Author's Note: I know that I've been away for a long time, but I will try to do better. This chapter is short, but I've been really busy, and it seemed like a good place to stop. Again, if you have any ideas, please email me at chynnataylor@yahoo.com. Also, please don't forget to submit a review. Take care.

"Shawn!" Marita gasped. Shawn stood up went toward Marita and enveloped her in a bear hug. Just then, he appeared. Just then, he saw her. Sean was also standing with the rest of the family. He did not know who was hugging Marita, but all he could do was say her name, "Marita." Marita quickly escaped her embrace with Shawn and stood back. "Marita, this gentleman says that he's a close friend of your's from Boston. I hope you don't mind me allowing him to wait for you," Alice spoke, while the whole family stood frozen. Marita began to feel the sweat developing on her forehead. Her eyes never left Sean's, even though Shawn was staring her in the face with his arms still partially wrapped around her. "It's okay Alice," Marita said as she tried to take her eyes from Sean. "He still looks so good," Marita thought to herself as she finally deterred her attention to Shawn. "Shawn what are you doing here? Is everything okay?" "No, everything's not okay. Sadie is dead. She caught a bad fever and died a few weeks after I left. Yesterday, when I found out, all I could think about was talking to you. I didn't think that you would mind me coming here. I just had to get away for a while," Shawn said. Marita realized that everyone was staring at her. "Yes, of course, I understand. I can't even imagine what you're going through," Marita said in a comforting voice. "Everyone, this is Shawn. We met at the college. He's just found out some bad news and needed to get away for a while. I know that I just got here, but could you please excuse us," Marita said as she escorted Shawn outside. Sean's ego was instantly bruised as he watched Marita walk out of the house without even speaking to him. He had waited for her for months, and she didn't even speak to him, instead she leaves with this other man. He didn't know anything about this Shawn fellow, but he and Marita had obviously spent a great deal of time together for him to feel confident enough to come to Lexington. "C'mon everyone, let's have breakfast," Ned said. Sean sat down at the table and tried to eat breakfast.
Outside Marita talked to Shawn. She wanted to console him because that's what she thought that he'd came there for, but considering the situation, he really didn't seem very sad. Marita assumed that that was just his way of grieving, just trying to forget Sadie. Marita knew that it was a bad decision, but she invited Shawn to stay in Lexington for a while, it was the courteous thing to do. She didn't know exactly where he would stay, but she assumed that Ned wouldn't mind him staying at the main house. "C'mon Shawn, I'll take you to my house," Marita said. As they walked out further, Marita and Shawn went to get his horse and carriage, and she noticed the heavily laden saddlebags on the horse. Marita was beginning to feel a bit leery of Shawn because a grief stricken person would not take that much time to pack. Nevertheless, they proceeded to her house. On the way to her house, Marita saw Vivian passing by headed to the Logan's. Vivian noticed Marita and stopped her carriage. "What does she want? She never thought that I was worth talking to in the past. She's so nosey," Marita thought to herself. "Marita so good to see you. Is you're your husband?" Vivian asked with a huge smile. "No, Vivian, this is my friend, Shawn." "You're kidding right? Two Shawn's on the Logan farm. Very impressive," Vivian said as she proceeded to the Logan's. Marita knew that she had better get back quickly because Vivian had a way of making everything worse. "Who was that?" Shawn asked. "That's Vivian Winters, and trust me, you want to steer clear of her." Shawn had heard of the Winters' family and how they can finagle people and decided that he would trust Marita and steer clear of Vivian.
Sean really did not eat much for breakfast because of all that had happened. He hadn't even gotten a chance to talk to Marita, but when he looked into her eyes for just a moments, he felt life entering into his body. He too noticed how thin she looked and wondered if she had been ill. He just wanted to talk to her. Well, he actually wanted to do more than talk, but talking would be a start. He tried to wait for Marita to return, but then he saw Vivian headed toward the front door. He immediately turned and rushed toward the back door. "Sean, where are you going/" Alice asked. "It's Vivian, tell her I'm not here," Sean said as he walked out the rear door. Alice gave a nodding smile and opened the door for Vivian.
Sean walked out of the back and toward the barn to hide out while Vivian was there. After rubbing the horses for a while, he heard voices. He walked over to the door and peeped out. It was Marita and Shawn walking toward the house, and immediately jealousy gripped him, but he didn't let it get the best of him. He needed to talk to Marita, and he realized that this would be a good chance to get Marita alone. He stepped out of the barn. "Marita, can I show you something for a minute....alone." Marita had not expected this because she hadn't seen Sean in the barn. "Shawn go on to the house, I'll be there in a few minutes," Marita told Shawn. Shawn agreed and walked toward the house, and Marita walked toward Sean into the barn.
Once in the barn, Sean spoke. "A few minutes...is that all I get?" Sean asked. Marita could sense that Sean was jealous, and she was glad. "Well, what do you expect me to do Sean? I have company." She said firmly and slightly raising her voice. Sean looked at Marita with different eyes because his anger was rising. He didn't know what happened to Marita...his Marita. "So, is this what Boston does to a person? Makes 'em mean?" Sean asked. Marita was really getting upset, "Mean? Me? No, Sean you're the one who's being mean." Sean was obviously getting angry, "And you're the one who came home with a new....new life!" Marita knew that Sean was referring to Shawn. "Sean, I-" Just then, Lexy walks in and yells "Sean, it's time for dinner." Lexy looks and sees Marita also in the barn. "Marita, your friend is still waiting for you. I set an extra place for him at the table. He sure has been me and Alice asking a lot of questions about you." "C'mon Lexy," Marita says as she walks past Sean. Sean just couldn't resist the opportunity to have one last word, "I can see that you did a lot of studying in Boston, but it sure wasn't teacher books." The tears welled up in Marita's eyes as she walked out with Lexy. How could he be so hateful and rude? What happened to my Sean? Marita thought as tears welled up in her eyes. Sean stood in the barn alone and emotions washed over him. He really wanted to cry, but he couldn't. He had to go to dinner with Marita, and her friend.
Sean walked into the house, and Vivian walked promptly up to him. "Sean, your Pa invited me to stay for dinner. I hope you don't mind." Sean then caught Marita's eye on him, and then he just smiled at Vivian while he was still looking at Marita as he pointed Vivian to the dining room, and seated her across from Marita.

What's in the next chapter: A family and friends dinner at the Logan's