Thanks for the reviews on the other chapter, even though it's a been a while. Hope I still have some readers out there...

The Journey Home

Chapter Thirty Two

Honor among Thieves

The capture of Cain Barrett spread like a wildfire throughout the small community. It was rare that an outlaw was seen, much less caught, in the midst of the mundane every day lives of the townsfolk of Jonesboro. He, along with his men, were being held in the makeshift jail in the back of the Byron's blacksmith shoddy until Marshall Hayes arrived to take them into custody. It seemed that everyone in town at some point in the day stopped by to get a look at the notorious gang.

The Marshall was due to arrive at any time and when he did, Rhett would take his leave of Jonesboro for the last time. He had no reason to stay or to return, his obligation was fulfilled as far as he was concerned. Scarlett was safely back in Atlanta, Darcy was with her, hopefully finding a new path in life to walk down and Eli was gone to parts unknown.

His determination to divorce Scarlett was waning and so it was with disdainful resignation that he decided to let sleeping dogs lay. Scarlett would never divorce him willingly and he didn't want to drag the situation through court and hang their dirty laundry out for speculation and gossip mongers to chew over. The only course of action was to leave it alone. He would stay married to Scarlett, make an occasional appearance in Atlanta and the rest would take care of itself.

One didn't need a divorce decree to find comfort and a warm bed when it was needed.

Besides, staying married to Scarlett would save him monetarily when it came right down to it. It would cost far less to keep her up with an allowance than to spend the time and effort to remove her from his life. This arrangement would be mutually satisfying to them both.

It was this thought that followed him from Byron's office to the saloon across the street. A light rain had started and fell on Rhett's shoulders as he moved to the other side. Steam rose from the hard-packed dirt road while the tinkle of drops sluicing on the tin roofs above him set a steady beat as he walked.

The doors to the dim saloon creaked unceremoniously as he pushed them forward. A quick glance around the place confirmed that it was back in order after his and Eli's fight, not that it looked much better before or after the fact. The strong odors of whiskey, sweat and tobacco permeated the air with an invisible shield that spoke of its usual occupants and activities. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, nothing that is except the presence of Jonas Wilkerson sitting at a nearby table.

He was leaned back, his hat lay casually on the faded velvet top of the table while a saloon girl was propped on his lap giggling and twisting her fingers around his cravat.

Rhett smirked and watched the scene with interest. Strange how he had not been seen or heard from for weeks until the matter with Barrett was settled and then suddenly, he was back in town as if nothing had occurred at all. He was all smiles and confidence, actions of a man who didn't think he was touchable. That was something that Rhett figured to correct and there was no time like the present to do so.

"Well, Jonas Wilkerson, what a surprise to find you here. Did you finally tire of cowering like a school girl out at your place?"

With a quick snap of his eyes, Jonas pierced him with a cold glare and practically shoved the girl to the floor.

"Now, now Jonas, don't get your hackles up, it was only a friendly observation. I'll have a shot of that if you don't mind," he settled back in the chair across from him, threw his hat along side his and lifted the bottle. "Rot gut," he said with a salute and poured it in to the glass.

"I drink what I like, if you don't like it than you're welcome to leave it alone," Jonas shot back.

"Some things don't improve with wealth or privilege, do they Jonas?" he grinned and threw it back with a practiced hand. "A real gentleman would never drink cheap liquor… brandy or scotch is much more civilized."

A flash of irritation moved across Jonas' face. "I don't have to justify my tastes to you and that doesn't make me any less a gentleman than you, either."

"No, of course not," Rhett mocked and casually crossed a booted foot over his knee. "Some things are hard to leave alone once they've found their way in, isn't that right?"

"What do you want from me?" Jonas grabbed the bottle and poured another shot, although Rhett saw his hand shaking slightly as he did so.

"Nothing much," Rhett shrugged and lowered his voice. "Just your head on a silver platter, but I'll settle for jail along with your companions."

Jonas slammed the bottle down and gritted his teeth. "I had nothing to do with what happened to Olson, I don't know those men and I resent you implying otherwise. I am a man of respect in this community not some common criminal."

A slow smile spread on Rhett's face. "A man of respect? Come now, Jonas, we both know you're involved, to what extent I'm not sure just yet, but it's only a matter of time before you hang yourself. You try too hard, Jonas because scum is scum, even when it's dressed in fancy clothes."

"You have insulted me, sir!" Jonas stood and knocked the chair back, sending it clanking across the rough hewn floor. "I demand an apology from you."

"You'll get no such satisfaction," Rhett's lifted himself from the chair. "Enjoy your life, enjoy your freedom while you can. It's only a matter of time, Jonas and one way or the other you'll lose what you've tried so hard to attain. Oh and one more thing," he stepped closer to him and penetrated him with a steely, hard stare. "You come near my wife or her property, you make even one move I don't like and you'll be sorrier than you can possibly imagine."

Jonas' lips quivered before he snarled in response. "I have every right to claim what I own and seeing as how I now own one-third there is nothing you can say that is going to make me back down from claiming it."

Rhett's casual stance belied his true state of mind. However, one fight in this bar was more than enough. He lifted his glass and saluted Jonas. "You're not a stupid man, Jonas so I don't expect for you to cross me on this. I can buy men like you ten times over and I will do whatever I have to do to make sure Tara stays in the hands to which she belongs. You do understand my meaning, yes?"

