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Chapter Two

The Butler family mainly lived on the plantation. They grew rice and it was a full-time job managing the plantation and the slaves. Every time Rhett came to visit Elizabeth and Rosemary would come into Charleston. The ladies enjoyed going into Charleston. They got to go shopping and visit their friends. They even got to eat out occasionally.

During Rhett's first visit home after returning from California, Rhett had decided to set up a shipping business. This was a good place to set-up his home base since Charleston was his home after all. He when into business with one of his childhood friends. His friend, Harold Berman, and he bought a couple of ships. Berman was in charge of operations in Charleston. He also drummed up business within the South.

Rhett told his parents he had to go to Europe and the North to set up the market. Rhett traveled around Europe and the North for three years while making frequent trips back to Charleston to check up on his business. He also visited with his mother and sister. He even went to Middleton Acres once for the day, but he had been back in Charleston before night fell. Every time his mother would visit her friends either Eulalie Boykins or Pauline Jackson, Rhett would go along. He was hoping to see that little girl again although he never let himself wonder why.

When Rhett heard the talk of the government abolishing slavery, he knew there would be a civil war. The Southerners would not stand for that. Their entire economy was built on the institution of slavery.

With his now five ships, Rhett knew he could profit from being a blockade runner. It was just logical that the North would blockade the South. It was a basic military tactic.

In fifty-nine Rhett had attended his sister Rosemary's wedding. He had been extremely happy when his mother told him that Rosemary had made an excellent match. She had married Luther Bradberry. The Bradberrys were very well socially connected. It made him feel like his sacrifice had been worthwhile. Although, in all truth it hadn't been that bad, but it could have been if Caroline had lived.

While Rhett had been in Charleston, he had attended a supper party at his business partner's home. Although there were several other people in attendance, Rhett knew he had been invited to fix him up with a young lady there. Although the young lady was pretty enough, Rhett wasn't interested in proper ladies. He still didn't want to get married and as he had told Caroline whores knew what they were doing. He had come to find out that a lot of widows knew what they were doing also. This was not the first-time well-meaning women had tried to fix him up with a young lady, therefore somewhere in the conversation he would say, "I still miss my late wife so much. I don't think I am ever going to get over the loss."

Over whiskey and cigars, the men started talking about the possibility of the government abolishing slavery. One man said, "If they do, we will just secede and form our own country."

Rhett said, "The North will not just let us leave."

Another man said, "They will once England comes to our aid."

"Why would England come to our aid?"

"Because of their need for our cotton. Those textile mills would shut down without our cotton."

Rhett didn't think England would come to the South's aid, but the man's statement got Rhett to thinking. He decided that he could make a large fortune buying up cotton and storing it in England until the price was right. He was going to wait until he was more certain there was going to be a civil war.

Rhett had been in London when he heard about South Carolina seceding from the union. He immediately bought a warehouse in South Lancashire to store his cotton in. It was a huge warehouse because he wasn't going to sell his cotton until he could get at least twice what he paid for it. Maybe triple.

Rhett knew the easiest way to make money was while a civilization was deteriorating.

After that, Rhett started buying cotton with a passion. Buying cotton was how he had ended up at a proper gentry event that Saturday. He had just concluded a deal with Frank Kennedy that morning. Frank had asked him to attend the Wilkes Barbeque with him. He knew that Frank wanted him to come along because the Butlers of Charleston were something special. Rhett didn't have anything else to do that day, so he had said yes. But it was more than that. He had felt that he had to attend that barbecue. He had felt that his future happiness depended on him attending that barbecue. Rhett had learned that when he got these feelings to go with them. It always turned out he had been right, and that day was no exception. That day had changed his life in an amazing way.

Frank had told him all about the people of Clayton County and his special lady friend, Miss Suellen O'Hara. Rhett could not get the man to shut up. Rhett went to the bar and got himself a mint julep. After two hours with Mr. Kennedy, he deserved it. As Rhett was standing there by the stairwell newel post he saw the most striking woman walk in. She looked familiar to him. She had black hair and an exceptionally good figure that she was displaying. She was talking to all the men and none of the women. Rhett thought, 'The queen bee has arrived.' As he listened, she was avoiding making plans to have barbeque with the men. He heard her name. It was Miss O'Hara. Surely this could not be Mr. Kennedy's lady friend. Soon she was joined by another attractive woman. The other woman was almost as attractive as Miss O'Hara. He noticed the women looking at him and he raised his glass in salute. There was some whispering between the two girls and then they both looked at him and giggled. If he hadn't been so conceited that might have damaged his self-worth.

