Hi all!

Another chapter coming up! I'm trying to post as much as I can before Fall Semester starts at the end of next month. Thanks to all for continuing to read and post responses. It's inspiring to see that people are still interested in this story!

Chapter Forty-one

Pete walked around the Logan parlor, nervously waiting for the patriarch of the family to come down and see him. Pete had planned to be out of town by now, for he'd completed his task for Asa, which had in turn cost him his job with the Deputy Director's office. But there were still a couple of things he had to do. He had to get the rest of his money from Asa, who'd been stalling, and he had to come by and check on Sean, as well as apologize to the Logans. Though Pete knew that he was asking for trouble by coming there, especially after Sean had been beaten up, he had to talk to Ned Logan; He had to make an effort to set things right.

"What are you doing here?" A voice suddenly asked, stopping Pete in his tracks, prompting him to turn towards the voice.

"Mr. Logan!" Pete uttered shakily, now paralyzed where he stood.

"I said what are you doing here!" Ned questioned again as he walked further into the room; his anger rising within.

"I came here to apologize." Pete nervously explained.

"Apologize?" Ned scoffed, put off by the man's nerve.

"Sir Please." Pete pled. "Just hear me out?"

"Hear you out?" Ned retorted. "You humiliated my son, betrayed him for Asa Winters, and now you want me to hear you out? No, I've heard everything I want to hear from you." Ned stated heatedly. "Now I want you to leave!"

"Mr. Logan please."

"Get out!"

"Mr. Logan I know who attacked you and Sean!" Pete asserted desperately.

Silence –

"Come again?"

"I know who attacked you and Sean." Pete repeated as Clay now walked into the room and was instantly angered at seeing the man there, and shocked to hear what he was saying. "Asa gave the order a few days before the Assemblyman's Dinner." Pete spilled, thinking how he'd learned of Asa's plan after the attack. How he'd learned of all the players involved when he'd gone down to Winchester a couple of days before.

Ned stood there quiet as the fury within him clashed with his desire to hear more of what Pete had to say. He wanted to know who'd attacked him and Sean. He wanted to make them pay dearly for what they'd done, but his anger and distrust of Pete quickly dampened his need to know. For though the man might truly want to make amends, his betrayal of Sean could not be forgotten.

"Get out!" Ned ordered again.

"What?" Pete said with shock, stunned that the man didn't want to know who the culprits were behind the attack.

"I said get out!" Ned repeated… "Now!" He yelled when the man didn't immediately move.

Pete still hesitated for a brief moment, wanting to say more, but instead did as Ned had asked and moved to leave the room. "I'm truly sorry." The man said once he reached the exit of the room, turning his eyes back to Ned, then over to Clay, who though piqued by the man's visit, wanted to stop him and learn what he knew. Seeing that he wasn't going to receive absolution, Pete then turned and left the room, feeling dejected and genuinely remorseful for what he'd done.

"Why didn't you hear him out?" Clay asked, once he was sure Pete had left the house. "We could've learned who attacked you and Sean."

"Clay Pete betrayed your brother." Ned told his son. "Therefore nothing that comes out of his mouth can be accepted as true."

"But Pa…"

"No buts Clay." Ned said. "Pete Dixon is a man that can't be trusted." He ended firmly; then exited the room, leaving his son to ponder Pete's claims.

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"Wilhelmina I don't understand why I can't go see Sean." Vivian whined. Even though she knew the reason behind the woman's answer; Wilhelmina and her father thought that she'd lost her memory, and therefore thought that she had no idea that she and Sean were over, but they were wrong. Though she had lost her memory for a brief time, she now remembered everything, and had been lying to keep her recovered memory hidden. "He's my fiancé." Vivian contended as she watched Wilhelmina look through a box on the shelf.

"Vivian I know what Sean is to you." Wilhelmina said, being careful not to convey a lie. "But I'm trying to follow the doctor's orders, as well as that of your father's. Both would be severely upset if they learned that you left the house so soon after your accident."

