Chapter 17

After telling Anna Leigh goodbye and not to wait dinner for them, Amanda and Lex found themselves sitting at a secluded table in a nearby restaurant.

Amanda was attacking the chips and salsa with gusto. "This is great!" She mumbled between mouthfuls. Glancing across the table, she noticed Lex was staring at her, with an amused look on her face. "What?"

"Amazing." The older woman grinned, shaking her head.

"What?!" Amanda stopped, studying the smiling face across from her.

Lex unsuccessfully tried to lose the silly smile she knew had to be on her face. "Umm…" she took a sip of her ice tea, then cleared her throat. "I was just wondering…how does someone as small as you enjoy food so much, and still have such a fantastic figure?"

Amanda blushed, ducking her head. "I don't know about the figure, but I've always enjoyed my food." The smaller woman's eyes grew large as a sizzling platter of fajitas was brought to their table. "Ooohhh…"

Lex partially choked on her tea. "Damn, Amanda…are you trying to kill me?" She laughed at the blush her comment caused. The dark-haired woman's brows knit in thought. "Hey…I just realized something."

Amanda looked up from her fajita construction. "What's that?" she added a dollop of guacamole, then folded the tortilla over in triumph. "Heh."

"This is the first time we've gone out to eat together - kinda like a first date, huh?" Lex smiled at the obvious enjoyment her companion had at building her meal.

Chewing then quickly swallowing, Amanda nodded. "Hey, you're right. Want to do the entire cliched first-date thing? How about a movie after dinner? We could make an evening out of it."

"Sure…do I have to get you home early?" Lex grinned. "How late is your curfew?" she lifted a forkful of Spanish rice to her mouth.

"Nothing to worry about there…my grandparents trust me. I've never had a curfew when I have stayed with them." She took a sip of her tea, and gave Lex a sexy smile. "Of course, I've never had such a good incentive to stay out late before, either." Watching the tall woman flush, she giggled.

Lex, finished with building her own fajita, shook her head. "Then I guess it's probably a good thing we didn't meet any sooner - I could have corrupted your tender sensibilities." She looked up with a devilish smile. "Although, I believe it would have been fun to try."

Amanda wiped her face with her napkin, then returned it to her lap. "You can say that again." She teased.

After flirting shamelessly with Amanda throughout the meal, Lex dropped her napkin to the table with a heavy sigh. "Hey, it's actually a pretty nice evening, not too cool - could I interest you in a walk through the park instead of a movie? I need to work off this dinner, somehow." She asked. I really need some fresh air - all this indoor activity is starting to make me a little stir-crazy.

"Do you feel well enough to go on a walk?" Amanda looked into the blue eyes across from her. "How are your ribs?"

Lex leaned back away from the table and sighed again. "I feel fine - stuffed, but fine." She waved at the waiter for the check. "You about done?" Smirking at Amanda's empty plate.

The younger woman placed her napkin on the table and groaned. "Mmm…I think a walk is a great idea - I won't be able to eat another bite for a least a week!" Hearing a stifled chuckle, she glanced up sharply. "Don't you dare…" shaking her finger at Lex. "C'mon…there's a nice little park a few blocks from the house…it has a small lake and path to walk on, too." She grabbed the check as soon as it hit the table. "My treat - I asked you to dinner, remember?"

Lex conceded with a nod. "Okay, next one's on me." Seeing the nasty smirk on the young blonde's face, she shook her head. "Uh-uh…don't you even think about going there!"

Amanda shrugged her shoulders, an innocent look on her face. "Who, me?" she left money on the table with the check, and stood up. "Let's go see what kind of trouble we can cause at the park…I'll get my dessert later." With a wink, Amanda strolled happily out of the restaurant, leaving her companion to pick up her jaw and scramble after her.

Part 3

Chapter 18

The last of the sun's rays reflected brightly off of the small lake, as Lex pulled the dark truck into a nearby parking space. "Looks pretty deserted." The rancher commented, not seeing

any other cars in the lot. As she stepped out of the tall vehicle, Lex pulled on her well-worn denim jacket, then closed the door and crossed to the other side.

