Author's Note: fixed what I saw wrong in the last chapter. The first two chapters are very much within the confines of the original story, much of the dialog and happenings are the same. Thanks for reading, and I hope that you enjoy. I've already shared this on another site, but wanted to share here too. I've got several things I'm working on, including stories I've been long neglecting.
Chapter Two
Atlanta was in an uproar, for Scarlett O'Hara was missing. Word had quickly spread, and the concern only grew as the time marched on. Her horse and buggy were found on the edge of town, and she was simply gone. Melanie Wilkes held Ella and soothed the crying baby as Frank worried and stewed. He brought both children over for Melanie to care for while the men prepared to search more for Scarlett. India and Aunt Pitty Pat gathered with Melanie in the Wilkes' small house, while she kept the children calm.
"Where's mother?" Wade asked, his large brown eyes peering up at her. "She is supposed to be home now. It is past supper time."
Melanie gently soothed him, trying to keep her own fears at bay. "I'm sure that your Uncle Ashley and Uncle Frank will find her. They are going out to look for her again. There is a whole group of men that you know that are looking for your mother. And your mother is so strong, I'm sure that they will find her, and she will be fine." She assured him optimistically.
Frank and Ashley both donned their coats and left, both with apprehension on their faces. It was unlike Scarlett to ever be this late. Ashley dropped a quick kiss on his wife's cheek. "Don't worry so, we will find her." He gently assured.
Melanie sent Wade into Beau's room to sleep,as the men headed down to the store to meet with other men of the Old Guard to form a search party to comb the woods out by the mill, as that was her last known location. Surely she hadn't just vanished into thin air. There was an odd air of calm around them, a determination in their postures.
And Melanie understood without their admission, that they would be doing more than just searching for Scarlett. They would be taking care of the problem that likely caused her disappearance.
Melanie's small parlor looked as serene as it usually did on nights when Frank and Ashley were away, with the glaring absence of Scarlett in their midst, and the women gathered together to sew. The room was warm and cheerful in the firelight. The lamp on the table shed a quiet yellow glow on the three smooth heads bent to their needlework. Three skirts billowed modestly, notably missing a fourth, six small feet were daintily placed on low hassocks. The quiet breathing of Wade, Ella and Beau came through the open door of the nursery. Archie sat on a stool by the hearth, his back against the fireplace, his cheek distended with tobacco, whittling industriously on a bit of wood. The contrast between the dirty, hairy old man and the three neat, fastidious ladies was as great as though he were a grizzled, vicious old watchdog and they were three small kittens.
Melanie's soft voice, tinged with indignation, went on and on as she told of the recent outburst of temperament on the part of the Lady Harpists. Unable to agree with the Gentlemen's Glee Club as to the program for their next recital, the ladies had waited on Melanie that afternoon and announced their intention of withdrawing completely from the Musical Circle. It had taken all of Melanie's diplomacy to persuade them to defer their decision.
Melanie deftly steered the conversation into other innocuous channels, steadfastly avoiding the issue of Scarlett's disappearance. If anyone had been watching the small gathering, they would never have known anything was amiss, as they were as calm and placid as a pond on a languid summer's day. And they waited for word or for the search party to return.
Archie 's grizzled head went up sharply and he rose swiftly. "Somebody comin' up the walk. 'Tain't Mr. Wilkes neither. Cease your cackle."
There was male authority in his voice and the women went suddenly silent, as he stumped across the room to the door.
"Who's thar?" he questioned before the caller even knocked.
"Captain Butler. Let me in."
Melanie was across the floor so swiftly that her hoops swayed up violently, revealing her pantalets to the knees, and before Archie could put his hand on the knob she flung the door open. Rhett Butler stood in the doorway, his black slouch hat low over his eyes, the wild wind whipping his cape about him in snapping folds. For once his good manners had deserted him. He neither took off his hat nor spoke to the others in the room. He had eyes for no one but Melanie and he spoke abruptly without greeting.
"Where have they gone? Tell me quickly. It's life or death. I've only just learned of Scarlett's disappearance. I need to know everything you know of where the men are gathered to search for her."
Pitty, startled and bewildered, surveyed the scene in wonderment, her lips trembling as she neared a spell with all of the uproar caused by Scarlett's disappearance, and, like a lean old cat, India streaked across the room to Melanie's side.
"Don't tell him anything," she cried swiftly. "He's a spy, a Scallawag!"
Rhett did not even favor her with a glance. "Quickly, Mrs. Wilkes! There may still be time. Please!."
Melanie seemed in a paralysis of terror and only stared into his face.
"Shet yore mouth, Miss Melly" directed Archie briefly. " Git the hell out of here, you damned Scallawag."
"No, Archie, no!" cried Melanie and she put a shaking hand on Rhett's arm as though to protect him from Archie. "What has happened? How did—how did you know?"
On Rhett's dark face impatience fought with courtesy.
"Good God, Mrs. Wilkes, they've all been under suspicion since the beginning—only they've been too clever—until tonight! Now with Scarlett missing, they are taking the opportunity. How do I know? I was playing poker tonight with two drunken Yankee captains, who told me of Scarlett's disappearance. I was trying to get information to help find Scarlett, and they let it out about the men. They aren't even looking for her. The Yankees knew there'd be trouble tonight and they've prepared for it. The fools have walked into a trap. It doesn't matter to them that Scarlett is missing. This is a convenient moment for them to set a trap. She is merely a pawn and a convenient excuse on both sides."
For a moment it was as though Melanie swayed under the impact of a heavy blow and Rhett's arm went around her waist to steady her.
"Don't tell him! He's trying to trap you!" cried India, glaring at Rhett. "Didn't you hear him say he'd been with Yankee officers tonight?"
Still Rhett did not look at her. His eyes were bent insistently on Melanie's white face.
"Tell me. Where did they go? Have they a meeting place? This is my only chance to try and save them and hopefully make it so Scarlett can be found. The Yankees are so caught on trapping the men that they aren't even trying to find Scarlett. Your husband and Scarlett need you."
Usually Rhett's face would have been blanker or more expressionless than any other face, but tonight there was fear and urgency within his usually masked eyes, and Melanie saw it, something that made her give her trust. She straightened her small body away from the steadying arm and said quietly but with a voice that shook:
"Out on the Decatur road near Shantytown. They meet in the cellar of the old Sullivan plantation—the one that's half-burned."
"Thank you. I'll ride fast. When the Yankees come here, none of you know anything.If I can save them, hopefully I can also save Scarlett."
He was gone so swiftly, his black cape melting into the night, that they could hardly realize he had been there at all until they heard the spattering of gravel and the mad pounding of a horse going off at full gallop.
