Disclaimer:  The characters of Legacy belong to Chris Abbott.  All other characters belong to the author.  Please contact the author if you would like to use any of the original characters.
 

"I wonder if Sean forget that my birthday is just two days away.  He hasn’t mentioned anything to me.  Oh well – maybe he did forget.   I hope he didn’t forget.  I am imagining things?  Yesterday I could have sworn I saw Mr. Logan looking at me funny – as if he "knows something" -- something about Sean and me.  We have tried so very hard to be careful – about being seen together – too much," Marita says while coming around the track.  "I can’t worry about that now – I need to concentrate on what I am doing now -- I still can’t believe that I am doing this.  I never thought I would get this close to a horse again -- let alone ride one.  Well at least my bottom isn’t sore anymore – now it is just numb."  Marita is suddenly shaken from her thoughts by Sean’s voice.   "Marita! Marita pull back on the reins a little.  Yeah, there you go!  Whoa!  You’re are doing great," Sean shouts while clapping his hands at Marita’s performance.  "Sean and Clay have been so sweet and patient to teach me to ride.  It’s not that I don’t have the skill – I just had to get over my apprehension about horses.  I will never forget the time when I was bitten by a horse.  I still have the scar.  I have been wary ever since.  I used to think that horses were beautiful, strong, magnificent and mean – they were only to be admired from afar," Marita thinks to herself while dismounting.   "You’ve gotten so much better sweetheart," Isaac says while helping his daughter down from the mare.  "You certainly have Marita.  I may have to replace Clay with you if you keep riding like that.  You are doing wonderfully", Ned says with a big, proud grin.  Clay walks up and leans on the posts.  "What’s this I hear about you replacing me Pa?" Clay says with a smile.  "Hi son." Marita looks at Clay for approval.  "Hi Clay, how did I look out there – do I look like I know what I am doing?"  "Hi Marita! You have come a long way.  I think you know enough not to kill yourself."  "Clay!" "I’m just teasing you Marita – a few more lessons and will be ready to graduate."  Sean looks at his brother and gives him a playful punch.  "Graduate from what – Clay’s School of Hot Headedness?"  "Fun-ny Sean".   Ned watches the exchange between his two sons and he says in his mind, "it’s nice to see them getting along so well." "Yes, Clay – I can see you being the headmaster of that school," Ned adds.   Some months back the Logans acquired a mare with a sweet but willful disposition.  She was fast and beautiful and interesting enough would only let Marita near her.  The Logans were awestruck by this.  The mare was appropriately named "Allspice" and it suited her perfectly.    Clay suggested to Sean that it would be great opportunity to re-introduce Marita to riding since Allspice had a "kind eye" for Marita.  If Marita were standing nearby, Allspice would trot over and gently nudge Marita with her nose.  Sean thought that Allspice loved Marita just as much as he did.  "A few more sessions and you will be jockey material," Sean says teasingly to Marita.  "I wouldn’t go that far Sean," Marita said shaking her head and smiling.  "I am so proud of her – conquering her fear," Sean thinks while looking at the woman who owns his heart.  "I still remember her reaction when I asked her if she wanted to learn to ride -- again.  She almost tore my head off.  She said, ‘Sean Logan what makes you think that I want to get next to one of those sneaky beasts – I don’t have a desire to be anyone’s meal.  I will not allow myself to be chomped on again – ever!’  Sean chuckled softly.   "A few days later Clay and I found her at the stables – talking softly and singing to Allspice.  We didn’t disturb her.  We just watched.  We couldn’t believe our eyes.   It was the most beautiful sight we had ever seen.  Clay almost wept – okay it was me who almost wept".  Sean smiles at his thoughts.  "The next day Clay and I asked her if she was ready and she gave me a resounding ‘Yes’.  She never ceases to amaze me."