"Yeah, but you should see this place in the spring and summer…can rarely find a parking space then." Amanda pulled a folded paper napkin from her purse, then climbed down out of the truck. Handing the item to Lex, she slipped on the coat she had brought - the old leather jacket Lex had worn in high school that she had 'borrowed' from the rancher. "Brrr…that wind is getting pretty chilly." Pulling the taller woman towards a paved path, she grinned. "C'mon…let's get moving, so I'll warm up."

Lex allowed herself to be guided down the well-traveled path. "What's this?" she asked, handing the napkin back to the smaller woman.

"Duck food." Amanda chuckled, opening it up to show two leftover flour tortillas. She linked her arm through the tall woman's and continued down the path that led to the lake.

Lex looked down at the young blonde fondly. "Do you come here often?" she felt the arm linked with hers tighten slightly.

"Yeah…this is kind of my thinking place - I usually bring old bread along and feed the ducks for hours at a time." She guided the older woman through a stand of trees, which opened up to a small cove. "When I was in school, I always spent my summers here - Mother never understood why." She pulled Lex over to a large log that was close to the water, then sat down next to her. "Mother and Dad would go to Europe, Jeannie would travel with them, or spend her time at one type of camp or another. I would beg to come here to visit Gramma and Grandpa…"

Lex pulled her close with a strong arm. "I don't really remember much about any of my grandparents." She said quietly. "Dad's folks died when he was just a kid, leaving him the ranch… I vaguely remember my mother's father. Tall and handsome - but after she died, I never saw him or my grandmother again." She straightened a little, then smiled. "They didn't care much for Dad - he's kinda rough around the edges."

Amanda put her arm around the older woman. "I'm sorry…" she felt sympathetic tears filling her eyes.

Lex leaned over and kissed the top of the blonde head. "Don't be…I'm not. Martha and the guys at the ranch more than made up for it - I had more attention from all of them than most kids ever get from two sets of grandparents."

"Really?" Amanda peeked up at the taller woman's face, which wore a wistful smile.

"Oh, yeah." She laughed. "Of course, most of the hands usually helped me get into trouble - poor Martha spent most of her time chasing me with a spoon and hollering, 'Get your filthy butt out of my kitchen and get into the tub!'" she paused thoughtfully. "Come to think about it, she still does that!"

Amanda giggled. "I bet you were a real handful growing up."

"I don't think so…but I'm sure Martha's opinion would differ." Lex watched as several ducks jumped out of the water and waddled towards them, quacking excitedly. "Looks like your friends missed you." She grinned at Amanda's delighted smile.

"Calm down, guys…" the younger woman was pulling the tortillas apart into very small pieces. After eyeing Lex cautiously, the ducks decided she didn't pose a threat, and continued their enthusiastic welcoming of her companion. "Sorry…they're a little excitable." Amanda looked over at Lex, who was watching a gray and white duck nibble on her boot tips.

"They're psycho - this crazy thing is trying to eat my boots!" She wiggled her feet slightly, causing her attacker to pause momentarily, then start back up again.

Amanda laughed. "That's all I have, guys…I'll bring a loaf of bread next time," she showed the ducks her empty hands, which caused them to glare at her for a moment, wagging their tail feathers in agitation.

"I don't think they're real happy with you right now." Lex teased, then stood up. "Let's continue our walk…maybe they'll get the hint." She offered her hand to Amanda, who accepted it gracefully.

"Thanks…that sounds like a great idea." Amanda allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. "Let's not use the path…do you mind if we just walked along the shoreline?" she held the hand in hers tightly as they began walking.

They were on their second circuit around the small lake when Lex's cell phone rang. Jumping slightly, she stopped and pulled the small device from her coat pocket. "Hello?" listening for a moment, she frowned. "Martha, what's wrong?" She felt a small hand on her arm, and looked down into concerned green eyes.

"Lexie, I'm really sorry to bother you like this," Martha apologized, sounding very upset.

