Hi all! Sorry to be posting on an odd day, but the end of the semester, along with other things somewhat hampered my writing time. Thanks for reading and responding. I know that some people were having problems with Chapter 58 fully loading (the help desk worked on it, but some people were still having problems with it loading on their computers), so I'm going to repost the portion of the chapter that most were having problems seeing in this post. Chapter 59 will then follow.
Happy Holidays!
Chapter Fifty-eight (Sean/Marita and Jeremy scene ONLY)
Sean felt good, no better than good. He felt great! It was as if he was riding on a cloud, the cool wind lightly blowing around him, and the sun on his face, as he soared higher and higher with nothing but blue skies ahead. That's what marrying a woman he loved, did for a man, he guessed, or riding one of the best horses in the south. Sean chose to believe that it was the former. Because he'd never had such a smooth ride when atop Sebastian, he mused as he continued to ride across the Logan land. Now thinking how good it was to be home, and on his way to see Marita, after such a hellish day on the job. Despite him announcing his plans to resign, something that Assemblyman Clancy was firmly against, he was still having difficulty closing out his projects, due to the lingering hostility over the fiasco at the Assemblyman's dinner as well as the brief charge of him shooting Asa – a small few still felt that he'd gotten away with something. However, the day hadn't been all bad, for he'd gotten the opportunity to call on Reverend Strickland, a close friend of the family, and who'd days before had agreed to marry he and Marita. Sean just wanted to go over everything again, tell the man that the ceremony would now be held at the Logan house instead of at his home, where they'd originally planned, and Sean had set up a day for him and Marita to meet with the Reverend together (so that he could counsel and pray with them), which was something the preacher had required before he'd perform the wedding. Thus far things were going well with the planning of the wedding. And Sean believed that was because only a trusted few knew of their plans. All of the servants, except for two or three, had no idea what Christmas Eve would bring. They all thought that they were planning for the family's annual Christmas Eve Dinner, which they were, but with something a little extra, and none of them would be on duty on the evening of the event, save for the two or three that knew of the wedding. Sean had also been successful at keeping it from reaching the public. For he'd secured a marriage license from Harrison County, where he knew a license clerk who could be trusted and discreet. And with them being married by a reverend instead of a judge, and Marita leaving after Christmas to return to Cholena, their secret wedding would remain just that – a secret. Sean now came over the hill and spotted Marita just where Lexy said she'd be. Looking like a dream on the bench in front of the pond. A smiled emerged on Sean's face, as his heart flooded with love and warmth. Then he headed for a nearby tree to tie his horse and walk the rest of the way... Moments later Sean made his way towards Marita, thinking how much he didn't want her returning to Cholena without him, but it was the only sensible thing to do. They were already taking a risk by marrying in Lexington; they didn't want to take any additional risks by living here, as husband and wife, even if it was only for a little more than two weeks, while he finished up his business. So Marita had agreed to leave, Sean sighed within, but at least they'd be married, and they'd have three days together, as husband and wife, before she headed back to Cholena after the holiday break. Sean now reached the bench, quietly coming to stand behind his beautiful fiancé; before he then leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her neck...
"Can I interrupt?" Sean then whispered in her ear, sending an ardent wave of warmth through a surprised Marita.
"Always." She faintly answered after closing the book she'd been reading, and turning her face to him, wanting to kiss him, but worried that someone might see, worried that someone had already seen.
"Don't worry. Nobody's around." Sean quietly assured, reading the concern and desire in her eyes. Marita then shyly smile; then took his lips in an awkward, but tender kiss...
Sean groaned as she drew away from his mouth, lightly shaking his head at her sweetness and heat, while she again smiled and bashfully dropped her eyes, before he then moved around the bench and took a seat at her side.
"What're reading?" He asked as he rested his arm on the back of the bench behind her and gazed at the book in her lap, scanning its title: The Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. "Good book." He said before she could answer.
"Yes it is." Marita concurred as he returned his eyes to her face. "It reminds me that nothing's impossible." She stated softly, staring at him with love, referring to their impending marriage, and her hope that her pa would come around.
"No it isn't." Sean quietly agreed, then lean forward and kissed her lips, before she then initiated a hug, holding him closely, tightly, as she sighed with contentment; her worries regarding the situation with her pa, slightly fading in her heart. "You okay?" Sean asked, sensing the anxiety in her embrace.
Silence –
"It's... my pa." Marita admitted with hesitance as she reluctantly ended the hug. "I tried talking to him again." She continued, now turning her gaze to the pond. "But it went no where..." She stated sadly. "He told me that he's... going to Louisville for Christmas."
"What." Sean voiced with shock. "Marita I'm so sorry." He uttered compassionately as he gently stroked her hair.
"I don't know what else I can say to try and convince him to accept our plans." She resumed with frustration and gloom, now returning her eyes to Sean.
