Chapter 17 1 страница

Amanda woke up slowly, and the first thing she saw was her grandmother’s concerned face. She smiled weakly at the older woman. "Hi." Her voiced sounded scratchy, and she welcomed the small cup of water and straw that Anna Leigh held for her. After taking a few tentative sips, Amanda gave the older woman a stronger smile. "Thanks."

"You’re welcome, honey." Anna Leigh couldn’t keep her hands still as her nerves were on edge. She fussed a bit with the blanket, straightening and brushing off the same area several times. She had chased her son and husband from the room earlier, asking them to go pick up something to eat. Morris and Kevin promised to take care of the two men, and return shortly with lunch for her as well.

"Gramma?"

The older woman looked up into the eyes that looked so much like her own. "I’m sorry, Mandy. Do you need more water? How about another blanket? Maybe I can…" One of her nervous hands was clasped gently.

"What’s the matter? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this." Amanda had a fairly good idea what her grandmother’s problem was. "I’m okay, Gramma." She looked down at the foot of the bed, where her right leg had been placed in traction. Still feeling groggy from the anesthesia, she grinned. "Still have everything I came in here with," she teased. "That’s always a good thing, right?"

Anna Leigh laughed, then covered her mouth with her free hand to fight back her tears. "Dear Lord, Mandy. This is not a joke. You both could have been killed!"

"But we weren’t." Amanda looked around and saw the linen curtain that marked off her part of the room. "Where’s Lex? How is she? I need to see her." She reached for the side rail of the bed. "Help me sit up, please, Gramma?"

The beige curtain slowly moved back, and a smiling Martha appeared. "Goodness, honey. You sure do raise a ruckus," she teased. "How are you feeling?"

Amanda smiled back at her. "I’m doing okay, still feeling a little groggy, though." She sighed in relief when she was helped to a near sitting position, and she could see across the dimly lit room. "Oh, Lex," she murmured, trying not to wake the woman resting in the opposite bed.

"She’s doing just fine, Amanda. I’m afraid she got a bit anxious waiting for you to come down from surgery, and the nurse had to sedate her." Martha stepped over and placed a hand on Anna Leigh’s shoulder. "The swelling in her eyes should be down enough tomorrow so that she can see again, thank goodness. I’m afraid our Lexie isn’t one for feeling helpless," she joked to the young woman.

"Now that’s an understatement." The space between the beds appeared to be vast, and Amanda wracked her brain trying to figure out how to get her leg from the traction that it was in. "Is there any way we can be pushed closer together? I’d like to be able to…"

"I’m sure something can be arranged," the housekeeper murmured. Martha exchanged looks with Anna Leigh. "What do you think?"

For an answer, Anna Leigh stood up and slid her chair to the other side of Amanda’s bed. Both women worked quickly, and soon had the beds no further than a foot apart. "I’m certain that the nurses will have something to say about this," the elegant woman commented, "but they’ll have us both to answer to!" She watched as her granddaughter slowly reached over and touched the sleeping woman’s arm.

"Lex…" Amanda whispered, feeling relief at finally able to make contact with her lover. She looked at the two women standing by the foot of her bed. "Thank you, both of you." Tears pooled in her eyes. "You don’t know how much this means to me."

Anna Leigh gently patted the young woman’s uninjured leg. "I think we have a pretty good idea, Mandy. Why don’t you try to get a little rest? Lexington will probably be sleeping for hours, yet. The nurse was afraid that she’d hurt herself, so I think the sedative she gave her was a strong one."

Amanda’s lips curled into a faint smile. Knowing Lex, that’s probably the only way they got her to rest. Then a frown of concern appeared as she studied the rancher’s face. She looks so pale. She looked up at Martha. "She is going to be okay, isn’t she?"

"She sure is, sweetie. Looks a lot worse than she is. I’d forgotten how scary a broken nose can look," the housekeeper sighed. Poor child looks like a wounded raccoon.

"Maybe I’ll just close my eyes for a minute," Amanda said, tilting the bed back to a more comfortable position. "I just don’t want her to wake up and think that no one’s here." She closed her eyes, but kept her grip on Lex’s arm.

