I'd still like to know what you think, just drop me a note - cb.zeer@worldnet.att.net

This is dedicated to AJ, who holds my heart and inspires my thoughts. I love you!

Part 8

Chapter 15

"Why don't we just spend the night at my grandparent's house and then come back in the morning?" Amanda suggested. "You said that you didn't want to drive home after dark because of the ice on the roads. This way, we can shop until the stores close." She also wanted a chance to talk to her grandparents before she called her father. Amanda was hoping Anna Leigh and Jacob could help her with what she believed would be a very difficult phone call. I hope that he had nothing to do with Mark posting the bail for Matt Sterling - but it's too big a coincidence to ignore.

They had gotten up early to go into town to do their Christmas shopping at Lex's insistence. Amanda had tried to get her to reconsider because of the previous day's activities, but the rancher refused.

Lex was lying in bed on her left side with her head propped up on one hand. She studied the young woman beside her who was still sleeping peacefully. With a devious smile, she ran a light fingertip across one side of the blonde's cheek. Amanda murmured and rolled over onto her side facing the rancher. Lex paused until her companion had settled down again, fast asleep. Charmed by the innocent smile on Amanda's face, she brushed the hair away from the younger woman's face and leaned over to place a tender kiss on her brow. "Amanda?"

"Mmm…" The blonde scooted closer to Lex and buried her head in the rancher's nightshirt. Still asleep, she tangled their legs together and sighed happily.

"C'mon, sweetheart." Lex rolled over onto her back and carried her lover with her. "Time to get up." She rubbed Amanda's back with her hands in a comforting manner.

Amanda stirred once again. "No…comfy." She wrapped her arms tightly around Lex and snuggled even closer. "Too early."

The rancher chuckled and returned the squeeze. "I thought that you wanted to go Christmas shopping?"

"No…wanna snuggle." Amanda grumbled petulantly. She turned her head until she could see Lex's face. She studied the older woman carefully. "You had a pretty exciting day yesterday. Why don't we just give the shopping a miss? We can go next weekend."

"YOU don't want to go shopping?" Lex put a playful hand against Amanda's forehead. "Funny…you feel cool." She grinned when her hand was casually slapped away. "Seriously, sweetheart…I feel fine. Don't let what happened yesterday influence your decision, okay?"

The blonde continued to watch Lex's face for any sign of pain or fatigue. She does look good, but…"I just don't want you to wear yourself out for something as minor as a shopping trip."

Lex shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with me, Amanda. As for what happened yesterday, I promised you a month ago that we would go Christmas shopping today." She leaned up enough to kiss the younger woman gently. "And no two-bit cattle thief is going to make me break that promise."

She's so darn stubborn, Amanda remembered with a fond smile. The petite blonde sat on the bed and tried to untie a serious knot in the laces of one of her sneakers. "How on earth did I manage to do this?" Amanda continued to work unsuccessfully at the laces. "Crap!"

Lex stepped out of the bathroom wearing only her jeans, a sexy satin bra and a towel around her neck. "Umm…that's kinda my fault, sweetheart." She walked over to the bed and took the white leather shoe away from her friend.

Amanda watched in amusement as Lex fought with the shoestring. "Your fault? How do you figure that?"

"I couldn't find mine." The rancher walked over to the dresser and picked up a small pocketknife.

"Oookaaay." Amanda drew out the word in confusion. "Not that I mind, honey…but your feet are a little big for my shoes."

A dirty look answered her. Lex sighed. "I didn't try to wear them. Dr. A told me that trying to tie shoes with one hand was a good exercise to rebuild the strength and dexterity in my arm and hand." All of her other injuries were almost healed, but Lex was still having trouble with her right arm. Dr. Anderson had assured her that it would heal completely, but the stubborn woman was impatient and ready for it to be back to normal. She opened the knife and started to use it against the knot.

"Hey! Don't…" Amanda jumped up from the bed. Before she could cross the room, Lex tossed her the shoe. "Oh…thanks." She sat back down on the bed and slipped the sneaker on. "So…do you want me to call Gramma and see if they mind us staying with them tonight?"

"Sure. Maybe we can talk your grandfather into cooking stir fry." Lex wandered into the closet. "Have you seen my blue shirt?" she called from inside.

The question caused Amanda to sigh and get off the bed. "Can you be a little more specific, honey?" She poked her head into the closet. "I swear you have nothing but blue shirts."

The rancher grabbed Amanda and pulled her the rest of the way into the closet. She wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and grinned. "Gotcha!"

"You sure do." Amanda smiled happily.

"Can I keep ya?" Lex leaned down until their breaths mingled. She watched as the green eyes below her closed dreamily.

"Uh-huh." A barely heard whisper was her answer.

"Amanda?" Lex dropped her voice to a sexy murmur.

