Hello everyone, well I finally got this chapter finished. I've only been working on it a month, lol. I don't have a lot of time now. I used to work part-time and now I work full-time and it's just hard to find the time to do this. But, I love it and so I will try and continue as long as I have readers who want to read it. I hope I do anyway, lol. I'll try not to take as long next time and keep the flow going. Hope you enjoy...

The Journey Home

Chapter 38

A bird in the hand…

Eli and Belle sat across from each other in the small restaurant that Belle frequented. It was quiet and a place she liked to go when she wanted to be alone. Eli appreciated that fact.

He had a lot of things on his mind and Belle seemed to sense that. She didn't push or prod, she just talked and laughed and let him get it out in his own way.

"I know why I've missed you Belle, you're just the thing for a man's ego," he said to her.

"So I've been told a time or two," she shrugged and leaned back in the seat. "A woman knows when a man needs a lift up and you're in need of it if I ever saw one."

"I'm that obvious am I?"

"The way I see it, you get any lower and I'll be laying on the ground to talk to you."

Eli didn't respond forthright, but instead he gave a short nod. "Things have happened, things I don't like thinking about but I can't ignore either. I wish I could, but it's hard to do when it's your own family."

Belle frowned at him. "Family?"

"Cain to be exact," he sighed. "He killed a man, killed him outright. He was in cahoots with another man over land and money and Cain was enticed by the power of it, so much so he killed an innocent man for it."

"I'm sorry, Eli. I know it's a hard thing to live with."

"He's my brother… how did we end up on opposite sides of the law?"

"Never can tell about people is what I say. Look at me for example. My sister is married with four children, lives a respectable life, church-going, does the right things and me, well… I just didn't see that life for myself. I chose a different way of life from her and we was raised the same."

Eli nodded, "I know but it still doesn't make it any easier to bear. I saw him before I came here. He was bitter and resentful and for what? We had a good life in Texas, never did without, but something in him made him turn bad."

"Maybe it wasn't anything in his childhood but something in his adult years to explain the change. Sometimes life hands you the worst and you give back the worst in return."

"Yeah the worst was the war, it changed everything for everyone. Cain chose to fight for the south, I chose to fight for the north and he has never gotten over that loss. He turned to a life of crime as retribution, I chose a life of upholding the law. Two halves of a whole."

"I sure am sorry, Eli," Belle reached over and took his hand. "You chose the right path, don't forget it. The right path will lead you to the right kind of life and the right kind of woman eventually."

Eli smiled as thoughts of Scarlett ran through his head. The right woman she was not, but she was the kind of woman he wanted. She was headstrong, beautiful and dangerous to a man's soul and she would never be his, not as long as her husband was in the picture.

Belle caught the look on his face and smiled suspiciously. "Is there someone already?"

"No," he shook his head. "Well, not anyone who is free to make the choice I'd like for her to make."

"A married woman… not wise, Eli, not wise at all."

"I realize that and its moot point anyway. She's in love with her husband for all she seems to like having me around."

"I know a few of those kind and you better take some good advice and leave her alone. Women like that are nothing but clingers who'll drain every drop of a man."

"This one could, but I'm in control of it. She's special… very special."

"Does this special woman have a name?"

"She does," he smiled evasively, "but I'd rather keep that to myself if you don't mind."

"Never woulda took you for a fool, Eli, but then a woman like that can do that to a man I reckon. Just be mindful of yourself, don't let her have too much of you… you may never get it back if you do."

"I've got it under control, Belle. I understand her and she understands me and that's all that matters at the present."

Belle shook her head derisively. "You men, the whole lot of you are a waste of good sense if you ask me."

Eli laughed and lifted his glass. "Here's to fools, all of us."

There were only two things Rhett wanted when he left Scarlett, a drink and Belle and not in any particular order for one usually came with the other. He had to clear his mind and a glass of Belle's whiskey and Belle's comfort would help that cause. She would remind him of why Scarlett was not right for him and of course what an idiot he was for coming back. The only problem was, Belle was not there and no one knew where she was.

She had left that morning with a stranger that no one knew and had not returned nor did she say when she would, so Rhett was left to smolder in his agitation. Agitation… frustration… irritation… they all ran together in his jumbled mind. He had not expected the news of the child Scarlett carried to affect him so deeply, nor had he wanted it to.

It was a profound moment for him, one he didn't expect that he would ever have to face again. Hadn't he suffered enough? Hadn't the cruel hand of fate ripped and tore at him enough for one lifetime? Why had this child been allowed to come into existence?

Rhett slammed the door to Belle's suite behind him and stood in the center of the empty room. Lowering his head in his hands he released a long held breath. He had never allowed his feelings to come so close to the surface before, at least not since Bonnie had died and now… now a new child was coming to try and take what little of himself he held close.

What was it Scarlett said?

Do you think it will be that easy?

Easy? Nothing had been easy since Scarlett came into his life. Why should now be any different. She always twisted him like no other woman had ever done.

