Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Four

Thirty minutes later when Rhett finally got Bonnie to sleep, he couldn't help himself from sticking his head into his bedroom to see if Scarlett was already asleep. She was. She was also holding his pillow which made him happier than he thought possible.

Rhett walked down the stairs and out of the house. He got on his horse and rode out to Ashley's mill.

When Rhett arrived at Ashley's mill, he saw that there was production for once. Maybe the man had gone out and sold lumber.

Rhett greeted Ashley as he walked in the office. Ashley was polite, but definitely not friendly. Rhett looked over the books. After a few minutes, he said, "Ashley where did you go to college?"

"Yale."

"Did you take any math classes?"

"Of course I did."

"Did you pass them?"

Ashley was highly offended by the question. He brought himself up to his full height and said, "Of course I did. I got 'A's in fact."

"You need to demand your money back because they failed to teach you how to do simple mathematics. Scarlett, who just has a basic education can keep this ledger straight. Why can't you? Why does she have to straighten the books up every week? I know why. You are too busy dreaming about a utopia world you want to live in, that you aren't functioning in the world we currently live in."

"How dare you speak to me that way? A polite person would not say to me that you have said to me."

"That is probably your problem. Nobody has ever spoken to you the way you needed to be spoken to. Certainly not your mammy, your parents, your sisters, your wife, or even your…. good friend who happens to be my wife."

Rhett had made a point of stressing the word 'my' in his sentence. At every opportunity he was going to remind Ashley that Scarlett was his wife, not a belle. Not a belle that he had called on for two years while being committed to Miss Melly.

Ashley blushed. He stuttered, "Ggget ooout of here."

"Unfortunately for you, my wife owns half this mill, and she has authorized me to come out here and check to make sure it is being run properly."

"If she knew how you were speaking to me, she would withdraw that authorization."

Rhett laughed a cruel laugh. He said, "Are you going to tattle on me to Scarlett?"

Rhett laughed cruelly again. With a sinister smile, he said, "This mill has never been run properly except when Scarlett was running it while carrying Ella I might add."

"You are a horrible man. I cringe every time Melly calls you a misunderstood gentleman. Everyone, but Melly understands you quite well. A gentleman you are not."

With a condescending smile, Rhett said, "The matrons think I am a misunderstood gentleman with a neglectful wife."

"Scarlett is not a neglectful wife."

"Yes, she was, but I don't think she is going to be much longer. I think she will give me all the attention I desire." Rhett paused and then menacingly said, "If I can get you permanently out of her life somehow."

Ashley paled. Rhett looked at the man threateningly. Both men were quiet. Ashley couldn't speak and Rhett felt like he had said enough.

In a flat voice, Rhett said, "You are not going to lose her money because you are a weak man. A man too weak to …. A man too weak to go out there and sell."

As Rhett reached over to close the ledger, he looked at the entry titled: Convict fees. He made note of the number, but something was wrong with it. He shut the ledger and left the office without saying another word except to say, "Go out and sell."

Rhett went to Johnny's mill. His conversation with Johnny was not much more pleasant than his conversation with Ashley. Every time, Rhett looked at the man, he thought about Johnny striking Scarlett.

Once Rhett was sure the books were in order, he left the mill. Yet something was nagging at him about Johnny's books. It had to do with what Scarlett was paying the state for the convicts. He had flipped back several months, and the number was the same. One hundred and ninety-five dollars.

Rhett stopped by the store and checked the books. Before he left, he said, "Dust everything."

Hugh looked around the store and sighed. Mr. Butler was right, everything needed dusting.

Three days later everyone including Mammy were on the train to Jonesboro. As the family settled in their seats, Wade said, "Are you alright, Mama?"

With a weak smile Scarlett said, "Yes, thank you, Dear."

Rhett said, "Would you like some water?"

Wade said, "You can't get water on the train."

With a still weak smile, Scarlett said, "No, you can't. I will get some water when we get to Jonesboro. We will have to go to the General Store anyway."

"Why?"

"For Mr. Price to give us a ride out to Tara."

"Your sister isn't going to meet you."

"No, this is easier. That way we aren't relying on Suellen. Will will take us back into town tomorrow morning though."

"Why isn't she meeting us? Didn't you tell her what time the train arrived in Jonesboro."

Scarlett sighed. She said, "I knew which train we were planning on taking, but I wasn't one hundred percent sure we would get to the station on time. I didn't want to tell Suellen a time and then not be at the station at that time. The next train is not for two hours. I didn't want to hear my sister carp about having to wait for us in the hot sun all day long. This is what I always do. I also know Suellen would deliberately be late, so I would have to stand in the hot sun."

While ignoring Scarlett's comment about her sister, Rhett said, "Couldn't your sister wait for you inside the station?"

"You are missing the point. I try not to give Sue a justifiable reason to snark at me."

"I can understand that."

"Besides, Mr. Price can use the money."

"I suppose."

"You have plenty, so you can help Mr. Price."

