Chapter Ten

In April of 1876 Elizabeth Katie was born and she was definitely her parents' child. She looked like her mother except she had her dad's eyes and his smile. Her parents didn't know who had more natural charm her or Bonnie but their daughters were dangerous.

Ashley died in the spring of 1877, people said from a broken heart. Scarlett said it was from a guilty conscience. Ashley's will named Rhett as guardian of Beau. All Rhett said was it is a good thing I loved and admired Miss Melly so much. Scarlett held him and nodded. The task of telling Beau his father had passed away fell to Scarlett. She sat him down and when she looked at him, she saw her golden knight from all those years ago. Beau was 13 years old and quiet. She told him that he was her son now because his father had passed away. Beau had suffered a lot of grief in the last four years. His father had slowly drunk himself to death. Ashley would get drunk and not eat. Beau lived with them for the next five years until he graduated from Estes Preparatory School for Boys. Rhett tried to think of him as Melanie's son but he looked too much like Ashley Wilkes. Rhett was not mean or unkind but he could not warm up to the boy but Rhett willingly paid the bills for his education.

When Ella was twelve and Bonnie was ten, they were enrolled at Penwright School for Girls which promoted education over social skills. Most girls who graduated went on to Radcliffe. Ella was an excellent student. She made straight A's every semester. Bonnie was smart for sure but had behavior problems…" Won't listen to authority." When they were called down to the school for their first conference with the Headmistress Rhett got a rude awakening. When they walked into her office Rhett grabbed Scarlett's hand and walked back out. Scarlett smiled awkwardly at the Headmistress. When they were outside Rhett said, "That's the woman I wouldn't marry all those years ago."

Scarlett said, "This is not the time for one of your jokes."

Rhett said, "Unfortunately I'm not joking."

Scarlett looked at him and said, "We will discuss this later."

Rhett didn't look forward to that discussion. They walked back in. The Headmistress never acknowledged her previous relationship with Rhett except for a snide comment she made. She said, "Maybe Bonnie has learned a disregard for authority from her father."

Scarlett said, "Mr. Butler has always instilled in his children to obey the authority over them." And glared at her. The end result of the meeting was they agreed to have a long discussion with Bonnie.

While they were waiting on the girls to come to the carriage Scarlett said, "Didn't you recognize her last name?"

Rhett said, "That was not her last name when we were in Charleston. She must have gotten married." Scarlett said, "You figured that out all by yourself?"

Rhett opened his mouth and decided to quit while he was less behind. He wasn't going to win this discussion. When Bonnie got to the carriage her parents didn't seem too mad. In fact, her mother seemed kind of smug. Ella got in a quickly sat down. She knew Bonnie was in trouble again.

Her mother started lecturing her on proper behavior and decorum. Rhett just gave her his disappointed eyes. Bonnie hated the disappointed eyes. She could handle Mother lecturing but not Daddy's disappointed eyes. She promised to try to do better.

It seemed the Butlers had a meeting with the Headmistress Sanders monthly. Finally, Scarlett said, "Could you arrange your rendezvous with her on your own time and not involve Bonnie and me in it. Or is that the problem the only way she gets to gaze upon your handsome face is at these meetings." Rhett laughed at Scarlett's joke but wondered if Bonnie was paying for his crimes. Then he decided no Bonnie was just too high spirited like her mother. At least he hoped that was the problem. The monthly meetings with Headmistress Sanders continued.

James went to Estes Preparatory School for Boys. Every time someone spoke about the boy, they said how smart he was. One teacher actually called him scary smart. After the Butlers left that meeting Scarlett held Rhett's hand and said, "Was that you as a boy? Too smart for the adults around you?"

Rhett smiled and said, "Unfortunately yes."

Scarlett said, "Then it's a good thing he has you."

Rhett was a very protective father when the boys started calling on Ella. Nobody got in the front door. Rhett told Scarlett, "I'm not letting my little girls be taken advantage of by some handsome, fun, charming womanizer." Scarlett smiled and said, "In other words someone like you." Rhett gave her one of his most charming smiles and said, "That is exactly what I am saying." Ella had turned into a very attractive young lady. She was no great beauty but she was no ugly duckling. Rhett watched in amazement as Scarlett took Ella's good features and highlighted them and hid the less than attractive ones. Finally, a young man, Jordan Jacobs, came to call that Rhett let in the front door. He was intelligent, polite, well-mannered and rich but more important he was crazy about Ella. One day when Ella and he were in the parlor visiting Rhett made Bonnie go in there and join them. Much to Rhett's expectations the young man was polite to Bonnie but never took his eyes off Ella. Rhett let the young man continue to call on Ella. Rhett let the two of them get married the summer after Ella graduated from Penwright. The night before the wedding Rhett, Wade, Beau and Jordan went out for an evening of drinking. Much to Jordan's embarrassment Rhett explained to Jordan how to not get Ella pregnant for the next four years. Ella was going to graduate from Radcliffe. It was very important to Scarlett. It was a beautiful small wedding. Ella told her mother 'no' to a big elaborate wedding. Rhett made Scarlett abide by Ella's wishes.