"Don't worry, we were just taking a walk…now tell me what's the matter." Lex forced herself to stay calm. Martha never calls me…I've never even heard this damn phone ring before.

"Go on, tell me."

"Honey, it's your brother. He called the house a few minutes ago looking for you." The housekeeper sounded quite agitated.

"Okay…did you tell him I was in town?" Lex didn't like where this conversation was going.

"No, not at first. I didn't figure it was any of his business." The older woman sighed. "I told him you weren't available…that really upset him." She chuckled in remembrance.

Lex laughed. "I'll bet. Then what?"

"He told me it was very important that he talk to you immediately - I told him again that you couldn't come to the phone. That's when he really started getting upset."

Dammit! Lex felt a headache fast approaching. "What did he say to you, Martha?"

"Oh, well he yelled and whined quite a bit," she laughed, "then he said, 'Forget it! I'll just come out there myself!' and hung up."

"He's on his way to the ranch?" Lex ran a slim hand through her hair. "Shit!" She looked at Amanda, who was looking back at her with a worried expression. "How long ago did you talk to him?" Lex was already pulling Amanda down the path towards the parking lot.

"I just hung up with him right before I called you." Martha said, not quite as angry as before.

"Good…I'm on my way - lock all of the doors, in case he gets there before I do, okay? Don't let him in for any reason." Lex and Amanda were back at the truck, the taller woman holding the passenger's door open for her companion. She closed the door, then quickly jogged around to the other side and climbed in.

"Why? Are you expecting him to cause trouble?" Martha sounded concerned. "What's going on, Lexie?"

Holding the phone with her shoulder, Lex put the truck in reverse and backed out of the parking space quickly. "I don't know what to expect - we found out that he's the one who's been taking money from the ranch." The rancher glanced at Amanda with a questioning look.

"Tell her to sit tight. We're on our way." The young woman answered the unspoken question.

Lex smiled at her companion and turned the truck south, on the road out of town. "Amanda says to hold tight…" she spoke into the phone.

"She's there? Let me talk to her, then." Martha perked up. "You shouldn't be talking on the phone while you're trying to drive, it's not safe." She could hear the roar of the truck engine over the phone.

"Yes, ma'am." Lex handed the phone to the smiling blonde sitting next to her. "She wants to talk to you."

"Martha…it's great to hear from you, although I'm sorry about the circumstances." Amanda chattered happily. She genuinely missed the older woman, even though it had only been a couple of days since she had last spoken to her.

"Amanda honey, how are you?" the housekeeper asked, sounding quite pleased with herself.

"Great! I've really got a lot to tell you when I see you again - so much has happened!" Amanda watched as Lex rolled her eyes.

Martha laughed. "Really? Well, I can't wait…were you able to get Lexie to go see the doctor? I swear, that girl argues with me sometimes just for sport!"

"Yesterday morning, as a matter of fact - her side was terribly infected, but Dr. Anderson took care of that." The younger woman reached over and caressed a muscular leg, causing a slight smile on the rancher's serious face.

"Blast it! I knew that would happen…but you say she's okay?" Martha sighed. "She never takes care of herself…" the older woman muttered more to herself than to Amanda.

"She's fine…got a couple of stitches, and Dr. Anderson made her promise to keep her ribs wrapped for another week." Amanda chuckled, remembering the argument with the old doctor. "He says she's gotten a little too thin, though…" This little bit of news got her a glare from the subject in question. "Don't give me that look…and keep your eyes on the road." Amanda scolded.

The housekeeper laughed. "If I could get her to sit still long enough to eat…" she turned serious. "But, I think that she's eaten more in the last week or so than the entire last month combined. And I have you to thank for that - she's happier now than I can ever remember seeing her. So thank you, Amanda - for giving my little girl back her heart."

Lex had turned to glance at Amanda, who had stilled suddenly. Even in the fading sunlight, she could see a deep blush on the younger woman's fair skin. Reaching over with one hand, she touched the small blonde's shoulder. "Hey…you all right?" she asked, trying to keep one eye on the road, and one on her companion.

