Marita had finally settled into her seat. Luckily she had a window seat, so that she could look out over the countryside. The colored section of the train was always overcrowded, and the seats were always hard. But this time, for some reason, it didn't seem so bad. The person sitting next to her was an older lady. She was short and a little bent over, and she had prominent streaks of gray in her hair. But, she had large, strong hands that clutched a Bible and her bag.

"How ya doin' honey, they calls me Mabel," the older woman introduced herself.

"Hello, I'm Marita…Marita Peters," Marita greeted the woman cordially, but quickly re-focused her eyes back on Sean for the last few seconds before the train departs. Sean eyes have never left her since she took her seat on the train.

"That yo Pa there?" Mabel asks

"Yes, that's my pa," Marita responded.

"Dem white people here for ya too?" Mabel asks curiously

"Yes," Marita responded curtly

"Look how dey all smilin' and wavin' at you. How you cum to know dem?" Mabel asked again

"Well, it's a long story, but as soon as the train leaves, I'll tell you," Marita said trying to suffice the old woman.

"Good, good stories always make the trip short," Mabel said and sat back in her seat and waited for the train to depart.

Sean and Marita continued to stare at each other. Then they were distracted when a young man ran past them with bags in his hand. He almost missed the train, but since he rode in the first class section, the attendants were able to easily get him and his things boarded. Finally a loud "CHOO- CHOO" was heard, and the train began to move.

Isaac, Ned, Clay, Jeremy, Alice, Lexy, and Sean stood waving at Marita. Marita waved at everyone, and then looked once more at Sean while he mouthed the words "I love you." After only a few seconds they were no longer in sight, and Marita sat back in her seat and just breathed deeply. She missed Sean so much already. She had no idea how she was going to make it three months without hearing his voice, or feeling his touch, but at least she would have something to encourage her through her time in Boston.

"Well, c'mon honey, tell me yo story, and I'll tell you mine," Mabel insisted.

Marita smiled at the old woman, and began, "Well, we came to know the Logans…"

Mable interrupts her, "Naw, honey that ain't how ya tell a good, long story. Ya got ta start frum when you's born. I ken tell dat yu ain't all colored, so I want to hear all 'bout how lil' miss marita, you are miss ain't ya?"

"Yes I am. I'm not married."

"So I want to hear all how Miss Marita came to be on dis train wit me tuday."

Author's Note: I'm having to really fictionalize a lot of this story. Some of the cities, events, and things that I'm mentioning may not have been in existence at that time, but I really don't have the time to do the research to ensure accuracy, so please don't hold it against me.

"Well, my pa, Isaac Peters was born a free man in New Orleans, Louisiana. When his parents' master died, they were freed, and then they migrated to New Orleans, Louisiana. They were used to living in the country, so they found a small colored section and made a life for themselves. It wasn't hard for my grandfather to find work because New Orleans was a very commercial city. It was also very integrated. My father told me that Frenchmen came from France, and settled in New Orleans. He also said that the French didn't see black and white, so when they established businesses, they hired a lot of colored people. My grandfather worked for a Frenchman , named Mr. Delacroix, who was a blacksmith. He taught my grandfather all about making shoes, and soon they became best friends. He always invited my grandfather to all of his parties. He even had two daughters and a son that my father used to play with. As my father grew up, he also learned the trade of a blacksmith, and also began working at the shop. Mr. Delacroix also had horses, which my father took care of. So, he learned a lot about grooming horses and training them. As he and Mr. Delacroix's daughter, Miriam, grew up, they also developed a close relationship.

