by Carrie Carr
Less than five minutes had passed when Amanda shut down her laptop. "There. All finished." She packed it into its case and slid it under the bed. "Sorry about that. I thought I'd be finished before you got out of the tub."
"Not a problem, sweetheart." Lex turned onto her side so that she was facing her. "Can you tell me what you blog about? Or is it private?"
Amanda laughed. "Blogging is anything but private, honey. But it's something I've just started to do. As a bit of therapy, I guess."
"Therapy? What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. But I've been a little restless since the office closed, and Gramma suggested I try my hand at writing. And since I'm not going to write the Great American Novel any time soon, I thought I'd try something a little less strenuous."
"What do you blog about?" Lex was charmed by the blush on Amanda's face. "Oooh. Is it dirty?"
Amanda slapped Lex's arm. "No! I can't even read erotica without being embarrassed. It's the last thing I'd ever write about, you know that."
"I know. But it's always fun to tease you about it." Lex tried to roll out of the way when Amanda pounced on her. "Hey, watch it!"
"Teach you to pick on me." Amanda tickled Lex's ribs. "Actually, I blog about us. Or more to the point, about things that happen around here."
Lex pulled her closer. "Like day to day stuff, huh? Considering our kids, you certainly get enough material. What do you call it? I'd like to check it out sometime."
"They're not the only ones, you know. And, it's called RockingWMom. Perfect, don't you think?" Amanda squirmed until she was comfortably resting across Lex. "I forgot about your chest. I'm not hurting you, am I?"
"Not a bit." Lex wrapped her arms around the body across hers and nuzzled Amanda's hair. "What were we talking about?"
Amanda nibbled on Lex's throat at the same time warm hands slipped under her nightgown. "I haven't a clue."
THE TICKING OF the clock on the kitchen wall was drowned out by Amanda's pacing. Freckles skipped along behind her, wagging her stubby tail. Amanda glanced at her watch, then the clock, and finally at Lex, who had an amused look on her face. "What?"
"You're going to wear a hole in the floor, sweetheart."
Amanda glared at her. "I don't see how you can sit there so calmly." She stomped to the refrigerator and opened it, peering inside. With a disgusted snort, she slammed the door shut and resumed her pacing.
Lex stood and stretched. When Amanda passed her, she wrapped her arms around her and held her close. "You know, I rode the school bus my entire life, and I think I turned out okay."
"I know. It's just--"
"They're our babies, and you're not used to handing responsibility over to anyone else," Lex finished for her.
Amanda turned in Lex's arms, so that her cheek rested against Lex's chest. "I'm going to lose my mind before lunch, at this rate."
"Nah." Lex kissed the top of her head. "I need to run out and check the live traps on the northern side. Want to go with me?"
"Are we riding, or driving?"
Lex's breath caught as Amanda's lips touched her throat. "You keep that up, and I won't be able to do either. But, let's ride. We haven't been out together in quite a while." She laughed when those same lips blew a raspberry on her neck.
Amanda stepped back. "All right. Let's saddle the horses before I decide to drag you upstairs."
"Not much of a threat, if you ask me. Maybe we can come back to the house for an early lunch." Lex helped Amanda into her coat, before donning her own heavy duster. When the dog barked, Lex shook a finger at her. "Sorry, girl. You're going to have to stay home."
After a side trip to the office for a rifle, they left the house. As they walked toward the barn, Amanda watched Lex. "Are you up to a ride? You're still limping."
Lex held the barn door open for her. "Yeah, I'm just stiff. This cold air makes everything ache." She left the rifle and scabbard on a bale of hay, away from the horses.
"You probably wouldn't tell me anyway," Amanda mumbled.
"Sweetheart, I'd never talk about anything else if I told you every time something hurt." Lex carried out Amanda's saddle and blanket and placed it on the floor by Stormy's stall. "But I promise, if it gets too bad, I'll let you know."
Amanda kissed her on the cheek. "I'll hold you to that, Slim." She nudged Lex out of the way. "I can saddle my own horse, honey."
"I know. But I like doing it for you." Lex backed away slowly when Amanda playfully curled her fingers into claws, threatening to tickle her. "But, I think I'll let you handle it yourself, this time."
