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Chapter Fifty-two
Lucy walked down the hall of the Chambers home, yarning from the sleepiness she felt, wishing that she was still in bed snuggled under the warmth of the covers instead of roaming "these chilly halls." The young woman actually considered going back to her room for just fifteen more minutes of sleep, but thought better of it, knowing that Danielle was probably already awake and waiting for breakfast. Seconds later Lucy entered the child's room and was surprised to not see her standing up in her crib. Danielle was always up at this time. The young woman thought as she walked further into the room. It never failed unless the child wasn't' feeling well, which Lucy hope was not the case. She hated seeing Danielle sick. Lucy now walked up to the crib, hoping to find the child well, just still asleep, and was stunned to find the bed empty with Danielle no where in sight.
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Sean ascended the back steps of his family's home, still deep in thought, pondering the issues that endlessly plagued his mind , when out of the blue came a deep fear, rushing through him, shaking him to the core, causing him to trip on the stairs, but Sean managed to grab the porch's railing, preventing a fall. It was Marita he instantly knew, as the warning sharpened, growing stronger with every second. She was in trouble he deduced with distress as he now forced himself to move, to conquer the intense feelings that had nearly immobilized him a moment before; then hurried back down the stairs, away from his family's home. As soon as Sean had cleared the steps, he headed east, towards the Peter's home and was horrified when he saw smoke and flames coming through the roof of the house.
"Oh God." Sean gasped in shock as he bolted across the lawn, his heart flooding with panic and sinking in angst, leaving him unable to garner an inkling of hope or a prayer, for all he could think was that he had to get to Marita. Sean pushed himself harder, running faster than he'd ever run before, hardly noticing the workers who were now rushing towards the wells for water, after seeing that the Peter's home was on fire. Sean reached the Peter's home in record time and swiftly climbed the porch's stairs, undeterred by the intense heat he felt coming from the blaze that was swelling through the roof. He then burst through the front door of the home and right away was greeted by a billow of smoke...
"Marita!" Sean called, fear and anguish in his voice as he moved further into the house, quickly coming upon the kitchen, which was engulfed in flames. "Marita!" He called again, desperately praying within that she wasn't in the burning room before him, when suddenly he heard a quiet moan, and then coughs coming from down the hall. At once, Sean raced down the hall, now starting to cough himself from the smoke that was irritating his lungs and within seconds found Marita semi-conscious on the floor.
"Oh my God Marita!" Sean uttered with horror, yet relief as he kneeled at her side, briefly touching her face – tenderly...
"Sean...the baby." Marita faintly pronounced in between coughs, startling Sean, who for an instant delayed, due to the incredible emotions her words, what he thought she'd said, stirred within him. But he swiftly reined in his emotions, knowing that he didn't have time to react to what he'd heard right now, and promptly lifted Marita from the floor, up into his arms, before quickly moving to get them out of the raging inferno that would soon become impossible to escape.
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The man crept around the Winters' home, hiding behind shrubbery and trees, making sure that he wasn't spotted by the few workers that were scattered about the property. The man knew that it was risky for him to come there during the day, but he didn't care. It was time that Asa Winters pay for his betrayal, and he was going to pay - today. The man now came upon the back entry of the home and quietly placed his ear against it's door, listening for any indication that someone was inside. When he heard no movement behind the door, the man then slipped into the Winters home and carefully proceeded forward, towards his vengeance against Asa Winters.
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Isaac and Ned ran across the lawn, in the direction of the smoke that rose thickly towards the sky, passing workers who were rushing about, some headed in the same direction as them, others headed for the nearest well to get more water. But the men hardly noticed the chaos around them for they were focused on getting to Isaac's home, while praying for Marita, hoping that she'd made it out of the house okay. "Lord you know that I can't lose her." Isaac fearfully prayed within as the pain that he'd felt when he'd lost Marita's mother resurfaced in his heart, reminding him that he couldn't bear another loss like that again. "Lord please, please don't take her awa..." He silently pled, but the words died within, when his burning home came into full view.