"I bet Mr. Del-croix didn't like dat," Mabel assumed

"Actually, he was thrilled. He truly didn't see color as an issue. Mrs. Delacroix was actually a mix of French and Asian. On top of that, it would ensure the future of his business. Mr. Delacroix had a hard time trusting people, especially white people. He said that white people would try to steal the business from him, but he hired my grandfather because he had an honest look about him. Now, there were a lot of Mr. Delacroix's business associates that were totally opposed to my father and Miriam's relationship, but with so many Frenchmen in the area, it was impossible for them to do anything about it. Most of the Frenchmen that came over, married the most beautiful light-skinned colored women or would have them as mistresses. They didn't have legal marriages, but they did live together as man and wife, and the man took care of her and their children. Some of the Frenchmen took colored women as mistresses because they were already married, but the man maintained both households. So, my father and Miriam courted, and then they got engaged. A few months after they were married, my father was called to war. While they were in the trenches in combat, he saw a white man laying on the ground calling for help. He had been wounded. He said that he almost left the man there, but he said that God told him to go and help the man. So, he picked the man up and carried him over his shoulder for two miles back to safety. That man was Ned Logan, who was the man standing next to my father at the train station. Ned Logan's father had immigrated to the United States from Ireland. They settled in Lexington, Kentucky where he purchased a piece of land so large, that you'll never see all of it. He worked in the family trade of breeding and training horses and soon made a successful business of it. They were not slave-owners, but they did hire people to help them. Ned's father died, so he left the business to him. He was so grateful to my pa, that they got to know a lot about each other because my pa would visit Ned in the hospital, and they became best friends. They talked a lot about their love of horses, and they talked a lot about their wives. Ned said that his wife was pregnant with their second child, and Isaac told him all about my mother, Miriam. Ned didn't think anything of my ma being white, but he did know all about the prejudice that existed in the world. When it came time for the war to end and for them to return to their homes, Ned asked my Pa if he'd like to come and work with him. My Pa loved New Orleans, but he wanted to make a name for himself on his own, doing what he loved to do. He was a little concerned about moving to the South, but Ned assured him that the Logan name had influence, and that he would always be protected. So, my Pa accepted the offer assuming that my mother would agree. My Pa was gone for just over a year, so when my Pa got back home, I had just been born. As soon as my mother was able to travel, he moved us all the way up to Lexington. Everything was just as Ned said that it would be in Lexington. My ma and pa rarely went out into the city together because they said that they didn't want to bring any attention to themselves, but they were protected by the Logan Legacy. About a year after we got there, my ma was pregnant again, but got real sick with yellow fever, and she and the baby both died. My Pa had a real hard time with her death. He started blaming himself for moving her too soon, and he couldn't even care for me. He said that I reminded him too much of my mother. Luckily, Ned's wife Libby took good care of me. She practically raised me along side her own two sons."

"How'd ya'll not catch the fever?" Mabel asked

"Well, that's what was so strange. No one can figure out how neither my Pa nor I got sick. The minister at church told my Pa that it just must've been her time to go, and that was when my Pa began to pick up the pieces of his life.

"Libby, Ned's wife had her third child, a baby girl, when I was about three, so she was too little for me to play with, so I mostly played with Sean, the oldest boy, and Clay who is only a few months younger than me. As we grew up, Sean and I became a lot closer. I don't know why, but we just stuck together."

"Is dat the boy that was looking at you wit dem puppy dog eyes?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Yall got som'in goin' on. Yall been tippin' huh?"

"No, actually Sean respects me."

"I can see dat the boy respects you honey. I bet he even say dat he love you, don't he?"

Marita didn't like the tone in Mabel's voice. Sean and her didn't have a relationship like any one else. "Well, now you know my story, so tell me your's," Marita said abruptly.

"Honey, that still ain't tellin' me how you came to sit right hear 'long side Miss Mable."

Marita realizes that she has never told someone more about herself than she has already told Mabel, and they must've been riding for a few hours already , but it was making the ride seem shorter. So she continued. "Well, I've been working for Ned since it was 16."

"Oh I see, so ya'll been tippin'," Mabel surmised.

"No," Marita raised her voice, " Ned's just like my father. I work as his secretary. I do real work. I manage all of his accounts, keep all of his records, and do just about anything else he needs."

