Sean would be busy over the next few months with planting his crop and working on some new projects he had gotten from Clancy. Marita decided she would use her spare time getting started on cleaning up the cabin. She hoped she would be able to make good progress and surprise Sean. She would go out to the cabin whenever she got some free time.

************************************

Marita had, as was her habit now, prepared a basket for Sean. After Isaac had eaten dinner and settled down for the evening, Marita headed into town. Sean hadn't made it to his office yet so Marita used her key. She was reading an article in Clancy's newsletter when Sean came in.

"Hey" he said, happy to see Marita.

"Hey" Marita said as she stood to greet him.

Sean went to her and wrapped his arms around her waist and they kissed 'hello'".

"How was your day?" he smiled.

"Pretty good. And yours?" she said.

"It went well. Phil Smith came by today and asked me about last year's crop. He asked if I was selling the remedy your aunt gave us. He wants to buy some." Sean said.

"Really" Marita was surprised.

"Yeah. I think you and your aunt should think about starting a 'fungus killing' company" he laughed. "Phil mentioned that the remedy would probably be in high demand because funguses destroy thousands of crops every year" Sean said.

"I'll talk to Aunt Eleanor" Marita said as she thought of going into business with her Aunt.

"How are things at home" Sean asked as he loosened his tie and took off his coat and vest. It was his way of asking about his father. Sean still had not completely forgiven him for taking the land but he was concerned about his well being.

"Your father's doing OK" Marita answered as she sat back down. "But there is some bad news. Golden Flash died when she foaled. Lexy's was really upset. She's now playing 'mother' to the foal. I think you need to talk to Clay. He wasn't there when Golden Flash folded and I think he's feeling guilty".

"I'll ride out there tomorrow and talk to him" Sean said as he opened the picnic basket and took out his supper.

"When are you going to talk to your father?" Marita asked when Sean sat down at the table across from her and started eating his supper.

He just grunted as he continued to eat. Marita knew he was being proud and stubborn and she wanted him to reconcile with his father. She also knew that Sean wouldn't talk about his father until he was ready. Every time she asked him about talking to his father, he would grunt and act as though he had not heard her.

Marita decided not to force the issue so she changed the subject. "Have you looked over the agreement we put together for Vivian?"

"Yeah" he said. "I think it looks good. I'll have her look at it tomorrow, then I'll be able to start tilling the land".

"You know" Marita said. "I just had a thought. If Aunt Eleanor and I can start this business selling her remedies, we could buy the warehouse back with my share of the profit".

"NO!" Sean said.

"And why not" Marita asked with a raised brow.

"We've been over this already, Marita. I'm the provider" he said, thinking he sounded very reasonable.

"Is this or is it not S&M Tobacco Co?" Marita said, stressing the 'M'.

"Yeah, but...." Sean said.

"But nothing" Marita interrupted. "If it's my company too, I want to contribute. We need that warehouse and we'll have a way to get it if I can earn some money working with Auntie".

"Marita" Sean said as his temper was about to rise.

"Don't 'Marita' me" she said, her temper rising also. "Your pride will only get the best of you. You're willing to take help from Vivian but not me!"

When Marita said the word 'pride', Sean's conscience was pricked. This morning during his reading time, he had read that "pride goeth before destruction" and "only by pride cometh contention". He didn't want destruction and he certainly didn't want contention with Marita. He wanted to make love to her. Sean knew she was right. It was his pride that kept him from taking help from her. After a minute he said "You're right. If you can get your business started with your aunt, we can save your share and buy back the warehouse".

That put a smile on Marita's face. "Good. I think I'll talk to Auntie tomorrow" she said with excitement.

"Alright. I'll talk to Phil and let him know that you'll be working on a batch for him" Sean said as he ate the last bite of his supper.

"Hey, how about thanking your husband for putting that smile on your face" Sean said as he pushed his chair away from the table and patted his lap.

"Thank you for being reasonable" Marita said.

"Come over here and thank me" he said in his most sexy voice.

"Thanking you from here is sufficient" Marita said as she stayed put. She was not going to let him off the hook that easy.

"It might be sufficient for you, but it's not for me" he gave her a sexy smile as his eyes began to undress her.

Marita's resolve to keep him on the hook was weakening. His sexy smile combined with his devouring look always made Marita melt. Her body always reacted to his burning stare. She felt as if he were making love to her with his eyes.

Sean was making love to her with his eyes. His eyes had opened her blouse. His eyes licked and suckled her breasts. His eyes striped off the rest of her clothes.

