The Way Things Should Be

by Carrie Carr

  A LIGHT KNOCK on her door caused Amanda Cauble to look up from her desk and brush dishwater blonde hair away from her face. "Come in." When an older woman entered the room, she stood up and hurried around the desk to embrace her. "Gramma, what a wonderful surprise. What brings you to the office today?"

  Anna Leigh Cauble returned her granddaughter's exuberant hug, then allowed herself to be seated in one of the guest chairs while Amanda sat next to her in the other. "Can't I come to see my granddaughter when I want?" Although in her seventies, Anna Leigh was still a beautiful woman, and her slender form rested regally in the chair. Her once reddish-blonde hair was now completely silver and kept short in the latest style, showing the pride she took in her appearance. The expensive red slacks suit fit her well, and her moderate jewelry consisted of a thin wedding band and diamond stud earrings.

  "Of course you can. I'm just so glad to see you, that's all." Amanda brushed the wrinkles from her navy skirt. "How about I take you to lunch to make up for my manners?" She watched as Anna Leigh smiled and knew that she'd been forgiven.

  "Actually, I was coming to ask you to lunch, dearest. But I'm not one to pass on a free meal, especially from the manager of such a fine establishment." Although Anna Leigh owned Sunflower Realty, which Amanda managed for her, she no longer worried about the day-to-day workings of the business.

  Knowing she'd been gotten again, Amanda shook her head and stood up. "Let me get my purse, and we'll go down the street to The Crossing. At least they have a good lunch menu."

  A short time later, both women were stationed at window seats in the bustling restaurant, sipping iced tea and waiting for their orders. Amanda watched her grandmother for a moment, then tapped the table. "Okay, spill it."

  "Spill what, dear?" Anna Leigh tried her best to appear innocent, but failed miserably.

  "Come on, Gramma. Your hands haven't stilled since we sat down, and you keep looking around the room as if you were afraid someone was watching. What's up?"

  Anna Leigh took another sip of her tea, then set the glass down on the table. "You are much too smart for your own good, Mandy. I swear, you're as bad as your grandfather." She straightened the knife and fork on the table. "I need your help. I know you're real busy with the office right now, but the girls put me in charge, and well, I'm at a loss."

  "In charge? What are you talking about?" Amanda leaned forward to hear her grandmother's muted words. "What girls?"

  "From the office, Mandy. Don't tell me you don't know." At that moment, the waitress brought each of them their salads. "Thank you."

  "You're welcome, ma'am. Is there anything else you two ladies need?" the waitress asked, even though she was already looking at another table, calculating how long it would be before they needed refills on their drinks.

  "No, thank you. We're fine." Amanda dismissed her politely, anxious to hear what Anna Leigh had to say. After the waitress left, she waited for a long beat. "Well?"

  Anna Leigh raised a forkful of lettuce to her mouth, but didn't eat. "Well, what?" She put the food into her mouth and chewed daintily.

  "Argh!" Amanda threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "What about the girls at the office? Is there something wrong that they asked you to bring up to me?" She looked down at her bowl of salad, suddenly not very hungry.

  Feeling bad, Anna Leigh swallowed her food and shook her head. "No, of course not. I was talking about the baby shower." She reached across the table and patted Amanda's hand. "I thought you knew about it."

  Amanda rolled her eyes. "All this secrecy is about a baby shower? Good grief." She picked up her glass of tea and swallowed about half its contents.

  "Of course, Mandy. You know what a gossip Wanda is. It's almost impossible to keep anything a secret from her, but we're determined to surprise her with a baby shower." Wanda Skimmerly worked at Sunflower Realty with Amanda. After years of marriage, she and her husband Dirk were expecting their first child. It wasn't something that they had planned for, but they were excited just the same. The other women at the office were so happy for them both, they wanted to do something fun for them.

  "Well, good luck, Gramma. I bet she figures it out before you get it planned." Amanda started on her salad, relieved that her grandmother's news wasn't of a more serious nature.

