by Carrie Carr
“Come in, Beverly.” Amanda had just enough time to put Lex’s shirt on and climb back into bed as the maid stepped into the room.
Beverly gave the younger woman an understanding look. “I’m really sorry to bother you so early, but I thought you might want to know that your mother is searching for you.” Her eyes took in the clothes strewn around the room. “And I didn’t want her… interrupting, anything.”
Amanda blushed. “Uh, yeah. Thanks a lot, Beverly.” She rubbed her face with one hand. “Do you know what she wants?”
“She mentioned something about choosing your outfit for Friday.”
“Too bad. I’ve already chosen my clothes, so she’ll just have to live with it.” Amanda tried to look superior, then realized that the shirt she was wearing was inside out and buttoned crookedly, which caused her to blush again.
Lex stepped out of the bathroom, with a green towel wrapped around her body. “Good morning, Beverly. Is everything okay, Amanda?”
“Yeah, I guess. Beverly came up to warn us that Mother’s looking for me.” Amanda ducked her head, finding the pattern on the comforter quite interesting.
Lex made her way into the closet, unable to control her laughter. “Must not be looking too hard. I don’t see you hiding.” She stepped back out with her jeans on as she buttoned a denim shirt.
Amanda covered her head when the maid began to laugh. “Oh, God.”
“I’ll just let you get ready, and I’ll tell your mother that you’ll be down soon, so she won’t be disturbing you.” Beverly laughed again as another groan was heard from under the comforter. She left the room, closing the door behind her.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Lex pulled the comforter away from Amanda’s head. “What’s the matter, sweetheart? You’re not shy, are you?”
WHAP!
Amanda slammed a pillow into the smirking woman’s face, knocking her off the bed. But when she didn’t hear anything from below, she became worried. “Lex?” She leaned over the edge of the bed, just in time for the same pillow to knock her backwards. “Hey!” Amanda felt the bed shift as a large body leaped up, straddling her hips. “You wouldn’t.” Long fingers began to tickle her unmercifully. “Lex!” She giggled. “Come on. Aargh!” Amanda squirmed, trying to fight back. Finally, between gales of laughter, she was able to gasp, “Stop! I’m gonna make a mess if you don’t quit!”
Lex stopped tickling Amanda, and gently raised her lover’s arms up over her head. Leaning down, she gave Amanda a kiss. “Bathroom’s all yours, sweetheart. I’ll just straighten up in here. Nice fashion trend you’re setting with that shirt, by the way.” She jumped off the bed, easily eluding the other pillow Amanda tossed her way.
DECIDING TO AVOID an early confrontation, Amanda asked Beverly to have breakfast served to her and Lex on the sun porch, which was right off the kitchen. With the windows open, it wasn’t a usual meeting place for members of the family, because the fresh air often brought small insects with it. The sun was partially blocked by the awning that ran across the back, but Lex loved it anyway.
“That was great.” Lex moaned and leaned back in her chair. She pulled her arms back over her head and stretched until her back popped several times.
Amanda reached over and scratched Lex’s stomach. “You didn’t eat much dinner last night. Did you get enough breakfast?”
Lex swatted the teasing hand away. “Stop that.” She straightened up and grabbed her coffee cup. “Oh, yeah. I don’t think I’ll be ready for anything else for at least a few days. That was wonderful. What’s on the agenda for today?”
“How about a drive down to the beach?” Amanda pulled her napkin from her lap and placed it on the table. “Maybe a little sightseeing?” She reached over and took Lex’s hand in hers. “I thought we could just get out of the house for a little while, give my parents time to calm down.” And hopefully avoid a confrontation with Mother over my clothes for the dinner.
Pulling their linked hands up to her lips, Lex rubbed Amanda's knuckles against her cheek. “Whatever you want, my love. It’s your show. The beach sounds good. I’ve never seen the ocean.”
Amanda closed her eyes for a moment and enjoyed the closeness. “Never? Well then, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.” She stood and brought Lex up with her. “Why don’t we go change into some shorts, then hit the beach.”