"Chicken." Amanda laughed at the exaggerated squawk that Lex gave out, as she ducked into the tack room. She stepped into Stormy's stall and patted the paint pony's neck. "Are you ready for a ride today?"
Lex came out of the tack room carrying her own saddle and blanket, as well as having both bridles draped over one shoulder. She hung Stormy's bridle across the top of the stall for Amanda. "What are you going to do if she says no?" she said, opening Thunder's stall. "Hey, fella."
"Probably the same thing you'd do if Thunder ever answered you."
"Smartass."
Amanda laughed and quickly saddled Stormy. "Takes one to know one."
"That's real mature, Amanda. No wonder our kids are such smartasses. They come by it naturally." Lex finished with Thunder and led him from his stall.
Amanda opened Stormy's stall and led the horse out. She lightly poked Lex in the shoulder. "Considering you're the Queen of the Smartass Remark, I'd say our girls were doomed." Before Lex could retaliate, she put her horse between them.
Lex laughed. "You've got a point, sweetheart." She attached the scabbard to her saddle, double-checking to make certain it was secure. Once they were outside, both climbed on their horses. "Wanna race?"
"Real funny, gimpy. I don't think so." Amanda shifted in the saddle until she was comfortable. "Let's take it easy and enjoy the ride, okay?"
"Spoilsport." Lex stretched in the saddle and inhaled the cool air. "God, it feels good to be out here." She nudged Thunder until he was beside Stormy. "I've missed our rides together."
Amanda looked at Lex. The winter's sun painted her in an almost ethereal glow and the sight took her breath away. "Me, too." She loved how the light brought out the strands of silver in Lex's brown hair.
They rode along silently for the first ten minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. After Lex sighed for the third time, Amanda asked, "What's the matter?"
"Nothing." Lex caught the look she was given and shrugged her shoulders. "Okay, nothing serious, I suppose."
Amanda cleared her throat, but didn't say anything.
"I got a letter last week from Great Aunt Loretta. Did you know she's ninety-two?"
"Wow. I had no idea."
Lex nodded. "Yeah. Anyway, she's been after me to go to the family reunion next year."
Nodding, Amanda moved Stormy closer to Thunder, so she could touch Lex on the leg. "And? Where is it?"
"West Texas."
"Okay, so go. I mean, it's not like you've been in a while, right? At least since we've been together."
Lex took Amanda's hand and squeezed. "No, I haven't been since I was about twenty-five, or so. They only come along every five years, and Melanie was too little during the last one."
"When is it, exactly?"
"The second weekend in January. They learned the hard way not to have them during the summer." Lex grinned. "There's nothing out there for miles, except cotton fields and sand. The last time I went, they had it in June."
Amanda cringed. "Oh, god. I can just imagine."
"Yep. And to top it all off, the community center air conditioner wasn't very good. Aunt Loretta told them if they wanted to keep the 'old timers' around, they'd better come up with a different solution, or she'd book a cruise to Alaska every five years, instead."
Laughing, Amanda squeezed Lex's hand. "I'd love to meet her."
"Really?"
"Of course. I know you write t
o her all the time and send her photos of the girls, but wouldn't it be nice to introduce them in person?"
Lex kissed Amanda's hand before releasing it. "Yeah, it would. Thanks, sweetheart." She pointed up ahead. "It's not far to the first trap. We placed it up there, on the other side of our little pond."
"It's gotten that close?"
"It's a water source, so I figured better safe, than sorry." Lex unsnapped the end of the scabbard, but didn't remove the rifle.
Amanda watched nervously. "Are you expecting trouble?"
Giving her a wink, Lex grinned. "Considering both you and I are magnets for trouble, I didn't want to take any chances."
They cautiously skirted the pond, which was half the size it used to be. Even though it was fed by an underground spring, the extended drought had hurt it. When they got close enough to the live trap, the scream of the bobcat startled both horses.
"Whoa!" Lex got Thunder under control with no problem, and watched helplessly as Amanda's mount bucked beneath her.
