by Carrie Carr
Lex looked at her quizzically. "Interesting? It was just a wedding."
"Well, it seems there was a slight altercation at the reception." More like a brawl. The paper mentioned it took hours to clean up. Several people, including the groom, ended up in jail. "I don't think your father got along very well with Victoria's parents."
"Just exactly what kind of altercation are we talking about?" Lex shifted slightly so she could look directly at Anna Leigh. "And why was there a newspaper article on a simple wedding? Don't they usually just put an announcement in?"
"It was so many years ago, and I may not remember the details very well."
"Please. I would really appreciate anything that you could tell me. I'm at such a loss here," Lex pleaded quietly. "Until today, I thought my grandparents had died before I was born. Maybe you can help me figure out why my father never told me about them." And why they never bothered to get in touch with me.
Anna Leigh took a deep breath. "Okay." She reached over to grasp Lex's hand. "But bear with me. It was quite some time ago, and I didn't pay very close attention to the gossip at the time." After Lex nodded, she began. "I know for a fact that the Edwards' were not too fond of their daughter's choice for a husband. Victoria was such a sweet and quiet girl, and I think Rawson brought her out of her shell, so to speak. Travis, her father and your grandfather, was going to cut her off from the family completely, or so the gossips said." The older woman shook her head sadly. "Melanie, your grandmother, talked him into allowing the wedding to take place. At least that was the buzz around town at the time. Since they were not from around here, it was pretty big news for a girl of her social standing to marry a working man." When she read the pain in Lex's eyes, Anna Leigh apologized. "As I've said before, all of this is just hearsay. We don't know what really happened."
Lex took a deep breath and tried to smile. "It's okay. I guess it just sounded a little too familiar, that's all." She saw the look of realization cross the older woman's face. "I went through something similar with Amanda's father just a month ago. This hit a little too close to home."
"Oh, dear. I never thought of that. You know Jacob and I love you as if you were our own granddaughter, don't you?"
"Yes, and believe me, you two are the best grandparents I could have ever asked for," Lex answered with a watery smile. "But I really would like to know about my family. Maybe I have a great aunt or uncle out there, or even cousins." She suddenly smiled. "Or maybe my grandfather is still alive. Think he'd mind meeting me?"
"Mind? Good lord, child. If he is alive, he'd probably be ecstatic. You are the spitting image of your dear mother." She reached up and wiped an errant tear from Lex's face. "Let me finish my little story, and then we'll check on Mandy and Jacob's progress in the office, all right?" She waited until Lex composed herself, then continued. "Where was I? Oh, yes. The wedding went off beautifully, they said, but things got somewhat--uncomfortable, at the reception. Travis had too much to drink and accused Rawson of marrying his daughter for her money. Your father took that as an insult to Victoria and punched his father-in-law, which made a large brawl break out."
"Oh, boy. No wonder I never saw any pictures of my grandparents." Lex shook her head. "But I swear that I can remember a tall, dark-haired man at our house before my mother died."
"You probably did. I think they used to visit when your father went out of town to the rodeos. Although after Victoria's funeral, I don't believe we ever saw either of them again. But we really didn't travel in the same social circles as the Edwards'." Anna Leigh could see the exhaustion on the rancher's face. "Why don't you let me help you upstairs? You look completely worn out."
Lex fought off a yawn. "That bad, huh?" She blinked several times and frowned. "I swear I'm going to quit taking those damn--uh, sorry--darn pills that old quack prescribed. They knock me on my rear."
"Let's go. You take a nap and then we'll have lunch in a while." Anna Leigh pulled Lex to her feet. "He prescribed those because he knew there wasn't any other way to make you rest so you could get better. I'll explain to Amanda where you are when I check on them." She wrapped a steadying arm around the trim waist. "Honey, you need to eat more. You're nothing but skin and bones."
Lex sighed as they made their way up the stairs. "You sound like Martha, or Amanda, for that matter. They're always on me about not eating right."
"Hush. Or I'll sic Jacob on you to fatten you up." Her husband took great delight in cooking and was forever treating her to rich meals. "Thank goodness I still do my walking every day, or I'd be the size of a house by now."