Ned and Isaac make small talk but are both observing Sean talking to Marita out the corners of their eyes.  For the life of him, Ned could not understand why Marita was still unmarried.  "Marita is an intelligent, gracious, beautiful young woman – she should have many suitors beating down her door", Ned quietly thought as he took off his hat, smoothed back his hair and put it back on again.  "Why hasn’t she settled down yet?  It is a little strange – that I am asking myself these questions when I should be asking Isaac.  He is my dearest friend but I would not want to overstep my bounds.  One thing that I have not done is to continue my conversation Sean.  I had more questions to ask him but we were interrupted when Clay walked into the study.  Was there a little truth to that infamous letter?  I know Sean said that he would never "compromise" Marita – and I truly believe that.  I think Sean wanted to tell me something.  I just don’t know what that "something" was but I do know for certain that I have many questions.  Do I have the courage to ask them?  I don’t know where to begin.  The look on Sean’s face after he read that letter just broke my heart. It obviously hurt him deeply that someone would slander Marita’s name.   That was an absolutely vicious move on John Turner’s part.  Sean knew that politics was a dirty business but he was not prepared for those types of tactics.  I’ll have my moment with John Turner."  "Sean is a strapping, handsome young man – It’s mighty peculiar that he is not courting anyone.  I would have thought he would have starting calling on a young lady from a respectable family by now.  It’s been some time now – since he broke off his engagement with Vivian.  It is mighty strange -- yes indeed," Isaac says in his mind.  He is looking at his beautiful daughter and has noticed how Sean can’t stop smiling whenever Marita is around.  "Sean tries to keep it under control but he oftentimes appears as if he is ready to burst", Isaac thinks to himself while walking towards the stables.  "I know they have been very close friends since they were children but something has changed.   They have been spending a lot of time together lately.  If I think on it hard enough, Sean has always been very close to Marita.  I noticed they became very close after Libby passed away and Sean became very withdrawn and stopped talking to everyone – everyone except Marita.  But Sean is a sensible young man – a smart young man.  Smart enough not to fall in love with someone he’s not supposed to…Oh God, what have these children done?   The evening before last, Ned seemed to have something on his mind.  We usually have a drink and talk at the end of a grueling day.   I poured the drinks and we toasted as usual.  Ned did not talk much and neither did I.  We just kind of looked at each other – and looked away very fast.  It was as if we both wanted to talk about ‘it’ but did not know how to exactly bring it up.  We can’t go on not talking about ‘it’.  If ‘it’ is true, then we have to face it head on.  Was there some truth to the letter that John Turner threatened to circulate about Sean, Marita and Vivian?  I know deep down in my heart I should have asked Marita just exactly what she meant when she said, ‘no --not what they said in the letter.’  I know my little girl was trying to tell me something – I just know it!  I am certain of one thing -- Ned and I can’t go on like this forever."

Clay is walking on the opposite side of Allspice stroking her satiny mane and his mind starts to wander.  "Sean has been unusually chipper lately and I know why."  Clay smiles slightly at his observation.  "He and I have been getting along better lately – he has been helping out with training Gauntlet in his spare time and I really do appreciate it.  He has been coming in my room and just sitting around a lot lately – which I don’t mind at all.  I know he wants to talk – talk about something.   He sits in the chair with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands and just looks at me.  And I say ‘what Sean’?  And he says, ‘Nothing’.  And I say ‘whatever Sean.’  I don’t say it in a mean way, I just say ‘whatever Sean’ to say ‘tell me when you are ready Sean’.   I know some people think that I am just some big, dumb jock and all I care about is horses and racing.  Yes I do care about these things but there is so much more to me. I think and I feel and I notice – I notice a lot of things.  Things people think I don’t notice.  I think I figured out why Sean was acting so crazy when he was trying to buy that land for the hospital and why he go so upset about that letter that John Turner threatened to circulate during the election.   It was so obvious to me after I put ‘two and two together’.  I can’t believe Pa doesn’t see what I see.  There is so much going on with this family and it’s happening right under his nose.  All I know is that I want to have a front row seat when Pa finds out that Jeremy is in love with Alice and Sean is in love with Marita.  Boy oh boy – dinner conversations will never be the same."