Lex shook her head when Amanda began tugging her through the house. “Amanda, you packed my bag. All I have are some old cut-offs. Not exactly the thing to be running around in.”
“Oh yeah? Why else do you think I packed them? I’ve got some, too, and I think that they’ll be perfect.” Amanda had gotten them almost to the stairway when her mother stepped out of nowhere. “Oh. Hello, Mother. We were just about to go to the beach. Would you like to join us?” Knowing how much Elizabeth hated anything that had to do with the outdoors, Amanda couldn’t resist.
“No, thank you, Amanda. But I would like a word with you.” She gave the rancher an icy glare. “Alone, if you don’t mind.”
Lex looked down at her companion, who looked as if she were ready to explode. “No problem. I’ll just go upstairs and get changed.” She gave Amanda’s hand a strong squeeze, released it, then turned and moved quietly up the stairs.
“Come, Amanda. We’ll go into the drawing room. I have coffee ready.” Elizabeth turned and walked across the foyer, her daughter trailing dutifully behind.
Amanda waited until they were seated before she began to speak. “Mother, I know you’ve never approved of what I’ve done with my life, or the choices I’ve made, but I will not sit still for your rude treatment of Lex.”
“Now, wait just a minute,” Elizabeth sputtered.
“No. You wait.” Amanda held up a hand for forestall her mother’s tirade. “I resigned myself a long time ago to the fact that I was a disappointment to you and Daddy.” She took a deep breath then continued. “I’m never going to be one of your snobbish little society girls, like you wanted.”
Elizabeth grasped the younger woman’s arm. “Amanda, that’s not completely true. Your father and I respect the fact that you have a mind of your own.” She released her hold to pick up a dainty coffee cup and saucer. Taking a small sip, the regal woman put it back on the table in front of them. “Where did we go wrong? Your sister seems happy.” She looked her daughter in the eyes. “What did we do to make you this way?”
Amanda blinked, unsure of the question. “What exactly are you talking about, Mother? Is this about me being gay?”
“I refuse to accept that, Amanda. You were raised in a good home.” She searched her daughter’s face for a clue to her questions. “It’s because of Frank, isn’t it?”
Amanda’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
Elizabeth nodded to herself, pleased with her deduction. “You and he were quite an item, and then your sister Jeannie stole him right out from under your nose.” She tapped her chin with an elegant nail. “I should have seen this before. This is your way at getting back at all of us for giving your sister our blessing with him, isn’t it?”
Amanda jumped up, too agitated to sit still. “Oh, for crying out loud, Mother.” She paced over to the piano, then turned back to face the older woman. “I told you I was gay when I was still in high school. Frank has always been just a very good friend.” She walked over to stand in front of Elizabeth. “I was the one who set him up with Jeannie. He’s like a brother to me!”
“Calm down, dear. Come back over here and sit.” Elizabeth patted the spot next to her on the loveseat. “We’ll forget about your little outburst for now.” She waited until Amanda was once again seated. “Now, about this woman you’ve brought with you.” Elizabeth raised her hand to silence her daughter. “Just a minute. From what Michael’s parents have told us, she saved your life a few weeks ago, correct?”
For the first time since they stepped into the room, Amanda was able to smile. “Yes, she did. Lex had no idea who I was, but she jumped into that flooded cr
eek and pulled me to safety,
getting herself hurt in the process.”
“And you stayed with her at her ranch, afterwards?”
“Yes. The bridge was partially destroyed, so Lex offered me a place to stay until it could be repaired.” Amanda’s eyes sparkled with remembrance.
Elizabeth grasped Amanda’s hands with her own, leaning forward slightly. “She’s quite a strong looking woman. Now tell me the truth, Amanda. We can protect you here.” The older woman looked around the room cautiously, then whispered, “Did she force herself on you? Are you afraid of what she might do if you don’t stay with her?”
Amanda couldn’t help it. She laughed. “Lex? You’ve got to be kidding.” She jerked her hands away from her mother and leaned back in the loveseat. “Somebody should ask her that question. I practically threw myself at her.”
