Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Sixteen

Before Rhett, Scarlett, and the children were in the rented carriage to Tara, Scarlett was no longer a sawmill owner. She was so happy to have that responsibility off her shoulders. She said, "The store will bring in enough income to support my aunts, Aunt PittyPat, and help with one-time expenses at Tara. The rest of the money I will put in a trust fund for my children."

"Once we are married you can use my money for all that."

"Thank you, Rhett, but I think not. They are my responsibility."

"Let me shoulder this responsibility. I have broad shoulders."

"Maybe."

Rhett knew that he had to make Scarlett feel safe. Yes, she loved him, but for him to make her life better he had to make her feel safe.

Scarlett made the driver stop at the bend in the road so she could show Rhett her favorite place to view Tara. Wistfully she said, "This was Pa's favorite place to view Tara also."

Scarlett had told Rhett that her parents were dead when she was telling him her life history. He said, "How did your father die?"

"Stupid Suellen got him killed."

"How?"

"Let's get back in the coach and I will tell you."

After everyone was settled in the coach, Scarlett said, "Pa went a little batty after Mother died, so Suellen tried to get him to sign that unionist oath. If Pa had signed the paper the Yankees would have given us a thousand dollars. I will admit I understand why she tried to do it, but she bungled it by comparing us to some white trash. That got through to Pa's brain. He stormed out of the Yankee office and stole a horse. He tried to get the horse to jump a fence. The horse wasn't a jumper, so it stopped at the fence. Pa did not. He was thrown off the horse and broke his neck."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"She got punished by the county folks. They all started snubbing her. And she had to marry a Cracker."

"Why did she have to marry a Cracker?"

"Because Ashley and Melly moved to Atlanta, and Careen entered the nunnery in Charleston, so there wasn't anyone to chaperon them. Her husband's name is Will. He manages Tara. We are here."

As soon as the carriage stopped rolling Wade was out the door. Scarlett smiled. Rhett said, "Let me help you down."

After everyone was out of the carriage, Scarlett said, "Ella, why don't you go find Mammy. She is probably in the nursery."

Rhett said, "Where did Wade go?"

"To the barn. He likes to look at the animals. Let's go inside. Suellen will be the only one here. Will will be out checking on the tenants to be sure they are ready to start harvesting the cotton. The cotton is about ready to be picked."

As the couple walked in the office, Rhett said, "Who does the picking?"

"Our tenants and their families. That is not our problem. It is their problem to get the cotton picked and taken to the gin. It is even their problem to get the cotton sold although either Will or Suellen goes with them when they sell the cotton. So, we know for sure how much money they made."

"What if what they cleared doesn't cover their expenses?"

"That is their problem."

Rhett vaguely remembered all this. Scarlett had told him in their first year of marriage, but that was over twenty years ago. He hadn't cared then any more than he cared now, but he would let Scarlett tell him. She was right. When she was happy, she was quite the chatterbox.

The couple found Suellen behind the house in what looked like a vegetable patch.

When Suellen saw Scarlett, she scowled. Scarlett thought, 'I inspire that feeling from a lot of women.'

Suellen said, "Who is this?"

"My fiancé, Rhett Butler. Rhett, this is my sister, Suellen Benteen."

Rhett said, "Nice to meet you."

"I can't stand around talking all day. I have work to do."

"When is dinner?"

"Noon probably. Go ask Liberty."

"Alright. Let's go."

After Scarlett found out that dinner would be at noon, she said, "Let me say hello to Mammy then I will take you on a tour of Tara before we eat."

The couple walked up the stairs. Scarlett entered the nursery and went over and hugged Mammy. Mammy said, "You look happy, Child."

"I am happier than I have been in a long time. Maybe since the war started. I'm getting married. This is my fiancé, Rhett Butler. Rhett, this is my Mammy."

"What shall I call her?"

Mammy said, "Everyone calls me Mammy. You can too."

"Thank you."

"I'll be back before we leave, Mammy. I am going to show Rhett Tara before dinner."

"Alright, Child."

Scarlett talked excitedly about Tara as she showed Rhett around. As they were approaching the main house, she said, "I know to you it probably looks shabby and rundown, but before the war it was quite magnificent."

"Are you making a profit?"

"Yes, but it is a lot of work."

"You will do better next year. Or you can just sell it."

"No, I would never sell Tara, but I am so tired of struggling."

"In less than two weeks, you will never have to struggle again. I will take care of you." Rhett paused, then said, "As long as you take care of me."

When Rhett leered at Scarlett, she giggled. She said, "Of course I will. It will be my wifely duty."

"I hope you come to think of it as more than duty."

Scarlett didn't answer. She just walked into the house.

Will came to the house to have dinner. Scarlett introduced the two men. Will updated Scarlett on the tenants. Scarlett said, "Is Mr. Ferguson still an obstinate man?"

"Of course. I think he gets worse every year."

Rhett said, "Was he one of your former slaves?"

Scarlett said, "No, Mr. Ferguson was a poor white man who thought he could support his family through sharecropping."

