Despite all of the tension in the room, Ned never allowed his family to begin a meal without blessing it first. He reached to his right for Sean's hand and to his left for Clay's, and everyone followed suit taking their neighbor's hand. Vivian proudly takes Sean's hand which Sean barely offered, and Sean watches as Shawn takes Marita's hand.

Jeremy speaks up, "Uh, you want me to bless the meal?" Everyone except Shawn and Vivian instantly shout, "No!" Jeremy is unfazed by the family's objection to his prayer and laughs it off. Ned asks Sean to bless the food. Sean looks down and closes his eyes, and everyone follows suit. "Dear Lord, we thank you for this meal that has been prepared. We ask that You bless and sanctify it and make it nourishment for our bodies. We also ask that you help us through these difficult times. Amen." Everyone echoes, "Amen."

"Difficult times? What difficult times? What has happened? What aren't they telling me? Is that why Sean didn't write me?" Marita's mind is overwhelmed with questions, and she begins to feel upset with herself for not having been civil to Sean in the barn. She was so consumed with her own anger that she didn't even realize that Sean really didn't even look like himself. He was still handsome, but he looked thinner, and he looked a little unkempt. He needed a good shave and hair cut, and he looked so tired.

By this time, Shawn has noticed Marita's lack of attention to her meal, and places his hand on hers to get her attention. Marita then looks directly at Shawn. "You okay?" Shawn asks just above a whisper for only her to hear. "Yeah," Marita says and nods her head at the same time. "You look a little upset. You sure you're okay?" Shawn asks again not believing Marita the first time. "Yes, I'm sure. I'm just ready to get some rest, and I hate that I've not been able to show you around Lexington. I promise, starting tomorrow, I will be a better hostess," Marita smiled as warmly as she could and then reverted her attention back to the dinner table. She didn't want to look, but she knew that Sean was looking at her the whole time. She could feel it. She sense that he was trying to hear what she and Shawn were saying, and she could tell that he was jealous as well. At first, she almost felt sorry for him because his jealousy was misplaced, but she really just wanted to know what Sean meant by difficult times. Marita now looked at Vivian, and how she had once again wiggled her way back into the Logan home, and Marita knew that she was trying to wiggle her way back to Sean's life, if she hadn't done so already.

Vivian is not accustomed to eating with coloreds at the same table, but she knows that if she is going to be a Logan, this would be something that she would have to become accustomed to. The Logans had never been a family to discriminate. Instead of paying Isaac and Marita and all of the other coloreds pennies to work, Ned has always paid them a decent salary, and he even helped the Peters' to build a nice home. Vivian can also sense Sean's jealousy of this other Shawn and decides that it is about time to find out a little bit more about this Shawn. She dives right in. "So, Shawn, Sean has told me that you and Marita met in Boston, and you came all the way down to Lexington just to see Marita. Is that right?" Shawn in the middle of chewing a bite of pot roast, quickly chews and swallows his food. "Yes, that is true. When I came back from Boston, I went home and found that my fiancée had caught the fever and died. She had been dead for two months. I couldn't bear being around there, so I just had to get away, so since I knew that Marita was here in Lexington, I thought that it would be good to go for a visit." "Oh so that's it," Vivian seemed disappointed. "I thought that you were here to court Marita. I feel so silly for having misunderstood," Vivian said trying to sound disappointed. "No, Marita has told me all about her wonderful Sal. When do I get to meet your beau anyway Marita?" Shawn asked turning toward Marita. Marita wanted to pass out. She had really hoped that Shawn would've forgotten about "Sal," and she definitely didn't think that he'd mention it in front of the whole family. "Sal? Who's Sal?" Jeremy asked while all eyes were on Marita. Lexy still chomping on her roast jumps in, "Wasn't Sal the name of Sean's first horse?" Instead of answering any questions, Marita figures that it would be best to straighten this out right away. "Shawn may I speak to you outside," Marita says as she stands up. "Sure," Shawn wipes his mouth and follows Marita.

"Sal was the name of my first horse. Why would Marita tell Shawn that she had a beau named Sal?" Just then it hit him, when Sean and Marita were younger, they would write letters back to each other, and Marita would sometimes call him Sal instead of writing his full name, Sean Aaron Logan. "So, maybe she didn't forgot about me and about the plans we had. She just told Shawn that she was courting Sal, instead of using my name," Sean thought to himself which brought a smile to his face. "Doesn't sound like Marita's been truthful with Shawn," Vivian said as she took a small bite of her potatoes. "Marita's never lied," Sean stepped up to Marita's defense truly believing what he'd just said. Vivian only smiled back at Sean. "Gosh, he still defends her in the midst of a lie," Vivian thought to herself. "Well, I must be going, I've overstayed my welcome." It is customary for someone to object a guest when they say something like that, but no one did. Everyone just bid her goodnight. Sean felt it his duty to see Vivian to her carriage, so he follows her out.

