Love's Journey

by Carrie Carr

  "LOOK, ABOUT WHAT I said back there," Rawson started, unsure of why he was trying to apologize.

  Lex waved him off. "Don't worry about it, Dad. I'm just a little sensitive where Amanda's concerned." She grimaced as the jeep bounced roughly. "I'm sorry."

  "I know I've never quite figured you out, Lexington. Why you like women, I mean." He turned away, not wanting to see the hurt on his daughter's face. "I figured I must have done something wrong, raising you around all those men."

  "No, it doesn't have anything to do with how I was raised, Dad."

  Lex rubbed at her tired eyes. "I was born gay. Just like you were born the way you are." Whoever thought I'd be having this conversation now? I wish Amanda were here. She's so much better with this kind of thing. "I just don't want Amanda to be hurt by your attitude toward me."

  "She's got spunk, she does. Came right out and threatened me earlier today." The dashboard illumination highlighted his daughter's strong profile, and the bruising around her eyes was slowly fading away. "I'll say one thing for you, girl."

  "What?"

  "You've got damned fine taste in women," he admitted. "You'd better take good care of her."

  Lex smiled broadly. "I plan on it, Dad." She fought to keep the old jeep on the road as they slid up to the bunkhouse in the mud. "Piece of cake."

  "Crazy kid." Rawson climbed out of the jeep and poked his head back inside. "Thanks for the ride, Lexington."

  "You want me to come in with you for a minute?" she asked, reaching for her seatbelt.

  "Nah. I'm a big boy. Think I can find a bunk without any help from a snot-nosed kid." His tone was light, and a large smile covered the older man's face. "I'll be at the house sometime tomorrow. Maybe help you with the stock again?"

  "Sounds great, Dad. Get there early, and you can have breakfast with us."

  "I just might, girl. Now get on back to the house and take care of your little lady." Rawson slammed the jeep door before Lex could send back a retort.

  "Ornery old man," she muttered with a grin, backing the jeep and turning it around.

  SHE PARKED THE car behind the house in order to stay out of the dim light that shone from the side lamppost. It took a few minutes more, but she was able to back it in so she could leave quickly. Excellent. It's nice and quiet around here. Elizabeth got out of the car and closed the door quietly. This shouldn't take too long. It's an old house. She walked to the back of the car and unlocked the trunk, pulling out one of the red cans filled with gasoline. "These are much heavier than they look," she muttered. Her nose wrinkled with disgust. "And good God, the smell is just awful."

  Elizabeth wrestled the gas container as she began to splash the contents against the sides of the house. I hope Amanda appreciates all the trouble I'm going through for her. Perhaps I should have paid someone to do this for me. She suddenly giggled. No. I'm having too much fun.

  She had two containers left by the time she made it to the front of the dark house. This rickety old porch will burn nicely. I can't wait to see the look on that pervert's face when she comes back to see her precious house in ashes. Elizabeth poured the contents of one can out over the porch, the wooden railing, and the swing. Now, how am I going to light this, and keep myself clear? She giggled again and lifted the final canister. I'll leave myself a nice little trail.

  After she had poured a trail of gasoline from the house to the driveway, Elizabeth searched her pocket for the book of matches she had brought from the hotel. "Where did I put those?" she asked herself quietly, patting all of her pockets. "I know I brought them with me." Shaking her head in dismay, she quickly jogged back to the rental car. "Must have left them in here," she muttered, opening the door and looking on the seats. "Aha! There they are." She gathered the errant matches. "Shame on you, hiding from Mother. We've got work to do."

  As she closed the car door, headlights appeared in the driveway. "No! Not when I'm so close!" she screamed, racing for the front of the house with the matches in hand.

  Lex pulled into the driveway and parked the jeep near the front porch. When she stepped out of the vehicle, she sniffed the pungent odor filling the air. "Gasoline? Don't tell me this thing's got a leak." She reached into the back seat, grabbed her flashlight, opened the hood, and peered inside. "The smell is strong," she mumbled, leaning over to check the hoses.