Scarlett was enjoying watching blackguard, rogue, renegade handsome Rhett Butler protect his daughters from men just like his younger self. When Bonnie turned 14 the boys started calling on her. They were all sent away. Bonnie was so embarrassed.

Rhett told her," You aren't old enough to have a suitor. We send you to an all-girls school for a reason." Bonnie asked for Scarlett's help but all she would say was, "Your father knows best. I fell for a handsome renegade so I'm not a very good judge of character." To which Bonnie huffed and walked off.

Rhett said to Scarlett one night after they had retired for the evening, "I am exhausted from keeping all these rogues away from my daughters."

To which Scarlett said, "I hope you are not too exhausted to behave like a blackguard to your wife."

Rhett said, "I'm not dead."

And Scarlett giggled.

Scarlett was very glad Rhett was here to protect her daughters. She would not like to have to be doing all this by herself. She worried about his health for he was not a young man but she thought all this monitoring of his daughters' love lives gave him a fulfilling activity and kept him young. He loved playing mind games with the young men.

In 1881 Rhett's mother passed away. Fortunately, she had just been to Boston for a visit. It hit Rhett hard because of all the time they had been separated in his life. After his mother's funeral Rhett took Scarlett into his office. Rhett picked her up and sat her on his lap. He explained that he had set his will up so that she got everything if he passed away first. His lawyer had names of people who could advisor on how to invest the money. But the decision was hers. He knew she had a good brain for making the most of an investment and she was to trust her instincts because she had good ones. If she was interested, he would let her start helping him with the investing of their money. Rhett said, "After all this time it is no longer my money but our money." This made Scarlett cry. Rhett was at a lost as to why. She explained that it was the best compliment he had ever given her. Rhett just sighed and held her close. The next day he started teaching Scarlett about how to invest money. She was fascinated. He was pleased. He wanted her to be taken care of for the rest of her life and he felt she could do the best job possible. His will stated that after she passed away there was money for Rosemary to live on the rest of her life. The rest would be divided among their six children.

Three more years past and it was 1884. Wade, 22, was going to Harvard law school, Beau, 20 was still attending Harvard, Ella, 18, was going to Radcliffe, Bonnie, 15, was still at Penwright, James, 12, was too smart for the school and they were asked to take him home and give him a tutor. Melanie, 10, and Elizabeth, 8 were still being tutored at home by Andi. When James was sent home, Andi started tutoring him again. Andi told Scarlett it was more like monitoring his activities. He was self-motivated.

When Elizabeth was ten Rhett let Scarlett send his two youngest daughters to school. The school had an open house and the Butlers introduced Melly and Elizabeth to Headmistress Sanders. Sanders said, "I hope you are more like Ella than Bonnie." Both girls looked up at her and nodded their heads. Later Scarlett said to Rhett, "I bet Melly is the scholar and Elizabeth tries to beat Bonnie's record."

Rhett replied "No bet"

Four more years passed it was 1888 and Wade, 26, graduated from Harvard Law School and joined a prestigious law firm in Boston. Beau, 24, had graduated from Harvard and had gone on to Harvard Medical School. Ella, 22, graduated from Radcliffe which was one of Scarlett's proudest moments. Bonnie, 19, was going to Radcliffe and looking for a husband. James, 16, boy genius, Rhett had to start monitoring what he was learning. James wanted to go to West Point like his Dad. Rhett asked him if he wanted to have a career in the military to which James said no. He wanted to work in the financial world with his dad. Rhett said then you need to go to MIT. And Rhett made it happened. Scarlett was thrilled because her little boy could live at home. Rhett pointed out that her "little boy" was sixteen the same age she was when she first got married. Scarlett chose to ignore this comment. Melanie at 14 and Elizabeth at 12 were still enrolled at Penwright. The Butlers were continuing to have their monthly meetings with Headmistress Sanders. The relationship had never gotten any better between them. After two years of meetings Rhett had tried to opt out but Scarlett would not hear of it and had called him a coward. Rhett then felt he had to go or he would be admitting she was right. After all these years he still couldn't let her easily win an argument which Scarlett knew it and used it against him.

Wade met a pretty young lady and started courting her. The next thing Scarlett knew they were engaged. Scarlett was happy but sad also. She felt she was losing Wade. She really couldn't remember a time when Wade wasn't a major part of her life. Rhett tried to understand but as Scarlett said, "I don't even understand what I'm feeling how can you." She just felt she was losing something she would never get back. One day Wade came to visit and he and his mother talked about what they were feeling. Wade said, "I'm so happy Bridget is marrying me. I love her so. But I feel like I'm losing something I can never get back." Scarlett said, "I feel the same way. Maybe I know I will never be first in your heart anymore." Wade said, "Maybe I'm feeling that I will never be your little boy again." They sat there for a long time holding each other's hand. Suddenly Scarlett said, "We are survivors from the war, from our war. It was you, me and your Aunt Melly. And soon you will be moving on and we will never be together again in the same way but I'm so happy for you. Now I am at peace." Wade said, "We will always have a hatred of yams in common." She and Wade laughed and laughed and laughed. They were married the next spring. Rhett said, "You are so beautiful, my love, that you are going to outshine the bride." And Scarlett said, "How you do go on." Rhett escorted her to the wedding.