Hi everyone! I didn't think I would get this chapter up this weekend, but here it is! Thank you all for your support:

mjmm

jess – It's always great to read how much this story means to you!

hawaiianbelle

Yash – It's great to see you back!

briana

Rhonda – I know you fear the worst, but I hope that you will hang in here to see what happens!

Chapter Thirty-eight

Marita waited patiently outside of Sean's room, sitting on the bench in the hallway, with Jeremy by her side. Though the boy had said few words since they'd been left alone, Marita felt some comfort in having him there, his silence calming her angst and fear. Just then, Alice emerged from Sean's room, barely looking their way before disappearing down the stairs; to be followed moments later by Lexy, slowly coming out of the room, her eyes down and her face distressed…

"Lexy?" Marita uttered shakily, alarmed by the girl's severely somber stance.

The girl didn't say a word, but went straight to Jeremy, who was closest to her, and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder, forcing him to hug her back. The boy awkwardly held her in his arms, his eyes turning to Marita, who gave him a forced smile, before Lexy ended the hug, and slowly pulled back from the boy's arms.

"I'm sorry." The girl said weakly. Her eyes glazed with tears.

"It's okay." Jeremy reassured; then hesitantly took the girl's hand.

"You can go in to see him." Lexy softly stated now turning her gaze to Marita.

"What?" Marita questioned with surprise.

"You can go in to see Sean." The girl repeated.

Silence –

"Are you sure?" Marita cautiously asked. "Cause I don't want to…"

"Yes." Lexy interjected. "I'll wait out here."

Marita remained fixed in her seat; for she was speechless; appreciating so much what the girl was doing…

"Go on." Lexy urged.

Silence –

"Thank you." Marita whispered, smiling through tears at the young girl, as she gently touched her face.

Marita then got up from the bench, and made her way to Sean's room, hesitating at it's entry before slowly going in. As soon as she walked through the door, her eyes fell upon Sean, causing her to nearly crumble where she stood; for her heart to pain, with sadness and guilt, at seeing him this way. Forcing herself to move forward, to overcome the overwhelming emotions within, Marita slowly made her way to Sean's bed, where she took a seat in the chair that had been placed next to him. She then sat there a moment, her eyes fixed upon him, not knowing what to say, when she then lowered her gaze to his hand, and lightly clasped it, and retrieved it from his side. Marita then studied its beautiful detail, which embodied his incredible strength, and moved her to an anguished sigh when she felt the warmth flowing through his fingers and palm. "There was life in him." She silently grieved "But no spirit about him…" Marita's heart broke again, as she slowly brought his hand to her lips, kissing it gently, instantly remembering how such a simple gesture from her, had always ignited a smoldering passion in Sean's eyes…Eyes which she so wanted to see open, to see their beautiful gaze cast upon her. Marita moved his hand away from her lips, and turned her gaze to his face, nearly crying when she again observed his bruised and swollen cheek. She then deeply inhaled, trying desperately to gather her strength to speak, but her strength wouldn't come, and she could only sit there, staring at him, willing him in her mind to awaken, and to come back to her…

"Alice no!" A voice said, penetrating Marita's thoughts, prompting her to turn her gaze from Sean and to the door.

"What are you doing here?" Alice indignantly asked, as she marched into the room, carrying a wash bowl in her hands, ignoring Lexy's pleas as she followed behind, while Jeremy remained in the doorway. "Haven't you done enough?" Alice continued.

"Alice please don't be this way." Marita beseeched with hurt in her voice.

"What way is that?" The young woman questioned tautly. "This is after all, your fault."

"Alice!" Lexy cried in disbelief.

"Can't we talk about this?" Marita appealed.

"There's nothing to talk about." Alice stubbornly rebuffed as she walked to the other side of Sean's bed, and placed the wash bowl on the night stand.

"I'm sorry that you feel that way…" Marita sadly said.

