by Carrie Carr
After a light lunch of corn dogs and potato chips, Amanda showed Lex a row of colorful shops, slinging a large, brightly decorated straw bag over one shoulder.
“What’s in the bag?” Lex asked, trying to peek inside as she walked beside her friend.
Amanda gave her a quirky grin. “Nothing, yet. But I like to be prepared.” She pushed her wide sunglasses up on her nose.
Lex laughed, and tugged down a little further over her eyes her just-acquired aqua baseball cap that stated ‘Life’s a Beach’. “If you say so, sweetheart.” She glanced down at Amanda’s legs. “You’ve got a really nice tan, you know that?”
“Thanks. I used to spend a lot of time at the beach when I lived here. Just to get out of the house. You know.” Amanda studied her companion with a less than clinical eye. “I’ve never really noticed before, but you have a good tan. How did you manage that? All I’ve ever seen you in, besides nothing,” she leered, “is jeans.” Lex not only had a nice tan, but long, very muscular legs as well.
“Well, when I’m putting the colts through their paces in the summertime, I sometimes wear cutoffs so I don’t pass out from the heat.” Lex admitted. Then she stopped, sidetracked by several girls jumping multiple ropes. How in the hell do they do that?
Amanda wandered ahead a few yards, intrigued by a man making brightly colored sand sculptures. Just as she turned to get Lex’s attention, a teenager grabbed at the bag on her shoulder, backhanding her across the face to make her release the purse.
Lex looked up just as Amanda was hit. “Hey,” she yelled, grabbing one of the long jump ropes without a second thought. She ran up to Amanda, who was sitting up holding her hand against her cheek. “Are you okay?” Lex asked, looking her over carefully.
“Yeah, just caught me off guard.” Amanda tried to smile, but winced instead.
“Okay. Sit tight, I’ll be right back.” Lex patted Amanda on the knee, then took off, sprinting after the thief.
“Lex, wait!” Amanda sat in the sand and watched Lex’s long legs shorten the distance between herself and her quarry. Before Lex was out of sight, a small crowd had begun to gather around Amanda, some complaining about the lack of security, while others asked her if she was okay. A boy, about ten years old, stepped over to Amanda and handed her a small bag filled with crushed ice. She placed it on her aching cheek and tried to smile. “Thank you.”
As she chased the thief down the paved path, Lex fashioned a loop on one end of her confiscated rope. She never broke pace as she dodged the endless throng of people in her path. When the youth looked back at her in fear, a primal part of Lex growled. “That’s right, you little shit, you’d better be scared.” It wasn’t long before she made progress in catching up to the purse-snatcher, who quickly decided to take an alternate route toward the beach.
Knocking a few pedestrians down, the thief took off across the sand, not even realizing when his pursuer got closer. Lex was only about ten yards away when she began swinging the rope over her head in a wide loop, closing in on him quickly.
The teenager gasped as the rope dropped over him and tightened around his chest, stopping him in his tracks. He wheezed again as he fell onto his back in the sand, hard.
Lex skidded to her knees and straddled him, while he gasped for breath. She tangled her hands into the front of his sweat-stained tee shirt with a dark and angry look on her beautiful face. “You son of a bitch.” She pulled him up slightly, then slammed him back into the sand. “I ought to kill you right here, and save the state some money.” Before she could do any damage, two police officers jumped from their bicycles and pulled her off the terrified youth.
“Easy there, miss.” One of the cops grabbed hold of Lex’s shoulder as his partner handcuffed the frightened thief. “Must have been something pretty important in that bag,” he commented, handing the item back to the still heavily breathing woman.
“No,” Lex gasped, still on her knees, as she worked to get her breathing under control. “It’s empty.” She gave the subdued man a nasty look. “The little bastard hit my friend.” As if that explained everything.
The other cop grinned as his partner handed the rope back to Lex. “Nice job, by the way. We’re going to need to get a statement from you, though.”
“Can I go back and check on my friend first?” Lex asked, standing up and brushing sand from her knees.
