Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Four

When Rhett saw Scarlett, he smiled really big. He had dreamed of her a lot this last year and not always in a sexual way. Well, not always only in a sexual way. She was wearing black. Was she a widow? He noticed that her friend, Melly, was wearing black. Had Scarlett gotten that young boy to marry her before the war started? Was he dead already? He would just go over there and find out.

As Rhett walked toward Scarlett, he decided that black was definitely not her best color. No, she needed a lot brighter colors.

Scarlett saw Mr. Butler was walking over to her and Melly. Scarlett smiled at him as he approached the booth. She said, "Welcome to Atlanta."

"Thank you."

"How long are you going to be in town?"

"Just a couple of days. A week at most. I came over to sell my goods. I see you are wearing black. Did you lose someone in the war?"

"My husband and Melly's brother, Charlie Hamilton."

"I am sorry for your loss. Please accept my condolences."

"Of course, Mr. Butler."

Scarlett knew that Rhett Butler was not one little bit sorry she was a widow. In fact, she was quite sure that the news had pleased him. She knew he was interested in her physically. All men were. She had to find one that she could be herself with like she had been with Charlie. A man that was interested in something besides her body. Not that Charlie wasn't interested in her body. With a slight blush, she thought, 'He certainly was.'

The trio talked for a while. Scarlett enjoyed the conversation. It was like she and Mr. Butler were having two conversations at the same time, but Melly was only involved in one conversation. As they passed around the basket for jewelry donations Mr. Butler tossed in a gold cigar case which Scarlett decided was really gold plated by the careless way, he had tossed it in the basket.

Scarlett tossed in her wedding ring while saying, "Charlie would understand."

After seeing Scarlett's bravery Melly took off her ring and tossed it in the basket saying, "Maybe it will do my husband more good off my finger than on it."

The trio continued to talk until Dr. Meade got up and started making announcements. One of the items he announced was they would auction off who got to lead the Virginia Reel. Rene Picard was the first to bid. He offered five dollars to lead the reel with Maybelle Merriweather. Tommy Welburn offered to pay ten dollars to lead the reel with Fanny Elsing. It was quiet for a minute and Dr Meade said, "Are you gentleman going to let the plum position be won for a mere ten dollars. Frank Bonner bid twelve dollars to dance with Jenny Johnson. Again, silence fell over the crowd. It was then that Rhett stepped forward and bid one hundred and fifty dollars to dance with Mrs. Charles Hamilton. Everyone looked over at Scarlett and Melly and suddenly the two ladies were in a furious discussion. Finally, Dr. Meade said, "She will not accept because she is in deep mourning."

Scarlett had been trying to convince Melly to accept the dances for her for if Melly accepted them then the matrons would look kindlier upon Scarlett's actions. Finally, Melly agreed. She called out, "Oh yes she will for the cause."

Scarlett scurried out to join Rhett Butler. Scarlett said, "You will have to call on me tomorrow which is good because I need to talk to you about my investment and I have more money to invest. I was going to say something, but Dr. Meade started making his announcements."

Rhett laughed and said, "More money?" With Scarlett's nod, he continued, "I shall call on you tomorrow afternoon. I will give you the profits you have already earned."

"Is it more than a hundred dollars that is how much more I have to invest."

"It is two hundred dollars therefore I will keep a hundred and give you a hundred unless you want to reinvest that also."

"No, bring me the hundred dollars."

They danced some more, and Rhett said, "Does anyone besides me see what goes on behind that pretty face of yours?"

"Of course not. I am what they want me to be."

Scarlett and Rhett danced a few more dances and Scarlett said, "That is all for tonight. Any more dances would not be proper. See you tomorrow." Rhett escorted her back to the booth where Melly was waiting.

Before leaving Rhett found the young man with the basket and exchanged the two rings for ten dollars. His returning their rings to them would endear him to them.

As Scarlett watched Mr. Butler leave the building, she sighed. He certainly would be a great catch. He was handsome, charming, and rich. He would be an awfully hard man to get to the altar.

As Rhett walked out of the building, he thought, 'I am certainly glad I accepted Dr. Meade's invitation to attend this bazaar. I know that was the reason I felt I had to attend. I now know that Scarlett is a widow and appears to be living in Atlanta. I probably would not have pursued her while she was a virgin and living in the country. Now that she is a widow, I will seduce her into being my mistress. Now let me go find a saloon and win some of my money back. This certainly was an expensive evening.'

Rhett decided he would go to the one he had gone to when he had been here the day the war started. The Saddles and Spurs. He had liked the madame. What had her name been? Belle. He wished he could invest in a saloon and whore house but if that got out the shame would kill his mother and ruin his good name.

One thing Rhett's mother had been right about, despite being married to Caroline he had still been able to do anything he wanted to do. As he walked into the saloon, he noticed Belle was at the bar. He walked up to her and said, "Can I have a whiskey, Belle?"

