by Carrie Carr
LEX HAD BARELY gotten through the door of the small courthouse before someone rushed up and grabbed the arm of her heavy duster. She greeted the dark-headed man who was several inches shorter than she was. "Hello, Mel. Been awhile, hasn't it?" She smiled at the worried look on his face. "You need to slow down before you fall."
"Sorry, Lexington. I've just come from a meeting with your brother's counsel. Not a lot of fun." He released her arm and held out his hand. "It's good to see you, too. Thanks for giving me a chance. Although, from what I can see, there's not much work for me to do. This whole thing is a sham." He led her to a small office off the main corridor.
"I figured as much. I'm guessing my lazy brother is probably low on money again; that's the reason for the sudden interest in the ranch." Lex removed her coat and sat on the offered chair. She kept the duster in her lap and stretched her legs out in front of her. "How's your grandfather feeling? I heard he was allowed to go home last week."
"He's ornery as ever. Wanted to send his thanks for the flowers, and told me to give you a big hug and kiss from him." He dusted an imaginary piece of lint from the cuff of his dark gray suit. "The way he's acting, you wouldn't know he just had a quadruple bypass." The attorney blushed. "He also threatened me with a whipping if your case went any further than today."
Lex laughed. "Sounds like Ronald. He's a tough old bird, that's for sure." She sat up and leaned forward. "Just what kind of case does Hubert have? I had a copy of the lawsuit brought out to the ranch, and it looked harmless to me." Her mind knew this was a waste of time, but Lex's churning stomach said something else entirely.
"It is. Judge Packer is a stubborn old guy, though. He will probably drag the entire mess out, just because he doesn't have anything better to do." Mel sighed. "And he's not real fond of my family, either. So I'm afraid I could be a strike against you, Lexington."
"Maybe, but I'll take my chances." Lex consulted the expensive watch on her left wrist. She stood and draped the coat over one arm, using the other hand to brush off the front of her slacks. "It's about time to get this thing started, isn't it?"
The counselor picked up his briefcase and stood as well. "Yeah. Don't want to keep the old guy waiting. I hear he once held an entire courtroom in contempt because he was late, and everyone else was a little impatient." He allowed Lex to precede him into the hallway, and they made their way to one of the three courtrooms. He was about to open the door when a nasal voice from behind stopped him.
"'Bout time you showed up, little sister." Hubert stood next to a middle-aged man whose face was blotchy from alcohol abuse. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't make it."
"Hello, Hubert." Lex turned and quietly studied her brother. He was wearing a very expensive suit, but the jacket strained at the buttons where he tried to cover his growing beer belly. I can't believe this ass is related to me. She pointed to his stomach. "Maybe you should spend less time in the bars and more time at the gym."
The big man lunged forward and around Lex's lawyer to grab the front of her shirt. "Bitch! I ought to--"
Hubert's lawyer grabbed his client's shoulder. "Take it easy, Hubert. She'll get what's coming to her." He pulled ineffectually at his own pants, trying to raise them over his equally large stomach and offered his hand to Lex. "I'm Kirk Trumbull. Don't think we've ever met."
Lex shook the sweaty hand and wiped hers with a tissue she pulled from her pocket. "Probably not. I don't run in the same social circles as Hube." She smiled sweetly at her brother's reddening face.
The door behind her opened, and an old man in a uniform stood solemnly by.
"Howdy, folks. They're remodeling the judge's chambers, so he said we'll take care of business in the courtroom." The bent, elderly man pulled the door open wider and waved Lex inside. "After you, miss."
The foursome sat at their assigned tables for almost an hour while Judge Packer read the lawsuit. Hubert and his lawyer both appeared hot and sweaty as they whispered back and forth. Melvin scribbled notes and shuffled rapidly through papers. Meanwhile, Lex sat quietly at the table with him and tried her best to stay awake.
"God, this is worse than being at the doctor's office. Why didn't the judge read the damned papers before we got here?" she commented quietly, sighing again.