Sean didn't see Marita or Shawn in the house nor were they on the porch. "Where did they go?" Sean wonders. Sean walks Vivian to her carriage and helps her up. "Sean, quit looking for her," Vivian says. "Huh? What?" Sean responds. "You heard me Sean. You must stop this obsession that you have for Marita and let her move on with her life. This Shawn looks like he really cares for Marita and respects her which is something that you cannot do." "I'm not obsessed with Marita, and I can respect her," Sean adds. "No, you cannot. You can't marry her, and even if you could, no one will accept you and her as a couple. No one will accept your children. She may be happy just being your little escapade for while, but eventually she will hate you. She will hate you for not letting her go. You are standing in the way of her happiness with a man that she could marry and have children with. She could have respect, maybe not among all, but at least among her people. Let her go Sean and take control of your life again. You once had such ambitions. You wanted to marry me so that we could prosper together. Sean, all of this is still possible. You just have to let her go." Sean was speechless. Vivian's words struck him. He just stood still as he watched her go. He began to walk back to the house, but then he heard voices coming from the river. Just as he suspected, it was Shawn and Marita. Shawn had his hand in the small of her back. This truly broke Sean's heart. He looked like this was something that he had done before. But, Sean had to admit to himself that they looked good together, walking and laughing.

Sean decides not to alert them to his presence, and he quickly walks and sits on the bench on the porch in a dark shadow. By the time that Shawn and Marita make it to the porch, Sean can hear everything that they are saying. By this time the wind had really started to blow hard, and the rain had begun to fall. "So, you're gonna take me around Lexington tomorrow right?" Shawn asked. "Yes, I'll see you first thing in the morning. Tell my Pa that I'll be over to make breakfast for both of you," Marita said. Marita was now standing with her back facing the front door of the Logan's home. Shawn steps closer to Marita and reaches toward her but only places his hand on her shoulder. He slides his hand from her shoulder down her arm and then lifts her hand to his mouth. "I appreciate what you are doing to help me cope with Sadie's death. Good night Marita," Shawn says and then lightly kisses Marita's hand. "Good night Shawn," Marita replies. She watches as Shawn runs through the rain that was now falling hard and fast. She turns to go inside the Logan house to the guest room that she will be staying in until Shawn leaves.

Sean, still sitting in the dark shadows, finally exhales. It took everything in him to keep from grabbing Shawn by the throat and telling to go back to wherever he came from. He is so hurt that Marita would allow him to come so close so quickly.

During the night, Marita was unable to sleep and decided to go for a walk. The rain had slacked up, and Marita loved the just after the rain scent, so she grabbed her robe and shoes and headed outside. Even though the rain had stopped, it was still very windy, and the clouds were very thick, but there was an unusual stillness. Marita headed toward the river, but decided that there were too many memories of Sean there, so she just decided to walk. Her walk led her toward the forested side of the Logan land. It was not far from Ned and Libby's cabin which was the same place at which she and Sean had spent a night before she left. She decided to go to the cabin. She stepped over the vines and rocks which covered the ground. The cabin was now in sight. She tried to leap over a fallen tree, but she didn't lift her back leg up high enough to clear the tree, so her foot got caught, and she fell over the tree. By the time she landed, her leg was still draped over the tree, and within a few seconds, she felt the worst pain that she had ever felt. She tried to get up, but she couldn't bear any weight on her leg. She couldn't even feel her leg. She knew that it was probably broken. The pain was not throbbing and pulsing. By now it was starting to rain again, and the wind was blowing much harder. She decided to try to pull herself to the cabin using just her arms.

