The comfort and refuge that Scarlett sought from Tara was not to be. When the long journey home was completed, Scarlett had hoped that she could unload her weary load. All she found at Tara was more problems and more people depending on her to guide them through the difficult times.
On her first night back Scarlett discovered that her beloved mother had passed away the day before. She had been claimed by the same typhoid that was making her sisters ill. Having lost the most important person in his life, Gerald O'Hara was no longer himself. He often reminded Scarlett of an absentminded child. The first night that Scarlett was home she also discovered the devastation that the Yankees had left her Tara. They had taken or destroyed most of the food and anything that was worth any money.
Scarlett found herself working like a field hand. She could not believe what her life had become. She was frustrated with everyone in the household. Most of them did not realize that working in the fields was the only thing that was going to keep them from starvation. Of course Melly realized this but she wasn't recovering from child birth as she should be. Melly tried to work hard but she would often faint from the exertion. The only person that worked as hard as Scarlett was Dilcey. She remembered the kindness that Mr. O'Hara had shone her by buying her daughter.
Scarlett had also had to kill a Yankee deserter when he wondered into the house when she and Melanie were alone one afternoon. Scarlett often reminded herself that she had committed murder, so now no task was beyond her. The Yankees made one more appearance at Tara burning the meager amount of cotton that they had managed to pick.
As tragic as all that was, for the first few weeks that Scarlett was home she thought she might be in a fix. Scarlett wondered what kind of foolishness had overtaken her to make her think having a child with Rhett was a sound idea. Not only was she still furious with Rhett for abandoning her by the side of the road, but being pregnant would create many more complications. She didn't know what Mammy's reaction would be. She didn't think Mammy would banish her from the house in shame; they needed her too much, but having to endure endless lectures from Mammy would be just as intolerable. Plus, having a baby would mean months that Scarlett couldn't be out in the field working. Lastly, another person was another burden that she just didn't need at the moment. When Scarlett's monthly course finally came, she knew she should have been relieved. She couldn't understand why she would cry herself to sleep at night with thoughts of a baby that was never meant to be.
In April of 1865, the war finally came to an end and Scarlett figured life would have to return somewhat to normalcy. Ragged soldiers found their way to Tara to seek shelter and a hot meal. Scarlett begrudged the soldiers every bite of food that they took. She had worked too hard with her own two hands to give out food to every scarecrow that came walking down the driveway. One soldier was left unconscious at their doorstep and the family nursed him back to health. His name was Will Benteen. When Will was healthy and able to help out Scarlett finally felt that her load was starting to lessen. Will had nothing better waiting for him, so he stayed on at Tara to repay their kindness.
Melanie received a letter from Ashley explaining that he was making his way home to her. Scarlett was surprised that all she felt at this news was a warm happiness that her childhood friend was safe and would be coming back. She didn't want to examine her changing feelings for Ashley. She assured herself that when she saw him again she would be just as in love with him as she always had been. It didn't stop her from hoping that Rhett was one of the soldiers that would make his way to Tara. She still wanted to be mad at him, but she wanted to at least know that he was still alive. But as the number of soldiers passing through Tara slowed down, Scarlett gave in to the realization that Rhett would not be walking up the driveway.
After months of walking from Illinois, Ashley finally made his way to Tara. Scarlett barely acknowledged Ashley's return. She allowed him to give her a quick kiss on the cheek; she was somewhat dismayed that the kiss stirred no emotions within her. She told herself it was Melanie had been standing there, but she knew deep down her presence wouldn't have stopped her from enjoying the kiss. She wanted it to be Rhett that had made his way to her. She missed his companionship dearly. If there was anyone she could unburden her thoughts and feelings to it was Rhett, not Ashley.
Rhett felt like a complete fool. He regretted leaving Scarlett by the side of that road more than he regretted anything else he had ever done in his life. He had spent the last eight months in the army. He had been left shoeless and starving. He was pretty sure that Scarlett was not going to want to have anything to do with him if he could make it back to her. He knew that she would never understand his motivations for joining the army. He wondered if they now shared a child.
Rhett knew he was a wanted man in the United States. Common sense was telling him to go to Europe until he was able to get his name cleared. He had friends in high places and he knew the trouble he was in would blow over eventually. He couldn't sail off without knowing that she had made it back to Tara safely. He went to her Aunt Pitty's house and was happy to discover that she had made it to Tara. He wasn't happy to learn that Ashley was living at Tara with her, but he was hoping to convince her to run off to Europe with him. Rhett hoped that he would be able to sneak off to Tara under the cover of darkness.
Rhett wasn't surprised that there were soldiers blocking the road leaving Atlanta. He knew his appearance would set off the gossip mill. He wondered which faithful confederate had handed him over to the Yankees. Rhett was arrested for killing a darkie, but he knew what everyone was really after was his gold. Thankfully, for Rhett the gold was in England and nobody would be able to get ahold of it. Rhett's only wish was that he would have been able to send word to Scarlett that he was still alive.