Amanda swayed slightly in her lover's arms. "Mmm?" Her eyes were still closed, and her breathing quickened.

"Where's my blue flannel shirt?" The quiet question sounded almost erotic.

"Oooh, you!" Amanda swatted her on the shoulder. The younger woman leaned her forehead onto Lex's chest and sighed. "You are such a brat!" She pulled back slightly and looked up into blue eyes that sparkled with mischief. "I think Martha did laundry yesterday, so it's probably in the utility room."

Lex smiled broadly. "Great! I'll just go downstairs and…"

"I don't think that you're quite dressed to be running all over the house," Amanda observed. "Why don't you get your boots on and I'll run and grab your shirt?" She reached up and ran a finger down the strap of Lex's dark blue satin bra. One of the first things Amanda had done when she moved in was to buy the rancher colorful satin undergarments. "I really like this one on you." She looked up and smiled. "Brings out the color in your eyes."

The eyes she mentioned rolled in wry amusement. "If you say so. It is really comfortable, though." Lex leaned down and placed a quick kiss on Amanda's lips. "Thanks."

Amanda frowned. "You call that a thank you? I've gotten better thanks from…umph!" Her good-natured protest was cut short when Lex kissed her deeply. "Mmm…" She stretched up and wrapped her arms around the dark head as she felt warm hands grasp her hips gently.

The closet door opened widely and a small hand reached in to switch on the light. "I swear I find you two in the craziest places," Martha teased. She enjoyed the deep blushes that both women suddenly wore. I just love getting them like this!

"I was just looking for my blue flannel shirt," Lex stated matter of factly. She slowly pulled away from Amanda and unsuccessfully tried to take the handful of clothes from the housekeeper. "You didn't have to bring these up, Martha. We're perfectly capable…"

"I know, honey. But I figured that you'd forgive an old woman her little habits." Martha took the clothes and hung them in their proper places. She kept one out and handed it to the tall woman. "Here…although I think it's about time to retire this one to the rag box."

Lex pulled the garment to her chest protectively. "No! This is my favorite shirt!" She quickly slipped the shirt off the hanger and put it on. "And you're not an old woman."

"Do you think that we could finish this conversation in the bedroom?" Amanda asked. "I'm for togetherness as much as the next person, but even I have my limits." She gestured to the doorway.

Martha backed out of the closet and waited until both women joined her. "That was a little silly, wasn't it?"

"It was different, that's for sure." Amanda stepped over and began to button Lex's shirt. The rancher started to argue, but shrugged her shoulders at Martha and allowed Amanda to continue her pampering.

The housekeeper had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. They are just too cute together.

"We've decided to stay in town overnight after we get through shopping," Lex informed the older woman. "Do you want to come with us?" She gave Amanda a grateful smile and crossed the room to retrieve a pair of socks from the dresser.

"No thank you, honey. Charlie is driving out tonight and we're going to watch movies." Martha watched in amusement as Amanda packed a small bag. "I thought you both had clothes there?"

Amanda nodded. "We do, but I like to pack a few extras just in case of an emergency." She waved in Lex's direction. "You know how some people always seem to get dirty, no matter where they go."

Martha laughed. "I know that all too well…" She waved off a glare from Lex. "Don't you be looking at me like that, Lexie. It's true and you know it."

Lex shook her head. "I'm not that bad, Mada." A poke in her arm made her turn her head. "What?"

"Nothing." Amanda smirked. "I've got our bag all packed, honey. Are you about ready to go?"

"Now you wait just one dadblasted minute. You're not going anywhere until you both have had a decent breakfast." Martha had her hands on her hips and a no-nonsense look on her face. "Lexie, you're going to start taking better care of yourself or I'm gonna to sit on you and force you to relax." She pointed an accusing finger at the dark-haired woman then turned and stomped to the bedroom door. "Well?"

"We'll be right down, Martha." Amanda answered. She looked over at the rancher, who stared at the housekeeper in confusion.

"Right." Lex nodded. She watched as Martha left the room then turned and faced Amanda. "What did I do?"

Amanda crossed the room to where Lex stood. She wrapped her arms around the tall woman and squeezed. "I don't think you did anything, love." She looked up and saw a flash of hurt quickly race across Lex's face. "Honey…she's just worried about you. The last couple of months have really been hard on her." Amanda rubbed her hands across Lex's back in a comforting gesture. "C'mon…let's go eat and then hit the road - I've got a lot of shopping to do!"

The rancher sighed. "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"

"Probably." Amanda stepped back and gave the tall woman a gentle pat on her uninjured side. "But I promise to make it up to you tonight." She winked and began walking towards the doorway, with Lex quickly on her heels.

"Wait for me!" Lex chased after the blonde wearing a very large and happy smile on her face.

