Faith's Crossing

by Carrie Carr

  Kicking her feet, Amanda unsuccessfully tried to break the hold the other woman had on her. “You’re going to hurt yourself, you nut.” Then she squealed when she was tossed in the air. “Lex!” Amanda landed on her back in the middle of the large mattress, bouncing slightly. Before she could say a word, she was covered with a long, lean body, and her wrists were held together above her head with one hand.

  “You know, I could do this one of two ways.” Lex bent closer and took a small nip at Amanda’s earlobe.

  The hot breath on her skin made Amanda shiver, although she was far from being cold. “W..w..what’s that?” she gasped out, trying to get her breathing under control and failing miserably.

  Lex allowed her free hand to slowly trace down Amanda’s trembling body. “I could just torture you until you begged.” She kissed just below her lover’s ear.

  Amanda wiggled, causing Lex to straddle her waist. “Uhhuh. And just what sort of torture, oh, God!” She felt a warm hand slip inside her shirt and begin to lightly stroke her belly.

  “Hmm.” Lex sat back a bit, so she could look into Amanda’s flushed face. “Just how much ‘torture’ can you stand, my impudent friend?” She leaned back down and traced Amanda’s lips with her tongue before deepening the kiss.

  Amanda accepted the kiss greedily, trying to pull her hands free so she could tangle them in Lex’s hair. “Mmm, Lex.” She still squirmed, but now for an entirely different reason.

  Lex pulled away from Amanda’s mouth, then kissed and licked her way down the slender throat. “You know…” She slowly used her free hand to unbutton the bright green shirt. “I bet I can make you beg for mercy.” She kissed the skin just above Amanda’s bra.

  “Oh, ummm.” Amanda closed her eyes, breathing heavily. “I’ll never beg, you…oh, God.” She felt a warm tongue lick lightly at her chest. All thoughts of trying to play the game flew out the window.

  “Won’t beg, huh?” Lex placed a series of small bites on Amanda’s exposed stomach. “You sure about that?”

  “No, you can’t make me…ah, Lex.” Amanda was panting heavily now, as Lex continued to work her way across her belly. Suddenly she squealed, and her eyes popped open as Lex’s fingers began to tickle her ribs. “Lex, stop it!” Amanda wiggled back and forth, working in vain to escape the touch.

  Lex continued her assault, knowing that she’d won the game. “Say it, Amanda.” Her lover was giggling almost uncontrollably now.

  “Oh, God, Lex. Stop,” Amanda sputtered out between gales of laughter. “Please! I’m begging you!”

  With a triumphant grin on her face, Lex relented. “Told you I could make you beg.” Then she laughed as she was pulled down for a heated kiss, which caused the world to slip away.

  Chapter Thirteen

  SHOPPING, LEX DECIDED, had to have been invented by some poor slob trying to occupy his bothersome wife and keep her out of his hair, because no sane person would actually volunteer for such torture. Slouched in a highly uncomfortable chair, she sighed again as her companion tried on yet another item of clothing. She was stationed directly outside the dressing room door, mumbling replies to Amanda’s questions, as she had been for the last couple of hours.

  “Now, before you say anything,” Amanda warned, still behind the door, “I know that this is too formal for tonight, but I just couldn’t resist trying it on.”

  Suddenly, standing in front of Lex was a vision in aqua. The long satin gown hung by spaghetti straps, draped seductively over Amanda’s lithe figure.

  “Uh.” Lex swallowed several times. She tried to get words from her brain to her mouth, but she couldn’t form any words. Wow.

  Amanda turned around and glanced at herself in the mirror, not noticing the look of complete awe on her lover’s face. “So, what do you think?”

  Lex blinked, inhaled deeply, and struggled to find words. “Beautiful.” That didn’t seem to even touch how Amanda looked, so she tried again. “Absolutely stunning.” She stood up and walked over until she was directly behind her, then looked over Amanda’s shoulder into the mirror and whispered into her ear, “You’ve got to get this, sweetheart.”

  “It’s too dressy for the dinner tonight. I checked with Jeannie, and she said that most of the guests would be coming in straight from the office. Mother was going to make it a formal affair, but something came up this past week, and everyone had to put in extra time.”