  Anna Leigh returned her attention to her plate. They concentrated on their salads for several minutes before she cleared her throat. "I was thinking about having the shower at our home next Saturday, Mandy. What do you think?"

  "I'm sure it'll be fine, Gramma." A shrill sound to the left of their table caught Amanda's attention. She watched as a woman comforted an infant, rocking and cooing quietly. Intent on the scene, she almost didn't hear her grandmother's next words.

  "Excellent. Then I can count on you to help me host it, right?"

  Amanda had just taken a drink of tea and almost spewed it all over the table. She hastily swallowed, then coughed and sputtered for several moments before she was able to speak. "Me? Why me?"

  Unruffled, Anna Leigh dabbed at her lips with her napkin. "Because you're my granddaughter and the manager of the office. Why not?" She looked up into Amanda's eyes. "Is there a problem, Mandy? I suppose I can always find someone else to help me, if you're too busy."

  "No, Gramma, it's not that." Amanda honestly didn't know why the idea of co-hosting a baby shower made her so uncomfortable. But her grandmother had been there for her when no one else was, and she was determined to repay her in this small way. "Next Saturday?"

  "That's right. I'm hoping that you and Lexington could maybe stay over Friday night, so we can get an early start on Saturday. What do you think?"

  I'm thinking that Lex will probably want to kill me for this. As much as Amanda dreaded a baby shower, she hated to imagine her partner's reaction when she told her they'd been drafted to help with one. She listened politely as her grandmother started talking about plans, colors, and refreshments.

  "HAVE YOU COMPLETELY lost your mind?" Lexington Walters yelled, throwing her hat down in disgust. Her dark hair was plastered against her scalp where the hat had been, but she didn't seem to care. She glared at the man standing in front of her, who had the good sense to be looking at the ground and not into her stormy eyes, turned almost violet with anger. "What makes you think I'd go along with this?"

  The man being dressed down bit the inside of his cheek to keep from going off on the rancher. This was his first day of work at the ranch, and he thought his previous experience with breaking horses would impress her. Once she had finished her tirade, he looked into her face and shrugged. "It's the way I've always done it, Ms. Walters. I've never had any complaints before."

  Lex picked up her hat and dusted it against her leg. "You've obviously worked for some real idiots, then, Roger." She heard his intake of breath, and wasn't surprised at the explosion.

  "Look, lady, I've been in this business since before you were in diapers, and I don't appreciate you talking to me like I'm some sort of green kid." Roger stepped closer until they were almost nose to nose, which was a surprise to him, since he was almost six feet tall. "If you don't like my methods, fine. Let me talk to the guy who usually breaks in your horses, and we'll compare notes."

  "You want to talk to the 'guy' who breaks our horses?" Lex laughed. "You're looking at her." She looked over at her foreman, Roy, who had been standing nearby in case the new hire got out of hand. "Have the boys bring up a couple of horses to break, Roy. Tomorrow morning I'll be showing Mr. Jenson how we do things at the Rocking W." She turned back to Roger. "Don't be late." Lex walked off, leaving Roger staring at her back, dumbstruck.

  Roy patted the newest ranch hand on the back in both in sympathy and amusement, then headed back to the bunkhouse. This wasn't the first time that he'd witnessed a new hire underestimating their boss.

  A tall lanky teen, who had been watching from a distance, waited until Lex was far enough away from the other men so that he wouldn't be heard. Ronnie jogged up and fell in step beside
Lex, waiting for the right moment to speak.

  "Okay, Ronnie. Spill it. You seem to be busting at the seams with something to say." Lex continued to walk, but she slowed her pace slightly so that the teenager could keep up. Although the sixteen-year-old had gone through a recent growth spurt, he was still several inches shorter than she, and because of his gangly build, he moved clumsily at times. He had practically become her shadow since his adoption months earlier by Martha and Charlie, and Lex had to admit to herself that she enjoyed his company.