"I can try talking to him again." He proposed, suggesting what he'd be wanting to do for days, but had held off due to Marita's apprehension.
"No." She again rejected, just like Sean knew she would. "He'll just pound you with the risks we're taking in marrying." She continued as she lowered her eyes. "And the dangers we'll face even living in Michigan. And when you can't promise that we'll be completely safe, better than safe, he'll become more frustrated, which will alienate him even more."
"Marita I don't know how much more alienated he can become." Sean stated softly, prompting her to meet his eyes. "I mean he's going to Louisville for Christmas instead of staying here with you."
"I know." Marita sighed, again lowering her stare. "But I think if you try speaking with him ...I don't know." She paused, now thinking how angry her pa had been when they'd talked that morning, knowing that if Sean spoke with her pa he'd only become more incensed, which she didn't want to happen or for Sean to experience. "Maybe... I've been going about this all wrong." She then deemed, lifting her eyes back to Sean's. "Maybe I just need to quit trying to push this on him and just let him, come around on his own. Even it takes some time." She said. "I mean what choice do I really have?" She uttered quietly, distractedly as she continued to contemplate her words, now returning her eyes to the pond.
Silence –
"None." Sean responded hesitantly as he too stared at the water before them. His tone also distracted and faint, due to him not fully supporting what Marita was saying. Though he did understand her logic to back off and give her pa more time to adjust to their plans, and her belief that in the end it was the only real choice they had if they kept hitting road blocks every time they tried to talk to him about their impending marriage. But somehow Sean didn't think time would make a difference with Isaac. For the man was stanch in his beliefs and time would only make his resolve stronger. So they couldn't wait for him to come around. They had to change, no he had to change Isaac's mind now; otherwise he feared that Marita would lose her pa forever...
"None is right." Marita softly asserted, impeding Sean's thoughts; then she again became quiet, briefly pondering her "choice" to not push things with her pa, considering the only two results it could yield, hoping that it wouldn't be the adverse, while Sean decided that he had to talk with Isaac again, but this time without Marita knowing. "I just hope that I don't lose him." Marita added suddenly, somberly, voicing the concerns she still had aloud.
"You won't." Sean assured as he gently clasped her hand and brought it to his lips, vowing within to bring Isaac around before their wedding, while Marita sighed at his comfort and warmth; then murmured her thanks, before giving him a kiss.
"So what're we going to do about Clay?" She then quietly asked, now tenderly running her fingers through his hair. "Now that we've...sort of figured out how to deal with my pa."
"Clay?" Sean voiced with surprise; then turned his gaze towards the pond. "I'm afraid my brother is a lost cause." He then said, his voice a mixture of stiffness and ardor.
"Sean I know that you're angry with him." Marita stated softly as her hand now slid to his neck, gently caressing its nape. "But I also know that despite that anger you want him at our wedding."
Silence-
"I do." Sean admitted with a sigh, closing his eyes at her adoring touch, easing the tension he felt at the mere mention of Clay, stirring him with heat. "But I'm not going to beg him to come." He said.
"Sean you don't have to beg him." Marita countered. "Just talk to him. Or maybe I..."
"No, I shouldn't have to talk to him." Sean calmly contended, still sedated by her touch. "And you shouldn't either." He resumed, now turning his gaze to her. "In fact that's the last thing we should be doing."
"Sean..."
"Marita." He uttered quietly, passionately, halting her response as he gently touched her face. "We're getting married in four days." He continued. "We shouldn't be doing this. We shouldn't be submersed in the problems with our families." He said. "We should be hugging..." He declared; then kissed her forehead, compelling her to smile. "And kissing..." He expressed; then kissed her cheek. "And..."
"Sean." Marita sighed with a laugh, surprised, but stirred by the words he'd whispered in her ear, and by the loving kiss he then placed on the side of her neck. "That is not going to make me drop this discussion of Clay." She then weakly conveyed.
"Oh it's not." Sean stated huskily in her ear; then graced it with a delicate kiss, electrifying every nerve in her form, causing her to helplessly gasp at the fire in his simple caress. "You still sure about that?" Sean again whispered in her ear.
"No." Marita conceded languidly as Sean pulled back to look her in the face, smiling at the beauty in the pleasure he saw there. "Good." Sean then murmured, after which he lightly brushed her nose with a kiss.
"You didn't play fair." Marita breathed as she opened her eyes, that had fell closed, to meet Sean's intense blue gaze.
"How is me loving you not playing fair?" He questioned in a hushed tone as he now tenderly touched her brow.
"Sean your brother is a serious subject." Marita replied, her voice still uneven, reflecting the affect of his words and his touch.
"I know." He quietly acknowledged, now thinking how Clay was still vehemently against the wedding and that as a result they were hardly speaking. "But we've been dealing with our families and the wedding for days." He said. "And I just want, for a minute, to drop all of that, and take some time out for us to be who we are... two passionate lovers, who can't wait to marry."
