by Carrie Carr
"Stop," Amanda yelled to the men. "Oh, God. Lex." She held Lex's head perfectly still as terrible visions played in her mind.
"Amanda," Lex's quiet voice broke through her mental chastising. "It's okay." Her jaw was clenched in an effort to control the agony she was in.
"No--you--" Amanda stuttered as she watched Lex fight the pain. "We hurt you, didn't we?"
Lex opened her eyes slowly. "No, it's just my arm. I must have landed on it wrong. I'm fine, really."
Lester picked up a length of rope and cut a long strip from it with his knife. "No problem there, Miz Lex. We'll just tie it down until the doc can take a look at it." He gently and efficiently tied Lex's right arm across her chest. "That ought to help."
"Thanks, Lester." Lex took a cautious breath. Doesn't seem like anything is broken inside, thank God. She offered Amanda a cautious smile. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"You have nothing to apologize for. Guess my nerves are shot." She looked at the two men sheepishly. "Come on, guys. Let's get Lex into the truck before she turns into a Popsicle." A damp mist was falling, and Amanda thought she might have seen a snowflake come down as well.
Fifteen minutes later, a very grumpy Lex was lying in the bed of her truck. Over her objections, they had tied her down to the plank of compressed wood. After the earlier scare, Amanda had demanded they not continue until Lex was completely stabilized by the board.
"Are you sure you don't want to ride up front with the heater?" Roy asked Amanda for the third time. "Lester can ride in the back and help keep her still."
Amanda walked wearily up to the truck with Lex's old hat in her hands. She had searched for several minutes to find it because she knew how much the battered Stetson meant to her lover. "No, thank you, Roy." She climbed into the back and sat next to the injured woman. "I'll be more comfortable back here."
Lex smirked at the foreman, who was peeking over the edge of the truck. "Give it up, Roy. I haven't won an argument with her yet." She gave Amanda a loving smile when her hat was placed near her head. "You found it? Thanks."
"No problem." Amanda twined her fingers with her partner's, even though Lex's uninjured arm was pinned in place by the restraints. "We about ready to go?"
Roy saluted. "Yes, ma'am." He climbed into the front of the truck and started it up. "I swear, Lester. It's never a dull moment around this place."
The old cook shook his head. "You got that right. We need to get the rest of the hands back to the ranch, pronto. I don't like the smell of this."
AMANDA PACED BACK and forth in the hallway next to the master bedroom. She stopped every so often and listened at the closed door, then sighed and continued her circuit. "What could be taking so damned long?" she grumbled, angry that she had been asked by the kindly doctor to leave the room almost an hour before. She was about to knock on the door when Martha appeared behind her.
"How's it going, honey?" The housekeeper had a large, covered tray in her hands. "What are you doing out here in the hallway?"
"He kicked me out, Martha," Amanda huffed incredulously. "He said that I was getting in his way and aggravating his patient." She looked down at the tray. There's more than one way to skin a cat. I think I just found my way back into the bedroom. "Do you want me to take that in for you?" she asked sweetly.
Martha shook her head. "Oh, no. You're not getting me into trouble too, young lady. Dr. Anderson wanted you out here for a reason, and I'm not about to cross him." She felt pity for Amanda. "But you can open the door for me, and I'll put in a good word for you."
"All right. But can you at least find out what's taking so long? I'm really getting worried." She reached for the knob and almost screamed out loud when the door opened instead. "Oh."
Dr. Anderson pulled it open the rest of the way. "You can both come in now, ladies." He smiled apologetically at Amanda. "I'm sorry I ran you out like that, but I really needed to get her calmed down before I could check her out. She was more concerned about you than her own injuries, so I had to remove the distraction."
Distraction? I'm a distraction? Good grief. If she hears that, I'll never live it down. "That's okay, I understand." Amanda started to move around him and stopped. "Is she okay?"
"She's going to be fine, dear. As a matter of fact, I gave her a sedative earlier, and she's resting comfortably right now. Just try to keep her in bed for a couple of days, if you can." Dr. Anderson opened the door wider for Martha so that she could carry the tray into the room. "I'm afraid she won't know you're here, Amanda, but you're more than welcome to sit with her for a while."
