by Carrie Carr
Rawson Walters was hard at work replacing a worn gate on the corral when the old truck approached. He looked up as his daughter braked to a stop nearby. She jumped out of the beat up old vehicle, and he shook his head. "Lexington. What are you doing? Slow down, girl."
"Hi, Dad!" She raced over to her father, ignoring the exasperated look on his weathered features. "You'll never believe it." Lex climbed up on the corral and straddled the top rail, one leg on each side.
"Won't I? What happened?" Rawson put both hands on the small of his back and stretched. "You didn't get into any trouble in school, did you?"
Lex laughed. "No. Not that I know of, anyway," she amended as she brushed her dark bangs from her eyes. "I got my driver's license today. Passed the test first try." The young woman radiated excitement.
The rancher smiled at her exuberance. "That's great, honey. I guess I didn't realize you were old enough to take the test yet."
Lex felt part of her happiness fade. "I turned fifteen two days ago, Dad. Don't you remember? Martha made me that cake and everything." And she gave me that really nice shirt she made, but I don't want to tell him about that. He'll just get mad like he usually does when I talk about Martha.
"Oh, right. Well, that's good to hear. I was wondering why we had a cake for dessert that night. She usually makes a pie or cobbler." Rawson's face reflected a twinge of guilt at forgetting his daughter's birthday, but it was gone quickly. "So, now that you're legal, are you about ready to start taking on more responsibilities around here? I thought we'd start you off as assistant foreman and gradually work you into the rest of the duties."
The teenager bit her lower lip in thought. Her older brother had just gotten his business degree and never failed to brag to her about what he was going to do when he took over the ranch. "Sure, Dad, if that's what you want. But what about Hubert?"
Rawson looked up into his daughter's face. "Your brother doesn't know a damned thing about ranching. He's more interested in making money than learning what to do around here." He patted her leg and then moved away. "I'll talk to Hubert. Now since you're already here, why don't you climb down from your perch and help me finish up this gate?"
She smiled happily at the opportunity to work with her father. "Yes, sir." Lex scrambled off the fence and picked up one end of the gate. "Does this mean I get to go on the next buying trip?" She had always wanted to go to the auction in Oklahoma, which meant three days in a hotel--something she'd never experienced.
"We'll see. But it also means that you'll be shadowing me for the next couple of weeks. There's a rodeo in Houston later next month that I want to try my hand at, and I want you to be able to handle things here while I'm gone. So get any homework assignments now, and tell your teachers you won't be in class for a bit."
"You want me to skip school? But--" Lex had worked hard all year at her perfect attendance. "The Christmas break starts next month. Then I'll be home for almost three weeks."
"I missed some school growing up during the busy season, girl. It didn't hurt me any." Her father looked up with a serious expression on his face. "I'll be gone by then. You need to learn all you can before I leave. What is wrong with you? I would have jumped at the opportunity to get out of school."
Lex felt tears of anguish burn her eyes. I won't cry. He'll think I'm still a kid. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "How about a compromise? I'll get up at four in the morning on Saturday and do whatever you ask. I'll stay up until whenever you say, and do it all again on Sunday."
"Okay. But you'll also have to get up early every morning and work until it's time to leave for school. Then come home and work until eleven or twelve o'clock every night. Think you can do it?" He stood silently waiting for her answer. Rawson wasn't an easy man, but he did what he could for his family. "Well, Lexington? Do we have a deal?" He pulled off his leather work glove and held out his hand.
"Yes, sir!" Lex shook her father's hand firmly. "When do I start?"
Rawson laughed and patted her on the back. "How about now? Let's get this gate finished up, and then we'll take a quick run down to the back pasture and check the fence there."
And that was how he'd left it. Shortly after, her father had gone off to the rodeo and never returned. Kind of like her grandparents--they went off and never came back.
Lex pulled the Jeep up to the bunkhouse and slowly climbed out of it. She didn't ride herd on the men regarding upkeep of the structure, but she noticed that the building was recently painted, and the ground around it was freshly weeded. Looks like Lester has been busy, she mused as she reached the front door. Before she could knock, the door opened and Ronnie Sterling's smiling face appeared.
