Ashley's story may be one more chapter, but its is getting fun to write! These new characters have SOOOO much potential! ENJOY!

Thanks for the reviews, I enjoy hearing your thoughts and encouragement!

The Butlers passed a quiet and rainy two weeks of July at Tara. Wade enjoyed adventures with the county boys often bringing home squirrels, fish and often dirty feet and clothes. Rhett was amazed how the boy had blossomed in the last few months, and although Wade was older and taller than the other boys, he acted as leader and protector to his friends. Ella busied herself with older cousin Susie and when they weren't arguing, the two helped Mammy with baking, and chores around the farm, even though Ella was afraid of all the animals, she stood near the fence through feed to the chickens tucked well behind the gates.

Scarlett had made the rounds about the farm with WIll and Rhett, asking questions and evaluating the progress and upkeep of Tara, and indeed she was pleased. Suellen's other daughters younger daughters stayed out of the way, and kept each other occupied, being eleven months apart. Martha had been born shortly before Bonnie, and had the same stubborn streak, leading the younger Caroline around with threats of "Tellin' Mama" and "I won't play with you."

Rhett had witnessed the fight from his perch on the veranda taking in an afternoon cigar, as Scarlett decided to lie down, as her symptoms started to forewarn of courses. Martha ripped the rag doll out of Caroline's hand, and turned blue eyes and red curls bobbing as she screamed at Caroline, "This one is mine, Auntie gave me the one with the pink dress!" Caroline who had just made four looked up at her sister, as her lip trembled and corrected her, "I just want to see her necklace."

"Well, you can want! Go get yours, I'm not your friend anymore!"

Caroline didn't even look for her discarded doll in the dust, but burst into tears, as the thought of losing her best friend, Martha, broke her heart. Martha turned and stomped away up toward the tiny tea set under the mimosa tree. Rhett stubbed his cigar and hurried over to the small, round child, her silky, strawberry blonde pigtails tipped in sunlight, and round face that resembled Wills red with frustration, fear and hurt. Rhett lifted the child in his arms, and pet her arms, drawing the hands from the tear stained face, as she wailed in his ear, "Hush, hush now Caroline. Tell Uncle Rhett what's wrong?" Martha looked over her shoulder, and snapped, "She's a cry baby!"

Rhett looked at the narrow blue eyes glaring with irritation, and a chill filled his chest, just like her Aunt. Caroline sniffed, "I'm not a baby!" Rhett knew those blue eyes, irish blue and round always smiling, and he walked to the veranda carrying his niece, "Why don't we sit on the porch, look I have a candy in my pocket!" Rhett produced a red and white peppermint stick, he had left over from the train, and Caroline's chubby hand grasped it, smiling through her teary eyes, and sniffed as she sucked on it. Caroline enjoyed the attention and swung her legs, "Martha is a meany!"

Rhett chuckled, the intonation on "meany" was so like "pony" with his daughter.

"Is that so? Is she mad with you?"

"She won't let me touch any of her toys."

"Don't you have a doll, too?"

"Yes."

"What is her name?"

"Lily."

"Why don't you play with Lily, and leave Martha's doll alone?"

"Lily don't have a necklace, I want to see the diamonds."

Rhett laughed, these girls were definitely his wife's kin, "Did you see them?"

"No, Marth grabbed her."

Martha hearing the discussion, crept up to the veranda, "What are you eating, Caroline?"

Caroline pulled the peppermint out of her mouth, dripping with saliva, and stuck her red tongue out at Martha. Martha's eyes narrowed, and she stomped her foot, accidentally landing on Rhett's foot, "Ouch!"

Martha shrunk back, "Sorry."

Rhett pursed his lips, "Martha, you were not very nice to your baby sister."

"She always takes my stuff!"

Rhett scrambled his feet away, and sat up straight, letting Caroline slide down on her feet, next to her sister, "Caroline just wanted to see the necklace, can you show it to her?"

Martha pulled the doll with the green dress and handed it to Caroline, "Here's Lily!"

