Finding Lexi

by AJ Attard

  "Yikes," Lexi said quietly as she watched Peter step down from his truck, his polished black boots sparkling in the morning sunshine.

  "You don't know the half of it," Clyde said, stepping down warily from the porch and greeting his guest with a firm nod.

  Lexi followed Clyde from the porch, quickening her step to catch up with him, their footfalls crunching in unison as they hit the grey gravel driveway.

  "Well, good morning!" Peter smiled broadly and tipped his hat with a flourish at Lexi.

  "Morning," Clyde replied flatly, the words settling unencouragingly between them. He said no more than that, however, and for an awkward moment the three of them stood bathed in silence in the middle of the driveway.

  "Is there something we can help you with this morning Mr. Monteque?" Lexi finally asked, shooting her grandfather a look of scolding for his unusually impolite behavior.

  "Peter, please," Peter Monteque turned up the wattage of his smile and shifted his attention to her, "I was out and about early this morning and realized I hadn't been by for a while and thought I would stop in and say hello," He said congenially, "So, hello!"

  Clyde raised his eyebrows skeptically, yet he stood unmoving, his expression an unreadable mask that Lexi thought should give Peter Monteque a reason to pause.

  "Um, hello," Lexi returned when it became clear Clyde had no intention of answering, "You, um, said you were out and about early today, where are you going?" she asked politely, Clyde standing impervious next to her like a mighty, immovable mountain, the dislike rolling off him in sheets like the rains of a summer storm.

  "Oh, I'm off to town for a bit, then I have some meetings to attend," he beamed down at her, "Never a dull moment," he drawled in a satisfied tone, tossing her a wink for good measure.

  "Don't let us keep you," Clyde spoke suddenly, so much so that he startled both Lexi and Peter, "Thanks for stopping by," Clyde added before resuming his impenetrable silence.

  Peter looked at the older man thoughtfully, his features, sharp and precise, hardening briefly in the rapidly warming sun. Lexi could see the wheels turning in his mind, although what direction they were turning she had no idea.

  Resetting his perfect, toothpaste commercial smile Peter nodded, again tipping his hat in a grand gesture, "It was a pleasure to see you both this morning, even if it was only for a brief moment," he turned pale grey eyes to Lexi, letting his voice sink lower and softer, "I would love an opportunity to see more of you," he said smoothly, watching her response intently.

  "That's very flattering," Lexi answered as calmly and politely as possible, "Thank you," she said trying to grasp a respectable response to the statement, "Right now we have our hands full settling in," she said finally, hoping he would leave it at that.

  Peter grinned, an undefeated grin and nodded swiftly, “Of course," he said slyly as if he had known she would say that all along, "Don't worry, I'll catch you on down the line," he winked at her again and Lexi had to suppress a shudder out of common courtesy.

  "Have a good day, Clyde," Peter said graciously, tipping his hat to him as well. “I’ll be seeing you all soon,” he said with a wave before heading back down the driveway. A cloud of dust rose in his wake and before long the truck was obscured from view.

  "What was that about I wonder?" Lexi queried aloud as she watched the truck disappear into the rapidly warming morning.

  "I have a couple of ideas…" Clyde said heading back for the house in with his brisk, purposeful step, “…but none of them are good, ”he said over his shoulder, the words carried by the first wisp of breeze.

  Inside the kitchen Nora was placing bowls of food on the table, phone tucked under her chin, as Jake set the plates and silverware in their places.

  “I don’t like it either,” Nora said into the phone, “but there’s not much I can do about it right now, is there?” she asked, turning just as Clyde and Lexi entered the room, “I have to go,” Nora said, her gaze catching Clyde’s cryptically, “breakfast is ready. I’ll talk to you later,” she promised and hit the off button on the phone.

  “Who was that?” Lexi asked, watching her mother carefully as Nora placed a steaming bowl of gravy to go with the mound of biscuits already on the table.

