Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Scarlett left her house about three o'clock. She would be back in time to freshen up before supper. She would not try any seduction moves on Rhett. She would just tell him the truth and hope for the best.
It was fortunate that Rhett was at the hotel when Peter dropped the note off around four o'clock. It had taken Peter almost an hour to get PittyPat to understand that they needed money. That they would have to be respectful and kind to the unreceived reprobate. Simply because if they didn't get money fast, they would all go down like a house on fire. No, Captain Butler was not an honorable man, but he did have the money they needed. What's more, they both knew that he was sweet on Miss Scarlett, and he would probably give her the money because of his tender feelings for her.
Rhett had been sitting in his room pondering how he was ever going to get Scarlett to be that young girl of the war years again. She hadn't cut him cold, but she had not been extremely warm when they had run into each other in public. There had been a few times when he had seen her change directions in order to avoid him. He missed getting to talk to her even if it had only been once a month and her husband had been sitting right there. It had been far too long since he had a fun conversation with her. Except for the conversation they had on the porch when Ella was a month old it had been more years than he could remember. Certainly, since he had overreacted to her saying she didn't want any more children.
Rhett decided to think about the clan raid. He finally decided the clan wasn't going to make that raid on Shantytown. He guessed because Scarlett wasn't attacked there wasn't an incident to get the men all fired up. No other woman was going to put herself in jeopardy. He was pondering how he was going to get Frank Kennedy out of the way if the clan didn't make that disastrous raid.
Now that Rhett didn't need Belle to provide an alibi for those stupid clansmen, he could stop being nice to the old whore. Being around the woman made him feel guilty for his previous actions.
Rhett shook his head and wondered when he had acquired all this conscience. He knew he still didn't have very much conscience, but it was a lot more than he had during his first lifetime.
When Rhett heard the knock on the door, he wondered who it was. He was not expecting anyone. He knew who it wouldn't be – Scarlett. Despite the number of times, he had fantasized about her just showing up at his hotel door, he knew it was never going to happen. She was too proper for that. Besides, she didn't want him that way. It appeared she didn't want him in any way anymore.
It was the bell hop with a note. The note was from Scarlett. She wanted him to come to supper. This was certainly an interesting change of things. They had hardly spoken to each other since she had paid off her loan. Maybe she did want him for something. His money.
The bell hop said, "There is a man waiting for a reply."
"Very good. Let me write a note."
Rhett gave the bellhop a note back accepting Scarlett's invitation. He then proceeded to get himself all cleaned up.
The status at the store depressed Scarlett even more. The shelves were empty. Everything was going to have to be restocked. The books were in shambles. The last time Frank had recorded anything in the ledger looked to be a month ago. She already knew everyone in proper society owed Frank money. In fact, it looked like there had been a lot of credit given out in the last two months. Once again Scarlett imagined killing Frank with her own two hands. That was after she staked him out in the sun next to an ant hill and covered him in honey.
Scarlett knew that if she didn't get a loan from Rhett, she would have to abandon the store and hope that the sawmills survived with the little bit of money she had hidden at home. As much as it galled her, she was going to have to be sweet to Rhett tonight. She could not lose her temper at him or get mad at his snide comments.
Scarlett thought of Frank once again stealing her money. She really should have put it in the bank. No, it was just as well she hadn't. At least, she had a little bit of money hidden that he hadn't found to pay for food if nothing else. The bank, any bank, would have given Frank her money because he was her husband despite the fact it was her money.
Scarlett fixed her face and hair. She put on her prettiest dress. She put on her mother's necklace for good luck. The necklace she had worn to the Wilkes barbecue. She then took it off. That had not been a lucky day for her. Ashley's pitiful rejection, Rhett's verbal assault, and Charlie's proposal. Actually, Charlie's proposal was sweet, but she wished he hadn't proposed then she wouldn't have accepted. She could have happily lived out the rest of her life in Clayton County instead of spending the next twelve years chasing a dream that was no more than gossamer and delusions.
Scarlett shook off thoughts of the past. She had to get Rhett to lend her five hundred dollars. She just hoped it was enough to carry her through in the next year.
Rhett showed up at the Hamilton House exactly at six. Peter politely showed him into the parlor. As Scarlett watched Rhett walk through the parlor door she thought, 'He has a lot of faults but being late is not one of them. He is always punctual.'
Scarlett stood up and said, "Thank you for coming, Rhett. Supper is ready to be served. The dining room is this way."
"Of course."
"Wade, come along."
"Yes, Mama."
Scarlett held out her hand and her son took it. The picture was so atypical of Scarlett that it almost blew Rhett's breath away. The love that showed on her face for her son.
Soon the group was seated around the dining room table. Scarlett had said, "Why don't you sit across from me, Rhett. Wade's seat is next to mine."
"Of course."
"Aunt PittyPat will sit at the head of the table."