“Sure,” Cop number two agreed, leading the teen to a nearby police car. “We’ll even have someone give you a ride back, since we need to collect a statement from your companion, too.” He opened the front passenger side door for Lex, then pushed the dazed thief into the back seat. “Johnston here,” he nodded toward the burly officer behind the wheel of the car, “will drop you off on his way to the station, and we’ll meet you there, okay?”
“Thanks.” Lex shook his hand and got in the car, still shocked at what she almost did. Damn. I could have killed that guy. And he was just a kid. Thank God the police showed up when they did, or I’d be the one in the backseat.
Back further down the beach, Amanda was dealing with her own problems. If I have to ward off one more kind person, I swear I’ll scream! Ever since Lex chased after her assailant, concerned bystanders, offering her everything from a glass of water to a dinner date, bombarded her. Some helpful soul had even brought her a folding lawn chair to sit in as she fretted over the whereabouts of her companion. Lex, why did you go after that guy? You knew there was nothing in that damn bag.
When a police car pulled up into the parking lot beside the area where Amanda sat, she immediately thought the worst. Oh, no, what’s happened to her? She fought to keep the tears at bay, when a tall form blocked the sun in front of her.
Concerned eyes looked directly into her soul, as Lex knelt down in front of her friend. “Amanda?” She placed a warm hand on Amanda’s knee. “You okay, sweetheart?”
“Oh, God. Lex—” Amanda broke into tears, then launched herself out of the chair and into the arms of her lover. She wrapped her arms around Lex’s neck, ending up on her knees in front of her.
“Easy there, Amanda. Shhh.” Lex continued to murmur words of comfort into Amanda’s ear, rubbing her back with a comforting motion. She slowly stood up, bringing the sobbing woman with her.
Amanda leaned back slightly, tears still running down her face. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. How about you?” Lex ran her fingertips lightly over Amanda’s jaw where a bruise was already beginning to form. That son of a bitch. Kid or not, I should have killed him when I had the chance.
“I’m okay,” Amanda assured her, then slapped her hard on the side.
“Ouch!” Lex jumped.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again,” Amanda demanded in a shaky tone, anger and fear in her eyes.
“What?” Lex stepped back away from Amanda, whose eyes were sparkling with emotion.
“Take off after a thief like that. Dammit, Lex! That stupid bag wasn’t worth risking your life for!”
Lex moved toward Amanda cautiously. “Him? Aw, Amanda, he’s just a scrawny two-bit little purse-snatcher.”
She really doesn’t get it. ”Lex,” Amanda said patiently, “he could have been a junkie looking for quick money and carrying a knife or gun for protection.” She put her hands on her lover’s waist. “And I don’t want to lose you this soon after finding you, okay?”
Understanding raced across Lex’s tan features. “Oh. I never really thought about that. I just saw him hit you, and kind of lost it.” She pulled Amanda into a hug. “I’m sorry.” She reluctantly released Amanda when a throat was cleared discreetly behind her. Turning, Lex kept her arm about Amanda’s waist as she greeted the two bicycle cops. “Oh, hi, officers.” Although she realized that their afternoon was about to get even longer, Lex didn't care as long as Amanda was by her side.
LEX STUDIED HER companion’s profile with concern as Amanda drove them back to her parents’ house. “Oh, Amanda,” she said quietly, touching the side of Amanda�
��s face, “that is going to be one hell of a bruise.”
The side of Amanda’s face was already purple, from her cheek down across her jaw. “I guess.” She tilted her head to peek into the rear view mirror, then grimaced. “Well, at least there’s not much swelling. The ice really helped. I can’t believe you actually roped that guy. Wish I had seen that.”
Lex rolled her eyes. “Those cops exaggerated, I think. I’m sure it looked a lot more impressive than it actually was.” Lex thought back to the group of people on the beach, all of whom had followed them both all the way to their car. “Thought we’d never get away from your fan club, though.”
“Don’t remind me.” Amanda decided to bring up Lex’s own adventure with the police. “Although I think you had your own admiration society with those two cops. The look on that one's face when you turned down his dinner offer was priceless.”
