Hi all!

I hope everyone had a great New Year! I'm posting on an odd day again because I wanted Chapters 60 and 61 ready to go at the same time, and Chapter 61 wasn't ready until today. I want to again thank everyone for sticking with this story and continuing to read and respond. It's been a long 60 something chapters (for me like taking another class – LOL - but at least I'm in the home stretch), and I really appreciate you being patient and continue to hang with this story:)

Special Thanks: SoapDoc and Genetta – Thanks for coming out of lurkdom to respond. It's always wonderful and inspiring to learn of new readers!

Chapter Sixty

Morning was only an hour old. The sun gracing Lexington with it's presence behind a mass of snow clouds, blanketing the town, and already the Logan home was awake, bustling with activity as servants rushed about, dusting and sweeping, cooking and baking, and decking the halls, in preparation for what most believed was just the holiday. Sean moved about the busy halls, noting everyone's tasks as he went on his way, looking for Alice. Even though things appeared to be coming together rather well, with regards to the holiday preparations, Sean wanted to confirm with Alice, who was overseeing the plans for the day, that the same could be said for his wedding. Sean deeply inhaled, joy and anticipation rising in his heart, emitting from his eyes as he continued down the hall. His mind on Marita, so ready to marry her, wondering if she was also up, preparing for their day. Thinking how beautiful she looked first thing in the morning, when Alice suddenly appeared in the hallway before him, heading in the opposite direction, having no idea that he was steps away...

"Alice!" Sean called, immediately drawing her attention to him, stopping her before she could disappear out of sight – off to another task. "How's everything coming?" He inquired upon reaching her, briefly glancing at the busy servants that rushed back and forth.

"Fi..." She began, but abruptly ceased her answer when a servant caught her eye. "George where's that plant going?" She then suddenly asked the man, compelling him to stop.

"The Great R..."

"No, I don't want it in there." She interjected. "It should go in the dining room." She directed to the man, who acknowledged her order and promptly headed in the opposite direction of where he was originally going. "I'm sorry." Alice sighed, as she returned her gaze to Sean. "Now what were you saying?"

"I was asking if everything's coming along okay?" He asked again, slight worry in his voice, now thinking that his sister may be a bit overwhelmed.

"Yes." Alice answered distractedly, before stopping a passing servant and giving her another task to be completed once she finished the one she was on.

"Are you sure?" Sean questioned with doubt, when Alice turned her eyes back to him. "Cause even though it's just going to be us, I don't want..."

"Sean I know..." Alice interjected with a hint of testiness in her voice. "It's your wed..." She paused when a servant walked by, who wasn't wise to the wedding that was due to take place. "It's your wedding day." She began again, her voice now much lower, after the servant passed out of ear shot. "And you want it to be perfect for you and Marita." She said. "I assure you it'll be fine." She firmly declared, holding his still doubtful eyes. "So you can go off and do, what ever it is you need to do before the wedding." She carefully continued, trying hard to stay her annoyance with him holding her up, trying to be sensitive to his lingering concerns. "And leave me, to handle things here." She said.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Sean questioned once more.

"Yes!" Alice irritably sighed. "What more do you..."

"Okay! I believe you!" Sean quickly conceded, stopping Alice's on coming rant. "I'll go." He avowed.

"Good." Alice snapped. "Cause I have work to do." She said; then turned to walk away.

"Oh Alice wait!" Sean asserted, remembering that he had to question her about one more thing.

"What?" She huffed, now giving him a not so pleasant look.

"Did those extra flowers I requested come in?" He asked, slight worry again in his tone, knowing that they were essential to the surprise he had planned for that night.

"Yes." Alice answered with a frustrated sigh. "They came in late yesterday evening. I had the deliverymen put them in the barn that's on the other side of the stables."

"Okay good." Sean responded with relief. "I'm going to go...do what I need to do..." He then stated awkwardly, now feeling a bit ridiculous about the way he'd questioned her ability to handle things. "If you need me..."

"I know where to find you." She curtly assured. Sean gave her a slight nod, a weak smile on his face, still feeling somewhat guilty and embarrassed. Then he turned and walked away, just as Lexy came prancing down the hall, whom he barely had time to greet before Alice lit into her for being late...

"Lexy where have you been!" She scolded from afar, interrupting Lexy's intended words to Sean. "I needed you an hour ago..." Lexy heaved a sigh as she rolled her eyes in the air; then replied to her sister's reproach, while continuing down the hall in Alice's direction. Sean's smile helplessly grew, as he shook his head at Alice's almost tyrannical behavior, feeling even more relaxed about the wedding preparations. She had it under control. He confidently mused, as he continue on his way, now headed to his own tasks, that needed to be completed in order to make this day more special for Marita.