"It's okay. He probably just wants to reacquaint himself with the documents." Mel glanced over at the other table where both men were loosening their ties. "They look uncomfortable."
"Heh. Good." Lex smiled back, her good humor restored by her brother's discomfort. She turned her head forward when she felt the judge study her intently.
Judge William Packer had been covertly watching both parties for the previous ten minutes. He was amused to see the plaintiff squirming in his seat constantly. His attorney didn't fare much better. The judge banged his gavel on the desk, causing four sets of eyes to cut in his direction. "Let's get this show on the road."
Hubert squirmed again and sat a little straighter in his chair. "Finally. Thought we'd have to read the papers out loud for the old coot," he mumbled to his buddy, who shook his head.
"Shh. Don't piss off the judge," Kirk admonished.
The judge glared at the two men. "Something you gentlemen want to say to the court?"
Lex fought to keep the grin from her face.
Judge Packer took off his wire-framed glasses and rubbed his eyes with one hand. "Mr. Trumbull, I assume you're responsible for the contents of this document here in front of me?"
He stood and nodded. "I am, Your Honor. My client--"
"Sit. I didn't ask for a dissertation, just a simple 'yes' or 'no.' " He glanced over at Lex, who smiled slightly in reflex. "Young lady, could you step up here, so I don't have to holler across the room? I'd like to ask you a few questions."
Lex checked with Melvin, who shrugged. "Yes, sir." She stood and crossed the room, wincing at how loud her boots sounded on the tile floor.
"This is just an informal hearing, but I'd appreciate it if you would tell the truth, just as if you were under oath."
"Yes, Your Honor. I have no reason to lie." Lex gave her brother a dirty look once she had taken the seat next to the judge. "I'm sorry certain people have brought family business into your courtroom instead of keeping it private."
Hubert snorted and spoke under his breath. "Bitch." The judge gave him a warning glare.
"You understand the conditions of the agreement you signed eleven years ago, don't you?" Judge Packer studied her face carefully, to see how she would react.
Lex felt a knot of apprehension tighten in her stomach as she nodded. "Yes, sir. I read it through completely before signing it." I'll give the ranch to charity before I see Hubert running it. Nothing is more important to me than Amanda. I'll gladly give up everything for her.
The kindly judge leaned down and patted her shoulder. "Good. Your brother claims you've broken one of the conditions of the contract--specifically, the morals clause." Judge Packer saw the fear and pain reflect in her eyes. It was a ridiculous clause, but legally binding. However, there were always ways around these types of things. "Do you have a man living with you, young lady?"
"No! Well, my grandfather is staying with me for a while, if that's what you mean." Lex saw a twinkle in the judge's eye.
Hubert stood and pointed an accusing finger at his sister. "She's full of shit! That little harlot's living there, and they're--"
The judge banged his gavel on the desk. "Enough! Sit, Mr. Walters, or I'll have you removed. I ask the questions in this courtroom. There's a young woman staying with you?"
Lex swallowed heavily. "Yes, sir. Amanda Cauble has been living at the ranch for almost two months now." Here it comes. Oh, God. I don't think I can handle this.
"Isn't she Jacob and Anna Leigh's granddaughter?" At Lex's nod, he continued. "I believe I met her at a party they had a couple of years ago. Sweet girl." He put his glasses back on and gathered the papers. "I see no validity in the charges, so I have no recourse but to dismiss this case."
<
br /> Hubert jumped to his feet again. "Wait just a goddamned minute! She's living in sin; she practically admitted it. That voids the whole agreement, and the ranch is rightfully mine!"
Lex was about to argue when the judge shook his head. "The contract states, 'living with another individual without benefit of matrimony'. Unless the law has changed since we stepped into this room, same-sex marriages are not recognized in the sovereign state of Texas. So, since two people of the same sex cannot be legally married, they cannot be condemned in the eyes of the court for not being married." He gave Lex a fond look. "Give my best to your friend, Lexington. Tell your grandfather I said hello."
