that place up."
India said a little snidely, "It is so unsafe a woman can't drive her buggy through it alone."
Everyone was gossiping about Rhett escorting her through Shantytown every day. Everyone knew what Rhett was doing. Everyone it seemed except Frank. There was never any censor in Frank's eyes. Scarlett ignored India. Scarlett was busy praying that God protect that dumb fool that was her husband. About fifteen minutes later Rhett burst through the door. He said, "Where have they gone? It is a trap."
India said, "Don't tell him. He is a Scallawag."
Melly said, "They were to meet at the old church right by the bend in the road."
Rhett raced out of the house, and they could hear his horse riding off.
After what seemed to be an eternity, Rhett, Dr. Meade, and Ashley came walking up the sidewalk to the house singing. Captain Tom Jaffrey was close on their heels. Captain Jaffrey was interrogating the men. They were all acting like they were drunk. Melanie accused Rhett of getting her husband drunk again. Rhett convinced the Yankee officer that they had all been at Belle's all night long. When Rhett referred to Belle as their mutual friend, Captain Jaffrey blushed.
Rhett said, "Tom, I swear on my honor as a gentleman that we were all at Belle's all night long."
Tom said, "Alright, I will go talk to our friend right now, but I am posting a guard outside. So, nobody try to leave."
Rhett said, "May I escort Mrs. Kennedy to her home that is through the hedges?"
"Of course."
While Scarlett was observing all of this, two thoughts were screaming through her head. When Scarlett didn't see Frank with them, she knew her worst nightmare had come true. Frank was dead and the Yankees were going to confiscate everything she owned because Frank was in the clan, and they would know it now. Damn, damn, damn.
When she saw the look of triumph on Rhett's face a third thought pushed the other two aside. She thought, 'I am going to have to marry that unreceived jackass.' For a moment Scarlett wondered if Rhett had killed Frank to get him out of the way. She would never know for sure. It didn't matter one way or the other because Frank was dead either way.
After Rhett and Dr. Meade had gotten Ashley in his bed, Rhett came back and sat down next to Scarlett and said gently, "Mrs. Kennedy, I'm sorry to have to tell you but your husband is dead."
At Rhett's words Scarlett had burst into tears. Rhett had handed her his handkerchief. It briefly made her think about Belle Watling, and she wondered how close of friends they were. She quickly dismissed the question. At this point it didn't matter. At this point it didn't even matter if Rhett was unfaithful to her. It wasn't like they loved each other. All that mattered was that Frank was dead and she was going to lose everything she had worked so hard to build. After a few minutes Rhett said to Scarlett, "I need to send Archie to retrieve Frank and Tommy's bodies and place them behind The Painted Lady, so you and Mrs. Welburn don't lose your only means of support. I will be right back."
Scarlett wanted to slap the smirk off of India's face, but she had worse problems in the moment. When Rhett returned, he said to India, "Miss Wilkes, someone needs to go tell Mrs. Welburn that her husband is dead. Do you think you can sneak over to their home?"
"Yes, I can. I will tell everyone else along the way what their alibi is."
"Mrs. Kennedy, Miss Hamilton, are you ready to leave?"
"Yes, Captain Butler."
"I hope I can make it without fainting."
"We can have a sip of brandy from the swoon bottle when we get home."
"Thank you, dear."
When they got to the back door Rhett stopped Scarlett from entering the house. He said, "When do you want to get married?"
"God's nightgown, Rhett! Let me get my second husband in the ground before you start talking about becoming my third husband."
Scarlett walked in the house and slammed the door. She didn't care who heard her. It would soon be all over town that she was marrying Rhett Butler.