"Wilhelmina they don't have to know."

"No, they don't. But I'd know. And so would the coachman that I'd have to ask to drive you out there." The woman countered as she walked across the room to another shelf, thinking how she was running out of excuses to give Vivian. "Then what if something happened while you were out?" She continued. "What if you were in another accident or had a relapse because you were out too soon…"

"Oh Wilhelmina, that's not going to happen." Vivian argued. "Lightning doesn't strike the same place twice. And plus I feel fine!"

"Vivian no!" Wilhelmina replied with finality, now turning from the shelf with a box in her hands. "I'm not doing it. Now let it go!"

"Well the Logans are going to think I'm totally unworthy of Sean. Being that I'm his fiancé and have not even once gone to visit him while he's been in the condition that he's in."

"The Logan's are well aware of your mishap." Wilhelmina reasoned, hating having to play up this lie. "And I'm sure they're very understanding as to why you haven't been by." She then said, making her way towards the door, now thinking that the Logans "understanding" came from Vivian no longer being Sean's fiancé.

"Wilhelmina…" Vivian sighed as she followed the woman out the room, skillfully playing up her memory loss, knowing that to do otherwise would draw suspicion. "Can't you talk to father?" She asked with frustration that showed no hint of it's falsity. "Sean and I have lost so much time already, with me not remembering the past few months. It's not right that I can't be with him now, when he needs me the most."

Silence –

"Wilhelmina…"

"Okay I'll try." The woman conceded, deeming that she'd again approach Mr. Winters about telling Vivian the truth, reminding him once more that they couldn't keep Vivian confined to the estate forever. "But I doubt he'll change his mind." She added solemnly.

"Thank you!" Vivian exclaimed, feigning excitement as she followed the woman into another room. She knew that Wilhelmina wasn't going to talk to her father. After all, they didn't want her going over to the Logans, where she would discover a truth that they thought would send her into another hysterical fit. The fainting spell she'd put on had nearly done her in Vivian thought, for now they all thought that she was fragile as glass and was thus keeping her under watchful eyes. But she guessed that was the price one paid for such a plan. If she hadn't "passed out" when she did, her father would've told her the truth, and her plan would've been ruined. Now she just had to figure out how to move things forward. Her father had made it impossible for her to get off the estate because he'd told the coachmen that no one was to take her anywhere unless it was okay'd by him. And though Vivian thought that she could get around that, her father or Wilhelmina were always around, hindering any plans she had to leave the property. But they couldn't do that forever Vivian thought, eventually they'd both have to let their guard down, and when they did she would finally leave the estate, and finally get her chance to show the world that Sean Logan would never give her up, especially not for a Negro.

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Marita swiftly walked across the lawn, purposely avoiding the workers scattered across the property, not wanting anyone to see that she'd been crying, not wanting anyone to ask if she was okay or if they could help. She just wanted to go home, to be away from everyone right now. For after the unpleasantness she'd experienced earlier at the church, she didn't think that she could handle anything, at this point, beyond solitude. Now reaching her house, Marita quickly entered her dwelling, sighing with relief as she shut the door behind her, when suddenly everything that had happened again begin to crash down upon her. Marita closed her eyes in pain as she leaned against the nearby wall, trying to calm down. She couldn't keep doing this she thought, she couldn't keep letting her emotions get the better of her. Her breaking down wasn't going to do her any good, and it most certainly wasn't going to help Sean. She had to get herself together she reasoned silently; she had to be strong. Marita deeply inhaled, attempting to stop the tears that were pressing to flow, when suddenly she was startled by a knock at the door. She then slowly turned towards the door, debating whether she should answer or let them knock, when she decided to see who it was, concluding that it could be someone with word on Sean…

"Alice!" Marita declared quietly and with surprise. She instantly knew that there had been no change with Sean. For if something had happened, it would've been Ned at her door. "Alice I'm not in the mood to fight." Marita stated weakly; then moved to shut the door.