  Elizabeth raced to the jeep and slammed the hood onto the unsuspecting woman's head and shoulders. "You bitch!" she screamed. "You're going to mess up my plans. Can't you do anything right?" She slammed the hood again, happy when Lex collapsed against the vehicle. Lex's limp body fell to the ground, landing in the puddle of gasoline Elizabeth had left behind.

  Elizabeth dusted her hands off and laughed. "That will show you who's in charge around here." She stopped laughing and suddenly looked around, panicked. "My matches. Where are my matches?" The crazy woman turned around and began to crawl around on the ground, searching for the small book in the dim light. "Where are you, my babies? Mother needs you," she whimpered while her hands patted the ground all around her.

  Inside the house, Amanda woke from a fitful doze. "Lex?" she called out, looking around the house. It was dark and quiet, and she couldn't figure out what had caused her to wake up. What time is it? A glance at the clock on the nightstand caused her to frown. She should be back by now. Worried, Amanda lifted the small radio and clicked the key on the side. "Lex, can you hear me?"

  When she didn't receive an answer, she picked up the phone. "No, I'm not going to bother everyone at Martha's, just because Lex is running a little late." Amanda yawned and dropped her head back onto her pillow. "I'll give her a few more minutes," she decided.

  "Damn, what hit me?" Lex groaned, rolling slowly over onto her back. Why is there such a strong gasoline smell here? She blinked a few times to clear her head. The last thing I remember is checking under the hood.

  Elizabeth tore her gloves from her hands and continued to search the ground by feel. The rocks and sticks were cutting into her delicate skin, but she was beyond caring. "Come to Mother, sweetheart," she cajoled, trying to find the matches. A moan nearby reminded her of the rancher's presence. "She's going to ruin everything." Her hands skidded around frantically on the frozen ground.

  Lex sniffed her coat and frowned. She touched her fingers into the nearby pool and pulled them back to her nose. The gasoline's on the ground? "What in the hell is going on here?" Her mind was foggy from the blow she had taken to the back of her head, but the manic mumbling of the woman close by caught her attention. Elizabeth Cauble? What's she doing here? Oh, shit. Lex struggled to climb to her feet, unsuccessfully. "Damn." She collapsed back to her knees. "Have you lost your mind?" she yelled, trying to get the other woman's attention.

  She's awake? I thought that deviant would take a longer nap. Elizabeth's hands finally landed upon the elusive book of matches. "Yes!" She snatched them from the damp ground and wiped the residue on her dark slacks. Standing up, the crazed woman raised them so Lex could see. "Stay back! You're not going to destroy my plans this time, you pervert."

  "Mrs. Cauble, please." Lex leaned against the jeep and tried in vain to get her legs to support her. "You don't want to do this. Amanda's inside!"

  "Do you think I'd believe that? Just how stupid do you think I am?" Elizabeth stepped closer to the house. "I saw her car in town. She's staying with those whining idiot grandparents of hers."

  "No, Elizabeth. She's here, I swear it. They took her car so it could be stored in a garage while her leg heals." Lex slowly pulled herself up on the jeep. "Please, don't do this."

  Elizabeth laughed. "You'll say anything to protect your precious house, won't you?" She held the matches out in front of her. Not realizing she was standing in a puddle of the volatile liquid, the ranting woman struck a match and tossed it to the ground.

  "Noo!" Lex screamed, stumbling toward Amanda's mother.

  "Yes! Now my daughter will come back to me." Elizabeth cackled. "Burn in hell, you deviant whore of Satan!" sh
e yelled, as the flames rushed toward the petroleum doused home. The ground beneath her erupted into flames, and she screamed in fear as the heat began to lick at her clothing. "Aaaah!" She began to dance around wildly, beating at her body in fear. "Help me!"

  Lex charged forward and slammed the smaller woman to the ground, rolling her clear. Her own coat quickly caught on fire, and she fought to rip it from her body.

  "Get off of me, you sick bitch!" Elizabeth slapped at Lex and hampering her efforts to free herself from the burning coat.

  "Stop it, dammit!" Lex finally yanked the smoldering jacket from her body. "Shut the hell up, you crazy old broad." She punched the screaming woman full in the face. Leaning over the unconscious woman and breathing heavily, Lex turned her head toward the house. "Amanda!" she screamed. She jumped to her feet and stared for a moment at the front porch, which was completely engulfed in flames.

