Chapter 24

"Oh, