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Chapter Thirty-seven

Jeremy was scared. But not for himself, but for Marita. For it was the middle of the night and she, a woman, a Negro, was out riding with him, a white boy, looking for Sean, a white man. Everything about the situation was dangerous. And even though he had a rifle, and would certainly use it if he had to, he still felt that it was not enough, that it would be impossible to keep her safe…

"Maybe we ought to go back." Jeremy abruptly suggested, as he quietly scolded himself for allowing her to come out there in the first place.

"We can't. Not yet." Marita replied, determination and worry etched in her voice.

"Marita Isaac and Clay could've found them already. They could be…"

"Jeremy they haven't found them." Marita stated with certainty, as she continued to scan the tree covered landscape, knowing in her heart that Sean had not been found.

"You don't know that." Jeremy argued nervously, concerned not only about the danger they could eventually face, but Isaac's wrath if he learned that they'd disobeyed him. "They could be back at the ranch by now. And worried because we're not there. We should go back."

"Jeremy I'm not going ba…" Marita began, but faltered when she spotted something in the woods.

"Marita what is it?" Jeremy asked with alarm, but she failed to give him an answer. Instead slowing her horse; then gradually veering it off the road, her eyes fixed on what she'd seen. Though she could hardly make out what it was, due to the thick foliage, and the trees, which were partially obscuring the light of the moon, she knew that something was out there; she knew in her heart that it was Sean. Yet she still prayed that it wasn't him; that he was somewhere safe and uninjured. Within seconds Marita came upon what her eyes had caught from the road, and her intuition was horribly confirmed. It was indeed Sean, tied to a tree, his arms wrapped around it's small trunk, his wrists anchored together by a thick rope. His back was turned to her, and his shirt was blooded and ripped, torn from what appeared to be lashes that had cut through the cloth.

"Sean!" She tearfully gasped, horror and fear rushing through her, as she swiftly descended her horse and ran to him, instantly falling to her knees once beside him; Marita then lifted his head, which had been resting against the tree, and nearly cried out when she saw that he was unconscious. She again uttered his name and gently touched his face, trying in vain to wake him, before sliding her hand to the crook of his neck, desperately feeling for a pulse. For a moment she detected nothing, which frightened her, panicked her soul. Then suddenly she found it, pounding faintly, it's beats emanating through the vein in his neck. "He's alive." She sighed aloud, her heart screaming with joy, while at the same time crying at seeing him this way, angered that someone would be so vicious to do something like this. She then reached around the tree and tried desperately to unbind Sean's hands, while she remain by his side, but it didn't work. She couldn't fully access the knot. "Jeremy help me!" she called out, her voice etched with tears, startling the young man from his fearful reverie, prompting him to leave the spot where he'd been rooted, to assist her at the tree. Knowing exactly what she was asking before she could specify, Jeremy immediately went to where Sean's wrists were bound, and tried to loosen the rope, to untie him from the tree.

"I can't get it." Jeremy exclaimed with frustration as he continued his futile attempt to unravel the unyielding rope.

"Yes you can!" Marita cried frantically. "Just try harder!"

"Marita I am but the rope is too tight."

"Jeremy we have to get him loose." She croaked. "I can't leave him here. Not even to go get help."

"I kn…hold on." The boy abruptly asserted, ceasing at his attempt to undo the rope; then hastily turning away from an unconscious Sean to head back to his horse.

"Where are you going?" Marita questioned with panic and bewilderment.

"There may be a knife in my saddle." He answered anxiously.

Moments later Jeremy returned with a knife in hand, prompting Marita to thank God for such a miracle. The boy then maneuvered it's blade between the rope and Sean's skin, being careful not to nick Sean's wrists, before slowly beginning to move the blade against the thick rigid rope. Within seconds, Sean's hands were free, which caused him to nearly slump to the ground, the weight of his unconscious form instantly burdening Marita, who was struggling to break his fall. Seeing what was happening Jeremy quickly came to Marita's aid and assisted her in laying Sean on the ground.

"Sean." She cried softly as she touched his cheek, again trying to wake him, her heart breaking at the full sight of his bruised face.

"Marita we have to go." Jeremy stated uneasily, feeling that it was unwise for them to remain out there much longer. But his statement fell on deaf ears, for Marita was completely immersed in Sean, whispering his name, attempting to wake him. And though it hurt Jeremy's heart to see her this way, and reminded him of everything that had happened with Anna, they had to get out of there…Right now…

"Marita!" the boy said again, finally getting her attention by raising his voice and gently grabbing her arm. "We can't do this here." He said. "We have to…" The boy's words suspended in his throat, replaced with panic and alarm at the sound of horses and voices suddenly nearby. Marita turned to look in the direction of the sounds and saw that there were lights, winding through the woods, quickly coming towards them. She then turned her gaze back to Jeremy, and saw her own terror reflecting in his eyes.

