by Carrie Carr
Chapter Two
WEDNESDAY MORNING LEX sat at her desk, enjoying the relative peace of an empty house. Amanda had taken the girls to school, and the silence was spooky. Amanda would spend the day at Sunflower Realty until their children were out of school. Lex took the opportunity to get caught up on her paperwork. She was scrolling through her emails when she came across one from a business contact in Houston. "Yes!"
Lex switched to her accounting program, searching for the listing of available cattle. "Perfect." She picked up the phone and dialed the number from the email. "Mr. Stewart? This is Lexington Walters. I just received your email." She listened for a moment. "Friday? Sure. What time's good for you? Thank you, Mr. Stewart." She hung up the phone and tapped a pen on the desk. Now came the hard part.
She picked up the phone and hit the speed dial. "Hi, this is Lex. Is Amanda available?"
A moment later, Amanda picked up. "Hi, honey. Miss me already?"
"Always," Lex answered honestly. "But I do have another reason for calling. Remember when I was trying to set up a chance to sell beef to that distributor in Houston?"
"I do. Wait, did it go through?" Amanda's voice bubbled with excitement.
"Yep. I have to be in Houston Friday morning to meet with the owner and go over all the particulars."
Amanda's excitement was short-lived. "Friday? But what about taking the kids trick-or-treating on Saturday? You promised them."
"Not a problem. I'll drive back Saturday morning and be home in plenty of time. There's no way I'll make you go through that alone."
"Thank god." Amanda exhaled. "Normally I wouldn't mind, but since we'd also agreed to take Ally and Penny, I don't think my nerves can handle four kids by myself."
Lex laughed. "I think Wanda and Dirk paid the church to have their retreat the same weekend as Halloween. How else could you explain the timing?"
"I wouldn't put it past them," Amanda said. "What are your plans for lunch?"
"Oh, I don't know. I thought I'd grab a sandwich or something, since Martha and Charlie aren't back from their trip. It's funny. I could never get her to step foot off the ranch after I took over. But ever since Charlie retired, they're rarely home."
Amanda giggled. "Are you pouting again?"
"No."
"Uh-huh. I bet you are."
"Nope." The smile widened on Lex's face. "Are you busy for lunch today? Or should I go up to the bunkhouse and beg for scraps?" It was a viable option. The food at the bunkhouse was always good.
Three years prior, their foreman, Roy, married a woman he'd secretly been seeing. As a wedding present, Lex and the hired hands built a small home not far from the bunkhouse. Roy's wife, Helen, was the cook for the men. She had come in to help their old cook, Lester, since he'd been having trouble getting around. He passed away in his sleep six months before Lex's grandfather, Travis.
Lex enjoyed Helen's cooking, although it tended toward the heavy side, and Amanda tried to get her wife to eat healthier, since Lex's last checkup showed her blood pressure was higher than it should be.
"No, I think I can squeeze you into my busy schedule," Amanda teased. "Give me an hour?"
"Sure, sweetheart." Lex shut down her computer. "But if you think I'm going to eat a damned salad today, you've got another thing coming."
"We'll see."
AMANDA STARED AT Lex's plate. "I knew I should have ordered for you."
"Why? It's not steak. I thought I did okay." Lex cut another slice from her meal and popped it into her mouth. "I ordered chicken."
Rolling her eyes, Amanda took a sip of her tea. "Fried chicken is not healthy, smartass."
Lex grinned. "Teach you to pick on me." She'd had every intention of finding something less greasy on the menu, until Amanda made an off-hand comment about her blood pressure. Not one to back down when challenged, Lex rebelled by ordering something deep fried and smothered in gravy. She had a feeling it would be the last good meal she'd get for a while, if Amanda had anything to say about it. "Hey, want to get some ice cream for dessert?"
"Ugh." Amanda pointed her fork at Lex. "You are in so much trouble, Lexington Walters. Just wait until we get home tonight."
"Promise?"
Amanda laughed. "Brat."
