Finding Lexi

by AJ Attard

  Lexi shook her head in mock admonishment but a smile played about her lips as she turned her gaze out the window. The moon had slid seductively behind a cloud and the landscape was shrouded in darkness, yet it had a familiar feel to it, although Lexi would have been hard pressed to say she knew where she was.

  Luke eased the truck to a stop and suddenly Lexi’s small smile became a big grin.

  “Oh my goodness,” she breathed, pushing open her door and sliding down onto the soft bed of long grass waiting beneath her feet, “I had almost forgotten about this place,” she said, staring in wonder out across the shimmering surface of a lake. They had come here all the time when they were kids. On horseback at first, letting the horses graze by the lakeside while they fished its crisp, cool waters, and later by truck when they were old enough to drive and the horses had already been worked for the day. The lake was small, almost a pond really, and it was often overlooked by the teenagers and serious anglers for the more populated, bigger lake up north, but it had a copious amount of crystal clear water and delicious trout. That and the quiet had always drawn her and Luke, even when they were young.

  “I thought so,” Luke chuckled softly, pleased that she was pleased. He watched her for a moment, the moonlight bathing her in a pale glow, her eyes wide with delight. He smiled again and started for the back of his truck, suddenly sure he had made the right decision to bring her here. He had been hesitant at first; worried he didn’t know her like he thought and she would be disappointed in his choice. One look at her face though dispelled any concern he had; she was clearly pleased to be there.

  “Are we fishing?” She asked, the eagerness in her voice unmistakable as she called to him over her shoulder.

  He appeared by her side with two fishing poles, a tackle box, and a warm smile, “You know it,” he affirmed, motioning with his head for her to follow him to the lake.

  Lexi smiled and started after him, falling into step beside him and pulling the tackle box from his hand to help. He nodded his thanks and as they reached the lakeshore Lexi inhaled deeply.

  “It’s so beautiful,” she whispered on the exhalation, “I don’t remember it looking like this,” she admitted, her eyes roving over the beautiful water, the waves mere ripples upon the glassy sheen of the lake surface.

  “I do,” Luke, answered and when Lexi swung her eyes to him she found him waiting to meet her gaze. For a moment her heart fluttered in her chest and she could feel the air shift around them, an electricity starting to sizzle on the particles of oxygen that stirred with the slight breeze.

  “I’ll get the cooler out of the truck,” Lexi said, hoping there actually was a cooler in the truck and needing a moment to breathe.

  “I’ll get it,” Luke said, handing her the fishing rods, his fingers warm when they brushed against hers, the charge of the electricity between them ratcheting up several notches. Lexi felt the flush flash up her cheeks and she was considerably thankful for the cover of darkness.

  Luke was back in what seemed like a blink of an eye, barely giving Lexi time to compose herself. He took one of the fishing rods from her hands and baited the hook and handed it back.

  “As I remember,” he said teasingly, “you never liked to bait your own hook.”

  “You remember correctly,” Lexi grinned in return, “and why would I? You were always willing to bait it for me.”

  Luke laughed in response, a deep, smooth sound that rolled out and over the lake, as natural as the hills surrounding them. Lexi couldn’t help but join in, her own laughter lighter, mingling with the sound of his in an intricate, mirthful dance.

  They fished for quite a while, sometimes talking, sometimes lapsing into amicable silence. The sounds of the night murmured around them and the moonlight shined down upon them as the waves lapped lightly at the shoreline. They moved in sync, up and down the shore, one moving slightly and the other adjusting their position in relative relation, all the while pulling fish from the crisp water and soaking up the star filled night.

  “That ought to be enough,” Luke said finally, looking down at a cooler full of fish, a big smile creasing his face.

  “Enough for what?” Lexi asked, one eyebrow raised in interest as she too took a look at the fruit of the evening’s labor.

  “The fish fry I thought we would have tomorrow,” Luke said, closing the cooler lid and sitting down on the top.

  “Are we having a fish fry?” Lexi asked him, half amused and half wary as her heart again began to pound in her chest. His big blue eyes seemed luminous in the moonlight and she felt inextricably drawn to him, his gravitational pull as strong as the moon was for the tides.

  “We are,” He answered, reaching out his big, rough hands, and catching the back of her legs where she was standing, pulled her gently to him. The breath caught in Lexi’s chest and from where she stood, with him sitting on the cooler, barely holding the back of her legs between his own as she looked down into his familiar face, she felt an unimaginable heat wash over her.

  Luke took one hand and slowly tipped his hat back, his other hand resting teasingly on the back of her knee. He took a deep breath that made his broad chest seem to grow two sizes and Lexi reached up, running the back of her fingers down his cheek, the freshly shaved smoothness like silk against her skin.

  Suddenly a phone rang. It seemed to shatter the stillness like dynamite, reverberating off the trees and the water with a shrillness that made Lexi want to cringe.

  “That’s mine,” Luke said with a mixture of consternation, frustration, and concern, “No one ever calls me,” he said, rising from his seat, bringing the two of them even closer. Lexi took a deep breath and cocked her head sideways, a small mischievous smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

  “You could ignore it,” she suggested, biting her bottom lip sweetly.

