Short Stories II

by Marilyn1000

I have written some more short stories. Each chapter is a complete story. Most are happy but a few will be tear jerkers.

Synopsis: Rhett wakes up in a wonderful world where Scarlett loves him and Bonnie is alive.

Author's Notes: This story has a kind of Twilight Zone ending. It is not an unhappy ending per se, just not a happy one.

Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter One

Rhett Butler rolled over and there was someone else in bed with him. Who was in bed with him? How had this happened? He never slept with anyone.

Rhett opened his eyes and there was a beautiful woman in bed with him. He knew she was not a whore. She was too old to be a whore. He didn't know who in the world she was. Nonetheless, he knew he loved this woman.

Rhett wondered how old she was. He had turned thirty-three on his last birthday. A birthday that he had spent with thieves, murderers, and whores. That is who he spent his time with these days. Ever since he had been disowned because he wouldn't marry that girl over a broken buggy wheel.

As Rhett was lying there wondering about the woman beside him, the door flew open. He heard the woman beside him scream out without opening her eyes, "Eugenia Victoria, how many times do I have to tell you that closed doors are meant to be knocked upon. Go out and try again."

"Yes, Mother."

The beautiful young lady who was probably fifteen or at most sixteen, turned around and walked out of the room. She closed the door behind her. The woman beside him said, "Thank goodness we didn't have more than one. Thank you for that, Sweetheart."

Rhett heard himself meekly say, "Yes, Dear." He saw the woman open her eyes slightly and give him a scowl upon hearing his words. She must have known he was being falsely meek."

Rhett was transfixed as he stared into the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen in his life. They were so green they looked like emeralds. He could get lost staring into those eyes even with them giving him an angry stare.

Rhett then heard a knocking on the door. He said, "Come in."

"Rhett, you have to ask who it is before you let her enter our bedroom. We are trying to teach her manners."

"But I already knew who it was. Come in Genie."

The woman partially sat up but upon realizing she didn't have any clothes on laid back down. She pulled the sheet up to her chin and said, "Genie!? What is with you this morning? You have never called her Genie a day in her life since you discovered that her eyes were the same color as the Bonnie Blue Flag."

It didn't matter what this woman was saying. The young girl was in the room. To Rhett, Bonnie was so very beautiful with her black hair and her very blue eyes. As he stared at the young girl's face, he said, "You look just like your mother."

"Yes, Daddy, I know. I might have heard that one or two hundred times."

The sarcasm was not missed by Rhett. He thought, 'That is my daughter.'

The woman had closed her eyes again. Without opening them, the woman said, "What do you want, Genie, your mother wants to go back to sleep?"

"Daddy said he would go horseback riding with me this morning, but he is still in bed. Get up, Daddy."

That is when Rhett noticed that the young girl was wearing a riding habit. Rhett said, "I must have overslept. Let me get dressed and I will join you at the stables."

"Yes, Daddy."

The young girl walked quickly out of the room. She knew her parents slept naked which she thought was so scandalous. Therefore, she didn't want to see any part of her Daddy's body.

As Rhett was watching the young girl walk out of the room, he felt the woman's hand on his stomach and felt his erection swell. She had rolled over and was pressed up against him. He heard her say, "Since I am already awake, make it worth my while."

"I have to meet Bonnie at the stables."

Rhett felt the woman slide on top of him. He became very aware that neither one of them had any clothes on. He heard her say, "I want to ride something, too."

"Honey, I don't have time."

"As you always say, there is always time for this."

The woman was then kissing him, and he laid back down. He pulled her to him. If this woman wanted to have relations, he was going to have relations. He didn't understand it but the thought of having relations with this woman suddenly was the most important thing in the world.

Thirty minutes later, as Rhett was getting dressed, he looked at the woman lying on the bed without even a cover over her and he knew why they had to make Bonnie knock. She smiled at him in such a sensuous way that he wanted to throw off his clothes and make love to her again. That was what it was making love. He knew he loved this woman. Had he told her. Did she love him? He didn't know.

