Beyond Always (Lex and Amanda Series)

by Carrie Carr

  She tapped the page. "We should have taken pictures of them having to dig out all the plants. It took them two weekends to get it done."

  "Wow. Momma's never said anything about falling off a house."

  "Probably because it wasn't the first time," Amanda muttered.

  Jeannie stopped giggling and turned to her. "It wasn't?"

  "Unfortunately, no." Amanda realized they were waiting for more. "Um, maybe I shouldn't be telling--"

  "Oh, no. You can't leave us hanging like that. Right, Lorrie?"

  Lorrie giggled. "Right."

  "Okay, but don't you dare tell Momma I said anything." Amanda pointed to her sister. "Promise?"

  Jeannie put her finger and thumb to her lips and pantomimed locking them.

  Amanda swatted her. "Smartass." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Let's see. The first time--"

  "First time?" Jeannie came close to dropping the album. "There was more than once?"

  "First, second," Amanda shook her head. "Martha told me that she fell out of the top of the hay barn when she was twenty."

  Lorrie gasped. "That's a long ways down."

  "It is. And it would have been worse had she not landed on the trailer of hay. But her boot got caught and she broke her ankle."

  "Ow. Poor Momma. Mine hurt bad enough when I jammed it into second base that time."

  Jeannie patted her leg. "You're a lot like your father, in that way. Frank would have sprains and bruises from playing football, but he healed pretty quickly. I, on the other hand, have to spend a week in bed for a cold."

  "That's okay, Aunt Jeannie. I don't like being sick, either." She leaned into the hug she received. After her talk with her mom, she was more secure in her familial relationships. "Mom, what else has Momma done?"

  Amanda threw her head back and laughed again. "We don't have that much time, sweetie. Let's just say she's always been an accident looking for a place to happen, and leave it at that, okay? Jeannie, let's go to the next page. Don't you have pictures of Frank playing football?"

  "Pictures? I have video." Jeannie closed the photo album. "Come on, ladies. There's another box in storage that's full of scrapbooks and DVD's converted from video tapes, and Gramma has a DVD player in the den."

  Lorrie stood. "How come Gramma's not here?"

  Jeannie got up and put her hand on Lorrie's shoulder. "She's at the home improvement store with Lois, looking at wall paper swatches and paint samples. We might not see them until dark."

  "Oh, cool." In a move reminiscent of Lex, Lorrie held out her hand for Amanda and tugged her off the sofa.

  Amanda saw the recognition in her sister's eyes. Jeannie may have given birth to Lorrie but the girl had become a carbon copy of Lex.

  "Thanks, sweetie," she said.

  LEX DROVE HER truck around the small frame house toward the barn. She cringed at Eddie's excited yelp from the back seat.

  "Hossies! Momma, hossies!"

  "Ooh, Momma, what's Ms. Rebecca doing?" Melanie asked as she pressed her nose against her window.

  A large practice arena was fenced separately from the corral and open grazing field. Three barrels were set out in a triangular pattern, and Rebecca zipped around them on her paint pony, Patches. Horse and rider moved in tandem as they gracefully took the final turn and raced for the finish.

  Lex stopped the truck and turned off the engine, but waited until Rebecca had pulled Patches to a stop before she stepped out and unfastened Eddie from his car seat. She kept him in her arms as Melanie jumped from her side of the truck and hurried around to catch up.

  "Momma, what was she doing? That was so cool." Melanie stayed close to Lex as she had been taught. "Can I go see Ms. Rebecca? I wanna ask her why she was riding so fast. Momma, how come you don't ride that fast? Why was they going in little circles?"

  Shelby had turned away from the arena and walked to meet them halfway. She laughed as she overheard the questions. "Hey, squirt! I'm glad you talked your momma into bringing you."

  "Ms. Shelby! Did you see how fast they was going?" Melanie giggled as she was scooped up and swung around by Shelby. "Wheeee!"

  Eddie didn't want to be left out of the fun. He outstretched his arms toward Shelby and grunted. "Me!"

  Lex was barely able to hold onto him. "Settle down, Eddie."

  She waited until Shelby returned Melanie to the ground. "I think my kids like you more than they do me."

  Shelby grinned at her. "Can't blame "˜em much. I'm such a ray of sunshine, ain't I?" She shook Lex's hand then held it out to Eddie.