  Luke nodded and shook his head, “I could,” he exhaled, “I definitely could,” the phone rang again, more instantly it seemed this time and Luke frowned, “but I had better get it. Like I said no one ever calls me so I had better check it.”

  He slid away from Lexi and jogged to the truck, reaching into the front seat to pull out the angrily ringing phone. Lexi walked over to the truck as well and could see his frown as he answered.

  “Are you sure?” He asked desperately, his brow knitted tightly together, his jaw clenched in his tension, “No, no, you should have called, we’ll be right there. Call the sheriff, we’re on our way.”

  Luke shut off the phone and looked at Lexi, his face drawn and big hands slightly shaking, “That was your grandpa,” he said slowly, each word measured against the cavalcade of emotions that tumbled inside him, “Red is gone.”

  Chapter 18

  Lexi froze, the heat she had felt only moments before deserting her and leaving in its place a frigid chill.

  “What do you mean gone?” She breathed, the words barely more than a whisper as they slipped from her lips.

  Luke came around the front of the truck and stood next to her, catching her arms with his hands and steadying her, the color draining from her face.

  “In the truck, Lex,” he said quickly, pulling open the door and all but pushing her in, “We’ve got to get going,” he told her, his voice almost pleading, “I’ll tell you about it on the way,” he said, shutting the door and jogging back to the driver’s side.

  Lexi had her phone in her hand before he was back in his seat, a look of bewilderment on her lovely face, “I haven’t missed any calls,” she said as Luke did a quick three point turn and headed back up the tiny road they had come down, this time with less care and more speed, “Why didn’t anyone call me?” She protested, her voice sharp with fear, the words clipped and precise.

  “Probably because you don’t have a signal,” Luke suggested, shooting her a glance from the corner of his eye, mindful of the speed and tiny space his truck was barreling through, “I barely do, it comes in and out,” he said again risking a glance her way, “We’re lucky they got us,” he add
ed, flooring it as they came to an open stretch of the dirt road.

  “What happened?” Lexi asked, regaining her composure and dumping her useless phone in her bag, “What did Grandpa say?” She asked, turning in her seat to look at Luke earnestly. He was glad she had rebounded quickly, fire burning in her eyes, her chin tipped up in unshakeable determination.

  Luke looked over at her and nodded, knowing she was putting on a brave face, “He said he went to do bed check and when he opened the barn door it looked like a war had taken place. There was hay everywhere, halters on the floor, holes in stall walls and Red gone,” Luke took a deep breath and gave his head a shake, “Whoever took him, he gave them quite a fight before they did.”

  Lexi smiled in spite of the situation. Red had fought to stay, and fought hard at that, “That’s my boy,” she said, her voice soft and thoughtful in the darkness, her mind playing out her big chestnut colt fighting, rearing, hooves flashing, possibly harming the person who had been dead set on taking him.

  “Is everyone okay?” She asked, snapping back into the moment, a sudden fear clenching at her heart that one of her family might be hurt, “I mean they had to have heard something if the barn looked like that? Did anyone run down to check it out? Are they alright?” The questions fired out in rapid succession, the words almost colliding with one another in their haste to leave her lips.

  “Clyde said everyone was fine,” Luke answered, reaching a hand out to grasp hers and give it a squeeze, “They were playing cards and had the radio going, he said, so they didn’t hear anything. They had no idea until he went down to do bed check. He’s beside himself,” Luke added, casting a worried look Lexi’s way, “He can’t believe Red was stolen on his watch.”

  Lexi shook her head, “It’s not his fault,” she answered, a hard edge coming into her voice, “In fact, I would be very surprised if this was a coincidence at all.”

  “What do you mean?” Luke asked, his voice snapping with surprise as he chanced a look at her despite his urgent driving.

  “I’m not sure,” Lexi admitted, hesitantly, “just that something in all of this doesn’t seem right does it?” She asked, “The horse thefts, the cattle rustling, there is something very well organized and thought out about all of it. It’s not just a random hit here or there. Whoever is behind this has a plan. Don’t you think?”

  Luke slowed just enough to make the turn onto their driveway, the truck bed fish tailing a bit as he took the corner and pressed the accelerator, sending gravel skittering every direction.

  “I hadn’t thought about it really,” he answered honestly, “I just wanted it to catch the guys behind it,” he growled, a sound that emanated from deep within his broad chest, “I lost twenty head of cattle last month,” he said darkly, “and one of my horses,” the fury of it still burning brightly within him, “I was one of the first,” he added as if that fact would make any kind of difference.

  “No wonder Mom didn’t say anything,” Lexi murmured thoughtfully more to herself than him, she chewed at her bottom lip as he continued up the driveway with alacrity.

  “What do you mean?” He asked, slowing as they got closer to the house and barn, unwilling to spray everyone with gravel despite his hurry.

  “I had just decided to move back,” Lexi responded, “She probably didn’t want to

  give me anymore to worry about than I already had. I know she had mentioned it before, it just didn’t really register until now what she meant.”