Rhett gritted his teeth, if he couldn't have Belle then a drink would have to do. He poured himself a shot of the smooth brandy Belle kept for him and sat back in the velvet lined chair that she also kept for him. Where the hell was she anyway?

He needed to talk, he needed to rant and rave about the unfairness of life and she was gone. The brandy slightly burned his throat going down but as always, it never burned Scarlett from his mind or his conscious. That's why he came here, he needed a release from himself and from Scarlett and Belle gave that to him.

Silence surrounded him save for the muffled business of the street below. Setting the drink down, he lifted the silver cigarette tin from his inside pocket and lit a cigarillo he kept there. The tobacco tasted good on his tongue and it helped to calm him somewhat.

Minutes passed and then it turned into an hour and still no Belle. With every passing moment Scarlett and the baby crowded his mind. He sighed when finally he could no longer keep her at bay. Her image burned his mind and he knew she was waiting for him to come back… or hoping was more like it. She was no doubt waiting for him in her room listening for the slightest sound of noise to signal his return.

And he would return, that much was certain but he had hoped to be stronger when he did so. His defenses were down and that's when Scarlett wielded her power the most. If he went back now she would hone it on it like a bird of prey and he would be lost once again.

Lost.

Well hell, he was already that.

That's why he was sitting here in Belle's rooms waiting like an idiot for her.

But Belle wasn't here and Scarlett was, figuratively speaking.

Rhett lifted the glass of brandy and finished it off. Gripping it tightly, he resigned himself to his own fate and knew it was time to go. Scarlett was waiting and God help him when he saw her.

Scarlett had never had much patience and sitting around at home waiting for Rhett was grating on her nerves worse than anything. She couldn't just set there waiting for him to return hoping he would somehow miraculously be happy. She was going crazy wondering about him and it wasn't until Darcy came to her and asked to go down to the store did she make up her mind.

Going to her store always made her feel better. She could forget for a while the doubts that plagued her and immerse herself into the running and working of the everyday things that were needed to keep the store a thriving business.

Darcy rode quietly beside her in the carriage as they trotted down the busy street. The least she could do is talk, she thought irritably. I suppose I could say something to get it started.

"Scarlett-"

"Darcy-" they said in unison.

Suddenly they looked at each other and laughed. "You first," Scarlett told her.

Darcy nodded slightly. "I'm not sure it's appropriate, but somehow I knew I could ask you and it would be alright."

"Whatever are you talking about, Darcy?"

"It's Mr. Wilkes," she said and glanced warily over to Scarlett. "Last night, I saw him or rather he saw me. I was outside. I couldn't stay in my room after you left so I went down the back hall and outside to sit in the garden. He was there but I didn't know it."

"Ashley was in my garden?" Scarlett asked hesitantly.

"He was sitting alone, so forlorn and sad. I suppose I surprised him and for a moment he seemed almost taken aback. But, then he realized it was me and apologized for startling me. I couldn't help but wonder why he was there. At first, he was reluctant to talk but then he began to tell me of his wife, Melanie."

"He told you of her?"

"He told me of her kindness and goodness and for the first time I was able to talk about James. He knew what I was feeling and he understood. It was so comforting, Scarlett to talk about him. I have peace about him now."

Scarlett didn't reply, for honestly she didn't know what to say.

"Oh Scarlett, you don't think it was inappropriate for me to talk so intimately with Mr. Wilkes, do you?"

"Of course not," Scarlett answered, but the reality was she was shocked to hear what Darcy was saying. Ashley pouring his heart out to this young woman surprised her on many levels. For one, he wasn't usually so forthcoming and secondly, he rarely ever talked about Melanie to anyone who didn't know her.

"Maybe I shouldn't have, but for the first time in a long time I was able to talk about James freely and it felt so right to talk to Mr. Wilkes. He is a very kind man and so devoted his son."

"Yes," Scarlett replied quietly. "He is very kind."

"And Scarlett, he misses his wife as much as I do James. He's very lonely and frightened of staying that way. I couldn't help but feel sympathy for him."

"It seems you and Ashley had quite the conversation," Scarlett mused aloud. "Did he say anything… well, anything about me?"

"Only to say that he cares for you since you were like a sister to Melanie. He said that Melanie loved you very much."

"Yes, she did," she nodded. "She always did."

"He also said that you and he had known each other a long time, since you were children."

"Yes, that's true."

"I found myself sitting there in the garden with him and for the first time I didn't feel alone or afraid. Isn't that strange that I would feel that with someone I barely know?"

Scarlett stared at Darcy for a moment and realized that the young woman was actually blushing. Could it be possible? Was Darcy having romantic feelings for Ashley?

Dear heavens, what a turn of events that would be.

However…

Scarlett's mind began to whirl. Why it was perfect, so perfect in fact that she couldn't help but smile at the deliciousness of it.

Ashley and Darcy.

It was a wonderful twist of fate as far as she was concerned. She would just have to see what she could do to push if forward. It would solve some of her problems. As Mammy always said a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.