by Carrie Carr
"And?" Lois prompted.
Michael sighed.
Seeing that his patient was reluctant to speak with a room full of people around, Rodney turned to Lex. "Would you mind going to our car and getting my bag? I think it's in the back seat."
"Sure." Lex patted Michael on the shoulder. "Hang in there, Dad." She walked quickly down the hallway, toward the back door.
Rodney tipped his head toward Jeannie, who nodded. She took Amanda's hand. "Mandy and I will bring coffee to the dining room, if everyone will head across the hall. Right, Mandy?"
"Sure."
One by one, the group cleared out, leaving Rodney, Lois and Michael. Even Harrison was respectfully silent. Once they were alone, Rodney tapped Michael on the chest. "Now, tell me the truth, and don't leave anything out."
LEX HURRIED TO Jeannie and Rodney's car, and easily found his medical bag. "I didn't know anyone actually carried one of these anymore," she mused, as she headed back to the house. She was almost to the kitchen door when she heard Melanie's squeal of delight.
"Higher, Lorrie," Melanie demanded, kicking her feet in the air as she swung forward. She was careful not to kick Freckles, who would dart back and forth in front of her.
Seeing her two girls, Lex wondered where Teddy had gone. "Lorrie? Where's your cousin?" She yelled from the porch.
Lorrie pointed toward the barn. "He wanted to play cowboy, so I let him stay in the barn."
"You know you kids aren't supposed to play in there." Lex stood on the edge of the porch. She saw the new horse race around the corral in a panic. "Damn it." She started running toward the corral. "Lorrie, take this bag to the den and give it to Uncle Rodney right away."
Lorrie took the bag and held it against her chest. "Momma?"
"Do as I asked, Lorrie. I don't have time to explain." Lex hurdled the short picket fence, stumbled then awkwardly ran.
Melanie dragged her feet until she came to a stop. "Are we in trouble, again?"
"Probably." Lorrie looked at the house, then back toward the direction her mother took. "Can you take this to Uncle Rodney? I'm going to go help Momma."
"Okay." Melanie skipped to the house, swinging the black bag.
Once she was certain her sister took the bag inside, Lorrie opened the gate and hurried through it. She closed it in Freckles' face. "I'm sorry, Freckles. You know you're not allowed by the barn unless Momma says it's okay. 'Specially with that new horse. He's really scared of you."
Lex stopped outside the corral, where the horse continued to pace restlessly. Teddy stood in the middle, holding a lead rope in his hand. "Teddy? You need to stay really still, okay?"
"I'm not afraid," he blustered loudly, startling the horse even more.
Lowering her voice, Lex started to walk slowly toward her nephew. "I know you're not. But you also need to be very quiet, to keep from scaring the horse. Can you do that?"
Teddy nodded.
Lex took very deliberate steps, keeping her eyes on the horse. When she was within a few feet, the animal shook its head and started running in frantic circles, getting closer and closer to Teddy. "Easy." She only hoped she could get to him before the horse did.
Lorrie stood at the outside of the corral, watching as Lex tried to get Teddy out of harm's way.
Teddy had been brave as long as he could. With the horse getting closer, he began to cry. "Aunt Lex, I'm scared." His breathing became heavy as he started to hyperventilate.
"Damn." Lex hurried as quickly as she dared. "It's going to be okay, Teddy. The horse doesn't really want to hurt you, but he's scared. Just stay very still, okay?" She was within five feet of him when the horse started to snort and wildly sling its head. In a sudden burst, Lex
lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Teddy, twisting so his body was away from the horse. She threw Teddy as far as she could. "Run, Teddy!" she yelled, just as a heavy hoof hit her in the back. Unable to breathe, Lex crumbled to the ground.
IN THE KITCHEN, Amanda heard the back door slam, and saw Melanie come inside. "Melanie, come here, sweetie."
Melanie swung the black bag. "Lorrie told me to give this to Uncle Rodney."
"I'll take it to him, honey. Thank you." Jeannie took the bag and left the kitchen.
"Where's your momma?" Amanda asked.
Shrugging her shoulders, Melanie climbed into a chair and picked up a crayon. "I dunno. She jumped over the fence and was running to the barn."
Amanda knelt by her chair. "What happened in the barn?"
