Part Seven

Clay walked Monique up the steps of the Logan home, explaining as he went  "Marita usually get's stuck up here with Alice while they do chores, I bet you they are in Alice's room gossiping as we speak" The Persian runner muffled the harsh steps of their riding boots and Clay made a bee-line for Alice's room. "Alice!" Clay barked through the door before he knocked.

"What!" she replied swinging her door open.

"Have you stuck Marita in here to gossip with you all day?"

Alice stepped out of the room and stated hautely," We don't gossip, we chat, like civilized people, Clay Logan, we don't shout through doors."

With that she turned and began to walk down the hall "And for your information Marita went about her chores an hour ago, just like you should be doing!"

As Alice went down the steps Clay followed.,"I'm entertaining Monique like any civilized host, so there."

 Alice turned to Monique and stated a matter of factly, "Monique, if you weren't prettier than the day is long, Clay wouldn't take the time to know your name, never mind pretend to be civilized. Don't be fooled by my charming big brother he's really a half wit in disguise."

Monique stifled a laugh with her gloved hand and this sent Clay racing down the steps to catch Alice. As Monique lagged behind shaking her head at that adorable Clay Logan, she heard female laughter coming from a room down the hall. "Marita,  I've found you..." Just as Monique began to turn the knob on the door she heard a low, sultry chuckle. She stopped abruptly and layed a hand on her chest in surprise. She knew lover's conversation when she heard it and just realized this had to be Sean's bedroom.

Monique placed a stern hand on her hip and knocked quickly. She smirked when she heard a muffled "hmmph" as something heavy hit the floor. Sean swung open the door ready to breathe fire and was stunned to find his beloved's cousin staring him dead in eye. Monique placed a graceful hand on Sean wide expanse of chest and pushed her way by.

"Marita!, Girl you better get up from that floor and com'on...I swear if your daddy saw you now he'd take a switch to your beaux and if my mama saw you she'd do the same to you, cuz you ain't got no sense,....... in Sean's room in the middle of day,gigglin' and such like you belong here, what if Alice had heard you two instead of me..." Monique proceeded to help her cousin up off the floor where she had soundly slipped of Sean's lap and onto the floor.  Sean out of habit began to twist Marita's hair up into place like he'd always done. Monique shooed him away and he smiled at his Marita's tornado of a cousin.."No you don't Sean Logan, you won't be getting these privileges today...older, more experienced man like yourself, can't hold a decent love affair in a proper location,.." she turned and tilted her pretty head in serious thought.." a picnic, perhaps or a trip to Charleston or New Orleans, but not in your room to be caught by all and sundry, humph!"

As Monique dragged her startled cousin out of the door Marita gasped "My gift, from Sean!!"

Sean swooped down upon her and lifted her by the waist " I'm assuming she knows about us" he said against her lips as he dropped the velvet case in her skirt pocket and kissed her goodbye thoroughly. Marita laid her forhead against his and blushed,

 "She guessed when she first came here, she said it was obvious"

"I love you Marita", said Sean in a whisper.

" 'Bye," Marita said with a secret smile as Monique dragged her away dazed by the drug of Sean Logan.

Clay tryed to stop Monique as she walked briskly out of the house with Marita in tow. "Monique, I'd like to ask you if.." ,he began.

"Not now Clay!" she returned

"But, I wanted to ..." he began again.

"Clay, I need to speak with Marita for a moment". Monique said sternly

"Of Course." he replied as he turned on his heels and walked away.

"You've made him mad.." said Marita

"Sweetheart Clay can go marinate in his own immaturity right now. You on the other hand are a silly bee who's lost all sense of propriety and safety."
Monique turned gracefully and floated down on the grass in a cloud of lace and silk. She patted the soft grass beside her and said "Come Marita, let me tell a little about New Orleans. If you and Sean need time away there are places you can go, vent whatever "frustrations" you need and still be in relative safety."

Marita cut a glance at her cousin in annoyance "I understand that you want to help Monique but Sean and I don't want to just "vent frustrations" we want to be together in every sense of the word, Marriage, children, ...forever." Marita made an attempt to rise and Monique laid a strong hand on her arm to stop her.

"Lovey, What do you think Sean was looking for in the bedroom upstairs? He has lost all sense of propriety and safety also. As of right now he thinks nothing of riding with you on the same horse, he'd bring you in town and take YOU shopping if you asked, buy you things, he'll run to your side before he runs to his brother's, he touches you and holds you in public like a Husband! Do you understand? Your handsome beloved has no fear!! and that puts you both in grave danger of being caught!" Monique gave a smirk of satifaction, "Sugar, Don't think that after you both "vent you frustrations" with each other it will get better. The pull will be twice as strong, especially for him."

"Well now what do we do?" Marita said as the wind picked up her wavy locks and whipped them towards her face.  Monique gently moved the strands away from her beautiful cousin's face.

"Marita, Sean will never marry any other, and you can only keep other suitors at bay for so long with uncle Isaac taking your future to heart. I know this is hard to hear but at this point the family must know, confirm their suspicions and be with him. They love you both too much to be angry for very long, but they will be scared for you both and you will need thier protection and approval to be together...I know family is too important to you and Sean not to have their blessing....Tell them."

 
 To Be Continued