Martha smiled at the sight. She patted Anna Leigh on the arm and sighed. "Why don’t we let these girls get some rest, and go see how the rest of our family is doing?"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Martha. I’m sure they’re busy harassing half the staff by now." Anna Leigh spared one final glance at her granddaughter, then followed the housekeeper from the room.

***************

"What do you mean, it didn’t work?" He sat up and rubbed his eyes. The hangover from all the alcohol he had consumed the day before was making him sick to his stomach.

"You stupid jackass! Can’t you do anything right?"

"Don’t be yelling at me! We almost killed ourselves for you! As it is, I’m gonna have to put the truck in the shop. You told me it would be easy. Didn’t think the damned broad could drive that good." Bobby reached to his nightstand and grabbed the half-empty beer he had left there last night. Taking a long swallow, he blinked and rubbed his eyes. "It’s too early to argue about this, anyway."

"Quit your whining. It’s after one o’clock in the afternoon. How hard is it to run someone off the damned road?"

The bleary-eyed man pulled the phone away and stuck his index finger in his ear, wiggling it around. "Not so loud, for crissakes! Jeez! Try to do a person a favor, and get yelled at," he muttered.

The person at the other end of the phone sighed. "Okay, fine. I’m sorry I yelled at you. But you told me last night that you could handle her for me. You didn’t even do anything to her at the dance!"

"How were we supposed to know that her little girlfriend could fight so dirty? Benny’s still aching from last night." He almost chuckled at the memory. Better him than me. "I was gonna go after them, but you told us to make sure nobody saw us. Stupid dykes."

"Okay. Don’t worry about them. I’ll think of something else."

Bobby nodded, and drained the rest of the beer. "That’s cool. I’ve gotta get the truck fixed, though. If the old man…"

"Wait! You idiot! If you take the truck in to get repaired, they’ll know it was you. And then they’ll trace you back to me. I can’t afford for that to happen."

"Well, what am I supposed to do? It’s not even my truck."

A long pause was followed by another heavy sigh. Do I have to think of everything? Idiot. "Rent a truck for now, and just give me the bill. Once everything dies down a bit, then take the damaged truck out of town to be worked on. I’ll pay for that, too. Do you think you can handle that?"

"Yeah, yeah. I got it. You don’t have to get all bent out of shape."

"Don’t screw this up, idiot. I’ve got enough things to worry about without having to baby-sit you, too."

Bobby yawned, and scratched at his belly. "Yeah, right. Just don’t be asking me for any more favors." He hung up the phone and shook his head. "Somebody needs to get laid. Waaay too uptight."

***************

The touch on her arm was so light, that Lex thought she was imagining it. Struggling to see through her still-swollen eyes, she was gratified to see that it wasn’t a dream. Amanda was sleeping in the bed next to hers, and she had her fingers curled around the rancher’s forearm. The lights in the room were dimmed, so it was hard to see everything, but Lex strained her eyes to see the younger woman’s right leg raised in traction. "Oh, sweetheart. I’m so sorry," she murmured.

"Mmm?" Amanda tried to roll over in her sleep, but was stopped as a wave of pain flashed through her leg. "Ow!" She felt eyes on her and looked across at her lover’s pained gaze. "Lex! Why didn’t you wake me?" She quickly tried to scoot closer, never releasing her grip on Lex’s arm.

"I just woke up, myself," the rancher admitted. Lex blinked a few times to try and clear her vision. She struggled to a sitting position and swung her legs over the side of the bed, much to her partner’s shock.

"What are you doing, Lex? You can’t do that, honey." Amanda almost hit the call button for the nurse. "You’re going to hurt yourself!"

There was barely enough room between the beds for the tall woman to stand, but she somehow managed it. "Hush," Lex whispered. "My eyes still aren’t working that well, and I need to see you." Luckily, the IV was hooked up to her right arm so that she didn’t have to maneuver around it. Her bare feet hit the tile floor, and she gasped. "Damn, that’s cold."