"I suppose I do."

With an admiring smile, Scarlett said, "And making more all the time."

Rhett couldn't help but puff up with pride. Scarlett looking at him so admiringly was quite the heady feeling. He said, "That is true."

"Where is the kitten?"

"I found a home for it."

"Where?"

"At The Painted Lady."

"The saloon you frequent?"

"Yes, it seems they have a rat problem."

Scarlett started to make a nasty comment about Belle but stopped herself when she saw Wade sitting across from her. She said, "I'm glad you found it a good home."

"I don't know about good, but I did find it a home. He certainly wasn't welcome in ours."

While looking out the window, Scarlett said, "The countryside still looks like a war zone."

"It will look that way for a long time, my pet."

Wade started talking about the farm animals and Scarlett welcomed the distraction. She was glad Rhett was sitting next to her. She would rest her head against him for just a minute. Just until she got her strength back.

The next thing Scarlett knew she heard Wade say, "Wake up, Mama. We are here."

Sleepily and a little self-consciously, Scarlett said, "Did I fall asleep?"

As Rhett stood up, he said, "Just a little cat nap to build up your strength before you do battle with your sister. Come on. Stand up."

Scarlett smiled at Rhett. It was so wonderful when he was being sweet to her. Maybe it was so wonderful because she knew how bad it could be around him when he was choosing not to be sweet.

After the family entered the feed store, Wade said, "Mr. Price, my mother needs a glass of water. Will you, please, get her one?"

"Of course, Wade. Just a minute, Miss Scarlett."

"Thank you."

Rhett said, "Is there some place for her to sit down? She hasn't been well lately."

"Of course. Of course. Just have a seat in my office." The older man then turned to Rhett and said, "It only has one chair though."

Rhett smiled. He said, "Scarlett is the only one that needs a chair."

Bonnie said, "Me too, Daddy."

"No, just Mama."

Scarlett said, "You can sit in my lap, Precious."

"Alright."

Scarlett looked at Ella. It didn't matter if the child was silly and stupid. Ella was her child. Maybe she would become more attractive as she got older. If not, she had Rhett's money to help find her a husband. If that didn't work Ella could run the store and have a much better life than most spinsters. Scarlett would make sure of it. She said to her eldest daughter, "You too, Sweetheart."

Ella beamed with that statement. Once again, Scarlett was transfixed by how Ella's face changed when she smiled. Scarlett thought, 'With her green eyes and dazzling smile, it won't be any problem finding her a husband. The only problem will be finding one worthy of her.'

Soon enough, Scarlett was settled in Mr. Price's office with both Ella and Bonnie in her lap. It truly wasn't comfortable, but at least she was sitting down. Mr. Price had brought her a glass of water. She had dubiously looked at the glass the water was in and wondered how clean the glass was.

Scarlett did not take a sip of water, but instead said, "Rhett, arrange with Mr. Price to take us out to Tara."

Mr. Price who had been hovering in the room said, "I will be glad to take you out to your plantation. Let me go get the horse hooked up to the wagon."

Rhett said, "Thank you. We will wait right here."

After Mr. Price had left the office, Rhett took the glass and took a large sip of the water. He returned the glass to Scarlett. When she stared at him in disbelief, he said, "We don't want to offend the man. Besides, I have enough alcohol in my body to kill any kind of germ."

Scarlett smiled and giggled. She said, "I hope you brought your own bottle with you."

"Of course, I did. As did you."

"I am not drinking because of the baby."

"You have not quit completely yet, but you will."

Scarlett scowled at Rhett. At that time, a young man came in the office and said, "Mr. Price said to come on, so you miss the rain."

Scarlett said, "Let us go. We definitely don't want to get caught in the rain."

Rhett said, "Why? You wouldn't melt."

"Be quiet, Rhett. Get down Ella and Bonnie.

Soon everyone was in the wagon and driving out to Tara. Bonnie had wanted to sit on the buckboard with Rhett, but he made her get in the back with Wade, Ella, and Mammy. She wasn't happy about it, but for once she did it without complaining.

Thirty minutes later, the wagon was at Tara. They had managed to avoid the rain. After Rhett got down, he handed Mr. Price a dollar bill. He said, "Keep the change."

"Thank you, Mr…. Thank you."

As the group walked to the front door, Scarlett said to Rhett, "If you ever see him again, I will introduce you."

"Do you think something is going to happen to Mr. Price?"

"No. I will just be surprised if you ever come to Tara again. This is your first visit in over three years of marriage."

"True."

Rhett couldn't argue that point. He wouldn't be her now if it weren't for the fact he wanted to find Scarlett's other diaries. In fact, if he found the other diaries, he would never return to Tara. He already knew it was going to be boring in the country. Although, he had to acknowledge that just being at Tara made Scarlett obviously happy. She even looked stronger from just being at her home.

No! This was not Scarlett's home. Her home was wherever he was. Even if it was that ugly mansion. Period. End of statement.