Sean saw Marita's chest rise and fall more rapidly as her breathing increased. His smile widened as he stood up and walked over to her. He pulled her to her feet and sat down in her chair. He ran his hands over the derrière as he pulled her between his legs.

Marita smiled down at Sean as she put her hands on his shoulders and sat on his lap. Sean smiled up at her as his arms circled her waist and their lips met. Their tongues met at the mid-point of their open lips. Each was trying to delve into the other's warm mouth. Sean won the tug-of-tongue and entered Marita's sweet, warm mouth as his hands roamed up and down her back. Marita danced with Sean's tongue as her fingers tiptoed through his soft curls. Sean moved his lips to her ear as his fingers unbuttoned her blouse. He ran his tongue along the edge of her ear before he bit her earlobe. He kissed her down the side of her neck as he pulled her blouse and shift down around her waist. When her breasts were exposed, his lips went to work. He ran his tongue over her nipple until it stood erect then he drew it into his mouth and suckled it like a new born babe.

Marita closed her eyes and enjoyed what Sean was doing to her. When he had given both breast ample TLC, his lips moved back up her neck to her lips. This time, Marita pushed her tongue into his warm mouth as she moved her hands to unbutton his shirt. She ran her hands over his naked chest and caressed his nipples. They continued their searing kiss as Sean unzipped her skirt and Marita unbuttoned his pants. Their lips parted as they stood up. Marita pushed Sean's shirt off his shoulders as he pushed her blouse, skirt and bloomers off her hips. Marita put her hands inside his pants next to his skin and slid them off of him. Their lips met again as the two naked lovers made their way over to the makeshift bed. Their lovemaking was sweet and gentle as they touched and caressed each other and gave each other pleasure.

*********************

Marita was walking up to the house when Lexy ran into her. "Where are you going?" she asked Lexy.

"I hate her!" Lexy yelled.

"You hate who?" Marita said.

"Alice" she answered in disgust.

Marita looked over and saw Alice talking with Dr. Fawnsworth and surmised what the problem was. "Come on" she said. "We'd better talk". Marita put her arm around Lexy and they headed to her house.

Once inside, Marita poured them a cup of tea and then grabbed a cloth and wet it. She walked over the Lexy and patted her face then sat down to hear Lexy's reason for hating Alice.

"Alice can have any boy that she wants. They all like her. They all want to call on her. Oh Alice, you're so beautiful. Oh Alice, I love you" Lexy made a face. Marita looked at her and smiled.

"Why couldn't she just leave him alone?!" Lexy demanded. "He liked me. He said that I was the best assistant that he'd ever had. Then she had to go smiling at him. I hate the way that she smiles!"

"Well, if he's got eyes for Alice, he's probably not the right person for you" Marita reasoned.

"He is right for me!" Lexy insisted.

"Alright. Well, that's how you feel. But both of you've gotta feel that it's right" Marita said.

After a minute, Lexy asked, "Will you tell me something?".

"Anything" Marita said.

"How do you get someone to feel that way? That you're right for them" Lexy said.

"Well, you don't have to. That's just it. One day when you've found someone you really like spending time with, you'll look at him and suddenly you'll realize you love him and you'll know, by the way he looks at you, that he feels the same way" Marita said as her mind drifted back.

"Sean looks for those eyes. He finds them instantly and all he can do is stare at her. Even though they were surrounded by hundreds of people, they were all alone in this moment in time. As the days go by, he falls deeper and deeper in love with his best friend. He smiles at her.
"I love her so much. How did I get so lucky?" SH

Marita watches as Sean's family congratulates him on his new position. She is so happy for him and very proud of him. As she meets those beautiful blue eyes, Marita realizes that the battle is over. She closes her eyes for a moment and smiles. Surrender is so sweet.
"I give up. I love him" MM
"Finally!!" MH
"He is amazing" MM
"Yes he is" MH
"How did I get so lucky?" MM
"I don't know girl, but I'm glad you did" MH

Her friend, her best friend has stolen her heart. Who could ask for more?

People were all around her, but all Marita could see was the love in Sean's eyes."

Lexy thought over Marita's words. "Like you and Sean?" she said, bring Marita back to the present.

Marita's bottom lip hit the floor. "W H A T" she uttered as her mind scrambled for some sort of response.

Lexy looked at Marita and couldn't help but laugh at her expression. "What, what do you mean........ 'like me and ........ Sean'?" she choked out. It was a shock to actually hear someone speak of her and Sean as a couple.

