by Carrie Carr
"I'm trying to get some information on my grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Cauble tell me that you performed my parent's marriage ceremony and may remember something that might help."
"Of course. It gives me great satisfaction to assist. Just who were your parents? I'll see what I can do."
Lex shook her head. "I'm sorry. That was terribly rude of me. My name is Lexington Walters. My parents were Rawson Walters and Victoria Edwards, and their ceremony was held thirty-six years ago."
The older man stammered, obviously struck speechless momentarily. Lex actually heard him gulp before he got his voice back and said, "Walters? You're the woman who runs that ranch, aren't you?"
"Yes sir, I am." Lex shrugged slightly at the questioning glance she received from Amanda. "And I am hoping you know something about the Edwards clan."
"What? What do you want from me?" the reverend blustered. "Oh, Lord! Your kind of people are not natural!"
Lex felt a pang of hurt. "What do you mean, my kind?" she asked quietly.
"Godless heathens, the whole lot of you. Flaunting your perversity in front of all decent folks." He paused for a minute. "Why would you want to know about the Edwards'? They were upstanding god-fearing people. I heard that Mrs. Edwards passed on recently, probably from the shame of knowing how truly sick her granddaughter is." He took a breath and spoke in a quiet tone, "Give up your ungodly ways and come to the church. We can help you, young woman."
Amanda saw the hurt on her lover's face and gently took the receiver away from Lex. She cleared her throat and drew in another heavy breath. "Reverend Nelson?" She had heard the question Lex had asked him and had a pretty good idea what he had said. "My name is Amanda Cauble. I'm Jacob and Anna Leigh's granddaughter."
He took a deep breath and released it heavily. "Amanda. It's good to meet you. Don't tell me you're a friend of hers?"
"Actually, I'm more than just Lex's friend, sir. I happen to love her very much." She could hear the reverend take a breath to speak. "Just a minute. You're supposed to preach love and forgiveness. What gives you the right to judge anyone? The last I heard, that wasn't your job."
"Now you listen to me, young lady--" he retorted in anger.
"No. You listen to me. I've had it with people who think they're better than anyone else, just because they have money, or a nicer house, or they go to a certain church. It's wrong. You're wrong. Thank you for your time." Amanda hung up the phone with a sharp exhale. "I hate hypocrites."
Lex smiled tenderly at the young woman sitting in her lap. "You are amazing." The upset that she had felt at the clergyman's words faded quickly. "I love you so much, Amanda."
Amanda leaned over and kissed Lex on the forehead. "I love you, too. Why don't we sneak upstairs and take a quick nap? All that righteous indignation can wear a girl out." She fought back a yawn. Must be all that walking in the mall. I'm pooped. I hope it's not a cold. My chest feels a bit heavy.
"Sounds like a really good idea." Lex allowed her lover to climb off her lap and lead her from the den. She watched as Amanda climbed the stairs. Hmm. You know, suddenly I'm not quite as tired as I was a few minutes ago. She let out a little whistle of happiness.
"Don't even think about it," Amanda called over her shoulder. "We're going to rest." She missed a step and stumbled slightly. "Oops."
Lex sighed as she helped steady her partner. How does she do that? I can never get away with anything. "Right. Rest. Got you."
CHARLIE LOOKED UP as the prosecutor entered his office. "Well? Did you get any more information out of him?" Robert Campbell had spent the entire morning talking to Matt Sterling, trying to pry the name of the man's employer from him.
"He still claims he didn't know the man who paid his bond and has no idea who he is working for. He just liked the money." Robert sat across from the sheriff and loosened his tie. "At least I have a lead on where he was staying. It seems he was evicted from his apartment a few months ago." He pulled out a notepad and flipped through several pages. "He bragged to others that his boss was so impressed with him, that he was furnished with a fancy condo. He told one guy we found, "You can walk to the store and get beer and cigarettes.' I've got a couple of men checking out the condominiums that have short-term leases available. Hopefully, we should hear something later today."
"That's good news. I'm not going to rest until we find out who's behind this whole mess." Charlie closed the file he had been reading and rubbed his eyes. "I'm worried that they'll try again. Lord knows that Lex has been through enough lately." Not to mention my poor Martha. She tossed and turned all night last night.