"I dunno. But Teddy was playing there, while Lorrie swinged me."
"Oh, god." Amanda quickly stood. "You stay here and color, okay? I'll be right back."
"Okay." Melanie opened up her coloring book, already lost in her art.
Torn between waiting to see how her father was, and needing to know what was going on with Lex, Amanda went through the back door and jogged toward the barn. She had just closed the gate behind her when she heard Lorrie scream for Lex. Not needing any more incentive, Amanda broke into a full run.
Lorrie pulled Teddy through the fencing of the corral, and was about to climb inside to help Lex when Amanda arrived. "Mommy, the horse kicked Momma," she cried, unable to control her tears.
"It's okay, baby. I'll take care of your momma. You two run to the house, and go inside." Once the children were safely away, Amanda unlocked the corral gate and opened it wide. Lex had fenced off the barns years ago, so the horse was in no danger of getting near the main road, but it would be hell to catch. She headed for Lex, who lay on her stomach, unmoving. When the horse started to get too close, Amanda waved her arms and started to yell. "Hyah!"
Snorting, the horse raced around the corral until it saw the open gate. It kicked its heels and galloped away.
Amanda dropped to her knees beside Lex. Her hand shaking, she brushed the hair away from Lex's face. "Honey, can you hear me?"
With a groan, Lex clinched her fists. "Amanda? What are you doing here?"
"Saving your ass," Amanda snapped.
"It's not safe," Lex gasped. "Horse."
Looking around the corral and surrounding area, Amanda shook her head. "That horse is probably halfway to the north pasture, by now."
Lex opened her eye to look at her wife. "It got out?"
"I let the damned thing out." Amanda wiped dirt off of Lex's cheek. "Are you okay?"
"I think so." Lex cautiously stretched, grimacing at the pain in her back. "Ugh. Help me up?"
Amanda didn't bother to argue with her. "You let me know if it gets to be too much. We've got a houseful of people--"
"Damn. What about your dad? How is he?" With Amanda's help, Lex rolled into a sitting position.
"As far as I know, he's okay. After you left, he woke up, and told Rodney he had gotten dizzy. How about your legs? Are they tingling or anything?"
Lex stretched them out and wiggled her feet. "No, I think they're okay. Why?"
Amanda pulled Lex's shirt away from her back. "Because you've got a bloody spot on your back, where it looks like you were stepped on, or kicked."
"Kicked, I think." Lex tried to look over her shoulder. "How bad is it?"
"Ruined your shirt."
Once Amanda stood, Lex allowed herself to be tugged to her feet. "Ugh. That stung." She put her arm around Amanda's waist. "Thanks for coming to my rescue. I was having the damndest time catching my breath."
"I bet." Leading them toward the house, Amanda sighed. "Is Ronnie coming out today?"
Lex shook her head. "Not until this evening. He's having lunch with his girlfriend's family."
"Good."
"Why?"
Amanda kicked a pebble. "Because if he were here right now, I'd probably whack him on the head with something for bringing that horse out here." She opened the gate. "Wait a minute. Girlfriend?"
"Yep."
"Why didn't you tell me he has a girlfriend?"
Lex grinned. "Because you didn't ask?" She flinched as her stomach was poked. "Hey, watch it."
<
br /> "Teach you to keep secrets from me."
"I didn't mean to. It slipped my mind." Lex grunted as they slowly took the stairs. "Hey, Amanda?"
"Hmm?"
"Ronnie has a girlfriend. Ouch!" Lex rubbed her stomach where she'd been pinched. "Think we can sneak in without anyone noticing?"
The back door opened. "Momma! You're okay," Lorrie yelled.
"Probably not," Amanda said, as they stepped into the house.
Chapter Eleven
DRESSED IN A pair of clean sweats, Lex was lying on her stomach across the bed. She flinched as Rodney finished his ministrations and lowered her shirt.
"That's a very nasty laceration and contusion, Lex. You don't need any stitches, but I'd like you to meet me at my office tomorrow for x-rays."
Lex struggled to a sitting position. "Come on, Rodney. I've been kicked more times than I can remember. It's fine."
