"Marita, where were you?!  I looked all over the place for you.  I started to worry", Isaac said.

"I went to the post office to get Mr. Logan’s mail.  I'm sorry I didn't tell you".  She answered.

'Well, I ran into Sean and Vivian."

"Really", Marita responded while holding back her anger.

Sean waited patiently outside of Marita’s house.  It was 9:30 and there was still no sign of her. "Isaac must’ve mentioned to Marita that he ran into me and Vivian in town", Sean thought to himself.  So he prepared to explain everything to Marita once he saw her.

Meanwhile, Marita lay on her bed staring up at the ceiling.  She knew Sean was outside waiting for her, but she didn't want to see him tonight. She knew that if she went out there to tell him that, he would try to change her mind.  She didn't want to go through that.  "Not tonight", She whispered to herself.

Clay and Jeremy was in the study talking when Sean walked in.

"Why the long face Sean?" asked Jeremy.  "Something happen in town tonight?"

"No.  I guess I'm just tired.  I’m going to head up to bed.  Good night."

"Good night."   Clay and Jeremy both answered.

Sean lay in bed with his eyes closed.  "I can't believe she didn't show up", He murmured to himself.  His thoughts started traveling back to the last time him and Marita were together.

She was so upset.  I shouldn’t have let her go until she told me what was bothering her and I know that she didn't show up tonight because of what happened earlier.

Sean stared at the ceiling as tears rolled down his face.

It was a long night and Marita wasn't too happy when she awoke the next morning.  She dreaded going to work, but she was a loyal employee.  She knew that Ned had things for her to do.  Marita went into the kitchen and saw that her dad had already gone out to the stable.  She was relieved because she didn't feel like talking much this morning.  She sat and sipped on her cup of tea and noticed the deafening quiet around her.  For a moment, Marita felt alone in the world. She didn't like that feeling and started to cry softly, with her head tilted downward toward the table.

The day seemed to go by slowly for Marita.  Her focus was on work and it showed.  Ned looked at Marita with concern.

"Marita, can I see you for a minute?" Ned called out to her.

"Yes sir.  Is there something wrong"?,  She asked while walking into the door.

"No, not really.  Here, have a seat.  I’ve noticed that you've been walking around here depressed.  The funny thing is that Sean is also walking around looking the same way that you do.  Did anything happen between you two?  Did you all get into a argument or something?"

"No sir," Marita answered quickly.  "In fact, I haven't seen Sean for a day or so."

"Really?  Well, things seems pretty slow around here today.  You can go home early if you like".

"Thanks Mr. Logan, I'll do that."    She answered.

Alice missed spending time with her older brother.  If it weren’t for dinners at night, she probably wouldn’t see Sean at all.  So when they went horseback riding with him, it was a treat. They stopped near a lake and sat on a long log sticking up from the ground.

"What's the matter, Sean?  Why are you so down today?"  Alice asked.

"Oh, it's nothing.  I've been stressed out lately, that’s all."

"Sean, I’ve seen you handle 2 to 3 jobs at once and come out of it all stress free.  It can't possibly be just work. Come on, tell me.  Is it love?"

Sean looked up at his sister and then looked off towards the lake.

"I mean, you’re acting like a person in love.  Is it Vivian?  Do you still have feelings for her?"

Sean let out a sigh and said "No".

"Then what is it Sean?  I may be your little sister, but I still worry about you.  Please tell me".

"Can you keep a secret?  I mean, if I told you something, could you keep a secret until the time was right.  I’d have to know if you could do that, Alice."

Alice looked into Sean's eyes then at the lake ahead and answered, "Yes, but are you sure that you trust me? I know I begged for you to tell me, but are you sure this is something you want to do?" she asked

"I’m not sure about a lot of things. That's why I need to tell someone", Sean answered .

"Okay Sean, what is it?"

"I'm in love with Marita and she's in love with me, I think".

Alice sat in silence; she didn't blink, move or do anything for a minute.  Then she turned to Sean, rubbed her hands across his cheeks, smiled and said "Your secret is safe with me".  They sat at the lake for at least an hour or so talking about everything under the sun.

Vivian sat at the dinner table with William and Georgina. "I was in town the other day and I could’ve sworn I saw you walking with Sean Logan.  That couldn't be true, could it?", William asked smugly.

"And if it is, that’s my business." snapped Vivian.

"Vivian dear, what are you up to? I thought we agreed to stay away from the Logans", Georgina asked looking up from her wine glass. Vivian answered, "You may have agreed, but I didn’t.  I'm not finished with the Logans just yet". Then she got up from the dinner table and left the room.

Sean sat on the side of Marita’s house waiting and hoping that she would meet him tonight.

"If she doesn't come soon, then I'm going to knock on her door.  I’ve got to see her,"  He said to himself.