Amanda blinked, and grasped Lex's hand. "Yep." She gave the large hand a strong squeeze and smiled. "Martha, I think I got the best end of the deal." She told the housekeeper.

"I think you both did." The older woman chuckled. "How far out are you now?"

Lex had just turned off the main road, and Amanda could see the old bridge up ahead. "We're almost to the bridge…so we should be at the house in about ten minutes or so."

"Great…I just started a fresh pot of coffee. I have a feeling we're gonna be needing it." Martha paused. "Hold on a minute, honey…I think I hear a car pulling up out front."

"Wait!!…Martha? Are you there?" Amanda heard the phone being set down.

"What?" Lex looked over at the younger woman as they started across the bridge.

"She thought she heard a car drive up, and sat the phone down to go look." Amanda listened intently to the phone, trying to hear any unusual noises.

"Dammit!" Lex sped up the truck, practically flying across the old wooden structure.

"Lex! Slow down! We're not going to be any help to Martha if you kill us!" Amanda had released the rancher's hand, and was bracing herself against the dash.

The older woman slowed the vehicle down reluctantly. "Has she come back to the phone yet?" Lex had a deathgrip on the steering wheel, the dashlights casting an eerie glow on her tense face.

"No…not - wait, I think I hear something." The younger woman chewed on her lower lip in concern.

"Amanda?" Martha sounded somewhat breathless. "You still there?"

"God, Martha…don't scare me like that - are you okay? We're almost to the house." Amanda held her breath, waiting for the answer.

"Oh heavens, yes…but I'm afraid Hubert is going to hurt himself trying to get in." She laughed. "Sounds like he's working his way around the house - banging on windows and doors as he goes."

The truck skidded to a stop in the long driveway, Lex parking beside a grossly expensive BMW convertible. She looked over at Amanda and gave her a worried look. "Do you want to wait here, or…"

The young blonde frowned. "Do you really want me to?" She unbuckled her seatbelt, looking at the taller woman for an answer.

"No…I'd rather you stay with me - I'm less likely to strangle Hubert if there are witnesses." Lex gave her a wry grin. She unclipped her buckle and opened the door. "C'mon, let's go get this over with."

They were almost to the front door with they heard a man's voice screaming from the back of the house, "Dammit, old woman! I know you're in there - open this friggin' door before I kick it in!"

Lex unlocked the front door and ushered Amanda inside, then closed and locked the door behind them. "Martha, we're here." She said in a normal voice, walking down the hallway.

The short, round housekeeper stepped out of the den, causing Amanda to yelp in alarm. "Oh sweetheart…I didn't mean to startle you." Turning towards the taller woman, "Lexie, I think that Hubert has about worked his way back around to the front of the house." Suddenly, a loud banging on the front door interrupted her.

"Goddammit!! Unlock this door, you old bitch, or I'll knock it down!" Hubert kicked the door ineffectually.

Lex opened the door, an angry set to her face. "Hubert! What in the hell is your problem?" she stood in the doorway, daring him to try and get by her. "And watch what you say about Martha."

"Get the hell outta my way, Lex!" He tried to push past her, but was stopped when Lex put her hand in the middle of his chest. Hubert was only an inch or two taller than his younger sister, but he outweighed her by at least fifty pounds.

"Why?" Lex pushed her brother back a step. "What business do you have in this house?" She stepped out on the front porch with him. "I believe we settled that when I gave you the house in town - you didn't want anything to do with this 'old, dirty ranch', or so you said then."

Hubert stood quietly, remembering. He'd always hated the ranch, even as a child. Illogically, he felt that this place killed his mother, since she had started going into labor here at the ranch, and it took longer than it should have to get her into town to the hospital. Then, of course, his father bypassing him and teaching his younger sister how to run it - it still hurt, all these years later. Looking at Lex now, he realized just how much he missed his mother, she looks so much like her. Shaking his head slightly, Hubert glared at his little sister. "I still don't…but I seem to be having some trouble accessing the bank records, and I thought I may have left some papers here last time I did the books."

