Chapter 35

Lex allowed herself to be guided up the long staircase, her thoughts elsewhere. Why is her family so dead set against seeing her happy? Are they really that self-centered? Or is it something else? Maybe it's because of who she's with…

"Honey? You still with me here?" Amanda questioned, closing the guestroom door behind them. "What's wrong?" She pulled Lex over to the bed, and gently sat her down. "Lex?" Amanda lightly touched her face, seeing the rancher finally shake herself and her gaze sharpen.

"Huh? Oh, sorry about that…just thinking." Lex murmured, leaning into the touch. "What were you saying?" She pulled the younger woman into her lap with a heartfelt sigh.

Amanda snuggled into Lex's arms, content to let the subject drop. "Nothing…I was just a little concerned." She kissed the tan throat under her lips. "Are you feeling okay?"

Lex chuckled. "I've never felt better…why don't we get ready for bed?" She stood up, lifting Amanda to her feet as well. "Oh…umm…" she mumbled, feeling small hands begin to unbutton her shirt again. She reached for the rest of the buttons, intent on helping her lover with the task.

"No…please…let me." Amanda whispered, pushing the shirt over broad shoulders and onto the floor. She began unbuttoning Lex's jeans, then quickly slid them down her hips, bumping the older woman back onto the bed.

"I can…" Lex started, but quieted when Amanda placed a soft hand over her mouth. She kissed the hand, which then moved to caress her face, running lightly over her upraised eyebrows.

The younger woman smiled. "Just sit back…I've been wanting to do this all evening." She leaned over and placed a tender kiss on the rancher's lips, then backed off and began removing the well-worn boots from Lex's feet, the socks quickly following them to the floor.

Sitting back on the bed, Lex could only marvel at the gentle attentiveness that her lover showed. Deciding to just lie back and enjoy the ride, she chuckled when a hand tickled her bare foot. "Hey!" She wiggled the foot slightly.

Amanda giggled. "Sorry…you've just got such cute feet…I couldn't resist." She ran another fingertip down Lex's instep, then grabbed the end of the jeans and pulled them off of the long legs. "And really sexy legs…" she murmured, running her hands up the inside of the rancher's calves, amazed at how strong they were.For someone who rides horses so much, she's got incredible legs.

"Ah…umm…oh, god…" Lex leaned back and closed her eyes, feeling her heart begin to pound. Her eyes opened back up slightly when she heard the sound of cloth rustling nearby. Enjoying her slight bit of voyeurism, the rancher watched as Amanda slowly removed her own clothes, unaware that she was being watched. "You are so beautiful, Amanda…" she murmured, watching as her words caused the younger woman to blush.

"Yeah, right…" Amanda chuckled, as she walked back over towards the bed. "Ugh!" she grunted as she was quickly pulled down on top of Lex. "I don't think…" her doubts were silenced by insistent lips, which claimed hers hotly. "Mmm…" she wrapped her arms around the dark-haired woman's neck, feeling strong hands pull her closer.

"Don't worry…" Lex murmured between heated kisses, "I wasn't expecting you to do any more thinking tonight." She rolled over to cover the younger woman's body with her own.

***************

Amanda stretched stiffly, noticing with a slight frown the sun trying to peek in the windows. She looked down lovingly at the woman who was snuggled on top of her, Lex's dark head resting comfortably on her chest. How did I ever get so lucky? Everything I ever wanted in someone, and in a really good looking package too… Amanda gently brushed the scattered bangs from the smooth forehead. Why can't they just see how happy I am, and leave us alone? Everything has to be connected with money, not love, as far as they're concerned. She released a heavy sigh, dropping her head back down onto her pillow.

"Hey…what's the matter?" Lex's voice, rough with sleep asked. "You okay?" she nuzzled the soft skin under her cheek.

Glancing back down into those incredibly blue eyes, Amanda smiled. "I'm great. Just thinking." She ran her fingertips across Lex's smooth cheek. "I love you so very much, you know."

"I love you too." Lex placed a kiss on Amanda's chest, then hugged her tight. "I don't know who to thank for sending you to me, but I'm going to spend the rest of my life loving you."