He shook his head and wiped his hands on a towel, before turning to Amanda, who sat on the bed behind her. "It's near her spine, and I don't want to take any chances. Watch for unusual swelling, tingling, or numbness in her extremities. And try to get her to take it easy for a few days." He shook his finger. "I mean it."
Jeannie came into the bedroom and sat next to Lex. She brushed a hand along Lex's leg in a light caress. "Thank you for what you did today, Slim."
"How's Teddy? I didn't really think, just tossed him as far away as I could." When Jeannie's fingers twined with hers, Lex gave a sad look. "I'm so sorry about that damned horse."
"It's not your fault. Teddy knows better. When we get home, he's going to be losing some privileges." Jeannie leaned into Lex. "I asked him why he climbed in the corral like that. He said he was tired of being teased about his fear of horses."
Amanda walked on her knees across the bed and rubbed Jeannie's back. "Our girls are going to learn the consequences of teasing, trust me. But first, we've got another problem to think about."
"Frank's parents," Jeannie added. "I know." She exhaled heavily. "What should we do? We can't expect Gramma and Grandpa to keep them occupied forever."
Rodney stood. "I know it's not really my place to say, but I think you should tell Lorrie the truth. She's very smart, and probably has some of it figured out."
"You're a part of the family, so of course you have a say." Jeannie stood and went to him. "I just don't want her to think that I'm a horrible person because of all of this. It almost broke my heart to give her up. I don't think I could handle her hating me, too."
He kissed her lightly on the lips. "I'm going to check on Mike. Do you want me to find Lorrie and send her in?" They had coerced Michael into lying down in the guest room down the hall, hoping to lower his stress. Lois was also there, keeping an eye on him.
Lex hated having these types of talks. "We might as well get it over with, I guess. She's most likely in her room, listening to music."
"Good luck." Rodney kissed his wife again before leaving.
A few moments later, Lorrie stepped slowly into the room. "I'm sorry."
Amanda slid off the bed and came toward her, while Jeannie sat next to Lex. "Why are you sorry?"
"'Cause I was s'posed to watch Teddy, and I didn't." She stood in front of Lex and stared at the floor.
Lex lifted Lorrie's chin with her fingers so she could look her in the eye. "And why didn't you?"
Lorrie fought back the tears that threatened to fall at the disappointed tone in her mother's voice. "Mel was wanting me to push her in the swing, and Teddy wanted to play cowboy on the saddles. But Mel kept whining, so I told Teddy to stay in the tack room, while I got Mel started on the swing. But I was gonna go right back. He must have followed us out of the barn, 'cause Mel had just started to swing when Momma saw Teddy in the corral."
"Did you tease him about being afraid?" Lex asked.
"Nuh-uh, I didn't." When Lex's eyes narrowed, Lorrie rushed out, "I swear! He's just a little kid. I wouldn't make fun of him, honest."
Amanda knelt next to Lorrie. "We believe you, honey. But something made him decide to go into the corral. Do you know what it could have been?"
Lorrie was silent for a moment. Tattling usually carried a worse punishment than the original deed, but her parents were expecting an answer. "Mel kinda said something when we were leaving the tack room, but I didn't know Teddy heard."
"All right. We'll talk to Melanie in a little while," Lex promised. "Come here, sweetheart." She held out her arms, ignoring Amanda's glare. The discomfort was worth holding her daughter. Once Lorrie was comfortably ensconced on her lap, Lex cleared her throat. "You know we have company downstairs, besides family, don't you?"
"Yep. Melanie told me they have a granddaughter with my name."
Amanda sat on the other side of Lex. "I should have known," she mumbled. In a louder voice, she added, "That's what we wanted to talk to you about. Do you remember when we told you about your father, Frank?"
"Sorta. You said he died when I was a little baby." Lorrie noticed the tears in Jeannie's eyes. "Why are you sad, Aunt Jeannie? Did you know him?"
Lex shifted so she could put her arm around her sister-in-law in silent support.
"Um," Jeannie tried to think of a good way to start. She took a deep breath. "Yes, I did. Frank was my first husband." At the confusion on Lorrie's face, she began to rub the little girl's leg. "You see, when you were born, there were complications. I became very ill, and couldn't take care of myself, move or even talk."
Lorrie frowned. "You were my mommy? But, how come," she
looked up into Lex's face. "I don't understand."
