Author's Note - this is an older story that was supposed to be a one shot, and for years it was. But here is a new chapter with several more to eventually follow. Enjoy!!
PART 2
Scarlett watched Rhett's silhouette growing smaller and smaller until she could see him no longer and he disappeared, obscured by the bare trees bordering the road and the overgrown evergreens that framed the entrance to Tara. She prayed that he would hurry. Pulling his coat more tightly around her body,she tried to contain the shivering from the coldness that penetrated down to her bones. She smiled as his comforting scent surrounded her. Something about him made her feel safe, and it was only after he was gone did it fade. He had warmed her physically and given her hope.
She entered the house, feeling hopeful. The door creaked on the hinges behind her, echoing through the house with a dull thud when it closed.
She jumped when she heard the clearing of a throat from the door to the parlor, "Was that Rhett Butler I saw you with?" Ashley chided. "Scarlett, you know he isn't a decent person."
"I'm sorry. I didn't see you there, Ashley." Scarlett blinked at him in confusion, as though stepping out into the cold after being surrounded by the comfort of a glowing hearth, after all Rhett had offered to solve all of her problems. He made her feel safe, something that Ashley did not. She sometimes forgot that he was not always accepted by society. She had once hoped that Ashley would solve her problems. Perhaps he could, perhaps Ashley would make it so that she didn't need Rhett. Perhaps Ashley could be her knight in shining armor again. Strangely that didn't thrill her like it once would have, leaving her even more confused.
"Scarlett, Will brought me some news from town earlier. I've spoken to Melanie about it, but I feel I need to speak to you."
Scarlett nodded at him, "of course Ashley", as she followed him into the parlor where Melanie was waiting, sitting demurely on the settee with a concerned look on her face, her lips twisted almost into a grimace.
"Will told me that the taxes have been raised on Tara. He didn't think that you had the money to pay for it." Ashley told her as Melanie watched on, her hands wringing in her lap.
"I know. Will already spoke to me about it." She responded dully, as she stood just inside the doorway, as though she were the interloper in the room, not the mistress of the plantation. "There isn't enough money. We barely have enough for food for the table and for seeds for the fields to plant in the spring." She glanced up at him, questioning the way that he was acting, and more than a little irritated that Will had spoken to Ashley about it. After all Tara, was the O'Hara's home. Ashley only was staying there out of their good will. "Do you have any suggestions on where we can get the money for the taxes?"
Ashley nodded grimly. "I've got contacts up north that will help me find a job there. And I'm sure that some of your kin will take you in. You of course can always return to Atlanta to live with Aunt PittyPat, or perhaps your Aunts in Charleston, I believe."
Scarlett glared at him, "that isn't a solution. That doesn't save Tara." She retorted hotly as she marched over to the window, "This land is worth saving. Don't you have anything you can contribute? Didn't your father have any savings that you could use to save Tara?"
"I'm sorry, Scarlett, but there is nothing left. Do you think that I would still be living here at Tara if I had the means to provide for Melly better than this?" He offered dismissively. "I could try to dig through the rubble at Twelve Oaks to see if there is anything salvageable to pay our way up north."
Both Scarlett and Melanie stared at him in horror and confusion. "Are you suggesting that I just give up my home, after everything that I've been through to just give up now? I hoped that you had some idea of a way to save it, but thankfully Rhett promised to take care of it. Rhett didn't just tell me to give up and leave Tara, he offered to pay the taxes for me."
Melanie sagged in relief, the tension rushing away as she joyfully rose and rushed to Scarlett's side and hugged her. "Oh, that was so kind of Captain Butler. He always has been there when you needed him the most."
Ashley looked at them huddled together, "Is that his coat that you are wearing? Scarlett, you are too fine for a scoundrel like him. You know what kind of reputation he has. Why, he isn't even received by his own family." He scolded as though she were a young child.