"I like that idea." Marita responded softly; her eyes smoldering with amour as she touched his face.
"Good." Sean smiled; then moved to kiss her again.
"But we will return to the subject of Clay." She then lightly warned, desire in her voice, suspending his kiss.
"Whatever you say." Sean uttered huskily, the smile still in his tone knowing that he'd won this round regarding a discussion of Clay; before he then passionately took her mouth.
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Bainbridge, Ohio
Things hadn't gone as smoothly as he'd hoped Jeremy thought as he sat on the side of the bed, staring out the window into the darkness. Though he still had plenty of money to support him and Danielle, he was having to lay low, because news of the kidnapping had quickly caught up to him. In almost every town he'd gone through, there was news of what he'd done, and in some towns, specifically back in Kentucky, there were already drawings of him posted in store windows and on the doors of saloons along with a promise of a hefty reward if Danielle was found and safely returned to the Chambers. The Logans had figured out what he'd done, Jeremy had deduced with no surprise, and must've told the authorities and the Chambers who he was. Now people, bounty hunters, were on the hunt for him, which had nearly gotten him caught a couple of days before. But thankfully Danielle wasn't with him he thought as he turned his gaze to the sleeping child on the bed, because she'd become ill the day before, and an old Negro woman whom he'd met, just by pure luck, helped him nurse her back to health, and was keeping her while he'd gone to the nearby town for supplies. That's when he'd been stopped by the bounty hunter, who'd thought that he looked like the kidnapper in the drawings posted all over town, but Jeremy had managed to fool the man, mainly because he didn't have Danielle. After that encounter, he'd immediately returned to the Negro's home, picked up Danielle and got as far away from there as he could. But that still wasn't far enough, for just yesterday he'd heard the news here in Ohio, Wealthy Kentucky Family Offering Huge Reward for the Return of Their Daughter. "Their daughter", Jeremy had bitterly scoffed, Danielle was no more their daughter than he was Ned Logan's son. And they didn't really give a dam about her until she was gone, considering she was always in Lucy's care. "Lucy." Jeremy sighed aloud, for a brief moment wondering how she was doing, thinking how devastated she must've been when she learned who he really was, before his thoughts then drifted to the Logans, who no doubt hated him by now. Jeremy ran his hands through his hair, closing his eyes at the mess he'd created. In his heart he knew that Anna wanted him to have their child, but she wouldn't want him to have Danielle like this. He'd felt it the night he'd taken Danielle, Anna telling him that it was wrong, and the feeling had grown stronger the further he got from Lexington, letting him know that he made a huge mistake. Jeremy heaved a sigh, grieve and guilt overtaking him. He missed Anna so much, his heart ached, now thinking of her death, the life they should've had together, and the endless betrayals he'd committed to get to this point. What was he going to do he posed to himself as he turned his gaze to the fire that was blazing in the small hearth. He wanted to go back to Lexington, but he couldn't, because there was no where to go to if he returned. The Logans wouldn't accept him back, and even if they did, Ned would make him give up Danielle. And then there were the authorities and the threat of jail, or the dangerous bounty hunters who'd do anything to catch him for that reward. No, he had to keep heading north, Jeremy sadly concluded. It was now his only choice – Canada, where he could escape the bounty hunters, and keep him and Danielle together and safe.
Chapter Fifty-nine
The morning was gray. The azure sky obscured by thick cumulous clouds, bringing about a cold, blustery wind, signifying the approaching storm from the west. Sean had been hoping that the storm would hold off, that it wouldn't arrive at least until after the holiday. But with the storm clouds moving in today, there was no chance that he and Marita would have sunshine on their wedding day. Sean smiled to himself as he rode east, deep into the east pasture, gazing at the endless clouds covering the horizon. Though he was slightly disappointed that tomorrow wouldn't be clear; ultimately it didn't matter, because the sun would be shining in his heart. Heck it already was, because he was marrying the most beautiful woman in the world he mused, as he continued east, his smile growing deeper at what tomorrow would bring, which would not only be the wedding, but a couple of minor surprises he'd prepared for his bride, one of which was why he'd taken a morning ride. He wanted to check on the progress of his project, but he also had something more pressing to do, he now thought, his ponderings quickly turning bleak, something that he hoped would lead to a reconciliation between Marita and her pa. Everything was still going well, better than well with regards to the wedding, for their plans were still only known by a selected few, and he and Marita would have their final meeting with Reverend Strickland that evening; the only thing that wasn't falling into place was the situations with their families. Clay was still refusing to attend the ceremony, which hurt Sean and angered him to no end, but worse than that, Isaac was still refusing to attend the ceremony too, which was why he was on his way to see the man. He'd missed him over the past few days, unable to find an opportunity to talk with him because Isaac was always gone, away in a nearby town for the day, or he didn't have the time to approach the man because he'd been having to work overtime in town, trying to wrap up his projects as Deputy Director. But today that wasn't the case Sean thought, now spotting the man ahead, driving forth a small group of mares. Today he'd finally get his chance. And he was going to do his damdest to change Isaac's mind...