As Rhett was walking out of the room, the woman looked at him in a questioning way. He could tell by her voice that she was hurt when she said, "You aren't going to kiss me goodbye. You always kiss me goodbye even when I am asleep."

"Maybe I thought you had enough kissing for today."

"Silly. I could never get enough kisses from you especially now that you have quit smoking."

Rhett had walked back to the bed and bent down and truly kissed her, not just a peck on the lips. After he had pulled back, he said, "How do you know if I have kissed you if you are asleep?"

"I can taste you on my lips. Go now before Bonnie gets too mad at you because you have taken so long. You don't want to spoil your day by her having a temper tantrum."

"You allow her to throw temper tantrums?"

"No, but you do. She will probably give you the silent treatment."

Bonnie Butler had known that her mother was going to delay her father from coming to the stables. Daddy and she would go riding this morning, but it would be on Mother's schedule. Mother always made sure that everyone knew that she was Daddy's favorite. Bonnie knew Daddy loved her an awful lot but not nearly as much as he loved Mother.

When Rhett did get to the stables, his horse was already saddled. He said to his daughter, "Are you ready to go?"

In a cold voice, Bonnie had said, "Yes."

One time when Bonnie was six, Daddy had taken an awfully long time to meet her. When he asked her if she was ready to go to the park. She had said, "You took so long to meet me that I no longer want to go to the park."

Daddy had said, "If that is the way you feel, we don't have to go to the park." He had turned and walked back out of the nursery.

Bonnie had run after him saying, "Yes, I do."

"Understand this daughter mine. I love you to the moon and back, but I won't play games with you. I don't play them with your mother, and I won't play them with you."

In Bonnie's opinion, her mother did play games with her father just not overt games. Mother very subtly manipulated this man.

Bonnie had to be taught the lesson that her father was not going to play games with her several more times, before she fully learned her lesson.

Rhett had ignored Bonnie's sullen mood until she was her cheerful self again. They had a lovely ride that morning. At the end of their ride, Bonnie had said, "Daddy, I am so excited about going on a buggy ride with Tom Fletcher."

"That's nice."

"All the girls have set their caps for him, and he asked me to go on a buggy ride. Me!"

"Really."

"He will be here at three."

"Aren't you still going to be taking your nap at three?"

"Daddy, I haven't taken a nap in years."

"My mistake."

When father and child got back to their large townhouse, Rhett found his wife in the kitchen supervising the preparation of dinner. When she saw him, she smiled at him, and his heart did a little flip flop. She said, "I will get Ida to heat you up some water so you can shave."

"I didn't get a chance this morning."

"I know how that is, Sweetheart, one thing after another always keeps coming up."

Rhett smiled as he got her double meaning and thought, 'Yes, sir. Let's hope something keeps coming up for a long time.' He said, "Indeed. I will be in our room."

"Ida, heat up some water for Mr. Butler and take it to him."

"Yes, Mrs. Butler."

Rhett left the room. He had hoped to learn his wife's first name. He knew what he would do. He would have to wait until a friend or relative came by.

When Rhett looked in the mirror, he saw an older man in the mirror. He was definitely older than thirty-three. He placed his finger on his nose just to be sure it really was him. It was him. Just five years older. His wife was probably ten years younger than him. He quickly shaved. He had to find out some answers. He knew that he was still Rhett Butler. He had a wife who was very attractive. He had a daughter who looked just like his wife. From his wife's comments this morning they only had one child. Judging by the quality of his clothes they were well to do. They had several slaves. He wondered if they owned a plantation.

After returning to the downstairs, Rhett walked around the townhouse. He recognized it as the townhouse from his youth. Therefore, they must be living in Charleston. From Bonnie's comments, Rhett knew he was received in the city.

