Strength of the Heart

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Strength of the Heart Page 18

by Carrie Carr


  The first man nodded at his partner and they set the piece down. He unfolded a piece of paper. "This was signed by a Ms. Cauble."

  "Are you sure?" Lex questioned. At his nod, she sighed. "Can you hold on for a second? Let me go get Ms. Cauble, so we can see about straightening this out." She jogged into the house and looked around. "Amanda? Could you come here? We'sve got a slight problem."

  Amanda peeked out from around the kitchen doorway. She looked contrite. "Umm, okay." She disappeared back into the kitchen for a moment and then stepped into the hallway. "What's up?" When she saw her partner begin to walk toward her, she hurried to meet Lex halfway.

  "The delivery guys are trying to bring in furniture different from what we picked out. They say their orders were signed by Ms. Cauble."

  "Really? Imagine that." Amanda tried to keep the patently guilty look off her face. "Why don't we go out there and see what this is all about?" she asked, a little too loudly.

  Lex looked at her quizzically, but followed behind her. She was so intent on the problem at hand, she didn'st hear the footsteps tapping lightly at their heels.

  Amanda smiled at the two men waiting patiently for them. "Hi. I'm sorry about the confusion. Would it be too much trouble to uncover this so we can take a look at it, before you have to haul it up the stairs?"

  "No, not at all." One man untied the rope, which held the quilt over the dresser and pulled the fabric away.

  The heavy oak not only bore intricately carved designs, but the two doors which flanked the six wide drawers showed an elegant "L" and "A" twined together. "Th...that's our initials," Lex stammered.

  Laughter from behind the two women caused Lex to spin around. Standing just inside the doorway, Jacob and Anna Leigh were both looking very smug. Beside them stood a proud Travis. "Lexington, your powers of deduction never cease to amaze me," Anna Leigh teased, stepping forward and patting the speechless woman on the back.

  "How did..." Lex reached over and touched the furniture reverently. "It's beautiful. You did this?"

  "Well, Travis and I did. We thought--" Jacob's explanation was cut short by an armful of surprised woman.

  Lex gave him a hug. "Thanks. This means more to me than you'll ever realize," she choked out. She released him after a long moment, then pulled her grandfather into her embrace. "I didn'st know you did carpentry."

  "Let's just say I've developed a great respect for the folks that do." Travis addressed Amanda. "What do you think of it?"

  "I think it's incredibly thoughtful, as well as beautiful." She watched as the men lifted the dresser and began to take it into the house. "Let me just show them which room it goes into, and I'll be right back." Amanda placed a quick kiss on Travis's cheek before chasing after the deliverymen.

  THE SUN WAS fighting a losing battle with the darkness as the furniture truck lumbered slowly away from the ranch house. Lex stood on the west edge of the wraparound porch, enjoying the familiar sights and smells, while the others could be heard laughing in the den. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Home. It was only a four-lettered word, but the meaning was so much more.

  "Beautiful," Amanda murmured reverently, as the sun at last escaped behind the hills in the distance. The oranges and reds of the skyline turned purple and gray as the crickets began their song. She stood beside her lover and covered the hand, which was braced against the top rail of the porch.

  Lex turned to face the woman beside her. "You certainly are," she agreed. "I thought you'd be inside with everyone, enjoying the champagne Grandpa brought."

  "I like the company out here even better." Amanda felt complete as she was enveloped in Lex's arms. "Oh, yeah. This is nice." She felt something crinkle against her cheek and leaned back to look into Lex's face. "What's this?" she asked, poking lightly on her breast pocket.

  "If you don't know by now, we must not be doing something right." Lex reached into her shirt pocket and brought out a folded envelope. "I'd forgotten all about this." She swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat when she saw her father's familiar handwriting on the outside. "Guess I might as well see what it's all about, huh?"

  "You don't have to do this now. Maybe tomorrow, after you'sve had some rest." Amanda wasn'st certain what was in the sealed letter, but she worried about the effect it would have on Lex. "Why not come back in the house with everyone? You can hear my grandmother tell embarrassing stories about me."

