Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Thirty-Eight

For the next few months, Rhett came by the store once or twice a week and they visited while they sat on the front porch. It was nice. Rhett was asking Scarlett questions about her life before the war and even a few about her life in Boston. He was pleased that while she spoke positively about Patrick she never went on and on about how wonderful he was. Unfortunately, Rhett wasn't sure if that was because she didn't think Patrick was wonderful or because she was more mature now.

Rhett and Scarlett's monthly suppers with the Powes were fun for everyone including Suzanne. Admittedly Suzanne would never have spoken to Joe before the war, and she certainly wouldn't have gotten married in two weeks. Yet, her life had been so bad living with her cousin Gertrude and Gertrude's husband, that she didn't think her life could have gotten much worse. Her only fear had been that Joe would beat her, but luckily Joe wasn't that kind of man. In truth, Joe rarely even yelled at her.

Suzanne would tell anyone that her life was extremely good. Joe had bought her a house. She had a cook and a maid. She even had a washer woman who came to the house once a week. Admittedly she had to help the washer woman. Yet, it was still better than when she was living with Gertrude. At that time, she had to do the wash all by herself. In Gertrude's household Suzanne had always had to do the nasty chores around the house, including changing little Petey's diapers.

Suzanne wouldn't tell anyone, but her monthly suppers with Scarlett Kennedy and Rhett Butler were so much fun. No, Scarlett wasn't proper, but that was what made her so much fun.

That night over supper, Suzanne had announced that she and Joe were expecting a child sometime in January. Scarlett said, "Congratulations. You must be so excited."

"Yes, I am. I didn't think this would ever come true."

Suzanne statement made Scarlett think of India. Sadly, it would never come true for India because she could never give up what was proper and what wasn't. India was worse than the matrons now. Scarlett briefly wondered how India, Ashley, and Melly were doing in New York, but she forgot about it when she heard Suzanne say, "I'm not going into a confinement."

"Really?"

"Why should I? I'm already a persona non grata just because I married Joe." Suzanne whispered the next part, "A Yankee."

Scarlett and Rhett laughed. She said, "You are going to love not being house bound. I remember that I hated my confinements. I remember how happy I was when I was carrying Melanie and …."

Suzanne said, "Melanie? I thought your daughter's name was Ella."

"Aah. Er… I had wanted to call her Melanie, but at the last minute changed my mind. I guess I am still stuck on that name. I didn't want to be housebound when I was carrying Ella."

Joe and Suzanne looked at Scarlett skeptically. Rhett took Scarlett's hand under the table. He leaned forward and said, "I bet you would be like a caged lion while you were in your confinement."

Rhett holding Scarlett's hand had calmed her down. She stared at him and marveled that he had provided comfort when she had needed it. And she had needed that comfort. She cheerfully said, "I am. Maybe worse. I didn't have to go into one with Wade because I was living at Tara at the time."

"How is Tara doing?"

"Great. They have most of the good land planted with cotton. Next year during the winter, Careen wants to see if they can clear some more farmland for the next planting season.

Despite Joe and Suzanne's skeptical expressions, Rhett and Scarlett monopolized the conversation for the next five minutes. Finally, the couple let the Powes get a word into the conversation. Neither person asked about what Scarlett had said. It made no sense, but it was plain that Rhett and Scarlett weren't going to explain. Rhett was a big client for Joe therefore the Powes would not create any awkward moments.

When Rhett walked Scarlett to the door, he said, "You know what is key to getting away with a lie."

"Never admit it was a lie no matter how much evidence they have against you."

"Ah, you did learn a thing or two by being married to me. It is All right. If we never acknowledge your slip up there is nothing, they can say about it. To them it just sounded like crazy talk."

"I do remember when I was carrying Melanie how nice it was to get to go out every day."

"I truly don't understand the negatives of carrying a child, but if you don't want to have any more, we won't have anymore."

"How?"

"By being abstinent."

"I will not tolerate you using whores again. I don't know what I will do, but I will not go through that again."

Rhett solemnly said, "I meant we would both be abstinent. I would never shame you that way again."

"Really, Rhett.?

"Really, Scarlett."

Scarlett shook herself and said, "No, I am going to stay single and marry Patrick in March of seventy-five."

"I will not stop trying to change your mind, but I want to change your mind by meeting your needs. By finally making you feel safe and secure."

"No, you had your chance."

"I blew my first chance but a supernatural being gave me a second chance and I am going to try to change our futures."

Scarlett sighed and said, "Supernatural being? Really, Rhett, you are being ridiculous."

"Do you have a better explanation?"

"I guess not. Good night, Rhett."

"Good night, my love."

Scarlett gave a half smile and shook her head. She then turned and walked into the house.

It was almost eight o'clock and the sun had finally gone down at Tara. Everyone was exhausted including Careen's aunts. The first day there was cotton picking in the field, Careen had point blank told the older women, "I am going to be out in the field picking cotton. Liberty, Pork, and Dilcey are going to be with me. When we come in from the field for dinner there had better be a meal on this table. Will, and the field hands are going to be powerfully hungry as are Pork, Dilcey, Liberty, and I. If there isn't a meal on the table, I won't have any trouble throwing you off of Tara right then and there. I would get the field hands to stop picking cotton to be sure to get you two off the property."