  “Um, Sandy,” Nora said dismissively, “I was complaining about Monteque’s surprise visit this morning,” Nora said before motioning to the table, “Time to eat, y’all.”

  Lexi sent a sideways look at Clyde who ignored her and plunked down next to Jake who was already piling his plate full of food waiting for the others to sit and say a prayer. Lexi shook her head to herself, letting the topic drop as she too took her seat and begin to fill her plate.

  ***

  It was mid morning when Lexi heard the sound of another truck making its way up the driveway. The crunching of tires on gravel heralded the arrival of a visitor as plainly as a legion of trumpets, and soon the dog's barking joined in the announcement symphony and everyone came from their respective jobs and chores to see who had arrived.

  Nora was the first to the driveway and she wiped her hands on her jeans before giving Luke Henderson a welcoming hug, "Hello Luke," she greeted him warmly, her eyes twinkling, "It's very kind of you to come help with the fence today," she said with a wink.

  Luke tipped his hat and grinned, "My pleasure Nora," he answered, his own eyes sparkling like the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico "Glad I can help. Is Clyde around?" he asked looking around nonchalantly as if he expected Clyde to rise up from the ground.

  Nora, however, gave him a look that plainly said she didn't know who he thought he was fooling, but she nodded her head in the direction of the tractor barn, letting the matter rest, "Here he comes now," she said, a small enigmatic smile playing about her mouth.

  Luke turned around ready to greet Clyde when he stopped mid sentence, his mouth half open as Clyde approached with his usual steady pace, and Jake followed cheerfully in his wake.

  Luke stood motionless for a moment as Nora watched him carefully. He, on the other hand, watched Jake like he had never seen a child before, pure wonder illuminated his cowboy features.

  "Good morning, Luke," Clyde held his hand out in friendly welcome and shook Luke's with a firmness men half his age would envy, "I don't think you've met my great-grandson Jake," he said, just a touch of pride gleaming on his weather beaten face, " Jake this is Mr. Luke Henderson. Luke this is my great grandson Jake."

  Jake also shook Luke's hand and smiled broadly at him, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Henderson," he said, his words light and youthful, an easy enthusiasm radiating from the boy.

  "It's nice to meet you too," Luke answered, shaking the boy's hand in return and adding, "Please call me Luke. It's really nice to meet you. You sure look like your momma," he told Jake with a smile, whose eyes had the same almond shape that Lexi's had.

  "I hear that all the time," Jake rolled his eyes in mock exasperation, "but I don't see it. I mean momma is a girl for heaven's sake!"

  At this Luke, Nora, and Clyde began to laugh, their voices ringing out and bouncing joyfully off the gently rising hills and down the sloping curves of the valleys.

  "Y'all seem to be having a good time," Lexi came up the slight hill from the barn, wiping her hands on a towel, her ponytail a mass of runaway curls and her face smudged with wood shavings and some other dark streak that, in a barn, could be any number of things. She had the sun shining behind her and Luke felt his heart constrict in his chest.

  "Hi, Luke," Lexi said with a nod, suddenly feeling like they were high school again and sharply reminding herself that she didn't want or need another man in her life.

  "Lexi," he returned the greeting with a tip of his hat and a giant grin that lit up his face and made her heart skip a beat despite her best efforts to the contrary, "How's it going today?" he asked, watching her with a look of great amusement that made her want to squirm under his gaze.

  However she held her ground and his gaze challengingly, "Pretty good," she answered without
so much as a quiver in her voice, “And you?”

  “Better now,” he answered without missing a beat, “I’ve just met your son. He reminds me a lot of you. Full of life.”

  "That's one way to say it," Nora smiled warmly, "How about coming inside for some lemonade before you get started on the fence?" Nora suggested ignoring the knowing look Lexi had shot her.

  "That's up to Clyde," Luke said, deferring judgment to the older man before him.

  Clyde nodded, "Let's get some lemonade and sandwiches," he answered

  thoughtfully, "That way if we need to we can eat out there."