Amanda chuckled. "Teach you to not listen to me," she grumbled. She watched as Lex fought to keep the pain from showing in her face. Her poor face. She looks like she lost the title fight. Even in the faded light she could see what the effort was costing her lover. "You really should be lying down."

"I would, but these beds aren’t big enough." Lex settled for sitting on the edge of Amanda’s bed, and reached up with one hand to caress the younger woman’s face. "I’m so sorry about your leg, sweetheart. Is there anything I can get you?" She had to lean down to make out her partner’s features.

"Yeah, this." Amanda wrapped her unencumbered arm around the dark-haired woman’s neck and pulled her face down gently for a kiss. I was afraid of this. She could feel the heat from Lex’s body as she pulled her close. She’s still running a fever. How on earth am I going to get her back in her own bed?

"Ahem."

They both turned their faces towards the door, and smiled. "Hi, Grandpa," Lex greeted. She was thankful for the low lighting in the room, so that he couldn’t see her blush.

Travis walked further into the room, shaking his head. "I was going to ask you how you’re doing, but I can see for myself," he teased. "Is there a reason, besides the obvious one, why you’re not in bed, Lexie?"

"Umm…"

He waved his hands. "Never mind. I don’t think I want to know." Travis reached over and turned Lex’s face towards him. "Good Lord, child!"

She grabbed his hand and held it. "It looks a lot worse than it is, Grandpa. I’m fine."

"Uh-huh." Deciding to change tactics, Travis looked down fondly at Amanda. "How are you doing, honey? Your grandmother told me that the surgery went well."

Amanda nodded. "I’m feeling pretty good. They didn’t find the problems they expected, and only put a pin in my leg as a precaution. I should up and around in no time."

A pin in her leg? My God! What have I done to you? Lex felt tears burn her eyes. Maybe if I were a better driver, none of this would have happened. She could have been killed, and it’s all my fault. Her self-recriminations were cut short by Amanda’s gentle touch.

"Lex? Hey, what’s the matter?" The blonde didn’t like the lost look on her lover’s face. "Are you okay?"

Lex nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I’m fine." She felt a strong hand on her good shoulder. "What?"

"I think you’ve been out of bed long enough, young lady. Don’t make me pick you up and tuck you in," Travis threatened. When he saw his granddaughter open her mouth to argue, he shook his head. "Nope. In bed. Now. Or I’ll go get Martha."

The rancher exchanged looks with her partner and sighed. "You would, wouldn’t you?" Hearing his chuckle, she rolled her eyes. "Okay, you win." Lex bent down and kissed Amanda gently on the lips. "I’ll be back," she whispered.

"Not for a while you won’t, young lady." Travis gently helped Lex to her feet and to her own bed. "I’d hate for Martha to spend the night up here, thinking that you can’t be trusted."

"Grandpa! Don’t you dare!" Lex blustered, as he swung her legs back onto the bed, and covered her with the blanket. "Martha worries enough as it is."

He nodded. "My point exactly, Lexie." Travis turned serious and lightly touched her head. "This could have been a lot more serious, I know. But you’ve still got a concussion and a fever, and you need to take it easy, all right?" He cleared his throat, which had closed up at the thought of what he’d almost lost. "Humor an old man, will you? Just for a little while?"

I’ve been pretty selfish, haven’t I? Seeing the tears sparkle in his eyes, Lex nodded. "I will, I promise."

"Good. Thank you." Travis leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Now get some rest. Charlie wants to come in a little later and ask you a few questions, but he thought he’d better wait until you were feeling stronger." And he also knew that Martha would have his hide if he came in any sooner with official business. I’m so glad that she’s been here to take care of Lexie for all these years. Such a remarkable woman. He straightened up and made his way back to the door. "You girls both get some rest. I’ll be back later to check on you." With a wave and a smile, he was gone.

"He’s certainly got your number," Amanda giggled. "Threatening you with Martha like that."

Lex turned her head and looked at her lover. "It’s not like I’m afraid of her, or anything," she huffed. "I just didn’t want to worry him, that’s all."

