Thank you so much for your reviews! I really, really appreciate them. I'm enjoying writing this more than I thought I would. It's so fun! Why didn't I do this sooner?, lol.

The Journey Home

Chapter Two

Truth or Dare

Later that evening after the sun had set, Scarlett set out to Belle Watling's with Prissy. As they neared the street, Scarlett tapped on the carriage roof for Simon to stop. They were within walking distance but far enough to way to not be noticed.

"Here Prissy," she handed the girl a slip of paper. "Take this to Captain Butler and be quick about it."

Prissy eyes immediately widened in fear. "But Miz Scahlett, I caint's go in there, I's scahed of that place."

"Oh hush up! You can't expect me to walk in there pretty as you please. Just ask for Captain Butler and wait for him."

"They's mean folks in there. I's scahed, Miz Scahlett," she cried in angst.

"You'll be more scared if you don't do as I say. Now go and don't come back without him."

Trembling, Prissy stepped out of the carriage. She looked back at Scarlett with trepidation, hoping against hope she would change her mind. But Scarlett's patience was coming to an end. She grabbed the door and slammed it shut. "Go Prissy!" she huffed. Finally, she moved away from the carriage, her slow gait inching her closer to her destination.

Scarlett settled back on the seat and plucked at the material of her dark gown. Time crept slowly by, so slowly she wondered if Prissy was ever going to come back. What if Rhett had refused her? What if he had just laughed and sent Prissy back out? Fifteen minutes turned into thirty minutes and with it, Scarlett's frustration grew. She tapped her foot, adjusted her bonnet and fiddled with her gloves until she was ready to throw them out of the window.

Finally, in the distance she heard Prissy's high pitched voice singing melodically as if she didn't have a care in the world. She slowly neared the carriage, forcing Scarlett to peer out of the window. "Prissy!" she hissed and motioned for her.

Prissy jumped and dropped the slip of paper in her hand. She bent over to retrieve it and dropped it several more times before finally capturing it. Scarlett's nerves were about to jump out of her skin such was her agitation. God's Nightgown, but that girl was as useless as Confederate bonds!

Scarlett threw open the door and practically hauled her in, pushing her back against the seat. "Is that from Rhett?" she asked quickly and grabbed the paper from her. She tore it open and saw it was her own note, but at the bottom was a rolling script she had never seen before. It read, If you want information from me, don't send your darkie. Come in and I'll tell you what I know… BW

Come in?! Scarlett read the words once more. Why did Belle send the note? Where was Rhett? She looked up at Prissy who was preoccupied with a button on the seat, picking at it absentmindedly. "Prissy, where was Captain Butler?" she asked harshly to get the girl's attention.

"I's don't rightly know, Miz Scahlett," she replied as she continued to pick at the button.

"Didn't you ask for him?"

"Yas'm" she nodded. "But he didn't come."

"Who did?"

Prissy's face lit up then. "A lady with a reddest hair I eva did see. She had paint on her face and pink feathers wrapped 'round her neck."

"What did she say?"

"Well, she says that Captain Butler was 'in-disposed' and that I was to come back with this and give it to you."

"That's all?" Scarlett probed.

"Yas'm, that's all she tole me."

Scarlett fell back on the seat and crumpled the paper in her hand. What was she going to do now? If Rhett was in there, he obviously wasn't coming out to her. But the thought of crawling to that woman to find her husband galled her more bitterly than any bourbon she had ever drank.

Did Rhett think so lowly of her now that he would allow her to come after him in a place like that? Hadn't her reputation suffered enough as it was without adding her appearance in a brothel to add to it?

Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts, each one worse than the other. Finally, she saw no other course of action but to go in. If this is what it took to prove to Rhett that she really did love him, then so be it.

She grabbed the handle of the door and pushed it open. She heard Prissy's gasp behind her and then her cry. "Miz Scahlett! Where you goin'? Don't leave me here alone, I's scahed to be in here by myself."

"You're not alone," Scarlett snapped as she smoothed down her dress. "Simon's here with you. Just stay put and you'll be alright."

"But, where you goin'?" she reared her dark face out of the window.

"Never you mind, now just stay put. I'll be back shortly."

Scarlett lifted the veil from her bonnet down over her face. She wasn't sure exactly how much of her features it actually hid, but hopefully it was enough to keep her from being recognized. She took several deep breaths as she made her way to the Red Horse Saloon or Belle's Place as it was more commonly known. She could hear the boisterous music and loud laughter of the patrons inside as she neared it.

She reached the two swinging doors and peered inside. Maybe Rhett was close by and she wouldn't have to go all of the way in. As she searched the smoke filled room, she was disappointed that she didn't see him as she had hoped. Bracing herself, she stepped through the doors and immediately felt several pairs of eyes turn to her. She could tell from the look on their faces that they were as surprised as she to find herself in there.

