Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Forty-Five

Rhett and Scarlett had been back from New York for about two weeks when he asked her, "When are we taking Mammy back to Tara?"

"When Mother writes to tell me to bring her to Tara."

"Don't you think that will annoy your mother?"

"She has known me all my life. She should expect me to try something like this."

Rhett chuckled. He said, "Tommy is trying to sit up."

"Is that early?"

"A little bit, but not significantly."

"Alright."

Later that week Scarlett got a letter from her mother. She had written to her mother and told her all about her trip to New York. She had written about her concern for Tommy once she returned Mammy to Tara. What if Tommy got sick and nobody knew how to get him well? She hoped she wasn't laying it on too thick for her mother about her supposed worry over Tommy's health. She felt no shame in lying to her mother or using her mother's personal tragedy to her advantage. In Scarlett's mind the ends justify the means.

Once Scarlett had read her mother's letter, she knew she hadn't been over the top about her concerns for Tommy's health. Even if her mother had known what she was doing it had worked.

Ellen had written: You may keep Mammy until Tommy turns one. It is not much longer. Rhett and you could bring Tommy for a visit on his first birthday and bring Mammy back with you at the same time. Your sisters and I are doing fine without Mammy therefore, I will let you keep her until August sixteenth.

Scarlett went to the nursery. Rhett wasn't there, but Mammy was. Scarlett waved the letter and said, "Mother says I can keep you until Tommy's first birthday. Isn't it wonderful?"

Mammy smiled and said, "Yes, it is."

"Let me go find Rhett. He will be as happy as we are."

"Of course, my little lamb."

Mammy was smiling. It was so nice to be wanted.

Scarlett found Rhett in his office. He was alone. Scarlett waved the letter in her hand and said, "We get to keep Mammy for four more months. Mother says I don't have to bring her home until Tommy's first birthday."

"Alright. We will have a party the Sunday before his first birthday then get on the train to Jonesboro."

"Great plan."

"What is your plan to be able to bring her back with us?"

"I don't have one now, but I'm working on it."

That evening Rhett had decided to go play some poker. He needed to recoup what he spent on their trip to New York. Yes, the shipping business would reimburse him for some of his expenses, but he still had some money he needed to get back. His conversation with Scarlett had been awkward. She had not wanted him to go to a saloon. He had explained, "Sweetheart, playing poker is the easiest way for me to get money."

"I don't object to you going out to play poker. I object because…. Well, something might happen to you."

"Nothing is going to happen to me."

"That is what you thought in New Orleans, yet something did happen to you."

Rhett sighed, "Scarlett, we go through this every time I want to go play poker. You need to stop this."

"No, I will not stop this. I worried about you before you got knifed, but I thought you could take care of yourself. Now I know you can't."

"I can take care of myself."

"Be warned, Rhett, I will not enter a saloon and brothel if you get injured here in Charleston. It would ruin my reputation. My reputation would be all I had left after you died on me."

Rhett sighed again. He and Scarlett didn't go through this every time he went to play poker. It would begin to bother her enough to say something to him about every three to four weeks. He smiled. He said, "It would not be all you had left. You would have Tommy and all my money. You could move back to Tara and live out the rest of your days in relative comfort."

"Yes, I would have Tommy, but I don't want him to grow up without a father."

"I promise you I will return in one piece. I will keep my mouth shut."

"You didn't think you could do that in New Orleans."

"Nonetheless I will do it here. Now kiss me. I am off."

Scarlett had reluctantly kissed Rhett and hugged him hard. Rhett walked out of their room like he didn't have a care in the world when in truth Scarlett had been right. He needed to keep his damn mouth shut.

Rhett went to The Blue Parrot. He hoped his former friend Hugh was there. Hugh was a pretty good poker player, but he also had some tells which would make it easier to get Hugh to pay for Rhett's expenses of his trip to New York.

Rhett felt no guilt at taking Hugh's money because Hugh still lived at home and had no expenses. Furthermore, his father gave him a generous allowance on top of his salary at the law firm. Hugh won a fair amount of money playing poker. On top of all that Hugh always had some sleazy scheme he was working on. Rhett had made some money from those schemes a few times, but not anymore. He had a wife and child to consider now.

Rhett sat down and said, "Hugh, long time no see."

"I haven't seen you since you came in here to buy a wedding present for your brother."

"True that has been over a year. Did you pass the bar?"

"Not the first time. I took it again. Hopefully, I will pass this time."

"Hope so. I have a son."

"Since when?"

"Since August sixteenth. His name is Thomas, but we are calling him Tommy for right now."

Hugh felt his question was a safe question, so he said, "How does Scarlett like being a mother?"

"Being a mother is not Scarlett's calling. She loves her son, but she really doesn't want to spend time with him." There were so many off-colored remarks Hugh could make at that remark, but because he wasn't ready to die, he said nothing at all. Rhett continued, "We just got back from New York a couple of weeks ago."

"We?"

"Yes, I took Scarlett with me. I really like traveling with her."

Hugh wasn't responding to that comment either. Instead, he said, "I am thinking of moving out."

"Really? That is surprising. You live there rent free."

