Love's Journey

by Carrie Carr

  Amanda started to follow him out of the room, her face red with fury. "That little--" The hand that grabbed the back of her belt stopped her.

  "Hold on, there." Lex pulled Amanda toward her. "Let him go." She wrapped her long arms around her lover and kissed her on the neck.

  Amanda leaned back into the embrace and tilted her head to one side. Her eyes closed in reaction to Lex's lips on her skin. "I'll allow him to live, for now." She turned around and linked her hands behind Lex's neck, her heart aching at the red-rimmed eyes that looked back at her. "Come on, I want to take you over to Gramma's house, so you can get some rest."

  Lex shook her head. "No." She leaned forward and rested her forehead against Amanda's chest. "Can we go home? I'd feel better if I was in our bed." She hated the admission, but her aching body wanted nothing more than to collapse into their king-sized bed. "Please?"

  "Sure, sweetheart." Amanda waited until Lex sat back and kissed the warm forehead. "Let's go home."

  TRAVIS WAS WORRIED about his granddaughter. The normally vibrant woman had appeared weak, almost frail, when they had gotten home earlier in the afternoon. Her wan smile had not fooled him in the least, and he was on the verge of calling his personal doctor in Dallas to get another opinion on her condition. The only thing that stopped him was the realization it would only upset Lex. When Amanda finally joined him and Martha at the kitchen table, he asked anxiously, "How's she doing?"

  "She's sleeping, now." The shot the doctor had given Lex had caused her to feel even more tired. By the time they had gotten home, Amanda practically had to drag her lover upstairs. "I'm sure she'll feel a lot better after a nice nap." She wasn't too convinced of the improving state of Lex's health, but Amanda knew Travis would worry himself sick otherwise.

  "She'll be just fine, Travis." Martha patted his shoulder in a comforting manner. She had spent most of the afternoon sitting with him at the kitchen table, fending off his offers to pay for the majority of her upcoming wedding. "Our Lexie always gets hit hard with a cold, but she bounces back in no time at all."

  The back door opened and Charlie came bustling into the kitchen. "Afternoon, folks." He leaned over to place a kiss on Martha's cheek and noticed Amanda sitting at the table. "Hello there, honey. What are you doing home this time of day?" He took his hat off and sat next to his soon-to-be wife.

  "I brought Lex home, Charlie. She has a cold. At least, according to the quack doctor we saw earlier," Amanda finished grumpily.

  Martha laughed. "I'm sure the young man knows what he's doing, dear. Doc Anderson wouldn't have him around, otherwise." She stood to get a fresh pot of coffee.

  Amanda snorted her disagreement. "I'm not so sure. And his bedside manner could certainly use some work." She recalled the look on his face when he realized she and Lex were a couple. "He barely checked Lex out before telling us all she had was a cold. What burned me was when he insinuated we were wasting his time. What a turd."

  "Sounds to me like he could have used a lesson in manners," Travis chuckled. "I'm surprised you didn't offer to teach him."

  "Uh, well." Amanda blushed and suddenly found a loose thread on the placemat in front of her very fascinating.

  "You didn't?" Charlie covered her nervous fingers with his hand. "Amanda?"

  She returned the gaze of the expectant faces around her. "I started to chase him after he left the examination room, but Lex stopped me."

  Travis sighed in relief. "That's good."

  "But I did see him as we were leaving, and, umm--gave him a piece of my mind," she finished quietly, utterly embarrassed.

  "What did you say?" Charlie asked.

  "She called him a rude little man with notions of self-importance," a tired voice provided from the doorway. "And I think she questioned his parentage, too." Lex leaned against the doorframe, appearing disheveled in the black sweatpants and tee shirt she was wearing. She walked into the kitchen and sat next to Amanda. "I thought I was going to have to hog-tie her to get her out of the doctor's office."

  Amanda brushed the hair out of Lex's eyes. "I wasn't that bad, was I?" Not waiting for an answer, she continued, "What are you doing out of bed? I thought you were sleeping."

  Lex shook her head. "I was, for a bit. I got a little lonely." The admission embarrassed Lex. She wasn't used to being so dependent on someone else, and having to admit she needed Amanda was a weakness in her eyes.