A knock on the door stopped Amanda's answer. "Miss Amanda? It's me, Beverly." The maid's soft voice floated through the door.

Lex grinned, then shrugged, as Amanda gave her a questioning look. The rancher climbed out of bed, and padded into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

"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 a knowing smile. "I'm really sorry to bother you so early, but I thought you might want to know that your mother is looking for you." She looked at 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." Beverly gave her a sympathetic smile."

"Too bad…I have already chosen my clothes - she'll just have to live with it." Amanda grinned, 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." She grinned to the maid, watching from the corner of her eye as Amanda blushed furiously. "Everything okay, Amanda?" she asked, smirking.

"Yeah…I guess. Beverly came up to warn us that Mother's looking for me." The blonde woman ducked her head, finding the pattern on the comforter quite interesting.

Lex walked into the closet, laughing. "Must not be looking too hard…I don't see you hiding." She stepped back out, jeans on, buttoning a denim shirt.

Amanda covered her head when the maid began to laugh. "Oh, god…"

"I'll just let you get ready…" Beverly winked at Lex. "And I'll tell your mother that you'll be down soon, so she won't be disturbing you." She laughed again as another groan was heard from under the comforter. Beverly left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Lex pulled the comforter away from Amanda's head. "What's the matter, sweetheart?" She grinned as Amanda glared at her. "You're not shy, are you?"

' WHAP! '

Amanda slammed a pillow into the smirking rancher's face, knocking her off of the bed. Silence from below worried the younger woman, "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…" she started, just as long fingers began tickling her unmercifully. "Lex!…" she giggled, "C'mon…argh!" she squirmed, trying to fight back.

"Stop! I'm gonna make a mess if you don't quit!" she got out between gales of laughter.

Lex stopped tickling Amanda, and gently pulled the younger woman's arms up over her head. Leaning down, she gave her lover a soft 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 of the bed, laughing, as Amanda growled and tossed another pillow her way.

***************

Deciding to avoid an early confrontation, Amanda had asked Beverly to have breakfast served to her and Lex on the sunporch off of the kitchen. 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, leaning back in her chair and giving her lover a grateful smile. She pulled her arms back over her head and stretched until her back popped several times.

Amanda reached over and scratched the rancher's stomach lightly. "You didn't eat much dinner last night," she said regretfully, "Did you get enough breakfast?"

Lex chuckled and swatted the teasing hand away. "Stop that." She straightened up and grabbed her coffee cup. "Oh, yeah. I think I even out ate you." The dark-haired woman gave Amanda a smirk. "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 gave Amanda's knuckles a gentle kiss. "Whatever you want, sweetheart. It's your show." She smiled as the younger woman's eyes closed. "The beach sounds good…I've never seen the ocean."

Amanda opened her eyes and rubbed Lex's hand against her cheek. "Never? Well then, that's exactly what we're going to do." Standing up, she pulled the older woman up with her. "C'mon…we'll go change into some shorts, then hit the beach."

Allowing herself to be drug through the house, Lex shook her head. "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 think that they'll be perfect." The determined blonde had gotten them almost to the stairway when her mother stepped out of nowhere. "Oh, hi mother. We were just about to go to the beach - do you want to come?" Knowing how much Elizabeth hated anything that had to do with the outdoors, Amanda couldn't resist.

"No…thank you, Amanda. I'd 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 walked 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 speaking. "Mother, I know you've never approved of what I've done with my life, or my 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 snobby 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 then continued. "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?"

"What?" Amanda's mouth dropped open.

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 over here and sit down." 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 smiled. "Yes, she did. Lex had no idea who I was, but she jumped into that flooded creek and pulled me to safety, getting hurt herself in the process."

"And you stayed with her at her ranch, afterwards?" Elizabeth questioned.

"Yes. The bridge was partially destroyed, so Lex offered me a place to stay until it could be repaired." Green 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 pulled away from her mother, leaning 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, but…"You threw yourself at her? Amanda! 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." The older woman 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 practically yelled, then stopped when she saw the look on her mother's face. "I'm sorry, Mother." She sat back down 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 quietly 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. She smiled, although it didn't quite reach her eyes.