Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Thirty

Since their marriage Scarlett had learned how to handle her husband. He could be sweet and giving but he could also be aggravating and annoying. Yet he always defended her to anyone who said even the slightest unkind thing about her. He loved his children with a ferocity that had surprised her. He had been an indulgent father that first year, but he had learned to say no.

In the three years she had been married to Rhett she hadn't done anything wrong as far as polite society was concerned. She blamed Rhett for having the Scallawags and Republicans in her home. She blamed Rhett for attending all those parties with the Republicans and Scallawags. She blamed Rhett for making her attend the social events the wives had in their homes in the afternoons. She blamed Rhett for letting the children attend the birthday parties of his business colleagues' children.

Two days after her anniversary Scarlett was at the Wilkes's home. Melanie was giving a surprise birthday party for Ashley. Melanie had talked about nothing else for the last month. Scarlett was ready to scream but since Melanie was her only true friend Scarlett let her ramble on about it. Scarlett, India, PittyPat and Melanie had helped with the decorations and food all day. Scarlett was so tired of India giving her looks of hate. Scarlett knew India never missed a chance to say something snide about her. Stuart had been dead for almost ten years, so it really didn't matter in the end, yet unfortunately India would not let it go.

As Scarlett was getting ready to return to her home, Melanie stopped her. She asked Scarlett to go out to the sawmill and delay Ashley leaving so he wouldn't walk in the middle of the preparations.

Scarlett had not wanted to, but it was Melly who was asking, so she agreed. Yet she had a bad feeling about the whole situation. She didn't think Ashley was brave enough to do anything overtly hostile towards Rhett, but she knew that India would love to darken her name in any way she could. Scarlett knew that India was jealous of Scarlett and Melanie's relationship. Scarlett knew that India knew that Scarlett was Melanie's favorite sister-in-law. Therefore, she went to her home and got Rhett.

She found him in his office. He was reading a letter. When she walked in, he looked up and he had a mean look on his face. She said a little startled, "What is the matter?"

Rhett angrily said, "Someone is trying to cheat me."

"Foolish man."

"Very foolish."

"Will you drive me out to the sawmill on Decatur Rd?"

"Of course. Why are you going out there?"

"Melanie wants me to go out and make sure Ashley doesn't get a ride home. She doesn't want him to walk into the house and see the preparations."

"It must be nice to get the wife's permission."

"The wife's permission for what?"

"To visit her husband."

"I'm not visiting her husband. I'm doing her a favor. Rhett, please, stop talking in riddles. Let's go. I have to get out there before he gets a ride with someone else."

Rhett stood up and smiled at his wife. As he was putting on his coat, he said, "Why do you want me to go with you?

"It still isn't safe for a woman to be in that area alone."

"And?"

"I don't trust India Wilkes not to make up some lies about me and Ashley especially if we are alone together," Rhett was smiling even bigger now. Scarlett said, "What is so funny?"

As Rhett took her arm he said, "I know that you don't love Mr. Wilkes."

Scarlett had completely forgotten that she had led Rhett to believe that she still loved Ashley. She said, "I do still love him."

"No, you don't. Come along. Get in the buggy."

Scarlett was fuming at Rhett once again. How dare he announce that she didn't love Ashley. It was true but how dare he act like he knew everything. He was always so high-handed. To get her mind off of Rhett and his attitude, Scarlett said, "Tell me about the man who you think is cheating you."

"I invested some money with him and the reports he is sending me don't make sense. He has contradicted himself several times. I think he thinks I won't come to Charleston to investigate. I will be on the train tomorrow morning. I will at the least get my investment back even if it is out of his hide."

"Not only is he a foolish man, but it also sounds like he is a stupid man if he thought he could cheat you."

"Thank you, my lady."

They chatted about other things on the way out to the mill. Scarlett said, "Every time I come out this way I am reminded of Frank's death. Why did they make that stupid raid?"

"Maybe to get some of their former glory back."

"What do you mean?"

"Before the war there was a social structure, and the gentlemen were at the top of the heap. Now they have nothing."

"I think that is right. Ashley said once they were gods, and they hadn't known it."

"They knew they thought themselves better than anyone else but, in their arrogance, they believed that was right and true. Now they know they aren't any better than anyone else. That is Mr. Wilkes' problem he wants to return to his glory days."

"Which were the ten years before the war started."

"Yes."

They were quiet for a few minutes and Scarlett said, "How is the not smoking going?"

"It is terribly hard. Dilcey took pity on me and has been fixing me a drink that takes the cravings away."

"What is in it?"

"She won't tell me, but I keep drinking it because it does take the cravings away."

"Rhett! I don't know if that is safe."

"Dilcey wouldn't hurt me. Mammy maybe but not Dilcey. My charm worked on her," Scarlett laughed. Rhett continued, "I think I will fall over in a dead faint if Mammy ever smiles at me."

"You don't need to worry about that. She really hates you."