Lex's large green truck pulled slowly into the driveway and parked beside Jacob's suburban. She turned to her companion and released a heavy sigh. "Are you sure that we left anything for anyone else to buy at the mall?" She could barely see through the back windows of the vehicle due to all the packages that were piled in the back seat.

"It's not that bad." Amanda reached over and clasped the older woman's arm. "But you look completely beat, honey. Why didn't you tell me that I was wearing you out?"

Lex grinned evilly. "You'll never hear me complain about that!"

The blonde flushed darkly. "Oh, boy…I can't believe I walked right into that one!" She lowered her head and tried to ignore her heated face.

"Heh…you're so cute when you blush." Lex covered Amanda's hand with her own. "But seriously, love. I'm fine." She looked past Amanda through the window. "Looks like our welcoming committee is here."

Bounding up to the truck were Frank and Jeannie. The auburn-haired woman was draped over her husband piggyback style. Once they got close to the truck, she reached out and rapped on the window. "You two gonna sit in there all evening, or are you coming inside?" Jeannie couldn't understand why her sister blushed and covered her face with her hands. "What?"

Lex patted her friend's arm and opened the truck door. "C'mon, beautiful. Let's go see what Jacob's got cooking." She winked at Amanda and climbed out of the vehicle. The rancher stepped around the truck and opened the passenger door. She paused when her friend stumbled from the vehicle. "Amanda? Are you okay?"

"Great. Just great," Amanda sighed and allowed Lex to help her from the truck. She reached over and tweaked her sister's nose gently. "What are you two doing chasing around outside like a couple of teenagers?"

Jeannie swatted the offending hand away playfully. "Waiting for you guys, of course." She looked over at Lex, who had pulled a small duffel bag from the back seat of the truck. "How are you feeling, Slim?"

"A little tired." Lex closed the door and put her right arm around Amanda's shoulders. "Remind me to never offer to take Little Miss Bargain Hunter here to the mall Christmas shopping again, okay?"

Frank looked at the tall woman with a new respect. "Good lord, Lex! No one in their right mind would be that brave!" He quickly spun around and began walking back towards the house.

"Giddy-up!" Jeannie gently kicked her husband's hips with her heels. "Better watch it, handsome! My sister has that look on her face!"

"Oh, no!" Frank began to gallop comically up the steps. "Anything but the Look!" He raced into the house with a laugh.

Amanda watched her brother-in-law run into the house with Jeannie hanging onto him for dear life. "Those two are crazy!" She snuggled up against Lex as they continued to walk slowly towards the house. "Are you sure you're okay?" The blonde looked up and saw the dark circles under her lover's eyes. She's probably exhausted, but I bet I'll never hear about it from her. I'm feeling a little run down myself. I hope I'm not coming down with something. No time for that. She inhaled heavily.

"Are you sure you're okay? Maybe we can sneak a nap before dinner." Lex felt the fatigue pull at her. And I love the idea of snuggling up with her. God, I've completely gone off the deep end…world class mushball. She waited for the blonde to step into the house and then closed the door behind them. I hope she's not catching something - it sounds like she's having trouble breathing.

"I'm fine, Lex. Too many pine-scented candles in the mall, I think." Amanda stepped into the entry hall of the large house.

The mall was full of people, which was normal for that time of the year. It seemed like every shop had some sort of candles or incense burning. Even Amanda, who normally enjoyed the scents, had waved her hand in front of her nose. "This stuff is overpowering, isn't it?" she asked her companion.

Lex rubbed her nose with one hand. "You could say that." She looked over at Amanda, who cleared her throat. "How about we get something to drink, and take a break over there?" She pointed to a large open area that had several benches and indoor trees.

"That sounds wonderful. My feet are beginning to complain," Amanda admitted. "Why don't you take the bags and sit down, and I'll go get the drinks?"

"Nah…MY feet are fine. YOU take the bags, and I'll fetch the drinks." She handed her packages to her friend and walked away before Amanda could argue.

The blonde stared after her friend. I can't believe I let her win. She smiled thoughtfully. Yes I can. She's just so darn cute when she wins.

The rancher stepped up to a nearby refreshment cart. She smiled at the young woman working behind the counter who was frantically trying to keep up with the orders. When the teenager looked up and saw Lex, she stopped what she was doing and returned the smile.

"Hi. Umm…can I help you?" the young girl's eyes never strayed from Lex's.

"Hello. I'd like two large Dr. Peppers, please." Lex was partially shoved forward from behind. She turned around and glared at the teenage boy behind her.

The boy looked up at her defiantly. "What?" he snapped.

"Don't push your luck with me, boy…I'm not in the mood." Lex sharpened her glare, which caused the young man to turn away.

The girl behind the counter smiled. "He's been here several times today, harassing folks. Thank you." She gave Lex two Styrofoam cups filled with soda. "You have to get the lids over beside your left hand, I'm afraid. I don't have room for them back here." She winked at the tall woman. "I get off in about an hour and a half, if you're interested."

