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The Journey Home

Chapter Fifteen

Returning to Tara

Early afternoon brought James Olson home and face to face with Rhett, who was still contemplating his situation. Darcy explained to her husband who and what Rhett was and what had happened to him and while at first James was not happy about it, he accepted Rhett's gratefulness.

Rhett also expressed his desire to be taken to Tara so that he was no longer an inconvenience to them and in spite of their protests to the contrary, they did as he had asked of them.

Darcy made him a bed in the back of the wagon and they carefully moved him to it. Now, as the wagon gently rumbled down the worn, dirt road Rhett realized he was about to come face to face with Scarlett for the first time since the day he left, the day Miss Melanie had passed away.

He tried not to think of it too deeply, for in his mind he was still going to do what he set out to do regardless of the unfortunate situation he had found himself in. He and Scarlett no longer had a life and he was here to prove that to her.

"Mr. Butler, how long has it been since you've seen your wife?" Darcy asked him from the corner of the buggy.

Rhett let his gaze wander upwards to the sky, staring at the lazy, white clouds that dotted the blue canvas. "A while," he answered vaguely.

"I'm sure you'll be happy to see her and she you," she smiled and turned toward James in the driver's seat. "I know I would miss my James if I was parted from him even one day."

Rhett only slightly smiled in response. He didn't want to be reminded of that feeling, it was a feeling he had fought hard to put behind him. Now, the closer he came to Tara, the closer he came to Scarlett, the pricklier his senses became. Damn those vagrants for putting him in this vulnerable situation. One couldn't afford to be vulnerable around Scarlett, she used to it to her advantage far too often. As it was, he was going to be convalescing there until he was healed and able to leave, putting himself at her mercy.

Knowing Scarlett, she would use this opportunity to try and gain the upper hand, but he wasn't going to allow that to happen again. She had the upper hand for years only she didn't know it because her head was turned to from him to Ashley Wilkes. It made little difference that Ashley was no longer around her, what was done was done and nothing could make up for years of indifference and neglect they had done to each other.

"We're coming around the bend now, Mr. Butler," James called back to him. "Tara's just in sight."

Rhett released a tense breath and willed himself to relax. He was no longer Scarlett's to control and the sooner she understood that, the better off they would all be.

"Great balls of fire!" Scarlett fumed within the confines of the carriage. Oh! The nerve of those men deciding her own life for her. Why, she'd love to poke each one of them in the nose… oh, if only she were a man she'd do just that and with great pleasure.

Scarlett was angry. She was sorry she had ever cared about Ashley, she was sorry she had ever laid eyes upon him or any man. They were a passel of fools and she was sick of them all. And it was in that moment that she realized she was sick of Rhett, too.

He had left her high and dry in Atlanta and even after she had let him know she was back at Tara he had not even bothered to send her a decent note, only a message through Uncle Henry that he wanted a divorce. Like a fool she had been sitting here waiting for one little word from him, one little spark of interest from him that he cared at all about what happened to her and all she got in return was a cold, impersonal declaration that he wanted to be free from her. Well, if that's what he wanted, then…

"Great balls of fire!" she slammed her fists down on the folds of her skirt. That's not what she wanted at all! She didn't want to be free from him, she wanted the chance to make it right and to show him how much she had changed but he wouldn't even give her the chance to try.

"Are you alright, Mrs. Butler?" Eli's amused voice asked her from above.

"Oh, never you mind about me. Just get me home!" she spat out of the window and was duly rewarded with a soft chuckle from him.

Suddenly the wagon took a deep dive and sent Scarlett sprawling to the other side in a tumble. The sudden halt found her on her behind on the floor of the carriage with her back against one door while looking up at the other. "What in blue blazes?!" she asked angrily. "What on earth just happened?"

She heard Eli talking to the horses in a soothing, calming voice. "Hold on there, Mrs. Butler," he called to her. "Don't do anything."

Scarlett struggled to sit up and tried to pull herself forward but the door she was leaning against gave way beneath her and she fell backwards in a tumbled heap onto the dirt road. Her frightened scream sent Eli rushing around to her.

"Name of God Almighty!" she exclaimed as she found herself looking up at him. Her dress had flipped over her waist, exposing her undergarments to his more than amused eyes. "Don't just stand there!" she snapped angrily pulling down on her skirt. "Help me up you fool!"

"Yes ma'am," he grinned and took her by the hand. In a few seconds, Scarlett was on her feet no worse for wear but mighty angry at being humiliated in front of him. Her jaunty hat was askew on her head, her dress was rumpled around her legs and her pride was a little more than hurt. "You okay?" he asked with a raised brow.

"No thanks to you!" she snorted, plopping her hands on her hips. "Do you mind telling me what in blue blazes happened?"

"The wheel broke," he said pointing to the front where the wheel now lay in ruined halves beneath the carriage.

"The wheel broke!" she exclaimed in agitation as she stormed over to it. "Why, those are practically new. I just had those put on not more than two months ago."

"It was weaker than the other three. I was meaning to look at it once we got back and see what could be done to repair it, but I suppose it's a little too late for that now."

"You suppose?" she cracked sarcastically. "Well, you just wait until I get a hold of Percy Pruitt. He sold these to me and promised they were the best money could buy."