Just as he was pacing up and down, Marita walked up and said "Sean".

He looked up to see Marita standing in front of him.
"Marita, you’re here.  Let me apologize about the other
day. You see..."

 "No need to, Sean.  I just came here to tell you that we need a break from each other. I'm not getting enough rest at night and it’s affecting my job."

Sean rushed over to grab her when she pulled away.
"I mean it Sean.  I don't want to see you for a while.  We shouldn't be sneaking around like this anyhow.  I'm starting to feel guilty about it."

"Feeling guilty?  I don't understand.  What's really going on? You've been holding something back from me.  Please tell me.  Why are pulling away from me?"  Sean responded, trying to get the questions out as fast as he could speak.

"It's not right Sean.  We're never going to be together.  So before things get complicated, I’ve decided to end it".

"So you made this decision about us all by yourself? What about my feelings?  I love you and I thought you loved me too".

"I do, but I can't. I just don't want to be with you anymore. Don't you understand"?  Marita was crying now.

Sean approached her slowly.  He wanted so much to touch her, but didn't want her to pull away or run from him. "Marita, if this is about yesterday, I swear to you that we were just having lunch, nothing else. Vivian asked me to. Please listen to me. Don't do this to us."

Marita leaned forward into Sean’s chest and collapsed into his arms.  He managed to get her into his room with the help of Alice.  He laid Marita down on his bed and Alice passed him a wet cloth to put on her head.  Alice noticed the worried look on Sean’s face and went over to comfort him.

"Sean, she'll be okay.  She just needs some rest, that’s all.  I'll go and tell Isaac know she's at our house helping me out for awhile so he won’t worry".

"Thanks, Alice".

"Sure, no problem, Sean".

Marita laid in Sean’s bed crying uncontrollably.  She couldn’t explain why she felt this way.  And this was disturbing to Sean.

Alice sat at the dinner room table thinking about Sean and Marita.  How could they get themselves in this situation?  Then who am I to question their love, when I’m in love with my adopted brother.

Marita turn her to face Sean that was holding the rag to her head.  "Sean.  Every night I’m faithfully on my knees praying for strength to stay away from you.  But when I get around you I feel the passion and lose control.  Tell me how can I ease the pain in my heart".   Marita said in a weak voice.

Sean hesitated for a minute before he answered her.  "Marita I know it hard.  I didn’t plan to fall in love with you, it was something that happen. I can’t turn on and off my feelings.  And I don’t regret loving you.  I know it’s hard for you.  It’s hard for me.  But I don’t want to see you suffering this way.  Please tell what can  I do to help?"

"I don’t know, Sean".

"If you want me to leave you alone.  Then I will do it begrudgingly".  Sean responded.

"Maybe that’s best, Sean."

Sean got up from beside Marita and walked out of the room.

"Marita!  Are you feeling better?  Where’s Sean?"  Alice asked quietly.

"I don’t know.  He left the room ten minutes ago."

"What’s wrong Marita?" Alice asked

"Nothing.  I’ll be going home now".

"Well, Okay" Alice answered with a puzzled look on her face.

It's been two weeks since Marita ended her relationship with Sean, and things between them had become strained. When they ran into each other they only spoke a faint "Hi".

Marita did not like the way things had turned out, but she knew it was for the best.   There were times when her days seemed so unbearable that she had to stop and catch her breath. Marita often wondered if Sean was feeling the same way she was.  She wanted so much to ask Alice, but she didn't.  "I caused this pain, not Sean.  What right do I have to ask how's he doing?",  she thought to herself.

Since the breakup, Sean threw himself into his work. He wanted no time to think about Marita and found himself getting angry when he did think about her. Sean was sitting in his office one morning working on a land proposal document when he heard a knock at the door. "Come in", Sean yelled from his desk.

"Excuse me.  Are you Sean Logan?", the voice asked.  "Yes I am", Sean said, standing up from his desk. He extended his hand to greet the young woman who entered his office.

Jenny Collins was a widow and a mother. Her husband was a rich man who had a gambling problem, which eventually cost him his life. She couldn't bear the pain of living in a big empty house that was once filled with happiness, so she packed up and moved to Lexington with her 5-year-old daughter, Taylor. Jenny was also a woman who was ahead of her time. When Jenny arrived several weeks ago, she bought some farmland to raise crops. She believed that women should be treated equal to men and had held rallies and petition parties pertaining to women’s issues. She had come Sean Logan's office to introduce herself.

Jenny looked into Sean’s blue eyes then released his hand. "Hello Mr. Logan.  My name is Jenny Collins and I'm new here".