Back at the Logan house Lexy was not able to sleep during the rising storm and decides to go to the guest room to sleep with Marita. "Marita, you awake?" Lexy asked. She wandered into Marita's room, and she could see that Marita was not there. She walked out of her room down the hall. Sean too was awake because of the lightning and thundering and heard Lexy's footsteps, so he got up and opened his door. He knew that Lexy was often afraid during storms. "Lexy you want to sleep with me?" Sean asked with a scruffy voice. "I was looking for Marita, but she's gone." "Gone. Are you sure?" "Yes," Lexy asked. Sean walked to the guest room and confirmed that Marita was not there. He then went to his room and grabbed his shirt and then walked downstairs. Marita was not in the great room or anywhere else in the house. "Did she go to her house to meet Shawn?" Sean thought. "No, she wouldn't meet him in the middle of the night. Where would she go?" Just then Ned walks out of his room. "Sean get everyone up and to the cellar. This storm is picking up, and we don't have time to put the storm shutters up," Ned commanded. "Marita's not here," Sean told Ned. "What? Where is she?" "I don't know. I need to find her." "Sean, she could've went to her Pa's."

"She would never leave without making her bed. Pa, I just have a feeling that I need to find her." Ned could sense the urgency and concern in Sean's voice. "Okay, I'll get everyone to the cellar. As soon as you I'm going to find Marita get to the cellar!" "Okay," Sean said and turned to get to his room only to get his boots, and then he headed over to the stables to get a horse. He didn't even bother saddling the horse. He just jumped on and took off. He rode first to the river and did not see her. Then he rode over to the meadow and still nothing. "The cabin. Maybe she went there." Sean turned his horse and headed toward the cabin. The rain and heavy wind slowed the horse, but he forged forward.

Marita was now soaked. She continued to pull herself toward the cabin with her arms. The pain was so great in her leg, but she had to get to the cabin. "God, please help me to make it. Give me your strength," Marita pleaded with God. She was still about 100 feet from the cabin when she heard the horse steps between the clashes of thunder. She was scared to look, but she turned on her side to see. As the rider approached, she heard a loud, "Yah!" It was Sean. She could tell his voice anywhere. When he spotted her, it brought such relief. He saw her on the ground. The horse was able to leap over the tree which Marita had fallen over, and within seconds, he was by her side. "Marita," he just said her name. "Sean, I fell. Thank God that you came," Marita said with relief. Sean looked at Marita's leg and the swelling and bruising which had become very noticeable. "I had to find you." There was a loud clash of thunder, and the horse was spooked and sprinted away. Sean tried as gently and as quickly as he could to pick Marita up without causing her pain. "Aaaah!" she cried at the pain as he hoisted her up into his arms. Sean held Marita close to his chest, and Marita clung to Sean as he ran to the cabin. When they approached the door, Sean knew that he didn't have a key, so he would have to break a window to get in. "I'm gonna put you down," Sean yelled over the thunder. He placed Marita gently down on her good leg, and he went around the side to the window that was already broken and broke it through so that he could open it. Once he opened the window, he was able to go inside and open the front door for Marita. He picked up her soaked body and took her to the closet. "There's no storm shutters on this place, so we'll have to wait the storm out in the closet," Sean said. Marita offered no objection. Sean quickly grabbed the bear skin rug that was on the floor, and the blanket that was on the sofa. He also grabbed the oil lamp which was already full. He lit the lamp and went into the closet. He through the bearskin rug down, and he helped Marita to sit down. She was so cold and wet. "Sean, I don't know what I would have done without you. You are always there for me. I want you to know that while I was gone, I---" "Marita, don't worry about what happened while you were gone. I just want to keep you safe." Marita was in so much pain, she just leaned back. She tried to lean back against the wall which was very uncomfortable. Sean saw her discomfort, and he offered relief. "Here," Sean said. He sat in the corner of the closet, and pulled Marita toward him between his parted legs. "Is this okay?" He asked. "Oh, I'd much rather have the wall," Marita said causing both she and Sean to giggle. She leaned back toward Sean. This was a position that they both used to be very comfortable in, but it just had been so long. Marita had almost forgotten the pain in her leg, which was still bad but it was almost completely numb. "How's you leg?" Sean asked. "It's pretty numb." "Yeah, I bet. In case you didn't know. You broke your leg," Sean said. "Is that right Dr. Logan. Is there anything else that you may want to include in your diagnosis?" Sean had missed this so much. Marita was his best sparring partner. "Yes, you also need some dry clothes," Sean said as he gently touched Marita's wet hair. "And you need to shave," Marita told Sean. "What you don't like my prickly beard?" Sean said as he rubbed his face against hers causing Marita to laugh. Marita begins to feel more comfortable with Sean, like she used to. The thunder was still roaring, and the rain was still falling. The wind was so strong, they could hear the trees hitting the house. Marita nervously settled back into Sean's arms, and Sean eased her nervousness by lightly wrapping his arms around her. He wanted to hold her tight and tell her how much he still loved her, but he decided that he should take things slowly.