  Amanda tried to roll over in her sleep, and the pain caused her to wake again. "Ow. I've got to learn not to do that," she mumbled. She could hear a strange noise from outside the house. "What's going on?"

  Lex pulled her hat from the under the hood of the jeep and tucked her hair beneath it. Grabbing the shovel from the back of the vehicle, she raced to the side of the house and used it to break through one of the den's windows. "Hang on, Amanda!" she yelled, as she backed away to get a running start.

  The sound of the side window breaking caused Amanda to scream. She could now see a flickering brightness outside as a heavy smoke began to fill the room. "Lex?"

  Amanda sat helplessly on the bed, her wheelchair just out of reach. The heavy smoke was starting to get to her, and she began to cough as she heard Lex's cry. "Hurry. It's--" she coughed again, leaning forward on the bed and covering her mouth with her greatgrandmother's quilt.

  A heavy body burst through the broken window, landing a few feet from the bed. Lex stood and coughed and then wrapped Amanda in the quilt. "Hold on, baby." She struggled to carry Amanda to where she had come in, the heavy cast hampering her efforts. "Shit." The flames were already around the window.

  "What?" Amanda asked, her voice muffled by the thick quilt. "Oh, no!"

  "This is going to hurt, sweetheart. I'm sorry." Lex leaned over and kissed her lover between the eyes. "I'll have to just throw you through the window. When you hit the ground, roll out of the quilt, and away from the house."

  Fear filled Amanda's eyes. "What about you? I'm not going--"

  "I'll be right behind you, I promise." Lex stood as close to the window as she dared. "Are you ready?"

  Amanda pulled the quilt away from her face and grabbed Lex around the neck, tugging her in for a demanding kiss. "Now I am," she rasped. She allowed Lex to bundle her back up, and braced herself for the throw.

  With all her strength, Lex threw Amanda as far as she possibly could, praying silently it would be far enough. She fell to the floor spent, and looked up as she heard the ceiling begin to creak ominously.

  "Dear merciful God!" Martha yelled, as she raced to the main house. She had happened to look out her front window, and saw the flames reaching into the nighttime sky. She stayed behind and called the fire department, while Travis and Charlie ran ahead to see what they could do.

  Charlie started to go around to the front of the house, when he saw a bundle fly from the side window. Moving in closer to investigate, he almost screamed as the wad of cloth rolled toward him. A blond head poked from the smoking mass, and he sobbed with relief. "Amanda?" he quickly dragged her further away from the inferno as gently as he could. "How did you--"

  "Lex!" Amanda gestured to the house, fighting to free herself from the quilt. She cursed her broken leg, although it felt none the worse for wear. "Dammit. We've got to help Lex!"

  "Calm down, Amanda," the sheriff tried to soothe her.

  "You don't understand! She's still in there."

  Charlie paled. "God, no." He shook his head at the totally engulfed house. "Travis--"

  "I'll take care of Amanda. You go see about my granddaughter," Travis begged. Keep her safe, dear God. Lanie, my love, if you have any pull with the Man upstairs, use it now.

  Martha dropped beside him and pulled a crying Amanda into her arms. "Hush, now," she soothed, "Everything's going to be all right." She began to hum softly, as she sat on the cold ground and rocked the sobbing woman.

  The fire had almost overrun the second floor of the house, and because of the heat, Charlie couldn't get close enough to see inside. He felt tears of loss trail down his face, as he watched the bright flames. Suddenly, upstairs, the French doors to the master suite burst open, and a mattress flew from the opening and to the ground below. "Jesus." The lawman stood frozen for a long moment, regained his wits, and bolted for the smoldering bedding. A body lay spreadeagled on the mattress, not moving.

  "Ugh." Lex rolled over onto her back and stared into the smoky sky. "Damn, that hurt," she wheezed, rubbing her chest where the breath had been knocked from her. She tried to sit up, but was held by a firm hand. "Hey."

  "You just lie quiet for a minute, you crazy kid," Charlie half-laughed, half-cried. "You could be seriously injured." He could hear sirens approaching.