Caroline pushed the doll away, "I want to see the diamonds."

Martha sighed, "You can't!"

Rhett's head started to hurt, and he pulled the two girls to him,"Listen, maybe if you show Caroline the diamonds, she will share her peppermint with you."

Caroline nodded and held out the long stick that had a few more inches of red and white on it. Martha looked at the stick, and ran down the steps, returning with the doll in question.

Rhett smiled, "Martha, that is a pretty doll. I'd like to see the diamonds, too."

"Her name is Sue, like my Mama." She lifted the tiny strand of rhinestones and Caroline studied them, "Beautiful, I like them."

Martha took the doll back and held out her hand, "Now, give me my candy!"

Caroline took the stick in her wet, sticky hand and broke it, "Here."

Martha grabbed the stick and ran off, Caroline snatching Lily, and followed behind her, "Wait for me!"

Rhett stood and went into the kitchen, to wash his hands that were sticky with "something". Mammy saw him, and asked, "Those girls alright?"

"Yes, just a little fight."

"Hmmph, they fight all day, I heard the little one crying, but she cry all the time, I figure she ain't hurt."

Rhett took the offered glass of lemonade, "Only her feelings, but she's better."

"You give her a candy?"

Rhett blushed, "Yes."

"I know it, Mister Rhett, just like-" Mammy stopped and lowered her head.

"You can say her name, Bonnie. Yes, I guess that's my only defense against hysterical women, but Bonnie never had to deal with siblings who bullied her."

"No, Master Wade and Miz Ella are good children."

"I guess if we-," Rhett finished his lemonade, "but we didn't and maybe that was a good thing, I guess Bonnie was happier."

Mammy kept quiet, "Yes, she was always happy, unless she didn't get her way."

Rhett agreed, and went outback in the shade of the porch, lounging in the chair for a short nap. Mammy woke him in the late afternoon as the first sounds of thunder welcomed the afternoon showers. Martha and Caroline had taken over the parlor with tablets and pencils as they imitated Ella and Susie who worked on sketches of various knickknacks Suellen had that cluttered the coffee tables. Wade trudged up the stairs, covered in dust, with muddy feet smiling with a line of silvery fish, Rhett smiled at the boy who stood proudly dripping dirt in the front lawn. Mammy yelled at him to run around to the side to wash off before he walked inside. Will followed Wade as he walked the horse to the barn. The windows grew dark, and the thunder clapped again, causing the girls to chorus a collective squeal. Rhett met Will at the back door, and he handed a telegram to Rhett, "It's from Atlanta, for Scarlett." Rhett glanced at the the type, and made out the word WILKES, and tucked it in his pocket as he strode up the stairs.

"When did you buy our tickets?" Scarlett asked, looking up over the telegram.

"We leave in three days, if you feel up to it."

"I'll be fine, India says, he has lost his mind!"

"Scarlett, he survived all spring and summer without you, why does she have to bother us, now?"

"It sounds like Ashley is going to marry this Catherine Sinclair, a yankee!"

Rhett chuckled, "That is the least of your worries, she's a spiritualist, that you should be worried about."

"Oh, her religion, Ashley's not Catholic, it's fine."

"It's not a religion, my pet, it's a new word for "witch"."

Scarlett's eyes grew large as she her mouth made a perfect "O", and she grimaced, "This is making my 'headache' worse!"

Rhett took the telegram out of her hand, and put it under her perfume, "I don't want you to get upset, now rest."

"How can I rest, when-"

"You need to calm down, would you like me to go?"

"What are you going to do?"

Rhett bowed, "Protect your Mr. WIlkes' virtue."

"Don't make jokes, he can't marry a witch! The preacher wouldn't hear of it!"

Rhett chuckled, "I'll go, and see what I can do, if you will calm down, and relax."

Scarlett settled down, and watched as Rhett started to pack a bag, and then she asked, "Are you staying at Belle's?"

Rhett stopped and glared at her, "No, we do still have a house. I'll take Wade with me."