"I got this." Isaac asserted tartly as Sean rode up. "So you're not needed here." He then barked.
"I'm not here to help." Sean snapped, seriousness in his tone as he moved behind the pack of mares, but did nothing to urge them forward. "I'm here to talk about Marita." He stated; his gaze now on the man who still refused to spare him a glance.
"I think you've said more than enough about my daughter." Isaac retorted as he continued to goad the young steeds forward, his eyes still focused on them.
"Sir I beg..."
"You're wasting your time here." Isaac interjected, rudely cutting Sean off as he finally turned his stern gaze towards the young man across the way. "There's nothing you can say that will convince me that my daughter won't face a life of hatred and heartache when she marries you." He added stiffly; then returned his eyes forward.
"You're so sure that Marita is destined for a life of pain when she marries me, but what about the pain she's feeling right now?" Sean strongly posed, frustration in his voice. "Pain due to you, her pa, shutting her out."
"How dare you come out here and blame me for my daughter hurting, when you created this rift between us by asking her to be your wife!" Isaac fiercely countered as he returned his heated gaze to Sean, his anger amplified by the truth in the young man's accusation, still not wanting to admit the hurt his behavior was causing his daughter. "I begged you." He continued angrily. "I begged you like I'd never begged anyone before to let my daughter go and..."
"And I did what you asked!" Sean contended firmly now stopping his horse as Isaac stopped his. Their gazes still severe and locked. "I let her go!" He yelled.
"You call letting her go, causing a scene in the middle of town!" Isaac stated harshly, further irritating Sean, referring to the young man's encounter with his daughter when they'd returned to town. "And openly displaying your feelings for her in the mist of everyone on this ranch!"
"You know what I'm not going to do this." Sean sharply replied as he struggled to curb his frustration, knowing that it would only inflame the already troubled discussion. "I didn't come here to discuss how well I let go or didn't let go of Marita." He said. "I came here because she's hurting over you." He declared; his words once again hitting home with a staunch and furious Isaac, weakening the man's steady resolve. "Now I don't care if you hate me for the rest of your life..." He avowed as Isaac turned his fuming eyes away, towards the steeds that were now stagnant due to him ceasing to drive them in. "I don't care if you never speak to me again because I married your daughter." He heatedly resumed. "But she shouldn't have to suffer the same fate."
"I could never hate my daughter!" Isaac stated with ire, now returning his eyes to Sean. "And I resent the fact that you think that I ever could."
"Sir I know that you could never hate Marita." Sean quickly clarified; his voice serious and strong, his eyes unwavering, holding Isaac's stare. "I know that you love her more than anything in this world and it will be that way until the day you die." He said. "But that still doesn't change the fact that you're angry, and shutting her out, over her choice to marry me!"
"You are out of line!"
"I may be." Sean acknowledged without pause. "But with all do respect sir I don't care." He boldly stated. "Just like you love Marita and don't want her hurt by society due her relationship with me, I love her..."
"I don't won't to hear..."
"And I don't want her to lose her relationship with you!" Sean continued, shouting over Isaac's livid response. "It would hurt her, more than anything society could ever do to us, if she lost you." He contended emotionally; his heart hurting at the thought of Marita enduring such pain as his eyes remained fixed on her father, who'd again turned his gaze away, now shaking his head in denial and indignation. "She loves you, so much." Sean persisted with poignance and more calm, as Isaac's stance stayed rigid, even though his heart was growing soft. "And she needs you." He said. "More than you know." He conveyed as Isaac again returned his stare; the man's face stern, but his eyes reflecting the deep love he had for his daughter. "Isaac I know... that you don't want this." Sean uttered. "I know that you don't want to cause Marita pain. So please, please don't shut her out. Don't...go to Louisville for Christmas." He pled. "Stay here in Lexington... and spend the holiday with Marita."
