Dear readers, good evening!:) Or morning:)

Thank you all for your comments and messages, they mean a world to me!:)

Well, Rhett showed determination by intervening in Ashley and Scarlett's conversation and I praise him for that. But his constant fear of showing his feelings and risking his heart will somehow be a problem until he decides to be braver.

I believe in him:)

Enjoy reading!:)

I own nothing in regard to GWTW.

Chapter 14.

There was a silence between them, the sound of Ashley's footsteps echoing down the corridor, and Scarlett didn't have the courage to look at Rhett as she watched the dust settle in the sunlit room.

Rhett paced the room, angry at Wilkes for putting himself above him again, and, as always, he paid attention to it.

"Hypocrite," Rhett thought as he looked at her, so puzzled and thoughtful, "it was the hypocrite who let her go to town to me without a thought for her honour, but now he's playing the part of the caring older brother. He is feared of me like the plague... He fears me... He's jealous her to me!" Rhett summed up his thoughts, suddenly feeling more confident.

Scarlett had chosen him! It was him she had chosen! It was Ashley who had left the room, not him!

He looked at her again and called gently, "Scarlett..."

She looked back and Rhett continued, "Darling, we have to leave in half an hour at the most to get to Atlanta before dark."

She just nodded.

Rhett hesitantly took a step in her direction and asked, "Are you all right?"

"Yes, Rhett, thank you..."

He nodded and was about to leave the room when she added, "Thank you for what you just said."

Their gazes met and he saw the uncertainty in her always bold and determined eyes. There was no one else behind her, no father, no mother, no husband. Just two younger sisters in the family and a brother-in-law, her first husband's relatives. Rhett took her hands in his and said, "Scarlett, you're not alone. You'll never be alone. I'm your... friend... Yes, friend. I'll deal with anything that needs a man's judgement. And I'll deal with Wilkerson scumbag. It's not your concern, Scarlett."

He told her this, and she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings: gratitude to him for lifting her burden, as if her shoulders had been squared, and fear of how much she could trust him, for he'd already betrayed her once. Abandoned her in that hot night of their leaving Atlanta.

She was silent, staring at his large, swarthy hands. Hands that could be so strong and so gentle at the same time. She wanted to believe him.

Hearing a small noise in the yard, Scarlett came to her senses, distracted. She looked up at Rhett, gently removed her hands and went to the window. In the yard, Pork was harnessing Rhett's horse into the buggy, Will standing beside him, saying something quietly to him. But it wasn't them that caught her attention, it was the grey horse and rider in the distance, dashing through the fields. For a moment she remembered her father and her heart pounded faster, but then she looked closer and smiled.

Rhett came up to her and frowned slightly as she said with a smile, "Tony's here," and she added, turning to him, "I'm almost packed, Rhett, everything's ready, wait for me downstairs, please. You'll have time to get to know each other."

He nodded and left the room with a quick step.

Scarlett came down ten minutes later, having had time to say goodbye upstairs to Melanie, who was tucking Beau in for his afternoon nap, and who whispering to her that "we'll be living together again soon, Scarlett, just like we used to". Then Scarlett looked in on Mammy and Dilsey in the kitchen, the former giving her a grumpy goodbye but a big hug and fresh, sweet cornbread for Aunt Pitty and Wade, the latter politely wishing her a safe journey and adding a serious admonition to give Prissy more errands "or she'll get lazy".

As she passed the drawing room, she glanced for a moment at her favourite portrait of her French grandmother. The haughty look, the sneer... Her grandmother looked so attractive, strong and brave in the portrait. Mentally telling herself that everything would be all right, Scarlett smiled slightly and then, as she passed the mirror in the hallway, she barely glanced at herself, knowing that despite her pallor she looked beautiful in her dark dress.

Scarlett stepped out onto the veranda and noticed the men in a serious conversation. Tony was sitting in a chair with his back to her, Will was leaning against the railing and Rhett was sitting in front of Tony, the first to notice that she'd come out and stopped talking.

Scarlett signalled him to be quiet with a finger to her lips and a mischievous smile. Silently she tiptoed over to Tony, who was talking about some meetings and poker, and smiling jokingly, she gently covered his eyes with her palms.

Tony grinned when he realized who it was, but decided to play along like in their childhood, "Excuse me, gentlemen, but someone is playing a joke on me. It must be Miss India," Tony asked jokingly.

Scarlett just giggled and Tony continued, "Hmm... Miss Melly... Though no, she's very well brought up for such antics, Miss Carreen..." here he held out his big palm and covered her little hand with it.

Rhett frowned slightly at the gesture, too intimate, but tried to hide his irritation when he saw Will smiling and Scarlett giggling.

"Only one lady, as far back as I can remember, took such liberties until Mammy saw... And," she gently removed her hands,Tony turned and stood up, kissing her cheek and saying affectionately, "Katie Scarlett".