"Hi, Ms. Walters. I told Lester I heard someone drive up." He had a towel around his shoulders that bore the remnants of recently cut hair. "What are you doing here?"
The old cook limped up to the door grumbling. "Hush your mouth, boy. Now get out of the way and let the boss in before she freezes to death." He grabbed the young man's arm and pulled him away from the door. "Sorry about that, boss. He's a bit excitable."
"No problem, Lester." Lex walked inside and closed the door behind her. She gestured to the chair in the middle of the room.
"Setting up a barbershop?" The shining wood floor had a scattering of hair covering it, which Ronnie was already sweeping up.
"Something like that." Lester laughed and walked into the kitchen. "Care for a cup of coffee? Just made a fresh pot a little while ago." He waited until Lex sat at the table before pouring her a mug. "You're looking a mite better than you did the last time I saw you."
Lex accepted the steaming mug and chuckled. "Thanks, Lester. I'm feeling a hell of a lot better, too. You guys about ready for some of Martha's cooking?" She watched with concern as the older man made his way slowly to the table and sat. Damn. I never really thought about it before, but Lester's got to be pushing seventy-five by now. He's sure moving a lot slower than I ever remember. Guess I should be looking for an assistant for him, at least. Lord knows the old guy will never want to retire.
Lester studied the rancher's face for a moment. "Sure thing, boss. Are you feeling okay? You're looking a bit pale."
"Huh?" Lex shook her head slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking." She picked up the mug of coffee and took a cautious sip. "Damn, Lester? Think you could make it any weaker?"
"Oh, sorry about that. Ronnie can't quite stomach the usual stuff yet. So since it was just me and him here, I made it a little lighter than normal." The old man blushed slightly. Lester's usually straggly beard had been neatly trimmed, and his hair had also been recently cut.
Looks like Lester is all cleaned up and ready to go. She studied the old man's face, knowing that in some ways, he considered her to be almost like a granddaughter. Well, if anyone would remember, it would be him. The old guy's got a mind like a steel trap. "Can I ask you a question, Lester?"
The grizzled old cook looked up the serious woman. "Ask away, boss. I'll do my best to answer you."
"Do you remember my mother's parents? I know they just kind of disappeared from here after Louis was born." Lex couldn't face the old man any longer and looked down to study the coffee in her cup. She never quite got over the unexpected death of her youngest brother, even though it had been many years ago.
"Sure do. Right handsome couple, they was. But your granddaddy and old man never could get along. They had some mighty nasty arguments I seem to remember. Why are you asking about them now? I just always assumed you didn't want to have anything to do with them, since we never saw them after your daddy left." When he saw the lost look on her face, Lester reached across the table and grasped her forearm. "What's the matter?"
Lex closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I'm not going to fall apart in front of Lester. And Ronnie could walk in any time. It'd freak him out for sure. She opened her eyes again and patted his hand. "I found out that my grandmother just died, Lester. My father told me years ago that I had no living grandparents. And now I
'm trying to figure out why he would lie to me about something as important as that." She stood and walked over to the large window to peer out at the corral. "It was bad enough when little Louis died--but at least I knew him. It just tears me up inside to think that I lost someone in my family I never had the opportunity to know. And that I lost the last living link to my mother."
Lester pulled himself up and started across the room to Lex. "What do you mean, the last living link? Didn't you talk to Travis?"
"Who's Travis?" Lex turned away from the window as the old man approached. "And why would I talk to him?"
"Why, he's your granddaddy, boss. I figured that he's the one who let you know about Mrs. Edwards' passing." Lex suddenly felt light-headed. She reached back for the solidity of the wall, but her knees buckled.
Chapter Eleven
LEX OPENED HER eyes and saw Lester's concerned face hovering above her. "What happened?" she murmured. She sat uncomfortably against the wall, knees up, with her heart pounding its way out of her chest.