  "Since you're here, why don't you have a little bite to eat and I'll help you back upstairs." Knowing Lex's quiet admission was actually a plea, Amanda rubbed her arm. "If you don't mind the company, I've got some reading to do and I'd rather do it upstairs where it's nice and quiet."

  Lex could see the gleam in her lover's eyes. "Uh, yeah." She knew she'd have to come up with a good way to thank Amanda later. "Sounds like a great idea to me." She watched as a plate of food was placed in front of her. "Thanks."

  "You're welcome, Lexie." Martha sat back next to Charlie and laughed. "Don't look at me. I just happened to have a plate ready for you."

  "Don't try to argue with her. I've been trying all day, and I know when I've been beaten." Travis had finally conceded defeat in their earlier discussion. Martha gracefully continued to refuse his offers to host a grand wedding, stating all she wanted was a quiet, family affair. Travis figured if his granddaughter had any say in the matter at all, it would end up being much more.

  Martha patted his arm. "It's not that I don't appreciate your offer, Travis, because I do. I just wouldn't feel right, you paying for everything." She looked back at Charlie.

  He held out his hands. "Oh, no. Don't be getting me into the middle of this. I'll gladly go with whatever you decide, sweetheart. We can rent the biggest church in town, or elope. As long as the end result is the same, I don't care." Charlie winked at his intended, causing her to blush.

  THE EVENING WITH Amanda's mother already seemed horribly long, and it had barely begun. Lex designated herself as tour guide and was politely showing their guest around the large ranch house. "This is the den," she announced, allowing the woman to step ahead of her into the room.

  "It's very--large," Elizabeth commented, noticing the heavy wood furnishings. "Did you decorate it yourself?"

  Lex chuckled. "Nah. It's been like this for as long as I can remember. I've just never had the inclination to change it." She directed her charge to the far wall. "I did pick out this painting, however. Thought it went well with the room." The bold western scene covered a good deal of space, the running horses almost coming alive.

  Elizabeth leaned closer to look at the print. The small brass plate on the bottom of the frame read, 'Dash for the Timber'. "Remington, I see." She graced her host with an almost civil smile. "Very nice."

  Whoa. Lex almost fell back in shock. Was that a smile? "Thank you. I'm afraid it's just a copy, since the original is in a museum, but I've always been fond of his work." Lex had been on the verge of screaming for help, when this unexpected side of Elizabeth came out. "Would you like to see the sitting room? We can wait in there for Amanda."

  "Certainly." Elizabeth nodded and allowed Lex to lead her across the hall. "Oh, my. What a lovely room." The words had escaped her mouth before she realized she had spoken aloud. She pointed to the baby grand in the corner. "That's a beautiful piano. Do you play?"

  "Yes, ma'am," Lex answered quietly. "Or, at least I did when I was younger. I haven't touched it in years." Her eyes gravitated toward the large framed picture that was sitting on the piano, a recent gift from Travis. The eleven by fourteen image was of Victoria and a very young Lexington at the piano, one of the last photographs taken of them before Victoria passed away. She watched as Elizabeth gently picked up the frame and studied the photo intently.

  "Is this--"

  Lex stepped forward and took the picture from her carefully. "My mother--and me." Her voice caught. "Right before she died."

  "Oh." Elizabeth watched Lex place the frame back in its place. "I see." No fake platitudes left her mouth, but she was
respectfully silent for a long moment.

  Lex was tired of the charade. "Why are you here, Mrs. Cauble? I know it's not for the cooking."

  "No, it's not. I'm here for my daughter, Ms. Walters." She sat on the antique loveseat near the window. "I don't know what hold you have on her, but I'm determined to break it. One way or another."

  "Uh huh. What do you plan on doing? Kidnapping her in the middle of the night? Or maybe trying to bribe her with trust funds and inheritances?" Lex ran one hand through her hair and sat on the other side of the room. "She's happy here. Why can't you just leave her alone?"