  “I don’t care.” Lex put her hands on her friend’s shoulders and turned Amanda around to face her. “I’ll find someplace elegant to take you, but you look too beautiful in it not to have it. Please? Let me buy it for you.”

  Considering the request, Amanda looked at the price tag. Six hundred dollars? Oh no, I don’t think so, my love. She covered one of Lex’s hands with her own. “Honey, I really appreciate the thought, but this dress is too expensive for you to waste your money on.”

  Picking up the tag and peering at it, Lex shrugged. “It can’t hold a candle to what you’re worth to me. How about if I make it a birthday present?”

  “My birthday isn’t for several months. Not that I don’t appreciate the thought.” Amanda blushed, not being used to such bold compliments. “And I really appreciate the sentiment behind it as well.” She turned back toward the dressing room. “Could you come in and help me with the zipper, please?” This was asked in a voice loud enough for the circling saleswoman to hear.

  “Sure.” Lex followed her into the small room, latching the door shut behind them. “Turn around and I’ll—” She quickly found herself the recipient of a long, loving kiss.

  Once they broke apart, Amanda looked into her lover’s eyes. “I love you, Lexington Marie Walters. No one else has ever made me feel as loved and special as you do.” She turned so that her back was facing her friend. “Now unzip me and we’ll get out of here.”

  Happy to oblige, Lex did as she was asked. She ran a fingertip down the exposed back and enjoyed seeing the squirm it caused. “We’re finally through?”

  “Well,” Amanda pulled the dress off, slipping back into her comfortable khakis. “We can always look around some more, if you want.” She looked down shyly as Lex knelt, offering her help with her shoes, then plucked at her green polo shirt. “I feel a little bit like Cinderella, going from that gown back into this.” Stepping into the loafers, she watched as Lex tied them for her. “You’re going to spoil me, you know.”

  “All part of my plan to keep you happy, sweetheart.” Lex massaged a strong calf. “Besides, I enjoy it, too.” She stood up and allowed Amanda to exit the dressing room first, grabbing the dress on her way out. “You almost forgot something.”

  Amanda shook her head. “I’m not going to win this one, am I?” she asked, watching as her lover handed the dress to the now beaming saleswoman.

  “Nope.” Lex turned to the woman at the cash register. “She’s gonna need shoes to match, right?”

  The painfully thin woman nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! I can tell you’re a woman of refined tastes, Madam.” Considering that Lex was dressed in her usual jeans and a taupe button down shirt, the comment was almost comical. She turned and looked at Amanda, her eyes gleaming at the thought of an additional sale. “What size, dear?”

  Amanda stepped back a pace. “Oh, no, that’s really not necessary. I’m sure I have shoes to match somewhere.”

  Leaning up against the counter with her arms crossed, Lex grinned. “Size?” She had noticed the size of the loafers when she put them on her friend, but she enjoyed watching Amanda squirm.

  “Six.” Amanda gave up, knowing she’d just have to pick her battles, and this was one she was bound to lose.

  Leaning over to the saleswoman, Lex whispered, “I don’t care what it costs, make sure they’re the most comfortable shoes you can find, okay?”

  Dollar signs practically lighting up her eyes, the saleswoman scurried away. “Right away, Madam.”

  “I’ll get you back for this,” Amanda muttered, watching as the saleswoman hu
rried back with a shoebox under one arm.

  “Oh, yeah?” Lex handed the clerk a credit card. “You can try, but I wouldn’t waste money on a fancy dress for me.” She signed for the purchases. It was more money than she had spent on clothes for herself in the past several years, but Lex didn’t mind. And I don’t care if we have to go out to some fancy-assed restaurant or club to show her off because she looked too damned good not to get that dress.

  “Thank you for your business, Ms. Walters. I look forward to serving you again.”

  The saleswoman handed the shopping bags to Lex, who added them to Amanda's collection. Damn things are multiplying faster than coat hangers in a closet. Lex grunted as she shifted her weight in order to take on the ever-increasing load.