She frowned at him, and she was ready to speak her mind, but Melanie spoke first, coming to the defense of both of them, in her own kind and gentle way, "Ashley, darling, Captain Butler is the reason I'm alive. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have escaped from Atlanta. He is a gentleman, dear." Melanie cooed, an iron strength juxtaposed with her sweet, melodic voice. "He will always be welcome in our home, and he loves Scarlett so. If he said that he will pay the taxes on Tara, then he will. He wouldn't want to fail Scarlett in her hour of need."
And Melanie's gentle defense on the matter was the end of the argument.
But the days slowly crept by as she waited for word from Rhett, waited for him to return and save her and Tara as a conquering hero. He had promised, after all, that he would take care of everything, and yet he did not return, and despite Rhett's assurances to Scarlett that he was taking on the burden of the taxes, each day she grew more and more anxious. The anxiety pulling the muscles taut against the bones of her starved body. The day to pay the debt was rapidly approaching, and he had not returned. What if something had happened to Rhett or worse what if it had all been a game that he was playing on her?
The cold snap disappeared, and warmer weather prevailed. The ice crystals thawed leaving the yellowed weeds gracefully dancing and swaying in the wind as the ground began to warm and thaw. The air held the warmth and promise of spring. But the icy tentacles of fear clutching at Scarlett's heart did not dissipate, but only strengthened their hold on her. What was taking Rhett so long? Didn't he understand? She was terrified that he was going to fail her. And his failure meant the loss of her home and the only place that she had to provide for and shelter what was left of her family. Perhaps she would have to leave Tara and return to Atlanta with no other home to claim other than her share of Aunt PittyPat's house left to her by Charles.
Two weeks slowly passed - Two weeks after the news of the increased taxes and Rhett's visit, two weeks of rising fear and even less food. Her rising fear made her even less hungry and she lost even more weight, which she couldn't afford to lose. Basic tasks were growing more and more difficult.
They were alerted to the sounds of someone coming up the lane, for visitors were infrequent at Tara, and the quiet around them was almost deafening. The clip clop of a horse cantering up the lane preceded the view of the solitary figure of Frank Kennedy arriving at Tara, still thin from deprivations during the war, but slowly filling out, which testified to the fact that he was eating well at least. He climbed from his rented horse carefully and tied the reins to a post. "Good day ladies, Miss Suellen" He tipped his hat to the three sisters and Melanie. "Well hello, Ashley." He greeted them as they had all gathered on the porch to see the arrival of the visitor. Beau and Wade were playing in the dirt beside the porch while Melanie watched over them.
The mild winter day, pleasant in spite of the season, seemed an omen to Suellen, who tittered around the house making loud complaints about Scarlett to anyone who would listen. It was nearly noon, and Frank was invited to join them for their mid-day meal. Scarlett was embarrassed by the meager meal set in front of a guest, but she had nothing else to offer. She took only a small spoon of beans, leaving more for their guest. Frank politely joined them and ate sparingly. He could clearly tell that there was not an abundance at Tara now. It hurt to remember what Tara had been before the war. The slaves wouldn't have been so limited on their table. After eating Frank asked to speak to Scarlett in the parlor.
"Ms. Hamilton," Frank began once they were seated in the parlor.
"Mr. Kennedy - Frank, we're going to be family soon. You might as well address me by my given name." Scarlett cut in, hating to be reminded of her brief marriage.
"Yes, Ms. Scarlett." He nodded. "That is what I'd like to talk to you about. I know that I have your permission, but I would like to move up the wedding. I'd like to marry Miss Suellen this spring. I've waited an awfully long while to take her hand, and by the end of the spring, I will have enough money saved up to take care of my future family." He boasted almost sheepishly. "I gathered some broken up furniture and supplies and opened a dry goods store - Kennedy's Emporium. I'm making enough now to save a little. Course it is nothing like it was before the war, but I'm doing well enough now."