Amanda walked quietly to the bed where Lex peacefully slept. Her face had been cleaned, and the scratches that looked so bad earlier now appeared minor in the soft glow of the bedside lamp. Her right arm, splinted and heavily wrapped with an elastic bandage, was draped across her stomach. Amanda turned to face the doctor who had moved to stand beside her. "How is she, really?"
Dr. Anderson shook his head. "Very lucky, actually. I had to put six stitches in the back of her head. I'm surprised that she doesn't have a concussion." Before Amanda could ask, he continued, "Even though with a head injury like hers I didn't want to, Lexington was so agitated, I had to give her a sedative."
"I certainly don't blame you there," Amanda murmured. "She can be pretty bull-headed at times." She turned and brushed the dark strands of hair from the resting woman's closed eyes. "What about her arm?"
"I think it's just severely sprained. But I need you to bring her in to the office first thing Monday morning so I can take a complete set of x-rays of her arm and her back." The elderly doctor patted Amanda on the shoulder. "I swear, the woman must be part feline to fall that far and not break any bones."
Amanda sat gingerly on the edge of the bed as her legs gave out in relief. "She's really okay," she mumbled, more to herself than anyone else in the room.
Martha put the tray down on a nearby table. "That's really great news, Doc. Why don't you come downstairs, and I'll fix you up a plate of that dinner I lured you out here with?" She took one last relieved look at the still form on the bed before ushering the doctor from the room.
Amanda watched the door close, then turned her attention back to the woman lying in the bed. "So much for our quiet Saturday, huh?" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Not my fault," Lex mumbled as she opened her eyes. "At least not this time." She blinked several times as she tried to focus on Amanda's face. "Umm, sweetheart?"
"What is it? Do you need anything?" Amanda looked worriedly down at her lover. "Are you warm enough? How about some water? Maybe--"
Lex lifted her left hand and covered the babbling mouth. "Sshh. I was just going to suggest that maybe you would like to get cleaned up and changed." She removed her hand and caressed Amanda's jaw.
Amanda closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. "Mmm, that's a good idea. I've got to put some fresh sheets on the bed in the guest room anyway." She kissed Lex's palm.
Did I miss something here? "Why? Is Dr. A. hanging around for the night? I told him before he gave me that damned shot that I was okay." Lex struggled to sit up. "Maybe I should just go down there and--"
"Stay still." Amanda put her hand on Lex's shoulder. "No, he's probably going to be leaving right after Martha feeds him. I just thought it would be better for you if I wasn't bouncing around on the bed all night. You really do need to get your rest."
"You're kidding, right?" Lex dropped back against the pillows with a heavy sigh. "There's no way in hell I can get any rest if you're sleeping across the hall." She looked down at the quilt covering her. "I didn't get any sleep the night you were gone."
The quiet admission tore at Amanda's heart. "Oh, Lex. I'm so sorry." She saw the light blush that covered Lex's face. "Can I tell you a secret?"
Lex looked up and saw Amanda's eyes filled with unshed tears. "Sure."
"I didn't get any sleep either. My grandmother teased me unmercifully yesterday morning." Amanda leaned down and kissed Lex t
enderly on the lips. "Now," she inhaled deeply to control her emotions, "if you'll give me a few minutes, I'll get cleaned up and we'll see what Martha has brought up for dinner." She stood, wiped her eyes with her hand, and walked into the bathroom. "I'll be right out."
Lex closed her eyes with a weary smile. How did I ever get so lucky? Must have done something right, sometime.
DEEP IN THE night, a loud thud awakened Amanda. She rolled over, only to find Lex's side of the bed empty. "Whatzit?" she mumbled as she looked around frantically. Where is she? What time is it? She blinked a couple of times and peered through the darkness to focus on the alarm clock. Twelve-thirty in the morning?
THUNK! THUNK!
There it is again. Where is that noise coming from? Amanda climbed out of bed and noticed the light seeping from under the bathroom door. She slowly opened the door and peered inside. "Lex? Is everything okay?"
"Umm." Lex's sheepish voice came from the vicinity of the bathtub. "Everything's okay--sort of."