  "If we're going to eat out there then we're going to need some pie too,” Jake added emphatically.

  "Are you going with them?" Lexi asked surprised. She had, for some reason, assumed he would stay at the house or barns with her, although she should have known he would want to go with her grandfather. The two were always together now, a fact which had come as a very welcome surprise.

  Jake scoffed at her, "Of course I'm going," he said with a rather stern, grown up frown at her.

  Nora caught Lexi's eye and gave her a tiny smile before motioning for everyone to head to the house, "Well," she said, "In that case I had better wrap up the pie."

  Chapter 9

  Lexi put her fingers to her lips and whistled. The sound, bright and cheerful, was lifted on a passing breeze and whisked effortlessly across the spacious pasture, twisting and twirling on the updrafts of air. The men had indeed been gone for lunch, and were, in fact, still out working so, after finishing her tasks for the day, Lexi decided it was time to do some work with Red. She whistled again and smiled as she saw his big form lumbering up a high hill, cresting the rise of it as he came trotting toward her in massive, ground eating strides. His ears were pricked forward and his head was up. His nostrils quivered a greeting, and his coat gleamed a shimmering copper in the rays of the hot afternoon sun.

  “That’s a good boy,” sShe cooed to him, handing him an apple when he reached her. He slurped his apple enthusiastically, the juice dripping down his soft muzzle, which he promptly wiped on Lexi’s shirt comically, “Thanks, Red,” she laughed, as she stood on her tiptoes and slid his halter over his head. He had just had another growth spurt and seemed gigantic to her now. Although he had been big from the moment he was born, he was the possessor of long, strong legs that bore the promise of a future athlete. Lexi straightened his forelock and gave him a pat, “Your grandmother thinks Red is a silly name for you,” She told him, “and I hate to admit it, but she maybe right. You have grown up so much,” she said fondly, rubbing the middle of his face, causing him to close his eyes blissfully, “Maybe it’s time you had a more grown up name.”

  “You know,” Luke’s voice, soft and rich, slipped around her comfortably, as if he had always been there, as if he belonged there in her conversations, in her thoughts, in her heart, “They called Man O’War Big Red in the stable,” he said, the syllables of his words smoothed by his accent. Lexi had almost forgotten what a Texas accent had really sounded like during her time in the North. It was soft, strong, noble and distinct. She couldn’t help but smile slowly as she looked over her shoulder to find those piercing blue eyes looking back at her.

  “Those are pretty big shoes to fill,” she said teasingly, still rubbing the big horse’s face rhythmically.

  “I would bet he can fill them,” Luke answered, “In his own way.”

  Lexi smiled again, turning back to Red and rubbed his neck, a warm, pleased feeling washing over her, “Yes, I believe he can,” she responded unable to keep the happiness in her voice.

  "Is he broke?" Luke asked as he swung open the gate to let the horse and woman through, carefully closing it again after them. The chain rattling behind the pair as he secured it in place.

  "Partially," Lexi admitted with a somewhat guilty look, "He's broke to tack and he can longe but that's about it. He's just turned three though. I'm hoping he'll be ready to go before the end of the summer. I can hardly wait to ride him," she admitted, raising her dark eyes to Luke's crystal blue ones.

  "Well," Luke said as he came to stand beside her, his hand automatically reaching up to stroke the shining red neck of the horse beside him, "I'm not in any hurry to get home," he continued, his gaze holding hers, the usual enthusiasm in his tone easing into something just a touch softer, as if the edges of his sentences had been smudged by an eraser during their creation. "Would you like some help with him? Even if we just give him the idea of weight it would be a step in the right direction."

  Lexi could feel her heart hammering maniacally against her chest, although whether it was the idea of finally being able to ride her beautiful colt or the closeness of Luke Henderson causing it, she had no idea. She nodded though, a small smile growing into a big one while she gathered her thoughts enough to really answer.