Ooh, boy. Jailbait. My favorite, Lex winced to herself. "Umm…thanks, but I can't. My girlfriend is sitting over at the atrium, and she's the jealous type." Lex winked at the girl. She left the cups on the sideboard momentarily and grabbed a couple of lids and straws. "Thanks again."

She looked around after covering the drinks and noticed the teenage boy had disappeared. Good. Maybe he'll leave that poor girl alone. The rancher picked up the drinks and made her way back over to Amanda, who was in an animated conversation with an elderly woman.

"And I told that clerk that I could get the same pair of gloves at the discount store downtown for half that price. And do you know what she told me? She said that maybe I'd be better off buying from there, since it's apparent that I have no taste." Amanda shook her head in disgust.

The older woman laughed. "Those folks in that store always think that they're better than anyone else. But I figured THEY'RE the ones having to work there, and I'M the one that's shopping. So I think that makes me a little better." She looked up and saw a tall woman smiling down at them. "Oh! My, you're a tall one, aren't you?"

Lex chuckled and handed Amanda her soda. "So I've been told, ma'am. Would you like a drink?" She offered the other drink to the older woman.

"Oh, honey…you don't have to do that. I can get my own," the elderly woman argued, but gratefully took the cup. "What about you?"

"I'll just go grab another one. I've got a friend working at the drink stand, so it won't take but a second." She winked at Amanda and walked back over to the refreshment booth, much to the delight of the young girl working behind the counter.

"Mandy! Lexington! It's great to see you both again!" Anna Leigh rushed from the den and wrapped her granddaughter in a bone-jarring hug. "I know it was only yesterday, but it seems like forever." She pulled away from Amanda and studied the tall woman standing quietly nearby. "You look horrible, honey." And my granddaughter doesn't look much better…I think it's time to get tough with both of them.

Lex allowed the older woman to pull her into a gentler embrace. "I'm all right, Gramma." She didn't think that she would feel comfortable using the name bestowed upon Anna Leigh by Amanda, but it slipped out quite easily. I must be tired.

Anna Leigh beamed with happiness at the name. "I don't think so, Lexington. You're pale and look like you're about to fall over." She looked over at her granddaughter, who was standing between Jeannie and Frank. "Honey, why don't you help Lexington upstairs and rest a bit before dinner? It's still about two hours away." The ringing of the telephone interrupted the young woman's answer.

"I've got it!" Jacob called from the den. A moment later he stepped from the room with a serious look on his face. "Hello, girls." He noticed the look of exhaustion on the tall woman's face. "I hate to bother you Lex, but Reverend Nelson is on the line. He's returning the call I left for him the other day."

"Maybe I should just take the call for you, honey." Amanda stepped over and wrapped her arm around the rancher's waist. "There's really not much you need from him now anyway, is there?"

"No…but since he's nice enough to return the call, the least I can do is talk to him." Lex squeezed Amanda gently and led her into the den. "Thank you, Grandpa." She stopped and kissed the older man on the cheek. When Amanda had told her how happy the older couple was that Lex called them by more familiar names, the rancher had vowed to herself to try and continue the practice. They've done so much for me; I'll gladly do it for them if it makes them happy. Besides, I like having them as grandparents.

Jacob grinned. "Anytime, sweetheart. The rest of us will be in the kitchen when you get finished." He walked over to his wife and pulled her close. "Shall we, my love?" They turned to walk into the other room, with a smiling Jeannie and Frank close behind them.

Lex walked over to the desk and picked up the phone as she sat down. "Hello? Reverend Nelson?" She waited for Amanda to sit down in her lap before she continued. "Thank you for returning our call."

The voice on the other end of the phone was that of a much older man, but very strong. "No problem at all, young lady. I don't know the Caubles that well, since they don't attend our church, but I've made their acquaintance. Jacob has done some very fine work for us in the past." He cleared his throat and continued. "Now what is it I can do for you, my dear?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Cauble seem to think that you may have some information on my grandparents. They say that you performed my parent's marriage ceremony, and may remember something that might help."

"Of course. Just who were your parents? I'll see what I can do." Reverend Nelson felt a kernel of pride that they had thought of him to help.

Lex shook her head. "I'm sorry. That was terribly rude of me. My name is Lexington Walters. My parents were Rawson and Victoria Walters, and their ceremony was held about thirty-six years ago."

The older man was struck speechless momentarily. "Walters?" he asked when he got his voice back. "You're the young woman who runs that ranch, aren't you?"

"Yes sir, I am." Lex partially shrugged at the questioning glance she received from Amanda.

"What do you want from me? Your kind of people is not natural." The reverend blustered.

The rancher felt a pang of hurt. "What do you mean, my kind?" she asked quietly.