"I'm sorry honey, I just ain't never seen white folks, especially a white man, do something for a colored girl for nothing in exchange, if you know what I mean," Mabel explained.

"Yes, I know what you mean, but he pays me a great salary, plus he's just a good, kind person. Everyone in Lexington treats him with respect."

"Yeah, I've heard of the Logan's," Mabel admitted

"Really, why didn't you tell me" Marita said.

"Well, you was tellin' your story so good, I didn't want to butt in lest I had to. Didn't Misser Logan take on another boy chile?"

"Yes, that's Jeremy. He's been here for about three years. It's almost like he was born into the family. Ned hasn't actually adopted Jeremy yet though," Marita said

"Yeah, cause he been messin' with one of them girls, right?"

"How'd you know that?" Marita inquired

"Told you, that I'd herd of dem Logans before, but mostly what I herd was gossip. Sounds like dey real good peoples. So, keep goin' finish the story."

"Well, while I was workin' for Ned, some days I would go up to the colored school there to read to the students. Well, one day when the teacher was sick, they came and asked me if I would take the class for the day. Ned was out of town on business, so I took the offer. The teacher ended up being out for three days. When the teacher came back, I would still go and help her with the children. Then when this scholarship came up, Mr. Logan gave me the telegram and asked me if I was interested. So, I applied and got in, and that is how I came to sit her next to you today.

"Well that was a great..." Mabel was interrupted by the train attendant.

"30 minute stop. 30 minutes only."

Mabel and Marita decided to get off the train for a while.



Location: Lexington, Kentucky

Sean thought about Marita all the way home. As they passed Marita's house, it just seemed that he should be stopping there. When they finally did make it home, it seemed so empty. Sean finally understood the phrase, "home is where your heart is." His heart was nowhere near Lexington, Kentucky. He walked into the house so solemnly. He didn't even notice all the noise around him. He sat in the chair in the parlor all by himself for about two hours before anyone attempted to disturb him.

"Son, she'll be back," Ned offered words of contentment and placed his hand on Sean's shoulder. "You just have to find a way to keep yourself busy."

Just then Sean remembered what he had to do. "Pa, I'll be back before dinner," Sean says as he jumps up.

"Where you goin'?' Ned asks.

"I'll tell you when I get back," and with that Sean was gone. He rode his horse quickly and when he arrived at his destination, he didn't even wait for the horse to stop before jumping off. He tied his horse and ran to the door and pounded.

"Well, good afternoon Mr. Sean, what brings you by here," Kizzy greeted as she moved over to let him in.

"Where is she?" Sean asked.

Kizzy answered "Well, if you be talkin' 'bout Miss Vivian, she be right…"

Kizzy is interrupted, "I'm right here Sean. How lovely to see you," Vivian says as she walks from the parlor toward him.

"Vivian, I'm not here for fun. Where were you about 5:00 yesterday evening?" Sean asked emphatically.

"Excuse me Sean Logan. You can't just come into my home and demand information. Now, if there's something that you want to know ask nicely," Vivian said with a bright but devious smile.

"Vivian, I just want to know where you were about 5:00 yesterday," Sean asked again.

"Well, you should know the answer to that question. I went to your house to speak to you, but you weren't home, but I left about 4:00. Then I was here for the rest of the day."

"Are you sure?" Sean asked

"Sean, I definitely do remember my whereabouts. If you don't believe me ask Ernest. He drove me."

"Fine, I just might do that," Sean turns around to leave.

"Sean wait. Before you go questioning my servants, what are you after? What's going on?"

Sean really didn't want to tell Vivian what was going on, but he also knew that Vivian would take his and Marita's secret to her grave. He decided to go ahead and tell Vivian because he wanted to see her reaction. "Yesterday we had an incident at my Pa's first house."

"What do you mean, an incident," Vivian asked curiously.

"Do you remember when I showed you my Pa's first house?"

