Thanks for the responses. I truly appreciate it!

Yash – I'm glad that you feel the angst:)

briana - Even though I'm writing this tale I feel your pain. But hang in here ;)

Chynna – It's good to see you again! I'm glad that you're still reading and enjoying the story. Thanks so much for the compliments on the story's pacing and writing!

hawaiianbelle – Thanks for the continued support!

cola – I know that the waiting is hard, so thanks for your continued patience and responses!

jess – I totally understand the college deal. Just keep pushing. Remember anything worth having has to be worked for. Including college degrees and true love. Like I've said many times before it's always inspiring and touching to know how much this story means to you.Thanksso much for continuing to read and respond!

mjmm - I was happy to see your response! It's great to know that you're still enjoying the story!

Now on with the story...

Chapter Fifty

Marita slowly walked into her room and set her suitcase by the door, feeling weak and ill, as her heart ached for Sean and her mind raced, replaying, over and over, the encounter she'd just had with him in town. She then made her way to the bed, managing to sit down on its side before her legs crumbled beneath her, due to the weakness in them and the lightness stirring in her head. She sat there a moment, deeply inhaling; then slowly releasing a breath, trying to quell the queasiness she felt. What was she going to do, she mused, still thinking of Sean, thinking of how close they'd been. How incredible it was to see him, to feel his beautiful blue gaze upon her. How was she going to live without him? She thought. And if she was pregnant, how was she going to raise their child alone? Marita closed her eyes and swallowed hard, fighting back a strong bout of sickness that washed over her. Why was she doing this? She then questioned with perplexity. Why was she walking away from the man she loved? Her heart asked more fiercely, more desperately than it had before. For she and Sean had planned a future, and they'd promised that they would face it all together, so why was she doing this? Her heart cried. She couldn't do this. She couldn't walk away from Sean...But you have to, her mind calmly interjected, reminding her of how she and Jeremy had found Sean, more than 3 weeks before, left for dead in the woods. Another feeling of sickness rose within her and for a moment Marita felt faint, before the ill feeling gradually abated and logic forced her "whys?" to quiet down...

"Honey?" Isaac said, interrupting his daughter's painful thoughts as he walked into the room. "Are you okay?" He asked with concern in his voice, now moving towards her.

"I'm fine." Marita uttered softly as she lifted her eyes to her father, forcing a smile on her face, wanting to stand, to prove that she was indeed okay, but at that instant not having the strength to get up.

"Good." Her father stated with uncertainty, as he came to a stop near the bed. Then for a moment stood quiet; his eyes fixed upon her, knowing that she wasn't fine, but feeling that it was pointless to try and get her to talk about it. He knew how seeing Sean had made her feel. He knew that it no doubt made her rethink the decision she'd made to end things with him, but Isaac had to make sure that Marita continued to stick with the right choice, that she remembered the danger that would come if she went back to Sean. Isaac was so thankful that nothing horrible had happened due to Sean and Marita's encounter in town. He now mused. He'd been absolutely livid when he'd seen the young man with his daughter, he thought with ire, but there was no use in him dwelling on his anger, Isaac now reasoned. The most important thing was to get Marita as far away from Sean as possible. For after witnessing their encounter today, Isaac knew that if his daughter remained in town, she and Sean would again find their way back to each other.

"Honey...I want to talk to you about Christmas." He then continued as Marita finally found the strength to stand from the bed and moved across the room to retrieve her suitcase from where it sat near the door. "Tomorrow I'm going to telegraph Winfred." He said, watching as his daughter made her way back to the bed and placed the suitcase down for unpacking. "I'm going to let him know that we're coming up for the holidays."

"Papa I…"

"Marita don't." Isaac interjected, knowing that his daughter was about to protest the trip. "You staying in town and on this ranch after all that's happened will be too much." He said. "So we're going to Louisville. Now I know that the holidays will be hard...without Sean, but I want you to try and enjoy them for me...with me." Isaac conveyed; emotion in his voice. "Honey this will be the first time in years that it's been just the two of us at Christmas, and even though this is not what we expected, maybe not even what we...wanted...I want it to be a good holiday...I want us to have a happy time...a happy holiday... as a family." He finished earnestly.