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Alice and Lexy sat in the parlor of the Logan home, surrounded by a sea of every imaginable Christmas decoration there was – candy, cookies, nuts and raisins, paper, garland, pine cones and holly. It all surrounded them as they picked through the edible and non-edible trimmings to create an array of unique decorations for the tree, which would be trimmed on Christmas Eve, following the wedding, and the Logan's traditional holiday dinner. Alice retrieved a pine cone from the basket on the floor. And thoroughly wet it with water, then sprinkled it with flour, marveling at how pretty it looked, happy to be feeling good – better than she'd been feeling over the past few days. After learning what Jeremy had done, she'd been confused, plagued with anger, hurt and guilt over what he'd done, but as the days had gone by, bit by bit it had gotten a little easier. Thanks to Sean and Marita's wedding which had been a lifesaver. She'd admit, that when they'd first announced their plans to marry in Lexington, she'd quietly thought that it wasn't a good idea, especially having the ceremony on the ranch. But once preparations began to be made, for the small ceremony that would be just them and the family, her reservations had faded, and she'd gotten caught up in the excitement of her best friend and brother getting married. It had been wonderful, and thus had become a welcomed distraction from her anger and hurt over Jeremy, as well as her worry for him, she now mused, a thought that again unleashed her concerns, sending feelings of worry through her heart. Though Jeremy had betrayed them, hurt them badly with what he'd done, she didn't wish him any harm. And thus she worried for him, worried greatly that the bounty hunters who were surely seeking him out, would find him, and hurt him and Danielle...
"Alice..." The young woman now heard from what seemed like a world away, entering her thoughts. "Alice..." She heard again and this time she managed to respond...
"Hmm?" Alice uttered distractedly as she turned her eyes to Lexy, who was sitting on the adjacent couch.
"Are you okay?" Lexy asked, for a moment ceasing to string the garland she was crafting, concern in her eyes and voice.
"Yes." Alice assured as she pushed the remaining remnants of her reverie from her mind, and placed the frosted cone in an empty basket that was nearby.
"Are you sure?" Lexy question again, skepticism in her tone, knowing that her sister had something heavy on her mind.
"Yes." Alice stated too quickly – unconvincingly as she grabbed another plain cone and began preparing it for frosting.
"It's Jeremy isn't it?" Lexy suddenly asked. "You're thinking about him." She promptly deemed, giving Alice no time to try and cover with a lie. "It's okay." Lexy quickly assured as she resumed making her string of garland. "I'm thinking about him too." She sadly confessed. "I thought that he'd be back by now, but with all the people looking for him it must've scared him into staying away."
"Lexy, I don't think...that anything scared Jeremy into staying away." Alice cautiously conveyed, still trying to recover from Lexy deciphering her thoughts, while at the same time processing her sister's continuous beliefs regarding the boy. "I don't think...he had any intentions of coming back." She continued, now frosting the pine cone, her tone etched with sorrow and ire.
"I don't believe that." Lexy disputed with earnestness and faith as she continued to thread various nuts into an edible garland.
"Lexy Jeremy came here to take his daughter." Alice countered unevenly, now struggling with her rising frustration. "Not to be a family with us." She said, putting the newly frosted cone next to the other, but failing to retrieve a new one to be coated. "Now I know that that's hurtful to know." She resumed. "But it's the truth." She declared.
"It was the truth when he first came" Lexy repelled, again stopping her work. "But it's not the truth anymore."
"Lexy how can you say that when he's run off with Danielle?"
"Alice he loves us." The girl vehemently contended. "I know he does." She said, holding her sister's stare. "He may have come here for his daughter, but he grew to love us too..."
"Le..."
"If pa hadn't told Mr. and Mrs. Chambers who Jeremy was, he'd be back by now! I'm sure of it!" The girl proclaimed.
"Lexy I disagree." Alice fiercely contested. "Jeremy used us to get close to his daughter and though along the way he MAY have grown to care about us, he cared about Danielle more." She reasoned, emotion building in her voice. "That's why he took her without any regard for us. And that's why he's not coming back."
"No you're wrong?" Lexy denied.
"No I'm right." Alice severely rebuffed; her heart panging with anger and hurt. "Now you need to accept the truth!" She snapped. "Jeremy's not coming back!" She yelled, finally quieting Lexy's rebuts, who now sat staring at her with tearful and pained eyes, igniting guilt Alice's already troubled heart. "Lexy... I'm sorry." Alice softly uttered. "I didn't mean to..."
"Marita will be here any minute." Lexy stiffly interjected, as she put the garland she was making to the side. "So we should probably check on lunch." She weakly suggested, while she now stood from the couch, fighting to keep the tears away.
"Lexy..." Alice sighed, but her sister didn't respond, but continued to move towards the exit of the room, carefully stepping over the many trimmings that lay in her path. "Lexy please." Alice called again, remorse in her voice, but Lexy still failed to reply, choosing to leave her big sister alone with her guilt, and her anger and hurt over what Jeremy Bradford had done and what he was continuing to do to her and her family.