When the taller of the two police officers had approached Lex for a date, she politely declined, stating she didn’t think her girlfriend would approve. The embarrassed officer apologized, then offered to take them both out, which they also turned down, saying they had to leave for Texas.
“Yeah. I wasn’t really thinking. But it was pretty funny, wasn’t it?”
Amanda shook her head. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Oh, I’m sure you can come up with something creative.”
“We’ll see about that, my little thief roper.” Finally home, Amanda pulled up to the familiar security box. Before she reached out to punch in the security code, she edged over the other way and grabbed Lex by the back of the neck. “I’ll show you creative.”
Lex obeyed willingly, allowing Amanda to take control of the situation, as chills chased down her spine. “Damn, Amanda,” she wheezed as they broke off. “How in the hell do you do that?” She leaned her forehead into Amanda’s as her entire body trembled slightly.
Amanda took a deep, shaky breath as well. “Whoa. That sure got the old blood pumping, didn’t it?” She gave Lex another, shorter kiss. “Oh yeah. Whoo!” She grinned, then released Lex and punched the code into the gate.
When he spotted Lex and Amanda walking across the main foyer toward the stairs, Michael Cauble went ballistic. “What in the hell did you do to my daughter?” He stormed directly over to them with his fists clinched at his side.
“Daddy, wait!” Amanda stepped in front of Lex, holding her hand out to block her father’s path.
Shoving his daughter aside, Michael slammed Lex up against the stairwell, his face red with rage. “You like hitting defenseless women, dirt grubber?”
Amanda squeezed between the two of them, pushing her father back. “Stop it! Lex didn’t do anything to me, Daddy. I was mugged at the beach.”
“What? You were mugged?” Michael backed off, but only a step, glaring at the rancher. “Where the hell were you while my daughter was being assaulted?”
Lex wisely kept her mouth shut, allowing Amanda to handle Michael. She knew if she said anything, it would only hurt the woman she loved, so she kept quiet. Stay calm, Lexington. Let Amanda take care of him. She took a deep breath and released it, feeling Amanda’s hand pat her gently on the arm.
“Lex was only a few steps away, and she caught the guy, then turned him over to the police.” Amanda stepped back and put a hand behind her to make contact with the silent woman, whose anger she could almost feel as Lex reached to put her hands on her waist.
Michael prudently decided to let the matter drop. “Very well.” He looked at their matching ragged shorts and frowned.
“Is it too much to ask that you two change for dinner? We’re not having a clambake.”
Amanda felt Lex stiffen behind her, the hands on her hips tightening slightly. “Is it too much for me to ask that you and Mother act civil tonight? If not, Lex and I can go out for dinner, then fly out first thing in the morning.” She halfway hoped his answer would be negative. Please. Give me a reason to get out of here.
Amanda watched a mix of emotions cross her father’s face, first surprise and then a look of pride. “Of course, dear. We just got off on the wrong foot, didn’t we, Lex?” He reached forward and offered his hand to the quiet woman. “No hard feelings?”
“Sure, Mr. Cauble.” Lex took his hand in a firm grasp. But she couldn’t help but believe that the man was up to something. Probably up to no good, but we’ll just play it by ear for now.
“Thanks, Daddy.” Amanda gave her father a hug. “We’ll be cleaned up and changed in time for dinner.” She wasn’t fooled either by his sudden capitulation, but decided to accept the cease-fire for now. “Come on, Lex.” She took Lex by the arm and led her up the stairs.
Once they were safely ensconced in the guestroom, Amanda locked the door and studied her quiet companion. “Are you okay?” She ran her hands searchingly over Lex’s body. “My father didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“I’m fine.” Lex grabbed the wandering hands and pulled them behind her back. “He just pushed me, no damage done.” She felt Amanda’s hands tuck into her rear pockets, and she raised an eyebrow in response.
“Just checking for bruises,” Amanda explained unrepentantly. “Maybe I should take off your clothes and double check? No sense in taking any chances.”
Lex laughed. “Sure. But let’s take a shower. The lights are much better in there.” She pulled Amanda into the bathroom and closed the door behind them.