"Good lord, Miz Lex. Are you okay? You done scared ten years off me." The old cook ran trembling hands down her arms. "You didn't have a relapse or something, did you?"
"No. I don't think so." She ran a shaky hand through her hair. "Did I hear you right? My grandfather is alive?"
Lester slowly climbed to his feet. "That's right. At least he was about a month ago when I got his last letter." The old man hobbled over to the radio that sat on the counter. "I'm getting too damned old for all this excitement," he grumbled. He picked up the freestanding microphone and hit the transmit key, signaling the radio at the ranch house. "Excuse me a minute, boss. I got to buzz the main house before Ronnie arrives."
The rancher slowly rose from her position next to the window and limped to the kitchen table. "Why is Ronnie going up to the--" Understanding dawned in her eyes. "Aw, hell." Amanda and Martha will come unglued when he gets there.
"He took off before I could stop him, boss. The little guy just happened to walk into the kitchen about the same time you hit the floor." He put the microphone to his lips. "Main house, this is Lester. Do you read me?" He released the key and waited.
"Why the radio? Is there something wrong with the phone?" Lex asked, as they waited for a response from the house.
"I was going to tell you about it today. It was out yesterday morning when I got up." Lester gave the rancher a shrug of his shoulders.
A clear voice from the radio interrupted him. "I read you loud and clear, Lester. This is Amanda. Is something wrong?" She had been carrying the handheld radio around in her sweater pocket in case Lex called.
The old man glanced over at Lex with a worried look. She had her arm propped up on the table and rested her forehead on her open hand. "Everything is okay, Miss. But Ronnie is going to show up there any minute now, all excited and upset. Just tell him that you talked to me, and that everything is all right."
"Why is Ronnie on his way up here? What's going on?" Amanda's voice had a slightly panicked tone to it.
There was a crackling sound over the airwaves. "Lester, this is Martha. Is Lexie there with you?"
Lex looked up and saw Lester's growing frustration. She stood and smoothly took the radio microphone away from him. "Martha? Calm down. Everything is just fine." She leaned back against the kitchen counter and closed her eyes. "I had a little shock a bit ago, and felt faint for a minute. But I'm okay now, so just--"
"You passed out? Oh, Lexie. Maybe we should--" Martha was interrupted when Amanda seized the radio.
"Lex? My God, are you okay?" Amanda's voice trembled. "What happened?" She didn't wait for an answer. "That does it. I knew you were going to overdo it. Just stay right there. I'll get the truck and pick you up in a couple of minutes."
"Wait!" Lex nodded thankfully to Lester when he brought her a chair to sit on. "Sweetheart, I'm fine, really. I just had more of a shock than I was able to handle, that's all."
Amanda took a deep breath and sat at the kitchen table. "What kind of shock?" She heard a frantic beating on the front door. "I think Ronnie's here." Amanda watched as Martha nodded and left the room. "Now, you were going to tell me what kind of shock would make you pass out."
"I didn't exactly pass out--just got light-headed for a minute. I think I'm overly hungry." Lex couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, it does sound sort of strange, doesn't it?" She felt calmer since she could hear Amanda's voice. Now isn't that pitiful? "Lester just told me that my grandfather is alive, and I guess it kind of threw me for a loop." Major understatement. More like knocked you senseless.
Amanda felt a large weight lift off her shoulders as she realized Lex was okay. "Oh, honey, that's wonderful news. What else did he say?"
"I don't know. That's when things got a bit out of hand," Lex admitted ruefully. "But we're about to make our way back to the house. Hopefully we can get Lester to tell us a little bit more about all of this."
Amanda smiled and waved at the teenage boy Martha escorted into the kitchen. "Sounds great. I'll be looking for you." She rose and walked over to the window as if she could see where Lex was calling from. "I love you."
"I love you, too, sweetheart. We'll be there in a few minutes, okay?" Lex looked at the old cook, daring him to say something about her use of endearments. She set the microphone down and laughed. "Ronnie made it there in record time. Maybe we should see if he wants to join the school track team."