---------------------
Clay felt like hell. But that was nothing new. He'd felt that way for days, ever since he'd got his wish with Jeremy running away. He thought that it would've made things right if the boy left, that the Logan home would finally return to the peace it had before the boy had come, but his beliefs had been wrong, painfully wrong, he thought as he stalked towards the house, slightly shivering from the cold. For ever since the boy had run away, and did the unthinkable in kidnapping his daughter, home had been anything but a haven a peace. For he, Lexy and Alice were still having their tiffs over the boy, though now less frequent than when he first left, arguing over what Jeremy had done, whose fault it was and if he'd return. While his pa had been more distracted than he'd been when the boy was there, barely speaking during dinner and tea. His face a mask of worry, Clay knew, over the mess Jeremy had left behind. He hated it. He hated it with every ounce of his soul, and of course he'd not hesitated to openly voice his disdain over what the boy had done. How he'd ruined their family, which had ultimately caused him more grief, along with his vehement opposition to Sean and Marita marrying. For his pa, who'd warned him before about his "unguarded" tongue, had finally had enough, and thus had made good on his threat to have him cleaning stables for a year. Clay heaved an irritated sigh, as he now ran up the back steps of his family's home, thinking what a nightmare his life had become, before he finally entered the house, as sadness and anger flooded his heart...
"Clay!" Marita exclaimed with surprise as the boy barged into the house, bringing in the wind and the cold, startling her to halt as she came down the hall. "You scared me." She uttered with a weak laugh, but Clay didn't say a word; for he was struggling with his own surprise, and the discomfort seeing her had brought on. He hadn't really seen Marita, or spoken to her since she and her pa had briefly stayed at the house. And then that couldn't really be called speaking considering he'd been somewhat harsh, barely muttering two words to her, due to her plans to marry Sean. Clay then lowered his gaze, now feeling slightly embarrassed at his past behavior, at the not so pleasant things he'd said about the wedding, while at the same time feeling a rush of irritation over the embarrassment he felt as well as him standing there, under Marita's scrutinizing gaze. For a moment they remained in this uncomfortable silence, not knowing what to say, or what to do, until Clay finally closed the door behind him, then awkwardly moved to walk past her...
"Clay wait!" Marita asserted, feeling that she needed to seize the moment, take this opportunity to try and mend the conflict she and Sean were having with the boy.
"This isn't a good time." Clay immediately responded, tensely, in no mood to discuss Sean or their impending wedding as he continued to quickly move past her.
"I know." Marita acknowledged, surprising the boy, causing him to slow his trek, as she turned to face him. "But there's something that I need to say to you...and it can't wait." She said, prompting Clay to reluctantly halt; then turn to face her; his gaze still weary and piqued...
"What could you possibly have to say to me?" He then curtly questioned. "Oh let me guess, you want me to be the perfect little brother and come to you and Sean's wedding." He tartly accused, before Marita could answer his previous question. "Well I can't do it." He uttered stiffly. "I won't do it. I won't support something that I don't agree with." He said; then turned to walk away.
"And I wouldn't dare ask you to." Marita quickly responded, again taking Clay by surprise, causing him to again halt and turn his stunned gaze back to her. "Look I just ...want to say that I'm sorry you won't be at the wedding tomorrow." She cautiously resumed, surprising and baffling Clay more, believing that she had to handle him with gentleness and ease; for anything else would only provoke his perpetual frustration. "I know that for the past few days we've...had our differences, but Sean and I were still hoping that we could all... put those disagreements aside ..."
"Sean wants us to put our disagreements aside?" Clay scoffed in disbelief, interrupting Marita's words; his surprise now being replaced with suspicion and renewed irritation.
"Yes." Marita answered with sincerity, holding the boy's gaze. "Clay Sean may be angry with you, but he still loves you." She said; her eyes fixed upon the boy, who instantly averted his stare; his stance now emanating slight embarrassment due to her words. "You're his family." She continued. "His only brother, and no matter the disagreement you've had ...over our wedding, he still wants you to come." She impassionedly proclaimed, briefly thinking, sadly that her words, Sean's feelings, paralleled her feelings towards her pa. "He wants this holiday...and our wedding to be a time of joy and family, not strife and estrangement... even if it's just for one day." She ended softly, genuinely, drawing Clay's eyes back to her face with her gentleness and truth. For a moment the boy held her honest stare, then again averted his gaze, thinking of all she'd said, feeling a bit confused by her words and all he was feeling inside. Though he didn't agree with Sean and Marita marrying, he did understand their feelings for each other. For he'd seen how deeply they loved when Sean had saved her from the fire he thought, now briefly remembering, with embarrassment, how that scene had touched his heart. Thus some part of him understood their decision to be together, and as a result he did sort of want to attend the wedding. After all, Sean was his brother, and Marita was practically family- had always been like another sister or close cousin. But, despite the slight understanding he felt, and the minute desire he had to attend the wedding, he still couldn't get past his anger towards them. He still couldn't believe that they were willing to risk themselves and the families to be together. He didn't know if he could ever get past that – get past their selfishness that could end up hurting them all. But what could he do, he thought, the plans had been made. It was going to happen. So what would be the point of skipping the event and upsetting the family more? None. He logically deduced to himself, wanting at that moment to tell Marita that he'd come to the wedding, but his tongue was stayed by stubbornness, anger, and lingering doubt. Thinking that to attend the wedding would go against everything he'd said, everything he believed, feeling that he'd be a hypocrite if he went...
"Clay I kn..."
"Look I know what you're trying to do." The boy suddenly interjected, cutting short Marita's comment. "And it's not going to work." He uttered with a hint of uncertainty, now holding her eyes. "You can't sway me." He continued with more strength, but still lacked the conviction he'd had several minutes before. "I'm not coming to the wedding."
"I know." Marita solemnly replied, briefly lowering her stare. "And like I said before I wouldn't dream of trying to convince you of doing something you don't want to do." She reiterated as she lifted her eyes back to Clay's inconclusive gaze. "I just wanted you to know that you'll be missed." She said, conflicting the boy more, making him rethink his stance regarding the wedding.
"I have to get back to work." He then abruptly said, awkwardness in his voice as he quickly moved forward, passing by her, heading for the door he'd entered minutes before. "I've already wasted too much time in here as it is." He muttered with faint frustration.
"Clay!" Marita asserted before the boy could exit the door, causing him to reluctantly return his attention to her. "Thanks...for hearing me out." She conveyed with earnest, holding the boy's gaze, again thinking of her pa, wishing that she could get him to "hear her," to come around before the wedding. Clay stiffly swallowed and barely nodded his head, confusion and conflict deepening on his face; then he quickly turned away and exited the home, failing to do what he'd come in the house to do, and leaving Marita with a smidgen of hope, that she'd successfully cracked his stubborn shell, and thus convinced him, without really asking, to attend her and Sean's wedding.
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Twilight was close, slowly embracing the gray skies, steadily transforming the day into the beautiful mystique of the night, as Sean and Marita arrived at Mr. Johnson's home. It had been a long day for both. A mixture of poignant talks: with Isaac and Clay, trying to resolve the lingering problems with them, and just an hour ago Reverend Strickland, to complete their spiritual counseling before the wedding, business deals: Sean was still working on key issues with the water initiative and the hospital project, refereeing fights: Marita had been forced into helping Alice and Lexy get past the argument they'd had about Jeremy, and prepping for the wedding, which consisted of various small tasks on both of their parts. Their day had consisted of a lot. Thus when it was over, they'd both wanted to put all of that stuff aside, and just for a moment focus on each other. So, after they'd met with Reverend Strickland, they didn't resume discussing their activities of the day, instead they'd took some quiet time in the Logan study, which was guarded and brief - due to the servants that were around, before he'd then drove her "home," back to Mr. Johnson's. It was a bit of a risk for him to be bringing her back there, not because they probably shouldn't be seen together, which wasn't likely since the Parks lived close by, and even when they arrived on the property they'd find it virtually deserted since Mr. Johnson had carried the Parks to Richmond (KY) for their traditional holiday trip, leaving only a hand full of servants to tend to the property, but because of how they were when they were together, especially when saying goodbye. It was always difficult for Marita and Sean to keep things dispassionate and chaste. But Sean wouldn't take no for an answer, citing that he wanted more time with her, something that she couldn't argue with because she wanted the same time with him, and that he didn't want her driving herself back to Mr. Johnson's alone. So Marita had adhered to his will, but not before making him promise, and she'd promised too, to keep things totally innocent. Thus he'd simply take her to the Mr. Johnson's house, and drop her off. However nothing was ever that simple with Sean and Marita. For he'd helped her down from the carriage; then proceeded to walk her to the door, telling himself that he was still just "dropping her off," well, sort of, he'd mused with a smile in his heart. There was still one tiny little thing he had to do, and then he'd "drop her off" for the night...Now steps away from the front of the home their paces slowed and their hands, that were gently clasped, instinctively tightened. They didn't want to let go. They didn't want to part without at least a kiss or a hug, they both thought, as joy and longing rushed their forms, warming them in the mist of the cold, but they had to, they both deemed as they now came to a stop in front of the door of Mr. Johnson's home, they had to part, innocently. For it was what they'd vowed they'd do...Marita turned her eyes to Sean and found his eyes were already upon her, shining with such deep tenderness that she nearly melted beneath his gaze. For a moment she couldn't speak, could only stand their lost in a sea of mesmerizing blue, before she gradually found her tongue, and uttered the words she'd been lagging, and loathing to say...
"Well...I guess this is goodnight." She uttered quietly, hesitantly, holding his adoring stare, her hand still nestled in his, not wanting to let go.
"Not quite." Sean stated softly; his eyes emanating his yearning for more – to kiss her.
"Sean...we agreed..." Marita faintly replied, stirred by the desire in his eyes.