"Yes, but it seems I want some more privacy."

"Indeed." Rhett laid his hand down and said, "Full house."

One of the other men snarled, "You are just too damn lucky for it to be real."

It was exactly what the man in New Orleans had said before the other man knifed him. Rhett smiled his most charming smile and said, "I am usually not this lucky. In a few more hands I will be folding every time because my cards are so lousy."

Rhett folded a few times during the next ten hands. His hands had not been bad, but they had not been exceptional. At least, if he got knifed in this saloon, Hugh would get him back to his parents' townhouse. He hoped. The problem was the men at the table were as bad of poker players as the men in New Orleans had been and he could read Hugh like he was reading a book.

After Rhett had won twenty dollars, he stood up to leave the table. One of the men said, "You aren't going to give us a chance to win our money back."

"Maybe another night. If I don't get home soon my wife will not be happy. I try my best to keep her happy."

One man commented, "I have seen your wife, I would try to keep her happy also."

"Indeed, my wife is a beautiful woman."

That was not what the man had meant, but that was the way Rhett was going to interpret the comment. Men were going to be lusting after his wife for many more years. Maybe even the rest of his life. He couldn't go around threatening them all, but he would not tolerate anyone blatantly disrespecting Scarlett, especially not someone who claimed to be his friend. When he left the saloon, he was twenty dollars richer. If he could win another twenty dollars he would have paid for their trip to New York.

Rhett had been pleased with his activities in New York. He had lined up more clients for the shipping line. Mr. Vanderbilt had let him invest more money. And he had invested some money in riskier projects.

Rhett went out to play poker later in the week, and although Scarlett didn't say anything he was in no doubt she was not pleased he was going out to play poker again so quickly. He had kissed her cheek and said, "I will return in one piece."

Scarlett didn't answer Rhett. She just reached over and picked up her book.

Rhett went to another saloon, The Stallion. There was no point in making a drunk, angry man madder at him. Poor poker players were all over the place.

While playing poker at The Stallion, Rhett had made a few mocking comments, but when one of the other men gave him an angry stare, he kept his mouth shut for the rest of the evening. That had surprised him. He usually had trouble keeping his mouth shut, but he guessed he was scared of another angry, drunk, lousy poker player stabbing him in the gut. In addition to all that Scarlett would give him hell if it happened again. She would be constantly nagging him about not going to saloons and playing poker. No, he couldn't handle all that. It was better to keep his mouth shut no matter how difficult it was.

As soon as Rhett had won another twenty dollars, he left the saloon. When one of his fellow poker players once again protested him leaving, he once again replied, "Maybe another night. If I don't get home soon my wife will not be happy. I try my best to keep her happy."

All the men looked at Rhett like he was a weak man because he was abiding by his wife's wishes. He didn't care what they thought of him. He did try his best to keep her happy. Since his marriage, he went out to play poker a lot less than before he was married. Partly because he didn't need to earn money to buy a whore but mostly because he enjoyed spending time with his wife. Nonetheless he knew she was always uncomfortable when he did. She was always afraid lightning would strike twice. She probably knew better than most people how annoying he could be, therefore maybe she had reason to be worried.

At the end of April while Robert and Daphne were joining the family for supper, Percy announced, "I will be taking the yacht out this Friday, if anyone wants to join your mother and me."

Rosemary said, "May we go on Saturday so Mr. Ford can join us?"

"That sounds fine."

Rhett said, "I am fine with Harrison coming, but I warn you, little sister, if he talks to me, I am going to talk to him."

Percy, Beth, and Scarlett were amused by Rhett's statement. Even Rosemary was amused. She barely held her laughter in when she replied, "Of course, Rhett. It would be rude of you not to."

Robert said, "Harrison Ford?"

"Yes, he is calling on me now."

Scarlett said, "Although for a while there Rhett was confused on who Mr. Ford was calling on."

Rhett defensively said, "I was not."

With just the right amount of condescension Scarlett said, "Of course, you weren't, Dear. I was just teasing you."

Sensitively Rhett said, "It wasn't funny."

"I guess not."

Although everyone else at the table thought it was funny even if they didn't out and out laugh. Even Robert and Daphne although they didn't know the entire joke.

Percy said, "Daphne, be sure and invite your parents."

Scarlett said, "If they can come, can you ask your mother to make those sandwiches that Rhett loves so much."

Rhett said, "I'm not the only person who likes those sandwiches. You do too."

Scarlett smiled at her husband and said, "Yes, I do."

Daphne said, "I will ask my parents to join us, but rest assured, Rhett, even if my parents can't join us, I will be able to bring the sandwiches. After all it is our cook that makes the sandwiches not Mummy."

Rhett just scowled at everyone at the table. Everyone knew they had pushed Rhett far enough. Although Rhett could dish out mocking and teasing, he wasn't very good at being the brunt of the joke.

To change the subject Robert said, "Harrison and I are friends. Maybe friendly acquaintances is a better statement."

Rhett said, "Don't monopolize his time. Rosemary doesn't like that."

Rosemary just smiled. What Rhett said was true. She didn't like Harrison paying attention to anyone but her.