Rhett continued walking around the townhouse. He had already discovered by just a cursory examination of the decorating of their home, his wife had very excellent taste. He walked into a room, and he liked it a lot. He looked around and saw the books across one wall. He surmised that this was the library. The room next to it he knew was his office. He walked around some more. He found a music room. The décor was awful. So different from the rest of the house. There was another room which he assumed was the family parlor because of the messiness of the room but was tastefully decorated also.

Rhett returned to his office. On the desk were several legal documents. He wondered if he was a lawyer. He knew whatever trade he was in required him to work in a big city.

As he was standing there, he heard a gong.

Rhett smiled. That was how his mother had summoned the family to the dining room. When he arrived, there was an older woman already seated at the table with his wife. His hope sprang forward. He hoped the woman would call his wife by name.

Once Rhett looked at the woman, he realized it was his mother, Elizabeth. She was twenty years older than the last time he had seen her. He had not seen her or spoken to her since the night his father had thrown him out of this very townhouse for refusing to marry Sarah Parker. The ninny from the buggy incident.

Soon Bonnie, another woman, and three children hurried into the room. They quickly sat down which left only one place setting left. He assumed that was his spot. It was at the head of the table so that made sense. That was when he noticed his wife was sitting at the other end.

Once Rhett sat down and truly looked at the other young lady, he recognized her as his sister, Rosemary. She had been harder to recognize because she had been a child the last time, he had seen her. He noticed that his sister looked to be in her late twenties. Her age was easy. She was twelve years younger than him. He laughed to himself when he thought, 'Unfortunately, you don't know how old you are.'

There was two boys and a girl. The children appeared to be ten, nine, and seven. The girl was in the middle. Rhett wondered where their father was.

Chapter Two

As the family was passing around the serving bowls, Rhett learned his wife's name was Scarlett. Bonnie told her grandmother and her aunt that she was going on a buggy ride with Tom Fletcher. Rhett watched as his mother and sister were duly impressed. He thought, 'This guy must be a real catch.'

Scarlett was smiling at her daughter indulgently. She said, "Genie, remember everything I have taught you about playing hard to get."

Elizabeth laughed. Rosemary smiled. Scarlett scowled and said, "You two just be quiet. Genie doesn't need to hear all that."

Genie said, "What happened?"

"Don't say a word."

"Scarlett, you have to tell her."

Scarlett looked at Rhett sharply. She mouthed the words, 'Why are you mad at me?"

Rhett smiled and said, "I'm not mad at you."

"The only time you call me by my name is when you are mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you, Sweetheart."

Scarlett kept staring at Rhett while waiting for him to say the right words. Genie rescued her father by saying, "It seems to me that when he calls you, My Pet, would be the time you would think he is mad at you."

Scarlett said, "No, it is sweet and endearing. He means I am his favorite person."

Rhett said, "Yes, that is what I mean."

Judging by Elizabeth's, Rosemary's, and Genie's expressions they did not agree with Scarlett's conclusion of what Rhett meant when he called his wife, My Pet. Genie said, "What is the secret?"

Elizabeth, who never had really liked her daughter-in-law simply because she wasn't from Charleston, said, "Your parents met at a ball in the summer of forty-four. She had come to spend the entire summer with her Aunt Pauline and Aunt Eulalie. Although the women didn't live together. She spent one week with one of them and the next week with the other one. Scarlett had just graduated from finishing school."

"Lafayette Academy. My parents sent me to Charleston to try out my new skills. My mother was from Savannah. My father has a plantation outside of Atlanta in Clayton County. There was just country folk in the county. Although after what happened I'm sure my parents wished they hadn't sent me away for the summer."

Genie said, "What happened?"

Scarlett smiled a dreamy smile and said, "I saw your father at a ball and knew he was the one for me. Luckily, your father felt the same way."

Rosemary said, "When Rhett tried to dance with Scarlett, she said all my dances are spoken for. She held up her dance card. Rhett grabbed the card from her and tore it up. He said now all your dances are mine from now until the end of time."

