I can't believe I'm actually posting. I have been in such a rut and didn't think I would ever get out of it. I must apologize to those whose stories I haven't been reviewing, I am trying to get caught up on all of that as this story and partcularly this chapter has had me in knots and otherwise occupied. I lost my way for a bit so I hope I still have readers who are interested in my story and still want to know what I have in store yet. I may have been down, but I 'm not out. I still love doing this and want to continue, so without further ado...

The Journey Home

Chapter Thirty One

Reunions

"Oh Ashley, I just cannot believe you're finally here," Aunt Pitty said breathily for the tenth time since their arrival.

Scarlett closed her eyes, thinking that very thing but for very different reasons. Coils of dread swept through her every time she looked at him. Great balls of fire! Why couldn't he have stayed gone? What was she going to do now?

"I'm home for a little while, just until I settle some personal matters," he responded and smiled softly at Scarlett. India, who was sitting beside him, turned to him sharply and saw the expression on his face and turned pale when the horror of his meaning dawned on her. Her fists clenched into balls and Scarlett would have laughed had it not been so dreadful a situation.

"I don't care what brings you home, just so you are," Aunt Pitty exclaimed happily. "Uncle Peter! Bring in that lovely wine I purchased the other day."

"There's no need for that, Auntie," Ashley said but she hushed him and laughed like a little girl when Uncle Peter carried in the tray laden with glasses.

"I's be right back wid da wine, Missy," he said backing out of the room.

"Thank you, Uncle Peter. Let's make a toast to Ashley's return," Aunt Pitty clapped her hands.

Scarlett stood and walked over to the window. Between Ashley's mooning gazes, India's razor sharp glares and Darcy's decided quietness, she was going to go mad if she didn't get out of that house!

Feeling someone come up behind her, she turned expecting to see Ashley, but instead it was India's pinched, hateful face looking at her. "How dare you lead my brother on," she hissed. "You're no better than one of Belle's girls with your trashy clothes and trashier manners. Why he'd even look at you is beyond me."

Feeling the sting of India's words, Scarlett's face burned with indignation. "Is that so? What are you, India but a dried up old prune that nobody would want in a million years? You may wear dowdy dresses and be as plain as a broom, but trash is a matter of opinion."

"You stay away from my brother," India's face seared red. "I swear I'll see you dead before you ruin his life!"

"India!" Aunt Pitty cried and covered her quivering mouth. "You mustn't say such things."

"India, perhaps you should go upstairs and lie down," Ashley stood and gave his sister a stern look.

"Ashley, don't let her do this. Can't you see she doesn't give one whit about you? She's no good, she's no better than an alley cat!"

"India, I won't have you behaving in such a disrespectable manner. You will apologize and remove yourself from this room," Ashley spoke firmer.

"Don't mind her, Ashley. I can't stay here a minute longer anyway. If I do, I shall do something I'm afraid a real lady wouldn't do."

India's hateful laugh reverberated off the walls. "What would you know about being a real lady? You'll never be anything but trash, Scarlett Butler. You're mother was a real lady but I'm glad she's dead so she doesn't have to see what a disgraceful, shameful creature you've become."

Before Scarlett could even think, anger, hot and vengeful coursed through her as she lunged for India and slapped her so hard across the face it stung up to her elbow. "Don't you ever mention my mother's name again or so help me, India Wilkes I'll kill you myself!"

India's eyes widened in shock as she grabbed her face and Aunt Pitty cried out and fell back in the chair in a faint.

"Oh! You…you harpy!" India yelled. "I have put up with you for years because of Melanie but Melanie is no longer here and now I can tell you what I really think about you."

"That's enough, India," Ashley's face was contorted in anger. "Leave this instant or I shall remove you forcibly."

Scarlett's fists were clenched tightly as she stalked closer to India. "I swear to you before God and all, don't ever come near me again or you'll regret it as you have never regretted anything in your measly, pathetic life!" Scarlett gritted.