"You have to hide." Jeremy firmly directed as he removed the gun from his shoulder and nervously began to prepare it for use.

"There's no where to go." Marita argued shakily. "And I'm not leaving Sean."

"We don't have time for this, now hide!"

"No!" Marita rebuffed strongly. "I got you into this and I'm not leaving you to face whoever that is alone, and I'm not leaving Sean."

"Marita this is crazy!" Jeremy countered with aggravation. "If you're caught out here…" The boy continued, but before he could finish his point, the horsemen were upon them, coming through the foliage and the trees, coming he thought, to finish the job on Sean, and to do God only knew what to him and Marita…

The Logans and the Peters stood outside of Sean's room, quietly waiting for word on his condition, hoping the doctor would bring them good news. It had been hours since Ned and company had found Sean in the woods, unconscious, and with Marita and Jeremy by his side. Both Jeremy and Marita had been relieved when they saw that the horsemen descending upon them was Isaac's search party. But that relief was short lived when a livid Isaac had fiercely scolded them for their reckless behavior. Not long after that, they were all transporting Sean back to the house. But not before Ned sent two horsemen to town, one to fetch a doctor and the other to fetch the Sheriff. Now hours later Ned continued to pace, back and forth, ignoring the pain in his shoulder which was now wrapped in a sling. He was praying that Sean would be all right, along with pondering who could've done this to him. While Clay, Lexy and Alice stood watching him, shaken at seeing their father this way. Jeremy utilized the only bench in the hall, sitting to himself with his head down, as Marita stood across the way, her father by her side, while her heart endless panged, breaking at the memory of Sean lying in those woods…Just then, the door opened to Sean's room, drawing everyone from their musings, their attention towards the door. Then slowly the doctor emerged from the room…

"How is he?" Ned questioned eagerly, knowing that the look on the doctor's face indicated that all was not well, but still hoping that he'd read the man's expression wrong.

"It doesn't look good." The doctor answered honestly. "Even though the injuries he sustained from the beating should heal within a few days…the fact that he's unconsciousness is not good."

"What are you saying?" Ned asked.

"Well, I've seen cases like this before…" The doctor clarified. "And many times it doesn't bode well for the patient."

"Are you saying that Sean will never wake up?" Clay fearfully asked.

"No." The doctor answered. "Sean could only be out for a few hours, perhaps even a day, however if he doesn't awaken within a week…" the man hesitated and glanced towards Alice and Lexy, deliberately ignoring Marita, not knowing if he should continue in front of the ladies -Ned's daughters.

"Go on…" Ned urged.

"If he doesn't come to within a week…there's little chance that he'll recover." The doctor declared, causing everyone to respond with grieved sighs.

"Isn't there something you can do to wake him up?" Ned asked desperately.

"Sir I'm afraid there isn't." the doctor answered solemnly. "There's nothing more that can be done."

Ned closed his eyes in grief, while Clay and Jeremy dropped their heads in angst. Lexy immediately turned to Alice, who took her little sister in her arms, as she struggled to keep herself composed. While Marita stood there stunned, her heart ripping with tears and pain, barely registering her father's arm going around her…

"Let me just add." The doctor asserted, drawing everyone from their grief. "That though it doesn't look good, Sean is very strong. And he's healthy, which increases his chances of recovering." He said, attempting to give the family some hope.

"Thank you… for the good word." Ned expressed with sincerity, truly appreciative of the man's attempt at making the situation sound promising.

"Mr. Logan it's not just a good word." The doctor said, holding Ned's gaze. "It's the truth… I'll come by in a couple of days to check on Sean, unless something changes before then. In the meantime treat his bruises twice a day with the balm I left by the bed, and keep him hydrated as best you can."

"All right." Ned sighed, briefly closing his eyes, still finding this situation so unbelievable.

"If you need me before then or have any questions don't hesitate…"

"I won't." Ned stated earnestly. "Thank you." The doctor acknowledged Ned's response with a nod; then briefly glanced towards the family whose somber gazes were fixed on him, before quietly leaving the hallway.

Silence –

Ned turned his eyes to his family whose faces mirrored the devastation in his heart, which shattered his soul and nearly destroyed his composure, but he remained poised, finding the strength to speak, to try and encourage his family….

"The doctor is right." He asserted strongly as his gaze panned around at his children. "Sean is strong. And he will pull through this. As long as he has us." He said. "His family. As long as he has our love." He finished, his voice cracking at the emotion in his heart, as he turned his eyes to Marita. The young woman forced a smile, her eyes filling with tears, touched by the innuendo in Ned's gaze and words, while the rest of the family struggled to accept their father's hopefulness, and to cope with the shocking implication that he knew of Sean and Marita's relationship…

"Mr. Logan." A voice said, suspending everyone's thoughts, causing their eyes to turn to the entrance of the hallway.