"It was quite the scandal. As I have taught you, a young girl is not supposed to dance twice with the same young man unless they are engaged and then it is only twice."

Rhett smiled and he said, "I wasn't going to take a chance of losing her."

Scarlett said, "He told me he loved me, then asked me to marry him that very night and I told him I loved him and said yes. So much for playing hard to get."

Everyone laughed.

Rhett smiled and said, "Despite the success your mother and I had, play hard to get, my daughter. Most people don't want something they can get easily. Of course, I knew your mother was one of a kind and as I said I wasn't going to let her slip through my fingers."

"Your anniversary isn't until August."

Scarlett said, "My parents asked me to wait for at least two months before we wed."

Elizabeth said, "Your grandfather asked Rhett to wait also." Elizabeth smiled and added, "It was that summer that Rhett finally told his father that he was not going to run the plantation. Fortunately, Langston had Robert, who very muchly wanted to run a rice plantation. At that time, Rhett finally told Langston he wanted to be a lawyer."

Scarlett smiled, "We were married and put on the train to Charlottesville." At Genie's confused face, Scarlett added, "Virginia. Ten months later there were three of us." She smiled at Rhett. "Mr. Langston, set us up in a nice townhouse in Charlottesville. Luckily, I had my mammy who not only took care of you, but she also taught me how to run a household. We lived in that townhouse for the next four years with my mammy and a few slaves until your father graduated from the University of Virginia Law School. Your father interned every summer with some very successful lawyers."

Rhett knew he had learned a lot during those internships and not all of it was legal. Rhett had not known what he was going to say until the words were out of his mouth. He said, "I was voted the most likely to succeed. And I did. I am almost as wealthy as Grandfather Butler and he was a pirate. He got his money by…."

Elizabeth said, "Rhett! Hush." She then added, "They moved back to Charleston and took over the townhouse."

"I did not become mistress of the townhouse until Mr. Langston died, Miss Elizabeth." With compassion on her face, Scarlett turned to Rosemary and added, "That was such a sad time in our lives. Not only did we lose Bruce to a hunting accident but we also lost Mr. Langston when he had a heart attack."

Elizabeth said to Rhett pointedly, "From smoking too many cigars and drinking too much."

Rhett said, "You will be happy to know Mother I have quit smoking cigars and I have cut way back on my whiskey consumption."

Rosemary said, "I am grateful you let me move in with you all."

Elizabeth said, "You are no trouble."

Rhett wondered how true that was and why his mother felt it was her place to extend hospitality.

Scarlett smiled a tight smile at his mother and said, "Moreover, Miss Elizabeth, the only room that Rhett has let me redecorate since he inherited the town house is my music room. That is in respect to you."

"That is true."

"I imagine when that awful day happens that you pass away Mother, I will be crying my eyes out. Not just for the loss of you but the loss of my tastefully decorated home."

Scarlett stuck out her tongue. She said, "Eat up everyone. Genie, you need to lay down after dinner with some wet compresses on your eyes. I will come see you after you are dress to style your hair."

Genie knew that was code for Mother putting some make-up on her. It was their secret for they both knew Daddy would hit the ceiling if he knew his daughter was wearing make-up. After all, only loose women wore makeup. Mother had explained it is alright to enhance your beauty as long as you do it subtly.

Later that day when it was close to six o'clock, Scarlett was standing by the formal parlor window. She was pacing. Where was Genie? Where was her baby? She should be home by now. She should tell Rhett. She was afraid to tell him. If anything happened to Genie, her big strong husband would become a basket case. Finally, when Scarlett heard the grandfather clock chime the six o'clock hour, she knew she would have to tell him. It was time for supper. Rhett would want to know why Genie wasn't sitting at the supper table. Scarlett would have to tell him that his innocent baby wasn't back from her afternoon buggy ride.