The wheels in Scarlett's head were spinning, if Frank had enough money, then perhaps Tara could still be saved, even if Rhett had failed her. But then her thoughts faltered she knew that if Frank married Suellen, then the rest of the O'Hara family would never see a dime of the money. And if Scarlett had met him in Atlanta and he had shared this news with her, she could have spun a tale of Suellen marrying someone else or being sweet on someone else, but having come all of the way to Tara and having already been greeted by her; it would be impossible now. "If Suellen will have you, then you are welcome to take her off of our hands. It will be one less mouth to feed."
"Oh thank you, Miss Scarlett. I cannot wait to make her my bride. I will do right by her." He promised.
Scarlett wished that there was something she could do, but she couldn't focus enough to lay the plans to get Frank to share his money with her. Perhaps she could tell him of their situation. He had to be at least somewhat aware after eating such a meager meal at their table. Oh blast that Rhett! Why hadn't he come through!? But as she only pretended to listen to Frank share his plans of expanding to a lumber mill, she caught him saying something about Rhett. And she turned her ear to his tale. Then a knot formed in her stomach and settled with her – for Rhett was in jail in Atlanta. That was the reason that he hadn't returned. All of his need to evade the Yankees had been for naught. And word on the street was that he was facing hanging for killing a man. Damn him! She wanted to drop her face into her hands and sob.
Frank stuttered to a stop when he noticed how the color had leached from her face and her hands trembled. "I'm sorry, Miss Scarlett. I shouldn't have said anything. I just thought that you had gotten to know him during the war. Why, he attended the last picnic at Twelve Oaks with me."
"Yes, I know Rh-Captain Butler." She acknowledged. "I'm glad that you told me. I appreciate hearing how things are in Atlanta. You've done a lot for yourself, and I'm glad to know that my sister will be taken care of." At this Frank continued on of his plans and the changes in Atlanta since the war. Unnoticed by Frank, tears began forming in her eyes. It was even worse than she had suspected. Rhett hadn't failed her, but his reassurances meant nothing from a jail cell. And they were going to hang him. The thought horrified her, and more than just for the fact that he had promised to save Tara. He was her one true friend, and this news brought that into sharp focus. As angry as she had been at his abrupt departure at Rough and Ready, she struggled to imagine losing more of those she cared about. Hadn't she lost enough already?
Scarlett struggled to focus in light of this news, but with a will of iron, she turned her attention back to Frank. "Do you know where they are holding him? I need to see him." Her response came out less authoritatively than she intended and instead seemed as a plaintive plea.
He stopped his story of what the Merryweather's had been doing since the war, and returned to the subject of Rhett Butler. "I've heard that he's being held in a makeshift jail that was once a livery. May I spend a little time with Miss Suellen, and then I will escort you to Atlanta, if you wish."
Scarlett her head jerked towards him, realizing that he was far more observant than she had given him credit for, and she nodded at him. "Thank you Mr. Kennedy. I appreciate it ever so much." She waved at the door. "You may go spend some time with Suellen and make your wishes known." she added dismissively.
She needed to get to Atlanta to check on Rhett and see if he had been able to do anything towards helping her before he was arrested. She hastened to her room, hoping that she would possibly find some of her dresses that she had left behind at Aunt Pitty's to be more suitable to visit. Everything at Tara was so worn out and threadbare. But she knew that it wouldn't matter to Rhett. After all, he had already seen the state of Tara. There was no use in trying to create some artifice in her situation. She needed to pack her bags and Mammy would need to accompany her as well, as much as she hated bringing Mammy along because Mammy could read the situation and Scarlett's mind all too well. Scarlett could see Suellen preening over herself as Frank Kennedy took a knee in front of her. If she could save Tara, then there would at least be one less mouth to feed, and it wasn't as though Suellen was any help in the fields, either.
Scarlett rushed around her bedroom, quickly packing up what she needed to take to travel. She packed what she could fit into a carpet bag, and went to find Mammy to also pack up. She was now counting the minutes until she could find Rhett. She had no idea what she would do when she found him, but perhaps, just maybe he would still have an answer for her.