"Godless heathens, the whole lot of you. Flaunting your perversity to all decent folks." He paused for a minute. "Why do 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 sickening 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 pulled in another heavy breath. "Reverend Nelson?" She had heard the question that 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." She fought back a yawn. Must have been all that walking in the mall…I'm pooped. Lord, I hope it's not a cold - it's getting hard to breathe.

He took a deep breath and sighed. "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 are 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 blustered 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."

The blonde leaned over and kissed Lex on the forehead. "I love you too, honey. Why don't we sneak upstairs and take a quick nap? All that righteous indignation can wear a girl out."

"Sounds like a really good idea." Lex allowed her friend to climb off her lap and lead her from the den. She watched as Amanda walked up the stairs. Hmm…you know, suddenly I'm not quite as tired as I was a few minutes ago.

"Don't even think about it." Amanda called over her shoulder. "We're going to rest." She missed a step and stumbled slightly. "Oops."

The rancher sighed. How does she do that? "Right…rest…gotcha."

Charlie looked up as the prosecutor stepped into 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.

"Finally." Robert sat down across from the sheriff and loosened his tie. "I at least have a lead on where he was staying - it seems that he was evicted from his rental house several months ago." He pulled out a notepad and flipped through several pages. "He bragged that his boss was so impressed with him, that he was furnished with a fancy condo where he said, "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; so, hopefully, we should hear something later today."

"That's good to hear. 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 was built 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, and I quote, '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 answering 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 that 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'd never met Mark Garrett, but after getting the description from Naomi, I knew exactly who had 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 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, most of the time, anyway. This mess with Sterling is about as bad as it gets around here."

"It's all right, Sheriff," Robert stood up 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 up." The sheriff stood up and offered his hand over the desk. "I'm sure glad that you're on this case, young man. Makes me breathe a little easier knowing that you're here."

The prosecutor shook the older man's hand. "My pleasure, Charlie. My uncle has told me nothing but good things about you, and about Somerville." His uncle ran 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. He 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 the all 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 news back from our investigators that are 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 fiancee'."

"Sounds like a plan, my friend. You've got my cellular 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. And don't forget the dinner invitation…Martha's one of the best cooks around." Charlie waved to the prosecutor as the younger man left his office. He was about to pick up the phone when it rang, startling him. "This is Sheriff Bristol." Since it was Saturday, the main phone was forwarded directly to an answering service. Someone must be calling the private number.

"Charlie! Thank goodness I've found you!" Martha sounded upset and out of breath.

He stood up 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, honey. Just sit tight." Charlie hung up the phone and grabbed his hat from the coat tree in the corner. He slammed the hat on his head and raced from the office.

Chapter 16

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…? The rancher pulled back the covers and saw that her companion was huddled up beside her, trembling violently. "Amanda?"

No answer, just another hard shudder.

Worried, Lex tried to roll the younger woman onto her back. "Sweetheart, can you hear me?"

A strangled gasp was Amanda's only response.

"C'mon, baby…wake up for me," Lex pleaded in a nervous tone. She could feel the heat emanating from the feverish body next to her. "Oh, god…" The dark-haired woman 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 and then 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 offer to go out dancing. Lex had still been tired, and Amanda had been unusually quiet throughout the entire meal. The blonde had quickly bidden her sister and Frank goodnight, and then led the rancher upstairs. Within minutes, both women were undressed and in bed asleep.

Lex quickly grabbed some clothes and put them on. She tried one more time to rouse her lover. "Amanda?" She gently shook the trembling woman's shoulder.

Amanda never awakened, but rolled back into a fetal position and continued to shiver.

Lex grabbed a nightshirt from the nearby dresser and quickly clothed her friend. "Hold on, baby…I'm gonna 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 began to carry her down the flight of stairs.

The rancher paused at the foot of the stairs and shifted her precious cargo. She looked around until she spotted a weak light coming from the den.

"Lex?" Amanda's eyes opened slightly. She blinked several times and tried to focus. "What's happening? I'm so cold," she rasped out quietly.

"Shhh…you're really sick, sweetheart. I'm gonna get you to the doctor." She watched as the glassy green eyes closed involuntarily. "You're gonna be all right," the rancher mumbled, more to herself than to the woman unconscious in her arms. She kissed the heated forehead and stepped 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 the dark-haired woman stood in the doorway, Anna Leigh turned around and gasped aloud. "Lexington? Dear lord…" She jumped to her feet and rushed to the rancher's aide.

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. "Nevermind. I'll go get the suburban warmed up." He hurried from the room without another word.

"Sweetheart, why don't you bring Mandy over here to the sofa?" Anna Leigh touched Lex's arm.

The tall woman stood and looked down worriedly 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."

