Author's Note: Once again, these chapters are written in first draft form. There's a lot that I want to say and a lot of details that I want to add, but I don't have a lot of time; so, the writing may sound a little elementary, but my goal is plot development. I just want the plot to be well-considered, and all of the other things will just have to go lacking. I know that this story is just Sean and Marita, but I hope to create another storyline soon. Anyways, I do hope that you will read and review.

It was time. Time to return back to Lexington. Marita had received her teacher's certificate, and she was looking forward to seeing her father, but she had no idea what to expect from Sean. He ensured her that he would be waiting for her, but he didn't even have the decency to return her letters. She didn't dare write her Pa about it, but this really left her feeling uneasy and uncertain. "If he didn't want to be with me why didn't he just let me know?" Marita wondered to herself. Marita forced herself to drive the negativity out of her mind, she didn't want to make any conclusions until she saw Sean. She knew that she would be able to tell if things were still the same if she just could see his face. Marita had said her goodbye's to everyone, except Shawn and Miss Liza. She and Shawn were scheduled for the same train out of Boston, then they would separate in West Virginia so that he could continue to Richmond, and she would continue to Lexington. She had packed up everything and placed it in the sitting room. Then she went and knocked on Miss Liza's door. "No, don't come in," Miss Liza spoke rudely. "Miss Liza, it's me Marita. I'm about to leave," Marita spoke softly with her mouth close to the door. She didn't hear Miss Liza protest any longer, so she turned the knob slowly. The office was filled with smoke from Miss Liza's cigar. Marita already saw at least a dozen other butts in the trays around the room. "I thought that you had quit that stuff," Marita said as she walked around the room fanning the smoke. "I did quit, but I picked it back up again." Miss Liza puffed again. "So, you came to say goodbye?" "Yeah, Shawn will be here any minute. I just wanted to tell you how much I do truly appreciate you and all that you have done." "Alright that's enough," Miss Liza stood up. "I hate goodbye's so let's just get it over with, I wouldn't want to make you late." Marita was almost offended, but she realized what Miss Liza's abruptness was really implying. "Miss Liza please listen to me," Marita said as she came around the oversized desk and pulled up the chair right next to Miss Liza. She placed her hand on her shoulder and Miss Liza began to melt. "After my own mother and Mrs. Logan, you really have been like a mother to me. I really do hope that you will consider coming to Lexington for a visit. I think that the country, slow life, would do you some good. Please say that you'll come to visit soon." "Marita, I can't." Marita didn't want to hear that and she interrupted, "Please say that you'll come to visit real soon. I would love for you to meet my family, well I don't have much family there, but I have my Pa, and the Logans. They're really the only family that I've ever known. Promise me that you'll come before the next year comes," Marita said calmly while looking straight into Miss Liza's eyes. "Okay, I dunno who's gonna run the place while I'm gone, but I promise that I'll come see you and your family," Miss Liza said with a semi-smile. "I'm really gonna miss you, but here's my address. Please at least send me a letter every now and then, just to let me know that you're okay." Miss Liza took the folded parchment from Marita. "You do the same, and please let me know what happens with your beau." Marita was about to stand when Miss Liza grabbed her arm. "Marita if you really love him and if he really loves you, don't let nothing stand in your way. Trust me, I know from experience that what appears to be is not always what really is. I been readin' the Bible like the preacher tells us and I can remember that there is a verse that says about not leaning on your own understanding or something." Marita smiled and corrected her "Lean not to thine own understanding." "Yeah that's it, I never was much for readin' but that verse sure is fittin'." "Yeah it is," Marita agreed. "Well you better get going, and be careful." Marita hugged Miss Liza once more and went back to the parlor to pick up her luggage. Once she made it to the train station, Shawn was there as he had said he would be. He helped her load her luggage and then they sat together for the ride home. Shawn admitted that he normally passed for white and sat in the white section, but he decided to keep Marita company. They engaged in light discussion for a while, but as it got darker, they engaged in more serious conversation, discussing first kisses and intimacy. Most of the passengers were asleep, and being so close to Shawn in the dark made a strange feeling come over Marita. A strange realization hit Marita. She realized that she really could do anything with Shawn that she wanted, and no one ever find out because she would never see him again. "Stop that!" Marita thought to herself, she knew that she thought of Shawn as nothing more than a friend. Marita listened to Shawn explain his encounters with several ladies, but he insisted that he had been saving himself for marriage. The more Marita listened to Shawn and looked at him the more she wished that he was Sean. She missed him so much but at the same time she had almost gotten used to being without him. She hadn't been touched or kissed for so long. Yet even through all of that there was still a deep welling in her stomach, and it was for the man sitting next to her, it was for the man whom she hadn't heard from, it was for the man she truly loved. Marita realized that how intoxicated she was with Sean. Just thinking about him made her moist. But, now doubt was trying to creep in. She knew that there had to be a reason why hadn't written, but what could it be? He couldn't be that busy. Was he trying to make her miss him more? Just then Shawn giggled with laughter, and Marita escaped her reverie and giggled to make it seem as if she was paying attention. "So, what about you?" Shawn asked. "Huh? Me? What about me?" Marita asked. "What's the farthest that you've ever been with man?" Marita had always felt reasonably comfortable with Shawn, but she did not feel comfortable telling him of her most intimate moments. "Let's just say that the best is yet to come and leave it at that," Marita replied. "C'mon Marita, we're friends, we can tell each other things like this," Shawn prodded. "Yes, I do discuss things like this with my friends..girl friends." With that Marita sat back in her seat and threw her head back. "So, what's the first thing that you're gonna do when you get home?" Marita really didn't care, but she knew that Shawn wasn't good at just sitting quietly, he had to be talking. So, at least he could talk, and she could pretend to listen. This would give her some good time to think.think about Sean. Besides when she was thinking about him, everything seemed so wonderful, even with the uncertainty that tried to creep in.