When the girls came down the stairs they were joined by another woman. While the first two ladies were very striking and attractive the third was not. She was a small pleasant looking woman with a heart shaped face but definitely not as attractive as the other two ladies. She looked like a twelve-year old playing dress up. Rhett heard the third woman say, "Who are you going to have barbeque with today, Scarlett?" Rhett felt better knowing this was not Frank Kennedy's lady friend. He then thought, 'Why is that name so familiar?'

Scarlett said, "Charlie, of course Melly. Where is your handsome brother?"

The second woman said, "There he is."

The woman called Scarlett gave the young man the most magnificent smile and the young man in his early twenties joined the group. The young man was handsome but somewhat effeminate. No doubt about it he was in love with Miss Scarlett O'Hara. Miss O'Hara was pretending to be in love with him, but Rhett knew she wasn't. He wondered how he knew that she wasn't in love with the young man. He didn't know how he knew. He just knew. He speculated about what she was up to.

Frank walked up then and said, "Mr. Butler let me introduce you around. This is Miss Suellen O'Hara. Sugar, this is Mr. Rhett Butler of Charleston. "

Rhett said, "Pleased to make your acquaintance." Rhett looked at Miss Suellen O'Hara and felt sorry for the girl. While she was pretty enough, she would always be overshadowed by her much more attractive sister.

Suellen said, "And yours also."

Rhett said, "Mr. Kennedy don't just introduce me to the women that are taken. Let's join that group and you can introduce me to those lovely ladies." They walked over to the group Rhett pointed to at the same time another man in his late twenties joined them with a wrap for the woman called Melly.

As they walked up Mr. Kennedy said, "Let me introduce you to Rhett Butler of Charleston." Rhett smiled his most charming smile. He always laughed when people not of Charleston introduced him. He felt like they were introducing royalty. Then Frank said, "This is Cathleen Calvert, Scarlett O'Hara, Charles Hamilton, Melanie Hamilton, and Ashley Wilkes."

Scarlett said, "Do you have a sister named Rosemary?"

Rhett was surprised by the question. When he looked Scarlett in the eyes, he knew where he knew her from. She was the little girl with the beautiful green eyes all grown up. She had grown into a beautiful woman. He gave Suellen another glance and yes, she had been one of the other little girls. He said, "Yes. I remember you now. You were visiting your Grandpere in Charleston and my mother had brought Rosemary over to play with you and your sisters."

Scarlett said, "Yes. I remember her as being genuinely nice."

Suellen said, "I remember her. She was always so kind to us."

Scarlett said, "In fact, Mr. Butler I believe you came for one of those visits also."

"Yes, I did. And I believe I hurt your feelings."

"If you did, I don't remember it. Come along Mr. Butler we were about to go outside. You can eat barbeque with us."

Suellen said, "Mr. Kennedy and I are going to eat with India and Stuart."

"Alright."

Rhett was enthralled by this bewitching woman/girl. He had not had such a good time in years. Every now and then the conversation would drift off into a discussion of books they had read. Rhett could tell that Miss O'Hara was quickly bored but she tolerated the discussion for a little while then changed the subject to something she and Miss Calvert were interested in. Because Rhett had a perverse sense of humor, he would change the subject back to books or something else he didn't think she would care about. The first several times he did this she would stare at him questioningly then the fourth time he attempted to do it. She didn't let anyone answer before she said, "What trade are you in Mr. Butler?" Rhett said, "I am in the shipping business."

Scarlett said to him, "Then I suppose when the war starts you will become a blockade runner?"

Rhett smiled and said, "Yes I will because that is where I can make the most profit."

"So, you definitely think there will be war."

Rhett started talking about war and soon everyman at the Barbeque had joined their group. The ladies excused themselves and went to sit at another picnic table. Rhett looked over at Miss Scarlett O'Hara and smiled and she smiled back triumphantly. Rhett didn't know exactly what she had won but he knew she had won. He bowed his head.

To Rhett's surprise every time he looked back over at Scarlett she appeared to be listening to the discussion. Rhett said, "Gentleman, going to war is a mistake. We are not prepared to fight a battle. We have no navy, therefore the first thing the North will do is blockade all our ports. That will make it extremely difficult to get our cotton out and all the items we need to wage war in. You know, things like bullets and rifles."

Charlie stood up and said, "Sir, we will have defeated those Yankee devils within six months."

"While I admire your bravado, it is going to take a lot more than that to defeat the North. At this moment all we have is cotton, slaves, and arrogance."

With those words, India stood up and said, "Ladies, shall we retire. Gentlemen, you can continue your discussion in the parlor as long as you promise not to come to blows."

That made everyone laugh and the tension Rhett's words had brought about was eased. All the ladies stood up and then all the men stood up. Rhett watched Scarlett link her arms with both Melly and Cathleen. He bet they were her only female friends.