Sean replied,  "Welcome to Lexington, Miss Collins. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Oh, I don’t need help with anything. I was just introducing myself to the people here. You know, just letting them know that I'm new in town", Jenny spoke as her voice trailed off.  "Oh I see", Sean answered back.

"Is there something wrong, you look pale".

"Oh no, I’m fine", she responded. "I think I'll be going now" as she turned around to head toward the door.

 "Hope to see you again", Sean said.  "Same here", she replied and walked out of the door.

"Sooner than you think, Mr. Logan", Jenny thought to herself, smiling.

Alice and Marita were leaning against the gate as they watched Clay and Jeremy wash the horses.  Alice blushed as Jeremy flexed his muscles to Clay and vice versa.  Marita just stared without any emotions.

"Marita, what’s wrong?" asked Alice.

"Nothing.  I'm fine."

"No, you're not and I don’t like it when you keep things from me. I'm supposed to be your friend. Tell me what's wrong!"

Marita continued to stare straight ahead.  "I don't know, Alice.  I want to think that I did the right thing for Sean and me, but I don't know.  I mean I feel so hollow inside."

"Why not tell him Marita? Don't you love him enough to tell him?" asked Alice.

"Yes, I love him enough. He's my life, but we can't be together", Marita answered back.

"Why would you put yourself and Sean through so much pain? I think you’re being selfish.  Look, I love you like a sister, but Sean’s my brother and I don't like seeing him like this", Alice answered angrily.

"I understand, Alice", Marita said walking away.

"Marita! Marita! Where are you going?" Alice yelled.

Marita headed toward the stables where she and Sean spent nights in each other’s arms.  She looked at the ladder that they’d climb to reach their secret spot. When they’d be up there, it was as if they were the only two people on Earth. "How could I let all this go?" Marita questioned herself.

It was six o' clock when Isaac came to the Logan's home looking for Marita.  "Sorry, Isaac.  I haven't seen her since this morning", said Ned.  "Let me ask Alice if she’s seen Marita".  Ned went upstairs to ask Alice.

"Pa, I was with her this afternoon, but when I turned around she was walking towards the stables.  She might be there.  I can go and look", volunteered Alice.

"Go and look", Ned responded back while looking for other kids to ask them the same question.

"No one seems to know where she went, Isaac. I’ll have Jeremy and Clay go on their horses to look for her.  Why don't you sit down? I'm sure they’ll find her".  "I can't sit, Ned. My child is missing, I need to do something", yelled Issac.

"Calm down Isaac.  I know how you feel.  I've been there before, remember"? "Sorry, Ned.  It's just that Marita is all I've got." "I understand", Ned said while patting Isaac on his back.

Sean walked in on the latter part of the conversation and asked what was going on. " You haven't seen Marita have you, son?" asked Ned.

"No sir, is something wrong?"

"We can't find her".  Before Ned could ask him another question, Sean ran out of the house and right into Alice.

"Sorry!" said Sean as he helped her off the ground.

"We can't find Marita".

"I know", Sean answer quickly while hurrying off. "Sean! Wait, I have something to tell you".

"Can't it wait, Alice? I need to find her".

"No, it can't.  Earlier today Marita was acting more withdrawn then usual.  I should have told someone.  I should have followed her but I didn't," Alice stated .

"Don't worry, I'll find her," Sean said and ran off.

Sean ran into the stable and climbed the ladder to find Marita sleeping.  He touched her foot and she woke up, rubbing her eyes.  "What time is it?" she asked.

Sean said, "About seven.  How long you've been up here?"

"I don' know.  I guess since this afternoon".  Marita responded still tired.  Sean sat next to Marita and turned her face to his.

"Why were you up here?" he asked.  Marita took a minute to think before she spoke.

"This is the only place where nothing matters."  Sean leaned forward to kiss her.  Marita placed her arms around his neck and leaned back.  Sean steadied himself on top of her and looked into her eyes.  Marita turn her head away so Sean would see the tears in her eyes, but it was too late.  He did and turned her head to face him again.

"Why the tears?"  Sean whispered gently in her ear.

"I'm ashamed to say," Marita answered again turning her head.

"Ashamed of what?"  Sean asked her again, this time stroking the little curl that fell above her right eye.

"Ashamed of hurting you the way I did. Sean, I love you even more then ever now".  That was all he needed to hear.

After an hour of confessing to each other, Marita and Sean emerged from their hide-a-way and headed towards the house.  'Wait, Sean.  What should I say to everyone about where I was?"

"Yeah, Right.  Tell them that while you were walking, you felt tired and leaned against a tree to take a nap".

"Then how did you find me?"  she asked.  "I didn't, I saw you walking across the field".

"Oh,that makes sense".  Marita said laughing.

"Ready?"asked Sean.

"I guess", Marita answered back as they walked toward the Logans’ home.