Scarlett sighed, "That would be good, Rhett."

Rhett and Wade arrived on Peachtree street just after ten the next morning, they had awakened at dawn, and hurried to Atlanta. Wade was glad to be home, as he noticed his classmates huddled together on Beau Wilkes porch, they stood and greeted him as Rhett knocked on the door. The Bonnell's looked over their shoulder, and as India let Rhett inside they asked Wade, "Your "uncle" came back?"

Wade shrugged, "I guess, who knows with my mother." The boys chuckled, and Beau pursed his lips glaring at Wade. Beau missed his mother, but couldn't dare tell the boys that, but Wade knew. Beau thought Wade hateful to joke about his mother with these boys, who had their own ideas about his AUnt Scarlett from what they repeated from their homes. The biggest Bonnell stood and asked, "Well, Beau, looks like you and Wade will have to settle for cousin, instead of brothers." Beau's face reddened and he stood, "Get off my porch Bonnell!"

The group laughed, and Wade bit his lip, and his round cow eyes widened, as he stood, "You better go, Beau said so."

Wade towered over the Bonnell's who laughed at the soft spoken boy, who tried to intimidate them, Wade looked back at Beau as his lip trembled and his face reddened,"And what if I don't Hamilton?"

Wade went over to Beau, and pulled his arm, "Then we're going to leave!"

The two entered the house, and the door slammed. Rhett and India looked and noticed Wade's white face, and Beau who had started to cry. India rushed to him, and Rhett went over to Wade, "What's going on?"

Wade shrugged, "The Bonnell's were messing with him."

Beau glared at Wade, and barked, "You, too, Wade. Uncle Rhett, they were making fun of Auntie."

Rhett stared from Beau to Wade, and then he grabbed Wade by the back of his shirt, "Go and sit in the kitchen." Wade scruffed off, looking back at Beau as he left. India dried Beau's tears, and whispered followed by kissing sent him to his room.

"Mr. Butler, it's been the hardest on poor Beau, the children are so- cruel."

Rhett nodded, and asked, "So, you say that Miss Sinclair came to dinner a week ago, and then they announced they were going up to Boston with her. When?"

"Ashley said at the beginning of next month, I figure he is going to marry her."

Rhett sighed, "And how does he know her?"

India rung her hands, and tears pricked her eyes, "He has been going to her "parties". She has them at her house, and she has a sister who helps her. He says that he has talked with our parents and Melanie!"

Rhett smirked, "I think that he believes he has. These people are taking money from him?"

"Well, yes, at first, now he goes and testifies what he has heard, and so she does it for free. But, last month, I wrote Suellen, Ashley came home so desolate. Miss Sinclair's sister said she couldn't talk to Melanie anymore, because Melanie wants AShley to remarry, a woman with blue eyes, and a white horse."

Rhett chuckled, "Let me guess, Catherine Sinclair has just that."

India nodded, "I told him that Mrs. Merriweather has a white horse and blue eyes, but he just got so defensive, and left the house, and came back a week later."

"Where did he go?"

"Ashley said he took the train out to Twelve Oaks, and camped in the overseerers house, that's why I sent a telegram to SUellen, in case she saw him, but he was on the train home already. Then, he brings this woman to dinner, and says when he stayed at the house, he knows Father wanted him to marry Ms Sinclair, she had been so helpful."

Rhett ran his hand over his face, "Where is he now?"

"The lumber office, and I told him that Scarlett is going to be upset about the business."

Rhett stood and took his hat, calling for Wade. He turned at the door and assured India WIlkes, "I talk some sense into him, or her."

Wade sat next to Rhett as he clicked the horses, and asked, "What happened with Beau? You weren't innocent so don't lie."

Wade's face had that thunderstruck look of possible innocence that often flashed in Scarlett's eyes when she was caught, but in his brown, cow eyes it looked like he was about to vomit, "I-er- the guys were joking, and Beau got upset, so I tried to get them away before he started crying."

"Admirable, now what were you joking about?"