"Okay…I've brought the truck around to the front of the house," Jacob broke in breathlessly. "Let me help you there, Lex." He reached carefully for his granddaughter.

Lex pulled Amanda closer to her. "No…please." She allowed Anna Leigh to put an arm around her shoulder.

The older woman 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.

He moved to the other side of Lex and helped her navigate to the front door. "I'll help Lex get Mandy into the truck, love." He looked down at the rancher'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 damn 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 secretly worried about her granddaughter's friend. The tall woman seemed completely lost without Amanda nearby to anchor her. Anna Leigh looked up as her husband stepped back into the waiting area.

Jacob quickly covered the distance from the door and sat down next to his wife. They were at Parkdale General Hospital instead of the community hospital, because the facility was newer and much bigger. All of them had agreed that the extra thirty-minute drive would be well worth the time since the staff was larger, and the hospital was more up to date. 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 sometimes exchange dirty looks with the other people in the room. Jacob pulled his wife close and studied the rancher. She was still wearing her boxer shorts and tee shirt, and carried around the shoes and socks that Anna Leigh had brought for her. "Still can't get her to calm down or get dressed?" he asked worriedly.

"I'm afraid not. I can't get much of a reaction at all from her." Anna Leigh shook her head. I don't know why I didn't think of it before…" she patted his leg and stood up. "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 up and walked over to where the distraught woman was standing. Lex was staring out the window into the evening gloom. Small bits of sleet had begun to fall against the glass and Jacob felt a sympathetic chill run down his spine. "Lex…" he cautiously placed a hand on the rancher's shoulder. "Come away from the window, honey." 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 towards the closed door. "Has the doctor been in yet?"

"No, sweetheart…not yet." Jacob put an arm around Lex and gently led her to a nearby chair. He grabbed an abandoned blanket from another chair and wrapped it around the dark-haired woman's shoulders. "You're like a block of ice, honey. 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 sank back down wearily when Frank and Jeannie burst into the room.

The small auburn-haired woman 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 stepped into her grandfather's open arms. "What on earth happened?"

Jacob held the young woman close. He glanced down at Lex, who was staring at the door once again. "Your sister developed a rather high fever after you left the house this evening," he murmured quietly so as not to upset the rancher. "Lex brought her downstairs and we rushed her here."

"Damn." Frank sat down 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 the blue eyes slowly tracked to his face, and then 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?"

"I'm not sure, honey. She did say she was going to make a phone call, but I don't know to who." Jacob looked up as the door opened.

A dark-haired man wearing a white lab coat walked purposely into the room. He glanced down at the clipboard in his hand and looked around the waiting room. "Are there any relatives of a Miss Amanda Cauble here?"

Jacob made his way over to the smaller man. "I'm her grandfather, Doctor…?"

"Barnes." The weary doctor looked up into the older man's concerned eyes. "Why don't we go into the consultation room, and I'll brief you on what I know."

"How's my granddaughter, Dr. Barnes? Can we go in and see her now?" Jeannie, Frank, and Lex had joined Jacob. "Is she going to be okay?"

The doctor looked at the anxious faces surrounding him. "She's resting comfortably for now. But I really need to get some information from you first." Dr. Barnes consulted his clipboard again. "Has Miss Cauble complained of difficulty in breathing, or had any problems with coordination?"

All faces turned to Lex. "You've been around her more that the rest of us lately. Has Mandy mentioned anything like that to you?" Jeannie asked the tall woman. "She did seem rather quiet at dinner this evening."

"No…she hasn't said anything to me," Lex shook her head. "What's wrong with her?"

"As I said before, I really want to talk about her condition privately. Let's go into the consultation room." The doctor opened the door and began to usher the group out with him.

Jacob stopped suddenly. "Wait…my wife. She's gone to make a phone call." He didn't want Anna Leigh to come back and see her family missing.

"I'll wait for her, and then we'll both join you," Frank volunteered. He wanted to know what was wrong with Amanda too, but felt that it was more important for the others to find out first.

Dr. Barnes nodded. "Very well." He looked at the three remaining people. "You all are immediate family, correct?" All but the tall woman nodded. "Who are you in relation to the patient?"

"I'm…uh…" Lex looked at Jacob with confusion. What the hell am I? Friend? Family? Significant other? Damn… "She's my…uh…we're…"

"Nevermind. You'll have to stay here, if you're no relation to Miss Cauble. Only immediate family." He ushered Jacob and Jeannie from the room.

Jacob could be heard arguing with the doctor as they walked down the hallway. "You had no cause to treat her like that! Lex is a part of our family, too." The doctor's reply couldn't be heard.

Lex stood there and stared at the closed door. She felt a strong hand clasp her shoulder gently. "C'mon, Lex…we'll wait for Anna Leigh to get back, and then she'll find out what's going on for us."

