Another post on a weird day, I'm still recovering from the end of the semester. Thanks everyone for all of the great responses and the well wishes on finals! Please do continue to read and post.

Happy Holidays to you all! I'll resume this story in 2005, next month!

Enjoy… oh be warned, this chapter is kind of long.

Chapter Twenty-five

Jeremy and the laborer walked across the field, slowly leading the horses they'd been using back to the barn. Though the climate was cold, the wind fierce, it did little to inspire them to quicken their pace. For they were both tired, worn from the barrage of tasks they and everyone else on the ranch, had had to endure the past few days. November was normally a manageable month on the Logan ranch, but not this year, they'd had several foals to come before they were due and numerous clients to arrive unexpectedly, wanting to pick-up and drop off new steeds. They had been overwhelmed, and it didn't help matters that many of the workers had been out sick and that Sean, who was almost as good at ranching as Ned and Isaac, had not returned from Chicago due to an impromptu break, which had infuriated Ned. But the man didn't have time to be angry and in turn he had to lean on Jeremy and Clay, and even Alice and Lexy, to get things done, and as a result, they'd all been working endless hours, getting little sleep, something that Jeremy would have been losing without the extended work hours. His mind had been ravaged with thoughts of his wretched discussion with Ned and Clay days earlier. Plagued with how the outing of his past was now wrecking his once peaceful stay with the Logans and the plans he'd made to take his daughter…

"Hey Sam" A voice said, coming out of nowhere, startling Jeremy from his thoughts and in turn causing him to stop. "I'll take it from here." Ned continued as he took Sweet Thunder's reigns from the man who'd been pulling her along as he walked with Jeremy. Ned then thanked the worker and sent him on a task involving Isaac.

"Sam would be more useful to Isaac's task than this one." Ned explained openly as he began to walk, which caused Jeremy to also move, quietly falling in step beside him.

"Is everything alright?" Ned asked when Jeremy didn't respond to his comment. The man knew that his question was senseless; for ever since the boy had confessed his past, things weren't right between them, but he didn't know what else to say to re-break the ice, to start the dialogue between them again.

Jeremy didn't answer right away, his mind on the confrontation that had occurred several days earlier. His confession had gone fine until Clay started to question his plans to continue his secret visits to his daughter, which then led to Ned proposing that he confess all to the Chambers. Jeremy was horrified at such a thought and had vehemently protested despite Ned's urging. At one point Jeremy was fearful that the man was going to demand that he tell the Chambers or they would, but Jeremy had stuck to his guns and had finally got what he wanted, which was Clay and Ned's silence. Unfortunately such a feat only served to heighten the tension between him and Clay and had caused an immense strain on him and Ned's promising relationship…

"Are you… alright with my past?" Jeremy asked worriedly, failing to answer Ned's question. Now thinking of how the man seemed to watch him more closely and always found some excuse for him not to be around his daughters, especially Alice alone.

For a moment Ned was taken aback, not sure of how to answer Jeremy's question. In all honestly he wasn't okay with the boy's past. He could understand why the boy had lied and schemed to get to Lexington, and Ned genuinely felt bad for Jeremy when he heard about his wife dying and him being led to believe that his daughter was dead also, but after he got past the tragedy of it all, Ned became concerned with the lies Jeremy had told the Donovans, and how the boy had married their daughter behind their backs, then pulled this elaborate scheme, similar in it's deceitfulness, over Ned's own his eyes. Though he knew that the boy was only trying to get to his daughter, something Ned would no doubt have done himself if he were faced with the same situation; he was still having a problem with Jeremy's abandoned plan to kidnap the girl, a plan that Ned wasn't so sure the boy had let go of... the bottom line was his trust in Jeremy had been broken and he was desperately trying to figure out how to rebuild it. But he could never tell the boy what he was truly feeling, for he didn't want Jeremy to leave or to do something drastic thinking he had no where else to turn.

"I have to be okay with your past." Ned finally answered "After all, you are apart of this family…but I have to admit that I'm still trying to… process everything you told us … in fact that's why I'm here…I want to talk to you about your past."

"You're going to tell the Chambers who I am and what I'm doing aren't you?" Jeremy asked with grim resolve

"No" Ned answered as he glanced towards the boy "Though I'm uncomfortable with you continuing your visits to Danielle without the Chambers knowledge, I won't betray your trust and tell them what you're doing…however…I am going to tell Alice and Lexy… and eventually Sean when he returns."