"Marita!" The man hollered in an anguished cry, then struggled to run faster, to overcome the fear and grief that was weighing down his limbs – his legs, when suddenly he saw a man – Sean, emerge with haste from the burning house, carrying Marita in his arms. Isaac yelled his daughter's name again, this time with more hope than fear, while Ned, who was still running slightly ahead of him, was responding similarly to seeing his son carry Marita from the fire...
Sean did not hear Isaac or his father calling for him and Marita, because he was focused on getting her to safety. For he quickly carried Marita a safe distance from the blazing house, when all at once, her coughs ceased and she lost consciousness again...
"Marita! Oh God..." Sean voiced in a panicked tone as he abruptly stopped and gently placed her on the ground; then immediately felt the side of her neck, searching frantically for a pulse, which he almost instantly found, pounding strongly through her veins. But Sean still wasn't satisfied; for he was still worried that she wasn't okay, and thus his fear continued to rage on, due to Marita's state of unconsciousness. "Marit..." He began again, pain and desperation in his voice, but was interrupted by a servant, offering him a damp cloth, telling him that it may help rouse Marita to consciousness. Without delay, Sean took the cloth from the servant's hand and lightly pressed it to Marita's face, while pleading with love and angst for her to wake up, when suddenly, Marita began to stir, and then languidly opened her eyes.
"Sean." She uttered softly, nearly inaudibly, before her eyes fell closed again...
"Marita no!" Sean exclaimed with alarm, emotion cracking his voice. "Stay with me...stay with me." He pled, softly, eagerly as he replaced the damp cloth with his hand and tenderly caressed her cheek.
"I'm with you." Marita drowsily whispered with love as she again opened her eyes, this time holding him with her gaze, before she then fought through the weakness in her limbs and managed to raise her hand to his face, touching him gently, stirring his soul. Sean wanted so much to kiss her and to tell her right then that he loved her, but instead he lightly clasped the hand that rested against his face, and moved it's softness to his lips. The intimate contact, heightened the emotions between them, intensified the passion in their gazes, leaving them oblivious to the world around them, oblivious to their fathers who'd just come upon the scene, along with Sean's siblings and a crowd of servants. Everyone was stunned by the sight before them, astonished to see what they had all either suspected or already knew, being confirmed in such an explicitly passionate scene. Even Ned, who'd witnessed on more than one occasion how deeply his son felt for Marita was still staggered and moved by the powerful connection he now saw between them, while Isaac who'd doubted Sean's love in the past, could no longer deny that the young man was deeply in love with his daughter. "I can't believe this." Clay sighed to himself, but it was just words, the only reaction he could have to what he'd never understood until now. His brother was hopelessly in love he mused as he continued to stare in disbelief at the two lovers before him, trying to crush the warmth that tugged at his heart, while his sisters reacted with romantic awe, tears in their eyes as they witnessed what they thought was the most beautiful reunion they'd ever seen in their lives...
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A few feet away Vivian stood in the crowd of field hands and servants, watching Sean with Marita, stunned and hurt by what she was seeing. She couldn't believe it, she thought with anger and disgust. She couldn't believe that Sean could love that Negro so much she mused, her heart stinging at the realization, and thus faltering in defeat, pushing her to leave the Logan ranch right then. No, she uttered within. She was not going to lose Sean. Him saving that Negro, him responding to her that way meant nothing Vivian rationalized. For despite his feelings for that Negro he knew that he couldn't have a life with her. Not only because he'd be shunned by society, but because of the consequences he'd face from Vivian's father if he broke her heart again. No, she wasn't giving Sean up Vivian thought with renewed determination. She'd come there expecting her and Sean to set a wedding date and that's exactly what was going to happen she vowed. Vivian then bravely moved forward, away from the crowd and towards Sean, towards letting him know that she, his fiancée, had arrived, and now required his full attention.