"Hmrph, sorry I feel that way!" Alice heatedly replied. "How else did you expect me to feel? After what your involvement with Sean has done to him. You knew that if you had a relationship with him that something like this would happen, yet you…"

"I'm not going to do this here!" Marita abruptly declared, interrupting Alice's rant, causing the young woman to feel guilty for losing her temper over Sean's bed. "If you want me to go, I'll leave."

"Marita no!" Lexy disapproved as she came to Marita's side.

"Lexy its okay."

"No it's not!" The girl exclaimed. "Why are you doing this?" she then cried, now turning her eyes to her sister, who wanted to respond, but could only lower her gaze in an attempt to restrain her tears.

"Lexy its okay." Marita reassured again, as she grabbed the girl's hand, with her free hand, and lightly squeezed it. "Right now Sean…needs his family…"

"But…"

"It's okay." Marita shakily interjected, before the girl could protest more. "I can come back later." She said, holding the young girl's gaze.

"You promise?"

Marita briefly turned her eyes to Alice who was now staring at her and Lexy, with hurt and anger in her eyes. Marita then turned her gaze back to Lexy and answered… "I promise." She said as she squeezed the young girl's hand again, prompting Lexy to sigh in comfort, finally accepting Marita's words…

Relieved that she'd managed to console Lexy somewhat, Marita released the girl's hand and returned her eyes to Sean, which heightened the aching in her soul. She then kissed his hand again, her lips lingering against his warm skin; before she reluctantly left Sean's side and quietly exited the room.

Ned pounded angrily on the Winters' door, his mind consumed with thoughts of Sean; how he'd found him nearly dead in the woods, the doctor's bleak diagnosis on his condition, and the Sheriff's refusal to help find the culprits who'd hurt him. Ned's blood rose to a boil, sending an intense rage through him, as he again raised his fist to the door to knock, but was stopped when the door suddenly opened up…

"Where is he?" Ned immediately asked, pushing his way into the Winters' home, stunning the servant. "Where's Asa!" he continued as he made his way to the parlor in the home, with the servant frantically following behind, trying to stop him.

"Sir you can't do this!" The servant exclaimed as Ned stormed through the parlor, advancing upon a shut door.

"Is he in here?" Ned questioned lividly. Then burst through the entry, which led to another room.

"What the hell!" Asa asserted with shock.

"You attacked my son didn't you?" Ned accused heatedly, now striding towards Asa's desk.

"What?" Asa questioned with bewilderment, feigning surprise.

"Don't play dumb with me!" Ned asserted angrily as he swiftly reached over Asa's desk and grabbed the man's collar with his free hand. "You know dam well what I'm talking about!" He continued hotly. "You used Pete to humiliate my son at the Assemblyman's Dinner; then you arranged an attack against him!"

"I did no such thing!" Asa lied, now managing to free himself from Ned's grasp. "If your son was attacked, it was because of his involvement with that Negro!"

"Precisely why you would go after him!" Ned argued severely.

"I wasn't the only one who heard Sean confess to loving that Negro." Asa fired back. "A hundred other people witnessed his shameful declaration, and you know yourself that people don't take kindly to hearing such things. Anyone of them could've gone after your son!"

"You're absolutely right." Ned sharply answered. "But none of those people hated my son or had a plan of vengeance against him last night."

"I'm not going to listen to this insanity!"

"Oh no you're going to listen!" Ned retorted.

"Come again?"

"You heard me!"

"You better leave while you can…" Asa threatened.

"What! You gonna hurt me Asa?" Ned countered harshly. "You gonna hurt me like you did my son?"

"I swear to you I had nothing to do with whatever happened to Sean." Asa denied firmly, with a hint of anxiety in his voice.

"You'd better pray that I don't find out otherwise." Ned heatedly warned. "Cause if I do, you'll be sorry that you ever crossed my path…"

"Is that a threat?"

"You're damn right it's a threat." Ned fiercely confirmed. "You think you know what vengeance is, but if I find out that you hurt my son, it will be nothing to the destruction I will bring upon you." Ned finished hauntingly as he held the man's gaze, restraining his desire to pummel him right there, before turning and exiting the room, leaving Asa shaken and stunned.