Robert shook his clean-shaven head. The handsome African-American was in his late thirties, and looked more like a model than an attorney. "I really don't think that's the case, Charlie. I finally got Sterling to admit to the assault on Ms. Walters. The idiot practically bragged about it. He was rather proud of himself since he was able to trick her into going near the ledge. He then said, and I quote, "I whacked that dyke bitch good. I thought I killed her.' Later during the interrogation he told me that his boss had read him the riot act for the attempted murder. Now he's afraid, because he tried again. But I still can't get him to give up the person he's been reporting to." He flipped forward a few more pages in his notebook. "He was supposed to just keep an eye on Ms. Walters and her friend--not take any action against them. So I don't think there's any danger of someone else following in his footsteps." Robert looked up at the lawman, who had grown very quiet. "Do we have any more information on the guy who posted his bail? How did we get a positive identification if no one actually knew who he was?"
The sheriff stopped rubbing his eyes and smiled grimly. "That's the good thing about small towns: a stranger sticks out like a sore thumb. The town gossips had already spread the word that he was here." He blew out a disgusted breath. "Hell, I've never met Mark Garrett, but after getting the description from Naomi, I knew exactly who posted Sterling's bond."
"Still no word on his whereabouts? I think that if we could find him, we could get the name of the person behind it all." The prosecutor looked at his watch. "Damn." He looked back up at the sheriff. "I've got an appointment to look at a house. Are we pretty much done here?"
"Yeah, I think so. You've decided to move to Somerville, then?" Charlie smiled sincerely. At the younger man's nod, he continued, "It's not the biggest city in the county, but it's a nice little town, most of the time."
The prosecutor returned Charlie's smile. "I know, and even though most of my work will be in the outlying areas, I really feel more comfortable about relocating my wife and daughter here. The schools are good, and there's not much crime."
Charlie nodded. "That's true. Well, usually. This mess with Sterling is about as bad as it gets around here."
"It will be all right, Sheriff." Robert stood and brushed off his slacks. "I'm going to talk to the judge before I leave today and make sure that Matt Sterling stays in custody this time. He's too dangerous to Ms. Walters to be allowed out on bond."
"Thanks, Robert. I'd say something, but since I'm more or less family, my argument wouldn't hold much water." The sheriff stood and offered his hand over the desk. "I'm sure glad that you're on this case. Makes me breathe a little easier knowing that you're here."
The prosecutor shook his hand. "My pleasure, Charlie. My uncle has told me nothing but good things about you and about Somerville." Robert's uncle had run a barbershop in the downtown area for over forty years. Harrison Campbell had been trying for quite some time to talk his oldest nephew into settling down away from the big city. When Robert's daughter got into the wrong crowd at her junior high school, the lawyer had accepted a position as a county prosecutor and decided to move his family to the quiet and friendly community of Somerville with the hope of straightening her out.
The sheriff laughed. "Just don't believe everything that Harry tells you. He hears all the good gossip almost before it happens. Sometimes I think he tends to add a little bit extra to the retelling."
> "Don't worry, I've always taken whatever he said with a grain of salt. Sometimes I think that the only reason Uncle Harry ever opened a barbershop was so that he could hear all the news before anyone else. He's always been a nosy old guy." Robert checked his watch again. "I'm going to stop by the judge's office on my way out. What are your plans for the rest of the day?"
Charlie turned serious. "I'm going to wait around a bit and see if we get any information from the investigators still out in the field. Hopefully we'll hear something soon about where Sterling was staying." He looked down at his desk for a moment and smiled a little. "Then I've got a date to watch movies tonight with my beautiful fiancée."
"Sounds like a plan, my friend. You've got my cell phone number in case you hear anything, right?" Robert walked to the door and opened it. "Give my best to your lady, and tell her I look forward to meeting her."
"Will do, Robert. I'll let you know the moment I hear anything." Charlie waved to the prosecutor as the younger man left his office. He settled back into his chair and was about to pick up the phone when it rang, startling him. Since it was Saturday, the main phone was forwarded directly to an answering service. Someone must be calling the private number.