Chapter Eleven
AFTER A SHORT argument with Elizabeth, which she won—Amanda had Lex’s place setting moved from next to Frank’s to across the table beside hers. The entire meal was spent in tense silence, only broken by the occasional attempts of Jeannie and her husband to clear the air.
“Good grief, Mandy. Daddy told us about what happened to you today. But he failed to mention that you looked like you got into a fight with a heavyweight boxer and lost.” Jeannie was shocked at the large bruise that covered her sister’s cheek. “So come on, tell us the whole story.”
Amanda’s explanation about the day’s events further antagonized her parents, especially when she painted her companion’s part in the tale so heroically. “The police officers said the look on that thief’s face was really funny when Lex pulled the rope tight and he hit the ground. They were trying to catch up on their bikes and saw the whole thing.”
Michael glared at Lex. “Sounds rather foolish to me, chasing down a criminal when you’re unarmed.” He took a sip of wine. “People have been killed for less.”
“I really wasn’t thinking. I saw him hit Amanda and totally lost it. I just wanted to make sure he paid for what he had done to her.”
Jeannie knew her parents wouldn’t let the subject drop and could see that both Lex and Amanda were uncomfortable. In just the short amount of time that she had gotten to know the quiet rancher, Jeannie had come to like her and felt a bit protective of her sister’s friend. Uh-oh. Time to change the subject, I think. “So, my lovely sister, give me all the juicy gossip from Somerville.” She purposely ignored the glare from her mother and winked at Lex. “Or maybe you can fill me in, Lex.”
“Sure. What do you want to know?” Lex flinched slightly when Amanda poked her leg under the table.
“Got anything on my sister? She never likes to talk about herself.”
Lex almost yelped out loud as her leg was pinched. “Ow!” She quickly cleared her throat to cover up her slip. “Excuse me. Well, did Amanda tell you about her promotion? She’s now the manager of the real estate office.”
“Really? That’s great news, Mandy.” Jeannie almost squealed with excitement. “But what about that Neanderthal, Rick? He’s always so rude when I call Amanda’s office. Someone needs to knock him down a peg or two, in my opinion.”
Lex almost choked on the water she was drinking. “Well,” she coughed, “there’s actually a really funny story about that. Ow!” Amanda had stomped Lex’s foot, and the sharp pain effectively halted her in mid-sentence.
Frank, who had been silent up until n
ow, couldn’t help but grin at Lex. “You okay, Lex?” His smirk let her know he knew exactly what was wrong.
“Yeah.” She glared at Amanda, who smiled innocently. “Sudden cramp, I guess.” She felt a hand rub her leg in a soothing manner.
“So, what’s the story?” Jeannie asked, missing the glare her sibling threw at her.
Feeling the hand on her thigh tighten into a claw, Lex decided that discretion was the better part of valor. “Seems poor Rick not only got fired, but ended up receiving a bruised jaw and got thrown into jail for disorderly conduct.” The claw straightened out and gave her a loving pat instead.
Amanda quickly decided to change the subject. “So, Mother, have you decided on a cruise or a tour of Europe this year?” She knew Elizabeth had one real passion in her life, and that was travel.
“I believe I’ll do Paris. The last cruise was such a disappointment to me. People actually brought children on board!” Elizabeth’s disgust was evident to all by her tone of voice. “And they let the little heathens run wild. It was absolutely disgraceful.”
Lex started to say something, but closed her mouth and concentrated on her plate instead, thinking there was no sense in giving them any more reason to make Amanda’s stay here miserable.
Michael had seen her begin to speak, then stop. “Do you have something you’d like to say, Lex? I’m sure that we would all be interested in whatever is on your mind.”
Amanda looked at her father in surprise, but didn’t speak up.
“I really don’t think you want to hear my opinion, Mr. Cauble.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He gestured toward everyone else seated at the table. “Please, share with us.”
Feeling Amanda’s comforting touch on her leg, Lex gave her partner an apologetic look. “I was just going to say that those folks probably worked and saved for years to go on a cruise, so they had just as much right to be there as anyone.”
“Are you saying that I don’t work for my money?” Elizabeth gave Lex a nasty look, daring her to answer.
