I'm finally back with a new chapter. It took me forever to get this down, but here it is for better or worse. I hope you enjoy and of course, reviews are welcome and very much needed at this point. Hopefully, I can get back in the swing of things.

The Journey Home

Chapter Thirty Nine

Renewals

Several weeks had passed from the day Darcy spoke of Ashley to Scarlett and to Scarlett it was as if providence had opened its doors to her. It was clear that while Darcy was still mourning her husband she was becoming more drawn to Ashley. However, if Ashley noticed this it was not apparent to anyone else.

He had backed away from Scarlett considerably upon learning of her pregnancy, which she decided to share with close friends and family. Rhett stood by her behaving as if he were indeed the proud father but as soon as they were alone he withdrew back into himself and became that solid wall of obstinacy. Scarlett wanted to desperately to break through that wall, but as she could never manipulate Rhett she held back from him as well, pouring herself into her work and designing ways of throwing Darcy and Ashley together.

One such opportune time came with the advent of Darcy's birthday in the middle of June. Scarlett was into the fourth month of her pregnancy and was feeling much better since the morning sickness was finally passing. She busied herself with plans for Darcy's party, which she insisted on throwing despite protests from Darcy herself. Scarlett was never one to be deterred when she had her mind set on something.

She had invited several of the old families such as the Meades and the Bonnells. They had come to know Darcy and soon fell under her spell just as Scarlett had. They sympathized with her loss and she flourished in the friendship.

Of course, she had invited a few other close friends including Eli, but it was Ashley that she wanted there. She had purposely not invited India and she hoped that Ashley would know not to push that issue as India was still a sore subject where Scarlett was concerned. He did, however, inform Scarlett that he would be brining Beau since he had retrieved him from Virginia the week before. It was a happy time for everyone it seemed.

It was the day of the party and Scarlett was going over the menu with Dilcey and Hester in the kitchen. Rhett strolled in at the time holding several pieces of mail in his hand.

"Rhett," Scarlett smiled when she saw him. "You're just in time. I was going over the menu. Perhaps you wouldn't mind looking it over with me."

"Not now, Scarlett. I have to go down the bank for a few hours. I just brought the mail by on my way. You've receive a letter from Tara and I thought you'd want to read it."

"Oh?" she frowned, disappointed that he wouldn't take the time to look over the menu with her. He knew this was important to her but then Rhett didn't seem to take much interest in her outside of the required social events. He handed the envelope out to her which she took from him. Their fingers touched slightly and she glanced up at him just at that moment.

His dark eyes narrowed and he pulled back as if he had been touched by fire rather than her skin. A small feeling of triumph raced through her. He was still affected by her, even by the smallest touch. She turned away gripping the envelope with a satisfied smile on her lips.

She glanced down at the script and immediately recognized Careen's neat little handwriting. "It's from Careen," she announced and slid the flap open. As Scarlett read, she was acutely aware of Rhett still standing behind her.

"What's the news?" he questioned tightly.

Scarlett began reading aloud.

Dearest Scarlett,

How happy I am to be back at my beloved Tara after such a long time away. Noah and I have settled in and have found that we are happier here than any place we visited over the last six months since our wedding. I was equally happy to discover that Mammy is with us although I know you must miss her terribly not having her in Atlanta.

Things are going so well here that we have begun to expand the planting to beans and corn as well as cotton. Noah says the market value is strong now and we should come out with a nice profit at harvest time. Of course, none of this would be possible without you and Mr. Butler, Scarlett and for that I thank you a hundred times over. It is with this happiness so prevalent that I regret having to tell you what I know you will find to be distressing news.

I'm afraid it is Suellen that I speak of, Scarlett. Before I tell you what has occurred I hope that you will find it in your heart to be understanding and not hate our sister. She is so impulsive and headstrong that I know she does things without thinking them through.

With that said, it seems that while we were away and not long before Noah and I returned to Tara, Suellen sold her share of the farm to her husband, Mr. Wilkerson who then proceeded to try and claim it as his own. It seems that he had made plans to build a home on the land that he had staked as his.

However, I know those plans have not gone forward and it is largely due to the fact that your Mr. Butler has taken care to make sure that Mr. Wilkerson cannot do much of anything where Tara is concerned. He has locked the land with a deed that says as long as you and I, or any of our heirs own our shares, that Suellen or any owner thereafter cannot build, plant or otherwise change the land as is without our written and verbal consent. In other words, Mr. Wilkerson's share of Tara cannot change anything as long as you and I are not in agreement with it.

He came to Noah and I just today and offered us a very large sum of money for my share, which I promptly turned down. He told us that it was a matter of time before he owned it outright as it was Suellen's birthright and any children they may have, as well.

It still saddens me that Suellen has turned over her share of Ma and Pa's land to that man. I had hoped that our sister would realize that we are, in spite of everything, her family and do love her. But, she is determined to do anything to hurt you. I pray that one day we can set aside the bitterness that has grown and become a family again.

I knew that you would eventually hear this news and I wanted to tell you before anyone else did. I hope all is well in Atlanta and hope to see you soon.