Outside of the Winters' study, Vivian quietly stood in the hallway by its door, feeling unsteady on her feet as a rush of thoughts and images rushed through her head. Seconds earlier she'd been making her way down the stairs, on her way to the kitchen, when she'd heard raised voices coming from the study. She'd then passed up her trip to the kitchen and headed for the study, where upon arriving outside of the door, she'd heard Mr. Logan's accusation and his threat against her father. 'What is going on?' Vivian questioned with perplexity, as she tried desperately to sort through the confusion brought on by the images flashing through her head, and the words Mr. Logan had just said. Her father had told her that Sean was out of town, that he had not come by to see her because he was away on business. Now she was hearing that he was somehow hurt, and that Ned Logan believed that her father had something to do with it? Vivian deeply inhaled attempting to calm her emotions and steady her stance, when slowly the pieces started to fall into place, revealing everything that had happened during the past several months. Her father had lied to her she thought angrily as she gradually processed the truth, and so had Wilhelmina, someone she thought that she could trust no matter what. The young woman then moved to enter her father's office, set on confronting him, asking him what had really happened to her, and how had Sean been hurt, when suddenly she stopped short of breaching the door, thinking that there may be a way for her to use this all to her advantage. She then stood a moment outside of the door, settling her emotions and centering her thoughts. Then Vivian slowly entered the room, her face exhibiting fear and confusion, as she carefully initiated her plan, to get everything she'd always wanted.

Marita rummaged through the drawer with frustration, upset that she couldn't find a suitable change of clothes. After her clash with Alice, she'd left the Logan home, and had tried to clear her head with a stroll to the pond, but it didn't work. Halfway there she'd turned around, unable to handle the memories the scenery had brought on. So she'd come home, decided she'd change clothes and freshen up, before going back to the Logan house. But she couldn't find anything to put on. Everything she'd come across was too thick or too thin, or just not something she wanted to wear she thought as she heaved a sigh, throwing a blouse back into the drawer, then bringing her hand to her face, trying hard to hold in the tears. She couldn't believe that this was happening. It was all like some horrible dream her heart wept; Sean being beaten, and now being so close to…

"Marita?" She suddenly heard, startling her, prompting her to instantly pull herself together. "Honey where are you?" Her father continued.

"Pa I'm back here." Marita yelled; the heartache apparent in her voice, despite her attempt to cover it up. She then heard footsteps coming down the hall, towards her room, and seconds later her father was standing in the doorway.

"I saw you coming back to the house, so I came by to see if everything is okay." He said, alarmed that she'd returned home, with Sean being in the condition he was in.

"I just came back to change into some fresh clothes." Marita declared with forced strength.

Isaac immediately frowned, not buying his daughter's explanation. "How's Sean?" He asked with concern. Though he'd been at the Logan home earlier in the day, he hadn't been back there since he'd left to supervise the work that needed to be done around the ranch.

"No change." Marita solemnly said as she returned her attention to the drawer and again busied herself with looking for a change of clothes.

"I'm sorry." Isaac stated sincerely, now walking further into the room, his heart hurting at seeing his daughter in so much pain. "How are you doing?" He then asked as he came to stand by the chest of drawer, studying her while she continued to look through the drawer.

"I...I don't know." Marita uttered softly "You know Sean and I…." She began, but stopped when her voice began to falter, fighting the rush of tears that were pressing to flow.

"It's okay honey." Isaac said as he gently touched his daughter's back. "Take your time." Marita then deeply inhaled, slowly gathering her strength before she continued to speak…

"Sean and I talked about…" She hesitated; her heart aching with pain. "…the possible violence that could come when our relationship was discovered…" she shakily resumed. "But the talking never prepared me for what it would be like to see Sean…laying in that bed, beat up because of someone's hatred…" She said, and again paused, closing her eyes in angst, trying to maintain her composure while her father lightly stroked her back. "Maybe…" she then said, now opening her eyes, forcing herself to continue to speak. "Maybe I made a mistake." She uttered quietly, her heart ripping in two at her words. "Maybe I made a mistake in thinking that Sean and I could have a future together…that we could…" She stopped, not able to finish her sentence. "Oh God…" She suddenly cried. "This is all my fault… Sean is lying in that bed, unconscious, maybe never to awaken again because of me. Because I wasn't strong enough, because I didn't love him enough to walk away."