"I know Marita probably thinks that I have forgotten about her birthday," Sean says to himself.  "I have never forgotten – ever since we were ten and twelve years old.  We used to have some birthday parties as kids.   There was one party in particular that I will never forget.  I thought I would bust a gut, when at my twelfth birthday party, during a game of  ‘Pin The Tail On The Donkey’, Vivian tried to pin the tail on Clay’s hind parts.  That was hilarious.   Gosh -- Marita and I have known each other forever.  I believe that I have loved her forever.  She’s always been there for me – always.  We have spent so much time together --- have grown up together.   I have to make her birthday special and unforgettable.  I hope she likes the gift and I hope she doesn’t go snooping around – Auntie will be at the cabin setting everything up and I don’t want them to run into each other."  Sean is stirred out of his thoughts by the sound of Isaac’s voice.  "I’ll see to Allspice honey, Isaac says turning back to look at his daughter.  "Thanks Papa.  I’ll run on home and get supper started", Marita says while brushing her riding hat off.  The hat was a gift from Sean but Marita told everyone it was from Auntie.   "I’ll walk with you a little, Sean says winking his eye at Marita.  "Sean!" Marita says under her breath.  Marita doesn’t want any undue attention drawn to the both of them.  "Don’t be too long son – Alice will fuss if you are late for dinner", Ned says without turning around.  "I won’t Pa." Sean and Marita walk a little ways before talking to one another.   Sean suddenly grabs Marita and pulls her behind the big oak tree.   He brushes back some strands of hair that have become unloose from her chignon while she was riding and kisses her quickly.  "Do you know how much willpower it took not to do that in front of our fathers and Clay?"  "Yes, I do Sean", Marita says while returning little kisses on his cheeks.  "I am so proud of you Marita.  You are riding so well."  "I owe it all to you and Clay and Allspice, of course – isn’t it sweet how she took a liking to me?  That has never happened to me", Marita says as she puts her arms around Sean’s neck and kisses him on his chin.  "I usually ignore the horses on this farm and they pretty much ignore me".  "Allspice knows what I know, Sean says while nuzzling Marita’s neck.  "And pray tell what’s that?"  "Allspice knows that you are the sweetest, most incredibly beautiful and lucious woman in all of Kentucky.  And I am desperately, head-over-heels in love with you."   Sean slides his hands down Marita’s back and gently cups her buttocks.  She did not wear her bustle today because of her training session.   "And you have the softest…"  "Sean Logan!"  "What?"  "I was going to say that you have the softest skin.  Yeah, that’s what I was going to say…skin."  "Sean, you are so wicked – what ever am I going to do with you?"  Sean pulls Marita closer and wraps his arms around her waist and looks into her eyes.  "You can do anything you want to do with me." Marita lets out a soft giggle.  "Sean, be careful – someone could be looking."  Marita looks past Sean to make sure no one is watching.  "We do not have time for this, I have to get home before my Papa does."  "Okay, okay."  "I am going to Louisville tomorrow but I will be back the next day early.  Can you meet me at the cabin?"  Sean secretly restored the old Smith cabin located in the woods not far from the Ohio/Kentucky border.   He found old furniture that he restored to furnish the place.   Marita made beautiful curtains and quilts for the little cabin. The cabin is Sean and Marita’s hideaway – their private oasis.  "Sean, have you forgotten that it’s my…" Sean cuts Marita off in mid-sentence.   "Marita please…just meet me there at 2:00 p.m."  "Alright.’’  Marita looks at Sean suspiciously.  "What?" Sean asks Marita with a shrug of the shoulders.  "You are up to something…I know you."  Sean gives Marita a quick peck.  "Just my usual tricks.   I love you.  See ya soon," and with that Sean runs back to catch up with Isaac, his father and his brother.
