Chapter 5: I Always Get Paid
Scarlett touched the figures shoulder while the rest of her body shook of fright. The figure didn't stir at the touch of her hand.
"Can't you hear me?" commanded Scarlett for the second time. This was getting old. Either this person was deaf or they just didn't care. "Answer me for God sake." Now standing in front of the chair a gasp escaped her lips. Rhett sat there with his eyes blood shot while the smell of whiskey lingered in the air.
Taking a small step backwards Scarlett's left hand caught the whiskey bottle, knocking it over within seconds. Hearing the glass hit the floor Scarlett took her mind off of Rhett for a few seconds and picked up the broken bottle.
"You can't ignore me Rhett," Scarlett spat as she knelt down to look Rhett in the eyes. "How dare you ignore me?"
Turning and getting the glass Rhett downed yet another drink. Waving her hand in his face Rhett didn't respond.
Scarlett's heart got stuck in her throat. Why wasn't he saying anything to her? He should be yelling at her calling her a bad wife and an unfit mother. Telling her she was a damn fool for leaving. Telling her she was making a mistake for doing this, just yelling at her for doing such a bad thing.
Putting her hands to his shoulders she wanted him to look at her and know that she was there. What in God's name was going on? "Look at me Rhett!" she yelled as she could feel her face go red.
Standing up Rhett made his way over to the fireplace, knocking Scarlett back a little. Throwing the glass into the fire Rhett walked over to the window. The weather hadn't changed much. The storm still rolled in the distance while rain fell upon the big empty house.
"I don't know why I ever married that woman for." Rhett yelled as his hand beat against the wall. Anger was pumping through him as if his veins were going to bust from all this anger. "If it was for love I was a damn fool for loving her."
"Rhett, you mustn't say such a thing. I knew you loved me, but I never saw it." Scarlett began as she could somewhat feel what Rhett felt. "Before it was too late," the last part was almost a whisper as it got caught within the silence of the room. Stepping in front of him Scarlett looked up into his eyes. "Why can't you see me?" Scarlett yelled as she tried yet again to get him to see her. Putting her hands to his face she could feel the warmth of it and could see the loneliness within his eyes.
He really did miss her. He really did love her. Just like Rhett had told her many times all those years ago.
Yes they had their share of fights, yelling, arguing and whatever happened to come their way. They fought almost every night after Bonnie went to bed. They fought how Scarlett loved Ashley. Now that Melanie was gone Rhett thought Scarlett would go running to him and beg him to take her away. They argued how Rhett went to Belle's every time they argued. They argued about who was the better parent. This kept surfacing many times and was to come up in the near and distant future. This matter was at their throats constantly.
On the other hand he loved her because she was that fiery kind of woman. He loved her because she was so strong during the war years. He loved her because she never gave up and fought back with all her might. Rhett would have never thought she would have given up on this marriage.
He thought he was going to be the one to leave her and be the one to decide when this struggle was over. He would have been the one to decide not her.
Before Scarlett could foresee anything else the nightmare began to fade. Looking down she could see herself fading from the dream. This couldn't be happening Rhett couldn't see her. Could Rhett be forgetting about her? Could he be falling out of love with her? As this thought struck her she could feel her heart pick up rapidly.
Fading within moments Scarlett vanished from the nightmare. Feeling sweat poor down her face Scarlett began tossing and turning.
"Ms. Scarlett, ya need to wake up." Farah's voice came as Scarlett's mind began to clear. "Ya is having a nightmare."
Opening her eyes Scarlett found herself breathing heavily while sweat still poured down her face. "What happened?" she asked as she found her body shaking.
"You were yelling in your sleep." Farah answered as she laid a small cloth on Scarlett's forehead. "You were yelling for Captain Butler,"
Scarlett couldn't believe what Farah had just said. She hadn't yelled out in her sleep in a long time. Every time she did Rhett was always there for her.
Taking the cloth off her head Scarlett got up rather slowly. All of a sudden she felt weak as if she was too faint. Putting a hand to her forehead she closed her eyes for a moment. Collapsing moments later Scarlett felt like all of her energy had been taken.
"Somebody call a doctor quick!" Farah yelled out into the hall.
Rhett sat reading the morning paper in the parlor. Within the background the clock was chiming. Looking back for a quick second Rhett saw that it read ten thirty. Looking back at the paper Rhett began flipping through the many pages, while he began smoking a cigar.
"Mr. Rhett, this telegram just arrived for you." Mammy came into the room holding yet another cream colored envelop.
"Dear God what could the woman what this time?" Rhett said taking the telegram. Rhett read the small print. After several moments Rhett looked up from the letter. "Get my things together I'm going to Tara."