Amanda laughed. "Uh-huh. Bwawk, bwawk," she teased. "Big chicken."

"Brat."

***************

She was sitting in the back booth at the diner, reading the paper and not paying attention to anything around her. Hearing a body drop into the seat across from her, Janna looked over the paper at the intruder. "What in the hell do you want?"

"I wanted to apologize for the other day," Hubert answered contritely. His forehead still sported a nasty bruise from where he banged it on the wall. "I’m afraid I was drunk, and out of line. I’d like for us to be friends, if we could."

"Do you really think that’s possible, Hubert? Calling me a bitch and trying to take my head off isn’t the best way to impress me." She folded up the paper and sighed. Bad enough I had to get this lecture from Dad, but now I have to talk to SuperJerk, too?

He gave her a charming smile. "I know, and I’m really sorry. Alcohol makes me do, and say, some really stupid things." Hubert leaned forward slowly. "Your dad and I go back a long ways. I don’t want our differences to jeopardize a friendship I’ve come to depend on dearly. He’s like a brother to me."

Uh-huh. He sends you business, and vice-versa. Why am I sitting here talking to a man who can’t even treat his own SISTER with respect? What a complete asshole! Janna leaned back in her seat to get some space. "Right. Speaking of family, have you seen your sister? I hear she gets out of the hospital tomorrow." Let’s see how he handles this one. Janna had gone to the hospital the day before to visit Lex and Amanda after their automobile accident. She had called the ranch looking for Lex, and the young man had answered the phone had given her the news.

"Umm…no, I haven’t. My sister and I don’t get along, and I don’t want to upset her unduly." His outside demeanor calm, Hubert fumed inwardly. How dare she bring up that bitch to me? All I’ve heard about all day was Lexington this, Lexington that. If one more person asks me how she’s doing, I’ll shove my friggin’ fist down their throat!

"I see. Well, she’s looking pretty good right now, all things considering." The more Janna was around this man, the more disgusted she became. "Anyway, I don’t think it would be a good idea for us to be around each other, Hubert. There’s just too much history, don’t you think?"

Hubert stood up. "Your loss, babe. Just don’t go messing up what I have with your old man, and I’ll be happy." He straightened his tie and stomped from the diner, leaving a trail of curious glances in his wake.

Asshole. Janna shook her head and opened up her paper again. She heard someone clear their throat discreetly, and looked over the paper in annoyance. "What?!" Standing beside her table was Barbara, the woman she had ‘rescued’ a couple of nights before. "Oh, I’m sorry. Would you like to sit down?"

"Thank you," Barbara murmured, as she slid into the booth across from Janna. "I saw Hubert leave, and he didn’t look happy." She privately enjoyed the angry look on his face as the livid man stormed from the building. He had almost run into the light post outside, and Barbara had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

"Yeah, well, he’s a jackass." Janna noted the other woman’s blush. "I’m sorry. You’ll have to excuse my language. I’m not used to being around a lady." She studied Barbara for a moment, then decided. "Would you like something to eat?" the accountant asked, as she waved for the waitress.

Barbara nodded. "Sure." She looked up as the server stood by the booth. "I’d like a chef’s salad, and a glass of tea."

"Salad? That can’t fill you up. Why not a hamburger instead? My treat."

The bank teller shook her head. "Oh, no. I couldn’t let you do that."

Janna smiled at her. "C’mon, please?" At the other woman’s reluctant nod, she gave the waitress a triumphant smile. "All right! Bring the lady your burger platter, and a large glass of tea." Once the server had left with the order, Janna looked at her watch and turned her attention back to her tablemate. "So, what brings you here this time of day? I thought that the bank gave you folks a decent lunch hour."

After the incident with Hubert on New Year’s Eve, Janna had driven the other woman home. Over coffee at Barbara’s house, they found that they actually had a lot in common, and quickly became friends. Several hours and a pot of coffee later, Janna had learned all about Barbara’s life in the small town, and how she had been tricked by Hubert to help him get his hands on the ranch’s money.