Marita's eyes brimmed with tears as she took in her father's words, now thinking how self-centered she'd been. She'd been so caught up in missing Sean, missing his love, that she'd forgotten her father. Even though she knew how much it hurt him to see her hurting, and thus she'd made many futile attempts to conceal her pain, she hadn't even thought about how much her pa needed a daughter, needed their relationship, and now needed and wanted to have a wonderful holiday with her. Marita nearly broke down with emotion as she continued to stare at her earnest and loving father. He deserved so much more than this. She thought. He deserved more than just her always crying on his shoulder. He deserved some happiness from her ..."Pa you're right." Marita quietly uttered, pressing a smile in her voice. "Being here will be too much." She said, while her heart again ached at the "whys" of before, wanting so much to remain in Lexington. "So Louisville for the holidays... sounds good." She finished with strained strength as she feebly reminded herself that Sean would be safer without her. Then thought of how much her father needed his daughter...

"Good." Her father said with a smile. Even though he knew how difficult her decision was; how much she was hurting.

"So when do we leave." Marita asked, forcing cheer in her voice as she opened her suitcase and begin to unpack, taking out the clothes she'd carried on their trip to East Kentucky.

"Fairly soon." Her father answered, causing Marita to slow at what she was doing, now thinking of what this all meant, that if her father followed through with his plans to move to Cholena in the Spring, this would probably be the last time she'd be visiting Lexington. "Probably within a day or so." Her pa then added, bringing Marita from her thoughts. "I have a few things to square away with Ned." He continued. "And then we'll be off to Louisville...Oh honey, I'm so glad that you're giving this a try." Isaac said as he came up to his daughter, who for a moment had stopped unpacking her bag; then he took her hand, prompting her to turn her gaze to him. "I know that it's not easy for you to do this, but I promise you that this holiday will be great. And that this will all get better with time." He assured as he held her eyes; then took her in his arms. "I promise you that you'll move past this. That before long, you'll find the happiness you deserve." He declared. Marita tightened her arms around her father, who was relieved at her gesture, thinking that his words were some comfort to her. When in reality Marita was drowning, desperately trying to keep from collapsing in her father's arms, at the thought of closing the door on Sean Logan forever.

-----------------------

Later that evening…..

Ned sat at his desk, trying to finish some work before dinner, but having little luck, because he was thinking about Asa Winters. Thinking about his showdown with the man earlier in the day, thinking how he'd never seen anyone so shaken and disturbed. Though Asa had been livid to discover what Ned had done and had threatened retaliation against him, Ned didn't think that he would follow through. And even if the man did have the gall to try something else, Ned would be ready he thought. He would hate to get into an all out war with Asa Winters, but he'd do it if need be. Because the man couldn't be left to continue his malice and violence without consequence Ned mused, now remembering the attack on him and Sean, before his mind then drifted to how his son was sure to react, when he learned that he'd gone after Asa. Sean was going to be furious Ned knew. For he'd pleaded with him to leave Asa be, to let him handle the man alone, and if it were any other situation Ned would've complied. But he couldn't. He couldn't leave Asa be. Because the man had crossed the line when he'd had Sean attacked and then continued his viciousness by threatening Marita. Enough was enough. And thus Asa had to be stopped. So Ned had shown the man that he meant business. That his warnings to him weren't just words spun from anger, that he could and would destroy him if provoked. Sean would understand Ned now reasoned, even though he'd be angry; he'd eventually understand Ned concluded, before his thoughts then moved to the mess that still existed with Vivian, how Sean was actually planning to marry the woman, but those musings were suddenly interrupted, by a knock at the door...

"Come in." Ned said and immediately the door of his office opened. "Sam?" Ned uttered with bewilderment at seeing one of his workers enter his office. "Clay?" He then gasped with alarm, putting his pencil down, when his youngest son entered the room, looking like he'd been hit by a train. "What in the world happened to you?" He asked his son, but Clay didn't answer; he could only lower his gaze in shame. "Cla..."

"Sir...sir he was attacked." Sam interjected with hesitance, drawing Ned's attention back to him.

"Attacked? What are you talking about?"

Sam heaved a sigh and briefly lowered his head; then returned his full attention to his boss and answered him. "Sir...he was...at the Big Top Saloon and..."

"The Big Top Saloon? That's in Winchester." Ned asserted with shock. "What were doing in Winchester?" He queried his son as he turned his eyes back to him.

Silence –

"Clay?" Ned pressed; his anger rising at the look on his son's face, now discerning that Sam had found Clay in trouble. Trouble that Ned now knew was related to the attack on him and Sean.

"Sir...I'm not sure why he was there..." Sam continued with caution when Clay didn't speak, bringing Ned's heated eyes back to him. "But when me and Darren came up on the scene...it was just as Clay was being attacked..." The man went on to explain as he nervously watched Ned, who remained quiet, but was clearly becoming more incensed. "Me and Darren challenged the man who'd attacked him...and it got pretty ugly...but we managed to get Clay out of there...I'm just...I'm just glad that we came along when we did." The man finished with hesitation, wisely omitting the part about Clay's brief unconscious state.