"Tony, it's so good you had time to stop by, we can say goodbye," she said affectionately to him.

Tony looked at her sympathetically, smiled, and when he saw the bag she'd left by the door he walked over to it and said, "I'll even walk you and Captain Butler out for a bit, Darling, I've got to go to the station, the shop, our grandmother came up with another idea..." he continued with a laugh as they walked to the buggy and he helped her into it.

Rhett watched them with slight irritation, realizing that this was just a childhood friendship. It was obvious that they were acting like brother and sister, but God, how he wished he could be so open with her!

"Rhett," he heard a familiar voice and noticed Will calling to him, smiling slightly, "you've got to go, Rhett," he said pointing to the buggy, adding seriously, "keep me in touch with Tony about that bastard."

Rhett just nodded, then quickly shook Will's hand and walked towards them.

They drove at a brisk pace, Tony accompanying them on his horse, talking about this and that, mostly to Scarlett. Rhett was increasingly silent, listening to their conversation about mutual acquaintances and neighbours. Sometimes he grinned when he heard Tony tease Scarlett and she argued her point like a little girl. A few times he looked at her when she turned away, admiring her profile, noting the charming dimples in her cheeks.

As they pulled up to the shop, Scarlett remembered that she needed to buy some things as well, and went in with Tony, leaving Rhett to sit and wait.

But Tony came out first, unhitched his horse and, leading it under the reins, walked over to Rhett.

"Katie Scarlett's picking out some things for Miss Pitty, and I thought I'd wait for her here," Tony said, and Rhett just nodded.

"I hear you, Rhett, about Wilkerson, I'll find out and let you know soon," Tony went on, stroking the horse's muzzle, and Rhett looked at him gratefully and said, "Thank you, Mr Fontaine."

"Captain Butler, just call me Tony, that's what they call my grandfather," he replied with a grin.

Rhett smiled and nodded again and Tony looked round to see through the window Scarlett paying the clerk, and added,

"Captain Butler, just a moment. An important moment. You may be under the impression that Scarlett has no one to stand for her when Mr O'Hara passed away... But I'll tell you straight, Captain Butler," he turned to Rhett, and Rhett noticed the warlike fire in his eyes, "Scarlett is our favourite. We grew up together, almost like family. So I'm telling you, if you hurt her, you'll have to deal with me!"

Rhett grinned as he saw Scarlett leave the shop and said to Tony, "I hear you, Tony. There's nothing to worry about."

Tony smiled, then walked over to Scarlett, said a few words to her so Rhett couldn't hear, she said something back, kissed him on the cheek and walked over to the buggy.

Rhett took Scarlett's hand and as she sat down beside him, adjusting her dress, he asked, "Shall we go, Scarlett?"

"Yes, Rhett."

After that they travelled a little slower, mostly in silence, each thinking about what had happened to them over the past few days.

Scarlett tried not to think about Pa, realizing that she had a lot of time ahead of her to remember him, to think and to be sad. She mentally thanked Mrs Tartleton for that conversation in the cemetery, and Rhett for taking on the full flow and force of her initial grief. At the thought of him, memories of a different kind crept into her mind. The question of why he had not finished what he had begun then, in the predawn twilight, troubled her deeply, and in her reasoning she came either to a dead end or to an unpleasant conclusion.

Distracted from the road and her thoughts, Scarlett glanced at him carefully.

His handsome profile, his determined gaze forward and the attractive mole almost on his cheekbone. Scarlett didn't notice she had held her gaze a little longer and a moment later her eyes met his black ones and she saw him smirk.

"Mrs Hamilton," he said, and Scarlett, realizing the joke was inevitable, quickly asked him a question, "Are you hungry, Rhett? We can stop and get something to eat..."

Rhett looked at her with a grin, easily picking up on her distracting question, but answered seriously, "No, Scarlett, I'm not hungry. If we hurry we'll be in town in an hour, hour and a half tops."

Scarlett nodded and he continued with a smile, "But I'd love to have tea at Aunt Pitty's if you'd like to invite me."

Scarlett blushed slightly and just nodded, but decided to ask him, she needed to know... "Unless you have any urgent meetings tonight, Rhett," she replied in an indifferent tone.

Rhett pulled gently on the reins to slow the horse a little and raised an eyebrow to look at her questioningly.

"Meetings, Scarlett?"

Scarlett shrugged indifferently, her whole expression indicating that she didn't want to explain any more, and turned away to look at the road.

Rhett smiled silently, deciding to bring up the subject of 'meetings' later. He could sense that something was bothering her, from the way she looked at him, the way her eyebrows furrowed in thought. And Rhett realized what it was that stood between them. It was last night. Now he realized even more clearly that he had to explain somehow his behaviour.

An hour later, listening to Wade's tinkling voice as she and Rhett had entered the house on Peachtree Street, and to Aunt Pitty's cheerful lamentations, they sat in the dining-room eating tea and sweet cornbread, that Mammy had given them.