"Honey you know that's not true." Isaac said, hating to see his daughter hurting this wayWishing that she'd fully grasped the heartache that would come in being with Sean before this. "This is no one's fault." He stated.

"But you told me that this would happen." Marita tearfully countered as she turned her gaze to her father. "And I knew it myself. I knew that something like this was likely, but I didn't listen to you and I didn't listen to myself and now…"

"And now nothing!" Isaac asserted strongly. "This is not your fault. And I'm not going to stand here and let you blame yourself for Sean being attacked. Now you heard what Clay said…how everything happened at the Assemblyman's Dinner…Sean would've been confronted and eventually attacked whether you two had decided to be together or not."

Marita again closed her eyes, knowing that her father was right, but unable to quell the feelings of guilt inside. "I just can't believe that this is happening." She whispered shakily.

"Honey I know…" Isaac uttered; then paused, briefly contemplating if he should broach his concerns or wait.

"Sweetheart… I was going to wait to bring this up…but I think that I should tell you now…"

"Pa what is it?" Marita quietly asked, opening her eyes as he removed his hand from her back, alarmed by the seriousness in his voice.

"I'm sending you back to Cholena." He said. "I have some money saved and…"

"Pa no." Marita rejected, immediately turning away from her father.

"Marita it's too dangerous for you to remain here after what's happened." Isaac argued. "And I'm not going to allow you to risk yourself by…"

"I'm not running away." She expressed firmly. "I'm not leaving Sean."

"This is not up for discussion." Her father angrily replied.

"No it isn't." Marita said, now turning to face her father. "I'm sorry but I'm not leaving. Sean needs me now more than he ever has, and I'm not going to let a bunch racist goons force me to abandon him."

"Honey this is not about pride, this is your life we're talking about. Sean was nearly killed last night and who knows what will happen if someone decides to come after you!" Isaac contended with frustration. "Now I'm not going to sit around and wait for something like that to happen; I'm getting you out of here tonight!"

"Pa you can't force me to go!"

"Honey Sean would want you safe." Her father pleaded. "I want you safe!"

"Leaving town doesn't guarantee that!" Marita cried. "Everyone in Lexington now knows of my involvement with Sean and so do the people in Cholena. I could still be attacked no matter where I go. So I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving Lexington without knowing if Sean is going to live or die."

"Marita…"

"I can't do it pa." She croaked. "I won't. So please, please don't ask me to do otherwise."

Ned entered Sean's room and slowly made his way over to his son's bed. Standing there a moment, observing him, thinking how he should be up and about, taking care of town business, spending time with Marita, but that wasn't the case he sadly mused, pain rushing through him, as well as anger at the men who'd done this to him. Ned then sat down, continuing to observe his son, noting that he was Libby up and down, as memories of when he was born came to mind…

"You know when you were born...your mother and I were so nervous." Ned suddenly uttered aloud, voicing his thoughts. "We didn't know if we could handle a new little person in our lives." He sadly laughed, lowering his gaze as he continued to speak. "Neither one of us had dealt with children before, much less babies. And both of us had heard horror stories from other parents we knew. But you were different, nothing like what we'd heard. Your calming spirit almost immediately abated our nerves and before long your mother and I were eager to have more children." He shakily whispered now returning his eyes to his son's face. "Sean you have to come ba…" Ned continued brokenly, but halted his speech, when Sean suddenly began to groan, stunning him beyond words. Ned's heart instantly rushed with love and joy, as his eyes filled with tears, blurring what was happening before him. Blurring the miracle of what appeared to be his son, struggling to come to.