Janna leaned forward and studied the woman across from her. She still had a red splotch on her cheek from where Hubert had slapped her, but it was fading. "You did what? Isn’t that illegal?"

The bank teller nodded. "I think so. I didn’t know at the time that I was doing anything wrong. Hubert told me that he was helping his sister at the ranch, and that since she was so busy, he was just signing the checks they needed for business transactions. Then, when Mr. Collins came in and said that Ms. Walters was missing money, I got scared." Tears welled up in her expressive brown eyes.

Janna reached over and patted her arm. "That’s okay. You were just too trusting." A mischievous smile appeared on her face.

"What are you thinking, Janna?"

"Do you have any proof that Hubert asked you to cash those checks for him? Or is it just your word against his?" The bookkeeper’s mind was racing, and she had an idea about how to rid Lex of her biggest headache.

Barbara sighed. "I don’t think I have anything, but I can look around. Why?"

The blonde woman grinned. "Well, if we work this just right, we might be able to rid this town of him, once and for all."

The buxom waitress brought over Barbara’s lunch, and left the check with Janna. "Here you go, honey." She winked at the tall blonde and went back behind the counter, leaving the accountant tracking her with a confused look.

"Did she just…?" Janna asked her friend.

Barbara laughed. "Oh, yeah. Francine likes ‘em tall…and blonde. She’s harmless enough, though." She looked at the woman across the table. "Does that bother you?"

"Umm…no. It just caught me off guard, that’s all." Janna shrugged her shoulders. "Does it bother you?"

"Nope," the bank teller answered. "You’ll find, in this town anyway, most people have grown pretty tolerant over the years. Especially since several of the more upstanding citizens are gay." She leaned across the table with a conspiratorial gleam in her eye. "The mayor’s son, for one. And," she whispered, "one of your biggest clients, Lexington Walters. She’s funded more social programs around here than several people put together. And she’s on the Historical Committee – they’ve saved three old homes in as many years, thanks a lot to her influence."

Janna smiled. "She’s a great person, and so is her partner, Amanda. I’ve really become fond of them in a short amount of time. They’re the first people here to really make me feel welcome."

The other woman smiled. "I know. Beneath all that bluster and bravado, Lexington is just the sweetest person I’ve ever met. But don’t tell her I said that, okay?" Barbara looked around the diner to see if anyone was paying attention to her. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure. It’ll go no farther than this table, I promise."

"I’ve had a crush on Lex since high school," she murmured, looking down at her plate. "I think that’s the reason I put up with her brother for as long as I did, because I was hoping he would be like her." She shook her head. "Sad, isn’t it?"

Janna reached across the table and grasped Barbara’s hand. "No, it’s not. I can see why you’d feel that way. Hubert and Lex look a lot alike, but that’s where the resemblance ends. "

"Well, I’ve certainly learned my lesson." Barbara touched her cheek and sighed. "I’m just glad that you were there the other night, or there’s no telling what Hubert might have done."

Squeezing the hand that she was holding, Janna smiled. "I’m glad too, Barbara. I got to thump a jerk, and made a really good friend…all in one night." Her grin widened when she felt Barbara’s other hand cover their joined ones. "Very glad."

***************

"You can’t stay, Ms. Walters. We released you from the hospital this morning, and it’s past visiting hours," the doctor argued. Although the woman standing before him was battered and bruised, he couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated. She had stubbornly removed the splint and tape from her nose the day before, and her blue eyes seemed to be highlighted by the dark bruises beneath them. Once they had her fever under control, he could see no reason for her to stay, so he signed her release papers. "I can assure you that we’ll take excellent care of Miss Cauble."

Lex sighed and took a step towards the frustrated man. You’d think that having a medical degree would make him smarter. What an idiot. "I know you’ll take good care of her, Doctor. But like I told you before, she’s my partner…my lover…my better half. Whatever you want to call it, she’s the most important person in the world to me. And there’s no way in hell that I’m gonna leave her here alone, you got that?" She realized that she was scaring the doctor with her aggressive attitude, so she leaned back against the wall and slowly crossed her arms over her chest. Lex had conveniently lost the sling for her shoulder the moment she had been discharged.