Charlie pulled his cruiser up to the front entrance of the ranch house. He noticed that two old trucks were also parked nearby. Those are the trucks that the ranch hands use, he observed to himself. I wonder what on earth is going on? Before he could finish walking up the steps, the front door opened and Martha bustled out.

"Thank goodness you're here!" She rushed to the lawman and enveloped him in a fierce embrace. "Ronnie's in the den. He's really shook up, too. Lester and Roy are in there with him now, and I can't seem to get in touch with Lexie. There's no answer at the Caubles, and I get the voice mail message when I call her cell phone."

"Calm down, sweetheart. Everything's going to be okay." Charlie rubbed her back and then pulled away slightly. "What seems to be the problem? You said on the phone that he found out about his brother and became upset. Does he blame Lex for Matt being back in jail?"

Martha allowed her fiancee' to lead her back into the house. "No…he somehow feels responsible for his brother's actions, and is trying to leave the ranch." She stopped when she heard several loud voices coming from the den.

"Now just calm yourself, son," Roy's deep voice rumbled. "No sense in you getting all upset."

"I don't deserve to stay here!" The young man tried to race from the room, only to run into Charlie in the hallway. "OOOF!" Ronnie stumbled back and then paled. "Sh…Sheriff Bristol?" He looked at Martha, and then to Charlie. "I guess you're here to take me back to the detention center, aren't you?" He raised both hands up in front of his body. "Might as well put the handcuffs on me…I'm no better than my brother."

The lawman shook his head and was about to speak when Martha stepped between them. "Now you wait a cotton-pickin' minute! Don't you dare compare yourself to the likes of that man." She reached out and grabbed the teenager and pulled him to her gently. "My Lexie would be the first to tell you that you can't judge a person by their family." She felt Ronnie's arms wrap around her body as the young man buried his face in her ample chest and began to cry. "It's all right now, honey…no one's going to send you anywhere, I promise."

She's so good with kids…it's a shame she never had any of her own. Charlie watched with pride as his wife-to-be comforted the upset boy. Well, I should take that back. Lex is more like her own than anyone could ever be. And she's done a fine job with her. He motioned for the other two men to join him in the hallway.

Lester smiled at the scene as he passed. "Sorry you had to make the trip out here for nothing, Charlie." He led the other two men down the hall to the kitchen. "Might as well make some fresh coffee, right?"

"Sounds good to me," Charlie acknowledged. "And I was about to drive on out here anyway."

Roy laughed. "That's right. I hear that congratulations are in order." He slapped the lawman on the back good-naturedly. "You're not planning on taking Martha away from the ranch, are you?"

Charlie shook his head and sat down at the kitchen table. "Like I ever could." He saw the relief cross the foreman's face. "Are you kidding me? I'll have to tie her up and kidnap her just for the honeymoon."

"Don't we know it? I'll bet that…" Lester's remark was cut short by the ringing of the nearby phone. "Let me get that." He limped over to the cabinet and picked up the receiver. "Rocking W ranch, Lester here."

"This is Anna Leigh Cauble. Is Martha available?" The older woman's voice sounded somewhat upset.

Lester looked at the phone in his hand. "Mrs. Cauble? Is everything okay?" He covered the mouthpiece with his hand and raised his eyes to the other two men. "Go get Martha - it's Amanda's grandmother."

"I'll get her." Roy jumped up and hurried from the room.

The sheriff stood up and accepted the phone from Lester. "Anna Leigh? This is Charlie. Is everything okay?"

Anna Leigh sighed heavily. "Charlie! I'm so glad you're there. We're at Parkdale General."

"Hospital? What happened?" Charlie heard footsteps and then felt Martha lean up against him. "Martha's here, Anna Leigh." Neither noticed as Lester limped quietly from the room to give them privacy.

"Great. Can you bring her up here? We brought Mandy in over an hour ago, and poor Lexington is beside herself with worry." She breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Poor girl…I think she really needs Martha right now.

Martha allowed Charlie to hand her the phone. "Did I hear something about a hospital? What's going on, Anna Leigh?" She felt her fiancee' wrap a comforting arm around her.

"Mandy seemed to get a very high fever this evening after they went to bed, and we rushed her to Parkdale General. We're now waiting on word from the doctor. Could you possibly come up here and help us with Lexington? I'm afraid she's not taking this whole situation very well."

"Of course! We'll leave right away." Martha smiled at Charlie's agreeing nod. "Is there anything we can bring?"

The older woman almost laughed. "Well, you might want to bring Lexington another change of clothes. She's pacing around here in her pajamas, and I can't get her to put on the jeans and shirt I brought."

"Don't tell me she's wearing a pair of those cartoon shorts and a tee shirt?" Martha closed her eyes in resigned disbelief. I swear that girl is gonna be the death of me yet.