"I sure will, Your Honor. Thank you." Lex stood and held out her hand. She smiled at the firm handshake she received before the judge stepped down and left the room. She accepted her coat from Melvin with a smile.
Hubert grabbed Lex's arm as she walked by his table to leave. "This isn't over, you arrogant bitch. I'll get what's rightfully mine, one way or another!"
The bailiff started over, but Lex waved him off. "Let go of me, Hubert. I'm not in the mood to kick your ass this morning." She grabbed his hand and bent his fingers back painfully. Asshole.
He pulled his hand away with a muttered curse. "I should have finished you off years ago. Then I wouldn't have this damn problem."
"You talk real brave, Hubert. But you never did have any balls, did you? Back off, big brother. Or don't you think the court would be interested in the paperwork from the bank?" Lex wouldn't feel right about turning in her only living brother for embezzling ranch funds, but he didn't have to know. She pushed by him and left the courtroom, almost flinching at the look of hatred Hubert aimed at her.
"I'M GLAD YOU agreed to join us for Christmas. Amanda is going to be so surprised." Lex almost laughed aloud when she anticipated the look on her lover's face. "This is going to be priceless. I can't wait to see her face when she sees you."
The man sitting next to her laughed. "When I got your letter, I almost fell out of my chair. I haven't seen her in so long, and I don't mind admitting she's always been my favorite." He looked at the passing scenery with interest. "You do live out in the boonies, don't you?"
"I guess. Never thought about it much."
"I didn't mean anything by it, Lex. Just surprised Amanda is living so far away from everything." He tentatively touched her arm. "Is she happy?"
"I hope so," Lex replied. "I think she is." She thought about his earlier comment. "Why does it surprise you Amanda lives out here with me?"
He bit his lip in contemplation. "Well, it's not because of you, but more about where you live. She's always been the type who needed a lot of people around. I was stunned to hear she'd left Los Angeles for Somerville." He saw the concern race across Lex's face. "But, maybe she doesn't need the big city anymore."
Her eyes met his for a moment and then turned back toward the road. "What do you mean?"
"Because, just from what little I heard earlier today, she's finally got a real home." His eyes grew wide when the truck came upon the old covered bridge. So, this is it, huh? "Can we stop here for just for a moment? I'd like to see something." Even after Jacob and Anna Leigh told me about it, I still need to see where it happened to make it real in my mind. Poor Amanda, what she must have gone through.
"Sure." Lex pulled the large vehicle to a stop just before it made it to the wooden structure.
He opened his door and jumped out, hurrying to the edge of the creek. "Oh, my God." The water was running steadily from an earlier rain, and it was halfway up the banks. A strong hand on his shoulder caused him to spin around quickly. "Yeow! Oh, sorry." He turned to the somber figure beside him. "This is where--?"
"Yeah." Lex pointed upstream. "A big tree came barreling down the creek and took out the center of the bridge." She swung her arm around the opposite way, pointing to the far bank. "I was over there, repairing some downed fence, when I saw her headlights. The car fell into the water and ended up down there." Lex put her hands in the pockets of her duster and exhaled heavily. "I pulled her out and took her back to my house." She watched as he shivered from a strong blast of cold wind. "Come on. I don't want to get blamed for you coming down with pneumonia."
He followed her back to the truck. "Thanks for humoring me."
Once they were inside, he grabbed her hand. "And thank you for what you did for Amanda. She means a lot to me, even though we haven't had much contact over the past few years."
"You're welcome. Although, truthfully, I think she's the one who's saved me," Lex finished quietly. She started the truck and drove over the bridge, deep in thought.
AMANDA SAT IN the den, laughing over another humorous story from Travis. "And she didn't get in trouble?" she asked, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. They sat to relax after getting the Christmas decorations out of the storage room. Martha had decided to wait until Lex returned from town before she started with the decorating, so the family would all be together.
"No. I had the hardest time trying to discipline the little thing. She'd do something she knew was wrong, and look at me with those big blue eyes. I'd melt every time." Travis leaned back in the chair by the fireplace and shook his head. "Lanie was always getting on me about that, too." He smiled when Amanda suddenly jumped to her feet.