Lester grabbed his coat from a nearby hook and pulled it on. "Maybe so. Lord knows that boy has been a godsend for me. He never complains and is always looking for something to do." He went over to a nearby closet and grabbed a metal box and tucked it under his arm.
"Is that so? I'm really glad, Lester. He's had a rough life, that's for sure." Lex glanced for a moment at the metal box, then led the old man out of the bunkhouse and closed the door behind them. She climbed into the Jeep and waited for him to do the same. "What's in the box?"
"Something I think you'll be rather interested in, boss. I'm just sorry I didn't show it to you before now." Lester looked at her sadly. "I always assumed you knew about your grandparents, but didn't want to have anything to do with them." He hung on as Lex revved the engine and took off down the road toward the main house.
"Don't worry about it." Lex flinched as the Jeep hit a particularly rough spot in the road. "Remind me to get some new shocks put on this old thing, would you? This damned road's going to beat me to death." They rode the rest of the way to the main house in silence; each caught up in their own thoughts.
LEX PULLED THE Jeep up to the front of the house. She watched as Lester slowly pulled himself out of the vehicle and stretched. "You okay, Lester?" She joined the old man as they walked up the steps to the house.
"Just fine, boss. I reckon this cold weather is just messing around with my old bones. I betcha anything that we're in for a nasty storm soon." Lester limped up the steps next to her. "How "bout you? You sure you're feeling okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little sore." Lex opened the door with a grimace. A little sore? Jeez. I ache all over. Wonder if I could talk Amanda into a massage tonight?
The cook patted Lex gently on the back and moved around her. "I'm going to go hunt down Ronnie and make sure he's okay." He limped down the hallway to the kitchen.
"Lex!" Amanda rushed from the sitting room and wrapped her arms around the startled rancher. "Are you all right?" She pulled back slightly to study her face. "You look pale."
Lex gently grasped the hand checking her forehead. "I'm just fine." She put her sore arm around Amanda's waist and continued to walk down the hall. "Did you two get everything done while I was gone?"
"Yes, we did. And we heard from Gramma, too." Don't try and change the subject with me, Lexington Marie. I'll find out sooner or later. Amanda sighed at the obvious diversion, but allowed Lex to lead her to the kitchen. "They should be here in a couple of hours with Jeannie and Frank."
"Great." Lex inhaled deeply at the kitchen doorway. "Mmmm. It smells great
in here," she complimented Martha, who was handing Ronnie a stack of plates. "Looks like you've drafted some more help, Martha." She waved at the young man as he made his way into the next room. "Hi there, Ronnie."
"Hi, Ms. Walters. Are you doing okay?" Ronnie asked as he carried the plates past her into the next room.
She favored him with a gentle smile. "Yep. Just great. Thanks for asking."
The housekeeper looked up to see the couple standing in the doorway. "I'm glad you're doing all right, but you look completely worn out. Why don't you go upstairs and lie down for a little while?"
Lex was about to argue when she felt the arm around her squeeze slightly. "Sounds like a good idea. Guess I'll see you all in a bit." She looked down at Amanda and winked. "Wanna help me up the stairs?"
"Of course. I'd hate for you to strain yourself." Amanda grinned at Martha and escorted Lex from the room.
Lester and Martha watched the couple leave. She sat at the table across from the old cook. "Okay. It's just you and me now. Tell me what happened."
"Not a whole lot to tell. Miz Lex asked me about her granddaddy, and I said that he was still around. Next thing I knew, she turned white as a sheet, slid down the wall, and hit the floor like a rock. Scared me half to death." The old man sighed. "Ronnie walked in about that time and took off like his tail was on fire."
Martha shook her head. "My poor Lexie. This has all been such a terrible shock for her."
Ronnie came back into the kitchen and stood next to the table. "I set the table, ma'am. Is there something else that I can do for you?"
Martha smiled at the earnest young man. "Actually, I think you've taken care of everything. Why don't you go into the den and watch a movie? I know Lexie wouldn't mind."
"Okay, Ms. Rollins. But you come and get me if you need anything done, okay?" Ronnie took off out of the kitchen.