Amanda stood and once again knelt in front of Lorrie. "Jeannie was so sick, we didn't even know if she was going to be all right. Frank was driving you home from the hospital, and there was an accident. You weren't hurt, but your daddy," here her voice broke, "died."
"But, why are you my mommy, if Aunt Jeannie was?" Lorrie looked at Jeannie and started to cry. "Didn't you want me?"
"Oh, baby. Of course I did." Jeannie was surprised when Lorrie climbed into her lap. She held her close. "I wasn't able to do anything for myself, for so long. Amanda and Lex took care of both of us, until I decided to move into a rehabilitation center so I could get well. It took almost three years before I was healthy again."
Lorrie's eyes widened. "Three years? That's forever."
The adults laughed, and Jeannie brushed the hair out of Lorrie's face. "It certainly seemed like it." She sobered. "But, when I came back, you didn't know me. Your moms were the only parents you knew. And, as much as it hurt me to do so, I signed papers that made you their little girl." Jeannie shook her head and started to cry again. "It was the hardest thing in the world to do, you have to believe me. But, you were so happy here."
Quiet for a moment, Lorrie considered everything that she had been told. "Do I have to come and live with you, now?"
Amanda looked at Lex, who appeared to be on the verge of panicking. "Do you want to live with Jeannie?"
Lorrie shook her head. "No. I like it here." She hurriedly added, "That's okay, isn't it? I don't want you to cry no more, Aunt Jeannie."
Jeannie squeezed her tightly. "I'm glad you're happy, honey. And it's very okay with me. I'm your aunt, now. Lex and Amanda are your moms, okay?" She kissed Lorrie on the head and allowed her to slip into Amanda's arms. With her heart breaking, she watched as her daughter once again became her niece. She wiped at her eyes. "I need to take a little break, okay?" She went into the adjoining bathroom and closed the door.
"Are you all right, lil' bit?" Lex asked her daughter.
"Uh-huh." Lorrie snuggled closer into Amanda's embrace. "You're still my mommy?" she asked quietly.
With Lorrie in her arms, Amanda stood so she could sit next to Lex. "We'll always be your parents, honey."
"Momma?"
"Yes?"
"You promise you won't give me away?"
Lex had to clench her teeth together to keep from crying at the plaintive question. "Never, sweetheart.
I will fight to my last breath for you, always." She wrapped her arms around Amanda and Lorrie, and tucked her head next to theirs. "I swear it."
DOWNSTAIRS IN THE den, Harrison was fit to be tied. He took out a cigar and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing on the end. "I don't see why it's so hard for you people to understand. We came all the way from Los Angeles to see our granddaughter. Why are you putting us off?"
Anna Leigh set her coffee cup down on the table in front of her. "Mr. Rivers, please. There are dynamics at work that even I don't fully comprehend." She looked to her husband for help. She and Jacob were left with the task of keeping the Rivers' placated, while Martha and Charlie took over cooking the meal.
Jacob had his hand on Anna Leigh's shoulder. "My wife's right. I can see where you're coming from, but--"
"No, you can't," Harrison snarled. "You've never been denied the right to see your grandchildren, have you?" He stood and paced toward the fireplace. Across the mantle were family photos, and he picked up a group shot of Lex, Amanda, and the girls. "This is her, isn't it?" He took the framed print to Veronica, who touched the glass with a shaky finger.
"Yes. Michael took it a few months ago." Anna Leigh's voice was soft.
Veronica shook her head. "If I didn't know any better, I'd swear she was Miss Walter's daughter. Although her hair looks a lot like Frank's."
"She is, in so many ways," Jacob said. "When we brought Jeannie home, none of us knew if she'd ever be able to take care of herself, much less a newborn. And when she realized that she needed more help than any of us could give, Jeannie did the only thing she could, and that was sign over Lorrie's care to her godparents."
Harrison sat beside his wife, looking over her shoulder at the picture. "What idiot gave them that title?"
"Your son," Anna Leigh said, a little too gleefully. "Along with our granddaughter, of course."
"But Frank had plenty of friends, normal friends, which could have held that honor." Harrison was truly confused. "Why on earth would he allow his own flesh and blood to be anywhere near people like that?"