  "Well, c'mon, range rat. I ain't got all day."

  Eddie squealed and dove toward her. He laughed as she swung him around in the same manner as Melanie. "Ha!"

  "Hang on, young'un," Shelby told him, as she raised Eddie to her shoulders. "How's that?"

  "Go, go!" Eddie ordered. His feet kicked her chest as his hands gripped Shelby's shirt collar. He bounced and kicked as they headed for the corral. "Ha!"

  Melanie skipped beside Shelby and hung onto one of her belt loops. "Ms. Rebecca was going so fast. Was she scared?"

  "You'll have to ask her yourself." Shelby's grin softened as Rebecca left Patches by the barn and walked toward them. "Hey, darlin'. I think you have a new fan."

  "I do?" Rebecca winked at Melanie. "Did you like it, Melanie?"

  Melanie moved away from Shelby to take Rebecca's hand. "It was so cool. You was going so fast and I was afraid you'd fall off, but you didn't and you kept riding, and then you went whoosh around that thing, and--"

  Lex stopped her by a light touch to her head. "Slow down, kiddo. Take a breath." She nodded and tipped her hat to Rebecca. "That was quite a ride."

  "Thanks, Lex. Where's Amanda and Lorrie?"

  "They had some business in town." They followed behind Shelby, who led the way to the other side of the corral. "Picked up a couple of strays, I hear."

  Rebecca swung hands with Melanie. "I'm sorry we dragged you out here on a Saturday. I'm sure you had better things to do. But we have no idea where they could have come from, and was hoping you could tell us."

  "I'll try. And you didn't hurt a thing, calling. It's nice to get the kids out."

  "You don't have to have a reason to bring them over. We love having them." Rebecca let go of Melanie, who quickened her pace to rejoin Shelby. "As much as she pretends differently, Shelby really enjoys being around the kids."

  Lex nodded. "They do grow on a person, that's for sure." She stopped so that they were out of earshot of the others. "Y'all thinking about having one or two of your own?"

  "Oh, my God, no," Rebecca hurriedly answered. "I mean, we love your kids, but I don't think either one of us are the parenting type. I'm very happy being just the two of us, and I know Shelby is, too. Maybe a dog someday, but that's about as close to a little one as we want."

  "Yeah, that's just about exactly what Shelby has said about it. I'm glad y'all are on the same page about it, though. She seems really happy with the way things are."

  REBECCA WATCHED AS her lover interacted with the children. Shelby had confided that she loved feeling like an aunt to the Walters' kids, but it didn't make her want any of her own. She was perfectly content to spend her life with just Rebecca as her family, although the circle had grown to include Lex, Amanda and their offspring.

  "Shelby's very happy, and so am I. But you've always got free babysitting, anytime you need it."

  "I'll surely keep that in mind, thanks."

  Lex looked ahead to the horses that were nosing their way through some hay that had been given to them. "Damn, they look bad." She softened her voice as they moved closer. "That mare has a little one somewhere."

  Shelby stood beside her, holding onto Eddie's legs. "That's what I thought, too. She's filled up since this morning."

  Lex nodded. She took her cell phone from the holster on her belt. "Hi, Helen. Could you have Roy send a couple of guys to Shelby's? Yeah. Have them bring my horse and their own, please? Thanks. We've got a st
ray to find."

  She put the phone back and winked at Rebecca. "Speaking of free babysitting, do you think I could talk you into watching my kids? Eddie's not real good on horseback just yet."

  AS IT TURNED out, Helen drove the truck while Roy and Jack rode along. Chet stayed behind to keep an eye on things at the Rocking W.

  Once the big rig stopped, Lex and Shelby unloaded the two horses, Mac and Coco. Roy limped to the back of the trailer. "Sure wish I could go with you."

  "You'll be back in the saddle in no time," Lex assured him, as she checked Mac's cinch. "I'm glad you're here, though. Maybe you could make some calls and see where our strays may have come from."

  "I'll be glad to. Bice's property backs up to this one, doesn't it?"

  Helen joined them as Jack silently adjusted the saddle on Coco. "I'll head on to the house and relieve Rebecca, so she can join you." She kissed her husband's cheek. "Don't be too long."

  Lex continued to check her gear. "I called him before y'all got here. He said his fence is secure, and he isn't missing any horses."