  "Happy?" the elegant woman almost spat out in disgust. "How on earth can she be happy? Look around you, young woman. This place is certainly not what my daughter is accustomed to having! You've hidden Amanda away in this pitiful excuse for a house -- away from all her friends and family. Locked her away from any type of social life." Elizabeth stood and pointed an accusing finger. "You've turned her against her own mother, and led her into Godknows-what-kind of deviant behavior. And you have the nerve to tell me to leave her alone?" She was shaking, now. "Don't you dare take that attitude with me! I--"

  "Dinner's about ready." Amanda announced as she stepped into the room and saw her mother, red-faced and pointing her finger at Lex. "What's going on here?"

  Lex stood and brushed her hands against her thighs. "Nothing. We were just--"

  "Having a little discussion, dear," Elizabeth finished. She glared at Lex behind her daughter's back. "Lexington was just showing me around the house."

  "Right." No sense in upsetting Amanda over nothing. Lex stepped around Elizabeth and put a possessive arm over her lover's shoulder. "Did you say dinner was ready?"

  Not believing either woman, but willing to let the subject drop, Amanda nodded. "Just about." She snuggled close to Lex. "It was a good idea to give Martha the night off," she whispered, watching her mother stalk down the hallway. "I bet she's having a better time than we are." Lex had told Martha Elizabeth was coming to dinner, and Amanda wanted to cook dinner for her. The housekeeper took the hint, and offered to cook dinner for Travis, Charlie and herself. The men had other ideas and decided to take her out for an evening of dinner and dancing instead.

  "You're probably right. I heard Grandpa on the phone earlier, talking to your grandparents. I think they're all going to meet at the Crossing and go out to some small club to dance the night away. We may not see them until morning." Lex kissed the ear she had just spoken into.

  "And that would be a bad thing?" Amanda asked. "Mother told me earlier she couldn't stay tonight."

  What a shame. I already short-sheeted the guest bed. Lex chuckled to herself. She grunted when a well-placed elbow hit her in the stomach. "What was that for?"

  "Whatever you're thinking, 'cause I know it wasn't nice."

  Lex grumbled and followed her lover into the kitchen, where Elizabeth stood in the center of the room, her arms crossed over her chest.

  "It's about time you two got in here," she chastised her daughter. "I suppose this is where we're going to eat?"

  Amanda directed her mother to a nearby chair. "Yes, Mother. Why don't you have a seat?"

  Elizabeth allowed herself to be seated. "Fine. I should have known you wouldn't have a proper dining room," she sniffed. She watched as Lex took the chair across from her, pulling it out just far enough to swing her leg over. "Heathen," she muttered.

  "Lex, behave!" Amanda scolded, but was secretly amused at her lover's uncharacteristically rustic action.

  "What?" Lex took her napkin and was about to tuck it under her chin, but the look from Amanda quickly changed her mind, and she dropped the linen cloth into her lap. "I don't know what you're talking about."

  Elizabeth studied the place settings critically. "No salad forks? Didn't I teach you better than this, Amanda Lorraine?"

  Tired of listening to the matron complain, Lex laughed. "Salad forks? Come on, Mrs. Cauble, lighten up. Have you seen what's on the menu tonight?" She pointed to the middle of the table. Several dishes with meatloaf, green beans, and mashed potatoes with gravy covered the surface of the large wooden table. A small basket covered with a cotton towel held steaming hot rolls.

  "It doesn't matter. A proper table always has salad forks," she huffed.

  "I'm sorry, Mother, but this isn't a dinner party, just a family meal. I would appreciate it if you would just try to enjoy yourself and quit finding fault with every little thing I do." Amanda sat next to her mother and sent a pleading look across the table. "We're all going to relax, right?"

  Lex nodded. "Sure." She lifted the bowl of green beans and gestured toward Elizabeth. "Mrs. Cauble?"

  The dinner went quickly, with very little small talk among the three women. Lex was the only one who spoke, mainly to compliment Amanda's cooking skills. The other two women were unusually quiet, each waiting for the other to say something. Amanda had just stood and taken the plates to the sink, when her mother let out an exasperated sigh.

  After over thirty minutes of forced niceties, Elizabeth could take no more. She watched her daughter treat Lex almost as a spouse, and was tired of it. "Amanda, I think it's time you come to your senses and stop this charade."

  Amanda turned around and glared at her mother. "Excuse me? Charade?" She tossed down the dishtowel and stalked back toward the table. "What in the hell are you talking about?"