"Now that's a threat," Lex murmured as she sat heavily on the bed. "You'd never get rid of me then." She yawned again as Anna Leigh covered her with a blanket. "Thanks, Gramma." Lex didn't even realize what she had said as she closed her eyes tiredly.
"Any time, honey," Anna Leigh whispered, kissing the already-sleeping woman's forehead. "Pleasant dreams."
AMANDA SAT AT the computer searching through county records, as Jacob continued to peruse the legal papers left behind by Hubert. "Can you find anything that tells where Lex's grandmother was buried?" she asked as she surfed from site to site.
"I'm afraid not." Jacob sat in the chair he had pulled around next to his granddaughter. "Although I do remember hearing that they came from Dallas at one time. Maybe you could try there."
"Good idea, Grandpa. Do you know what her maiden name was?" Amanda found yet another dead end and leaned back in her chair with an exasperated breath. "Is there anyone in this town we could call that might have known them? I really want to find something for Lex."
Jacob rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I don't know. Let me think about it a minute."
"How about Reverend Nelson? Isn't he the one who performed the ceremony?" Anna Leigh answered from the doorway. "Perhaps he would know a little bit more about the Edwards' than we do." She came into the room and leaned up against her husband, who promptly guided her into his lap. "Jacob! Behave yourself."
"Not a chance, my love." He brought his wife close and nibbled gently on her neck while also tickling her ribs. "Now what were you saying about Reverend Nelson?"
Anna Leigh slapped ineffectually at his hands. "Stop that. Mandy, tell your grandfather if he doesn't stop that this instant, he'll be sleeping in the guest room." She squirmed a bit more until her husband stopped his teasing.
Amanda laughed at her grandparent's antics. That's what Lex and I am going to look like in forty years or so, I bet. They're so darned cute. "Oh, I dunno. I think I'm on his side this time."
"Traitor," her grandmother huffed. "Anyway, I was saying that Reverend Nelson usually keeps really good records, and if anyone knows anything about Travis or Melanie Edwards, it would probably be him."
"Great. I'll just get Lex and we'll--"
"Wait a second." Anna Leigh escaped her husband's loving grip and stood. "I took her upstairs to bed, sweetheart. Her medication had about gotten the best of her." Anna Leigh crossed the room to stand next to her granddaughter. "She was in shock, I think. Finding out she had a grandmother that had been alive all these years really shook her up."
Amanda looked stricken. "Oh, no. Poor Lex. I should have been there for her." She started to leave the room, but her grandmother stopped her.
"She's already asleep. Lexington was fine, really." Seeing the look on Amanda's face, she continued, "She was just the sweetest thing before she fell asleep, calling me Gramma just like you."
Jacob sauntered up behind his wife, wrapped his arms around her, and propped his chin on the top of her head. "That's great. Hopefully we can keep her in the habit when she's conscious." He winked at Amanda. "Why don't you go upstairs to check on her, and we'll see if we can't hunt down Reverend Nelson."
Anna Leigh nodded. "You look like you could use a little nap yourself. Get some rest, and we'll call you down when dinner's ready, all right?"
"That sounds like a wonderful idea. I'm beat, even though it's only," she looked at her watch in amazement, "th
ree o'clock? Good grief." Amanda embraced both of her grandparents and planted kisses on their cheeks. "I'll see you both in a little bit, okay?" She turned and practically raced out of the room.
"She reminds me so much of you at that age, my love. Never walking anywhere, always in a hurry." He ran his hands along her sides lightly. "It has been a busy day. Maybe we should take our own advice and get a little nap in ourselves?"
"Hmm. A snuggle with you?" Anna Leigh took her husband's hand and led him from the office. "That's the best offer I've had all day, handsome." She pulled him up the stairs and into their bedroom, quietly closing the door behind them.
Amanda shut hers and Lex's bedroom door and tiptoed silently across the room. She studied the still form on the bed as she changed into a tee shirt and a pair of shorts. Lex had rolled over on her left side, draping her injured arm across Amanda's pillow. Quietly, so as not to disturb the sleeping woman, Amanda slipped under the covers and gently raised Lex's arm, slowly rolling her over to her back.