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

Marita faintly stirred, moving beneath the warm covers, as sleep slowly faded away, her senses gradually wakening to the quiet crackle of the fire, burning in the nearby hearth. Marita lightly stretched, softly moaning at the pleasure in such a move; then languidly opened her eyes to find her newly jeweled hand before her, sparkling with the beautiful ring Sean had given her last evening. Marita instantly smiled, her heart aching with happiness and amour as she recalled the loving way Sean had given her the jewel, and it's significance to his family, and today. Marita deeply inhaled, her smile growing as she continued to gaze at her ringed hand, now excitedly thinking how wonderful the day was going to be, when her thoughts suddenly shifted to her pa, instantly dampening the joy she felt within. Marita heaved a sigh as she now turned on her back, wishing so much that her pa would change his mind and come to the wedding. Though last night he seemed different, not as cold as he'd been before, she suspected because of the discussion Sean told her he'd had with him, her pa still had no plans to remain in town. She sadly mused; for she'd seen him continuing to gather his things and pack them for his trip. Marita briefly closed her eyes and for a moment lay still. Her heart paining. Hoping for a miracle with her pa, before she forced her pain aside, and gradually climbed from the bed, thinking that she had to get going with the many things she needed to do before the wedding. Again embracing the bliss this day would bring. Though she was deeply hurt by her pa's choice not to attend the wedding, and the rift that remained between them, she was determined to not let it get her down she vowed, determined to not let it diminish her happiness, and the special-ness of this day.

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

Ned led his horse into the stall, then proceeded to remove it's reigns. His mind troubled by the telegram he'd just received from Arthur, the PI he'd hired to track down Jeremy. The man's message said that he'd lost Jeremy's trail near Columbus, OH, that it was as if the boy had vanished into thin air. But that he'd stay on the hunt, citing that the boy couldn't have gotten far, considering the wintry weather. And was probably laying low until the weather blew over. Ned hoped that the man's assessment was right. He hoped that Jeremy was just suspending his movement due to the weather and hadn't been secretly snatched up by a bounty hunter. For often times when a hunter caught the criminal they were seeking, they'd try to keep it hidden, keep the criminal hidden, until they came in to collect their reward. Because they wanted to avoid a battle with other hunters who were looking to cash in on the same feat. Ned sighed with worry, as he now hung the reigns on a nearby peg, then moved to the saddle and began unhooking it's clasps. He hoped to God that that wasn't the case with Jeremy. No, that wasn't the case with Jeremy he reasoned. For in his message, Arthur had also assured him that the boy hadn't been caught. And the man was rarely wrong when deducing such things. Ned exited the stall with the saddle in his hands, heading for it's storage bin, now thinking that he couldn't do this today. He couldn't get bogged down with his worries over Jeremy on the most important day of Sean's life. He mused. His concern for Jeremy now slightly abating, due to the happiness that rose in his heart over Sean and Marita's impending wedding. He really just wanted to enjoy their special day, the holiday, and the family – something he hadn't been doing much of. And for a while forget the worries that perpetually plagued his thoughts. Ned came upon the storage shelves and carefully placed the saddle in it's designated spot, when he heard a noise on the other side of the barn, which should've been empty save for horses, prompting him to leave the shelves to investigate what it was...

"Isaac?" Ned asserted with surprise, as he now walked towards the man who was now hanging some tools on the wall before him. "What're you still doing here?" He questioned as he closed in on the man, thinking that Isaac should've already been gone, headed for the train station, instantly hoping that the man had changed his mind about going to Louisville.

"Finishing up some work." Isaac answered, briefly turning his attention to Ned, before returning his eyes to the wall to finish hanging a pitchfork. "I got a few more things to do; then I'm gone." He casually stated, hiding the hurt and conflict he was feeling, over what his plans were doing to his relationship with his daughter.

"So you're still going to Louisville?" Ned solemnly asked, disappointment in his voice as he came to a halt a few feet away from a working Isaac.

"Yes." Isaac evenly replied, still managing to sound fine, as he hung the shovel next to the pitchfork. "I'm catching the last train out this evening."

"I wish you'd...reconsider and stay." Ned seriously stated.

"You know why I can't." Isaac staunchly declared, as he turned from the tool rack and moved past Ned. "I can't...support Marita's decision to build a life that will surely destroy her." He said, his voice faintly betraying the war and pain in his heart.

