Once again, thank you SOOO much for the fantastic reviews. I am simply blown away by them and that's the truth. I am so glad that my story can evoke so many responses, it's very elating to say the least. Now, for this chapter... it may not have the same punch the other one had, but not all of them can, lol. Hopefullythough you'll find it a nice read and will review anyway.

The Journey Home

Chapter Thirteen

Turning the Corner

Early the next morning Scarlett awoke and dressed under Mammy's watchful eye. She never left the bed before ten o'clock and so her actions immediately aroused Mammy's suspicions.

"Where you gwine so eahly in da mahnin when you ain't even had yo' breakfas'?"

"I have some business to take care of in Jonesboro, that's all," she answered as she adjusted her hat on her head.

"What bizness?" Mammy probed. She was always suspicious when Scarlett became secretive because you never knew what she was going to do.

"Good heavens, Mammy I'm only going to town, not Atlanta," she snatched up her gloves in exasperation. "I have store business to tend to and I have to check the telegraph office. I haven't completely given up on Rhett yet. I just know I'll hear from him any day now.

Almost begrudgingly Mammy let the matter go. She wanted Scarlett to hear from Rhett almost as badly as Scarlett wanted to. Moving her heavy bulk down the hall she called out for Pork. "Pork, tell Simon to get Miz Scahlett's buggy ready. Prissy, you's gwine wid huh, 'cause I's getting' too old to traipse 'round da countryside."

"I don't need Prissy this time, Mammy," Scarlett told her as she met her on the stairway.

Mammy's face grew indignant, "Yes you is takin' Prissy. You cain't go to town 'lone, not wid dat white trash Wilkerson runnin' loose."

"Oh? And what do you think Prissy is going to do to help me?" she nearly laughed at the thought. "One 'boo' and she'd be running away like a scared deer."

"It don' mattah 'bout dat, you cain't be 'lone," she insisted.

"Mammy darling, I'll be fine. Don't worry," she kissed her on the cheek. With the matter settled in her mind she made her way to the entrance hall and picked up a stack of letters she had to mail, including the one to Ashley.

She also had another thought in her mind that she didn't want to tell Mammy, but it was her intention to locate Byron Cagle once she got into to town. Byron was the local blacksmith and also served as a part-time sheriff. There was little need for one, but it was he the townspeople turned to when something went wrong and to Scarlett something was very wrong. Namely, Elijah Barrett and his refusal to leave her property.

After a few minutes she heard the carriage gently rumble around the corner from the back and she stepped out onto the porch. She blinked a few times and wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her. Instead of Simon sitting in the driver's seat, it was Elijah Barrett. He held the reins loosely in his hands as he tipped his hat to her. "Morning, ma'am."

"What in blue blazes are you doing?" she thundered.

"I believe you were heading into town, weren't you?"

"Yes! But, not with you. Get down from there and find Simon, he always drives me."

"He won't come," he replied in a matter of fact tone. "I told him that from now on I'll be your driver and he was more than happy to turn the job over to me."

"You can't do that!"

"It's already done. Now, if you're going into town this is the only way you're going to get there."

"I'll ride into town with you over my dead body!" she fumed.

"I don't think it's necessary to go that far," he grinned.

"You're a skunk and what you're doing is despicable," she nearly stomped her foot in her anger. "I don't need you around here, Mr. Barrett. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"I think you've made your point quite clear, but today if you're going into to town it'll be with me driving and me watching out for you."

Scarlett's frustration mounted until she thought she would burst. Then, it occurred to her that if he were with her then her job of turning him in would be all the more easier. She was glad she had thought of it, now he would have to leave her property once and for all. With her shoulders back, she came down the steps with satisfied grin on her face. "Fine, Mr. Barrett if that's the way you want it, you can drive me."

A puzzled frown came across his face as he jumped down to the ground to open the door for her. "That was a quick change of attitude. There wouldn't something devious behind that beautiful smile of yours, would there?"

Scarlett tensed and turned to him. "You may not speak to me in such an intimate way, Mr. Barrett. You don't know me well enough to do that. I am a married woman and you would bear in mind that my husband wouldn't take kindly to what you just said."

"Begging your pardon, Mrs. Butler," he held the door open for her and waited for her to step in.

With a huff under her breath she stepped into the buggy and waited for him to shut the door and climb back to the driver's seat. With a slap of the reins, the buggy lurched forward and they were on their way to Jonesboro.

Rhett awoke to the sound of humming. The soft melodic tune wafted above his head as he tried to open to his eyes. Slowly he managed to open them enough to see the blurred outlines of a room. Blinking several times, he slightly turned his head to try and get a better look.