"My wife-"

"Your wife is a brat who should have been horsewhipped years ago, as it is, being married to you in punishment enough I expect."

Jonas's eyes bulged in hot anger and his fists clenched near his waistband. "I've killed greater men than you for talking to me that way."

Rhett smiled and downed the last of his whiskey before sliding his hat back on his head. "Stay clear of Tara, stay clear of Scarlett. Don't cross me, Jonas. I don't make promises I can't keep."

"Your threats don't scare me," he snarled.

Rhett leaned forward and lowered his voice dangerously low. "Then you're stupider than I remember," he said. "Heed my warnings, Jonas. I won't give you another opportunity to do so." He then tipped his hat and left the saloon.

When Rhett stepped outside of the saloon, he didn't know where he was going until he ended up at the train depot and was standing in front of the ticket agent, rain dripping from his coat and puddling around his boots.

"Where to, sir?" the agent asked from behind the glass partition.

Rhett stood there for a moment and listened to the rain falling around him. He knew where he was going, he knew where he wanted to go… back home to Charleston. But, the strangest thing happened. When he opened his mouth, only word came out.

"Atlanta."

It was the next day when Scarlett was at the store going over the current inventory that Ashley made his appearance. She was a bit agitated over the fact that she couldn't find a particular bin of lanterns that she had ordered and was in the back going through some boxes that had been set aside.

She had sent Lucas out as he kept apologizing for the misplacement, something that was grating on her nerves. She didn't want his excuses, she wanted the lanterns found and put out for display. She was running a business and she couldn't run that business if the inventory was continually misplaced.

The muffled tinkling of the bell over the door rang, causing her groan in irritation. "Coming," she called and then huffed as she sat down a basket of yarn. Swiping at the dust on her dress, she exited the storage room. "Ashley," she stopped, surprise lining her voice.

"Hello, darling," he smiled softly at her.

"What are you doing here?" she found herself asking almost accusatorily.

"Why I've come to see you, of course," he replied with a frown. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, I mean, yes, I mean…" she paused and pushed her hair back. "I mean, I'm busy at the moment. This store has fallen into complete disarray since I've been gone and I've spent most of the morning trying to get it back in order."

"I see," he nodded and then swept his hat off. "I had hoped to have a moment of your time. I had hoped we could talk."

"This is really not the time right now, Ashley." She hedged his penetrating gaze.

"Then when? Tonight, perhaps over dinner?"

"I can't leave Darcy alone all day and all night, too. She is my guest."

"Scarlett, why do I have the feeling you're avoiding me?" he asked crossing his arms as he spoke.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"I mean, since my return I've only spoken to you once."

"I've been very busy," she offered weakly.

"Too busy to make time for me?"

"I… Ashley, why must you run on so?" she swiped at the air and moved away from him, but he quickly followed, coming to stand closely next to her.

"Why do I? Because Scarlett, we have to talk, we must talk. I'm afraid I cannot keep hoping you'll come to me. I don't want to pressure you, my dear but I feel I must."

Scarlett huffed and crossed her arms in defiance. "This is neither the time nor the place to discuss something so personal. Have you forgotten I am still a married woman?"

"No, I have not," he bristled slightly. "I thought that matter would resolve itself since you and Captain Butler are no longer together."

"Ashley," Scarlett paused, releasing a small breath of irritation. "I cannot talk to you about this right now. There has been enough gossip about us without you coming back here and making your intentions known. Why, your sister is no doubt wagging that tongue of hers at this very moment about it all."

"India knows her place and she will not say a word," he assured her, but Scarlett didn't believe a word of it. India's hatred of her had reached a new high and she knew that the bitter woman would do everything in her power to ruin her.

"Then you don't know your sister very well," she snorted imperiously.

Ashley's impatience filtered across his face. He reached over and took her arm, his eyes boring into hers imploringly. "Scarlett, don't shut me out, not now when I need you so. I don't want to bring scandal down on our heads, that's why I moved to Virginia. There, no one will condemn us or judge us. We can start a new life… you, Beau and me as a whole family."

Scarlett stared at him dumbfounded. Never had she heard Ashley speak so passionately nor had she ever wished so hard that he had not said the words to her. A memory pulled at consciousness reminding her that not so long ago she would have given her very soul to hear these words from him. How long had she longed for him to take her away? How many times had she lain in Rhett's arms while thinking of Ashley? How unfair life was to give her what she wanted when she no longer wanted it.

Rhett… oh, Rhett, I'm sorry darling, I'm so very sorry for doing that to you. No wonder you hate me. No wonder you push me away as I had done to you for years. I should have thrown Ashley aside years ago and ran to you with open arms, but I was a fool… a stupid, stupid fool.

"Scarlett," Ashley lifted her hand to his mouth. "Please dear, we must talk. Won't you let me come to you?

"I…" she opened her mouth to speak when the tinkle over the door caught her attention. She looked over to see Eli, whose face registered both surprise and recognition at seeing Ashley and then confusion at the scene he had walked in on. He stared at Scarlett and then at Ashley and then loosely crossed his arms.

"Have I come at a bad time?" he asked them, but when neither answered he smiled ruefully. "I can see that I have. Sorry to disturb you," he tipped his hat.

"Eli, wait," Scarlett stepped forward, reaching for him when suddenly the room begin to spin around her. The next thing she knew she was falling and as blackness enveloped her it was Eli's arms that captured her before she lost all consciousness.