"What?!" Jeremy asserted uneasily, immediately stopping in his tracks. Though he knew that Ned would eventually want to tell the whole family about his past, he was hoping that he would have more time to prepare for it, or better yet be gone before they learned anything…

"I know that you would rather them not know right now…" Ned continued as he too stopped "but they're going to have to find out sometime, and I'd rather them know now than to keep this hidden for months…I just don't like the thought of secrets in my home; they tend to tear a family apart." he finished seriously. While Ned's statement was true, the other reason for him wanting to tell the rest of family what was going on was so that he could protect Alice. Even though he didn't think that Jeremy had a romantic interest in his daughter, Alice was very fond of him and the only way Ned knew to dissolve any romantic delusions she may have about Jeremy was for her to learn who the boy really was.

Silence –

"I understand" Jeremy uttered softly as he stared aimlessly before him. Quietly suspecting that Ned's reasons for wanting to put everything out in the open was because he no longer trusted him in his house, and around his daughters, and by revealing what he'd done, the man probably felt that in some way he'd be protecting them from him.

"How soon will you tell them?" he asked evenly, hiding the hurt in his heart.

"I plan to tell Sean as soon as he returns…and the girl's…tonight before dinner"

Jeremy sighed despairingly. He wasn't worried about Sean eventually learning the truth; for Sean was a man with his own secrets and what some would deem as lies, but he was fearful of what all this would do to Alice and Lexy. Despite his attempt to keep a wall between himself and the Logan girls, he'd come to like them, care about them, considered them friends, and he knew that they saw him in the same way. Therefore, he feared what would happen when they learned about his lies, and past … "Let me tell them." Jeremy abruptly asked his eyes now on the man beside him. "I want to tell Alice and Lexy."

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Ned questioned with surprise as he studied the boy with skepticism.

"Yes" Jeremy said solemnly "I should be the one to tell them what I've been up to… and about my past."

Ned didn't know what to think of Jeremy's suggestion. He couldn't help but remember how difficult it was for the boy to talk about his past before and thought he would never want to recite it all again, but if Jeremy wanted to tell them, Ned would let him he thought. Perhaps in the end it would help to rebuild the trust that had been lost.

"Alright" Ned finally responded "You can tell them…but I'll have to be there, and it'll have to be done before dinner like I originally planned."

Jeremy reluctantly acknowledged Ned's conditions and approval before they again began to walk. Their pace now faster as they moved to escape the increased cold and to embark upon a truth Jeremy wished he could somehow avoid confessing.

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Marita stood poised in front of the stove, stirring a pot of stew, deep in thought. Time went by so fast she mused. Already, 4 days had gone since Sean had walked into her study, sweeping her away with his passion and love, and now soon, this time tomorrow, he'd be gone, back to Lexington, leaving her here alone. She'd never imagined that 4 days confined to the house could be such a remarkable experience. For she hadn't spent so many days removed from the world since she was sick as a child with a severe cold. And she had never felt so connected to anyone in her life the way she now felt connected to Sean. It was not only the physical connection that always seemed to amaze her, she thought bashfully, with it's heighten intensity and the ecstasy it brought, but their spiritual bond. She totally understood when Sean told her that he felt as if their souls were bound, because she felt it too, so strongly that it nearly frightened her sometimes, but she loved it, she loved him, so much. And had enjoyed every moment of their time together, especially the engaging conversations, something they hadn't done in months, and even with all the talking, about the past, the present, and their future, there was still so much that they hadn't covered, so much that needed to be discussed. Though they'd decided where they'd make their home, they still needed to set a wedding date, which couldn't be done until after they'd informed their families, especially her father she pondered, as she thoughtlessly added seasoning to the stew. Sean couldn't wait to ask him for her hand in marriage, but Marita was beginning to wonder, based on how her father felt about her relationship with Sean, if Sean asking for her hand was such a good idea…At that moment, the door of the kitchen swung open letting in a rush of cold air as Sean quickly came in, carrying his last load of firewood. Marita immediately stopped stirring the pot of stew and turned towards him, her face gracing a smile as he placed the wood in the pile already stacked near the door.

"It looks like snow out there." He said as he shut the door behind him; then pulled off his hat, gloves, and coat.

"Now you understand why I insisted upon more wood" Marita said lightly, now again focused on her stew "I'll need it if and when it gets colder and snows."

"Well if it snows" Sean countered huskily as he came up behind her, gently wrapping his arms about her waist "I'll get trapped here and you won't need any wood because we'll be generating enough heat on our own."

"Sean!" Marita laughed shyly as she stopped her stirring then turned to reproach him with her eyes, but instead ended up taking his lips, before returning her attention to the pot.

"Need any help?" he queried, then sensuously teased her ear with his tongue.

"No" she breathed, instantly stirred by his affection.

"So how long till its ready?" he asked quietly, as his mouth continuously probed ear. "I'm famished."

"In a while" she sighed, now more heated by his caress than the fire burning in the stove

"You know I could stay like this all day" he whispered sweetly in her ear, loving the way she felt in his arms.

"If you did that I'd never finish lunch." She said weakly

"Would that be so bad?" Sean asked; then hotly kissed the side of her neck.