  "All right. I reckon I can check with the feed store and see if they've heard of any missing animals. Then I'll contact the sheriff." Roy shifted his weight off the walking cast and leaned against the trailer. "Did you try the vet's office? Maybe Ron knows the brand, if he's not still in his honeymoon phase."

  "Nope. Didn't think about it. I'd forgotten he was back, since we haven't heard from them yet." Lex ran her hands down Mac's legs and checked his shoes.

  Shelby brought Patches and Duchess close when she saw Rebecca jog from the house. "We've only got about ten acres, so it shouldn't take too long to search. And I'm ashamed to admit I haven't checked our fence for a while. Didn't see much need, since we keep ours close to the house this time of year."

  "Not like you've had much time, since you started working with us," Roy told her. "But things are settled down a bit, so you'll have more time for your own place."

  She handed Rebecca the reins to Patches. "We're not complainin', are we, darlin'?"

  Rebecca settled into the saddle and patted her horse's shoulder. "Not at all. Thank you all for coming out to help."

  "It's a nice day for a ride." Lex nodded to Roy. "We'll keep in touch through our phones."

  "Right." He started toward the house as the four riders left. When he reached the back steps, he stopped.

  Melanie held the door open for him. "Ms. Rebecca is gonna show me how to race barrels when they come back."

  "Really? That sounds like a lot of fun." Roy ruffled her hair as he passed her. He removed his western hat and hung it on the coat tree beside the door. "What do you think, Helen? Reckon Mel has a chance of being a barrel racer?"

  Helen bounced Eddie on her knee, where he sat gnawing on a toddler cookie. "If she works hard at it, I'm sure Melanie can do whatever she puts her mind to."

  "That's what Mada always tells us."

  Melanie sat next to Helen at the table. "I use ta think horses were stinky, but they're fun, too." She dunked her graham cracker into a coffee mug of milk. "Ms. Rebecca said she's taught girls my age to race and they even get to win ribbons and trophies."

  Roy sat beside her and propped his injured leg on an empty chair. "There's a lot of work involved before you can do that, though. We'd have to find you a barrel horse, since your little pony isn't trained."

  Melanie shrugged her shoulders. "I guess, but Ms. Rebecca said I could start with Patches. She's a big horse, though."

  "Hossie!" Eddie grinned at Helen and waved the soggy cookie. "Mmm." He aimed it for her mouth, but she gracefully moved it away.

  "Thank you, sweetie. But you eat it." Helen glared at her husband, who couldn't hold in his laughter. "Watch it."

  He held up his hands in defense. "Sorry." But he didn't sound contrite in the least.

  Eddie laughed and swung his gooey hands. "Ha! Yum." He looked at his sister. "Yum!"

  Melanie rolled her eyes. "Boys are so gross."

  ANNA LEIGH STEPPED into her living room and saw her coffee table covered with scrapbooks and photo albums. She smiled at the trio on the sofa. "My goodness, girls. You've certainly been busy."

  "Hi, Gramma. Lorrie wanted to learn more about Frank, and all of this was in your storage shed. We've already watched his football highlights," Jeannie said.

  Lorrie hopped off the couch and crossed the room to hug Anna Leigh. "We were just about to look at the wedding album, Gramma. Would you like to see it, too?"

  "Thank you, dearest, but no. Lois is waiting in the car for me. I only dropped by to get a fabric sample from my bedroom." She kissed Lorrie's forehead. "I should be home in another hour or so."

  Amanda noticed the room for the first time. "We'll be sure and have it all cleaned up, Gramma. I'm sorry about the mess."

  Anna Leigh waved off the apology. "Please. Enjoy yourselves." A faraway look settled onto her face. "This old house has been far too quiet and still. It's nice to have you here."

  "Maybe we should--" Jeannie stopped when Amanda poked her in the leg. "What?"

  "What?" Amanda asked.

  Their antics took away Anna Leigh's sad face. "You girls," she laughed. "Lorrie, would you make sure they don't fight?"

  "We don't--"

  "We wouldn't--" Amanda cut her sister off. "We'll behave, I promise. Right, Jeannie?"

  Jeannie grinned at her. "Speak for yourself." A well-placed pinch stopped her. "Ow!"

  "And with that, I will be on my way. Lorrie, don't let them get you into any trouble."

  "Yes, ma'am." Lorrie said as Anna Leigh went upstairs.

