I own diddlysquat. The characters (with the exception of the children I
made up) are entirely Margaret Mitchell's. This twist on the original
storyline is mine. Some quotes/passages have been blatantly ripped off from
the classic movie and book Gone With The Wind.
(Short chapter, I wanted to get the second one out. I hate when people leave stories at just one chapter...)
But the consequences for her night of freedom came, a very angry fight with her husband among them. But worst of all was the disapproval she received from Ellen when they went to the County a few days after the bazaar. Her gentle disappointment hurt more than any amount of ranting and raving from Stu ever could.
But people soon forgot about her indiscretion, after all it was only one night. And for a few weeks Scarlett experienced life as a wife. Though perhaps not as unpleasant as it might have been, she found herself longing for Atlanta and freedom. Life at Fairhill was oppressive. All six of Stu's remaining siblings were at home, and all of them wanted to hear about Atlanta and everyone there.
And perhaps more annoying than anything, she had to watch Carreen flutter about Brent-as if he'd given her a second glance before Scarlett got married! Though the idea annoyed her, she decided she'd rather have Carreen married to one of her old beaux than some man from God knows where, as so many young girls were doing. After all, Carreen was her favorite sister. Suellen could marry as she pleased -preferably to someone who would take her far away- but Scarlett wanted her baby sister to do well.
Stu hardly spoke to her-although, he didn't find a fight any reason not to share her bed-generally spending his time around his mother and sisters, walking around Fairhill or visiting neighbors in the county. He brought Amy along occasionally -showing her off like a prize horse!- so Scarlett thought with indignation. The fact that she had done much the same thing in Atlanta never occurred to her.
Staying at Fairhill was hard. She wanted to be a Tara-oh, but she wanted to be at Tara! Now more than ever she realized how she loved the green fields and red earth of that dear plantation. Being so close, but forced into being a visitor! Oh it was unbearable. She began walking the grounds of Fairhill, pretending she was a girl again, just walking the lands as she had done so often before the War. A hard, throbbing pain filled her heart as she looked over the hill to Tara.
"I'm leaving in less than a week." Stu's voice from behind startled her, and she almost tumbled before he caught her.
"Um, yes." She straightened up and smoothed her skirts. "And I'll go back to Atlanta." Her heart screamed against it, she wanted this visit to be at Tara! But she'd promised Melanie.
"Will we still be fighting when I go back to war?"
"I am not the one fighting." Scarlett raised a swooping black eyebrow. "You, Stuart Tarleton, are the one who refuses to be sensible. So I enjoyed myself. On your next furlough when you're healed I'll dance with you."
Stu shook his head and sighed. A small grin crept across his face. "You're one hell of a woman Scarlett. You never do what I expect."
"Would you want to be married to someone predictable?" Scarlett asked flippantly. "It's so much more fun this way."
Stu reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand. "I think I'm pretty damned happy with you."
Scarlett nodded decisively. "Good. Because I wouldn't take too well to you trying to find a new wife."
He laughed loudly. "I imagine not." He grinned at her and pulled her to him. "I'm glad we're not fightin' anymore honey." He lifted her chin. "Now, give me a smile?" She obliged, flashing one of her most dazzling smiles. His breath caught and he kissed her, holding her tightly.
A brief thought occurred to Scarlett. 'Perhaps being married isn't as bad as I thought!' Before her arms wrapped around Stu's neck, and she stopped thinking.
Three days later they went to Atlanta, and two days after that Stu returned to the army. Scarlett was much more upset than she expected herself to be, and it truly puzzled her. After all, she was fond of Stu but she didn't love him. She loved Ashley.
Didn't she?
To Be Continued....
(Short chapter, I wanted to get the second one out. I hate when people leave stories at just one chapter...)
But the consequences for her night of freedom came, a very angry fight with her husband among them. But worst of all was the disapproval she received from Ellen when they went to the County a few days after the bazaar. Her gentle disappointment hurt more than any amount of ranting and raving from Stu ever could.
But people soon forgot about her indiscretion, after all it was only one night. And for a few weeks Scarlett experienced life as a wife. Though perhaps not as unpleasant as it might have been, she found herself longing for Atlanta and freedom. Life at Fairhill was oppressive. All six of Stu's remaining siblings were at home, and all of them wanted to hear about Atlanta and everyone there.
And perhaps more annoying than anything, she had to watch Carreen flutter about Brent-as if he'd given her a second glance before Scarlett got married! Though the idea annoyed her, she decided she'd rather have Carreen married to one of her old beaux than some man from God knows where, as so many young girls were doing. After all, Carreen was her favorite sister. Suellen could marry as she pleased -preferably to someone who would take her far away- but Scarlett wanted her baby sister to do well.
Stu hardly spoke to her-although, he didn't find a fight any reason not to share her bed-generally spending his time around his mother and sisters, walking around Fairhill or visiting neighbors in the county. He brought Amy along occasionally -showing her off like a prize horse!- so Scarlett thought with indignation. The fact that she had done much the same thing in Atlanta never occurred to her.
Staying at Fairhill was hard. She wanted to be a Tara-oh, but she wanted to be at Tara! Now more than ever she realized how she loved the green fields and red earth of that dear plantation. Being so close, but forced into being a visitor! Oh it was unbearable. She began walking the grounds of Fairhill, pretending she was a girl again, just walking the lands as she had done so often before the War. A hard, throbbing pain filled her heart as she looked over the hill to Tara.
"I'm leaving in less than a week." Stu's voice from behind startled her, and she almost tumbled before he caught her.
"Um, yes." She straightened up and smoothed her skirts. "And I'll go back to Atlanta." Her heart screamed against it, she wanted this visit to be at Tara! But she'd promised Melanie.
"Will we still be fighting when I go back to war?"
"I am not the one fighting." Scarlett raised a swooping black eyebrow. "You, Stuart Tarleton, are the one who refuses to be sensible. So I enjoyed myself. On your next furlough when you're healed I'll dance with you."
Stu shook his head and sighed. A small grin crept across his face. "You're one hell of a woman Scarlett. You never do what I expect."
"Would you want to be married to someone predictable?" Scarlett asked flippantly. "It's so much more fun this way."
Stu reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand. "I think I'm pretty damned happy with you."
Scarlett nodded decisively. "Good. Because I wouldn't take too well to you trying to find a new wife."
He laughed loudly. "I imagine not." He grinned at her and pulled her to him. "I'm glad we're not fightin' anymore honey." He lifted her chin. "Now, give me a smile?" She obliged, flashing one of her most dazzling smiles. His breath caught and he kissed her, holding her tightly.
A brief thought occurred to Scarlett. 'Perhaps being married isn't as bad as I thought!' Before her arms wrapped around Stu's neck, and she stopped thinking.
Three days later they went to Atlanta, and two days after that Stu returned to the army. Scarlett was much more upset than she expected herself to be, and it truly puzzled her. After all, she was fond of Stu but she didn't love him. She loved Ashley.
Didn't she?
To Be Continued....