  "You heard me. I've seen how you're acting, and it disgusts me." Elizabeth stood to confront her daughter. "She's a woman, for God's sake. You can't possibly be happy here, acting like a couple." She took a step forward and pointed her finger in Amanda's face. "It's sick, perverted, and unnatural!"

  Lex stood up, intent on getting between the two women. "Now wait just a minute, Mrs. Cauble." She stepped around the table. "Just calm down, and we can all discuss this rationally."

  Elizabeth turned around as she reached into the pocket of the wool blazer she was wearing. "Shut up. You have already ruined your own life, but you will leave my daughter alone." Amanda's mother pulled her hand out of her pocket. She held a small revolver and aimed it at Lex. "I should have gotten rid of you a long time ago, you godless bitch!"

  "No!" Amanda saw the gun in her mother's hand and lunged for it. She heard the loud report and watched in horror as a dark stain blossomed on her lover's chest.

  Looking down in shock, Lex saw the blood soaking into her shirt. "Damn." She pressed both hands against the wound to staunch the bleeding, but could feel herself getting weaker with each beat of her heart. Her knees buckled and she crumpled to the floor.

  Amanda shoved her mother aside and fell to her knees next to the prone woman. She saw Lex fight to keep her eyes open. "Stay with me, Lex. Please."

  "Tired--" Lex mumbled as her eyes began to close.

  "No, please!" Amanda begged, as she grasped one of Lex's bloody hands and held it tightly. "Stay awake, honey, please." She used her other hand, brushed the dark bangs away from the closed eyes, and lightly slapped Lex's cheek. "Wake up, Lex." Amanda began to cry softly as she felt the body beside her go limp. "Wake up!" she cried.

  "What?" Lex woke with a start. "Amanda?" She blinked several times and grabbed her chest. No holes. The shaken woman sat up and tried to get her bearings. That was one hell of a nightmare. "Wow."

  "Are you all right?" Amanda asked worriedly. She turned on the small lamp next to the bed. "I'm sorry I woke you, but you were thrashing around something horrible." She could see Lex had perspired heavily, and her dark hair was stuck to her head and face.

  Lex blinked a couple of more times. "Yeah. Just one doozy of a bad dream." She saw her lover's concerned face. "Sorry I woke you."

  Amanda climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom. "It's all right. I was just worried about you." She stepped back out of the bathroom with a damp washcloth. "I was afraid your fever had made you delirious, or something." She sat next to Lex and began to wipe the ill woman's face. "You look a little pale. Maybe I should call the doctor."

 
"No, I'm fine." Lex took the washcloth away from Amanda and kissed her knuckles. Dying can make anyone turn pale, I think. She shivered. "The dream just got to me, I guess."

  "Can you remember any of it?" Amanda asked quietly. The terror was just now beginning to fade from her lover's face. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, you know."

  Lex shook her head and leaned back against the headboard. "I think this dinner with your mother has me a little rattled." She closed her eyes, and for a split second relived that horrible feeling of aching cold and fear.

  Amanda saw the pulse quicken in her partner's throat. "Lex?" She touched the silent woman, and was surprised when Lex wrapped both arms around her.

  "I died, in my dream," Lex whispered. "It was so real." She took several deep breaths and sat back slowly.

  "How did--"

  "Your mother came to dinner." Lex took Amanda's hands in hers and watched the knuckles whiten as she clenched them tighter. "We argued, and she--"

  "What?"

  Lex inhaled deeply, not taking her eyes from their linked hands. "She shot me. I died on the kitchen floor."

  Amanda squeezed Lex's hands even harder. "Dear God. No wonder you were fighting in your sleep." She forced Lex to look at her. "But it was only a dream. You're okay." She caressed the heated cheek. "Your fever is playing havoc with you, baby. It's all right." Amanda pulled Lex's head to her chest, rubbing one hand over her sweat-soaked back and combing her fingers through the damp hair. "Come on, let's get you into a cool shower. It'll make you feel better, and hopefully help the fever, too."

  "Sounds good to me." Lex allowed Amanda to pull her to her feet.

  "And as soon as I can call my mother tomorrow, I'm canceling dinner."