Silence –

"Well Clay, aren't you going to say something?" Ned queried with ire as he again looked towards his son, who was still quiet, but emitting guilt. "Answer me!" Ned roared, which instantly brought Clay's eyes to his pa, but kept the young man frightened beyond words.

'I'll...leave you two alone." Sam quietly declared. Then quickly retreated from the room.

"What were you doing in Winchester!" Ned questioned with fury, barely hearing Sam's utterance or noticing his exit. "I'm not going to ask you again! Now why..."

"I went there to see James Ferguson!" Clay finally exclaimed, anxiety in his voice.

"James Ferguson." Ned scoffed. His anger magnified by his Clay's response, his son's naivety in doing such a thing, even though he'd guessed this reason minutes before. "What did you think you were going to do?"

"Pa I…"

"Confront him?" Ned lividly asked, disrupting Clay's response. "Ask him why he attacked me and Sean? Beat the hell out of him? Or better yet ask him to turn himself in!"

"You know that he attacked you and Sean?" Clay questioned with shock.

"Yes I do!" Ned responded irately.

"How…"

"It doesn't matter how I know!" Ned retorted. "The issue here is that you disobeyed me and talked to Pete Dixon!" He yelled, figuring that's how his son connected Ferguson to the attack. "Then decided to go after a dangerous man like James Ferguson on your own!"

"I just wanted to know who'd beat up Sean...I needed them to know that they weren't going to get away with it..." Clay tried to explain. "I know it was stupid…"

"You're dam right it was stupid!" Ned boomed. His voice a mix of anger, worry and love. "God Clay, do you know what could've happened if Sam hadn't been there!"

Silence –

"Do you!"

"Yes." Clay answered dejectedly as he dropped his eyes, now fully realizing the danger in what he'd done. "I just didn't want him to get away with it..." He again said, quietly, sadly.

"How do you know that he's going to get away with it!"

"Because nobody's doing anything!" Clay interjected with frustration as he returned his eyes to his pa. "Those men attacked you and Sean, dislocated your shoulder and nearly beat him to death and nobody's doing anything about it!" He cried.

"Clay I understand your frustration." Ned responded impassionedly; his anger briefly wavering. "But vengeance is not always the answer." He said, cringing inside at his response, at the hypocrisy of his words, but still determined to teach his son that choosing such a path was not always the best way to handle problems. "Son sometimes...people do bad things, things that hurt you and the people you love, and sometimes, though it's hard...you have to let it go. Otherwise you'll spend your whole life angry and seeking revenge. Or you'll end up hurting yourself and the ones you love more. And that's no way to live."

"So you really believe that letting go is the answer?" Clay questioned with discontent. "That letting this man get away with nearly killing Sean is okay!"

Ned didn't answer his son, but briefly averted his gaze.

"I didn't think so." Clay uttered tartly, after witnessing his father's subtle response and now remembering his pa's vengeful vows regarding Asa Winters.

"Look I'm not saying that I'm letting go of what Ferguson did." Ned admitted firmly, now holding his son's eyes. "But I want you to let it go."

"P..."

"Clay." Ned interjected strongly, with a power that shook his son to the core, letting him know that he'd better OBEY his father. "This is not your fight." Ned continued in a calm tone that was etched with fierceness and command. "And I don't want you to ever, ever pull a stunt like this again. Do you understand me?"

"Yes sir." Clay promptly replied, with fear and truth in his voice.

"Good. Now go get cleaned up." Ned ordered. Then watched with anger, but also thankfulness and relief as his dejected son exited his office.

------------------

Wilhelmina looked at the wall and saw 106 next to the door she was about to pass. Mr. Logan's office was only a couple of doors down she nervously thought, which meant that within seconds she'd be at his door, poised to tell him the truth. When Wilhelmina left the Winters estate, she'd had no intentions of coming here. For her plan was to come to town and pick up some supplies; then immediately return to the Winters' home. But when she was walking to the Dry Goods Store, after leaving her wagon in a nearby lot, she'd come upon the building that housed the Office of Regional Affairs and her plans had instantly changed, altered by an epiphany she'd had. In that moment, upon seeing that building, knowing that Sean Logan worked there, that he was probably inside, Wilhelmina knew that she had to speak with him, that the only way to stop Vivian was to tell him what was going on. So, she'd entered the building, asking the first person she'd saw where she could find Mr. Logan's office, and now here she was, moments later, a step away from the man's office, faintly thinking of the consequences that would surely come because of her actions, but choosing to not let that stop her, knowing that she was doing what needed to be done...