"Marita wait!" Alice asserted as she stopped the door from shutting by placing her hand against it. "Are you okay?" she asked. "I'm sorry." She then quickly added. "I don't know why I asked that, I know that you're not okay, none of us are."

Marita briefly lowered her gaze, swallowing back tears, gathering her strength to again speak, to tell Alice that she wanted her to leave…

"Can we talk?" Alice asked before Marita could speak. "I promise you I'm not here to fight."

"Alice I'm not…"

"Please." The young woman tearfully pled. "I really…I really need a friend…"

"I thought that I was no friend of yours." Marita countered with hurt etched in her voice.

"I was wrong." Alice replied earnestly, holding Marita's gaze, now thinking how Jeremy's words the day before had been true, and had in turn gotten to her, making her realize that she'd been wrong about so many things.

"You're wrong now that you need a friend?" Marita questioned sadly.

"No." She responded genuinely. "I was wrong, because I was wrong." Alice poorly explained. "Marita please." She then begged again.

For a moment Marita stood quiet, contemplating Alice's words, fighting her desire to be alone. When she then stepped aside and permitted the young woman to enter the house. Moments later Marita led Alice into the sitting room, which caused a deep pang in Marita's heart, nearly shattering her composure with the memory it held. She then made her way to the couch, and Alice joined her, taking a seat at the opposite end. Then they both became still, sitting silent for an awkward moment, before Alice began to speak…

"I'm sorry." The young woman abruptly said, now turning to look at Marita. "I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you." She continued with sincerity. "And I'm sorry for blaming you for what happened to Sean. No matter what I was feeling, there was no excuse for my behavior."

Marita sat quiet, soaking in the young woman's apology, which was touching her heart, helping her feel some better after a morning that had been so awful.

"Will you accept my apology?" Alice nervously asked, her voice shaking with emotion and doubt.

Silence –

"Yes." Marita finally answered, causing Alice to move across the couch and suddenly embrace her in a hug. "But I won't allow you to act as if your behavior was totally unheard of…" Marita continued emotionally. "After what happened to Sean…it's understandable that you would lash out at the first person who you felt was most responsible."

"But you're not responsible for what happened to Sean." Alice declared as she pulled back from the hug and wiped her eyes. "You didn't make Pete do what he did. And you didn't make those men attack my pa and Sean…so much has been happening lately, I mean there's everything with Jeremy, and then the mess at the Assemblyman's dinner and the attack on pa and Sean, I just wanted someone to blame for it all; so I chose you and Jeremy. The two people who I felt… most betrayed by." She admitted shakily. "But Marita I'm so sorry I done that. I'm so sorry that I made you feel like you were wrong to love Sean…"

"Alice it's okay." Marita reassured. "I knew that you were more hurt than angry." She continued poignantly. "And I want to say that I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry..."

"Don't." Alice interjected. "You have nothing to be sorry for." She said with emotion. "Whatever feelings you have for my brother were between you and him. And I had no right to be angry or hurt that you didn't tell me about them…you and Sean…you and Sean…Marita I'm so worried about him." Alice suddenly cried, briefly burying her face in her hands before returning her tearful gaze to Marita. "So worried that…he'll never wake up."

"Alice I'm worried too." Marita uttered quietly, pain tearing through her as she comforted the young woman by grabbing her hand. "But all we can do is pray for him, and… talk to him, hope…that he'll hear us."

"I guess you're right." Alice sighed as she briefly closed her eyes, feeling somewhat consoled by what Marita's had said. "You know I've seen you with him…" Alice cautiously began, now sniffling and wiping the tears from her cheeks. "And I know that you love him… but you never say much when you sit with him…Why?" The young woman asked.

Marita closed her eyes at Alice's words. Thinking how so many times she'd tried to speak to Sean, struggled to open her heart to him, but the words wouldn't flow, because of her fear of the intense pain within. She felt that if she opened her heart, poured out her soul, her anguish, over this situation; it would overwhelm her, take her to depths so deep, that she'd drown in the intensity of her emotions, and would in turn be no help to Sean…

"It's too much…" Marita finally sighed as she opened her eyes.