"What do you mean, sort of okay?" Amanda moved further into the room. "Oh, Lex." Don't you dare laugh, Amanda Cauble, she sternly warned herself. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand and asked, "Are you okay?"
Lex was lying sideways, butt down in the empty tub, wearing only the boxer shorts that she normally slept in. She apparently had leaned over to turn on the water for a bath and tumbled in, landing sideways in the tub. Lex tried to keep her dignity, but failed miserably. "Yeah. I'm fine. But since I can't use this arm," she waved her bandaged right arm around, "I seem to find myself stuck."
Amanda chuckled. "Looks like it." She stood directly in front of Lex and crossed her arms over her chest. "And just what were you planning on doing at this time of night?"
"I thought I'd take a bath. Dr. A. told me not to get the bandage on my head wet, but I felt so damned dirty that a nice soak sounded good." She raised an eyebrow at Amanda. "Well? You going to help me get out of here, or do I need to just wait until Martha comes in to clean?"
"Hmm." Amanda appeared thoughtful. "I dunno. I ought to make you sit there for a while and suffer since you didn't have the sense to wake me up and ask for help."
Lex sighed. "Okay. What's this going to cost me?" She tried her best pitiful look. "You shouldn't pick on me, you know. I'm injured."
Amanda's eyes sparkled with glee. "Uh-huh. Are you saying that your bad judgment was brought on by the head injury?" She could barely contain her laughter. Does she have any idea just how adorable she looks right now? Probably not.
"Would it get me out of this mess with my dignity intact?" Lex bargained.
"Nope."
"How about if I throw myself on your mercy? Do any penance that you see fit?"
Amanda brightened at that offer. "Really? You'd do whatever I asked?"
Lex looked at Amanda with suspicion. "Yeah, okay."
"Cool." Amanda offered her hand to Lex. "Here. Be careful now." She slowly pulled her from the tub, but didn't release her grip until Lex was steady on her feet. "You got dizzy and lost your balance, didn't you?" Amanda accused as she wrapped an arm around the naked torso. "Good grief, Lex. You feel like a block of ice."
Lex leaned into Amanda gratefully. "Well it's the dead of winter, what did you expect?" She looked down at her lover. "I really would feel better after a bath."
"Oh, really?" Amanda steered Lex back into the bedroom and guided her onto the bed. She leaned down and nibbled on Lex's ear. "How about a nice warm sponge bath? That way you won't get too chilled, and I get to have a little fun, too?" She raised her head as she felt a hand glide up her back under her nightshirt.
"That sounds like a pretty good idea to me." Lex continued to explore Amanda's back with her left hand. "Although I can think of something else that we could do for fun." She tried to lean up for a kiss, but was stopped. "What?"
Amanda dropped down and kissed Lex's chin. "Not tonight, dear, you have a headache." She laughed. "I've always wanted to say that."
A pitiful groan was her only answer.
"GOOD MORNING," MARTHA, standing at the counter, cheerfully greeted Amanda as she walked into the kitchen the next morning. "How is Lexie doing?"
Amanda reached into the cabinet for a coffee mug. "She's really hurting. I didn't even have to force her to stay in bed." She peeked over the older woman's shoulder. "You want me to take that tray up for you?"
Martha covered the tray. "That would be really sweet of you, Amanda. I was just about to bring it upstairs."
"I don't mind. You have enough to do without waiting on us hand and foot." Amanda gathered up the tray and started for the door. "Is there anything I can do to help you today? I'm going to make sure Lex takes her pain medication, so I'll be free pretty much all afternoon."
"Well, I--" A knock on the front door interrupted Martha's answer. "That must be Charlie. He told me on the phone yesterday that he wanted to have a talk with Lexie." She hurried to the door and opened it. "Charlie Bristol. Get in this house." Martha grabbed the Sheriff's arm and pulled him inside. "What have we told you about knocking around here? You're family."
The tall, thin man took off his hat. "Hello, Martha. Nice to see you, too." Charlie nodded to Amanda, who was standing at the foot of the stairs with the tray still in her hands. "Good to see you, Amanda. How's Lex doing?" Since the lawman thought of Lex as the daughter he never had, as soon as Martha had updated him about the attack on Lex, he had personally driven over to Dr. Anderson's home earlier that morning to get a complete medical report. If I find the son of a bitch that did this to her, I'll wring his neck myself and save the taxpayers a load of money.