"Yes Mabeline."

"Sheriff Franklin and Assemblyman Clancy are here to see you."

"Tell them I'll be right down." Ned directed; then hesitated before exiting the hall, giving Mabeline a chance to deliver his message while he calmed his emotions.

"Pa." Lexy said as she slowly walked up to her father, stopping him before he could leave. "Is it okay if I…go in to see Sean?" she cautiously asked.

"Of course it's okay." Ned approved as he gently touched his daughter's cheek. Then leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "You can sit with Sean anytime you'd like." He assured. The girl then hugged her father, sighing when his arms wrapped around her. Seconds later Lexy reluctantly ended the hug; then turned and made her way towards Sean's room.

"I'll come with you." Alice asserted when Lexy reached Sean's door. Then walked up to her sister and grabbed her hand.

Ned's eyes brimmed with tears as he watched his daughter's clasp hands and disappear into Sean's room. While Marita stood there broken, longing to go in to Sean, painfully grasping that though Ned felt that his son needed her, she was not Sean's family, and she was not Sean's wife, and therefore she may not get the time she so desperately wanted with him…

Ned walked into the parlor with Clay and Isaac following behind. Failing to notice the Sheriff's changed stance at seeing Isaac enter the room.

"Sheriff Franklin." Ned said as he walked up to the man and shook his hand, still not catching the Sheriff's suddenly sour stance. "Clancy." He continued, now turning to the Assemblyman.

"Ned." The Assemblyman said as he returned Ned's handshake. "I was at the Sheriff's office when your workman came by." He went on to explain. " What happened?" Clancy asked, immediately noticing Ned's bandaged shoulder, thinking of what he'd heard before.

"Sean and I were attacked." Ned answered evenly, with a tinge of rage in his voice.

"By who?"

"Horsemen. Hooded Men." He declared.

"The Klan?"

"No, someone else." Ned uttered tightly, still trying to restrain his wrath. "This attack was surely planned.Maybe even weeks ago…"

"Well I can't do much with that information." The Sheriff countered with annoyance. "I need to know who done this before I can do anything."

"I know who done this!" Ned exploded, no longer able to contain his emotions. "I know who's behind my dislocated shoulder and my son being beaten to unconsciousness!"

"Oh my Lord." Clancy gasped.

"It was Asa Winters!" Ned charged, voicing what he'd been thinking since they'd found Sean.

"You can't be serious." The Sheriff retorted.

"Do you think that if this was some kind of attack against me and my family they would've left me virtually unharmed? That they wouldn't have gone after my other children." Ned severely challenged, now finally perceiving the man's hostile attitude and tone. "No." He declared angrily. " They wouldn't have, and they didn't, because they were specifically after Sean. And there's only one person in this town that could be behind this and that's Asa Winters. He's been after my son for months!"

"Well can you blame him? Your son did dump his daughter for that Negro." The Sheriff scoffed, reciting what was now all over town due to gossip and the morning paper.

"Excuse me!" Clay snapped as he moved to challenge the Sheriff, but was stopped by Isaac, who was struggling to restrain his own fury towards the man.

"Get out!" Ned ordered at the Sheriff, now seeing that the man would do little or nothing to find the culprits who'd hurt Sean.

"What?"

"You heard me." Ned retorted. "Get out of my house."

For a second the Sheriff didn't move, appearing to contemplate saying something more, but then he obeyed Ned's command, and nearly stormed for the door.

"Hold it right there." Assemblyman Clancy exclaimed, stopping the man. "You have a job to do. And your job is to find out who did this to Sean Logan, who is a government official, the Deputy Director of Regional Affairs." He demanded.

"I tried to do my job." The Sheriff countered hotly. "But Mr. Logan here has asked me to leave."

"I don't care what Mr. Logan asked you to do." The Assemblyman scolded. "As the Sheriff of this town you took an oath…"

"Clancy don't…" Ned injected, knowing that the man's lecture was a waste of time. "If this is what help is then I don't want it. Now get out." He again ordered at the Sheriff.

"Whatever you say." The Sheriff callously replied; then slowly left the parlor, maliciously glaring at a watchful Isaac on his way out.

"I can have Sheriff Franklin reprimanded or maybe even ousted over his refusal to investigate an attack on a public official." Clancy offered.

"Ousted and reprimanded by whom?" Ned questioned. "The people of Lexington put him in office. And they will no doubt side with him on his position…No forget it. The last thing I need is more negative attention drawn to my family." Ned stated "If Asa Winters did this, if he was behind the attack on Sean, I'll deal with him on my own terms." He vowed.