Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Ninety-Three

When the trio got to the townhouse, Gerry jumped down and ran into the house. Scarlett guessed he knew where he was going. She would find him later. Scarlett and John walked around the outside of the townhouse. As they stood there looking at the Butler's tiny back yard, John said, "We will have to take over the entire back yard."

"What is your plan?"

"Build a huge chicken coop where we can lock the chickens and the pigs up at night. We will open up the shutters and the doors in the daytime. It will slow down egg production because they won't get enough sunlight, but at least the chickens will still be alive."

"What about the pigs?"

"Everything we do to make the chickens happy will make the pigs happy. Mrs. Butler, I cannot build it. All I can do is direct."

"Very well. I will hire some men to build it, but you must stay and protect my chickens and pigs until the coop is built. I will give you room and board and a nickel a week."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"You will have to sleep on the back porch so you can hear if someone is trying to steal my chickens and pigs."

"Of course, Mrs. Butler. No problem."

"If I offend you, I am sorry. I was raised to never mention someone's deformity, but I need to share this news."

"Go ahead."

"My brother-in-law is working on building artificial limbs. Maybe he can fix you up with another arm."

"I got an artificial arm from the doctor who took off my arm. I think the man it belonged to died. It is uncomfortable and useless."

"Bring it tomorrow and let Harrison look at it. I will meet you out front. I have to go get Gerry, then I will take you back to Bubba's."

Scarlett found Gerry in the nursery playing with Jude. When she walked in Gerry said, "Uncle Harrison would not let me disturb Grace and Tommy's studies."

"Good. I will take you back to your mother now."

"Aww. I didn't get to see Tommy and Grace."

"Maybe next time. Come along."

"Yes ma'am."

Soon the group was back at Bubba's. Scarlett said, "Would you walk Gerry in, so I don't have to get down?"

"Of course."

The man made sure the boy got back in the store then he waved goodbye to Mrs. O'Hara and Mrs. Kiley. He knew Mrs. Kiley was married, but he enjoyed talking to her anyway.

As John walked back to the abandoned building he had been staying at, he felt himself lucky. He had a job for a while. He had a place to stay and food in his stomach for now. He would stay with Mrs. Butler as long as she let him.

When Scarlett got back to the townhouse, she went in search of Benson. When she found him in the kitchen she was not surprised. She had a very small staff these days. There was Inez, Benson, Nancy, Clare, Mike, and Molly. She hadn't fired anyone, but when people left, she didn't replace them. There wasn't that much work anymore. The Butlers no longer entertained. The food choices were few. They had sold Rhett and Percy's horses and the carriage horses. All they had was her buggy and Rosemary's buggy, so they just had two horses. If they all wanted to go somewhere at once, they just took a cab. And Scarlett ignored all the dust all over the place. Once the war was over, she and Rhett would have to decide where they were going to live. She wanted to stay in Charleston because her family and Rosemary lived here. Rhett liked living in Charleston, but that was the Charleston from before the war. Once the war was over, they would talk about it.

Scarlett said, "Benson, do you know some men that can build me a large chicken coop."

Benson was surprised by the fact that Miss Scarlett was always asking him if he knew someone who could do something that she wanted done. The even more surprising thing to Benson was that he always had. He knew someone who could build a chicken coop. Well, maybe not a chicken coop, but he knew of men who could build things. He was sure with a little guidance they could build a chicken coop. He said, "Yes, ma'am, I do. Let me get in touch with them. I will let you know when they can show up."

"Thank you, Benson. I don't know what I would do without you, especially with Rhett being gone."

"He will be back home to stay soon."

With tears in her eyes, Scarlett said, "I hope so. I don't know how much longer I can be strong."

"You will continue being strong as long as you have to be."

"Thank you for those kind words."

Several days later Grace walked by her mother's bedroom. As the little girl looked in, it was plain that her mother was looking for something. Grace stepped to the door and said, "What have you lost?"

"A bracelet with a small pocket watch attached to it."

"Would you like me to help you look for it?"

"Yes, I have to find it. It is incredibly special to me."

"Why?"

Scarlett stopped looking and turned to her daughter. She said, "Your father gave it to me on my birthday the first year we were married. That and this red wrapper. I know I don't look good in red. Yet, it is my favorite color. Your father had this wrapper made because as he said, 'I should own a garment I can wear that is red." With despair in her voice Scarlett said, "I just have to find it. He would be so hurt if I lost it."

Grace didn't think anything would hurt Daddy. He was so big and strong, but she could tell that Mama honestly thought so therefore she said, "We will find it, Mama. Don't worry."

When Scarlett smiled at Grace, the little girl thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. She said, "I hope I am as beautiful as you when I grow up."

"You will be."

After thirty minutes of looking Scarlett said, "It isn't here."

"Let's go look in the parlor then the dining room then your office."