Eulalie and Pauline had turned to the only person they could turn to. Mammy. Mammy had told them how to fix some simple foods. Ida, the wet nurse, had known of some recipes the older women could prepare also. Every day the sisters had managed to serve dinner and supper. Nobody complained when the two meals were the same just as long as there was food to eat. The residents of Tara were eighteen days into picking cotton and Eulalie and Pauline were sure they were working harder than the field hands. Although when the older women mentioned this thought to Careen, she said, "Liberty and I will be glad to trade places with you if that is what you truly think."

Eulalie said, "No, no. We are fine with the current arrangements."

After supper had been over, Will said to Careen, "I need to talk with you. Would you go for a walk with me?'

"Yes."

As Careen and Will were walking along, he said, "I know I am not in any position to say anything right now. Or even question you about anything, but do you think you are going to go back to the convent."

"Probably not. With Suellen abandoning her responsibility towards Tara, I have to step up and assume that responsibility. Scarlett is adamant that Tara will be managed by an O'Hara. She can't take on the amount of work needed to make this plantation a success and Suellen has run off to God knows where therefore, I will have to do it. Maybe in future years once Tara is on a solid footing, we could get an Overseer to run Tara, but knowing Scarlett that still won't be good enough for her. Because of Suellen's actions I may be stuck on Tara the rest of my life."

"That's not a bad thing from my point of view."

"Mine either, but let's not talk about it yet."

"Do you think you would ever want to sell Tara?"

"No, not now. When I first found out that Brent was dead, I wanted to die also. I thought my life was over, which is why I wanted to go into the convent. I thought I good make use of the rest of my life in a beneficial way. Now, I feel like the best good I can do in this world is make Tara a thriving plantation again for my children and my nieces and nephews."

"I was married before the war."

"I never knew this."

"No, I don't talk about it. It is easier. I loved Ruth and she loved me. She died in sixty. It is one of the reasons I went to fight. I didn't care if I lived or died."

"I can relate."

"When I was on death's doorway, I knew I wanted to live."

"I realized that too when I was in the convent." Will looked at Careen with kind eyes. She said, "Maybe I will tell you all about it someday.

"Then let's just walk around this empty padlock and I will tell you about my life and you can tell me about yours."

That is what Careen and Will did for the next thirty minutes. They were careful that there was no body contact.

As Careen laid in her bed behind her locked door, she thought, "Because my aunts are here to be chaperones, I don't have to marry Will yet. Of course, he couldn't marry me right now anyway."

It was a few days later, Rhett had been at The Painted Lady. He had won about thirty dollars at the poker table. As was his norm now he took himself upstairs. As he was having an enjoyable time, he heard two male voices talking about him.

Voice #1 – "Are you who they sent to help this knucklehead?"

Voice #2 – "I will do him a fine job."

"Goof body you are the worst angel second class there is."

"Marvin, don't call me that! My name is Odbody."

"Your name should be Klutz. You are a free thinker, and a naïve, romantic twit."

"I am an angel second class soon to be first class."

"If you are this cockroach's helper then I don't need to stick around. This guy's soul is locked up for the master."

"I will succeed. I have been a spirit for thousands of years."

"Big talk Goof body. I passed all my practical exams on the first try. I scored the highest scores that have ever been recorded. Have you passed any of your practical exams on the first try."

"No, but I passed them on the second try."

"Goof body, you only passed two out of five on the second try. I hear there was one you had to take six times."

"It was only five."

"Rumor has it that one of the other angels coached you through it."

"My boss would never allow that."

"There was one exam that you passed by one point. The rumor has it that the grader was extremely lenient with you."

"That is not true."

There was fiendish laughter, finally, Marvin said, "Goof body - that is what you are called in the dark world because you are always goofing things up. Goof body, you are a legend in the dark world, but not in a good way. Everyone loves to hear a new 'Goof body' story, and I am going to tell them all that you are my competition. I might as well go ahead and put another one in the win column. I am glad I saw you here. If you are going to be his helper, then I don't need to waste my time with him. Your help will be enough to bring him down."

With that all Clarence or Rhett could hear was maniacal laughter as it faded away. Rhett said, "Clarence, are you there?"

"Yes."

Rhett turned to the girl and smiled. He said, "I'm finished for the night."

"But... But you didn't…..."

Rhett stood up and said, "No, I didn't. Go on and go. I am no longer in the mood."

"All right, Mister."

Rhett proceeded to get dressed. The young lady left the room. Rhett was right behind her.

As Rhett and Clarence were walking back to the hotel, Rhett whispered, "What is the deal?"

"Once I was assigned to you, I am attached to you. Where you go, I go. I told you that when we first met.

Still whispering Rhett said, "I'm sorry. You should have reminded me."

"I didn't want you to know."

"We will talk more when we get to my suite."

"Very well."