Wade chewed his lip, and didn't answer, so Rhett said, "I'll drop you off at the house, you can think up some good story to tell me at supper, then I'd like the truth."

Wade uddered a noise, and Rhett raised his glove hand in his face, "No, I can't hear it now."

Rhett slowly trotted down the road and around the corner, India had said the last house before the road to the cemetery, Rhett saw the house in question peek out from behind a small line of trees, it had been repaired from the shelling, and painted, and bouquets of yellow daffodils bounced in the summer breeze. Rhett knocked on the door, and a small elderly woman dressed in black smiled up at him, "Good day, sir." her voice was thick with a brogue.

"Good afternoon, I'm looking for the Sinclair sisters."

"Sir, they are out at the moment, but may I asked who is calling?"

Rhett rubbed his face, "When might they return?"

The woman shook her head, "Oh, I dare say, they will be back by tea. There is a seance tonight."

Rhett smiled, "Is that so, how may I go about attending?"

"Just come back tonight, at eight, and do remember to bring three dollars with you."

"Fine, I'll return." Rhett gleamed his white teeth, tilted his hat and left.

After a quiet supper with Wade, Rhett broke the silence, "Wade, I don't want to know what those boys said about me or your mother, but I feel the need to tell you something."

Wade blushed, and then added, "They joked about Uncle Ashley, too."

Rhett drew a deep breath through his nose, and let it out, "Still, being a gentleman is more than fancy books, clothes and the "appearance" of prestige. A true gentleman has honor, and at times I did lack honor, but I kept one code of honor true, and that was to my family be it blood relations or not. A gentleman defends the honor of his family, and when less honorable people disgrace that, he stands up and defends them."

Wade pouted, "I can't fight both Bonnells, and they had two friends. Beau was on the verge of tears."

"You don't need to fight, son."

Wade sulked, "I came in with Beau, so they wouldn't see him cry."

"That was honorable to save your cousin the shame, but what did you say to their jokes? Did you ask them to stop?"

Wade blushed again, "No."

Rhett glanced at Wade, his face in a grimace and turning red. Rhett wondered, 'Why did we come home?' He reached over and clapped Wade on the shoulder, "Finish your dinner, I have an errand to run concerning your Uncle Ashley. And remember, blood is thicker than water, and no matter what those boys say about your family, they are still yours."

Wade gulped down the last vegetables and nodded, as Rhett left.

The house glowed a clean, pale yellow clapboard under the moonlight and the gas lights glowed through the lace curtains. Carriages were lined up around the house, Rhett counted at least 10, and sighed. As he approached the door, he heard the light soprano voice of a woman gathering guests to the table, he was later than he thought.

He knocked lightly on the door, and another voice, full and cheerful, "I thought we had everyone?"

As the old lady opened the door, "Oh, Miss Susan, this is the gentleman I told you about."

Miss Susan turned dark eyes on Rhett, and smiled, "Welcome, Mr.?"

"Butler. I heard about your meetings from a friend of mine, and I thought I would come and see for myself."

There was mumbling from the crowd gathered around two tables, faces stood pale in the low lamplight, and Rhett scanned the guest, and could not help the smirk that tickled his mouth, as he nodded to various familiar faces in the crowd. Susan Sinclair, the fuller voiced sister stood frail and small as a child in between the two tables dressed in a plain calico dress, with high ruffles at the neck, and pinned with a garnet brooch. Her hair was a mousy brown, piled on top her head in a heavy twist, and her sallow skin showed signs of being sheltered inside for some time. Her eyes showed her age, late thirties, and the two dark orbs stood out in the darkened room, as she approached Rhett, her thin hand held onto a cane for support as she made her way to shake his hand and welcome her newest follower.

"I'm Miss Susan Sinclair, please call me Susan, and my sister, Catherine."

Susan pointed to a younger woman, about Scarlett's age, her complexion was robust, and her face rounded in a sweetheart shape. Her hair was a honey color, pulled up in loose curls, and her hazel eyes glittered with charm, as her soprano voice greeted Rhett. She wore a pink dress in a taffeta stripes of ivory, and her shape and body was slender, but held the curves of a fertility goddess, and was surrounded by the heavy scent of lavender.