"The only thing I regret is ever having known you and if you think I'm going to let Ashley ruin his life over you, you can think again!"

"India!" Ashley grabbed his sister's arm and shoved her toward the stairs while Uncle Peter frantically fanned Aunt Pitty's fat, little face.

Scarlett angrily stormed after them. "You heed my words, India, stay clear of me from now on or you'll regret it."

"I hope you rot in hell," India hissed as Ashley surged her forward up the narrow staircase.

Silence thick with tension hung in the air and clogged Scarlett's lungs until she nearly gasped from the weight of it. She whirled around and slung the door open, stalking down the worn sidewalk to the gate.

"Scarlett, wait, please wait," Darcy called after her.

"I'm sorry, Darcy but I must be alone. Can you manage back on your own?"

"Why yes, but Scarlett, I'm not so sure you should be alone. That woman was positively vile and horribly rude and the things she said would have upset anyone but going off alone like this is never a good idea. Anger makes people do rash things."

"I'll be fine, Darcy," she managed to say without snapping. Whipcords of tension crept along her spine and walking almost always calmed her and helped her get things in perspective. She needed to move, to get away before she did something she would regret later.

"Very well," Darcy nodded in understanding and stepped back from her. "I'll be waiting for you at home."

Scarlett moved quickly and deliberately away from Aunt Pitty's house. Oh, that India Wilkes! How dare she say those things about her mother. How dare she! Her dislike for India had intensified to hatred and she truly meant what she said. If India crossed her again she would make her pay dearly for it even if it damned her soul to hell!

Suddenly and without warning Scarlett slammed into something solid and warm and would have fallen backwards if a strong hand hadn't have reached out and grabbed her. As she steadied herself a familiar voice leaned in close to her ear.

"Whoa there, I see you're no better at watching where you're going than you were before."

"Eli!" she said with genuine surprise. "What on earth are you doing here?"

He stood before her dressed in his usual black, his hat pushed low on his thick, brown hair. She noticed the faint outlines of bruising along his right cheek and slight puffiness on his jaw. He had recently been in a fight, that much was obvious but she was too surprised to say anything about it.

"Let's just say I had a change of plans," he answered with a flashing grin. "At any rate, Atlanta seems a good a place as any to be."

"You scared the living daylights out of me," she huffed but without her earlier frustration. Seeing him made her forget the reason for her anger if only momentarily.

"Yes, you did seem a little occupied. I would certainly hate to be on the receiving end of whatever bee flew in your bonnet."

"I'd rather not discuss it," she quickly rebutted.

"Fair enough, I'll not pry," he nodded and held out his arm. "Care to continue your walk with me?"

Considering his proposal, she gave no audible response but merely took his arm and started down the sidewalk again. "Are you going to tell me the real reason you're in Atlanta?" she asked easily as if his answer really didn't matter. "I can't imagine why you'd come here of all places."

"I gave you the reason. A change of plans, a change of scenery. Atlanta's a different town now, full of potential and promise, wouldn't you agree?"

"I suppose," she agreed, "If there truly is no other reason, that is."

His brown eyes glittered humorously. "And you think there's more? Something I'm not telling you?"

"Is there?" she glanced at him.

"My, my, you're certainly conceited aren't you? You must think I came here because of you."

"Well, did you?" she asked, unruffled by his veiled insult.

He laughed and pushed his hat back. "And if I said yes?"

She didn't answer but smiled with the little knowledge of satisfaction. It wasn't that she like the idea of Eli coming to Atlanta because of her, although it certainly didn't hurt to think about it, but it was knowing that he thought enough of her to admit it. Most men were not the guileless or bold. She didn't pretend to think that there was more to it or that she wanted more from him, but she couldn't deny that there was something between her and Eli and had been there from nearly the first time they met. What that was however, she wasn't entirely sure of. She didn't know where he fit into her life, or if he even did at all. But, he was here and she enjoyed his company so she didn't think about the reasons behind it any further.

