As soon as she married Frank and had him pay the taxes on Tara, Scarlett took over his business. Badgering his friends for the money which they owed him, she bought a lumber mill and hired convicts to do the work for free, with a evil overseer named Johnny Gallegher

"But, Scarlett, this isn't right and you know it! It's bad enough for a women to be in business at all, but-" protested Frank in vain.

"You never would have owned a mill if I hadn't taken things over," exclaimed Scarlett sharply. "Go home and take your medicine. You're not looking very well," she said kissing him awkwardly on the face.

"But, Sugar, don't you think you'd better come home with me?" he asked feebly.

"Great balls of fire! Don't bother me anymore! And don't call me 'Sugar!'" she said, her temper flaring and her tone disgusted.

When Ashley confronted her about using convicts her tone was far more patient when she exclaimed how they would save her money. "I found out that money is the most important thing in the world and I don't intend ever to be without it again," she concluded firmly.

Scarlett's ideas about money

Scarlett took to driving her own buggy and peddling lumber around by herself. Her customers included the Yankees, whom all loyal Confederates were shocked at. One day when she was getting into her carriage, she spotted Rhett.

Rhett and Scarlett's conversation

Rhett asked her where she was going and she smugly answered that she was going to Shantytown. He reprimanded her for driving past that place alone and she pulled out her gun and said, "If I can shoot straight I don't have to shoot too far," and drove off.

With a laugh, Rhett exclaimed, "What a woman!"

As Scarlett drove through Shantytown, her carriage was stopped by a ruffian who demanded a quarter. "Let go of my horse," she shouted and she struggled with two assailants.

Suddenly, a large man charged through the woods and knocked out on of the men and threw the other over the bridge. Scarlett recognized him as Big Sam. "Take me home," she begged and Sam drove her home as fast as the horses could go.

Back at home, Frank paid Sam and sent him back to Tara, then informed Scarlett that he was on his way to a political meeting. When she protested, he said, "Sugar, you're more scared than hurt," after ordering her to change her dress and go to Melanie's house.

At Melanie's, Scarlett, Melanie, Mrs. Meade, and India were sewing while Mammy cautiously sat by the door. To break the silence, Scarlett said, "The men talk, talk, talk about protecting our women! Then after what happened to me this afternoon, Frank has to go to a political meeting!"

She glanced around the room, but all she saw was India looking hatefully at her. "And if it wouldn't pain you, India Wilkes," she said, "I'd be much obliged if you'd tell my why you're staring at me? Has my face gone green or something?"

India told Scarlett that she deserved what had happened to her this afternoon. "And if there was any justice, you'd have gotten worse."

India talks to Scarlett

 As Melanie began to scold India, Scarlett put the thought away as jealousy, but then she asked, "What's going on around her I don't know about?"

At that moment there was a knock at the door and Rhett burst in and asked for the whereabouts of the men. "Out on Decatur Road. The old Sullivan plantation. The house is burned. They're meeting in the basement."

Rhett fled from the house and Melanie told Scarlett that the men had gone to clear out the Shantytown area where Scarlett had been assaulted that day.

 Suddenly the Yankee captain, Tom, burst into the house and asked for Mr. Wilkes, informing the ladies that there was no political meeting. The captain suspected something, so he had the men surround the house to wait for Ashley. Meanwhile, Melanie began reading David Copperfield while the other's sewed.

After seven chapters of David Copperfield, the voices of drunk men were heard outside. The women had terror written all over their faces, but Melanie went to open the door as a drunk Rhett, Ashley, and Dr. Meade walked inside. The Yankee captain said, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilkes, your husband's under arrest."

 "If you arrest all the men who get intoxicated in Atlanta, you must have a good many Yankees in jail, Captain. Bring him in, Captain Butler, if you can walk yourself," said Melanie with a steady voice.

When Tom tried to arrest him, Rhett said, "These two have been with me tonight!Yessir!"

"With you, Rhett? Where?" asked Tom.

With some hesitation Rhett said, "Well, ma'am, we dropped in on a friend of mine...and the Captain's. A Mrs. Belle Watling...We played cards, drank champagne..." and he gestured, leaving the rest to the

Captain's imagination.

Rhett giving his word as a gentleman

Rhett gave his word as a gentleman that they were at Belle's and the men left the room. As soon as they left, Mammy bolted the door and Rhett revealed Ashley's wound from a gunshot. Rhett carried Ashley into the bedroom and Scarlett followed. When only she and Rhett were left in the room, he said, "Have you no interest in what's become of you own husband, Mrs. Kennedy?"

Scarlett snickered nervously. "Humph!Did Frank go with you to Belle Watlings?"

"He's lying out on Decatur Road shot through the head...he's dead."

Belle and Melanie met outside the Wilkes' house in her carriage and Melanie thanked her ernestly for saving her husband's life. "Miz Wilkes, there ain't never been a lady in this town nice to me like you wuz...if it'd been that Miz Kennedy's husband by hisself, I wouldn't of lifted a finger, no matter what Captain Butler said..she's a mightly cold women."

Melanie answered firmly. "You musn't say unkind things about my sister in law."

There was an embarassed silence and Belle said, "Miz Wilkes, if you ever see me on the street, you-you don't need to speak to me. I'll understand."

"I shall be proud to speak to you-proud to be under obligation to you. I hope we meet again," said Melanie.

"No, that wouldn't be fittin'....Good night, Miz Wilkes."

The next morning, Scarlett was emerged in her brandy when she noticed Rhett coming, so she gargled some cologne

Scarlett sees Rhett  

Meanwhile, Rhett was downstairs teasing Mammy about not liking him when Scarlett came downstairs.

Rhett teases Mammy

She began to confesss her fear to Rhett about dying and going to hell for marrying Frank and making him so unhappy.

Scarlett confesses her fear to Rhett

Rhett, had chosen the perfect minute however, to propose to her, telling her that he loved her. However, when she accepted, she ruined the mood by saying that it was because they were only good friends and because of his money.

Rhett's proposal to Scarlett

As Rhett left the house, Scarlett begged for a kiss goodbye, a kiss that would seal the arraingement for a happy marraige.

Scarlett asks Rhett to kiss her goodbye

Onward...