Author's Note: I've written this chapter several times, and I know that it is short and a little choppy, but I decided to post this version even though it is not as dramatic, because it helps to set the direction for drama in the upcoming chapters.

1

2 The Hideaway

Sean and Marita are asleep on the bearskin rugs. You can see the two quilt- covered bodies intermingled, and the sun is shining through the broken glass. Marita is the first to wake.

"Oh my goodness, it's late, I gotta go," Marita says as she tries to get up which wakes up Sean.

"Where you going?" Sean asks in a raspy voice as he pulls Marita back down.

"My train leaves at 1:00, and it's got to be close to noon," Marita says pointing to the blinding ray of sunshine coming through the window.

"Then you have plenty of time," Sean says as he gets up and walks toward the window.

"No I don't, it's late," Marita says

"See," Sean says as he removes the paper from the window that was causing the sun to appear higher than it really was, "Never doubt a farmer's sense of time."

DING DING DING DING DING DING DING

Marita jumps as the mantle clock strikes seven o' clock. "I'm sorry, I guess that I'm a little nervous," Marita says as she wraps the quilt around her even tighter.

"It's understandable," Sean says while he finishes re-applying the paper to the broken window.

"So, do you want some breakfast?" Marita asks

"No, but I do want to help you relax," Sean says as he crawls under the quilt between Marita's legs. Sean licks all the way from Marita's toes to her knees. He lifts her knees so that they are bent. When he gets to her thighs, he takes hold of them and gently opens them more so that he can taste her. He begins to suck and kiss her inner thighs.

"Sean we have to stop," Marita manages to say.

"I know…I know…I'm stopping," Sean says as he appears from under the quilt and kisses Marita heartily.

"This is so unfair," Sean says with a disappointed look on his face.

'What's unfair?" Marita asks

"Any other couple would never have to endure this, and what's even sadder is that most of them don't even feel the way that we feel about each other, and they can just up and get married. There's got to be some way that we won't have to deny ourselves.

"Yeah, well when you put it that way, it does sound pretty sad. But, I really don't want to think about that, at least not now."

"Marita, I want you to know that I want everything there is to have in this life with you. The marriage, the kids, sunshine or rain, I want it all with you."

"Don't forget how those kids are made," Marita adds

"Oh yes, that will be one area that we will be best at, and I promise you that by the time you get back, I'll have a plan for us. I will find a way for us to be together," Sean says and kisses Marita gently.

"So us not making love is okay with you?"

"Well, no it isn't, but I'm willing to wait until we can do it honorably. Besides, you won't be around to tempt me so I'll be able to focus on finding a plan. But right now, I just want to spend a little time with you."

Sean and Marita lay back and just spent the next two hours in each other's arms. Some moments they laughed and talked about their childhood, other moments they just sat quietly, and other moments they just kissed and hugged. Finally they got up, dressed slowly, and packed the items that they brought with them back into the saddlebags, and Sean has secured the bags onto his horse. As he walks back into the house, he sees Marita standing staring outside through the window with the broken glass.

"Don't worry Marita, I'll find out who's behind this," Sean says as he walks up behind Marita and puts his arms around her waist.

"Actually, I wasn't even thinking about that," Marita says surprised that she really had forgotten that the glass was broken. "I was just thinking how wonderful it would be if we really could be together."

"Trust me, there is a way," Sean says.

Marita really does believe that Sean will try with all of his Irish determination, but she believes that only thing that he will find is disappointment.

DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING The clock strikes ten o'clock

"So are you ready?" Sean asks

"Are you, ready for me to leave?" Marita asks back

"Well, no, but I don't want your Pa to get mad a me."

"Yeah, I guess we better go," Marita says as she turns around and takes Sean's hand as they exit the house.

Outside Sean helps Marita onto the horse, and to Marita's surprise, Sean climbs on behind her instead of in front.

"Sean?"

"I just wanna hold you a little while longer," Sean says as he wraps his arms around Marita's waist and holds on for dear life. On the way home, both Sean and Marita's minds are filled with so many thoughts. There's so many things that they want to say to each other but they just decide to say nothing at all. They would rather just absorb their last few private moments together.