With one hand on the saddle horn and the other holding the reins, Amanda tightened her knees around Stormy. "Damn it, Stormy, calm down!" Once her horse was under control, she gave Lex a shaky grin. "That was fun."
"Not." Lex dismounted and stepped over to where Amanda held her horse. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. But I think we have a bigger problem."
Lex hadn't taken her eyes off Amanda. "What?"
"How are we going to get that creature back to the house?" Amanda pointed to the trap, which held a live, and very pissed off, bobcat.
"Umm." Lex tipped her cowboy hat back and scratched her forehead. "I guess I can always tie it on the back of my horse. I don't think it can get its claws through the cage."
Amanda's eyes grew wide and she shook her head. "Like hell you are! I don't want that thing anywhere near you!"
Lex patted her leg. "Okay." She tilted her head and studied the cage, then took her cell phone off her hip. Hitting a number from memory, she blew Amanda a kiss. "Hey, Roy. We're out by the pond near the north pasture, and found a little friend." She laughed at whatever her foreman said. "Yeah, I didn't think that far ahead. Would you mind bringing out a truck? Thanks." Lex snapped the phone closed and returned it to her holster. "How's that?"
"Better, thanks." Amanda got off her horse and ran her hands along Lex's arms. "So, now what do we do?"
Lex's hands gravitated toward Amanda's hips. "I've got a few ideas." She tugged her closer, and grinned when Amanda linked her hands behind her head. Following the unspoken request, Lex lowered her head and kissed her.
Chapter Ten
NOT QUITE EIGHT o'clock in the morning, great smells were beginning to come out of the kitchen. Amanda stood at the counter, chopping onions and trying not to wipe at her tearing eyes.
Martha peeked over her shoulder. "Honey, you keep whacking at those things, there ain't going to be anything left of them."
"I wanted to make sure they're cut up small enough so that Lex doesn't notice them."
"Good idea. She definitely turns up her nose at any kind of onion."
Melanie raced into the kitchen. "Mommy! Save me," she yelled. She wrapped her arms around Amanda's waist, just as Lorrie and Freckles crossed the doorway.
Lorrie's shirt was wet and water dripped from her hair. "There you are!" She started for Melanie, who squealed and tried to climb Amanda.
Freckles barked and jumped around Lorrie, who kept trying to catch Melanie.
"Come here, Mel. I'm gonna--"
"Mommy!"
Amanda put her knife down and lifted Melanie into her arms. She turned and noticed Lorrie's wet hair and shirt. "What's going on around here?"
"I didn't do nothin', Mommy," Melanie said.
"Liar!" Lorrie reached for Melanie's leg.
Melanie kicked at her, almost hitting Lorrie in the face. "Am not!"
"Are too!" Freckles' bark accentuated Lorrie's case.
Martha put her hand on Lorrie's shoulder and moved away from Melanie and Amanda. "Hold it right there, young 'un. You're going to get a knot on your head if you're not careful." She touched Melanie on the nose. "And you, little miss, better behave yourself, or you won't get any dessert today."
"I didn't--"
Amanda popped Melanie on the rear end. "You'd better not be telling us a story, Melanie Leigh Walters." She put her face up to her daughter's, so close their noses almost touched. "Now tell me the truth. What did you do to your sister?"
"She dumped a glass of water on me for no reason," Lorrie said.
"Nuh-uh! You did too do somethin'!" Melanie kicked at Lorrie again, then cried out when Amanda popped her gently on the rear again. "Mommy!"
After setting Melanie down, Amanda put her hands on her shoulders. "Why did you dump a glass of water on your sister?"
"'cause she's a baby!"
Martha stopped wiping Lorrie's hair with a towel and waggled her finger at her. "Lorrie, that's not nice."
Lorrie's lower lip jutted out. "Well, she is."
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
Amanda felt like screaming, too. "Girls, enough!" She pointed at Lorrie. "You! Go out to the barn and see what your momma is up to."
"But I didn't do anything wrong," Lorrie whined.
"You're not in trouble." Amanda ruffled Lorrie's hair. "Yet," she added, playfully. "Go on, now."