"What? Do I have something on my face?" Lex placed her napkin across her lap again and looked at her wife. The years had been good to Amanda, whose short hair always looked windblown. If she had any gray, it was well-hidden, much to Lex's chagrin. After the birth of Melanie, Amanda had been able to keep her trim figure. Other than her hairstyle, she hadn't changed much from the woman Lex pulled from the creek eleven years ago. "You are so beautiful."
Amanda blushed and ducked her head. "You're biased."
"Maybe." Lex leaned forward and lowered her voice. "But it's the truth. You are an extremely beautiful woman and I'm very lucky to share my life with you." Not caring if anyone noticed, Lex stretched her hand across the table and grasped Amanda's. "Thank you for finding me, Amanda. You've made my life worth living."
Squeezing Lex's hand, Amanda's smile widened. "Me, too."
LATER THAT DAY, Lex was in the barn when she heard the door open. She looked over the back of Rose, the small pony that had been purchased specifically for Melanie, and saw her oldest daughter carefully close the door behind her. "Hey there, Lorrie. How was school?"
Lorrie took off her jacket and draped it on a bale of hay next to Lex's, then climbed on the side of Rose's stall and sat on the top rail. "It was okay."
"Have any trouble?" Lex went back to brushing the pony.
"No, ma'am. And I apologized to Mrs. Barrett, like you told me to." Lorrie stretched so she could reach the pony's mane, and began to comb it with her fingers. "Momma?"
"Yeah?"
Lorrie took a minute to get her thoughts in order before voicing them. "Why is Jerry always so mean to me?"
"Honestly? I think he's jealous." Lex handed Lorrie a curry comb, pleased when she dropped to the floor and started gently working the pony's coat.
"Why?"
Lex started on Rose's tail, removing the tangles. "I figure he lives in a small house in town, with not much to do. Everyone knows you live on this ranch with all sorts of things going on. Not much chance of getting bored, is there?"
"No, I guess not." Lorrie peeked around Rose and noticed how Lex was dressed. Scuffed boots, faded jeans and the ever-present denim shirt was her mother's usual uniform. She looked at her own clothes, which were almost a carbon copy of Lex's. "Momma?"
"Yeah?"
"Next time we buy me new clothes, can I get something different?"
The plea broke Lex's heart. She remembered asking her own father that exact question, and hearing from him how there wasn't any sense in buying different clothes for school. She was determined to break the cycle. "Of course, sweetheart. Just because we dress in boots and jeans to work on the ranch, doesn't mean you have to dress like that for school. We'll go after school tomorrow and find you some different clothes, okay?"
Lorrie edged around Rose and wrapped her arms around Lex's waist. "Thanks, Momma." She giggled when Lex lifted her high and set her on Rose's back. She stretched so she could put her arms around Lex's neck. "You're the best."
Lex felt like she'd done something right. "Come on, kiddo. Help me with the rest of the horses, and we'll go back to the house and pick on your Mom."
CONVERSATION ROLLED NON-stop around the dinner table. Melanie and Lorrie took turns telling about their day at school. Neither Lex nor Amanda was able to add much to the mix, as both girls chattered breathlessly.
Melanie related another playground story. "And then I told Teddy that just 'cause his daddy's a doctor, it didn't mean he knew more than me."
Amanda struggled to keep a smile from her face. "I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it, sweetie."
"I guess." Melanie speared her salad and took a bite, leaving more dressing on her face than in her mouth. "Is Teddy gonna come live with us?"
Lex almo
st spewed her iced tea across the table. She coughed and cleared her throat before answering. "What makes you say that?" A glance at Amanda showed that she was just as confused.
"He wants to be a cowboy when he grows up, but they can't have a horse in town," Melanie said. "It's against the rules."
Amanda patted Lex's hand where it rested on the table. "I'm sure he'll find a way to be a cowboy, if that's what he wants to do."They were both worried about the children learning Lorrie's true parentage in the wrong way. Teddy's mother, Jeannie, was Lorrie's biological mother. Her first husband, Frank, passed away shortly after Lorrie was born. Lorrie knew all about her father, but not the woman who gave birth to her. It never seemed to be the right time to bring up the circumstances in which Lorrie was adopted by Lex and Amanda.