  Amanda laughed as her sister glared at her. "Teach you to pop off like that, brat."

  "Turd." Jeannie patted the empty cushion beside her. "Come on, Lorrie. Let me show you how silly your mom looked at my wedding."

  "It wasn't that bad."

  Lorrie plopped down next to Jeannie. Her eyes tracked to the cover of the album, which Jeannie absentmindedly caressed. If things had been different, the woman who she knew as an aunt would be her mother. For a moment, she tried to imagine the changes in her life. A life in California would be without horses, and she would go to school far away from Somerville. She wouldn't know any of her friends, have her dog, Freckles, Eddie or even her annoying sister. As much as she complained about Melanie, she loved her. No, as sad as it was, she knew this was where she was meant to be. She was brought out of her thoughts as Jeannie opened to the first page. "You looked pretty, Aunt Jeannie."

  The eight-by-ten photo was of the bride and groom, looking at one another lovingly. Frank Rivers was tall and handsome in his dark gray tuxedo and he had his hands on his bride's hips while her arms were loosely clasped around his neck.

  "Thanks, sweetie."

  Amanda put her arm around her sister and leaned her head on her shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked in a whisper.

  Jeannie nodded and turned the page. The next pictures were of the wedding party that included her maid-of-honor, Amanda, who sported a particularly atrocious hairstyle.

  "Oh, wow. Mom, what's wrong with your hair?" Lorrie asked, between giggles.

  "It's not that bad." Amanda sighed as her sister's laughter joined Lorrie's, then looked closely at the photo in question. She wore a deep purple, knee-length dress with short, puffed sleeves. Her hair was bleached almost white, permed in tight ringlets that somehow rose four inches on top of her head while also cascading along her shoulders. "Okay, so it was hideous," she agreed at last.

  Lorrie rolled off the sofa and onto the floor, holding her stomach as she continued to laugh. "You looked like a cartoon cat that got scared!"

  "Hey." Amanda tried to be stern before she too broke into laughter. "Behave, Lorrie. Or you'll get the same hairdo."

  "That's a vicious threat," Jeannie scolded as she wiped her eyes. "Don't worry, Lorrie. I'll protect you from your mom."

  After she said it, she realized that it was true. She hadn't thought of Lorrie as her daughter in quite some time. The girl's unca
nny resemblance to Lex had helped, especially as Lorrie had gotten older.

  Lorrie got up and returned to her spot on the couch. "Thanks, Aunt Jeannie. But I don't think she'd really be that mean to me."

  She giggled at the mock glare she received from Amanda. "Hopefully."

  Chapter Nineteen

  SHELBY AND JACK rode in one direction as Rebecca rode with Lex the opposite way. Although they spent time together often, Rebecca was still a little uncomfortable around the taciturn woman. She struggled to find something to talk about, but everything she thought of seemed ridiculous to her. The only sounds were the singing of a nearby blue jay and the steady clomp of their horse's hooves along the dirt path.

  "Nice little spread y'all have here."

  "Um, thanks. It's nothing like yours, but it's plenty big for us."

  Lex turned to look at her. "Are you all right?"

  Rebecca nodded, but played with the reins in her hand. "Honestly, you scare the hell out of me."

  "I do? Why? Have I done something to you?"

  "Okay, maybe scared isn't the right word," Rebecca said. "I mean, I know that Amanda thinks the sun rises and sets with you, so you can't be all that bad."

  Lex snorted when she tried to hold back her laughter.

  "But, geez. When I was trying to figure out why boys weren't as interesting as girls, you were running that huge ranch all by yourself. Even now, you seem to have it all together while I just muddle along. I can't even hold down a decent job."

  "Whoa." Lex pulled Mac to a stop. "I only run the ranch because I didn't have a choice. Hell, if it had been up to me, I wouldn't even be here." She took off her hat and wiped her forehead against her shoulder. "And that would have been the worst thing in the world for me, because I would have never met Amanda."

  Rebecca raised her head and met Lex's gaze. "She means a lot to you, doesn't she?"

  "She means everything to me." Lex brushed the dust from her hat. "Don't sell yourself short. We all do what we need to do and there isn't any shame in that."

  She grinned and put the hat back on her head. "Besides, anyone who could live with Shelby, day in and day out, is pretty damned special."