"I should hope you're having trouble getting into the account…I changed it." Lex leaned back against the doorframe, casually crossing her arms across her chest.

"What?!?" Hubert yelled, stepping up to the smirking woman, grabbing the front of her coat with both hands, and pulling her towards him. "You can't do that!"

Lex reached up and grabbed the angry man's wrists, squeezing them painfully. "Let go of me," she muttered quietly, "or I'll break 'em…then we'll let the sheriff deal with you." Seeing the comprehension flicker across his angry features.

Hubert released her, pushing the tall woman back slightly. "Bitch." Taking a couple of steps back, he ran his hand through his dark hair. "Why didn't you call the law when you found out?"

"Because, no matter what else I think of you, you're family." Lex answered wearily. "Why did you do it? Couldn't you have just asked?"

The big man let out a derisive snort. "Yeah, right…so you could lord that over me like you have everything else?" he shook his head. "You're so damn high and mighty…always acting like you're better than everyone else. I don't have to explain anything to you - besides, you can't prove a thing."

"What do you want from me, Hubert?" Lex dropped down onto the porch swing gracelessly. Bracing her elbows on her knees, she sighed. "I'm not going to press charges, but I think it would be a good idea if you stayed away from the ranch for a while."

A movement in the doorway caught his eye. "Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" Glancing at the small blonde moving towards them. "Is this your latest plaything? I'll have to hand it to you, she's…URK!"

Lex pinned her brother up against a nearby support post, her forearm against his throat. "Say what you want to about me, you asshole - but…never…let me hear you talk about Amanda that way again…" she enjoyed the look of fear on the big man's face as she held him against the post, his face getting redder by the moment. She felt a gentle touch on her back.

"Lex? Let him go, please?" a soft voice pleaded behind her.

The tall woman flexed her arm, causing Hubert to stand up on his toes, gasping for air. "I've had it with you - I didn't want this ranch, but by god I'm going to work it with everything I am, and no two-bit bean counter is going to change that." She felt Amanda place her small hand on her shoulder. "Especially not the likes of you!" Shifting slightly, Lex shoved her brother off of the porch.

Hubert stumbled to the driveway, holding his throat and gasping for breath. "This…isn't… over, Lex." He panted, backing his way clumsily toward his car.

The rancher braced her hands against the porch rail, Amanda standing beside her. "Go home, Hubert…" she sighed heavily, watching as her brother got into his car and drove away. Bowing her head, Lex closed her eyes against the exhaustion that was left behind as her rage crumbled away.

"God, Lex…" Amanda whispered.

The older woman felt the words as if they were physical blows. Afraid to turn around, she took a deep breath. "Yeah…I completely lost it…" she felt the smaller woman duck under her arm and snuggle close.

"Was he always such a jerk?" the young blonde asked, turning to look up into the anguished face above her.

"Huh?" Lex blinked, then wrapped her arms around the smaller woman in reflex.

Amanda smiled at the unconscious gesture. "Good grief…how you have kept from killing him before now is a complete mystery to me."

"Ahem."

Both women turned around to see Martha standing in the doorway, arms crossed. "You two gonna stand out there all evening mooning over each other, or are you coming inside for coffee?"

Smiling wearily, Lex wrapped an arm around Amanda and pulled her towards the door. "Well, how can we resist such a gracious invitation?" Allowing the younger woman to enter before her, Lex stopped in front of the smirking housekeeper.

Martha looked up into the twinkling blue eyes. "What?" Then she stopped in shock as the tall woman bent over and placed a gentle kiss on top of her graying head.

"Thanks." So softly uttered she almost didn't hear.

"For what, honey?" the older woman heard her own voice crack.

"Everything." Lex murmured, then followed Amanda into the house.

Martha watched them go, wiping a tear from her eye with the corner of her apron. "Rotten kid…" she grumbled, "just when I think I have her figured out, she says something like that." She sighed heavily, then closed the door behind her.