I just wanted to thank everyone for the fantastic reviews! I am so glad you like this story and I wanted to remind everyone that I'm in the movie format, not the book. So, with that said, many of the secondary characters future lives are open for interpretation. I'm interested in seeing how you all respond when you read this chapter, so PLEASE give me some feedack to go on. I'd so appreciate it. Thanks!

The Journey Home

Chapter Four

Of Love and Betrayal

It was late the next evening when Scarlett's carriage came over the rise and Tara came into view. She asked Simon to stop so she could look upon it. The shadow's were long and low but Tara stood strong and proud among the tall oaks.

"Law's, but I's glad to be back home," Mammy said quietly next to her.

A lump formed in her throat as she remembered a time long ago when she and her father, Gerald O'Hara had stood looking down on Tara and he had reminded her of her heritage and his love of the land. Why land is the only thing in the world working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for because it's the only that lasts…

"Pa," she whispered as she looked down the sloping terrain. How she missed him. How she longed to see him once more, to talk to him and give him back his Tara as it was when he was alive. She could still him riding his white stallion over the rolling hills, his laughter ringing out and his thick Irish brogue calling her name, "Katie Scarlett, where has my Katie Scarlett gone to?"

"You alright, Miz Scahlett?" Mammy questioned, interrupting her thoughts.

"Yes," she answered, taking Mammy's hand. "Just thinking of Pa."

Mammy nodded in understanding. "He'd be mighty proud a you, Miz Scahlett. You's been strong, jist like Mr. Gerald was."

"Thank you, Mammy," she smiled. "Well, I suppose we should go on. I'm anxious to see Suellen and Careen. I didn't have time to let them know we were coming so our visit will be a surprise to them."

"I reckon they's be glad t' see us," Mammy smiled broadly. "It'll shore be good to have all mah lambs under da same roof again."

The soft lilt of the carriage swayed them as they moved over the rough road down the hill. Before long they were pulling up in front of the house where Simon stopped the carriage. He jumped down and opened the door for Scarlett and Mammy, helping them out onto the hard packed ground.

Pork and Prissy, who had been riding in the back with the luggage, joined them as well and all four looked up and over the place with eager eyes.

"It could use a coat of whitewash," Scarlett commented as she looked it over. "And those bushes could stand to be trimmed back some."

"It looks good ta these ole' eyes," Mammy said warmly.

Suddenly the door opened and a lamp came out before the person holding it actually did. "Who's there?" a soft female voice asked.

"Careen?" Scarlett called her sisters name and came up the steps.

"Scarlett?" Careen said as she stepped out onto the porch fully. "Scarlett, is that you?"

"Yes" she laughed and ran up to her sister with open arms. Careen squealed and embraced her sister tightly. "Oh, my goodness, it really is you."

"Oh, Careen, my darling baby sister. I've missed you so much," she hugged her again.

"I've missed you, too," Careen smiled stepping back from her. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you in Atlanta?" Careen asked finally. "Is something wrong?"

"I'll explain everything later," she said taking her hand. "I have Mammy, Prissy and Pork with me, too. We're all back home."

"Mammy?" Careen's face lit up when Mammy's hefty bulk came up the stairs, assisted by Pork. "Mammy, Mammy," she cried and ran to her.

Mammy embraced her tightly. "Law's, but look at my honey chile all grown up."

Careen laughed through her tears. "Oh, Mammy, how I've missed you."

"I's missed you's too, honey," Mammy sniffed in response.

Careen pulled back and turned to Scarlett. "I'm so glad you're all home. It's been so lonesome since…" she stopped, her face falling a bit.

"Since what?" Scarlett asked coming forward.

Careen lowered her head and shook it. "I'm not sure how to tell you, Scarlett."

"Tell me what?" she asked again perplexed at Careen's behavior.

"Let's go inside and I'll tell you everything," she motioned for them.

Once they were inside, Pork immediately asked if he could go find his wife. "Miz Scahlett, if it's alright wid you, I's going to find my Dilcey," Pork said with an anxious smile. "I's hasn't seen huh in long time."

"Fine, Pork and take Prissy with you," Scarlett answered absently. She and Mammy followed Careen into the parlor. The furniture was somewhat dingy and worn, but she could see where Careen and Suellen had done little things to brighten it up. However, that was of little concern when Careen was trying to so hard to be diplomatic in whatever she was trying to say.

"You might want to sit down," Careen told them as she shut the doors behind her.

"I don't want to sit down, I want you to tell me what's happened and where's Suellen?" she asked somewhat impatiently. "Is she upstairs?"

Careen shook her head slightly, "No, Scarlett, she's not upstairs."

"Then where is she?"

Careen looked from her to Mammy and back to Scarlett again. "I'm not sure how to tell you this."

"Tell me what?" Scarlett huffed.

"Well, it's about Suellen…" Careen started. "She's gone… she's been gone a few weeks. I wanted to tell you, but I just didn't know how. I… I knew you'd find out eventually, but I just couldn't be the one…"

"Fiddle dee, Careen! Just spit it out," Scarlett nearly snapped. Mammy gave her a dark look and shook her head. She turned to Careen and took her hand.

"Tell ole Mammy whats happened to Miz Suellen," she nodded.

"Well, she's… she's married now," Careen said with a swallow.

"Married? Is that all?" Scarlett nearly laughed in relief. "It's about time someone married her. Well, I hope she's happy now that she finally has a husband."