  Amanda couldn’t help but chuckle at the look on Lex’s face as she tried to hold the bags without dropping them. “No dress, huh?” She bent down and picked up her other shopping bags, then started out of the store. “That’s too bad. I could really see you in a slinky red number.”

  “Oh, no. That would clash with my boots.”

  THEY WERE ALMOST back to the car when Lex stopped in front of building with a decades-old façade. The sunlight played across a necklace in the window, and she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of it. The knick-knack shop wasn’t like most on the block. It was less pretentious and appeared to be privately owned, and the tiny storefront could barely been seen where it was squeezed in between two fancier businesses. It looked out of place among the trendier shops on the street.

  It didn’t take Amanda long before she realized she was alone, and she turned to see where Lex had gone. She retraced her steps, and soon was next to Lex. “What’d you find?”

  “I’m not sure.” Lex tapped the glass with one finger. “Check out that necklace.”

  “Which one?”

  “That one down at the front, with the red stone in it.”

  Amanda squinted against the glare. “Oh, yeah. I see it.” She turned to Lex. “It doesn’t really look like you, though.”

  “Not for me, for Martha. Remember when I told you I wanted to do something for her?” Lex shifted the dress bag to her other shoulder. “Do you think she’d like it?”

  “Honey, Martha would like anything you gave her. That much I know for a fact.”

  “You think? Because I really wanted to pick up something for her while I was here, and I didn’t want it to be something cheesy, like a tee shirt, or something.” Lex continued to stare at the necklace, almost mesmerized by the way the light bounced from it.

  Amanda couldn’t help but smile at her lover’s thoughtful nature. “Let’s go inside and see it up close.”

  The small bell above the door jingled softly as they entered, barely announcing that customers had just arrived. Once inside, both women had to wait until their eyes adjusted to the light. When they were able to see, it was apparent that the store was much different from the ones they had just visited, and Lex felt immediately comfortable in the clutter. Tables of all shapes and sizes were scattered about, holding everything from vases and lamps to worn out children’s toys and odd bits of dinnerware. The scent of mothballs filtered through the air along with the musty odor of old trunks and even older furniture.

  Lex and Amanda stood rooted in place while their senses adjusted to all the sights and smells around them.

  A voice from the back of the store beckoned them further inside. “I won’t bite, you know.” The voice belonged to a shrunken old woman, dressed much like the shop herself, in flowing silk garments that had seen better days. Her wiry gray hair stood out on her head, looking like it hadn’t seen a comb for many years.

  Suddenly shy, Amanda allowed her friend to take the lead. She was more than happy to stay as far away from the strange little woman, who was a good half foot shorter than she.

  “Excuse me, ma’am, but I saw a necklace in your front window, and—”

  “You’re not from around here, are you, child?” The woman edged around the counter she had been standing behind and walked right up to Lex, craning her neck to look up into the younger woman’s face.

  Lex shook her head. “No ma’am.”

  The shop proprietor cackled, proud of her deductive reasoning. “Didn’t think so. You’re much too polite. From the accent, I’d say you were from the south. Texas, maybe?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “That’s lovely.” Looking behind Lex, the woman said, “Don’t look now, honey, but you’ve got a cute little gal on your back. I’m Sally, by the way. This is my little piece of heaven.”

  Lex laughed, and put her arm around Amanda’s shoulder. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sally. My name’s Lex, and this ‘cute gal’ is my partner, Amanda.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Amanda offered, feeling a bit braver and coming out from behind her partner.

  Sally clapped her hands together with glee. “I haven’t had anyone come in for months. Would you like some tea? Or maybe coffee? I can even whip up a batch of cookies, if you’re not in any hurry.”

  “We’d love some coffee, although I’m afraid we don’t have time for the cookies,” Amanda answered for them both. Once she’d gotten a closer look at Sally, she could see that the woman was harmless. Not quite all there, but harmless.

  After Sally returned with the coffee, she showed Lex and Amanda to a cramped sitting area in the rear corner of the shop, then swept away once again. “I’ll be back in a jif, kids. Just start without me.”

  Lex watched her leave. “She’s sweet.”

