Part 9
Suzanne could hear a knock on the door. She had woke up with the worst headache. She decided then that she wasn't up for company, so she stayed in her room. She had no idea how she got there, but she wasn't complaining, the view was beautiful. Another soft knock came, and she knew that she couldn't ignore them anymore.
"Come in," Suzanne beckoned. Lexy opened the door. "Ma'am, my pa sent me up here to tell you that we are having tea in about an hour, if you would like to join us." Suzanne smiled. "That would be very nice thank you," she answered.
Lexy turned to leave, and Suzanne thought of something. "Um, excuse me, Miss Logan, but I'm in a little trouble here," she said with eyebrows raised. Lexy looked at her and laughed. "Miss Logan! Please call me Lexy, and I'm sure that whatever trouble you are in, my Pa can help you out."
Suzanne couldn't help but giggle at Lexy's misunderstanding. "No, no, it's nothing like that. I don't have a dress to wear, and I wouldn't want to go to tea in this! And Please call me Suzanne, you say Ma' am, and I turn and look for my mother!" Lexy laughed, she already liked Suzanne.
" I think I may have a solution, come on, follow me," Lexy exclaimed excitedly.
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Ned, Sean, Clay, and Alice waited in the sitting room for their guest to join them for tea. Lexy and Suzanne could be heard giggling from upstairs. Clay took a deep breath and glanced at his watch for the fifth time. "Pa, I have to train Gauntlet some time today," he complained. Ned turned to Clay, but Lexy came down and interrupted them.
A few minutes later Jeremy peeked around the corner. He turned and stretched out his hand towards the stairs. Suzanne took it, and rounded the corner with Jeremy as escort. Sean and Clay couldn't help but stare. Jeremy's eyes were puffy, and he looked real tired, it was good that he was up and about. But that was not who they were staring at.
Suzanne smiled, and looked to Jeremy. Jeremy turned and faced everyone, " This is Ms. Suzanne O'Gradey, Suzanne, this is the Logan family." She gave a half curtsy, and said, "It's so nice to meet all of you," with a smile. Ned stood up and took her hand and kissed it, "why, don't you just look half way presentable," he said with a smile. "Only half way," Suzanne teased.
Jeremy began to sway, and Suzanne tightened her grip on his arm, to steady him. She then steered him to a seat. Jeremy grinned up at her, and she sat down next to him. "And you, young man, " Ned began, addressing Jeremy, "should not be out of bed, after tea you go straight back, Understood?" he finished sternly.
Jeremy groaned, but he could see that Ned was not going to relent. "Understood," he grumbled back. Alice began to pour the tea for everyone. She couldn't take her eyes off Suzanne. No wonder Jeremy asked for her, even her two brothers couldn't take their eyes off her. Jeremy and this woman couldn't stop staring at each other. Alice was growing more agitated by the moment. 'She comes to my house, and borrows my clothes, and I'm supposed to be the gracious host?' Alice thought to herself.
Suzanne turned to Alice, and said "I wanted to thank you for letting me borrow this dress, it's absolutely beautiful.." Alice gave an insincere smile, "It's no problem, I'm glad it fit," she said as she passed Suzanne's tea. The cup slipped from saucer and hot tea spilled all over her. She leaped from her chair in pain as the tea soaked through the dress, burning her. She took a napkin and dabbed at her borrowed dress. "I'm sooo sorry" Alice exclaimed.
Ned and Sean were on their feet at once, trying to help soak the tea out of the dress so it would not burn her any more. Clay looked into Alice's eyes, he saw a look of pure shock.. Clay had a feeling that she had done it on purpose. Ned hadn't heard a thing Alice had said, he was too worried that they would have to send for the doctor again. That was one thing he didn't want to happen. The exchange he saw on the stairs between Rebecca and Suzanne was not good. He had felt the tension and knew something was not right.
Ned was also on extra guard when Jeremy was involved. Jeremy was still impressionable, and unstable. He could go either way, and Ned wanted to make sure Jeremy took the right path. Jeremy might have only lived at the Logan house for a few months, but Ned knew him like a son. That was something Ned did consider Jeremy, a son.
Suzanne excused herself and made her way outside so that she could get her clothes. Her only outfit that she had brought from New York was clean now and hanging on the line. She grabbed them and hurried upstairs. Once she dressed back into her ridding clothes she slipped out the back door near the kitchen and went to the stable.
Opening the side door of the stable, Suzanne walked in and started looking for her horse. She stopped in front of one of the stalls, picked up a grooming brush and headed towards her horse. "Hello my friend, how are you doing today?" She asked. She always felt better when she talked to her horse, she felt that the horse knew, and trusted her. Plus it helped that he couldn't talk back.