"I'm afraid so. Everyone in the hospital has seen the Grinch in all his glory." Anna Leigh chuckled at the tone in the housekeeper's voice.

Martha groaned. "Dear lord…not those! Okay, then. We're on our way, honey." She paused for a moment and turned serious. "My prayers are with you and your family. I know that Amanda is going to be just fine."

Anna Leigh took a deep breath and smiled into the phone. "Thank you, Martha. I'll see you both in a little while."

The housekeeper hung up the phone and looked up into the worried eyes of her intended. "Poor little Amanda's sick, and our Lexie needs us."

"Let's get going, then." Charlie kissed the top of Martha's head and led her from the kitchen.

Dr. Barnes waited to speak until Jacob and Jeannie were seated in front of his desk. When the older man opened his mouth, the doctor raised a hand to forestall him. "Please, Mr. Cauble. We've been over this half a dozen times. Hospital policy states that if a person isn't related to the patient, we cannot release information to them."

"I can appreciate that, Doctor. But what I don't appreciate is the manner in which you dismissed Lexington. She's as much a part of our family as I am." Jacob smiled as Jeannie nodded in agreement.

"That may be true, but policy is policy." Dr. Barnes flipped through the notes on his clipboard. "Let's just get a few questions out of the way. Then we can worry about my manners, or lack thereof." He had worked two double shifts in a row and was completely exhausted. After the pair across from him nodded, he continued, "Please don't take any of these questions personally. I'm trying to help Miss Cauble, so I'll need you to be as truthful as possible."

Jeannie looked questioningly at the physician. "Believe me, we'll do everything we can to help my sister."

"Thank you." Dr. Barnes consulted the papers in front of him. "Does Miss Cauble use drugs, even in a recreational manner?"

"WHAT?!?" Jacob jumped to his feet. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Grandpa, please." Jeannie grasped his arm gently and pulled him back down to his chair. "No, she never has."

A timid knock at the door caused all three heads to turn in that direction. Anna Leigh poked her head in and smiled slightly. "I'm terribly sorry I'm late…the nurse at the front desk told me where to find you." She noticed the upset look on her husband's face. "What's wrong?" The small woman stepped the rest of the way into the room and stood next to Jacob.

Jacob pointed a shaky finger at the shocked doctor. "This man insinuated that Mandy is on drugs." He glared at the seated man.

"Mr. Cauble…I wasn't insinuating anything. Due to the nature of my patient's illness, I had to ask that question." He waited until everyone was seated again. "We can rule out drug use, then." Dr. Barnes spoke more to himself as he wrote something on the clipboard. "Did I hear you correctly, that she spends most of her time with that other woman?" He asked the concerned people in front of him.

"That's right, Doctor. Amanda has been living at Lex's ranch for over a month now," Jeannie offered helpfully.

As Dr. Barnes continued to write, he mentally braced himself for the next question. "How well do you all know this woman? Does she have a history of drug use?"

Anna Leigh couldn't help herself…she laughed. "Good lord, no!" She patted her husband's arm to keep him calm. "I've known Lexington for most of her life…she's the most anti-drug person I have ever met. Why all the questions about drug use?"

"After running several tests, we've concluded that Miss Cauble's illness was brought on by barbital poisoning." Seeing the blank looks on everyone's faces, he continued, "This is something that cannot be accidental."

Jacob felt his wife's fingers dig deeply into his arm. "Poisoned?"

"Is she going to be okay?" Jeannie asked shakily.

"We hope so…the next twelve hours are crucial. Once she gets past that, she should be fine."

"How could she have come in contact with this? Are you sure it wasn't somehow an accident?" Anna Leigh questioned. Why would anyone want to hurt Mandy?

"I'm afraid not. This had to be given either by injection, or oral means. And from the traces we found in her bloodstream, she was given a very large dose…today." The doctor sat his pen down on the desk with a weary sigh.

Frank watched as Lex tossed the blanket from her shoulders and began to pace the waiting room again. She looks like hell…He stood up and tried to keep up with her. "Lex…why don't you get dressed, and we'll go get some coffee? I'm getting cold just looking at you." It was true…the waiting room felt like it was about sixty-five degrees, and the sleet slamming against the windows made it feel even cooler.

"Why won't they tell us what's wrong with her? They won't even release the damn room number to me - just that she's in intensive care." Lex ran a nervous hand through her disheveled hair. She stalked over to the window and peered out at the late night gloom.

"I'm sure it's just a precaution. She going to be fine - you've got to believe that." Frank stood behind the tall woman and put his hands on her shoulders. Neither one of them heard the door open behind them.

"Lexington Marie Walters! You get yourself over here and put some clothes on this instant!" Martha stood inside the doorway holding a small suitcase.

Spinning around, Lex almost knocked Frank down. "Mada?" she murmured and rushed forward as tears began to spill down her cheeks.

Continued in Part 9...