Watching her daughter’s body language, Elizabeth came to a decision. No, I don’t think she feels threatened by that woman. Perhaps another tact. “You threw yourself at her? Amanda Lorraine. I’m—” Another idea sprouted itself in the older woman’s mind. “Hero worship,” she stated smugly.
“Excuse me?”
“That’s it. Since you’re not being forced to stay with her, that’s the only logical explanation.” Elizabeth took another sip of her coffee. “You feel beholden to her for saving your life and then taking care of you. So you naturally show your gratitude by staying with her.”
Amanda jumped to her feet again. “That’s bullshit,” she yelled, then stopped when she saw the look on her mother’s face. “I’m sorry, Mother.” She lowered herself into the loveseat again. “You’re wrong. It’s not fear, hero worship, or misplaced gratitude that keeps me with Lex.”
“Then what—” Elizabeth began, only to be cut off by Amanda.
“It’s love. Plain and simple.” Amanda looked into her mother’s eyes, hoping to see understanding there. “I can’t explain how it happened, or why. But I fell hopelessly, deeply in love with her almost instantly.” She stood up and slowly walked to the door. “Why is it so hard for you and Daddy to understand that?” Amanda shook her head and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Elizabeth Cauble sat immobile, staring at the closed door. We’ll just see what her father has to say about this. Michael always has a few tricks up his sleeves.
LEX STOOD AT the bedroom window, staring at nothing in particular as the voice through the cellular phone wound down.
“Lexie, don’t you let those folks get to you,” Martha pleaded, after hearing what Lex had reported to her so far. “You’re just as good, if not better, than any of them.”
The rancher released a heavy sigh. “You say that, Martha, but you haven’t seen this place. It’s straight out of one of those silly television shows you used to watch. I keep expecting to see Joan Collins step out of a room any minute now.”
“Now that would be a sight. How’s Amanda handling all of this? Poor thing’s probably as flustered as you are, I’ll bet.”
“She’s doing a lot better than I am, I think. Although it’s been one fight after another for her ever since we got here.” Lex ran a hand through her hair, then leaned forward until her forehead was pressed against the cool glass of the window. “She’s a hell of a lot stronger than I thought she was, that’s for sure.”
“I could have told you that, Lexie. That young lady may look like the sweet quiet type, but she’s got the heart of a lion,” Martha stated, matter of fact. “You tell her I said hello and to not take any bunk from anyone. And make sure she knows she always has a home here, no matter what.”
“Yes ma’am. I was kind of thinking along those exact lines, myself.”
“I knew I didn’t raise a fool. Now you take care of yourself, and her, too. We’ll have a nice barbecue when you girls get back home.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea, Martha. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“All right, sweetheart. Goodbye.”
Lex had just closed the phone when the bedroom door opened. Turning away from the window, she crossed the room quickly when she saw the upset look on Amanda’s face. “What’s the matter, sweetheart? Are you—” Lex stopped her questioning when Amanda wrapped her arms around her and buried her tear-streaked face into her denim shirt. “Hey.” She instinctively returned the embrace, running a hand through the soft hair. “You okay?”
Amanda sniffed, then looked up into worried eyes. “Yeah. I just needed to connect with you for a minute.” She felt a kiss on the top of her head. “I love you so much, Lex. Why can’t my parents understand that?”
“Your mother gave you a hard time, huh?” Lex guided Amanda over to the bed to sit. “They just want what’s best for you.” She pulled Amanda into her lap. “So do I.”
“I don’t think that’s it. They want what’s best for them. They’ve never even bothered to ask me what I wanted.” Amanda raised her arms to wrap them around Lex’s neck, pulling her close for a kiss. “Mmm.” She turned to face Lex, then straddled her thighs.
“Is that what you wanted?” She bent down and captured Amanda’s lips again. “Better?”
“Oh yeah. Much.” Amanda snuggled close, then ran one hand lightly down Lex’s side, feeling the jean-clad leg beneath her. “I thought you were going to change?”