  He shook his head at her perception. It never failed to amaze Ronnie how Lex seemed to know everything that went on at the ranch. He was hoping he'd grow up to be half as good at what he'd decided to do, which was go to school to become a veterinarian. Now if he could just get up the nerve to tell his benefactor. But for now, he was more interested in how Lex ran the ranch. "Did I hear right? Are you going to break some horses tomorrow?"

  "Yep." Her anger still bubbling, Lex kept her answers short. If she hadn't caught Jenson with the sadistic bit he was planning on using for breaking horses, she'd have ended up with several animals with ruined mouths. Lex couldn't believe the ignorance of the man, who had come to the ranch with glowing letters of recommendation.

  Ronnie could tell that Lex was still fuming over her confrontation with the new hire, but his excitement got the better of him. "I know that I'm supposed to clean out the stables on Saturday morning, but would it be okay if I came up to the corral and watched you break horses first? Maybe I can take care of my chores tonight, after dinner." He held his breath in anticipation of her answer.

  The teenager's request caused Lex to stop in her tracks. "Why would you want to waste your time watching something like that?"

  "I don't think it's a waste of time at all, Lex. It's another part of how the ranch works, and you promised you'd show me everything."

  "I did, didn't I?"

  "Yes, ma'am. You told me that as long as my grades stayed up, you'd teach me everything you know about ranching." Ronnie smiled with pride. "I'm on the honor roll this semester, so I've kept my part of the bargain."

  Lex nodded, then resumed her trek. "So you have." She couldn't help but admire Ronnie's thirst for knowledge, something that he had shown almost from the moment he arrived at the ranch. "I'll make you a deal. You finish up your homework tonight, and the two of us will take care of the stables after we teach Jenson a thing or two. How's that sound?"

  "All right!" Ronnie whooped, pumping his fist in the air and jumping up. At Lex's grin, he put his hands in the back pocket of his jeans and tried to appear nonchalant. "That sounds like a good deal to me, Lex. Thanks."

  His exuberance brought the rancher out of her foul mood. She wrapped one arm around the young man's shoulder and pulled him close. "Anytime, buddy." They walked the rest of the way to the ranch house in silence, both thinking about the coming morning.

  "OH, MANDY. ISN'T this just the most darling thing?" Anna Leigh held up a garish pink infant dress for her granddaughter's inspection. "I think that Wanda would love it."

  Amanda rolled her eyes. For someone with as much class as her grandmother had, the woman had absolutely no taste in baby clothes. "Gramma, you've already bought four other pink outfits. What if she doesn't like pink?"

  "Nonsense, dear. All baby girls look good in pink." But to her credit, Anna Leigh returned the item to the rack. She turned to see Amanda staring at a young couple nearby.

  The man, tall and very nice looking with dark hair and eyes, held a six-month old baby. He bent his head down and kissed the child's head while his wife looked on with a smile. They were about Amanda's age, and she couldn't help but be envious of the cooing bundle as she looked on. It seemed that everywhere she looked lately there was either a pregnant woman or someone with a baby. Even Wanda, who had never expressed a desire for a family, was due in the next few weeks. Her sister Jeannie was also expecting, due in another month.

  Concerned at the look on Amanda's face, Anna Leigh touched her arm. "Is everything okay, Mandy? You seem a million miles away."

  "Hmm?" Amanda blinked. She pasted a smile on her face and turned around. "I'm sorry, Gramma. What did you say?"

  "I asked if anything was wrong. You're not yourself today."

  Much to her dismay, tears welled up in Amanda's eyes. "I'm fine, really." She turned away, embarrassed by her emotions. "If you'll excuse me for a moment, I need to go to the ladies room."

  Anna Leigh watched in surprise as Amanda rushed away, wiping at her face with her hands. "Now I wonder what all that was about," she murmured. She made a mental note to call the ranch in the next few days and check with Martha, hoping that the housekeeper would have some insight into her granddaughter's strange behavior.