"Lex is back." She raced over to the front window and peeked out. "Darn! She pulled the truck around to the side already." Amanda heard a chuckle and turned around.
Travis had a large grin on his face. "Go on. Meet her at the front door." Before she left the house, Lex told him of the surprise she was bringing home with her, and he was anxious to see Amanda's reaction.
She blushed but nodded. "Thanks, I will." Amanda raced to the front door. She heard bootsteps on the porch and swung the door open wide. "Hi! I'm so glad to see--" Her greeting died on her lips when she saw who was standing in front of her lover. "Uncle Morris?"
"In the flesh, cutie pie." Morris stepped forward and embraced his niece happily. "Merry Christmas!"
Chapter Five
MICHAEL FOLLOWED HIS father into the tidy storage room that was located above Jacob's shop. "I appreciate you keeping all this stuff for me, Dad. I would have probably thrown all of it away years ago."
Jacob chuckled. "You're welcome, son. I'd like to take the credit, but it was your mother's idea. She was hoping you would decide to take up photography again some day. You really had a talent for it."
Michael ducked his head in embarrassment. "I don't know about that, but I enjoyed doing it." He watched as his father pulled a tarp off a large stack of boxes in one corner of the room. "I'm not sure how much of this stuff is even salvageable, but there should be enough to hold me until I can afford new equipment." The former executive studied the boxes carefully. "They sure look like they're in good shape, considering their age." Michael was so engrossed in the boxes, he didn't notice when Jacob walked over to the door and greeted Anna Leigh.
"Hello, beautiful." Jacob kissed his wife lightly on the lips. "You're just in time for the fun," he whispered.
Anna Leigh wrapped an arm around her husband. "Good! I didn't want to miss this." She secretly hoped Michael wouldn't be too upset with them, or too proud to accept what they were offering.
His back to the door, Michael knelt and opened the first box, marked "camera". He was expecting an old brown case, but instead, saw another box. "What the--?" Pulling it free from the packaging, he could see it was a brand-new, professional quality camera. Michael spun around and saw his smiling parents standing by the door. "You--?"
"There's no way you could start a business with all old equipment, dear. We want you to have the best possible opportunity to succeed. Your old stuff is here. We stacked it behind the new boxes." Anna Leigh could see the indecision on her son's face. "Please let us do this for you, Michael. You're the only son we have, and we're so thankful you've come home to us."
"Mom," Michael climbed to his feet and started over to the couple. "I don't deserve--"
Jacob raised his hand. "Baloney! We've always been proud of you, son. We may not have always agreed with your choices, but we've never stopped loving you."
Michael closed the distance quickly and embraced them both. "I love you, too. I'm just sorry it took me so long to get my head back on straight." His exuberance for his new career shone in his eyes. "This is just a loan. I plan on paying you back every cent you've spent on me so far."
Anna Leigh enjoyed her son's enthusiasm. "How about a nice portrait instead? We haven't had one done in quite a long time."
"It's a deal. But I'll also do any shots you need for the real estate office, and Dad's business, too," Michael added excitedly. A sudden thought caused him to snap his fingers. "And now I've got the right equipment for Amanda and Lex's Christmas present. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces." His babbling continued as his parents watched in amusement. The formerly cynical and detached executive had become their optimistic and cheerful son again.
THE FIRST MORNING of Christmas vacation, Ronnie Sterling groomed the horses while Lex put fresh hay in the stalls. "Ms. Walters, I do appreciate everything you've done for me, especially after what my brother almost did to you." Ronnie had been afraid when she learned about Matt's involvement with the mishaps around the ranch, including almost killing Lex, that she would send him back to the detention center without another thought.
Lex tossed more clean hay into the empty stall. "You're not responsible for the things your brother's done, Ronnie. Believe me, I understand completely." She grabbed another bale and cut the wire away from it. "And call me Lex. Ms. Walters makes me sound old."