"Mr. Logan?" Wilhelmina uttered quietly, timidly as she stood in the doorway of Sean Logan's office, prompting him to look up from the documents he'd been attempting to read, but had been failing to grasp it's contents, because of his mind being plagued with the earlier encounter he'd had with Marita.

"Wilhelmina?" He said with surprise as the woman continued to stand in his office door. "What are you doing here?" He cautiously asked, puzzlement in his voice. "Is everything...all right?" He inquired, now noticing the somber look on the woman's face, as he stood from his chair.

"No sir it isn't?" Wilhelmina answered honestly, nervously, causing a scowl to rise upon Sean's face, while a wave of fear rushed through his heart, knowing that the woman's visit meant that whatever it was that had happened must not be bad – terribly bad.

"Is something wrong with Vivian?" Sean questioned with concern, selfishly thinking that the last thing he needed was for Vivian to have become hurt or ill, just when he was planning to tell her the truth and resolve this mess with her pa once and for all.

"You could say that." The woman answered, still standing in the doorway, still a bit anxious about what she was doing.

"Well come in." Sean urged as he rushed over to the woman. "Have a seat." He offered in a warm tone, trying to soothe Wilhelmina's nerves as he escorted her to a chair, before he then closed the door of his office and made his way back to his desk.

"So what's going on?" He evenly asked, skillfully keeping his alarm at her being there from view.

Silence –

"Sir...it's Ms. Vivian." Wilhelmina responded with hesitance, briefly thinking of the young woman's threats, but quickly pushing it aside for the urging in her heart.

"You ...all but said that before." Sean said, working to keep the impatience out of his tone. "Now what's going on?" He again queried.

Silence –

"Sir she's not...Vivian's not... as fragile, as you may think." The woman answered strongly, now holding Sean's gaze.

"Fragile? What do you mean?" Sean questioned with confusion, not gathering what the woman was trying to say.

Wilhelmina sighed, hating that things had come to this, to her "betraying" Vivian; the young woman whom she'd practically raised; had took care of since she was a baby, had taught the ins and outs of courting and how to handle womanhood. They had been like family, but now that had all changed. For Vivian had turned into this horrible version of her father and Wilhelmina could no longer sit back and allow her abhorrent lies, allow Vivian to destroy herself as well as Mr. Logan...

"Wilhelmina what do you mean Vivian isn't as fra..." Sean began, suspending Wilhelmina's thoughts, but stopped mid-sentence when he was flooded with a revelation. Instantly grasping why the woman was there, what she was trying to say. Instantly knowing that his suspicions where accurate. Sean continued to hold the woman's stare, whose eyes conveyed that she now knew that he'd deciphered the truth. "How long has she been lying?" Sean finally questioned, calmly, even though fury was rising within him.

Silence –

"Since the beginning..." Wilhelmina answered firmly. Then went on tell Sean, who listened intently, as a quiet anger smoldered within him, everything; all of Vivian's lies, her plans, her threats to her father, while inside the woman's heart filled with sorrow, but at the same time relief, that the truth about Vivian was finally being exposed.

------------------

Later that night…

Well that's everything Jeremy thought as he put the last of his stuff on his horse, hating to do this, to betray the Logan's trust again, but knowing that he'd done everything he could to avoid this and had found that there was no other way. Jeremy closed his eyes in angst, now thinking of Marita and her advice. The Logans wouldn't be the only ones he'd be hurting with his choice to leave, he'd also be disappointing Marita, who had probably been the closest thing he'd had here to a friend. For she'd trusted him, even after learning what he planned to do and had tried to help him by suggesting that he fight for custody of his daughter instead of taking her. She hadn't been the closest thing to a friend. She'd been a friend Jeremy now grasped which made his heart hurt more, made him wish...that he could talk to her. But there was no use in thinking such things he mused, there was no use in wishing that he wouldn't hurt the other people he cared about. For he'd made his choice, and despite his guilt he was excited, happy that soon him and his daughter would be starting a new life he thought. The Logans would be okay. He again tried to reasoned, to conquer his remorse, they wouldn't even miss him, and as far as Marita goes at least he'd kept his word to her and attempted to talk to Ned and had chosen not to steal the money that the man had taken from him again. But that still didn't make Jeremy feel better; for he still knew that he was betraying Marita and the Logans. The boy stood there a moment longer, his eyes closed, before he finally got control of his guilt and pain and moved forward with his plan. Jeremy checked everything on the horse again, making sure he had everything. Then mounted the steed and slowly made his way off the ranch, being sure to stay out the eyes of the guards who still remained around the perimeter of the property.