Once everyone was seated, Aunt PittyPat rang the bell to indicate they were ready to be served. Rhett said, "Is Mr. Kennedy not joining us?"
"No, Frank will not be joining us tonight or any other night. He has chosen to run off to Texas or was it Mexico. It might even be California."
"What!?"
"Frank and my sister Suellen have run away together."
"Really!? I am so surprised."
Rhett was thrilled Frank was out of the way. It appeared his departure had created a situation where Scarlett needed him again. Well, she needed his money. He was thinking, 'How in the world did this come about? I would have bet money that Frank Kennedy didn't have the guts to run away from his responsibilities, his wife, and his daughter. Maybe it was a lack of guts that caused him to run away.'
"So were we. The worst part is that he has taken all of our money and all the stores' money."
"Now I know why you invited me to supper."
"Yes, that is correct. I need another loan although not because of my poor management skills."
"That is debatable."
Scarlett smiled and said, "I will let you speak your unkind comments, but I really need another loan from you."
"Go to the bank."
"There is the rub, Rhett. Although I own the sawmills. I am not allowed to use them without my husband's written permission. The store is in his name therefore I cannot use it for collateral. I have nothing of value to put up to secure the loan except my good name."
"What about Hamilton House?"
"It belongs to Melly and Wade. I cannot use it as collateral either."
Rhett looked at PittyPat and Wade then back at Scarlett and said, "So, what are you offering to secure the loan?"
"Nothing but my promise that I will pay you back."
"I will loan you the money but there are going to be some conditions."
"We can talk about them in the parlor."
"I would prefer the front porch. We can stand out there alone because everyone can see what we are doing. Your virtue will be protected."
"Very well. Now let's enjoy the meal. It is one of Cookie's best meals. Rabbit stew with cornbread."
Rhett thought, 'I have her over the barrel, I can make her marry me. No, I don't want to make her do anything. I want her to willingly be my wife. Her being my mistress is totally out of the question. First, I want her by my side for the rest of my life and second, that would shame her so much she would never be able to face me again.'
Finally, supper was over, and Scarlett and Rhett walked out onto the porch. They sat down across from each other. They were both thinking of their conversation at the Fire House.
Rhett was cautioning himself not to lose control of his temper and say something hurtful. Scarlett was cautioning herself not to appear desperate, although she was quite sure Rhett already knew how desperate she was.
As Rhett and Scarlett sat on the front porch, he said, "Tell me the entire story."
"I will give you the end of it first then come back and fill in the details. At least, as much as I know."
"Alright, go ahead."
"Frank and Suellen ran away together. That part is no big deal. The part that is a big deal is that Frank found one of my stashes of money which had two hundred dollars in it. He stole it and put it in the bank. He then found another of my stashes which had a hundred dollars in it. In his letter he said we were even now because he had given me three hundred dollars to save Tara."
"An accurate point." Scarlett scowled at Rhett. He continued, "Whether you like the truth or not it is still the truth."
Scarlett ignored what Rhett said and went on speaking, "He took all the profits from the store and the money he had stashed away to buy more stock with."
"So, you are flat broke again."
"Not flat broke. I still have some money stashed away from the sawmills but not enough. Not enough to buy stock, pay my employees, and feed my household."
"How much did you want to borrow?"
"Five hundred dollars."
"Yes, but I have a few conditions."
"I know. I can't hire Ashley."
"Yes and a few more."
"I won't be your mistress."
Rhett stood up and said, "Very well. Good luck on finding that money."
"Rhett, don't be this way. Lend me the money like you did at Frank's store that night. All I would give you that night was my word."
Rhett smiled. He would give her the money because he wanted her to be in debt to him literally if not figuratively. He said, "Because of my fondness for you, I will lend you the money on certain conditions."
"You do an imitation of Lady Godiva."
"What?"
"Lady Godiva. It is said that she rode down Main Street in her shimmy."
"Go to hell."
Rhett burst out laughing. He said, "I was just joking. You will be happy to fulfill the others."
"Let's hear them."
"If you see me on the street, you will be seen with me and you will be much friendlier than you have in the past."
"Yes."
"You will not go out of your way to avoid me."
"What are you talking about?
"I have seen you change directions, so our paths didn't cross."
Scarlett scowled at Rhett. She didn't bother to deny it. He wouldn't believe her anyway. She said, "Alright."
"We will go out to supper once a month and you will give me your loan payment."
"Yes, but you will have to provide the chaperone. Aunt PittyPat won't be seen in public with you."
"That is fine. I would not want to go out to supper with Miss PittyPat. You will receive me in your home."
"Not until I am no longer a married woman and if I have paid off my loan then no."
"Alright."
"What else?"
"That is it. I will go to the bank and get your money tomorrow. Where will you be?"
"Probably at the store. The sawmills are running alright with Hugh and Johnny in charge although I can't leave either one of them unsupervised for long. Hugh will mess something up and Johnny will steal something from me."