Getting to his feet he began walking up the stairs to leave on the long journey to Tara. He hadn't been to Tara in quite a long time.
Within a few hours Rhett was on his way to Tara to save his wife, child and hopefully his marriage.
By nightfall Rhett's carriage was pulling up the road to Tara. Scarlett's lifelong home. The dust began to fly up as they got closer and closer to the big house. Within seconds Rhett found himself standing on the old terrace. Before knocking Rhett could just imagine seeing Scarlett a little girl running around playing with the little black children as her laughter could be heard within the wind.
Knocking loudly a small maid came to the door. "Hello. Is Mrs. Butler here?" Rhett asked as he took his hat off.
Telling him to wait in the hall the maid went and got Scarlett. "Ms. Scarlett, Captain Butler is here to see ya." Sara said as she stood in Scarlett's doorway.
Scarlett sat frozen while her reflection looked back at her. Rhett was here. What could he possibly want? Scarlett already told him she was leaving…Bonnie, that's who he wanted. He was going to take their daughter away from her. Could that be the only thing Rhett wanted? Scarlett pondered as she found herself twirling a piece of her hair. Scarlett often did this when she was tense.
Of course that wasn't all he was after. Rhett wanted much more and Scarlett would see to it that he didn't get it. She would even make sure that Bonnie would stay there with her.
Getting to her feet slowly for she was still a little weak Scarlett began walking to the door when she saw Bonnie run past. "Daddy's, here,"
Bonnie really was excited to be seeing her daddy again. Scarlett knew how bad Bonnie missed him, but things just weren't the best right now with Rhett and her. Things might never be the same ever again.
Walking down the stairs she saw Bonnie run towards Rhett. "Daddy," as her feet ran quickly to get to him.
Picking her up he smiled at her. "How's my Bonnie?"
"Good," Bonnie giggled. "I've missed you, but Mother's been very good to me."
Hearing Bonnie talk about Scarlett Rhett saw her standing at the bottom of the staircase. "Bonnie, I need to talk to your mother for a little while."
"But, Daddy, you just got here." Bonnie cried as her lower lip stuck out. "I was hoping we could play like we used to?"
"We will later." Rhett promised as he kissed her forehead. "I have a gift for you."
"What is it?" Bonnie asked as she clapped her hands.
Putting her down Rhett pulled a small box from his pocket. Taking it Bonnie opened it to find a little purple bracelet. Bonnie was so taken by the bracelet she forgot to say a few words in return.
"What do you say Bonnie?" Scarlett's voice called out.
"Thank You, Daddy," Bonnie answered back as she looked at the jewelry.
"Run along dear, Daddy and I, have something's to discuss." Scarlett told her daughter as she took a few steps toward them.
"I'm going to go show Farah my new bracelet." Bonnie exclaimed as she turned from the room. Her little feet could be heard down the hall.
"You always knew how to spoil our daughter." Scarlett acknowledged.
"Yes, my pet, and I also knew and know how to spoil you." Rhett agreed as he pulled out another small box.
"Rhett, you're not going to win me with gifts." Scarlett reassured him as she eyed the box.
"I can recall a very long time ago when the war started that I came back from Paris with a green hat. It was for you. While you were trying on the hat you told me that you couldn't accept such a thing." Rhett began as a twinkle in his eye came about. "While you were happy to have it there was no way of paying me for it. I told you I always got paid. Indeed I did many years later when you married me."
"Just what are you getting at Rhett Butler?" Scarlett questioned as the box remained unopened.
"That my pet, you won't find out until you open the box." Rhett answered her as he put a cigar in his mouth.
Giving in Scarlett took the lid off as the ribbon unraveled falling to the floor. Scarlett's eyes fell upon a lovely pearl necklace. It lay just perfectly in that small box. Scarlett was almost scared to touch it for it looked so lovely within the box.
It was lovely and it would go with many of her dresses, but how could she take this? After all she was mad at him. "Oh, Rhett, it's-it's beautiful." Scarlett managed to get out as she still looked at the necklace in awe. "If you think you are going to win me back by giving me gift after gift you won't."
Rhett laughed at this remark. "That's what I get for giving you such finery?" as he saw the expression on Scarlett's face change.
Taking the necklace out of the box Rhett told her he would put it on for her. Turning around Rhett put the necklace around Scarlett's slender neck. "I always get paid." He whispered in her ear as he latched the necklace shut.
Scarlett felt a chill go through the air and through her body.
A/N: I'm back:) Sorry it has taken me a while to update. I got a lot of homework and test in college this past week. What could Rhett be talking about? That my fine readers you will find out in the next chapter.