Author's Note: I didn't have time to proofread, but I wanted to go ahead and post. I also noticed that there are a few errors that are occuring like the underlining and italics and some symbols that I put in the original document are not transferring over from the MS Word on my computer. Anyway, this chapter is a little long, but I hope that you all had a great Easter holiday. Take care.

Location: Boston Setting: Side of Miss Liza's hotel

"So what do you need help with," Marita asked Shawn as she sat on the end of the bench that he was sitting on.

"Well, I know how to add, subtract, and multiply, but I have no idea of how to teach that to anyone, much less a child. Mr. Harper said that on the test tomorrow, that we were going to have to show at least two ways that you can teach a student to add, subtract, and multiply."

"Well have you tried to follow the examples that they gave us in class?" Marita asked.

"Yeah, and they make sense in class, but when I try to change the numbers, it just doesn't make sense."

"Alright, let's try to do some sample problems." Marita and Shawn worked constantly, and by the end of the next hour, they had identified three ways of how to teach addition, subtraction, and multiplication.

"Any other questions?" Marita asked before gathering her things to go back inside the hotel.

"No." With that, Marita and Shawn gathered their things and headed back inside the hotel.

"Actually Marita, there are a lot of other things that I don't understand, but it's late. Can we get together tomorrow after the test?" Shawn asked.

"Marita, here's a letter for you," Miss Liza said as she handed the letter to Marita. Marita looked at the handwriting on the letter and recognized it immediately.

"So, can we get together tomorrow?" Shawn asked again.

"I guess that would be okay."

"You guess? If you have other plans, I understand."

"No, no, it's fine, I can help you tomorrow," Marita offered, "But I have to go now," Marita said still looking at the letter.

"Alright, I'll see ya in class. Thanks for your help."

Miss Liza is still watching Marita. "That letter's from your sweetheart, isn't it?"

Marita didn't know how to answer. "How'd you know?"

"Honey, the look on your face told it all, and the look on your face now is telling me that if you don't rip that letter open right away that your gonna burst. Am I right?"

"Well, maybe I won't burst, but maybe I'll implode?" Marita laughed.

"You college kids and your big words. What does "implode" mean?"

"It means to explode on the inside," Marita responded.

"Well then, that word sure is fittin. You better go on and read your letter before you "implode." Miss Liza said and walked away laughing.

Marita had to walk past the rest of the girls who were working. "Hi," Marita said as she hurried by.

"Hello, Moocher, I mean Marita," one of the girls said causing the other girls to laugh, except Annie, Marita's roommate, who kept working quietly.

Marita decided to ignore the comment "Excuse me," Marita said as she continued past the girls and up the stairs to her room. She walked into the room and sat down on the bed and opened the letter.

Dear Marita,

I was so glad that you wrote. I'm also glad to hear that you're doing well, but I'm even gladder to hear that you miss me. I really miss you too. Your Pa has been eating here, so at least I have a little part of you, but it's been very hard. I keep wanting to go to your house or leave you a little note on your desk, but I forget that you're not here. I've been wearing the ring that I made every night, and I hope that you've been doing the same. I think about you all the time. I can't wait till you come home. The railroad workers just went on strike so no train came come in or out of Lexington. If it continues, it will cause the businesses here to suffer, but that has given me more time to try to work on our situation. Maybe when the strike is over, I can come and visit. My pa, your pa, and I have talking to people. We really haven't found anything solid, but maybe by the time, you read this letter, something will have changed…" Marita continues to read the letter which Sean tells a little bit about everyone in the house. He closes with, "So, have you met any suitable suitors since you've been there? Just kidding, I trust you and I trust our love. For me it's only two months to go, but by the time you read this letter, it'll probably be only one month and two weeks to go. I love you and I'll see you soon.

Marita closed the letter .

KNOCK KNOCK Marita jumped at the knock on the door.

"Marita, it's Miss Liza."

"Coming," Marita said as she placed the letter on the desk.

Marita opens the door, "Hi," Marita said standing at the door.

"You mind if I come in for a minute?" Miss Liza asked.

"Oh yes…yes…I'm sorry…please come in. Is everything alright?"

"Well, that's what I've come to find out."

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you mean."

"Josiah came by just a minute ago trying to get up to your room and I told him that you were studying, and it would be best if he waited until he saw you in class tomorrow. Was I correct in telling him that?" Miss Liza asked.

"Yes, you've never been more right. I already told him that I was studying. Did he say what he wanted?"

Miss Liza pulled the chair out from Marita's desk and sat down. "Honey, the boy didn't have to tell me what he wanted. I know exactly what he wants. He wants you."

A look of astonishment was on Marita's face, not because she was surprised at Josiah wanting her because he had made that clear already, but it was because of they way Miss Liza was so frank with her statements. "Well I think that I've made it clear to him that I'm not interested in him that way."

"Marita, I've seen guys like Josiah before. They way he sees your rejections, is that you're playing hard to get. I've seem all the times you've turned him down, and also see how turned on he gets when you turn him down. I bet that none of the other boys will hardly speak to you. What that means to me is that he has placed a "marker" on you."