  Lex coughed and asked, her voice a hoarse wheeze, "Amanda?"

  "She's just fine. Martha and Travis are with her now."

  "Please," Lex gasped out between coughs, "I've got to see her." She tried to sit up again, and this time Charlie helped her.

  "You are one stubborn woman, Lexington Walters." He helped her maintain a sitting position for a long moment. As he did, he couldn't help but notice how she continued to hold her chest. "Did you hurt yourself?"

  She shook her head. "Nah. Just knocked the wind out of me." Lex raised her hand. "Help me, will you? I want to go check on Amanda."

  Charlie pulled her to her feet and shook his head. He yanked the black cowboy hat off Lex. "How on earth did you keep this old thing on?"

  "I'm probably related to Roy Rogers," Lex joked, as the older man put a steadying arm around her waist. "Didn't you ever see any of his movies? I have--" She watched the house burn brightly. "I had them all on tape." She stumbled over to where the others sat and dropped to the ground next to her lover.

  Crying in her relief, Amanda practically crawled into Lex's arms. "Oh God, Lex, I thought--"

  Lex pulled Amanda close as she watched the firemen try to get the blaze under control. "Sshh. It's okay, sweetheart. We're both fine." When her smoke-irritated eyes rested on Charlie, she finally remembered something. "Elizabeth Cauble started this inferno," she told him. "I left her on the front lawn."

  Amanda pulled back and looked into Lex's face. "Is she--"

  "Unconscious. I, umm, had to punch her in the face. Her clothes caught on fire, and I couldn't get her to calm down enough to put them out. I think she'll be okay." Lex gave the sheriff a serious look. "You might want to be real careful with her. I think she's gone off the deep end."

  Charlie cocked his head. "How do you know?"

  "She was talking to a book of matches. I told her Amanda was in the house, but she didn't believe me." Lex turned to her partner. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't want to hurt her."

  Amanda pointed to what was left of the house. "Don't you dare apologize! Look what my mother's done. She's destroyed your home."

  "She burned our house, sweetheart. It can be rebuilt. Just like we want it to be." Lex caressed Amanda's cheek. We're together. That's all that matters."

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  "YOU KNOW, THAT coat hanger isn't going to help much," Lex offered helpfully over her shoulder. She was standing at the bedroom dresser, watching in amusement as her lover tried in vain to relieve herself from the constant itch of her leg cast. Amanda had been put in a walking cast, so at least she could get around more easily. "Just try not to think about it." Lex had stopped brushing her hair and was now looking at herself critically in the mirror.

  Amanda glared at her, but continued trying to reach a distant itch inside the plaster. "Easy for you to
say," she grumbled from her position on the bed. It had been over three weeks since the fire, and for the time being they were staying in the guest room at Martha's house. The boxes of Victoria's things had been quickly relegated to a closet, so the two women would have enough room to move around.

  Lex had wanted to get a hotel room in town, but Martha wouldn't hear of it. Amanda watched Lex, who was busy studying her forehead in the mirror. A thin red line was the only thing left of her injury from the automobile accident, and the doctor had promised her it would eventually fade completely. "It's not even noticeable," she commented.

  Lex turned around. "It isn't, huh?" She walked over and sat on the bed. "I feel like Frankenstein's monster."

  "Nope, not even close." Amanda closed her eyes and leaned into the gentle touch of her lover, as long fingers began to stroke her cheek. "Mmm, that feels good."

  "I bet I could make you feel even better." Lex pushed her onto her back and nibbling lightly on her neck. She had almost tugged Amanda's shirt free from her body when a loud knock at the bedroom door interrupted them. "This had better be good," Lex grumbled, pulling the shirt down and rolling onto her back. "Come in."

  Martha stood in the doorway. "Don't you two ever get enough?" she teased, enjoying the blush on the two women's faces.

  "Never." Lex was the first to recover from her embarrassment. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "What's up?"

  "Amanda's grandmother is on the phone for her. Do you want me to tell her you're busy?"

  Amanda rolled to the far side of the bed and stood up. "No." She used her fingers to comb through her hair. "I mean, umm--no, thank you, Martha. I'll go talk to her." She shook her head as she limped from the room.