They talked quietly about the latest news from the city and the plantation, trying not to touch the subject of the funeral, for Wade, in spite of the evening, sat at the table with the grown-ups, and by the end of the meal he had moved into Rhett's lap, ignoring Scarlett's stern looks.

Eventually Scarlett called Prissy to get Wade ready for bed, but the little boy would only agree to sleep in her bedroom and to make sure she tucked him in.

Scarlett looked at Rhett apologetically, Miss Pitty said it had been a nervous day and went to rest, offering Rhett more tea.

As Prissy led Wade away, Scarlett approached Rhett and was about to open her mouth to say goodbye, but he only said, "I'll wait for you in the parlour, Darling."

She just looked at him in surprise, asked uncle Peter to bring him more tea in the living room and went upstairs, trying not to think about what he wanted to talk about.

In half an hour Scarlett came downstairs, tiredly rubbing her eyes, not believing that Rhett had really waited for her. Wade was particularly grumpy after their long separation, and wanted to sleep with her, and while she was telling him the stories Pa used to tell her before bed, he quietly unravelled her hair and fell asleep with the satin ribbon in his little hands.

As she passed the mirror in the hall, Scarlett looked at herself, smoothed her hair back a little, and quickly braided it into a careless plait.

When she reached the ajar door, Scarlett realized that Rhett hadn't left. The smell of his cigars hung in the air and for some reason seemed so pleasant and cozy. She entered the room quietly, smiling.

Rhett was standing with his back to her, looking out the window where dusk had already turned to evening. Untouched tea stood on the table by the couch. He was smoking a cigar, and Scarlett remarked that, despite this trip to Tara, he still looked attractive, no matter how dishevelled his clothes were... "How does he do it?" she wondered again, calling softly to him, "Rhett..."

He turned to her immediately and smiled softly, "Looks like Wade really missed you, Scarlett..."

"Yes," she said and took a seat on the couch in the living room and Rhett, without waiting for an invitation, put out his cigar and sat down next to her.

"So..." he said softly, and Scarlett's palms suddenly became a little sweaty, and she was startled to hear her heart pounding in the silence of the living room. Not wanting to be caught off guard, Scarlett answered with a question, "So what? You're the one who stayed here, Rhett, waiting for me for some reason, instead of going to your hotel or wherever you were going... To your 'meetings'," she finished uncertainly, noticing that her cheeks were blushing with embarrassment and awkwardness.

Rhett stared at her, sitting next to her, wishing he could reach out and wrap his arm around her waist, touch her curls with his other hand and bury himself in them.

He smiled fondly at her speech, saw her embarrassment, saw her bite her lower lip in excitement, remembered the taste of her lips last night.

Rhett watched again as she clasped her hands nervously, and he suddenly felt clearly that his answer was important to her. That somehow he'd found what he'd been looking for - the way to her heart.

Smiling, he reached for her hand and gently took her palm in his, feeling her flinch.

"Scarlett, what 'meetings' are you talking about? Enlighten me, Darling," he asked quietly with a smile, seeing her become even more confused.

Scarlett really wanted to look confident and unconcerned, but the way he gently held her hand, running his thumb over her palm, sent shivers down her spine.

"This has got to stop," she heard the small voice of her mind and gently released her hand, "I'm not your personal assistant, Rhett Butler, I don't know what meetings you have and I'm not interested in who you spend your days and nights with," she said quickly, standing up, only then realizing what she had said.

Scarlett closed her eyes for a moment, bracing herself for a stream of laughter and jokes from him.

Rhett looked at her with surprise and interest, convinced that she was worried about last night, and stood up, leaning against her cheek and whispering softly, "You're very unconvincing, Mrs Hamilton..."

Scarlett froze, unable to move, feeling his breath scorch her skin.

She was silent, she didn't know what to say, all her courage had gone somewhere, she stood almost numb, feeling his breath, the smell of his cigars and the whisper that kept saying: "I want you to know, Scarlett... About last night... Next time I won't leave... I would have liked to go on, but it was the wrong place and the wrong time, My Dear..."

Scarlett was almost out of breath as she listened to his slightly hoarse whisper, she lowered her eyes and her left hand unconsciously reached for his hand as Rhett continued to whisper, "You know, Scarlett, that it's me who sets the place and time of our deal..."

She opened her eyes at the same moment and abruptly jerked her hand away from his, taking a step back.

Rhett stared at her intently and Scarlett opened her mouth to say something rude, but in the silence of the parlour they heard the clock strike. It was nine o'clock at night.

"You should go, Rhett," Scarlett said quickly, turning away to the window.

Rhett realized he'd said unnecessary words and mentioned the 'bloody deal' again, but, anyway, he smiled crookedly and said, "See you tomorrow, Scarlett," and a moment later she heard the soft thud of the door closing.