She took the brush and began her work. She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice anyone approaching. "Can I help you?" came the deep familiar voice of Ned Logan. Suzanne jumped at the sound of his voice, startling her horse, it reared, and Ned feared that it would trample her. But instead she made a whistling noise, and the horse calmed. She laid her head on the horse, her heart pounding. "Shhh, Shhh, it's okay, it's okay," she soothed. She turned to Ned, and smiled. "Sir if you are trying to tell me that it is a good time for me to leave, you could have done it in an easier way." Ned feigned innocence, " I would never wish to harm you in any way, I assure you it was an accident, and I will never do it again. Besides, any friend of Jeremy's is welcome at my house." Suzanne thanked him for his hospitality, and told him that she was going to go to town for the rest of the afternoon. She needed to have some clothes made. But she would be back for the night shift with Jeremy. Ned told her that he would set dinner back awhile for her to have some extra time in town. She thanked him, and promised to be back in a few hours.
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Sean met up with Suzanne along the road to town. "Hey Suzanne," he beckoned as he rode up along side her horse, "wait for me." She looked at him and teased, "did your father send you to make sure I made it back in time for dinner?" Sean laughed, and shook his head. "No, I have some business to take care of in town, and I thought that you might want some company." He said. She smiled and said, "but if we arrive together, won't people wonder why we did not take a carriage?" He laughed hard at this, and she stared at him. He finally managed to choke out, " this line of questioning protocol from the woman in men's clothes!" She blushed and stammered, " I was thinking of you, I really could care less…" Sean liked her. He smiled and egged her on. "Well if we want to make it to town sometime today we are going to have to pick up the pace a bit," and he kicked he horse, and raced towards town.
Suzanne couldn't resist a challenge, and Sean called her on it. They raced into town. Sean arriving just slightly ahead of Suzanne. "No fair, " she exclaimed. "You had a head start. " Sean nodded mockingly, "Yeah well, I couldn't expect a woman…" and he cut off when she punched him. "Ouch, oh all right. I'll give you a fair chance to redeem yourself on the way home." He grinned from ear to ear. "So do you think that you can find your way around town, and manage to stay out of trouble while I do my work?" He questioned.
Suzanne placed her hand over her heart, and made the most sincere face she could muster, "I'll die trying Sir!" she said mockingly, and then she turned and headed towards the shops. Sean marveled at her, she was unlike any woman he had ever met before.
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Suzanne finished shopping before Sean finished his work. She found his office, and waited outside for him. It was well past dinner, even if Mr. Logan had held it back waiting for them to come back. When Sean finally emerged he found Suzanne waiting for him. She cleared her throat, and stood. "Well if these are the hours that you are going to keep, I want a divorce." She teased. Sean laughed, and apologized, " I didn't realize that you were waiting for me." She cocked her head to the side and rolled her eyes. "You'll do anything to get out of that race you owe me…" Sean wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "how about I take you to dinner to make up for the delay." She looked up at him suspiciously, "well, only if I get a chance to race you tomorrow." She stipulated. Sean laughed, "dinner only with conditions, I love it, and I'm paying!" Suzanne leaned heavy on him, pushing him to the side, "well?" she asked. "All right," he said, "but I have a condition of my own." She looked at him expectantly, "put on one of those dresses you had made." He said. "Oh is that all," she breathed in a sigh of relief.
She turned and went into Sean's office. "Give me a minute, I'll be right out." She said through the door. Sean smiled. He really liked this girl.
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Suzanne emerged a few minutes later. She looked gorgeous. She wore a long blue dress, and she had pulled her out of the ponytail and wore it half up, half down, with a blue ribbon in it. Sean just stared. Suzanne cleared her throat. Sean looked up, and extended his arm to her. She took it, and they headed out. He leaned in towards her as they walked. "You look beautiful," he whispered. She smiled, and thanked him. But she wasn't really with him. She was thinking of Liam, how this dress was his favorite color, and she should have been wearing it for him. She needed to send a telegram to him, to let him know everything was ok.
They arrived at the inn, and Sean escorted her inside. He pulled out the seat for her, and they ordered their meals. They ate, and ordered drinks. They stayed most of the night at the inn just talking about everything and nothing at the same time.
The innkeeper finally came around and called for last drinks. Sean and Suzanne realized how late it was, and started to head home. Suzanne stopped and changed at his office, and then she mounted her horse. She shot Sean a glance, and was off. Sean raced after her, she was going to beat him, and that was like salt in a wound.
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Sean and Suzanne raced up to the homestead. They put the horses in the barn, and headed towards the house, Sean with her bag of dresses. Once inside they were greeted by Ned. He shot Sean a disapproving look. "It's awful late," he started. Both Sean and Suzanne looked to the floor, and replied, "I'm sorry Sir." Ned wasn't sure what to do with that response from both of them, so he told them to go to bed, it was late and morning would come soon enough. They both obeyed him immediately. Suzanne stopped in to see Jeremy before she retired for the night.
Continued...