"I know." He whispered as he gently caressed her hair, causing Marita to sigh at the fire in his touch. "I'm not...going to break our vow." He huskily assured as he continued to stroke her hair, his resolve weakening with every touch. "But there is...something, I need to do." He said, now drawing his hand from her hair, watching with love as Marita closed her eyes; her heart aching at the loss of his touch. "Something that I've wanted to do for days." He continued. "But thought that it was best to wait until now..."
"Sean wh..." Marita began, perplexity in her voice as she opened her eyes, but her words suddenly ceased, vanished on her lips at the sight of a small leather case, a jewelry case, Sean now held in his hand...
"We've been engaged for over a month." He quietly resumed, drawing her gaze back to his, heightening the anticipation, and excitement in her heart. "Yet still, you don't have a ring." He lovingly declared. "But tonight, right now... that's going to change." He affirmed with love, just as he slowly unsealed the case, revealing the jewel inside...
"Sean." Marita gasped with shock, upon seeing the exquisite jewel that she recognized from years before. It was one of two diamond rings that was apart of a set, a wedding set that had been worn by Sean's mother, and from what she'd been told by his grandma Alice. Marita lifted her eyes back to Sean's face, wanting to respond with more words, but found that she couldn't. For she was still stunned; her heart overwhelmed with love, moved that Sean would present her with such a gift...
"My grandpa Shane, said that this ring was forged in love." Sean uttered softly, passionately binding her tearful gaze to his. "And that it symbolize, his infinite devotion, passion, and honor for his wife." Sean disclosed, his eyes emitting the words he'd just spoke, touching Marita's soul. " 'It is sacred.' He said. And thus, should only grace the hand of the woman whose spirit is the eternal flame that burns in my soul." Sean professed, love in his voice. "And whose love has inspired' me 'to heights that' I 'didn't know was possible." He conveyed. "For me...that woman is you." He whispered tenderly – emotionally. "Hence... I want you to accept this ring...as a symbol of my love, and as my promise to make you my wife, come this Christmas Eve."
Marita's eyes fell closed and a tear came forth, flowing slowly down her cheek, signifying the intense love and bliss that was now rushing through her heart. When suddenly, she felt Sean's gentleness and warmth, his thumb, brushing her cheek, sweeping the tear away, as he quietly asked...
"Will you accept this ring?"
Silence –
"Yes." Marita sighed; then opened her eyes to his beautiful blue gaze, and nearly gasped at the adoration she saw in his stare. "I'd be honored, to accept this ring." She added with deep emotion and earnest. Sean smiled with joy, his own eyes glazed with tears; then he gently clutched her hand, lifted it to his lips, kissing it lightly, lingeringly; before tenderly slipping the ring on her finger...
"I love you." Marita uttered quietly, shakily, just as Sean finished adorning her hand, and again graced it with a kiss.
"I love you too." He responded fervently, as he brought his hand to her cheek, touching it gently, binding her eyes to his ardent stare, wanting so desperately to kiss her, but knowing that he needed to keep their vow. When Marita then clasped his hand that rested on her cheek, and brought it to her lips, conquering his wavering resolve, causing him to take her in his arms, and kiss her with deep passion and heat...
"I better go." Sean breathed as he reluctantly drew away from her mouth, burning with yearning to taste her once more.
"Yes...you better." Marita feverishly sighed, as she languidly opened her eyes, her gaze instantly locking with Sean's smoldering stare. For a moment Sean didn't move, his eyes fixed on the beauty before him, loving her so much, longing for another kiss and more, before he then finally moved, leaning forward and kissing her brow – tenderly, lovingly, rousing Marita to a quiet sigh, then slowly pulling back, and softly uttered one word...
"Tomorrow." He said with intensity and amour, his mouth still inches away from her brow.
"Tomorrow." Marita murmured, aching from the warm touch of his lips, as he now hesitantly backed away; their eyes binding once more, expressing without words the powerful feelings that were flowing through their hearts, before Sean then reluctantly turned away, and headed for the carriage. Once settled behind the horses, he again turned his eyes her way, a smile on his face, and mouthed three words of love, causing Marita to beam with glee, and then mouth her own words of adoration. Sean's smile instantly broadened to a near blush, and for a moment he held her blithe stare, before he then pulled the reigns of the horses, and the carriage started to move. Marita watched with joy as Sean rode away, still hardly noticing the cold around her, for she was flying, soaring from the incredible emotions in her heart, so happy, the happiest she'd ever been in her life. Tomorrow would be the day she thought with excitement and delight, as she now gazed down at the ring that was adorning her hand, still shocked that she – Marita Peters, had been so blessed, tempted to shout her bliss to the heavens. But instead she held it in, not wanting to tempt fate, as she again lifted her eyes and resumed watching Sean move further away, feeling nothing but love, hope and joy, now knowing in her heart that tomorrow was going to be a wonderful day.