  “Yeah.” Amanda was ashamed of the way she had acted when they first walked into the shop. “A little scary, at least at the beginning, you’ll have to admit.”

  “Scary?”

  “You know, the hair, the clothes, that laugh.” Amanda shivered in remembrance. “And this place, with all the dusty, old stuff. It’s a bit creepy.”

  About to reply, Lex stopped when Sally returned, holding the necklace. “Is this what you were talking about, dear?” She handed it to Lex, while Amanda nervously watched.

  I don’t like this place. She turned her head and could see a stuffed buffalo’s head on a nearby wall. And I’ll bet he doesn’t like it much, either. Seeing Lex’s eyes light up when Sally handed her the necklace, Amanda shoved her misgivings back and tried to appear interested in their conversation.

  “I just put that piece out this morning,” Sally was explaining, as she leaned over Lex’s shoulder, their faces only a few inches apart as they studied the jewelry. “As you can see, the quality of the stone is perfect, and the setting is pure sterling silver.” She looked up and winked at Amanda. “At least that’s what my grandmother told me years ago, and I don’t think she’d lie to me.”

  Lex started to hand it back to Sally, who had moved around and sat between her and Amanda at the round table. “Your grandmother? This is from your family?”

  “Sure is, sweetie. Been in my family since before the turn of the century. The last one, that is,” Sally added hastily, pushing the necklace back to Lex.

  “But that means it’s very valuable. Don’t you want to keep it?” Lex thought to herself that if the woman needed money that badly, she’d find something else in the store to buy.

  Sally sipped her coffee. “Why should I?”

  “Family is very important,” Lex murmured. She looked at the glittering stone in her hand and wondered about the women who had worn it before, what their stories were, their dreams, how they lived their lives, and if they were happy. She shook her head, surprised by the turn of her thoughts.

  “I’m the last of my line, Lex. No sense letting the state have something that might make someone else happy.” From out of the folds of her dress, Sally produced a hand-sized wooden box, stained a deep cherry. “Here’s something to put it in. I’m assuming it’s a present for someone?”

  Accepting the box, Lex nodded. “I was thinking about getting it for my, umm, mother.” It would have taken all day to explain her own f
amily dynamics to the storekeeper, and Lex knew they didn’t have that much time. And, as far as Lex was concerned, Martha was her mother. “Are you absolutely sure you want to part with it? Because if you’re not, I’ll be more than happy to find her something else.”

  Sally watched as the young woman carefully packed the necklace into the box. “If the two of you are any indication, this family heirloom is going to a good and loving home. Take it, with my blessing. I think Grandma Caraway would be proud.”

  “Okay.” Lex started to pull her wallet from her back pocket. “Thank you. I’m sorry, I forgot to ask you how much you wanted for it.”

  Reaching out, Sally waited until Lex’s hands were in hers, and they were looking each other in the eye. “I want nothing for it except that you give your mother a hug from me, and tell her to wear it in good health. Maybe she’ll pass it along to her own grandchildren, someday.” As she spoke the last words, Sally turned to smile at Amanda.

  No longer frightened, Amanda cast a shy grin at the old woman. She could see the gentle soul that Sally was and was glad that Lex had found the little shop. “Maybe so,” Amanda agreed quietly.

  Lex persisted, “Are you sure you won’t take anything for it? I hate to—”

  “Don’t argue with me, child.” Sally stood up, and with Lex sitting, could finally stare her down. “Now I think you said when you came in, that you were in a bit of a hurry.” She brushed at her silk dress. “I’ve got things to do, too, so why don’t you just give an old woman her peace?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Lex rose, and before the storeowner could move away, bent and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you, Miss Sally.” She reached into her wallet and brought out a business card. “If you’re ever in Texas, look us up.”

  Sally took the card and touched her cheek. “Go on now, before I change my mind,” she gruffly ordered. She looked at the card as they made their way to the door. “You’re nice kids. I’ll bet your mothers are proud of you.”

  Amanda led them out the door and to the rental car, struggling with the packages she carried while she tried to reach into her purse. “That was certainly an experience.”