"A marker. What is a marker?"

"Now, not just anyone can do this and it work. But, for some reason, the other boys respect Josiah or they fear him. They know that he means what he says. So, I think that he told all of the other boys, that he was going to pursue you, so that they wouldn't."

Marita is now trying to process what she has been told, "This is so strange, but I did notice one day when Sam and I were talking before class started, then Josiah walked in and Sam froze up like a clam. He wouldn't even look at me any more. He just kept looking at Josiah."

"Yep honey, He's definitely placed a "marker" on you. He has claimed you and told all of the other boys so that they won't even try to talk to you."

"But, I just can't believe that a person, a single person, can have that amount of power over others."

"And, another thing is that there is some evil lying in that boy's eyes. I don't know what it is, but I been watching him and I can see how he looks at you and how he…"

Miss Liza was cut off by Marita, "Please, don't say anymore. This is scaring me."

Miss Liza places her hand on Marita's hand, "I'm sorry honey, I don't mean to scare you, but I want you to be aware and alert. Stay as far away from Josiah as you can, and I'll keep an eye out for you. Don't walk around here at night by yourself…"

While Miss Liza was giving Marita the list of do's an don't's Marita's mind drifted. She wanted so desperately to go home and to be in Sean's arms... He could take all of her fears away…She wanted to cry…She was crying…"Marita…Marita…you okay?" Miss Liza asked shaking Marita.

Marita came out of her trance and immediately felt that her face was wet with tears. "I'm sorry, I just really miss my home." Marita was trying to be strong and stop crying. "I know honey, it's hard, but you don't have too much to go," Miss Liza said now hugging Marita causing her to start crying again. After a few minutes of crying, Marita finally held her head up. "Gosh, I really didn't mean to cry all over you."

"I know you didn't, and you don't have to apologize. I've seen some girls get lonesome and just fall for the first boy that shows any interest. They end up giving up their self-pride for that boy. Then he ends up dumping them and moving on to the next girl. I don't' want to see that happen to you."

Marita is finally composed and begins to speak. "I just really miss home. Until today, I hadn't really realized how much I miss it, but there's just such a wonderful feeling there."

"You are very fortunate to have a place like that to call home. Due to a series of events, I had to leave my home when I was only twenty. It wasn't the greatest place, but it was home. Now, I've lived here for over 20 years. This place is not a home. This is just a place where people come to better themselves and move on. Just like what you're doing, but I can't complain. For some reason, God hasn't seen fit to take me out of this world, so I'll just have to make the best of it, but you young lady, will finish here and go back to your home and back to your sweetheart," Miss Liza saw the way Marita's eyes lit up when she mentioned her "sweetheart." "So, what's his name?" Miss Liza asked.

Marita stuttered before saying Sean's name, "Sean," she said plainly.

"Sean…Sean…"Miss Liza said repeatedly like she was thinking about something. "Isn't that boy you were studying with named Sean also?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"I told you that I pay attention. I have to watch out for you ladies. While you're here you're like my children because if something happens, they're gonna come to me."

"I'll be keeping an eye out for Josiah. Is there anything else that I can do for you?" Miss Liza asked Marita.

"No, I'll be okay. I've got some work to go, so that will keep my mind occupied."

"So, don't you start going into a real school building sometime soon.?"

"Yeah, tomorrow, I start my first day at the school. I'll be there observing the teacher teach this week, then I'll start teaching Writing on Monday, then Writing and History on Thursday and then Writing, History, and Arithmetic the following Wednesday, then the last three weeks I'll teach all subjects. I'm really nervous, but this is what I came here for so I guess I just have to get my mind together and do it. Fortunately I don't have to work so that will give me more time to prepare."

"Mr. Logan must be a pretty nice man to do what he did for you. I've actually only had one other young lady do what you're doing. She came from a wealthy colored family. She wasn't the most attractive young lady, and she was really big-boned, and she was 24 yrs old. She really had no need to get a teacher certificate or get a job as a teacher because her parents gave her whatever she wanted. They gave her everything that she wanted, except the love that she needed. But, when she came here trying to throw her weight around and act like she was better than everyone else, no one could even stand to be in her presence. I think that the real reason that she came here was to find a husband, but she didn't know how. She didn't know how to show love because it had never been shown to her."

"That's really sad," Marita added.

"But the sadder part is that she ended up leaving here and going back home before the semester ended to her spoiled, loveless life. Well, I hope that I'm not stepping out of bounds, but what is your reason for coming here?'

Marita was a little surprised by Miss Liza's question because her reason for coming to Boston seemed obvious. "I'm here to get my teaching certificate," Marita replied.

"The reason I'm asking is because you seemed to have a decent job working for Mr. Logan, and it's not like your wages for teaching would be all that great."

"Yes, I understand that, but I really love to teach. I also loved my job working for Mr. Logan, but when I applied for this scholarship, I thought that it was time for me to leave home and be on my own."

"So, you were just going to leave your Sweetheart?" Miss Liza asked with a look of awe on her face.