  "Actually, I was going to go down to the barn and check the horses. Save me a place inside? It won'st take me long." "Sure." Amanda caressed Lex's cheek. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

  "Nah. Go on inside and enjoy yourself. I'll be back in a few minutes." Lex placed a kiss on Amanda's lips. "See you in a while." She vaulted over the railing onto the dirt below.

  Lex stepped into the quiet barn and closed the door behind her. She took a brush from the wall and walked to Thunder's stall. "Hey there, fella. I've missed you." The horse nickered softly and nuzzled her chest. "Yeah, yeah. You'sve missed me, too."

  She spent the next fifteen minutes brushing the dark stallion until his coat shone. Putting the brush away, Lex sat on a nearby bale of hay and took the folded envelope out of her shirt pocket. "Guess I've put this off long enough." With a shaky hand, she tore the top open and brought out several sheets of stationery. The expensive letterhead bore the name of the attorney, and Lex realized her father must have borrowed it from Mr. Benton right before she took him out of the hospital.

  Lexington,

  Since you're reading this, I imagine I'm dead. Hope I didn'st trouble you too much, and we had some good times together before I went. Here I am, lying in this damned hospital bed, staring at four walls and almost wishing the good Lord would take me soon. I ain'st afraid to die, but I hate thinking my last days will be spent inside, when all my life I've lived in the open spaces.

  It's probably God's joke on me, since I wasn'st much for praying, or even going to church. That was more your momma's style. She was a wonderful woman, and Lord help me, you done got lucky and grew up like her. Not just in looks, either. You'sve done me proud, Lexington. I reckon I've never actually told you, but it's always been true. Not many could have done what you'sve done. That's why I gave the ranch to you. You love it as much as I do, probably even more.

  When I found out I was dying, part of me wanted to just hide somewhere and fade away. But, I've never took the easy way out, and I didn'st see any sense in starting. I wasn'st much of a father to you, and you have every right to hate me. I was just going to drop by and see you one last time, then leave before I got too sick to travel. You'sve turned into a fine person, Lexington. I'm glad I got to know you again before it was my time to go.

  When you drop by to see me this afternoon, I'm going to ask you to do something. I don't want to die in this hospital bed--I want to be out under the stars when I close my eyes for the last time. It's going to be a lot harder on you than it is me, and for that I'm dearly sorry. I wish things could have turned out differently, my daughter. I wish your momma hadn'st left us so soon, and you hadn'st had to outlive most of your family. That ain'st right. I'm sorry I kept you away from your grandparents – I had no right to do that. I was just so damned scared if you found out about them, you'd leave me. If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably do the same thing. It ain'st right, but I can'st help it. You're my kid, and I love you. I always have, just been real rotten about telling you.

  If you do agree to get me out of here, thank you. It's hard for a man like me to ask a favor from anyone, especially from someone I've wronged so. I can'st make it up to you, but I hope this note gives you some peace. I reckon my dying is tearing you up inside. don't let it, Lexington. I spent most of my life bitter and angry for your momma leaving me. Look where it got me--a traveling rodeo bum who never saw his kids grow up. That little gal you hooked up with is a prize. Never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad you two are together. Hang on to her. She looks at you like your momma looked at me. Tha
t's just about the best feeling in the world.

  You'll be here in a few hours. I guess I'll try to get some rest, so I'll be fresh to visit with you. If you only understand one thing about me, Lexington, know this. I love you, and I've always been proud to call you my kid. Now put this paper away, and go give that gal of yours a hug from me. Love, Your Dad

  Lex carefully folded the pages and slipped them into the heavy envelope. She wiped at her eyes and looked at the ceiling. "I love you, too, Dad." Emotionally drained, Lex fell back against the hay and closed her eyes. She knew he was right. She needed to focus more on what she had, instead of what she'd lost. Lex was so consumed by her thoughts, she never heard the barn door open, or someone slip inside.

  "Guess I'd better get back to the house and give Amanda that hug."