Rhett grinned hiding his thoughts, 'So, this is the new 'Mrs. Wilkes'."

Rhett found an empty chair against the wall, and as he sat, he winked a "hello" to Mrs. Meade, who did her best to hide her face with a handkerchief, when he entered. The Old Guard and customers from the bank and store, looked at him with pity, wondering if he had come to "find" Bonnie, but one member sitting at Catherine's right noticed him, but like the others, didn't acknowledge that they were acquainted, the blonde man, with peppered gray in his hair and an expression of fatigue and sadness sighed and met Rhett's eyes across the table nodding in greeting.

The elderly woman dimmed the lights, as Catherine went about lighting the candles, Rhett sat in the background and folded his arms, observing the movements and actions of two women. The guest hushed in anticipation and excitement for the prospects of "finding" their loved ones, a wooden box was handed to Rhett, and Mrs. Meade whispered, "Pay your fee, and any other donation." Rhett dropped his 3 dollar coins in the box and that made not a sound cushioned by the various "fees" and "donations". As Rhett scanned the room, he counted at least fifteen people, close to $50, plus donations, he couldn't help but shake his head. Susan called for everyone to bow their heads, "Let us pray for the hopes and the grief of all our families here, and the gifts which Catherine and I have be used through the Lord to help them, and may they find peace."

Rhett obliged and bow his head, and pursed his lips. These women were not like the Voodoo women of New Orleans, who were honest that what they did were edges on paganism, but these used the Lord to do their deceptive work, no wonder they had a crowd of good townspeople in here. They could satisfy their curiosity and grief without feeling guilty. Rhett secretly wondered, what the preachers and priest thought of this.

Ashley stood and cleared his throat, "I would like to thank the Sinclair sisters for the help they have given me to find peace with those who have left us for a more divine place."

The group clapped, and Ashley reached down, and patted Catherine's shoulder, his smile broad and glittering with anticipation. Rhett frowned, thinking he had seen that look on his face before, in the background on at the reception he had given announcing Scarlett and his bands to be read, it wasn't the revered smile of truth and love, but a sleazy display of lust.

Everyone joined hands on the black tablecloth at each table around the thick white crystal rock in the center of each table. The table made room for Rhett, but he declined, the older frail sister said, "Everyone must participate, in order to make contact."

Rhett shrugged and joined in and waited, the maid was standing at the front door, hands crossed and each sister sat at a table, heading the directions. The heavier voiced sister Susan gave the directions, perhaps the higher pitch voice of Catherine would spook the spirits or just grate on the followers ears. Catherine's voiced piped out, "I see the letter M."

Mrs. Meade squeezed Rhett's hand, and there were grumbles in the crowd of people.

"No, it's an M and a S."

Rhett glanced from under half closed eyes.

Catherine sighed, "What do you want to know, MS? You know a gentleman here?"

The men tensed, and one man said, "I had a grandma named Mildred."

Catherine smiled, "It's not a woman, its a man, with a gun, he says something about Mexico?"

The older man at Susan table mumbled, "My brother Seth died in the Mexican war."

"Seth, Is that you?" Catherine asked, "Yes, it is Seth Mowery, he says,'I'm doing fine, and I got to meet my grandson, we are happy."

The older man chuckled, "Yep, I bet you are Seth, little Raymond was a perfect hellion, died in Gettysburg."

Susan shushed the crowd, and then there was silence, and she started with more directions, "Clear your mind, close your eyes, and focus on your departed loved ones, Catherine, what do you see?"

Catherine moaned, and her breathing increased, "I'm hearing laughter, and small children."

Rhett tensed, and didn't say a word, this was vague declarations, that could have applied to anyone.

"I see a little girl, she's smiling at me, and the letter B."

All eyes popped open and looked at Rhett, he shifted uncomfortably in his chair, and kept his eyes closed. When they didn't get a response, Catherine dug deeper, "She says she wants to talk with her Father."