 

There is a gentle knock at the cabin door.  "Marita, is that you?" Sean whispers. "Yes Sean.  Can I come in please?  "What’s the password?" "Sean!" "No admittance unless you say the password."  Marita feigns exasperation and laughs at what she is about to say. "Beautiful Greek God of Love."  "There – I said it."  "That’s more like it," Sean says while he slowly opens the door.  "Entre mon amour." "Sean, what have you…" Sean takes Marita’s hand.  "Happy Birthday!"  "Sean, oh my goodness…this is so beautiful…I thought that you forgot…"  "I know you did, Sean says while pulling Marita close and giving her a great big hug."  "How did you…wait a minute…you did not cook all this wonderful food…I know you had an accomplice", Marita says smiling brightly. For Marita’s birthday, Sean has prepared, with the help of Auntie, a lavish feast of fried chicken, candied yams, string beans, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, peaches soaked in Kentucky bourbon and hot corn bread with honey to go on it.   Marita’s birthday cake is a red velvet cake with vanilla frosting decorated with wild strawberries.   And of course, there is chilled champagne.  Flowers have been placed all about the cabin.  A beautiful linen tablecloth adorns the table and the silverware is sparking.  "Sean Logan, you have outdone yourself.  This is so nice."  Marita sighs.  "What did I do to deserve you, Sean?"  "Come beautiful and have a seat."  Sean pulls out a chair for Marita and when Marita attempts to sit down, Sean sits down first and pulls Marita onto his lap.  He kisses her on the neck and places a silver locket around her neck.   Marita picks up the locket.  "Sean – it’s beautiful – thank you so much.  You really shouldn’t have."  "Beautiful jewelry for a beautiful gem."  "Thank you sweetheart – I love it – thank you."  "You’re welcome."  Sean leans his chin on Marita’s shoulder and looks at her with those striking blue eyes and sighs.  "What is it Sean?"  "Nothing -- I am just really very happy and so in love with you…sometimes I just feel so full…like I am going to burst from happiness."  Marita kisses his earlobe and laughs.  "You are so cute – and silly." Marita looks at the feast on the table.  "Sean, we are not going to be able to eat all of this food", Marita says as she gives Sean a quick peck on his mouth.  "I can think of one thing that we can do to work up an appetite", Sean replies while picking up a piece of cornbread and feeding it to Marita.  "Put a little honey on it please."  "Anything for you my queen – today is your day."  "Umm…wonderful".  Marita has a little bit of honey in the corner of her mouth.  She is now straddling Sean’s lap and is facing him.   Sean playfully licks the honey off of Marita’s mouth and suddenly his manhood starts to stir.  "God you are so beautiful."  Sean gently cups Marita face and kisses her deeply and passionately.  The sweetness of the honey-taste in Marita’s mouth and the sweetness of her kisses are overpowering – intoxicating to Sean.  "Sweetheart, I’ve have missed you…wanted you…I think about you so much…at night…wanting you…missing you…needing you…wonderful, beautiful sweet Marita."  Marita softly and breathlessly whispers Sean name between kisses.  "Sean…Sean" Marita slowly rises and moves in front of Sean and starts unbuttoning her dress.  "No please – allow me."  Sean unbuttons Marita’s dress and lets it fall to the floor.  "Wait there."  Sean grabs the covelets, two goose down pillows and quilt from the bed to make a pallet on the floor.  Marita blushes when she glances down and can see the outline of Sean’s bulging manhood.  Marita can’t believe that she still blushes when she sees this.  It is not the first time they’ve made love.  She just still can’t comprehend the power she has over Sean’s passion.  Marita notices the moistness between her legs and the longing in her womb.   Sean walks over and unties Marita’s corset.  "You know I never get tired of doing this…unbinding you." "Yes, I believe you do rather enjoy it, Marita responds with a little laugh.   When Marita is finally naked, Sean sweeps her up in his arms and carefully lays her on the pallet.  He then unloosens Marita’s chignon and spreads her silky tresses out on the pillows.  Sean smiles seductively at his lover and then looks over at the jar of honey.  "Marita, I want to experience sweetness on sweetness" and with that said he quickly undresses.   Sean walks over to the table and picks up the jar of honey.  Marita is just watching him…saying nothing.  "Can I taste you Marita?"  "Yes…Sean…yes…I am yours."  Sean slowly unscrews the lid on the jar.  Once the lid is off he sticks his finger in the sweet, sticky substance and places the finger in Marita’s mouth.   Without taking her eyes off of Sean, she tenderly licks and sucks on his finger.  "Umm", Sean murmurs.  Sean then tilts Marita’s head up so that her neck is exposed and drizzles the sweet nectar on her throat and between her breasts.  Sean follows the trail of honey with his tongue.  "Umm Sean…that’s so nice…"  Sean gazes into Marita’s eyes and whispers, "Do you love me…do you love this?"  Marita can hardly speak.  "Love you…love this."  Sean’s manhood is throbbing.  Sean then drizzles honey on Marita’s breasts.  Sean notices that as soon as the honey makes contact with her nipples, they become hard instantly.