  "That's one of the best ideas you'sve had all day." Amanda sat next to the prone woman. She brushed the hair away from Lex's eyes. "Are you okay? It's been a while, and I was beginning to worry about you."

  "Yeah, I'm doing good. Just finished reading the note my father left me." Lex handed the envelope to her. "Go ahead, he mentions you in it." As she watched Amanda read the letter, Lex had time to get her emotions under control.

  Amanda finished the letter and looked at her. "That's beautiful, Lex. I think he's finally at peace." She took a long moment to examine Lex's face. For the first time since Rawson died, Lex looked at peace, too.

  "I think he is, too. I have a feeling he and my mother are smiling down on us." Lex sat up. "Let's give them something worth looking at." She tugged Amanda next to her and kissed her lovingly, feeling her world stabilize for the first time in months.

  ANNA LEIGH PULLED the comforter over a little more. "I think it's about even." She had volunteered to help Martha put the new sheets on the bed, in case Lex and Amanda wanted to spend the night in the house. "Are you sure they'll like it?"

  "They'd better, since Amanda is the one who picked it out. She left the bedding over at my house to surprise Lexie with, and I took the liberty of washing everything so it would be ready." Martha fluffed the pillow on her side of the bed and stepped back, eyeing their handiwork critically. "I think this looks perfect, don't you?"

  "It sure does," Jacob agreed from his position by the door. "I'm tempted to drive into town and bring all their belongings back tonight." He was met halfway across the room by his wife, who snuggled into his arms. "Speaking of the girls, has anyone seen them lately?"

  Martha followed the couple out of the room and closed the door behind them. She noticed Travis standing at the other end of the hallway staring into another room. "I think Lexie went down to the barn, and Amanda followed her." Inclining her head to the solitary figure, she gently pushed the couple toward the stairs. "Why don't you two see what that husband of mine is up to? I think he was puttering around in the kitchen, the last time I saw him."

  "Good idea. We'll see you downstairs, Martha." Jacob led his wife away.

  Travis heard the light footsteps come up behind him, but he couldn'st take his eyes off the large bedroom. "Did you know they were going to do this?" The room had a definitely masculine feel, and somehow after the furniture had been brought in, one lone picture had been placed on the nightstand beside the bed. Tears sprang to his eyes as he recognized one of the last pictures taken with his wife and granddaughter.

  "I did. I had taken all of the old pictures from the storage room and was going to put them in albums in chronological order. So when the house burned, everything was safe and sound on my coffee table." She placed an arm around his waist and helped Travis into the room. "I have the old box of your letters which Lester had kept, and the picture was inside. I had a couple of copies made, and when I gave Lexie hers, she asked if I would sneak another one up and put it in your room."

  "That's sweet, Martha. Thank you." He sat on the bed and picked up the picture. "I remember this trip to the zoo. Lexie was so full of questions that day. But, I'm not sure whether or not I'm coming back out here to live."

  Martha sat next to him. "Why on earth not?"

  "They don't need an old man underfoot out here. Their lives are just beginning, and I'd hate to be in the way. Besides, I've got a house in Dallas I need to get back to. I only stayed around because of Rawson's illness; I thought Lexie might need me. Since everything is under control around here, I'll be going home soon."

  "Have you talked to her about this? I don't think she's going to be too happy."

  Travis stood and crossed the room to look through the window into the inky darkness. "They need their privacy, not some old man mucking up the works all the time."

  "Travis." Martha waited until he turned around and looked at her. "You'sve gotten close to both the girls, haven'st you?" She started for the door. "Think about this, will you? Have you ever found either one of them to do, or say, anything they don't mean? Look at this room very closely. If they didn'st want you to stay here, I doubt it would have looked like this." She walked out of the room, leaving Travis to his own thoughts.

  Travis sat down on the bed, picking up the picture and studying it closely. Downstairs, the rest of the group was in the kitchen sitting around the new table and drinking a carafe of coffee Charlie and Jacob had brought.

  "So tell me again why they can'st move back in?" Anna Leigh asked. "The house is finished, isn'st it?"