When Rhett saw the older woman smile so big, he knew he was going to have to keep his distance from her. The last thing he needed was some old whore falling in love with him. It had been the bane of his life, women always falling in love with him even when he wasn't trying. Not all women fell in love with him but a lot of them did. He wasn't looking for love. He just wanted companionship and some physical activity.

Rhett played poker for an hour and was ten dollars up. It was enough to pay for a whore. Rhett got up from the table and walked over to Belle. He said, "I would like a black-haired girl. I'm a sucker for girls with black hair. If she had green eyes that would be even better. Yes, I like girls with black hair and green eyes.

Rhett had added the last part to discourage the old whore for Belle had red hair and brown eyes. Judging by her expression of hurt, it had worked.

"Of course, Rhett. Go to room number seven and she will join you there. Her name is Winifred. It will be ten dollars."

Rhett gave the madame the money. As he was walking up the stairs he thought, 'What do I care what her name is?'

As Rhett waited, he started to get undressed. Winifred was there before he had taken off his underwear. He pulled his condom out of his back pocket and put it on. Soon she was showing him a really good time. He closed his eyes and thought of Scarlett. He did somethings to increase her pleasure because her having a good time made his good time that much better. Nonetheless, it wasn't long before it was all over. He got up, got dress, and walked out of the room without saying a word. In fact, neither one had spoken a word the entire time they were in the room together.

Rhett walked down the stairs and out the front door. As he was walking to the National Hotel, he thought, 'I will have to find another saloon and brothel. I don't want any relationship with a whore except a business relationship where I buy access to her private parts.'

That night Rhett was not surprised he dreamed of Scarlett and them having relations.

The next afternoon Rhett did call on Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. Wilkes to return their rings. Melly was so touched and thanked Captain Butler profusely. Rhett was amazed. Scarlett knew exactly what he was doing. He could tell by the knowing smile.

Melly said, "You must come to dinner on Sunday."

Scarlett said, "Yes you must."

Rhett accepted.

After Scarlett and Melly had put their rings back on their fingers, Rhett handed Scarlett a hundred dollars and said, "As we discussed I will just keep the other hundred dollars and invest it in my business."

Scarlett took the money and said, "Thank you. "My father will be here by the end of the week to talk to you about your behavior last night."

Rhett said, "What does he expect from me?"

Scarlett looked at Melly then turned to him and said, "For you to assure him that your intentions are honorable and that you will not officially start calling on me until July. My husband will have been dead for a year in July. So, in July it would be proper for a gentleman to start calling on me. Don't worry we can have a long courtship and then decide we don't suit."

Rhett stared at her. Melly said, "You must excuse Scarlett, Captain Butler, she has a tendency to speak her mind, but she is so delightful I always forgive her for not being proper."

Scarlett smiled a mischievous smile at Melly and saw the amusement in her best friend's eyes. Scarlett knew that Melly was not offended by Scarlett's words. When they were alone Melly spoke as frankly as Scarlett did. Melly had already told Scarlett not only was she so happy that Scarlett was her sister-in-law but the cherry on top was that Honey wasn't.

Scarlett said, "Mainly that is just to you Melly, but I feel that Captain Butler would appreciate frank speaking. Do you Captain Butler?"

Rhett said, "Yes, I do. I hate all the hypocrisy there is in polite society."

Scarlett again smiled her mischievous smile and said, "Isn't it horrible when people put falsehoods out there just to further their own desires. Can you imagine? I know one man who is a widower who leads people to believe he is so distraught with grief that there is no point in pursuing him because he will never remarry."

Rhett smiled his slow sensuous smile and said, "Imagine that." This woman could see too much. Way too much. And she was calling him out on it just the way he would have done it.

They talked for another hour then he took his leave and Mrs. Hamilton showed him to the door. After he had stepped out onto the porch. She asked him what she should invest in. He said United States bonds. They were safe and the yield was good, but she would have to go North to buy the bonds. He would take her profits and buy bonds with them. She agreed but he had to bring them to her each time he came to Atlanta.

Scarlett had found out she could not get greenbacks for Charlie's properties. She could only get confederate dollars. She had decided to hold on to the properties. Scarlett said to Rhett, "I need the first thousand dollars of profit in greenbacks."

"I will make it happen." Rhett smiled at Scarlett.

Scarlett smiled back and said, "Does anyone besides me see what goes on behind that handsome face of yours?" Then she kissed Rhett's cheek and walked back in the house.

Rhett went to some general stores to sell his goods. After a very profitable afternoon, he had supper at the National Hotel Restaurant. When he had finished eating, he went to the Satin Slipper to make some more money. As he was walking along, he thought, 'Scarlett is the female version of myself. She thinks the same way I do. Her choices will be slightly different than mine because she is female therefore, she has less options.'