Location: Lexington, Kentucky Setting: Ned's office
Isaac walks into the office with a huge smile. "I found it, or at least I know where to find it," he walked in and sat in the large leather chair. "Found what?" Ned asked. "Marita's birth record. During the times when the Klan was running rampant, I took and buried some important documents. The good news is that I know exactly where they are, but the bad news is that it's about a days journey to get there and back. But, I don't mind goin' as long as it's okay with you Ned." Ned sat up in his chair, "Isaac you know that it's okay. I'll have Clay and Jeremy tend to the horses." "Pa, do you think that you can check on the workers in the fields for me, they are normally real good about working without me, but just to be certain." "Yeah, but where ya going?" Ned asked. "With Isaac. I really need to follow this through with every step." "Good then, we'll take off before first light that way we'll be back before Marita comes home. She hasn't written me in a while, so I don't even know the exact date of when she's coming home, but I know that her classes ended today, so she should be here by tomorrow or day after tomorrow. Sean did Marita let you know when she was comin'?" Sean was caught a little off guard because he really didn't want to tell anyone that he hadn't heard from Marita, "Uh, no not exactly, but I'd assume that she'd be coming as soon as she's able. Well, I guess that I'd better go on up to bed. Night Pa.Isaac." "Night Sean," both men replied. Isaac sat back in the chair. Ned reached over and opened his desk drawer. He pulled out two small shot glasses and a liquor flask. He poured the reddish-colored liquid into the small glasses, and then passed a glass to Isaac. "I always thought of us as brothers, but I never thought that we'd be in-laws. If Sean and Marita are able to marry, then it won't be easy for them, actually it's going to be hard, but I couldn't be happier. I will be so proud to know that I actually stood up for something. Something that my Irish ancestors would be proud of. The Logan's and Peter's are making a new family history. Here's to the new family history." With the toast said, Ned raised his glass and Isaac did the same.

Every night since Marita had left, Sean had been putting on the ring that he made. It really bothered him that Marita hadn't written back. He had written her so many letters, yet she didn't take five minutes to write back. Nevertheless, he just knew that once he could see her face that he would know if things were still the same between them. The doubt began to creep in, and Sean began to get angry at just the thought of Marita with someone else. However, his confidence was slightly lifted when he remembered that Marita had promised him that she would return to him, and he knew that if she made a promise that she would keep it. Sean lay down in bed clad only in his long johns. It was still very warm, so he tossed the sheet and blanket to the side of the full sized bed. Sean turned on his side in a desperate attempt to sleep, but his thoughts were just plagued with Marita. "If I could just touch her," he thought to himself. He closed his eyes tightly, but he could almost feel her breath on him. He could feel the way that she used to touch his face and his chest. By this time, Sean was becoming seriously frustrated. He had never been the type of man who had to have a woman in his bed all the time. He preferred to be honorable toward women, especially toward colored women because they were often so misused. White men would release all of their passion on colored mistresses, and then they would go home to their white wives, and then they would turn around and neglect their illegitimate children and give their illegitimate children their name and love. Nevertheless, as Sean entered his 20's, he was even lightly ridiculed for taking so long to marry Vivian. He heard ladies gossiping "It's just not fittin' for him to make her wait so long. Don't that boy have any desire for a wife." Sean laughed to himself. He had always had plenty of desire, but Vivian was always there. She was attractive enough, but Sean wanted a wife, not just a bed mate. Vivian was always there offering herself and her bed to him. She could be so prim and proper in public, but as soon as they were alone even for a moment, she would try to attack him. Sean would give in a little, but he always told her that he wanted to be honorable. To tell the truth, he hid behind his honor and the fact that Marita was always there. If she wasn't there physically, she was there haunting his thoughts, like right now. Sean wanted a real wife who would suffer and reign with him; who would bear their children and take care of them herself not hire someone; who would cook and clean in their home and not just depend on the servants to fulfill her responsibilities. Sean could not ever remember a time when he desired Vivian as much as he desired Marita. Every part of him has always wanted Marita. "Just one more day," Sean thought to himself.