"You know that Sean would never let that happen." Ned contended, now watching as his friend retrieved the pails from the floor, stacking them together, one by one. "He would never allow anything to happen to Marita."

"I know that Sean will try his best to protect my daughter." Isaac countered tartly as he stopped what he was doing to look Ned in the eyes. "But he will fail." He bitterly conveyed. "We've both seen how vicious society can be when..."

"Yes we have." Ned strongly interjected. "And I understand your position but..."

"So why are you supporting this marriage?" Isaac disrupted, severe frustration in his tone, as he continued to hold Ned's gaze. "Why are you encouraging them to risk themselves this way?"

"Isaac you know that I wasn't jumping for joy either when Sean first told me of their wedding plans." Ned stiffly argued, now briefly recalling his discussion with Sean when he'd first returned from Cholena. "Just like you talked with Marita, I talked with Sean about the risks in them marrying, but he still made the choice to be with Marita." Ned continued, his eyes still locked with his friend's. "He loves her. They love each other and..."

"That's beside the point!" Isaac heatedly scoffed.

"Maybe for you, but not for our children!" Ned fiercely exclaimed. "They've tried to do it our way, but they couldn't. And thus they've chosen to be together in spite of the risks" He said. "And so I've chosen to support them, and help them the best way I know how."

"By doing what?" Isaac queried with irritation and disbelief. "Making them believe that their marriage can actually work? That they can build a good life together?"

"Isaac they don't need me for that." Ned countered sharply. "Our children already believe that they can have a wonderful life together." He affirmed. "I'm helping them the best way I know how by being a father to my son, and a friend to your daughter." He continued with earnest, his words stinging in Isaac's heart, filling him with guilt about his recent behavior as a father. "They need me...and you, more than they ever have." Ned stated as Isaac angrily sighed and turned away, resuming collecting the pails that were scattered about. "And despite my hesitance and concern about their decision, I'm not going to lose my son over this." He avowed, causing Isaac to briefly slow his work, clearly affected by Ned's assertion, before quickly continuing to collect the pails. "And I know that you don't want to lose Marita over this either." Ned cautiously added.

"I'm not going to lose my daughter." Isaac quickly denied, as he now placed the pails he was stacking on a nearby shelf, his heart panging at the lie of his words.

"Isaac you're going to Louisville." Ned stated passionately. "And when you return Marita will be gone back to Michigan, without you two speaking, without you approving of her marriage..."

"I told you that I could never..."

"I know that!" Ned yelled, frustration in his voice, interrupting Isaac's piqued response. "But what's the point in leaving?" He questioned vehemently. "What good is it going to do?" He asked. "It's not going to change Marita's mind. She's made her choice..."

"And I've made mine!" Isaac roared as he now turned from the shelf to face Ned, even as his heart ripped in two at the truth in his friend's words, and the thought of losing his daughter. "Now I don't want to hear no more about it!" He thundered, his voice trembling with pain and ire. "I've made my choice to go to Louisville." He continued. "Now respect it, like you respect the choice of our children! And let it go!" He uttered fiercely, briefly holding Ned's frustrated gaze, before he then lividly walked away.

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

Vivian stood outside her father's room, her back to it's door, her hand resting on it's knob and her eyes closed, holding back tears. She'd just exited his room, needing a break from the graveness of his condition, but found that the empty hallway provided little relief. Her father was deteriorating, and fast. And there was nothing she could do but sit by his side and hold his hand, hoping that he'd somehow beat the severe infection the doctor had diagnosed him with. Vivian's heart hurt with sorrow and guilt. Guilt over the horrible things she'd said to her father days before he'd been shot. Thinking how she'd told him that he meant nothing to her and had stopped short of telling him that she hated him. Now she may never get a chance to take back her words. To prove to her father that he was important to her, and that she loved him she grieved, as she finally moved away from the door, and slowly headed down the hall. All because of some maniac out for revenge, whose identity was still a mystery she wrathfully thought. Though her father had been in and out of consciousness since the shooting, and had tried to name his attacker when asked. He'd failed to give a coherent answer, only mumbling a jumbled list of names that sometimes included herself, the Sheriff, Sean, and even Pete Dixon. None of whom could've done this to him. For at the time of the shooting, she and Sean were accounted for at the Ranch, not to mention the fact that she would never try to kill her father, the Sheriff was working the kidnapping case at the Chambers estate, and though Pete Dixon may have plenty motives to shoot her father, she was sure that he was hundreds of miles away due to the "arrangements" she'd overheard her father making for him weeks ago. Vivian sighed with deep sadness and ire; then suddenly felt so incredibly alone. She had no one. She realized as tears began to flow from her eyes. All of her friends were gone, many lost due to the debacle at the Assemblyman's Dinner, while others were just gone away, spending the holiday out of town or abroad. She'd lost Sean. She bitterly bemoaned. Her mother and William were in Europe, and her aunt Susan couldn't get to Lexington until after the holiday. And even though she did have Wilhelmina who'd been very supportive through this horrible ordeal, the woman wasn't...family Vivian cried, now thinking that for the first time in her life she wished that her mother and William were there, thinking that maybe their presence would help her father pull through and get well; knowing that they were certainly needed to help with the chaos surrounding her father's business due to him being incapacitated. She'd written to them in Europe, but they probably wouldn't get her letter for another two weeks she anguishedly thought, and thus they wouldn't arrive back in Lexington until well after the New Year. By then father could be de... "No!" Vivian fiercely uttered within, forcing that thought from her mind, not ready to accept what the doctor's had said was inevitable, when she was startled from her heartbreaking reverie by voices, servants, just around the corner in the adjoining hall, cleaning and talking...