They were standing in the hallway outside of Amanda’s room. The doctor had been on his rounds when he caught the rancher sitting by her friend’s bed. He had pulled her out into the hall so that his patient wouldn’t be disturbed. "I’m sorry, but you have no authority to stay after hours." I hate these kind of people. They always want equal rights, even though they are an abomination to God. "This is a Christian hospital, young woman. Don’t make me have security throw you out."

"Now you listen to me, you little pissant!" Lex pushed herself off the wall and looked down at the physician. "I’m not in the mood to put up with your bullshit, but I’ll be glad to…"

"Lexington Marie!" Martha quickly stepped in between the two upset people, gently pushing the tall woman back. "What’s going on here?"

Lex glared at the doctor over the smaller woman’s head. "This damned quack is telling me I have to leave Amanda!"

Martha swatted the younger woman on the hip. "Watch your language, young lady! Now go and cool off!"

"But…"

"No buts! Now git!" Martha glared at her charge and pointed down the hallway. "Go grab yourself something to drink, and come back in a few minutes."

"Yes, Mada." Lex gave the physician one final dirty look, and walked dejectedly down the hallway.

The housekeeper turned her attention back to the doctor. "Now, what’s this nonsense about my daughter not being able to stay here?"

"Your daughter?" He looked at the tall form now at the end of the hallway, and then back to the sweet woman in front of him. Impossible. She must take after her father. "I’m sorry, Mrs. Walters…"

"Rollins," Martha corrected, "but you can call me Martha." She enjoyed the look of confusion on his pinched face. He appeared to be about her age, but looked as if he had never smiled before in his life. "You were saying?"

He straightened his lab coat and nodded. "As I was telling your daughter, since she was discharged this morning, she has no reason to be up here after visiting hours."

"I see." Martha studied him for a long moment. "Are you married, Doctor?"

"Yes, I am. Although I don’t see how that relates…"

She waved a hand to silence him. "Do you love your wife?"

The doctor looked insulted. "Of course I do! What kind of ridiculous question is that?"

"What if your wife had been injured in a car wreck? Would you want to stay with her and make sure she’s all right? Or would you simply stay around only during visiting hours, and run home as soon as you could?" She placed a hand on his arm and smiled sadly. "Just because my daughter loves another woman, that doesn’t make their love any less real." Martha patted him on the shoulder and turned to walk down the hallway.

He watched her walk away, a thoughtful look on his face. Shaking his head, the doctor took a deep breath and continued his rounds.

Martha found Lex in the main foyer, staring out through the glass into the gloomy night. A light rain had begun to fall, and the chill caused the tall woman to tremble slightly. "Where’s your coat?" Martha asked, placing one hand on the small of Lex’s back and rubbing gently.

"I dunno," Lex mumbled. She turned around and looked into Martha’s eyes. "Why does everything have to be so damned complicated?" she asked, tears in her eyes. "I just want to stay and keep Amanda company. It’s not like I was in the way, or anything."

"I know, baby. Some people are just a little more dense than others," Martha commiserated. "But you really should go over to the hotel and get some rest. It won’t do Amanda any good if you collapse the same day that you were released."

Lex bit her lip and looked down at the ground. "I know. But I can’t stand the fact that she’s still here, and I’m not." She turned to look back outside, unable to meet Martha’s gaze. "It’s my fault she’s here, Mada. If I was a better driver, or…"

"Now you wait just a damned minute!" Martha grabbed Lex by her good shoulder and spun her around. "Don’t start with the ‘what-ifs’. If you weren’t such a good driver, you both could be dead right now." Her voice cracked on the last part of the sentence. "And that is completely unacceptable to me, so just hush!" She pulled the rancher into her arms and hugged her tight. Pulling back slightly, Martha smiled gently. "Now, go back into that room, and tell Amanda goodnight. You’re coming back to the hotel with me, and going straight to bed."