Scarlett turned to walk to the dining room. She saw Rhett walking towards her. She could see he had fresh clothes on for supper. He said, "Why haven't you changed?"

"Genie hasn't come back from her buggy ride yet."

"I will find her and take a horse whip to Tom Fletcher. When I am finished with him, he will be lucky to be alive."

"I am sure there is an innocent explanation."

"I am not so sure about that."

Rhett was remembering his buggy incident and his thoughts regarding Sarah had not been so innocent as he had always maintained. He hadn't done anything ungentlemanly, but his immoral thoughts were what had caused the wheel to break. Sort of. He had pulled the buggy to the side of the road. He had driven right into a big hole that he hadn't seen until it was too late. The wheel had broken, and his life altered.

Rhett added, "I'm going to go find her before this gets turned into a big scandal."

"Where are you going to look for her? We have no idea where he took her."

"I know where he took her. After all, I was once a young man who lived in Charleston. I know all the secluded lanes to drive a girl down."

"Did you ever drive me down one of those lanes?"

Rhett smiled. Here they were in a crisis and his self-centered wife was thinking of herself. He leaned forward and kissed her. He then turned to walk to the stables. Over his shoulder, he said, "No, I knew the temptation would be too great for the thin thread of control I had on my libido."

Scarlett smiled smugly as she watched her husband walk away. She had complete faith her husband would get their daughter out of this situation.

After Rhett's horse was saddled, he rode it directly to the road he had taken Sarah Parker down all those years ago.

Rhett came upon Bonnie and a young man walking down the road. Her face brightened with happiness. Her daddy had rescued her. Not just from the long walk but this tremendous bore. On top of everything else, Tom had started talking about Darwin's theories. Not only did he have most of the information wrong when she corrected him, he had told her to be quiet like a good girl.

Unfortunately for Tom, her father had her educated like she was a boy. The only thing her mother had ever said about it was, "Just don't let men see how smart you are."

Bonnie had tried to keep her mouth shut but she was too much her father's daughter to tolerate fools. Just like her father she had with her wit put the pompous ass in his place.

Neither Bonnie nor her parents knew that she was not liked by other girls or most of the matrons. She was popular with most of the young men of Charleston but that was more for her looks, her social position, and her father's wealth. Everyone knew she would inherit her father's money. She was an only child after all.

Rhett stopped his horse and got down. Bonnie walked over to him. She had wanted to run to him, but she had known that would have frightened the horse.

Rhett picked her up and placed her on the saddle. He climbed up and sat down behind her.

Tom said, "Don't you want to know what happened?"

"Not from you. Bonnie will tell me everything. Don't tell anyone what happened."

Rhett listened as Bonnie told him what had happened. She then went on to tell him how awful Tom was, and she would not be letting him call on her again. She had finished her oration by saying, "He is a ninny. I will not marry a ninny."

"You don't have to."

When father and daughter got home, they found Scarlett in the family parlor. She stood and said, "I told everyone else to go ahead and eat while the food was hot. Let me tell Rosa to heat some food up for us. Meet me in the dining room."

Soon the food was served. Over the meal, Bonnie told her mother everything that happened. Rhett did little to no talking.

All Rhett said was, "Nobody should find out about this as long as Tom keeps his mouth shut."

Bonnie said, "He will. If anyone found out he would be forced to marry me. I'm sure he doesn't want to be forced to marry anyone."

Rhett and Scarlet shared a look. They both knew the Fletchers were dirt poor. They had two assets. Their social position and their handsome son.

Bonnie's parents let her chatter on while having a conversation without saying anything.

Chapter Three

Once Rhett and Scarlett were in their room, he said, "I will make sure he doesn't say anything either by force or by bribe."

Scarlett came up to Rhett and said, "You are the best husband ever."

"Come show me how wonderful I am."

"Gladly."