"What's too much?" Alice queried softly, causing Marita to briefly close her eyes again, trying desperately to maintain her composure…

"What about Jeremy?" Marita suddenly asked, changing the subject from the agonizing topic of Sean.

"Marita." Alice spoke with concern.

"Alice please." Marita said, unsteadiness in her voice. "Right now…I need to focus on something else… now please… tell me why you can't get over Jeremy's secret?"

"You know Jeremy's secret?" Alice gasped with shock. Her mind instantly dropping her response to Marita's heartache, just as Marita wanted.

"Yes." Marita confessed; her voice weak with grief. "My pa told me when I got home from Cholena." She revealed, briefly thinking how he'd told her on their way home from the train depot, before their talk had moved to Sean.

Alice heaved a sigh, still stunned.

"So what's…what's going on?" Marita asked unevenly, still struggling to stay strong.

Alice slowly pushed her shock aside. Then hesitantly answered Marita's question. "Ever since he revealed his secret…" She began. "There's been this huge wall between us that I can't get past. It's like his lie altered something within me. And now when I see him, I can't bring myself to do what I know is right, because my anger takes over, makes me lash out at him."

"Could your anger be coming from someplace else?" Marita quietly asked, now feeling some calm in her aching heart. "Maybe not from the fact that Jeremy lied to you?" She continued, as she recalled the young woman's feelings for Jeremy before she'd left for Cholena.

Silence –

"I don't know." Alice said. "Maybe my feelings for him went somewhat beyond …friendship, and when I learned that he'd already had a love of his life…maybe it hurt…Ah, I don't know." She then sighed. "I hate being so angry with him all the time." She continued. "But I don't know if we can ever get back to the friendship we had before he confessed his past…but I do wish that we could get along again, that we could strike some kind of truce."

"Alice if you want that then you need to make the first move." Marita advised.

"I don't know if that'll work." Alice replied with doubt. "What if Jeremy rejects my attempt to patch things up, which wouldn't be surprising considering all the horrible things I've said to him…"

"Alice you should at least try… and soon." Marita urged. "Things can change so quickly, that it's best to do what you can, when you can… because otherwise you may not always get another opportunity." Marita stated shakily, holding the young woman's gaze, her mind on Sean, now thankful for their time in Cholena, but wishing that she would've married him then, married him before all this had happened.

Alice then briefly diverted her eyes, swallowing away the tears as she now thought of her unconscious brother and Marita's breaking heart. "Thank you." The young woman then said as she gave Marita another hug. "And Sean is going to be okay!" She asserted emotionally. "You two will have your time." She added with sincerity as she now pulled back from the embrace to look the woman in the eyes.

Marita forced a weak smile, holding back the tears that were threatening to flow. If, no when Sean recovered, Marita thought with strained belief, she didn't know if they'd have a future she grieved, for though they'd promised each other that they'd face everything thrown their way together, Sean being beaten had changed everything. And now she no longer knew if being together was an option. She no longer knew if she was willingly to let Sean risk himself, give up his life, in order to be with her.

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Clay sat next to Sean's bed, staring at him, thinking how much he meant to him. How he admired him so much. How he wished that he had his incredible talent to make anything and everything work. How he longed for Sean's charisma, and his ability to stay calm, his ability to always assess a situation before reacting. The boy deeply inhaled, as he continued to study his brother, admitting in his heart that he missed him, asking himself why this had to happen. Why Sean would be so irresponsible as to get involved with Marita? His mind then drifted to the attack, which caused his anger to rise as he replayed all that had happened. The men who done this needed to pay he thought wrathfully; justice needed to be brought to those who'd done this to Sean. Clay then sat back in his chair, now thinking of what Pete claimed to know…

"I'm going to find out who did this to you…" He then uttered quietly, speaking to his brother. "And I'm going to make them pay for what they've done." He vowed.