An hour later Grace found the bracelet watch in Scarlett's office under the desk. Scarlett grabbed the girl up and hugged her tightly. She said, "Thank you. You saved my life."

"You're welcome, Mama."

Later Grace thought, 'I never understood why Mama would buy a red wrapper that she looked so bad in. Now I know. Daddy gave it to her; therefore, it is precious.'

A week after the Golden Hind had set sail, Mr. Bligh found the townhouse. He was quite angry. That woman he had spent two delightful days with had stolen all of his money out of his wallet. He should have known better. Never trust a woman. Fortunately, he had always kept some money in his boot. When he had gotten back to the docks and found out that his ship had sailed without him, he was really mad. He had come to see Mrs. Butler. He was planning on bullying her into giving him back the Golden Hind. Then he would whip anyone involved in the treachery.

When Benson told Scarlett there was a William Bligh waiting for her in the parlor, she said, "Put him in my office."

Scarlett received the captains and the brokers in her office to give her more authority. She sat behind Rhett's desk in his chair. She had raised the chair up as high as she could gracefully get into it. She had found a tiny delicate chair for her visitors to sit in. She had also cut and inch off the legs, so she was basically towering over her visitors.

As Scarlett walked into the office, she didn't slow down until she was seated in her huge chair. She said, "You are William Bligh?"

"Yes ma'am."

When the man in front of Scarlett stood up. She thought, 'He is a short, stocky man with an extremely bland appearance, but for some reason he looks mean to me.'

Scarlett said, "Please, be seated."

When William looked at the tiny woman in front of him, he knew he could browbeat her into giving him the Golden Hind. She was too attractive to be very smart and judging by the opulence of her home, although the structure had seen better days, she had lived a soft life. Yes, she would stupidly give him anything he wanted.

"I am Scarlett Butler. Where were you when we were looking for you?"

William stared at the proper lady in front of him. When he had come over to the townhouse, he had been planning on telling the woman that his ship had been stolen from him by Mr. Christian. Upon a second look he saw that she was as cold as a stone. He would have to lie to get his ship back. He would have to invoke some tender feelings. It wouldn't be hard she was a woman after all. Women were so stupid and so gullible. They were also inclined toward mawkishness. After he got his ship back, he would just punish every member of the crew whether they had anything to do with him losing the ship or not. He said, "I was called away unexpectantly."

"Where to and by who?"

William was getting flustered which was amazing. Usually he could lie with aplomb, but this woman just staring with that direct, cold stare at him was throwing him off his stride. He said, "To Macon to see my mother. I thought I would have a few days before another captain was hired."

"Did you take the train?"

"Yes ma'am."

Scarlett knew Mr. Bligh was lying. She knew that the tracks between Macon and Charleston had been destroyed by saboteurs. She knew this because Pa complained about it every week since it had happened. There being no tracks meant he had to find other ways to get his cotton to him.

"You were wrong to go to Macon for any reason, Mr. Bligh. Right now. Time is money. From the time Mr. Drake told me he had gone to work for Mr. Trenholm and the Golden Hind was sailing out of Charleston was four days. Four days! The longest my husband has ever spent in port is two days. Two days. You should have known better than to ramble off to Macon. Did you tell anyone you were going?"

"I told Mr. Christian."

"He never said a word about you going to Macon."

"I only went because my mother was dying."

"Did she?"

"Did she what?"

"Did she die?"

"No, ma'am fortunately she pulled through."

"That is fortunate. Now that you don't have a job, you will be able to go see her and have a nice long visit."

"You aren't going to give me back the Golden Hind to captain?"

"Why should I? Mr. Christian was here when I needed him. He wasn't off carousing around and making trips to Macon."

"Ma'am, I didn't go for pleasure. I was visiting my dying mother."

"What are you doing sitting here when you need to go back to Macon where you are so obviously needed instead of staying here where you are not needed."

William could not miss the sarcasm in Scarlett's tone.

Scarlett stood up. When she did, so did William. He quickly said, "Mr. Christian is not a fine man. I could tell you some tales."

Scarlett drew herself up to her entire height and coldly said, "Mr. Bligh, a lady does not indulge in gossip. Good day."

With that Scarlett swept out of the room. She didn't care what Mr. Christian did in his spare time as long as he got her ship back and forth across the Atlantic in a timely manner. She also knew the man had done something not quite right in regard to the Golden Hind, but she would not punish him for that. She admired him for taking advantage of the situation to better himself. She would have done the same thing.

As William was walking away from the townhouse, he was calling Scarlett every name he could think of. His favorite was cold-hearted bitch. That had been Mr. Drake's favorite way to refer to the woman and now William agreed with him completely. He would go see if Mr. Drake had a position available for him.

Scarlett knew she was extremely cold toward the captains and the brokers. She made herself be because she was afraid of them taking advantage of her because she was a woman. She couldn't let that happen. Rhett had placed his trust in her, and she wasn't going to let him down.