"How can he be a cowboy if he's afraid of horses?" Lorrie asked. "He won't even pet Rose and she's just a pony."
"He says he's gonna use motorcycles." Melanie wrinkled her nose. "Teddy says that horses are old-timey and not any good."
"Teddy's dumb," Lorrie said, while she played with her spaghetti.
"Lorrie, that's not nice," Amanda said, giving her wife a glare when she didn't help. "Right, Lex?"
Lex was torn between being a good parent and being a proud rancher. "You shouldn't call people dumb just because they don't agree with you," she said. "But I think he's wrong. Horses can go through rougher terrain than bikes, and never run out of gas." She flinched as her shin received a well-placed kick. "Umm, but I've heard that some ranches get by with motorcycles instead of horses just fine," she added with a grimace.
"Jerry has a black eye," Lorrie said, changing the subject. "He says he fell down, but it looks like someone socked him a good one." Amanda's shocked expression caused her to hastily add, "I didn't do it, I swear."
"We believe you." Amanda gave Lex a worried look before turning back to Lorrie. "Did Mrs. Barrett do anything about it?"
"She sent him to the nurse's office this morning, but he came back all grumpy." Lorrie stuck a forkful of spaghetti into her mouth, noisily slurping the noodles. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, surprised when she didn't get into trouble. Her parents were looking at each other funny. A shuffling beneath the table reminded her that Freckles was waiting patiently for her share of dinner. As stealthily as possible, she broke off a piece of bread and dropped it on the floor. A warning glare at Melanie ensured her little sister's silence.
Amanda squeezed Lex's hand. "Lex, do you think--"
Lex shook her head. "Later." She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye. "Lorrie, are you sharing your dinner with Freckles?"
"Just some bread. She's been really good." A sharp bark from beneath the table punctuated her statement. The rat terrier was always ready for more tidbits.
"Are you done?" Lex asked, seeing the majority of the food missing from Lorrie's plate. Once she started feeding the dog, she was usually finished.
"Yes, ma'am. May I be excused?" At Amanda's nod, Lorrie took her plate to the sink. "Come on, Freckles. Let's go upstairs." Girl and dog raced from the room, accented by laughter and barks.
Melanie pushed her plate away. "May I be 'scused, too?"
"Only if you promise to wash your face before doing anything else." Amanda shared a fond smile with Lex as Melanie followed in her sister's footsteps. Once they were alone, her smile faded. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking about Jerry?"
"Yeah." Lex stood and helped clear the table. She loaded the dishwasher while Amanda put the food in airtight containers and placed them in the refrigerator. In the last few years since Amanda had taken over the majority of the household chores, Lex was finally able to purchase the dishwasher that Martha never wanted, although she was teased by Martha about it being totally unnecessary. "But it sounds like Mrs. Barrett is on top of things."
"Maybe. It just breaks my heart that someone could do that to a child." Amanda took a dishtowel and wiped down the table and chairs. "Is there anything we can do?"
Lex shook her head. "All we can do is keep our eyes and ears open. If we find out anything for sure, we can always notify Jeremy at the sheriff's department." Jeremy had taken over as sheriff after Charlie retired. Lex stepped behind Amanda and pulled her into an embrace. "Want to go to the den and make out?" she whispered in Amanda's ear.
Amanda turned in Lex's arms. "That's the best offer I've had all day." She tugged on Lex's belt, dragging her from the kitchen.
LORRIE WAS STRETCHED across her bed on her stomach, a book propped on her pillow, when her sister tapped on her door. Freckles, curled up next to Lorrie, raised her head, but lowered it when she saw Melanie.
"Lorrie? Can I come in?"
"Sure." Lorrie rolled over and sat up. Freckles stood, jumped off the bed, and decided to lie on the rug on the other side of the bed.
Melanie sat next to Lorrie, looking at her feet that hung off the edge. "We don't have a daddy, do we?"
"Nope." Lorrie started swinging her legs.
"How come?"
Lorrie lightly kicked at her sister's shoes, giggling when Melanie kicked back. "I dunno. Just 'cause. They told me a long time ago that my Daddy died when I was a baby. But I don't know about yours. Did you ask Momma?"