"She's okay. Just really sore." Amanda began her trek up the stairs. "And probably hungry." Halfway up, Amanda called over her shoulder, "Give me a few minutes to get her settled, then come on up. I know she'd love to see you."
Martha tapped Charlie on the arm. "Well? Are you going to stand there in your coat all morning, or will you be joining me in the kitchen for some coffee?"
The lawman stood silently for a moment with a silly grin plastered on his face. I think I fall deeper in love with that woman every time I see her. Maybe Amanda has an idea on how I can get her to say yes. Charlie had proposed to the housekeeper at least once a month for the past ten years. Even though Martha returned his love, she gently continued to turn him down time after time. I'll just keep asking her until she says yes just to shut me up, he vowed as he followed her slightly rounded form into the kitchen.
"PLEASE, LEX. JUST take the darn pill." Amanda had cleared the dishes away and was now trying to convince her stubborn partner to take something for the intense pain she was experiencing.
Lex took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "It's not that bad." She leaned back against the headboard of the bed, sweating from the exertion of putting on a nightshirt.
Amanda sat gingerly to the left of her. "What's the big deal? You're supposed to rest for a few days anyway."
"I just don't want to spend our only day together sleeping when I'd rather be spending the time with you," Lex admitted. "I've--uh--really missed you lately." She opened her eyes and searched Amanda's face.
"Oh, Lex." Amanda framed her lover's face with her hands. "Do you really think I could leave you when you're feeling like this? I've already called my grandmother, and she's agreed to take care of things at the office for a few days." Amanda's grandmother, Anna Leigh Cauble, was the retired owner of Sunflower Realty. She had recently turned the management over to her granddaughter after firing the previous manager for misconduct.
Lex smiled. "Really? You're going to stay home for a day or two?" Her eyes lit up like a small child's at Christmas.
"Try for longer than that. Gramma told me to take the entire week off. She says someone has to keep an eye on you, and poor Martha needs all the help she can get." She leaned forward and touched Lex's lips with her own. Lex tangled her left hand in Amanda's hair as she deepened the kiss.
"Ahem." Martha stood at the doorway with a blushing Charlie
right behind her. Since her head only came up to his chest, the sheriff had a very good view of the activity on the bed. "I don't think that's what the doctor had in mind when he said for you to stay in bed, Lexie," the housekeeper teased as she walked into the room.
"Oh, God." Amanda laughed as she buried her head in Lex's chest.
Lex smirked at Martha as she ran her fingers through Amanda's hair. "You got a better way to keep me in bed?" She felt the bed shake as her lover laughed again.
Charlie choked as he tried to stifle a chuckle of his own. "She's got a point." He closed the distance between himself and Martha and wrapped his arms around her.
"Don't encourage her." Martha playfully slapped the arm that settled around her ample waist. "She's hard enough to live with as it is."
"I can imagine she is." Charlie kissed the top of Martha's head, then walked over to the bed and stood next to it. "How are you doing, Lex?" He placed his hand lightly on Lex's leg. "Doc tells me you were pretty damned lucky out there." Scared me to death when I heard, poor thing.
"To tell the truth, Uncle Charlie, I hurt like hell." Lex looked down at her right arm, which was still heavily wrapped. "And I feel like a total idiot, letting someone get behind me like that."
Amanda sat back and ran a hand through her hair. "Why don't you two pull up a seat and get comfortable?" She grabbed a medicine bottle and a glass of water from the nearby table, and handed Lex a pill. "And you. Take one of these before I have to get tough with you."
"Yes, dear." The injured woman took the offering meekly as her eyes twinkled. Lex swallowed the pill with a frown. "Yuck!" She continued to drink from the glass until all the water was gone. "Nasty stuff." Amanda snuggled up on her lover's good side.
Charlie moved back and brought two chairs closer to the bed. "I'm afraid this is a semi-official visit." He waited until Martha sat before he continued. "I sent a couple of men to check out the area out along that fence line. Is there anything you can tell me that might help?"