Love Your Sister,

Careen

Scarlett's eyes scanned the page again and felt a burning hatred inside of her for Suellen and that husband of hers. How could that hateful cow be her blood relation? She never wanted to lay eyes on her again. But, it was also in that moment that she realized that Rhett had stepped in and rescued her in his own way. She looked up at him and saw the line of disapproval on his face.

"Rhett, how did you do this?"

"It wasn't that difficult a document to have drawn up, Scarlett," he replied blithely. "You asked for my help and I gave it, it's that simple. Tara was important to you even when nothing else mattered so I insured that nothing would ever become between that bond."

"You did that for me?" she questioned him, pleased that he still cared about her affection for Tara.

He turned away from her and smiled, but it was hardly a pleasant feature. "Yes, I did that for you. It was to be my farewell gift to you upon my departure from Georgia back to Charleston. One last gesture you might say."

"I see," she replied quietly, folding the letter together again before looking up at him. "I suppose I owe you my gratitude then."

"You owe me nothing. As I said, it was a simple gesture and one that will keep your hold on Tara for a very long time."

Scarlett felt a tingle of irritation run down her spine at his cool indifference. There were a lot of things about Rhett that she could take but this Rhett, this cool, unemotional, indifferent Rhett she could do without. He didn't have to act to carelessly about something that she found to be so wonderful. He had saved Tara for her yet again and she didn't believe for one minute that it meant nothing to him. "Must you always be so impassive when you know just what this means to me?" she grumbled lowly.

Rhett crossed his arms and stared down at her with a cock of his dark brow, "Must you always try to read something more when there is nothing more? I am trying to be a presentable husband to you socially, but I've told you before your hold on my emotions are no longer viable."

"So you keep repeating over and over again," she emphasized. "But, I know you Rhett Butler and you're not fooling me. You can't have it both ways, eventually something will have to give."

"You can't always have your way, Scarlett," he said, but his voice didn't hold the conviction of the words and Scarlett knew it.

"You can say what you please but you and I both know why you did this, even if you don't want to admit it. But, I know when I've been put in my place… for now. As it is, I have a party to plan for our Darcy. Don't you dare be late either or it will hurt her feelings."

Rhett laughed then, shaking his head as he did. "Always the little boss aren't you? Do you always think things will go your way or is it just your colossal conceit?"

"Perhaps both," she quipped with a grin. "But, you'll be there and if I do get my way, and I always do, there will be more than a birthday party to celebrate."

Rhett caught her cryptic words and narrowed his gaze on her. "What are you up to with Mrs. Olsen? Don't do anything stupid, Scarlett, she's been through enough."

"I'm not up to anything you need to be concerned about," she retorted lightly. "Men don't know the first thing about women and what they want or need and I'm just making sure that Darcy has the chance to find that again."

"Good God!" Rhett nearly barked, but when Dilcey and Hester looked sharply over at him, he took Scarlett by the arm and led her from the kitchen. Once in the hallway and with the kitchen door shut, he turned to her with a dark scowl and held her arms tightly in front of him. "What are you planning, Scarlett?"

"Let go of me," she squirmed against him.

"Not until you tell me what you have the ignorant little brain of yours," he shook his head.

"Rhett, this is ridiculous. I'm not doing anything Darcy herself doesn't want to happen. I'm just helping it along, that's all."

"What in hells blazes are you talking about?"

Scarlett sighed heavily and stopped moving, throwing her back to look directly at him. "If you must know, Darcy is infatuated with Ashley Wilkes. She more or less told me so herself. And Rhett, really if you think of it, it's the perfect solution. Ashley needs someone since Melanie is gone and Darcy is alone, too. What would it hurt to let them get to know each other better?"

If a bomb had exploded, Rhett couldn't have seemed more shocked. "You mean Mrs. Olsen and Wilkes? Are you mad?"

"Not in the slightest and Rhett, if you don't want to help me that's fine, but don't you dare interfere. I've never seen two people more in need of a helping hand than those two and I plan on doing everything I can to see that it happens… well, if it's meant to be that is."

"You little fool, you can't meddle in people's lives that way and who are you to decide whose perfect for one another?"

Almost offended at his insult, Scarlet refused to let his barbs bother her. "Go ahead, say what you want to but I do know about whose perfect for each other. I can see it and other things, too. I can see more than you, Rhett Butler."

"You stay out of it, Scarlett, I forbid you to play with her life that way."

"Ha!" she stiffened. "It'll be a cold day in Halifax before you forbid me anything. Don't approve, I don't care, but don't interfere, either. Darcy needs happiness and I'm making sure she finds it. Now," she straightened her shoulders. "I've got things to take care of before tonight. Don't be late, I'll expect to see you at seven."

"Scarlett," Rhett growled, but she quickly silenced him with her finger on his lips.

"Don't say anything else, it won't do you a smack of good. But, I will promise this… if I see it's not working I won't do anything else to bother them. I give my word."

Rhett shook his head and she felt his hands loosen on her arms. "I don't like this one little bit."

"Just wait and see, Rhett. It'll be perfect… just perfect."