The next morning, Sean and Isaac started their journey as planned. Sean was pushing the horses so hard, Isaac had to yell at him to slow down. Sean apologized, and Isaac just grinned because he knew why Sean was trying to go so fast. "He's doing all this just to be with my child," Isaac thought to himself. Then he briefly thought about what Sean and Marita would do once they would be together, and he quickly forced those thoughts out of his mind because they might cause him to turn around and go home.

Location: Just outside Richmond, Kentucky
Shawn and Marita had agreed to switch seats at the last stop, so Marita was now sitting at the window. Her stomach all tied in knots because she was so nervous about seeing Sean. In just a few hours she would see him. After three long months, she would touch him. A huge smile spread across her face. "What are you grinning for?" Shawn asked. "Just thinking about seeing Sal, it has been so long. I just hope that he feels the same way as he did when I left," Marita said.

"Five minutes to Richmond..Five minutes to Richmond." the attendant yelled into the colored cabin. "Well, if your Sal changes his mind, you better hightail it down to Richmond," Shawn said. "And what would I do in Richmond. Be the third party, between you and Sadie?" Marita asked. "You would never be a third party Marita," Shawn said as he looked into Marita's eyes. Marita became uncomfortable with the way that Shawn was looking at her, so he diverted his attention to his case under the seat. "Richmond..Richmond.." The attendant yelled out informing the passengers that they had arrived in Richmond. Shawn gathered his case and stood up. "C'mon Marita, I want you to get off and meet my family? The train won't take off for at least 15 minutes." Marita was a little hesitant, but figured that it would help the break to go by faster. She stood up and straightened her dress and made sure that her hair was tidy. As Marita walked next to Shawn, she looked ahead and saw a fair complexioned, black lady standing behind a very tall and imposing white man. "Is that Sadie?" Marita whispered. "No, that's my mother." Marita had to stop her jaw from flying open because that woman couldn't be much over 30 years old. "Shawn! Good to see you" The large man yelled out and gave Shawn a hearty embrace. "Pa!" The two hugged a while and then Shawn stepped back and introduced Marita. "Pa, this is Marita Peters, we went to classes together and she's on her way back to Lexington, but I wanted you to meet her." Shawn's father stepped back and kind of looked Marita up and down. "Hello Marita, I am Douglas Ferguson, Shawn's father. It's a pleasure to meet you," Mr. Ferguson said as he took Marita's hand in his and did a deep nod with his head while never letting his eyes leave Marita's. Marita could definitely see that this large, graying man was Shawn's father. He gave her the same look that Shawn had given her several times, which was the same look which made her uncomfortable. "Marita, this is Shawn's mother, Obeelah," Mr. Ferguson said as he turned sideways and reached for Obeelah. "Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you," Obeelah said and greeted Marita with a peck on the cheek. When Obeelah embraced Marita, she could tell that Obeelah was trembling. Something just felt strange to Marita. "Well, it was wonderful meeting you all. I must be getting back to the train," Marita said. "Yes, you wouldn't want to miss it," Obeelah spoke up softly. "Pa go and and take my bags, I'm gonna walk Marita back to the train," Shawn said. As Shawn walked Marita backed, Shawn told Marita that he felt that his father really liked her. Marita began to feel just a little sad because this would be the last time that she would ever see Shawn. He had been such a good friend to her. "Well Shawn this is it. I'm really glad that I got to know you, and I really do hope that you and Sadie have a long, happy life together," with that Marita reached up and hugged Shawn lightly. Shawn wanting to savor the moment, held onto Marita tightly. "I have never met anyone like you Marita. You are so special. I know that your husband will cherish you for the rest of your life," Shawn said softly as he released Marita and kissed her lightly on the cheek. It had been so long since a man kissed Marita, it really stimulated her for a moment, but only for a moment. Marita quickly withdrew from Shawn's embrace. "Bye Shawn." Marita gave Shawn a puzzled smile and boarded the train. "I'll see you soon, Marita," Shawn said. "What ?" Marita asked to herself. She assumed that she just heard Shawn incorrectly, so she just waved and sat down for her last stretch to Lexington.