"I see the way you guys look at each other. Sean told me he likes you a WHOLE lot" Lexy smiled. "Do you like him as much as he likes you?" Lexy asked.

"This child is just too observant" MM

KNOCK KNOCK

"Just a minute Lexy" Marita said as she went to answer the door. She was thankful for the interruption. She really didn't know how she would answer Lexy.

"Hey" Sean said as he came inside. He grabbed for Marita to pulled her to him.

"Lexy's here" Marita whispered as she swatted his hands away.

Sean gave her a look that said "So" and tried to kiss her.

"SEAN!" she said in a loud whisper and pulled away from him.

"What!" he answered.

"Your sister...." Marita said through gritted teeth and looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

"Hi Sean" Lexy said from the kitchen doorway. She smiled because she had seen the by-play between them.

"Hi Lexy" he said as he walked over to her. "What are you doing here?" he asked as put his arm around her and they walked back to the table.

When they all sat down, Lexy explained to Sean why she hated Alice.

"Dr. Fawnsworth is a little old for you, isn't he" Sean said.

"No" Lexy answered immediately.

Sean and Marita looked at each other and smiled. "Well, I'm willing to bet that you'll find someone your own age to like" Sean said.

Lexy was not convinced. "Marita said that one day I'll find somebody I like spending time and suddenly I'll realize I love him. Well I like spending time with Dr. Fawnsworth. I want to be a veterinary like him." she said.

"Does he feel the same way about you?" Sean asked.

"Well" Lexy hated to admit, "Marita did say that I'll know by the way he looks at me. I guess he doesn't" she relented as she realize that Dr. Fawnsworth didn't look her that way. "I still wish he looked at me like you look at Marita" Lexy said. "What were you guys doing in your room when you came back from Philadelphia?" Lexy asked changing the subject.

Sean burst out laughing. He laughed both at how quickly Lexy's mind switched subjects and how hilarious it would be to try and explain to her what he and Marita were doing in his room. Marita looked at him as if he were crazy. This was no laughing matter. When Sean finally calmed down, two sets of eyes were on him waiting for an answer. He sobered up very quickly.

"Well..." he looked to Marita for help. She didn't provide any. She wanted to hear his answer as much as Lexy did.

"Well Lexy" he said. "Marita and I like each other a whole lot. In fact we love each other. When you saw us come out of my room, we had stayed together that night."

"What were you guys doing in there? I heard you making noises. You sounded like you were hurting each other." Lexy said.

"I could just die right here!" MM

Sean couldn't get around Lexy's direct question, so he decided to tell her the truth. "Lexy, Marita and I got married when we went to Philadelphia"

"Really?" Lexy said.

"Yeah" he admitted.

"That's great!" she said. "That means we're sisters, Marita!" Lexy said happily as she looked from Sean to Marita. She always loved Marita and was glad Marita was now officially her big sister.

Marita smiled. "Yes we are." She loved this Logan almost as much as she loved Sean.

"Now, Lexy" Sean said "we have to talk to Pa and Isaac, so we don't want you to say anything yet".

"Alright. So why were you guys hurting each other?" Lexy wondered.

"Hurting each other?" Sean said.

"Yeah. In your room" she said.

Sean looked at Marita. "I told you I should have come home that night!" her eyes said.

"Well, Lexy......." Sean searched for words. "When two people love each other and get married, they express that love. You heard us expressing our love for each other. We weren't hurting each other, we were enjoying being with each other".

"I hope that explanation satisfies her!" SM

"Why were you making SO much noise?" Lexy asks.

"We were having a LOT of fun" Sean smiled.

"Oh." she said as her mind began forming another question.

"What are you ladies going to do for the rest of the afternoon?" Sean asked, changing the subject. He feared Lexy might have more questions about his and Marita's 'FUN'.

"Marita, can we bake some cookies?" Lexy asked.

"Sure" Marita said.

"Well, I'm going to meet Clay at the Jockey Club" Sean said as he got up from the table. "Save me some of those cookies".

"OK" Lexy said.

"See ya later, peanut" Sean said as he kissed her forehead.

"Bye, Sean" Lexy said.

Marita walked Sean to the door. "You got out of that one" she teased.

Sean smiled. "I'll see you tonight" he promised as he pulled her into his arms and gave her a sweet kiss.

Marita smiled. "Bye".

With her mind off hating Alice, Lexy stayed with Marita for the afternoon. They baked cookies and Lexy helped Marita with the chores.

To Be Continued.............................