"First house, hmmm let me think….Oh yes, I remember, that thing that you wanted me to live in after we were married. I thought sure that that place would be inhabitable by now," Vivian responded arrogantly.

"Well, there was an incident there with a rather large rock being thrown through the window," Sean continued.

"Were you there?" Vivian asked just seeing how much Sean would tell her.

"Yes, I was there, and I was not alone. Marita was with me," Sean just came straight out and said it.

Vivian was very surprised that Sean was so honest. "Well, considering the circumstances, you're lucky that worse didn't happen," Vivian replied.

Sean knew that Vivian was right and decided not to press, but to wait it out. He knew that if Vivian was responsible, that a rock through the window wouldn't be the end of it. "I just want to let you know that if you are responsible, I will find out," Sean said through gritted teeth as he continued to walk out the door.

Vivian stopped him again, "Sean I want you to know that I have no ill feelings toward you or Marita. I really do want you to be happy, but if you need some company while Marita's gone, you know how to reach me." Vivian looked so honest and sincere, Sean couldn't help but to laugh. "What are you laughing at?" Vivian asked.

"You want to help me, pass the time until Marita comes back?" Sean asks trying to find out Vivian's motives

"Well, I just want us to be friends. You remember before all of this marriage business, we used to really enjoy each other's company, and I just don't want to loose your friendship."

Sean can't even remember one time when he and Vivian actually had a good time together unless it was at some overdressed, stuffy, social function, but "Sure, whatever you say," Sean said slowly, "You know that I'm not a man to hold a grudge."

"Good…that makes me very happy. Maybe we can have lunch sometime."

"Maybe," Sean replies blandly. Sean walks out of the house.

"Magnificent performance," Vivian says to herself as she sits down in the parlor to think over her plans. "Tomorrow, I'm going to pay Mr. Logan a visit."

On the way home, Sean thought about his confrontation with Vivian. He tried to remember her facial expression when he told her what happened, but she seemed normal, not even a little nervous. He decided to let this situation rest because Marita was gone at least for the next three months, and he decided to just focus on finding a plan for them to be together.

Location: Inside Logan Home

"Sean, where have you been? It's dinner time." Lexy asked as Sean walked up the stairs to wash up.

"I had business, but I'll be down in a minute," Sean said as he went up the stairs.

Everyone was already seated at the dinner table when Sean joined the rest of the family. "Did you do whatever it was that you had to do?" Ned asked.

"Yeah, I think so." Sean replied.

"Did you happen to see Isaac?" Ned asked

"No, I didn't. Is he alright?"

"Yes, I'm gonna have him over for meals until Marita comes back. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to eat three meals a day alone for three months," Ned replied

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," Sean says

"Sean, tomorrow before dinner, I need to speak with you," Ned says again

"Okay, what's it about?" Sean asks

"Yeah Pa, what can you talk to Sean about that you can't tell the whole family," Clay asks loudly.

"I can tell the whole family, but there's more than our family involved, and that's ALL that I'm going to say about it until tomorrow. We'll have a family meeting after I talk to him. Does everyone understand?" Ned says as he looks to all of his children to make sure that they understand. Family dinner went as usual. When it was finished, everyone resumed his usual evening routine, except Sean. Normally this was the time, that he would meet Marita in the stables or at the lake. He ended up going to his room and taking out a paper, quill, and ink. He began to write down a list of people that he could contact that may have some information about what he could do. After a lot of thought, he came up with only four names, but that was better than none at all.

The next day, Sean was up just after dawn. He had several meeting and a lot of work to do. He wanted to start working on plans for him and Marita, but he had other deadlines to meet. Finally, he made it back home. He went straight to his Pa's office for their meeting. When he walked in Isaac was there seated.

"Evening Pa, Isaac," Sean greeted the two men and sat down.

Ned began, "Well, let's make this quick. Isaac as you know our children have developed a relationship, and I think that they should have our support.