A young, blonde saloon girl came by holding a tray of drinks and stopped in her tracks. Scarlett's dark mourning gown stood out among the brightly colored frocks and pantaloons beneath them. With her face hidden it was a safe that no one knew who she was.

"Ma'am?" the girl questioned hesitantly. "Are you sure you're in the right place?"

"Yes," she answered quietly. "I would like to see Belle Watling."

"Belle?" her eyes shot up in surprise.

"Please, would you tell her someone is here to see her."

The young girl slowly nodded and turned away from her, looking back once to stare at her again. She laid the tray down on the bar and went up the wooden steps until she reached the landing and disappeared.

Several more people had stopped to look at Scarlett, no doubt wondering what she was doing there. She held her high in spite of their blatant curiosity. She would not be scared away like some ninny, she had faced bigger things than a room full of nosey, drunken men.

In a few minutes, the girl came back down the stairs and motioned for Scarlett to come to her. "Miss Watling wants to you come up. She's the last door down the hallway."

"Thank you," she nodded and walked past her to start up the stairs. She followed the girl's directions until she reached the last door. Her heart sped up a bit, more so than when she had first came in. If Rhett was behind those doors, what would she say to him that she hadn't already said? Would he even speak to her, or would he send her away like he did Prissy, like she was something not worth taking the time for?

Calming herself, she pushed the veil back and she tapped on the door. When it swung open, Belle stood before her with a smirk and shot of bourbon in her hand.

"Well, well, well, if isn't Mrs. Hamilton, Kennedy, Butler…" she drawled. "Oh, I didn't forget a husband, did I? It's getting mighty hard to keep count these days."

Scarlett stiffened at the insult. Oh, what she wouldn't give to slap that smarmy grin off of her face. "Miss Watling, I'm here to see my husband," she replied tautly.

Belle's smirk widened and she turned and sauntered deeper in the room leaving Scarlett standing in the doorway. "Come on in, Mrs. Butler."

"I don't think that will be necessary. I would just like to speak to my husband."

"He's not here," she shrugged and sat down on a long, mauve chaise.

"He's… he's not here?" she stammered.

"No," she smiled and took a sip from the shot glass.

Scarlett could feel her temper rising. She stepped in and nearly slammed the door behind her. She took in the brash decorations of the room, but they were quickly swept aside as she faced the woman. "Are you saying he hasn't been here?"

"No, not saying that, either."

"You can stop playing this cat and mouse game, Miss Watling. I would like to know where my husband is."

"And, why should I tell you?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow. "If you can't keep better track your husband than that, why should I help you?"

She took a deep breath and drew herself up. "You summoned me in here, Miss Watling. I assumed it was to bring me to Rhett. If you won't tell me where he is than I'm leaving."

"Who says I don't know where he is?" she asked with another smirk. "Maybe he just doesn't want anyone to know… if you know what I mean."

Scarlett shook her head, her anger spewing out. "You are trashier than I ever imagined. You aren't fit to walk on the streets of Atlanta… why, why, you're no better than a low-bellied sow wallowing in filth…"

Belle began to laugh huskily. "My, my, but you're a spitfire, ain't ya, Mrs. Butler?" she stood and walked over the bar and poured another shot of bourbon. She lifted it out to her. "Here, have a drink. This is your preferred taste I believe."

Indignation split through her like a lightening bolt. Only Rhett could have told her that, only Rhett. It was then that Scarlett realized that if Rhett had told Belle that about her, she must have told her other things, as well. She stepped back from her and gripped her stomach.

"What? No drink today? Well, I'm sure you'll take care of that as soon as you get back to that mausoleum of yours… where you'll be alone to drink yourself into a stupor if you want."

"You are despicable," she breathed and turned to the door.

"Mrs. Butler," Belle said in a loud voice. "Leaving in such a hurry?"

"I hope you rot in hell."

Belle set the drink down and crossed her arms, staring hard at Scarlett. "I never did see what Rhett saw in the likes of you. I told him plenty of times you were poison but he just kept going back time and time again. Well, now he's gone and I hope to God he stays away."

"Gone?" she breathed. "What do you mean, gone?"

"I mean, he's gone from Atlanta, probably gone from Georgia by now and he ain't ever comin' back."

"I don't believe you," she shook her head vehemently.

"Fine, but it's the truth just the same. Now, who do you have, Scarlett Butler? You've lost your child, that angel Miz Wilkes, who always stood up for you against these old cats of Atlanta and your husband, who you've driven away. You have nothing, just like you deserve."

"Shut up!" Scarlett gripped her fist. "Just shut up!" She whirled to the door and flung it open, running down the hallway to the stairs. She could hardly keep the tears from spilling from her eyes as she bound down the steps and through the swinging doors. She ran and ran until she reached the carriage, throwing herself against the back of it.

Rhett gone… really gone, she cried. She had prayed and hoped that he was just talking, that he would come back to her, but he wasn't. He had left her alone, left her to face this without him. Oh Dear God, what was she going to do now? What was she going to do?