One afternoon, Will informed Scarlett that the old overseer at Tara, Wilkerson, had convinced the Yankees to raise the taxes to three hundred dollars. Scarlett absorbed the information and wandered out of the house. If only she knew whether or not Rhett was alive. He was the only person that she knew that would be able to get her that kind of money. Scarlett walked aimlessly around the property; her thoughts were divided between saying goodbye to this land and trying to devise a scheme to be able to keep it.
Ashley was out splitting rails in the orchard. His thoughts were on Scarlett. Since he had returned from the war he noticed that her affection toward him had changed. This distressed him because while he didn't love Scarlett, he did lust after her. He knew he was a cad for letting her believe that he loved her as much as she loved him, but he knew their differences were too great. It had always stroked his ego that Scarlett loved him above all of the other beaux she had. He used to laugh at the Tarleton twins when they would brag that they were her favorite. All anyone had to do was look in those mesmerizing eyes to know they only lit up for Ashley. But now that light seemed to be gone. Ashley wondered if it was the fact that Melanie had had a baby that changed Scarlett's heart. Ashley had been trying to get Scarlett alone, but with a house full of people a private moment was not to be had. Suddenly, Scarlett came walking toward the orchard.
"Scarlett darling, what's wrong?"
Scarlett looked startled by the sound of Ashley's voice, her thoughts had been elsewhere.
"Oh, Ashley, the Yankees want three hundred dollars for taxes." Ashley could see Scarlett trying to hold back her tears. Without giving it a second thought Ashley wrapped Scarlett in his arms. He knew how much this plantation meant to her. After holding her in his arms all thought of comfort went out of his mind; leaving overwhelming lust. Ashley bent his head down searching for Scarlett's lips. Ashley could feel Scarlett respond to his kiss for only the briefest moment before she pushed him away.
"How dare you take advantage of me Ashley Wilkes!" Scarlett slapped him as hard as she could. She couldn't believe that this man, who could prattle about honor day and night, would take advantage of her when she was having a weak moment. She couldn't help but compare Ashley's kiss to Rhett's. Ashley's had left her cold and unfeeling; whereas, Rhett's always left her feeling like she could burst into flames at a moment's notice.
"Scarlett, I'm sorry, I forgot myself for a moment. You need not worry. I will take Melanie and Beau and we will leave immediately." Scarlett sighed. She couldn't send them out into the world. They would surely starve to death if Ashley were to provide for them.
"No, don't take them and leave. Just remember your place here, please." Scarlett squared her shoulders and walked back toward the house. She was more miserable now than when she had heard about needing the tax money. If there was any doubt left in her that she loved Rhett and not Ashley, the kiss they just shared proved it.
Tension at Tara was running high. No one knew what was to become of them when the tax money would come due. A letter arrived from Aunt Pitty that relieved Scarlett of some of her anxiety. Besides her normal begging for her family to return to Atlanta; her letter informed Scarlett of Rhett's whereabouts. Aunt Pitty was scandalized that he had been arrested not long after leaving her house. She told them that he was in jail for murder, but everybody knew he had all of the confederate gold. The last part of the letter really put Scarlett at ease. She knew that Rhett would give her the money without hesitation.
Scarlett wondered how she could manage to get to Atlanta without Mammy following her. She knew that Mammy was watching her like a hawk. Mammy could easily tell when Scarlett was up to no good. She wasn't going to let Scarlett out of her sight if she thought Scarlett would do something unladylike to get the tax money. Scarlett blushed at this thought, if only Mammy knew what she had been up to before fleeing Atlanta!
Scarlett looked down at her dress and wanted to weep. Everything she owned now was little better than rags. She hated the thought of Rhett seeing dressed this way. She knew that Rhett liked seeing her dressed nicely. Scarlett remembered her mother's green velvet curtains. They were just about the only piece of cloth at Tara that was still in good shape. She ripped the curtains down from the window.
Mammy came into the room and questioned Scarlett's actions. Scarlett informed her that she was going to Atlanta to borrow money and she wanted a new dress to do it. Mammy tried to put a stop to this. She didn't know why Scarlett would need a new dress to borrow money. Mammy only agreed to help make the dress if she went to Atlanta with Scarlett. The two women started to quarrel again, until Scarlett finally gave into Mammy's demands. Scarlett was just going to have to find a way to get to the train station without Mammy. If she couldn't get to the train station without Mammy, she would have to find a way to sneak out of Aunt Pitty's house without Mammy.
The next morning Scarlett crept out of the house when it was barely daylight outside. She left a note informing the household that she would leave the horse at the train station. She figured that Mammy would catch the first train to Atlanta when they discovered she was gone; she only hoped it gave her enough of a head start to get to Rhett.
Scarlett boarded the first train to Atlanta that morning, trying to piece together what she would say to Rhett.