He picked it up to hear Martha's voice sounding upset and out of breath. "Charlie. Thank goodness I've found you."
He stood quickly, almost knocking over the chair behind him. "Martha? What's wrong, sweetheart?"
The housekeeper took a deep breath to settle her nerves. "I hate to bother you, but I can't seem to get in touch with Lexie. Could you come on out to the ranch right now? We're having a problem with young Ronnie. He overheard one of the hands talking about what happened here yesterday."
"I'm on my way. Just sit tight." Charlie hung up the phone and grabbed his Stetson from the coat tree in the corner. He slammed the hat on his head and raced from the office.
Chapter Sixteen
LEX WOKE UP covered in sweat. Damn. Feels like I'm lying too close to a fire, or something. She felt the smaller body next to hers shiver. What the-- Lex pulled back the covers and saw that her companion was huddled up beside her, trembling violently. "Amanda?"
No answer, just another hard shudder.
Alarmed, Lex tried to roll Amanda onto her back. "Sweetheart, can you hear me?"
A strangled gasp was Amanda's only response.
"Come on, baby. Wake up for me," Lex pleaded in a worried tone. She could feel the heat radiating from the feverish body next to her. "Oh, God." Lex leapt from the bed in a panic. "Okay. I'll go downstairs and get your Gramma. She'll know what to do." Lex rushed to the door, then paused in afterthought as she looked down at her nude body. "Shit."
They had taken a short nap before dinner, and after the meal had declined Frank and Jeannie's invitation to go out dancing. Lex was still tired, and Amanda had been unusually quiet throughout the entire meal. Lex handed her truck keys over to Frank, warning him to be careful with her precious Dodge, and Amanda quickly bid her sister and Frank goodnight, then led Lex upstairs. Within minutes, both women were undressed and in bed asleep, which accounted for their current lack of attire.
Lex quickly grabbed the nearest clothes and put them on. She tried one more time to rouse her lover. "Amanda?" She gently shook the trembling woman's shoulder. Amanda did not awaken in response to her touch, just rolled over into a fetal position and continued to shiver.
Her concern turning to fear, Lex grabbed a nightshirt from the nearby dresser and quickly clothed her lover. "Hold on, baby. I'm going to get you to the hospital." She wrapped Amanda in the quilt from the bed and picked her up. Ignoring the protest from her still-healing back, Lex pulled the shuddering woman close and carried her down the flight of stairs.
Lex paused at the foot of the steps and shifted her precious cargo. She looked around anxiously and spotted a weak light coming from the den. Heading in that direction, she stopped in her tracks when a faint voice spoke.
"Lex?" Amanda's eyes opened slightly. She blinked several times and tried to focus. "What's happening?" she rasped out quietly. "I'm so cold."
"Shhh. You're really sick, sweetheart. I'm going to get you to the doctor." She watched as the glassy eyes closed involuntarily. "You're going to be all right," Lex mumbled, more to herself than to the woman lying in her arms. She kissed the heated forehead and hurried into the den. "Anna Leigh. Jacob." Lex was close to tears. "I need your help."
The older couple was snuggled together on the sofa in front of the flickering fireplace. When Lex appeared in the doorway, Anna Leigh turned and gasped aloud, "Lexington? Dear lord." She jumped to her feet and rushed to Lex's aid.
Jacob followed his wife to the standing woman. "What's the matter, honey?" He saw that Amanda's face was flushed and her eyes were closed. "Never mind. I'll go get the Suburban warmed up." He hurried from the room without another word.
Anna Leigh touched Lex's arm. "Sweetheart, why don't you bring Mandy over here to the sofa?"
Lex continued to stand and gaze with worry at the frail bundle in her arms. "She's burning up," she murmured with tears in her eyes. "I don't know what to do. We've got to get her to the hospital."
"Okay," Jacob broke in breathlessly from the front hall. "I've brought the Suburban around to the front of the house." He came around the corner into the room. "Let me help you there, Lex." He reached out for his granddaughter.