"That is true, but I know someday she will succumb to my charm."

"I have told you before that you think more highly of your charm than it actually is."

Rhett laughed and Scarlett smiled. He said, "I know it has only been two days since I stopped smoking, but I am feeling better already."

"I am so proud of you. I know how hard this is for you."

"I have to stay around to take care of you."

The way Rhett said it Scarlett knew he was implying sexually but she ignored his statement.

Finally, he said, "I started smoking and drinking whiskey when I was sixteen. My uncle gave me both on my birthday. Both my father and my uncle smoked like chimneys, and I never knew either one of them to pass up a glass of whiskey."

"That would almost be thirty years ago?"

"Yes, but you are worth it," Rhett smiled, and Scarlett knew he was about to make a joke at her expense. He said, "I have to increase my stamina in order to keep you satisfied. As I said before you would be hell to live with if you weren't being kept sexually satisfied."

"Just hush."

"I suppose I will since we are at the sawmill."

Ashley looked incredibly surprised to see them. He said, "Scarlett, Captain Butler. Why are you not helping Melly decorate for my surprise party?"

Scarlett said, "You know? Who told you?"

"Every man who has ever had a surprise party thrown for him. The first was Grandpa Merriwether…."

Rhett walked around the office. It was shaped like an 'L.' Rhett briefly wondered why but dismiss the thought as unimportant. Rhett walked over and sat down in the only other chair in the office. From where he was sitting, he could not be seen from the door. He just observed the interaction between his wife and Wilkes. His wife was flirting with Wilkes but in the same way she flirted with any man that was in her orbit. Wilkes was the one who amused Rhett. For a moment Wilkes was that man at the barbecue. He was confident and alive. A man who was secure in his future. A man who had no cares about the future. He was flirting with his wife and trying to regain the adoring look his wife had once given him. Unfortunately, his wife didn't adore the man. In fact, Rhett didn't even think his wife liked the man. As he observed the pair, he knew his wife was forcing herself to flirt with Wilkes because of what Rhett had said earlier about her not loving Wilkes. Rhett briefly wondered why it was so important to her that he think she was still in love with Wilkes.

Wilkes was talking about their life before the war. Butler could tell that what Wilkes was saying was making Scarlett sad.

What happened next Rhett could never exactly say but it was a disaster after the smoke was cleared. Scarlett started to cry. Wilkes put his arms around her. Rhett stood up. Into this scene entered India, Archie, and Mrs. Elsing. What India, Archie and Mrs. Elsing saw was Ashley and Scarlett in an embrace.

India said, "I knew you had designs on Ashley. I am going to tell Melanie all about this."

Before anyone could speak India had grabbed Archie and told him to take her back to town. They were gone before anyone could stop them. Mrs. Elsing was stunned by the scene in front of her, but she refused to believe Mr. Wilkes would behave dishonorably.

Rhett would never know why Scarlett had wanted him to come with her, but he was glad he did. Nobody was going to spread rumors about his wife and Mr. Wilkes. India's hatred of Scarlett was so great she didn't even slow down long enough to get the fact straight. Archie hated Scarlett because she had employed convict labor. So, he would be happy to trash Scarlett's name.

Rhett walked over to where Scarlett was standing. Although it was highly improper, he put his arm around her shoulders. He said, "My dear, I am glad you insisted that your buggy have room for four people. Shall we leave? Mr. Wilkes? Mrs. Elsing?" Scarlett wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. He smiled down at her. He said, "Come along,"

That night at the party, Rhett made sure everyone knew he was out at the mills with Scarlett. It had been a birthday hug between old friends.

The next day most people didn't believe anything improper happen between Mr. Wilkes and Mrs. Butler. Although most people did wonder why Mr. Wilkes had acted guilty at the party. They finally decided that was not guilt but embarrassment that his sister would tell such lies about him.

Most people believed that India had jumped to the wrong conclusion because of her hatred of Scarlett. As did Archie, although nobody believed him anyway. After all he was a convicted murderer.

The gossips did whisper about the improperness of Mr. and Mrs. Butler hugging in public but most of the women giggled about that and would say, "They never have behaved properly, have they?"

Rhett delayed his trip to Charleston by three days to give Scarlett time to make arrangements with Mr. Elsing for her to be out of town. The story that Rhett had Belle spread was that Scarlett was so embarrassed by India's filthy lies about her that she had to leave town which was true. Rhett took her and the children to visit his mother until the scandal died down.

Mammy didn't like the short notice, but she agreed with getting Miss Scarlett out of town while all the gossip was circulating about her.

Melanie was mortified that India could spread such ugly rumors about her husband and her dear sister-in-law. She happily asked India to move out of her house. Melanie thought India was a sad and bitter young woman. Yes, Stuart had died at Gettysburg but so did a lot of other men.

India moved in with Aunt PittyPat but soon even she didn't want India living with her. Before the Butlers got back from Charleston India was again living in Macon with her sister and brother-in-law.