"Love you," Lex murmured in her sleep.
"I love you, too, sweetheart." Amanda snuggled up next to her and kissed her softly on the jaw. "Sleep well, my love. We'll get all of this mess figured out soon, I promise." She closed her eyes and joined her lover in slumber.
Chapter Nine
SHERIFF BRISTOL LEANED back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. Several file folders were strewn across the desk in disarray. Okay. So now we know that Rick Thompson has no alibi for last Saturday, and Hubert was "missing" for about four hours that day. "Great. Two suspects, two motives." He was about to search through the folders again when his phone buzzed.
"Sheriff? I have Mrs. Cauble on line two for you, as you requested," his secretary informed him.
"Thanks, Lydia." Charlie picked up the receiver. "This is Sheriff Bristol in Somerville, Texas. May I please speak with Michael Cauble?"
The woman's voice on the other end of the line released a heavy sigh. "As I told the woman who called, my husband has been out of town on business since last Thursday. I do not expect him back until Wednesday evening, at the earliest. What is this all about?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Cauble, but I'm investigating a crime." He pulled a notepad close, ready to jot down notes. "Where can I reach Mr. Cauble? It's imperative that I speak with him on this matter as soon as possible."
"Are you insinuating that my husband is guilty of something criminal?" Elizabeth Cauble's voice turned icy. "Perhaps you should just contact our lawyer."
The sheriff closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. "No, ma'am, I'm not insinuating anything. But a crime has been committed, and I'm pursuing each and every lead until I catch the person responsible."
Elizabeth's reply reflected her irritation. "If this crime happened there in Texas, what makes you think Michael had anything to do with it?"
"Because your husband recently threatened the victim, ma'am. I'm following every lead, no matter how small or farfetched it may seem." Charlie felt like pounding his head on the desk. Damned stubborn woman. I can't believe sweet little Amanda is even related to her.
"Who is he supposed to have threatened? Were there witnesses? When was this alleged threat made?" Elizabeth's voice continued to rise until she was almost screaming. "How dare you!"
Charlie took a deep breath as he tried to think of how much he could safely say. "Your husband threatened Lexington Walters last month, Mrs. Cauble. It seems that he also attacked her in front of your youngest daughter."
The cultured woman's tone practically shook with rage. "That pervert--said my husband threatened her? That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard." She paused for a moment to get herself back under control. "She has my daughter brainwashed to think like her, too. You can't believe a word either of them say." Elizabeth laughed humorlessly. "Do you even know this woman, Sheriff? She can't be trusted, you know."
The lawman almost bit his tongue in two trying to control his temper, "Mrs. Cauble, I have known Lexington Walters since she was born. You won't find a more upstanding citizen, or kinder person." He waited a moment to let his words sink in. "And I promise you, I will get to the bottom of this. Please have your husband call me at 512-555-6748 when he gets in, ma'am." Without allowing her an opportunity for further slander, he slammed the receiver down and covered his eyes with a shaking hand. God. What a hateful woman. Poor Amanda. And now her father doesn't seem to have an alibi either. This damned thing just keeps getting more and more complicated.
The knock on his office door made Sheriff Bristol glance up expectantly. "Come in." Charlie smiled at the woman who stepped into the room. "Amanda. Hello there. Have a seat." He stood and waved her into a nearby chair. "What can I do for you this morning?"
Amanda sat with a serious look on her face. "Lex and I were talking last night. We thought we should tell you about someone else, even though he hasn't made any threats or anything."
"Okay. At this point, I'll take any help or ideas I can get." Charlie grabbed his notepad and turned to a clean sheet of paper. "Go ahead."
"Like I said, he hasn't threatened her or anything, and maybe it's just a coincidence, but--" Amanda raised her hands helplessly. "With the way things have been lately, we figured it would be better to be safe than sorry. Mark Garrett used to work for my father, but he quit a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, last week he showed up at my office saying he wanted to relocate to Somerville. And, he showed up at my grandparents' house on Monday with flowers for Lex."