Lex waved the cell phone in front of Amanda’s face. “I was, but I decided to call Martha instead.”
Amanda swatted the phone away. “Oh yeah? How’s she doing?”
“Ornery as ever. She sends you her love, and said for you not to let them get to you.” She paused. “And, umm, she said to tell you not to forget that you have a home there,” Lex finished quietly.
“I do, huh?” Amanda questioned just as quietly, looking up into Lex’s face.
Lex looked down, lost in Amanda’s sparkling eyes. “Yeah. You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about that. And I realize that we haven’t known each other that long,” Lex babbled, unsure of herself. “But I was wondering if—”
Amanda could feel the rancher’s heart pounding under the hand she placed on Lex’s chest. “Lex, honey, what are you trying to say?” She tried to calm the nervous woman by gently massaging her neck and shoulder.
“Well, um, I know you value your independence, and I’m not trying to rush you, or push you into something that you’re not ready for. And it’s really not that far from town,” Lex continued, still flustered.
Understanding dawned on Amanda. “Wait.” She covered the rattled woman’s mouth with her hand. “Are you asking me to move in with you at the ranch?” Seeing the telltale flush on her companion’s face, she smiled brightly. “You know, I was wondering how I was going to survive when I have to go back to work next week.”
Lex looked at her, trying unsuccessfully to keep a silly grin from erupting on her face. “Does this mean—”
“Do you think that you could handle having me under foot all the time?” Amanda grunted as the breath was suddenly squeezed from her.
“Yes!” Lex whooped, hugging Amanda to her tightly. She buried her face Amanda's hair. “Under foot? I should be so lucky,” she mumbled happily. “You can either redo the guest room, or just move into the master bedroom with me. I’ll try to make space in my closet.”
Amanda laughed. “Let’s worry bout it when we get home, okay? I’m just going to have the movers put everything into storage right now. We can sort through it all later.”
“We’ve got a pretty good-sized storage shed up by the bunkhouse, if you’d rather use that. I cleaned it out about three years ago because it had a bunch of Dad’s junk in it. I don’t think there’s even anything in there right now.” Lex kissed Amanda. “Thanks,” she whispered when they broke apart.
“For what?” Amanda asked, searching the face so close to hers.
Lex cradled Amanda’s cheek with one hand. “For bringing more happiness into my life than I ever thought was possible.” She captured Amanda’s lips again, this time with more fervor.
Ama
nda returned the kiss, threading her hands through Lex’s hair, rolling onto her back and pulling her companion over on top of her. She retreated just far enough to speak. “Why don’t we wait until this afternoon to visit the beach? I can think of better things to do around here.” She guided Lex’s face back down to hers.
With a wicked chuckle, Lex couldn’t agree more. “You’re the boss.”
THE BREEZE BLOWING off the ocean was cool, but not cold as the two women walked side by side on the nearly deserted beach. When Lex had questioned Amanda about the sparse crowd, she was told it was the wrong time of the year. “Most people just spend their time in the nearby shops during the off season.”
“This is great.” Lex bent over and picked up a small shell, then, like a child, crammed it into the pocket of her faded cutoffs.
Amanda looped an arm through Lex’s, bumping her with her hip. “Yeah, it is.” She stopped and picked up another seashell. “Here, I think you missed one.” She handed the treasure to her companion, who blushed slightly.
“Thanks.” Lex sheepishly put it in her pocket. “Thought maybe Martha might like them.” Then she grinned at the look on Amanda's face. “Yeah, yeah. Okay. You caught me. I like ’em.” She pulled Amanda into an impromptu hug. “Thanks. I’m really having a good time today.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet. Wait until we hit the shops.
Now, there are some interesting sights.” Amanda was totally charmed by the child-like glee Lex displayed at all the sights and sounds on the beach. She had dragged Amanda playfully into the surf when they first arrived and threatened to throw her into the ocean until she surrendered a kiss. “Come on, you silly thing. Let’s take your little treasures back to the car, and we’ll have lunch. Then we’ll do a little shopping.” Amanda took her friend back toward the parking lot.