Unfortunately for Rhett, the Fletcher family were not interested in a bribe. They had their eyes on a bigger prize, Rhett's entire fortune. The best part was once Rhett died Tom would have control of Genie's money since he was Genie's husband.

The next day was Sunday, although neither Rhett nor Scarlett wanted to attend church, they did every week because it was expected of them. They attended the Episcopal Church with their family. At church, Elizabeth had heard the bad news. She probably would not have heard it if Abigail Adams had not hated Elizabeth so much.

Abby and Elizabeth had both been vying for Langston Butler's affections, sort of. Langston had needed to marry a young woman with excellent social standing, and both Abigail and Elizabeth fit that criteria. Both women had needed to marry someone with money to save their family. Elizabeth had gotten the coveted offer of marriage simply because Langston had thought she was smarter than Abby. Like his son Langston had not wanted to be married to a ninny. Elizabeth felt that she and Langston had strong affection for each other.

Elizabeth was so upset by the news that she didn't even wait until the family got home. While the family was getting in the carriage, Elizabeth had pulled Rhett aside and said to him, "It is all over town that Genie and Tom Fletcher were alone together on one of the back roads. When you came upon them, they were in a disheveled state. That you whisk Genie away and threatened Tom to not say anything to anyone."

"Sonofabitch."

"Yes."

"The whole family."

"Yes, they must have gotten up early to spread the news."

"The Fletchers want to marry into the Butler family because we are so rich."

"Yes. Not only are we a powerful family, but upon your death Genie is going to be a very wealthy young lady."

"It will go through Scarlett first so there might not be anything left once Bonnie inherits the money."

Mother and son smiled. They both knew that Scarlett liked to spend money. Nonetheless, they both knew Scarlett would make sure that most of the estate passed on to her daughter.

"What am I going to do? She will be ruined if she doesn't marry the boy, but I won't allow her to marry someone who wants to marry her for her money. Besides, she doesn't want to marry the boy. Since, she is my daughter I think she stubbornly would refuse to marry the boy just because she thinks he is an idiot."

"He is."

"I will think of something. For starts, tell everyone that Bonnie didn't do anything wrong therefore she will not be punished by having to marry the wrong man."

"Alright."

A week later the good people of Charleston firmly believed that Tom Fletcher had compromised Genie Butler and the only way their reputations could be restored was for them to get married. Tom had even embarrassedly implied that he and Genie had been intimate.

Rhett had run a full-page ad in the Charleston Gazette stating that Genie Butler did not do anything wrong therefore she would not be marrying anyone. The Butler family was confident that soon everyone would know the truth and Genie would once again be receiving invitations to social gatherings.

A month later nothing was better. People had started snubbing all the Butlers in the street. Finally, Elizabeth, Rosemary, Rhett, Scarlett, and Genie had a discussion. Rhett started the conversation by saying, "What options do we have?"

Elizabeth said, "Genie either marries Tom or she will no longer be received by any decent family in Charleston."

Scarlett said, "And that also means all of us will not be received."

Genie said, "I will marry him. I can't let everyone be unreceived."

Rhett ignored what his daughter said. He said, "If Scarlett, Genie, and I move away, can you two ladies redeem your social standings?"

Rosemary looked at her mother and said, "If we disavow any relationship with you at all."

Scarlett said, "This is kind of going to be a reverse gangrene."

"What do you mean, My Pet."

"Instead of cutting off the foot to save the body, we must cut off the foot and arm to save the foot and arm. Once we are gone, Elizabeth and Rosemary can talk about how they will never understand why we didn't make Genie do the right thing. Etc., etc., etc. We have all played the game long enough to know what the rules are."

Genie said, "No! You two can't give up everything for me."

Rhett looked at Scarlett then at Genie and said, "Yes, we can."

Scarlett said, "Let's start liquidating items. Can you sell your law practice?"

"Yes, and my shipping line."

"And my buggy."

"We will leave the carriage for you two ladies."