"Iz dat all, Miz Careen?" Mammy asked. Scarlett looked back at Careen and saw the worried look was still on her face. "Iz dat what you wanted to tell us?"

"No," she shook her head, and swallowed deep again. "It's who she's married to."

"Well, who is it?" Scarlett prompted, tired of her sisters procrastination.

"Scarlett, she… she's married to… Jonas Wilkerson."

"What!" Scarlett gasped in horror.

"Oh, Laws," Mammy moaned and grabbed her chest.

"Jonas Wilkerson!" Scarlett nearly spat his name. "What in heaven's name are you talking about, Careen? Jonas Wilkerson married that no account Emmy Slattery."

"Let's sit and I'll explain everything to you," she took her hand and led her to the sofa. Scarlett was fuming with frustration, but at Mammy's bidding she sat and listened to Careen tell her story.

"You know Suellen never got over you marrying Frank, Scarlett. I know you did what you had to and I don't blame you for it, but Suellen did. She was hurt and angry for so long and then you married Mr. Butler and Suellen was so afraid she would be an old maid.

I don't blame you for anything you've done, Scarlett but Suellen… Suellen held on to it and it made her bitter. She was angry and she hated that she was stuck here while you were in Atlanta. She complained about it all of the time and always wanted to leave.

Then a year ago, Jonas Wilkerson came around. Emmy had passed away not long before and he was alone. At first, Suellen was cool to him, we all were, as only you could understand. He began coming around more and more, little bits at time. He would ask to see her and he brought her little gifts, flowers and things and Suellen began to warm to him.

I told her, Scarlett, I warned her about him. I told her that he wasn't a good man and that she was hurting the family, but Suellen was determined to see him. Then the day came that he asked her to marry him… and she accepted. No one here went to the wedding and no one from the county, either. Old feelings die hard."

Scarlett's anger had reached each its peak as Careen's story went on. She felt her face grow red with indignation. "That wretched little snipe!" she ground out. "How could she?"

"Don't be too hard on her, Scarlett," Careen pleaded softly. "Suellen was always impetuous and she always wanted what you had and you know that. Why, the first thing they did was by the old Marsh place because it's one of the finest homes in the county."

"Don't defend her, Careen. She's humiliated this family," Scarlett stood and stomped over to the window. "She will never set foot back on this land again. Not as long as I hold my breath in my body."

"What do you mean?" Careen asked behind her.

"What I mean is I'm going to buy her share of Tara no matter the price," she whirled around and faced them. "Jonas Wilkerson will NEVER have a claim to this land, not after what he did to Ma and Pa. Suellen will rue the day she ever did this."

"Miz Scahlett, don't you do anything foolish now. Miz Suellen is still yo sista." Mammy interjected sternly.

"Don't tell me what she is… she's a traitor, that's what she is," she shook her head hotly. "She always was a whiny little brat, but this… this is the worst thing she's ever done. Why, why I'm glad Ma and Pa are gone so they don't have to see this."

"Please Scarlett, I know she made a mistake, but don't do something rash. Besides, I haven't told you my news. I hope you will be happy about it, anyway."

"What news? Something else has happened?"

"Well, not yet," she smiled. "But, soon. I'm getting married myself, to Noah Calvert."

"Cathleen's little brother?" Scarlett smiled for the first time. She remembered Noah, but he was only a gangly, little bothersome boy at the time. He would follow her and Cathleen around for hours listening to them talk until they would catch him and force him back to the main house.

"Yes," Careen nodded. "I never dreamed I'd be getting married to anyone, ever. The war changed so many things and well… I could never marry someone who wasn't part of what I was. Do you know what I mean?"

"Yes," Scarlett answered and immediately thought of Rhett. He had told her once that they were alike and although at the time she couldn't see it, she knew now that it was the truth. They were very much a part of each other and he was, what she was and what she wanted.

"He's a fine man, too," Careen continued. "The Calvert's never really recovered from the war as you know, but Noah hasn't let that stop him. He works hard and he's kind and gentle, too."

"Mah little honey chile gettin' married," Mammy took her hand. "I's sure happy fo' you, Miz Careen. I knows Miz Ellen and Mr. Gerald would be, too."

"Thank you, Mammy," she patted her hand and then turned to Scarlett again. "Scarlett, so many things had happened and I wanted to tell you but with Bonnie and all, I just didn't want to burden you until some time had passed. I was going to write you next week and tell you and ask you something important. You see, Noah has agreed to live here at Tara, he wants to make it a fine plantation again. We had hoped you would agree."

"Why Careen, I couldn't be more happy to hear that. I think it's a grand idea," Scarlett came over to her.

"Do you mean that, Scarlett?"

"Of course, I do. I am going to make sure that you and Noah have everything you need to make Tara grow again. Why, it'll be back better than ever, just like before the war."

"You don't have to give us anything, Scarlett. We have the house and the land and that's what matters."

"Fiddle dee, I want to do this. Do you think I like seeing the place like this? I was going to do it anyway as it was and besides, I'm not doing this just for you, I'm doing it for Pa, too. I'm going to have the funds placed in an account for you and Noah just as soon as you're married."

"I don't know what to say," Careen smiled warmly.

"We will bring Tara back," she declared. "And if Suellen has a lick of sense in that silly head of hers, she'll stay clear of me from now on. Once I get her share, I don't care if I ever see her again. And as for her so called marriage to Jonas Wilkerson, as far as I'm concerned she married the dog, now let her live with the fleas."