  Charlie was the one who answered her. "It sure is. But it has to pass inspection first, and it could take weeks." The look on his face revealed exactly what he thought of that notion. "Stupid politicians." He was referring to the County Commissioner's Office, where the inspector was based. Lex had upset the commissioner on more than one occasion when she sided against him on different projects concerning the Historical Committee, and the man had never forgotten it.

  "Politics, huh?" Travis had followed Martha downstairs and stood in the doorway. His brightened demeanor appeared to be a good sign. "I've spent the majority of my life handling politicians," he admitted, taking a seat next to Anna Leigh. "Most of them don't have a lot of sense, but with the right words, you can make them think something is their idea."

  Jacob was encouraged by the gleam in his friend's eye. "What do you have in mind?"

  "Let's just say, by the time the girls get back from their trip, they'll be able to live here."

  Hearing the back door close, mouths closed as well and all eyes turned to the doorway.

  "What are y'sall up to?" Lex asked, seeing the guilty looks. She frowned slightly until Martha stood and walked over to her, grinning. "What?"

  Martha pulled several strands of hay out of Lex's hair, then did the same with the woman standing next to her. "You two look like you'sve been having fun."

  "Martha!" Lex blushed and lowered her eyes. "I can'st believe you said that." A giggle from beside her caused Lex's head to turn. "Not you, too."

  Amanda patted her lover on the stomach. "It's not so bad." She grimaced and reached under her shirt, removing more hay. "It sure itches, though."

  The entire assemblage broke out into laughter. "You girls are adorable." Martha grabbed each woman by the arm and led them to the table. "Come sit. We have a proposition for you."

  Lex knew she shouldn'st have left the lot of them together. She was about halfway afraid of what they were up to. "Should we be nervous?"

  "Of course not. We'sve just got a little present for the two of you." Jacob looked at his wife, who in turn looked at Martha. "Well?"

  "Sure, sure. Look at me to pull your fat out of the fire." Martha sat in her chair. "Before you say a word, Lexie, I want you to hear everything I have to say, all right? No interruptions."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  Martha felt Charlie squeeze her hand. "We all understand what a rough time you girls have had lately and have been trying to come up with a remedy." When Lex opened her mouth to speak, Martha held up a warning hand. "Hush. I'm not through." She looked at Amanda, who covered her own mouth to hide her smile. "You girls need a few days away from everything. No phones, no
nosy relatives, and no noise."

  "She's right. A few days of peace and quiet will do you both some good," Anna Leigh added. "And forgive your nosy relatives, but I think we'sve found just the right place."

  Lex looked back and forth among the older people. "Can I say something?"

  "As long as it's not no, of course you can," Martha allowed generously.

  "I think it's very nice of all of you to think about us like this," Lex began, trying to convey her thanks to everyone, "but I don't think it's necessary." A foot connected with her leg under the table. "Ow." She looked at Amanda, who had an innocent look on her face. "What did you do that for?"

  "Can I talk to you in private for a minute?" She stood and held out a hand to Lex, who took it cautiously.

  "Umm, sure." Lex stood. "Be back in a minute, folks." She meekly allowed herself to be escorted from the kitchen. A moment later, Lex found herself in the den. "What's up?"

  Amanda pushed Lex onto the new leather sofa and sat on her lap. "They'sve got a point." She wrapped her arms around her lover's neck and looked deeply into her eyes. "A few days vacation wouldn'st hurt either one of us."

  "I've got too much to do, Amanda. It's a nice thought, but completely unnecessary." She studied Amanda's face for a moment, noticing the shadows that lurked underneath Amanda's eyes. Even though she thought the time away was unnecessary for her, Amanda looked as if she needed it. "You want this, don't you?"

  "I think we both need it. Would it be so bad to be somewhere quiet with me for a few days?"

  "No, of course not. If you want to go, let's do it."

  "Really? Just like that?" Amanda asked.

  "Yep. I can think of a lot of things worse than you and me alone together." Lex kissed the tip of her nose. "Shall we go back to the kitchen and give them the good news? I think we'sve left them in suspense long enough."

 

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