A rustling movement to his left caught his attention and he heard the humming again. He was amazed at how even that slightest movement caused him pain. He knew something wasn't right but he wasn't exactly sure what. His mouth felt like cotton and his head felt heavy like it was made of stone.

"Oh, you're awake," a feminine voice said and in a matter of moments she was in front of him. Her long blond hair was pulled to the side to form a long braid that reached to her waist. Her dress was a simple, faded calico which she wore a long white apron over. Rhett blinked several times to bring her into focus as she placed a cool hand on his forehead. "Your fever's down, that's a good sign."

Rhett stared at her for a moment. "Who are you?" he asked in hoarse whisper.

The woman smiled at him, "My name is Darcy Olson, my husband and I found you last night."

"Last night?" Had it only been last night?

"Yes, you were lying on the road when we passed by. We brought you home and had the doctor come in to check on you. You were lucky we found you when we did or you might have had a worse time of it."

Rhett took the information in and slightly nodded. "I'm grateful to you."

"You're pretty beat up. You have four broken ribs, a fractured ankle, numerous bumps and bruises and a gash on the side of your head. Do you remember what happened to you?"

Grimacing, he answered, "I was robbed and thrown down in the gulley. Not one of my prouder moments."

Darcy frowned down at him. "What's pride got to do with it? You're alive and that's the main thing. Do you have a name? We searched you but you were picked clean."

"Butler, Rhett Butler," he told her.

"You're not from around here are you, Mr. Butler?"

"No, I'm from Charleston. I was traveling on business." Business… that was one way to think about Scarlett. Then he remembered with clarity why he was there and he turned heavy eyes back to Darcy Olson. "Where exactly am I?"

"You're in our home, Mr. Butler."

At that, Rhett glanced at his surroundings and saw the meagerness of their home. He lay in the corner of the single room on a wooden, tick bed and just by the looks of it, they didn't possess much in the way of worldly goods. His sympathetic eyes came back to hers, but he saw strength and pride in her face and he knew that Darcy Olson wanted pity from no one. He cleared his throat and glanced around again. "Where would that be?"

"Well, I'm not exactly sure it's a name, but some call it Rough and Ready. It's not much of a place, but it's ours," she answered him, letting him know that she wasn't bothered by his awareness of their situation.

Nodding, Rhett felt a sense of relief. Rough and Ready was only miles away from Tara, he could be there by nightfall. "Mrs. Olson, I need to speak to your husband."

"James isn't here, he rode in Jonesboro this morning to talk to the sheriff about you. He was hoping someone knew something and could tell us who you were."

"When do you suppose he'll be back? It's very important that I get in contact with someone."

"Oh? Do you have family close by?"

"You could say that," he said. "My wife is visiting her family here. Do you know of plantation Tara?"

"Tara?" her eyes widened. "You mean the O'Hara place?"

"Yes, that's the one. It's imperative that I get in touch with her."

"You're wife is one of the O'Hara's?"

"Yes," he replied and with it he sensed a sudden coolness in Darcy Olson's demeanor. She turned away from him and walked over to the wash basin. He could tell her body was tense as she moved. "Is something wrong?"

With her back stiff, Darcy began ringing out a cloth with jerky movements. "Of course not, Mr. Butler. I'm going to fetch clean water, I'll be back directly."

In a matter of moments Darcy was out of the room leaving Rhett confused and puzzled by her behavior. What was her connection to Tara, if any? She certainly cooled toward him when he mentioned O'Hara's as well.

The pain in his head and ribs began to increase and he could only close his eyes hoping it would pass. He heard Darcy re-enter the room and he opened his eyes slightly to look at her.

"Mrs. Olson, did the doctor leave anything for pain? I'm not too proud to admit that a little medication would help right about now."

"He did," she answered and lifted a little jar of powder. "He said to mix this with water and let you drink it." She mixed the powder and water together and it brought it to him. She helped him sit up long enough to get it down.

"Thank you," he gritted from the pain of moving.

"This should help you sleep some, but not so deep you can't be brought to."

"I appreciate what you've done," he said. "And, I would like to speak to your husband when he returns."

"I'll tell him, Mr. Butler. Now just rest, you're going to need all the strength you can to get well."

It wasn't long before Rhett began to feel the medication working through his system and let the warmth of it wash over him. He felt calmer and was able to think about things more clearly. Darcy busied herself around him and it brought his curiosity to full circle. What was her connection to the O'Hara's and why did she react that way when he mentioned their name. Whatever the reason, he would find out what it was and he hoped to God it had nothing to do with Scarlett.