"Poor Miss. Vivian, her pa is near death, she ain't got no family here.Then Mr. Logan breakin they engagement again. Her heart must be a mess." She heard Servant One say.

"I know." Servant Two replied. "It so awful bout Mr. Logan leavin her to marry that Negro."

"What you talkin bout?" Servant One asked with confusion.

"I'm talkin bout Mr. Logan leavin Ms. Vivian for that Negro who work for his family." Servant Two clarified. "He gone marry her."

"Where'n the world did you hear such a lie?" Servant One questioned in disbelief.

"It ain't no lie." Servant Two answered seriously. "Mary Mae Jones told me that the Logans been workin all week to get ready for the weddin."

"Well Mary Mae gotta be wrong." Servant One rejected.

"She ain't wrong." Servant Two insisted. "She works there so she should know."

"Percie Price work there too. And she ain't said nothing bout it and you knows she'd be done said somethin if it was true." Servant One fiercely stated. "And furthamo ain't no way Mr. Logan would risk his life and mess up his family's name by marryin a Negro."

"He say he was involve with her at that Dinner." Servant Two argued.

"I don't care." Servant One disputed. "Sayin you involve with one of us is one thang, but marryin one of us is another. Ain't no way a man of Mr. Logan standin would marry a Negro. And if he did it'd be all ova town by now."

"Well Mary Mae show did say they marryin." Servant Two contended. "And that they doin it secret so as nobody would know."

"I don't believe it." Servant One still repelled. "And you should'n believe it eitha. In fac you should'n even be repeatin such craziness in this house or anywhere else for that madder. If Miss. Vivian or God forbed some otha white folks hear such rediculeousness ain't no tellin what they might do..."

Vivian had come to a halt, she didn't know when but she now stood fixed at the corner of the hall, only feet away from the chattering servants, yet still out of their view, stunned and sickened by what she'd just heard. Sean would never do this she weakly deemed as bitterness and fear rose in her heart, reigniting the tears that had for a moment ceased to flow. He'd never humiliate her more than he already had. She told herself, even as her doubt and anger steady rose, urging her to do to something rash. He'd never sully her name forever by marrying that Negro...

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

Marita walked into the room that her pa had been using at Mr. Johnson's home and immediately noticed his packed bag on the floor. He was really going she sadly thought. He was really going to leave, knowing that it would probably be months before he'd see her again, since she'd be gone back to Cholena by the time he returned from Louisville. But it was his choice. She painfully sighed. Just like it was her choice to go against his wishes to marry Sean. She just wished that they could've come to some kind of compromise before the wedding she disappointedly mused. That he could've found it within himself to accept her choice. Maybe things would change in the future she hoped. Maybe he'd eventually grow to accept her decision. Marita now reached her pa's bed and placed the gifts she'd made for him next to the clothes that lay folded there, clothes he'd no doubt change into for his trip. She then touched the garments with her hand, weakly smiling at how her pa always dressed nicely for travel, wishing that he wasn't taking this trip, when suddenly there was a knock at the door. She knew that it was the carriage sent to take her to the Ranch, take her to her wedding, her heart quickening with excitement in spite of her gloom. But for a moment Marita didn't move. She stood there quiet, her eyes closed, and silently prayed for a miracle regarding her pa; then she slowly turned from the bed, briefly hesitating once more, before finally exiting the room.