"You look like the cat that just finished the cream," he lightly jabbed. "I have a feeling I just boasted your already inflated ego by my admission."

"You've already admitted it and you can't take it back. Besides, we're friends aren't we? Why shouldn't friends admit they're happy to see each other?"

"Because, I have the strong suspicion the folks around here wouldn't understand a friendship such as ours. After all, you are a married lady and I'm a rogue, a scoundrel and very, very unattached."

"If you think I care what folks think of me you don't know me like you say you do," she replied tartly.

"Oh, I do know that, Scarlett. You are an incredibly smart woman, but incredibly ignorant when it comes matters of social graces and protocol. I imagine you had it embedded in your stubborn little brain from the time you could walk but you wear it and discard it much like a coat when it suits you and when it doesn't."

"Did you come to Atlanta to insult me and call me names?" she jerked her arm free from his but he pulled her back into place with a quiet laugh.

"No, I came to check on you, to see how you were getting along and to make sure you were staying out of trouble, but seeing you first thing when I did assured me that wasn't the case."

"I don't need you to check up on me, I don't need anyone but-" she paused and bit her lip… hard. She wouldn't say his name, she refused to. Still, Rhett's image came unbidden in her mind and she grunted with dissatisfaction.

"Still pining after him, I see," Eli said at last. "I can't say that it entirely thrills me to acknowledge it, but I also am not a fool, romantic or otherwise."

"He's… he's doing well?"

"As can be expected, I suppose. We tracked down Mr. Olson's murderer and as far as I know, it's settled and done."

"Jonas?" she turned to him. "Was it Jonas?"

"I'll tell you everything later, but not now."

Scarlett turned away from him. "And Rhett? Is he here… I mean, did he happen to come with you?" she heard herself ask, but she couldn't look at him to read his reaction.

"Not with me, no, but I imagine it's only a matter of time before he shows up here. You're a hard woman to forget and that goes for your husband as well."

"It's not hard for Rhett, he manages quite well to forget me now. I'm a reminder of too many things he doesn't want to think about, I'm afraid."

"You're wrong about that, Scarlett. He's in love with you even though he wants to hate you. I've seen it before and he'll never be out of your life as long as you choose for him to be there."

"I'm not sure what to make of you, Eli Barrett. One minute you're pushing me toward Rhett and the next… well, the next I think you…"

"What?" he stopped and turned her toward him. "You think what? That I may have feelings for you? That I want you for my own?"

Too stunned to reply, Scarlett only stared at him.

"As I said, I'm not a fool. I know you love your husband, I see it in your eyes every time you speak his name. I know my place and I know I'd better stay there least I find myself in a heap of trouble I don't want or need. I care about you, I'm concerned about you but that's as far as it will go, as far as I will let it go. I can offer you friendship and if you can accept it, I'll stick around. If it's more than you can handle, I'm gone before the sun sets, it's up to you."

Scarlett considered this and found that she liked having Eli for a friend, much as she liked having Darcy for a friend. Why hadn't she ever realized before how having people you can depend on made life easier to bear? She knew where the boundaries lay between her and Eli and if he didn't mind, why should she? With a contented smile she placed her hand on his arm.

"I can accept it and I want your friendship. There I've said it and you can rest assured I've never said before to anyone else."

"That I do believe," he nodded, but grinned nonetheless. "Shall, I escort you home, madam?"

"You may and Eli…" she bit her lip. "Thank you… thank you for caring, for coming to check on me, for knowing I needed someone to look out for me. Thank you for being my friend… "that's all, just thank you," she finished.

"You're welcome," he winked and held out his arm once more and together they turned and headed in the direction of her home unaware of the dark, shadowy figure with eyes forged with anger watching them as they passed and moved amicably and steadily down the sidewalk.