Charlie scratched his head. "If he's new in town, how did he know where to find you?" Damn. Do we know where this Mr. Garrett was on Saturday?"
"No."
He wrote furiously on his notepad. "Do you happen to know where he's staying?"
"No. He never told me. Which is kind of strange, since I'm supposed to be finding a house for him. Mark didn't leave me any way to get in contact with him." Amanda stood and walked over to the window to glance outside.
"How's Lex feeling today?" Charlie looked back at the door. "Is she still at your grandparents' place?"
"No. She's at Dr. Anderson's getting a checkup." Amanda turned back from the window with a sheepish smile. "He ran me off and said he didn't want to see me for at least an hour." She crossed back to the desk and leaned up against one corner. "Lex is hoping he'll give her the okay to unwrap her arm, since she says it's not bothering her any more."
The sheriff chuckled. "She's always healed up quickly. I remember that it caused some interesting arguments between her and Martha." Charlie stood and grabbed his hat. "Why don't you let me buy you a cup of coffee? I know how much you love the great cheese Danish at the diner across the street."
Amanda preceded him out of the office. "Sounds good, but only if you'll let me pay for it."
"OW!" LEX JERKED away from prying hands. "Are you trying to kill me?"
The gray-haired doctor chuckled good-naturedly. "Calm down, Lexington. We're almost done." Dr. Anderson finished removing the wrap from her injured arm. "I thought that it wasn't hurting you any more?" He looked up into her wide eyes.
Busted. Okay, I can talk my way out of this. "Umm. It wasn't." Lex stopped to think. "But with all your twisting and jerking, it's a little sore now," she finished with a triumphant smile.
"Uh-huh." He turned the arm slowly and used his thumb and forefinger to test for swelling. "Can you make a fist?"
Lex closed her hand slowly. "Isn't that a dangerous thing to ask me?" She grinned down at him. "Especially with you in that position?" She flinched as he turned the still-bruised arm.
Dr. Anderson laughed at the mock threat as he slowly bent her arm at the elbow. "Easy now. The x-rays show there was no permanent damage done to the bone, but the soft tissue is going to be pretty sore for another week or so." Her muscles tensed as she tried to keep from reacting to the pain. "It's looking a lot better. You can leave it unwrapped, and I'll give you a list of exercises that you can use in a few days to strengthen it properly." He handed Lex her shirt which lay on the exa
m table.
"Does this mean I can go home to the ranch and not have to come back here any time soon?"
Doctor Anderson said, "If you'll behave yourself, I don't see why not." He turned to the side table and made some notations in her chart.
Lex struggled to button up her shirt. "Damn." A knock on the door stopped her fumbling.
Amanda's head poked in through the open door. "Hi, Doc. Are you about done, or do I have to try and find something else to occupy my time out in the waiting room?"
He scooped us his chart. "We're done."
She edged her way into the room over to where Lex stood by the examining table with her shirt unbuttoned. "Need some help?
"Yeah. My hand still doesn't work too well."
"I'll just let you finish getting dressed, Lexington." Dr. Anderson moved to the doorway. "Stop by my office before you leave, and I'll have some papers for you to sign, okay?" He closed the door behind him before she could even answer.
Amanda finished buttoning the shirt and then wrapped her arms around Lex. "I missed you," she mumbled into Lex's chest. She tilted her head back until she could look Lex in the eye. "What did he say?"
"I'm fine. Going to be sore for another week or so, but no permanent damage." Lex raised her right hand and slowly ran her fingers through Amanda's hair. "Dr. A. said I need to take it easy for a bit, but he is going to give me some exercises to strengthen my arm."
"That's great." Amanda found herself lost in Lex's gaze. She slowly stretched up and met Lex halfway, their lips gently touching. "Mmm." Amanda reached up and clasped her hands behind her lover's neck as she deepened the kiss.
Lex wrapped her left arm around Amanda's back and pulled the smaller woman closer. She ignored the pain in her right arm as she continued to thread her fingers through the blonde hair. "Amanda." The young woman turned slightly to run her hands down Lex's arms. "Ow!" Lex gasped, as Amanda inadvertently grabbed her sore arm.