For the next month Rhett, Scarlett, and Genie got rid of everything they no longer wanted. Rhett left the townhouse more or less intact. Rhett had most of his money in stocks and bonds. They also had a lot of money in jewelry. Both Scarlett and Genie had more clothes than they needed but they managed to pack them all.

Rhett set-up a trust account for his mother and sister that had primarily stocks and bonds. Items that would hold their worth if there was a civil war. He had given the lawyer strict instructions to not convert any of his money into any other currency than the U.S. dollar.

On December of sixty Rhett, Scarlett, and Genie sailed out of Charleston with no plans to return.

Scarlett and Genie never returned. When the civil war started Rhett decided to become a blockade runner. As he said to Scarlett, "It is easy money. Besides, I can haul cotton out with every trip. I can make a fortune if I hold it for the right amount of time."

Scarlett thought it was extremely dangerous, but she did not try to talk Rhett out of doing it. He had lost some money when he had liquidated his assets when they had left Charleston. He wanted to recoup those losses.

After two and a half years of running the blockade, Rhett quit. He said, "The profits are not worth the risk. I still have to take care of you and Bonnie."

"Indeed, you do."

"My only regret is I will not be able to get money to my mother."

"What about the trust fund?"

"Mr. Mobbs cannot get access to her funds until the war is over."

"Oh. I hope they survive. I asked them to move to Plymouth to be with us, but they refused."

"I hope they survive too. Genie has a gentleman caller that she is very interested in."

"Another reason to retire from running the blockade. I have to keep an eye on my little girl."

"Don't let her hear you call her that. She thinks she is all grown up. What are you going to do with your time?"

"Work for a barrister until I feel I comfortable with practicing law here in England. Also wait for the price of cotton to get sky high so I can make a enormous profit when I sell it."

"You never cease to amaze me with how brilliant you are."

"Thank you, my pet."

Rhett and Scarlett sat on the sofa all cuddled up. They talked about their future and their recent past. Rhett always encouraged Scarlett to talk about their past because he certainly had some holes in his memory. In fact, most of the time he had no memory of the past at all. He had no idea what had happened. One day he had just woken up in this wonderful world. The only complaint he had was that his wife had awful taste, but he would take her and her awful taste any day. She was one of a kind.

Soon Bonnie would get married, and he and Scarlett would be grandparents. He was sure he was more excited about that prospect than his wife.

Atlanta April of 1874

Dr. Sanger said, "I can't give you any hope that your husband will ever be sane again."

Scarlett Butler replied, "He has not been quite right since the death of our daughter, then the death of a very good friend of ours, then his mother and sister. His mother and sister died from an epidemic in Charleston. It all happened within four months. It may have been too much for his mind to handle."

"We know so little about the human brain."

"Can I take him home?"

"No, it is better to keep him here where he can get care around the clock."

"I want him to get the best of care."

"Mrs. Butler, your husband is not well physically either."

"I know."

"Ma'am, he gets the orderly to sneak him in alcohol."

"How can that be? You said he was in another world."

"He is most of the time, but he returns to this world long enough to get his alcohol."

"What about his cigars?"

"No, he has never asked for them."

"Alright. I will be by tomorrow to see him."

"Mrs. Butler, he is never going to recognize you again."

"I know but he is my husband, and I will do right by him." Scarlett added to herself, 'Besides, if you know I am checking on him every day, you will take better care of him.'

As Scarlett walked out of the Atlanta Insane Asylum, she could hardly believe the end Rhett had come to. She would take care of him until he died. She owed him. For getting her out of Atlanta that night, for loaning her money to start the sawmills, for being her friend before they got married, for giving her Bonnie, for setting up her support payment to be paid by Mr. Powe, for leaving her his entire fortune in his will, and last but not least for making her strong enough to carry all her burdens without collapsing under the weight.

As Scarlett walked along, she wished she could join Rhett in that other world. It was probably a lovely world. She was sure it was a much better world than the one she was currently living in.