Melanie leaned into her sister, bumping shoulders. "No. They're in the den, kissing. I saw them go in there after I washed up, and I was gonna ask them. But they were too busy."
"Gross."
"I know." Melanie laughed when Lorrie almost shoved her off the bed. "Hey!"
"Sorry." Lorrie helped her sit up. "I think we're lucky. Will told me his daddy never does anything with him. And Al says her daddy sleeps on the couch when he comes home from work."
"Well, Mommy works while we're in school, but Momma doesn't go to work."
Lorrie hopped off her bed and put the book she'd been reading back in her bookcase. "She works here. We live at her work."
"How come?"
"I dunno." Lorrie picked up her glove and ball, and began to toss the ball into the air. "Want to play catch?"
Melanie shook her head. "Not in the house. We got in trouble for it the last time."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Lorrie tossed the glove into the corner and rolled the ball toward it. "Want to play a game?"
"Chutes and Ladders?"
Lorrie rolled her eyes. "Sure. But you have to go downstairs to get it." The games were kept in a bookcase in the den.
Melanie shook her head. "Um, never mind. Can we read instead?"
EARLY THURSDAY MORNING, Lex packed her overnight bag with the essentials. Amanda sat on the bed, watching her fill the small duffel. When Lex stepped out of the closet, Amanda sighed. "I hate this."
"I'm not very fond of it either." Lex started to fold a shirt, but found it taken away from her. "Hey."
"Give me that." Amanda fussed over the gray oxford. She folded it neatly and handed it back to Lex, who placed it into the bag. "Did you say that you're supposed to meet the guy around eight-thirty in the morning?"
"Yeah. That's why I figured to go this afternoon and get a hotel room near his office. I don't want to try and find the place during rush hour traffic." Lex moved to the dresser and took out two pairs of socks and underwear. "If we get done in time, I may come in Friday night."
Amanda took the different items from Lex and added them to the bag. "Honey, as much as I'll miss you, I don't want you driving if it's late. Saturday morning is soon enough."
"But aren't Allison and Penny spending the night Friday?"
"Yes, but I think I can handle four little girls for one night." Amanda paused. "I hope." She laughed at the look on Lex's face. "Come on, Lex. Just how much trouble can they be?"
Lex laughed along with her. "Now you've jinxed yourself." She scooted the bag off the bed and gently pushed Amanda onto her back. "We've still got an hour before we have to get the girls up, right?"
Amanda ran her hands underneath Lex's sleep shirt. "At least." She pushed the garment off her wife's shoulders and g
rinned. "Whatever will we find to do for a whole hour?"
"I'm sure we'll think of something." Lex whipped Amanda's silky gown over her head.
LEX CAME IN from the barn and washed up in the downstairs bathroom off the kitchen. She joined her family at the breakfast table, surprised to see Lorrie in tears. "What's the matter?"
"Mommy said you're leaving this afternoon." Lorrie wiped her nose with the back of her hand.
"Right. I have a meeting in Houston tomorrow. But I'll be back in plenty of time to take you trick-or-treating."
"But you promised we'd go shopping for clothes after school today."
Damn. Thinking quickly, Lex made a decision she hoped wouldn't come back to haunt her. "That's right." She winked at her wife. "We'll still go shopping today. I'll see about moving the meeting back a little."
Amanda touched Lex's arm. "Honey, are you sure? I can--"
"Yep. I promised Lorrie. Right, kiddo?" Lex decided right then and there that if she had to, she'd leave either later this evening, or extra early in the morning. Her children were more important.
Although her lower lip still quivered, Lorrie nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Melanie perked up at the thought of shopping. "Can I go too?"
Lex looked at Lorrie, who didn't seem bothered by the idea. "Sure. We'll pick you both up after school, hit Davenport's, and go out for dinner." She turned to Amanda. "How's that sound, sweetheart?"
"It's all right with me, if you're really certain." Amanda noticed the girls' empty plates. "Girls, would you please wash up and brush your teeth? We'll be leaving for school soon."
Excited about the impending shopping trip, both children carried their plates to the sink and hurried out of the room. Freckles came out from under the table and happily followed.