  Lexi's words seemed to reverberate within the confines of the truck, vibrating in a thin, invisible resonance that could only be felt and not seen. No more was said either as they reached the house, the stillness of wheels almost haunting in their sudden silence. It looked like every light in the house and the barn were on; with the space between them illuminated brighter than if it had been midday. Clyde, Nora, and Jake stood halfway to the barn in a semi circle around the Sheriff, deeply entrenched in conversation, Nora's arm around Jake, who stood in the middle. As soon as the truck came to a stop, all four sets of eyes swiveled Lexi and Luke's direction, their stares laser sharp thought the blinding glare of the lights.

  "Holy Moly," Lexi breathed, suddenly finding herself unwilling to step from the truck, her hand frozen on the handle, her breath caught painfully in her chest. She didn't want to see the empty stall, or hear the desperate apologies, or the formal words Sheriff Miller was sure to offer for consolation. Lexi closed her eyes for a moment, the blackness behind her eyelids seeming all encompassing, calming in the isolation it provided even if it was only momentary.

  "Come on, Lex," Luke's voice, familiar and strong intruded in her thoughts none the less, prying open her moment of peaceful, protected solitude with the unwavering firmness of water against rock. Before she knew it he was at her door, swinging it open, her hand separating from the handle like an autumnal leaf from a tree, falling softly to her side. Lexi raised her eyes to his, so clear and so blue. He held out his hand and she slid from the truck, slipping hers into his as she did so.

  They started toward the foursome gathered in the yard, their footfalls muffled by the freshly mowed grass and a sound reminiscent of the rushing of waves pounding in Lexi's ears. She and Luke walked shoulder to shoulder, their closeness a unified front against what was coming next.

  "Hello, Lexi," Sheriff Miller spoke first, his voice a deep, rich bass accentuated by his thick Southern drawl, warm like melted caramel pouring from a pan.

  "Sheriff," Lexi replied, her acknowledgment of his greeting punctuated by a nod of her head. She swung her eyes to her family the pain in their faces immediately making her heart clench.

  "Lexi," Her grandfather began, his big voice shaking, "I'm so sorry, Honey," he said roughly, the words catching in his throat harshly, struggling against the emotion that threatened to over whelm him. He seemed very old at that moment and the fact made Lexi's heart ache mercilessly.

  "Grandpa," she said, going to him and wrapping her arms around his big build and taking a deep breath, "It's ok," she told him, offering him strength she didn't necessarily feel, "It will be okay," she said firmly, stepping back so she could look him squarely in the eye, "We'll find him, okay? He's fine. We'll find him and maybe the other missing horses too. It's okay," she repeated, exhaling when he nodded, his eyes gleaming gratefully. Lexi reached out and ruffled Jake's hair as his eyes, round with worry gazed at her.

  "Mom," he began but she shook her head and gave him a hug, "It will be fine," she said before he could continue, "You heard what I told Grandpa," she reminded him gently, "Don't make me repeat it," she teased softly, dropping a kiss on the top of his head. He nodded beneath her chin and she closed her eyes again, taking a deep breath and gathering strength from the darkness. Red had been far more than just a horse, although any horse lover would say that about their horse to be honest. To Lexi, he had been what she held onto when everything else had fallen apart, where she had gone to cry while Jake slept and she was thousands of miles away in the frozen tundra of Alaska. Red was the wild spirit that had burned so rebelliously, even when her own spirit threatened to give up on her in the darkest of moments.

  Lexi opened her eyes and met her mother’s. Nora nodded once and gave her a firm smile. Nora understood what had formed the bond between woman and horse and she knew the strength that Lexi possessed.

  “As best as we can figure,” Sheriff Miller began, addressing Lexi primarily, but including all of them in his words, “He was taken somewhere between seven and ten. Clyde said he and Jake checked the animals before starting their game and then again at bedcheck when it was discovered he was gone. We’ve been through the barn already for any signs of who did this or where they’ve gone but there isn’t anything there. I’m sorry, Lexi,” Sheriff Miller added quietly, looking quite sorry indeed as he dropped his eyes and frowned, a handle bar mustache drooping forlornly on his face, “I know you just got home,” he said taking a deep breath, “Truth be told we should have caught these guys a long time ago. They
are so damn good though. Not a smidge of evidence,” he shook his head sadly and lifted his gaze to hers, “We’ll catch them though, Lexi, don’t you worry. We’ll catch them,” the Sheriff smiled at her slowly, “First thing I’m going to do is check with hospitals,” he said breaking into a grin, “That horse of yours gave someone a walloping and whoever they may be may need a little medical attention. Horse after my own heart,” The Sheriff said thoughtfully, “I look forward to meeting him.”

  “He’s quite the horse,” Lexi agreed, “Whatever we can do to help,” she said, the words trailing off as they caught in the emotion in her throat. Luke moved a little closer, one big shoulder bumping against hers.

  “I’ll let you know,” Sheriff Miller nodded, ”You all try to get some rest,” he said, “and I’ll be in touch sometime tomorrow,” with that he tipped his hat and lumbered back to his police truck, the bright markings almost glowing in the glare of the lights. They watched as he hefted himself into the seat, waving as he slowly made his way down the driveway and into the night.