Rhett's chest got tight, and he fought the instinct to call out, these women were cruel using people's grief to profit. Mrs. Meade whispered, "Answer her."

Rhett glared down at her, and squeezed her hand.

Catherine's face puckered, "Darling, I don't think he's here. Don't cry, what do you want to tell him? I'll have my maid write it down," Susan motioned the maid to pick up the pen and paper.

Rhett could feel anger, fear and grief resurface, as the crowd grumbled and Catherine urged the child's spirit to calm down, "Now, stop stomping your feet, and just tell me what does he need to know."

Rhett swallowed, and fought the need to run out of the room, and he felt his hands become clammy, as Catherine said, "Now, then, what is it darling?"

Her head fell back and rolled as she moaned, and her voice changed to a high pitched than before, and she said, "Daddy, I miss Mother!"

The crowd gasped, and Rhett's eyes popped open, and stood up breaking the chain, " Liar!"

Susan hobbled to stand, "Mr. Butler, you broke my connection, and now the child is gone!"

"Rhett came across the table at her, and the crowd gasped, as he raised his hand, "There was no connection! There was no child!"

Ashley hurried between them, "Mr. Butler, remember yourself."

Rhett looked down at the frail woman, her tiny round dark eyes large with fear, and he stepped back, straightening his jacket, he looked down at Ashley, "May I speak with you, outside?"

Ashley's face slowly turned back to it paleness, "Anything you can say, you can say in here."

Rhett pointed to Catherine Sinclair, and then turned to the crowd, "You are stealing money from these poor, pathetic people."

The crowd started to grumble and Mrs. Meade stood up, "Mr. Butler, if you believed, perhaps you would feel better, and you wouldn't come here causing trouble. Why, Susan and Catherine has allowed me to talk to both my boys, Darcy and Phil. I'm so glad that they are at peace, and they even told me about their last thoughts were about me and the Doctor."

Rhett sighed, looking at Mrs. Meade's teary eyes and wondered, 'What does the Doctor think?"

Rhett turned his attention to Catherine, "So, you saw my daughter, what's her name?"

Catherine smirked, "She was very urgent to talk with you, sometimes children are often solely worried about talking to their parents, but I must say she was quite a beauty with her dark hair."

Rhett sighed, "Yes, I bet she was. What was she wearing, when she came to you?"

Catherine didn't hesitate to answer, "She appeared as an angel in a ray of white light, but she had the most unusual blue eyes, so lively and bright."

Rhett turned on Ashley grabbing him by the shirt, "Did you tell her anything, about Bonnie?"

Ashley reached up to loosen his grip, "No, I promise."

The voice behind them was full and heavy, "Perhaps, Mr. Butler," Susan hobbled to AShley's shoulder, "You could bring your wife, it seems the little girl wants her Mother."

There was mumbling in the group, and Rhett dropped Ashley, and turned to the frail woman, "You are liars and cheats, and as for you, Mr. Wilkes, you are so stupid to fall into "this" display, why Belle Watling is more respectable than these women, at least she's honest about her hustling."

Ashley stood by Susan and Catherine joined him, "I will ask you, Mr. Butler, not to talk about my fiancee and her sister in this manner."

Rhett laughed, as the group gasped, "Fiancee, is it? What will the first Mrs. Wilkes have to say about this, she must be rolling over in her grave!"

Ashley replied with authority, "She was quite pleased, she suggested it."

The group broke into mumbles and shock as he stated this, and Rhett turned to the group, and shouted, "Perhaps, you should all ask for your money back, and go burn a candle in the church for your loved ones."

Catherine opened the sliding door to the dining room arranged with punch and cake, "Would you all join us, for our small celebration, the bands will be read tomorrow."

The maid came over and gave Rhett three coins, "Here, go with your lies, and Miss Susan said that you are not welcomed back."

Rhett took the coins and threw them at the old lady, "You can all go to hell." as he stomped out the door.