"I'm sure they were, ma'am, but sometimes their weakness doesn't show until a little time has passed," he tried to explain to her.

"Fine thing when you pay good money and end up on the road like pile of rubble. Well, don't just stand there, what are we going to do now?"

Releasing his breath, Eli looped his hand on his hip and pushed his hat back on his head. His golden hazel eyes rested on her with a mixture of respect and annoyance. "Are you always so bossy?"

Taken aback at his question, Scarlett stared at him. "I beg your pardon?"

"I asked, are you always so bossy?" he repeated. "I've never met a woman like you, Mrs. Butler. Are you how Georgia grows them or are you the exception to the rule?"

"Is that an insult to my character, Mr. Barrett?" she gritted.

"It would if you had character," he replied easily. "Since I've met you, you've been rude, insulting, bossy and downright ornery. You sit up there on your pious seat and stare down your nose at me or anyone else who doesn't run to do your bidding."

"Well, I-"

"I'm not finished," he cut her off. "You refuse any kind of help even though you need it, you draw your finger in the sand and dare anyone to cross over it. You need a good spanking in my opinion, Mrs. Butler and if I were your husband I'd never let you come here alone where you can so obviously rule like a dictator."

"Oh, really?" Scarlett asked tightly. "Do you think I care one whit what you think of me?"

"No, I don't suppose you do and I could say more, but I suspect it wouldn't do any good."

"You," she emphasized imperiously, "are the most ill-bred person I have ever met. You call me rude and insulting? What about yourself? You came barging onto my land uninvited and made yourself my 'protector' when I've told you repeatedly that I don't need you. You are a cad and I hope-"

"That I go to the devil and rot… yes, I get the picture," he grinned and nodded. "I've met people like you, of course most of them have been men, but I wouldn't dare regulate you to that position. No, you are quite female for all your brashness but you sincerely need to be put in your place. You've had free reign to do as you please and that has done you no favors."

Bristling at his condemning perusal of her character, Scarlett wheeled on her heel and headed over to the broken carriage and grabbed her parasol and purse. With a snap, she flipped the parasol open and turned back to him. "I have had enough of you, Mr. Barrett. I'm going home and you can go to the devil and rot."

"Of course I can," he laughed. "I'll unhitch the horses and we can ride them back unless you want to walk, that is."

Not answering him, Scarlett waited for him to do as he said. She would give him no satisfaction in showing her gratitude, especially after the things he had said to her. She was stung by his words, but only because they were partly true. She knew she was a bully, she knew what she was, but to have it laid out so crudely was a little unsettling to her ego.

She didn't like not having the upper hand where men were concerned and his case it was quite obvious he saw her for what she was and bold enough to say it. In spite of her wounded pride, she felt herself begrudgingly respect him for having the courage to say what he thought. So many men did not and she used it to her advantage many times. Why, the only person who talked to her in such a way was Rhett and he was no gentleman… but it appeared Mr. Eli Barrett wasn't either.

As she watched him go about his mission, her opinion of him changed and she decided that maybe, just maybe it would be so bad to have him around. She didn't think Jonas would bother her for long with Eli to contend with.

"Mrs. Butler," he said with a sweep of his arm to the waiting horse he had brought around to her. "Shall I help you up?"

"Of course," she answered tartly moving toward him. "After all, I can't fly up there now can I?"

"No, that would require wings and you're no angel, now are you?"

"No, I'm not, but then I'm not the backside of a horse either," she remarked pointedly at him. With a wide grin, he offered his hand and she allowed him to help her up. Within moments they were on their way to Tara in communicable, but nonetheless respectable, silence.

James stopped the wagon in front of the house and jumped down from the seat. "I'll see who's about," he said to them and bound up the steps to the front door. A few taps later and young black girl answered and in a few moments a group of servants filled onto the porch.

"Mister Rhett!" Mammy exclaimed as she heaved her bulk onto the porch. "Lawd have mercy, what hapn'd?"

"Hello, Mammy," Rhett said as Darcy and James helped him forward.

"Mister Rhett, yo's hurt," her concerned black eyes searched him over. "Law's but Miss Scahlett's gwine to be b'side huhself wid worry."

"I'm going to be okay, Mammy and where is Scarlett?"

"She went to town dis mahnin' to tek care of some bizness, she be back soon 'nough."

Rhett sighed in relief. He had a little more time to brace himself for her return.

In short order Mammy had him upstairs and in bed making him as comfortable as possible. She fussed over him and brought him something to eat. But, Rhett was already feeling worn and was hurting from the movement he had done. He thanked Darcy and James and promised to pay them a visit before he left for Charleston. He was going to make good on his word.

Soon after they had left, Mammy immediately gave him some of the medicine they had left for the pain he was feeling and soon after taking it he was groggy and sleepy.

Mammy silently shut the door behind her as she stepped out of his room, letting him rest. She was so happy Mister Rhett was back with them… now that scoundrel Barrett could leave and stop looking at Miss Scarlett when he didn't think anyone was noticing. Well, she noticed and she didn't like it one bit. Miss Scarlett belonged to Mister Rhett whether they thought so or not. They both were stubborn mules but she was sure it would work out now that Mister Rhett was back. Now Miss Scarlett wouldn't be alone anymore and that scoundrel Mister Barrett could leave for good.