"Well, we weren't exactly together at the time…we umm…well, he umm…" Marita searched her mind what to say to Miss Liza. She didn't want to tell her that Sean was engaged to another woman at the time, because it would seem as if she stole him or it would seem like he was a cheater, so she continued to stumble over her words, "…well we just ummm…we hadn't yet admitted our feelings to each other. So, I just assumed that I'd just get away and start a new life for myself."

"So now yall have admitted your feelings to one another and all is well?" Miss Liza asked.

"Well, yeah, sort of," Marita said slowly.

"Do you think that yall will end up getting married?"

Marita pondered this for a moment before answering, "Let's put it this way…He's definitely marriage material," Marita said with a reminiscent grin.

Miss Liza giggled when she saw Marita's grin, "So, tell me about him…what's his name?"

Marita started, "Well his name is Sean, and he's…" Marita was interrupted by a yelling female in the hallway, "Miss Liza.… Miss Liza…are you up here?"

Miss Liza jumped up from the bed and went quickly to the door. "I'm right here, what's wrong?"

"Anne's passed out. She was vomiting and then she just passed out!"

Miss Liza took off out the door, and Marita followed.

Location: Lexington, KY Setting: Logan home, Ned's office

Ned began slowly, "Well, I was hoping ya'll had found something better. I spoke with Jonathan Thompson today. He said that he heard of a biracial young woman, half colored and half white, from the outskirts of Lexington that was legally married to a white man from Oklahoma."

"What!!! That's great!!! Where are they? Let's go and talk to 'um ! Whew, the light at the end of the tunnel!!!" Sean said with excitement.

Ned had to rain on Sean's parade, "Not so fast son. The fact is, is that they were both killed. The only thing that Jonathan was able to tell me is that they were coming home one evening and their horse was spooked by something and threw both of them. But, he did mention that the girl had no known living relatives, and that he heard that there are rumors that the boy's family lives here in Lexington."

Sean jumped up, "What?"

"Well that's what the rumor says."

"So, let me make sure that I understand you correctly. There was a biracial couple here in Lexington that was legally married. Pa, if that were true, then I'm sure we'd have heard about it, considering the way gossip flows 'round here."

Ned understood Sean's comment, "Well, in most cases, that's true, but in this case, Jonathan said that no one ever knew that they were married. No one really even knew the boy or his family. The only way that Jonathan found out was because he works in the County Records Office. Then he said that he went snooping to get information about the situation, and that is how he was able to find out that information."

"So Ned, how did they manage to be secretly married and who married them?" Isaac asked.

"Well Jonathan wouldn't tell me who married them, but the family migrated here about 3 years ago from Oklahoma. They moved into the outskirts of Lexington. Even though the family was wealthy, they were sort of recluses. So, some kind of way the boy married this girl without all of Lexington finding out, and now they're dead. That's all I know."

"Did Jonathan tell you their names?" Sean asked.

"No, he said that he couldn't release that information."

"Well, then tomorrow I'm gonna go and talk to Jonathan and see what I can find out," Sean said.

Ned spoke up again, "Sean, I really don't think that you should bother Jonathan anymore…Actually I'm asking you not to bother him because he was already getting suspicious as to why I wanted to know about that couple."

"Listen to your pa Sean, he's telling you right" Isaac added.

Sean is now pacing the floor, "Alright I guess I should leave Jonathan alone, but I just wish I could find out who the family is. Maybe they could tell us something. I've got to think of how I can find out who they are or where they are."

"I've been thinking about that too," Ned said while taking a cigar out of the drawer.

Isaac steps forward, "This may be a long shot, but when they moved here they had to purchase their farm, right?"

"Yeah, but what does it matter?" Sean asked truly not understanding where Isaac was going.

"Sean, when anyone buys property they have to pay taxes, and all of the tax records are held where?"

"In my office," Sean said now enlightened. "And the tax records contain the names of the states in which you were a legal resident. All I'd have to do is see which records show if the constituents were ever residents of Oklahoma, and then narrow it down to the ones who moved within the last three to three and a half years."

"We'd have to look through every record for every resident that ever purchased property in Lexington, that's gonna be a tedious job, but I'm willing," Ned says.

"Yeah me too," Isaac says.

"Thanks Pa and Isaac, but I can't ask you to sit and look through thousands of files for me and Marita. I'll do it," Sean insists.

"Sean we are a family, and we do things as a family. We've all agreed to help on this matter, and besides, it would take you months to go through those files, and I really want to get this matter cleared up by the time Marita comes home."

"Once again Sean, your Pa is right, and I'll be glad to help you," Isaac added.

Ned has finished his cigar and is now standing up, "So, is there anything else that we need to discuss?"

"No Pa, I think that's it. I'll start looking through the files first thing tomorrow."

"Fine, Isaac do you have anything else?" Ned asked

"I just hope that we can find these people soon. Sean, are you gonna tell Marita about this?"

"Well I thought about it, but I think that it'd be best if we not tell her anything until we have something solid."

"I agree," Isaac concurred.

Ned walks around the desk and walks to the door, "Well tonight at dinner, I'll talk to the family and alert them of what we'll be doing."