"No… it wouldn't…" Marita uttered breathlessly, trying hard to center her thoughts, to not get lost in his skillful caress "But you're hungry an…"

"That I am…" he answered as he firmly pressed her against him and again devoured her neck

"Sean…" she moaned. Her body now feverish from his loving assault "We ne…we need… to talk…." She finally managed to assert with a hint of seriousness in her voice.

Immediately deciphering her tone, Sean concluded the kiss he was passionately planting on her neck, then slowly pulled away, his hands lingering about her stomach and waist before completely letting go.

"What's on your mind?" he asked softly as he continued to stand behind her, now running his fingers through the tips of her hair.

Silence –

"My father…" she said as she turned away from the stove to face him. "Let's sit down."

Making their way to the small table in the corner of the room, Marita took the seat at the table's end while Sean sat in the chair to her left, closest to the stove.

"What is it?" he asked once they were settled in their seats.

"I think you should wait…before asking my father for my hand in marriage."

"Why?" Sean asked his confusion apparent on his face.

Marita hesitated; then continued "Because my father made it clear when he learned of my feelings for you that he didn't… approve of a romantic relationship between us…I just think that our plans…would sit better with him, coming from me."

Sean remained silent, contemplating what Marita had just said. Though she'd told him that her father was happy she was moving to Cholena, happy that she would somehow mend her broken heart by being away from him, Sean had never thought that Isaac wanted this because he didn't approve of their relationship…

"It's not you you know." Marita said softly, reading his thoughts as she gently clasped his hand. "My father knows that you're a good man…he would just rather…"

"You be with someone like you" Sean interjected solemnly, now holding her gaze. "Someone of your own ethnicity."

Silence –

"Yes"

Sean sighed as he sat back in his chair, still holding tightly to her hand. "Is that why you… permitted Mr. Holmes' calls?" he asked honestly

Marita lowered her eyes, a bit uncomfortable with the conversation turning to Mr. Holmes, but knowing that it was something that need to be discussed.

"Yes" she finally answered, returning her eyes to Sean "That was partly the reason… the other being because of you…I thought that there was no hope for us…I'd walked away from you believing that my destiny was with someone else…so I tried using my acquaintance with David, Mr. Holmes to get you out of my heart…but it didn't work…"

"Not even in the sligh…" Sean began

"Not even in the slightest bit" Marita interjected lovingly "My heart was consumed with you. It always has been and always will be."

For a moment Sean held her stare, his eyes filled with emotion, relieved at her answer and amazed that he'd been blessed with such a woman. He then leaned over the table, taking her mouth in a deep loving kiss, as he lightly touched her face. Slowly pulling back, he passionately gazed at Marita with love in his eyes and spoke.

"I understand your reasons for wanting to tell your father about us yourself, but I feel that only I can convey what I feel for you and what my intentions are"

"I don't know Sean…"

"I know that you're unsure about this." He answered quietly "But I feel that I need to speak with your father, man to man, about my sincerity towards you and our future. That's what me asking for your hand is all about."

Silence –

"Alright" Marita sighed reluctantly, still not sure about him speaking with her father before she could "No" she suddenly asserted, slightly changing her mind "Let me think about this before I give you a final answer."

"Okay" Sean stated calmly his eyes still fixed upon her.

"Thank you" she said softly, then kissed him lightly, lingering a moment to savor his lips. "I better check on the stew." She said as she slowly pulled away, then got up from the table. "I don't want it to burn."

"Wait." Sean said, still holding her hand. Marita stopped "Before you do that…there's something else we need to discuss."

"What is it?" Marita asked, detecting the seriousness in his voice

"Now that we're together…" he began quietly, seriously "And you've agreed to be my wife…I want to take you out...tonight" He finished nervously

"What?" Marita exclaimed faintly, completely surprised and instantly uncertain about his suggestion

"I don't want to hide anymore." He continued earnestly, his eyes piercing her with his gaze "I want people to know about us."

Marita was quiet. The fear that she'd managed to push aside was fiercely rising in her heart as she pondered Sean's proposal. She too wanted the world to know of them, to know how much he meant to her, they were after all getting married soon, but despite that, she still harbored a fear in which she was terrified of what people would think or what they would do, upon seeing her with a man society considered her unworthy of. That deep seeded fear seemed to never go away and therefore always created a battle within, but no more she thought determinedly, she'd made her choice and she wasn't going to let that fear steer her decisions any more.

"I don't want to hide either…" she finally answered softly, chipping away more of the fear that resided in her mind, her heart. "So I'll join you…where ever you want to go."

"Good" Sean replied quietly. Then surprised her by gently pulling her into his lap and taking her lips in a deep sweet kiss. "Now how about that stew…" he whispered against her mouth "I'm starving."

"In a minute" Marita said, then reclaimed his lips in a passionate kiss.