Lorrie slowly marched out of the kitchen, mumbling under her breath. Freckles followed, even though she wouldn't be allowed out of the yard.
Melanie had a very pleased look on her face, until her mother tapped her on the head. "I want you to go upstairs to your room and think about what you did today."
"But, mommy--"
"I don't know why you did what you did, but it's going to stop. The rest of the family will be here soon, and I don't want you and your sister going at it all day. I'll come up and get you when I think you've been up there long enough."
Melanie started to cry as she left the kitchen. "Lorrie started it."
Once the room was quiet again, Amanda sighed. "I don't think this house will survive their teen years."
"Oh, honey. It's going to get a lot worse, before it gets better," Martha sagely advised. "Especially since Lorrie is so much like Lexie."
Amanda rolled her eyes. "God help us all, then."
Martha laughed right along with her. "Welcome to my life."
SLOW AND PURPOSEFUL, the rented Town Car cruised the residential streets of Somerville. Harrison Rivers glanced at the papers he held before he laid them on the seat. "I believe it's that one, with the yellow flower pots by the steps."
"It's lovely. Most of the houses here are, though," his wife said.
Once the car was parked, Harrison checked his image in the rearview mirror. He started to open his door, when Veronica put her hand on his arm.
"Maybe we should wait until after the holiday. I'd hate to disturb their family."
"We are part of the family, damn it." He got out of the car. "Are you coming?"
Veronica tucked her purse beneath her arm and joined her husband on the front stairs of the house. She tried to peer into a window. "It doesn't look like anyone's home."
"You don't know that." Harrison rang the bell. Not even fifteen
seconds passed before he started pounding on the door. "Goddamn it! Where the hell would they be on Thanksgiving?"
"They could be at Michael's home." Veronica followed him to the car and waited until they were inside to continue. "Didn't the report also say he lived here?"
Harrison took a cigar from the case inside his suit pocket and snipped off the end. He crammed it into his mouth, but didn't light it. "The whole damned bunch of them live in this rotten dump of a town."
"I know you're frustrated, dear. But since the report only has their addresses and very little else, perhaps it would be a good idea to return to our hotel suite in Austin until after the holiday. There's no telling where they could be today."
He checked his
notes for Michael Cauble's address. "No, we're already here. There's not that many places they can be. I'll be damned if we don't get to see our granddaughter today."
THE SOUND OF car tires on the graveled driveway caused Lex and Lorrie to make a detour. They stepped around the edge of the porch and saw two cars pulling up alongside the house.
Lorrie took off toward the parked vehicles at a dead run. "Gramma! Grandpa!"
"Hello, there," Jacob Cauble embraced the child who was wrapped around his body. "What have you been up to?"
"Helping me at the barn," Lex said, as she took a bag from Anna Leigh. "Does Amanda know you're bringing half your kitchen?"
Anna Leigh laughed as she placed her arm around Lex. "Of course she does, dearest. It's really not much, just some of the girls' favorites."
"Fruit salad?" Lorrie asked, gladly getting between her grandparents and getting a hand from each of them.
The other car door opened and Jeannie, her husband Rodney and their son Teddy joined the group. "I see how we rate," Jeannie teased, pecking Lex on the cheek.
"If you had goodies, we'd have helped you, too." Lex grinned at her nephew, who was dressed in his usual cowboy outfit. "You ready to take over the ranch, Teddy?"
Teddy took Lex's hand. "Do you still have horses?"
"Yep." Lex released his hand and opened the back door for everyone. She took a deep breath and enjoyed the mingling scents of a holiday dinner being prepared. "I believe Amanda and Martha are already at it in the kitchen, if you ladies care to join them."
Jeannie took the bag from Lex's hand. "I'll take this to them, Slim. I'm sure you and the guys have better things to do."
"She has a point," Rodney said, slapping Lex on the back. "Let's go turn on your beautiful big-screen TV and get some football hype."
"Sounds like a great idea." Jacob kissed his wife on the cheek. "Let me know if you need any help in there," he gallantly offered.
Anna Leigh patted his side. "I'm sure we'll manage, dearest. But thank you." She followed her granddaughter into the kitchen, while the rest continued down the hall.