  "That would be great," she said, "Thank you. I've been worrying about Grandpa helping with this part," she admitted, "Red can be a handful," she looked under her lashes at Luke, surprised to find herself flirting with him.

  He grinned in response, "Would you ride any other kind?" he asked, giving the horse a pat and stepping back to let them lead the way to the barn, "Let's go see what kind of trouble we're in," he suggested a mischievous twinkle sparkling in his blue eyes.

  Red stood, for the most part, patiently while Lexi groomed him meticulously. Luke stood quietly back, allowing Lexi to work and the big horse to get used to him. The colt was a giant, of that there was no question and there was obviously more growing left to do. His legs were long and powerful, with thick bones and already bulging muscles. The energy that emanated from the red horse made it feel as if Luke was standing next to a nuclear power plant, and one that may explode at any point.

  Lexi rested the saddle carefully in place on Red's back, tightening the girth just snugly enough around the broad width of his belly to hold the saddle in place. The dull, brown leather had been worn smooth and supple by countless riding and cleaning hours and looked almost pale in comparison to the comet like redness of the colt's chestnut coat. Luke watched as Lexi moved to Red's face and slid the reins up over his neck in anticipation of putting his bridle on. Just as the reins came to rest on his neck, Red, with cobra like speed whipped his head around to snap at Lexi. Lexi, who had spent enough time with horses, especially this colt, was well prepared and his open mouth met her open palm smartly, stopping him in his tracks. The big horse snorted and shook his head then went back to standing as placidly as he had previously, his ears flopping to the side in relaxation.

  "He has to test me," she said by way of explanation for her colt's behavior, "He doesn't do it all the time, just when he thinks he can," she smiled fondly at the chestnut before sliding his halter off his head and slipping his bridle on, "I like them with a little spirit," she said giving her horse a pat and swinging her gaze to Luke's.

  "Me too," he answered, the words coming out before he could catch them, causing the smallest flicker of a flush to brush across his cheeks. He looked away from Lexi, reaching a hand out to touch Red's outstretched nose, "He's a piece of work all right," he said, the awkwardness of the previous moment still evident in the soft shades of pink remaining on his cheeks.

  "Wait until you see him go," Lexi responded, unsure of what needed to be said and unwilling to challenge his comment, at least not at that particular moment.

  "Let's see it then," Luke said with a smile stepping back so the horse and woman could pass. As Lexi led Red by, she just barely brushed against Luke sending an electric shock through him. Lexi felt it too and instantly her eyes snapped up to meet his and he smiled that lazy, mischievous smile that she remembered so well from her youth. Lexi fought back her own grin and kept the big horse moving out of the barn and into the bright afternoon sunshine.

  Nora, Jake, and Clyde emerged from various places around the ranch and converged on the fenced off arena where Lexi had spent a great deal of her younger years. Luke had fallen into step beside h
er, an easy, natural silence falling between them. The air was filled with the sounds of insects buzzing happily, crops rustling soothingly in the mid afternoon breeze and the rhythmic footfalls of horse and human alike in the soft swells of grass. Up ahead, Jake swung up onto the top rail of the fence with the nimbleness of youth and Nora leaned against the black weather treated board, her face upturned to the sun, a blue bandana holding back the onslaught of rebellious curls that was her hair. Clyde unhitched the gate, moving with it through its arched path, as it swung open, a smile that broke into a full-fledged grin spread across his face. He shut the gate behind the pair and Luke came to a stop next to him.

  "No pressure," she whispered to Red as she attached a longe line to his bridle and started working him. He moved with such big strides that even at the end of the longe line he almost had to collect himself to keep his balance. Always the showman and never one to disappoint, Red threw in some magnificent bucks and jumps for everyone's amusement, but for the most part worked well, listened and interacted with Lexi reasonably well. Lexi could hear a murmur of voices from the fence but was unable to hear what they were saying as she was trying to focus on the half wild colt in her hands.