  LEX STEPPED OUT of the shower and wrapped a towel around her body. She fluffed her hair dry with another towel, then walked into the bedroom. At no sign of her lover anywhere, Lex frowned.

  Amanda had been quiet all through dinner, not even joining in the teasing when Martha gave Lex a hard time about attending Wanda's baby shower. After the meal, Amanda quietly excused herself, citing her need to make a few phone calls before locking herself in the office.

  Worried, Lex glanced at the bedside clock. Almost two hours had gone by since she had last seen Amanda. I didn't think she'd be that upset with me. When Amanda told her about the baby shower, Lex had been less than enthused. Of course, the rest of the table enjoyed a nice laugh at her expense, not that she minded. The thought of spending hours with a group of women oohing and ahhing over baby items was not Lex's idea of a good time. Charlie had slapped her on the back and promised the rancher that she'd live through the ordeal, while Martha offered to buy her a dress for the occasion. All she had to do to quiet a giggling Ronnie was glare at him, but Lex figured her lack of enthusiasm for the event had upset her partner more than she'd thought.

  She hurriedly dressed in a pair of boxers and a heavy tee shirt, determined to speak to Amanda and find out what was bothering her, once and for all. In her haste, she nearly knocked the object of her search over, when they met at the bedroom door.

  "Sorry," Amanda mumbled, putting her hands on Lex's hips to steady herself. She didn't bring her eyes up, instead finding the floor beneath them fascinating.

  "No, I'm the one who's sorry." Lex backed into the bedroom, pulling her lover with her. She started to sit them down on the bed, when Amanda broke free of her grasp and headed for the bathroom.

  "I'll be back after my shower." Amanda was almost to the bathroom door when she felt Lex's hands on her hips again.

  "Want me to scrub your back?"

  Not looking at Lex, Amanda disentangled herself. "That's okay. You just got dry." She closed the door in Lex's face. "I'll be out in a little bit."

  Lex stood staring at the closed door. She was torn between going in and apologizing or allowing Amanda her space. The way she had been dismissed helped her decide, and Lex dropped her shoulders and went to lie on the bed to wait.

  A short time later, Amanda stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in the flowery terry cloth robe that Lex had given her when they'd first met. She crossed to the dresser and found a long nightshirt, then turned and headed back to the bathroom without speaking. She came back out a few minutes later, her hair still damp from her shower.

  "Feel better?" Lex asked, more for something to say than anything else.

  Amanda sat on her side of the bed, her back to Lex. "What's that supposed to mean?" She slipped under the covers and lay on her back, looking at the ceiling.

  "Nothing. I just--"

  "I'm sorry," Amanda interrupted, rolling over to face her lover. "I didn't mean to snap at you like that, Lex."

  Lex rolled over until she mirrored Amanda's posture, her head propped on one hand. She used her other hand to brush the damp hair away from the sad eyes across from her. "What's wrong?"

  Turning her head, Amanda kissed the palm that caressed her face. She closed her eyes, not certain how to answer the questi
on. "I don't know," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Hold me, please?" An instant later she was cradled in strong arms, her head pillowed on her lover's chest. The soothing motion of Lex's hands stroking her hair and back calmed Amanda somewhat, but she still felt unsettled. What is wrong with me? Not wanting to think about it any further, she concentrated on the loving touch, allowing herself to unwind.

  The tense body in her arms slowly relaxed, and before Lex could question her anymore, Amanda fell asleep. The rancher lay in the darkness, holding the woman she loved and wondering what she could do to help.

  Chapter Three

  HAVING BEEN UP half the night worrying, Lex awoke later than normal to find Amanda's side of the bed cold. She got up and went into the bathroom, not surprised to find it empty. On Saturday mornings, Amanda liked to go downstairs and help Martha with breakfast. The compromise worked well for everyone: The housekeeper still fixed the meals, and both households ate together in the main house. On the weekends, Martha allowed Amanda to join in the meal preparation, and the two of them normally did the grocery list together on Sunday. After finishing her morning routine, Lex dressed and hurried downstairs.