Will said, "His yields are always great. I don't know what he does, but he always has the best yields."

Rhett said, "Probably through Sorcery."

Nobody laughed. Scarlett said, "Don't talk about those things."

Rhett neither agreed nor disagreed, but he didn't argue with Scarlett. In his first timeline he would have said something to rile her up, but he had mellowed with time. He also rather enjoyed her looking at him with love on her face.

Soon the family was back in the carriage and on their way back to Atlanta. Rhett said, "It was a wonderful day. We shall return after harvest is over."

Scarlett said, "Alright. It was good to see Mammy. I miss her."

"Why is she living at Tara and not with you?"

Scarlett sighed. She said, "Suellen needs her more than I do."

"Explain."

Scarlett lowered her voice and said, "Suellen and Will got married the summer before Ella was born. Suellen is with child again. They already have two children. It looks like Suellen is going to have a child every year. I pity her."

Rhett whispered back, "I could give Will some tips."

Still whispering Scarlett said, "I don't think that would be proper."

Rhett said in a normal voice, "What would a Cracker know about being proper?"

Scarlett laughed and said, "If you want to you can. I won't stop you."

"Maybe I will. When you get with child will Mammy return to you?"

"Probably not. Strangely to me, she loves Suellen also."

"That is distressing."

"Don't worry, Honey, there are lots of nursemaids out there."

"But none as good as Mammy." Scarlett looked at Rhett questioningly. He recovered and said, "If she was your nursemaid, she has to be the best."

Scarlett laughed and hugged his arm. Rhett thought, 'Maybe I am quite the chatterbox when I am happy also."

Mercy had known how to sew. Therefore, while the family was at Tara Scarlett left the young woman with the task of sewing on Wade and Ella's clothes. Scarlett had just given Melly the material for Beau's clothes. Scarlett assumed she was sewing on the little boy's new clothing.

Rhett either came to visit or took Scarlett to a social event every night. She never questioned who was hosting the event, but Rhett would tell her who was hosting the event and whether they were a Yankee or Republican. At one event he introduced her to Governor Bullock. She had been so impressed. On the carriage ride home, he said, "Don't tell anyone about meeting Mr. Bullock. They will think you are a traitor."

"What?! How can that be?"

"As you know, Honey, some people are still fighting the war. With Bullock being a Republican, he is the enemy. He is a Yankee to boot although he moved to Georgia in fifty."

"People are so silly. Rhett, those people are so fun. They never talk about the past."

"I agree they are fun. The reason they never talk about the past is because their past wasn't very good."

"What do you mean, Baby?"

"This is hard to explain. There were four social classes before the war, no, five. There was the planter class which we were part of."

"Yes."

"Rich, successful, and a perfect life."

"My life was certainly perfect."

"The next class was successful businessmen, then businessmen getting by, Mr. Wilkes fits in that class."

Scarlett giggled and whispered, "Wade can hear everything you are saying."

"True. I will be mindful of what words I am using."

"Go on."

"The last two classes are white trash and slaves."

"Slaves?!"

"The planters biggest mistake is that they didn't see the slaves as human beings."

Scarlett stared at Rhett. She said, "I didn't either. At least, I didn't see the majority of Pa's slaves as human beings. I didn't see them at all."

"Most people didn't. My point is that most of the Scallawags are trying to profit from our current circumstances. They aren't doing it for noble reasons."

"That is what Ashley said about you. I told him that now is the time to make money. I am proud of you for seizing an opportunity to make money. We need as much money as possible."

"Stop, Honey. We have plenty of money and I am making more of it every day. You are safe. You never have to worry about where your next meal is coming from ever again."

Scarlett sighed and said, "Maybe I will believe you one day."

"I will take care of you."

"Thank you."

Rhett knew it would take Scarlett a long time to feel completely safe. He was proud of her for selling her sawmills, but he knew it would be a long time before she completely trusted him to keep her safe. It was just the way they were. They both believed that if they were in charge nothing bad would happen. He marveled that she was marrying him and had given him some of her power. He would not take it for granted or discount the importance of that trust this time.

Rhett knew that was a mistake he had made in his first timeline. He had known he wouldn't do anything foolish with his money, but she hadn't. He knew now that the store and the sawmills we her way of trying to secure her future. He had never even considered her concerns about money. In fact, he had mocked her greediness when he had been twice as greedy as she had ever thought about being.

Suddenly Rhett said, "Scarlett, do you have nightmares?"

Leerily Scarlett said, "Occasionally. Although I haven't had one since Frank died."

Rhett turned to Wade and said, "What about you? Do you have nightmares?"

"Sometimes, but not as much since Mama met you."

"It would be understandable if you two did. You two have gone through so much. I know your time after Sherman marched through Georgia wasn't pleasant."

Scarlett said, "It was hell."

"I'm sure it was, but your life will never be hell again."

Both Wade and Scarlett looked at Rhett with worship in their eyes. Rhett resolved never to lose this… again. This was perfect.