Lex pulled Amanda closer to her. "No. Please." He looked hurt, but Lex couldn't let herself be concerned. She allowed Anna Leigh to put an arm around her shoulder.
Anna Leigh gave her husband a knowing look. Let's not argue with her. We need to get Mandy to the hospital. She smiled a little when he seemed to read her mind, and he moved to the other side of her and helped Lex navigate to the front door. "I'll help her get Mandy into the truck." He looked down at Lex's bare feet and legs. She had rushed out of the room in her boxer shorts and tee shirt. "Why don't you run upstairs and grab some of Lex's clothes?"
"Good idea, darling. I'll be right there. And I'll leave a note for Frank and Jeannie so they'll know where we went." Anna Leigh patted Lex on the shoulder and hurried up the stairs.
OBLIVIOUS TO THE stares she received, Lex paced up and down in the waiting room. "What's taking them so damned long?" she grumbled, as her bare feet rapped out a steady beat on the tile floor.
"Lexington, please come over here and get your clothes," Anna Leigh requested for the tenth time. "You're not going to do Mandy any good if you catch pneumonia." She was worried about her granddaughter's partner. Lex seemed completely lost without Amanda nearby to anchor her. Anna Leigh looked up as her husband came back into the waiting area.
Jacob quickly covered the distance from the door and sat next to his wife. They were at Parkdale General Hospital instead of the community hospital, because the facility was newer, better staffed, and much bigger. All of them had agreed that the extra thirty miles would be well worth the time, especially since Jacob had covered the distance in record speed . Now he was regretting the decision. I don't know any of the people here, and they all seem so . . . impersonal. "I checked with the nurse at the admitting desk. Still no word on Mandy's condition, but she did tell me that the doctor was in with her now." He watched as Lex continued to pace and sometime exchange dirty looks with other people in the room. Jacob pulled his wife close and studied Lex. She was still wearing her boxer shorts and tee shirt and carried the boots and socks that Anna Leigh had brought for her. "Still can't get her to calm down or get dressed, huh?"
"I'm afraid not. I can't get much of a reaction at all from her." A sudden inspiration made Anna Leigh shake her head. "I don't know why I didn't think of it before." She patted his leg and stood. "I'll be right back, love. I'm going to go make a phone call." Anna Leigh left the room before her husband could ask where she was going.
The older man stood and walked over to the distraught woman. Lex was staring out the window into the evening gloom. Small crystals of sleet slashed against the glass, and Jacob felt a sympathet
ic chill run down his spine. "Lex," he cautiously placed a hand on Lex's shoulder, "come away from the window, please." He felt her shiver as a blast of cold air rattled the window.
Lex turned away from her vigil and stared at the handsome older man. "What?" She looked at the closed door. "Has the doctor been in yet?"
"No, not yet." Jacob put an arm around Lex and led her to a nearby chair. He grabbed an abandoned blanket from another chair and wrapped it around Lex's shoulders. "You're like a block of ice, Lex. Why don't you let me get you a cup of coffee?"
"No, thank you." Lex shook her head, but didn't take her eyes from the door. What the hell is taking so long? She jumped to her feet as the door opened, but wearily sank back down when Frank and Jeannie burst into the room.
Jeannie quickly scanned the room. When she spotted Jacob and Lex, she grabbed Frank's arm and dragged him across the waiting room. "Grandpa. Lex." Jeannie hurried into her grandfather's open arms. "What on earth happened?"
Jacob held her close. He glanced down at Lex, who stared at the door. "Your sister developed a rather high fever after you left the house this evening," he murmured quietly so as not to upset Lex with the reminder. "Lex brought her downstairs, and we rushed her here."
"Damn." Frank sat next to Lex and put a gentle hand on her leg. That explains why Lex looks as if she jumped right out of bed. "Hey there. Can I get you anything?" He watched as her eyes slowly tracked to his face and blinked.
"Frank? Amanda's sick." She bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes. "I couldn't get her to wake up." Lex took a deep breath to try and calm herself.
Jeannie pulled back from her grandfather's embrace and looked around the room. "Where's Gramma? Has she gone to call Mother and Father?"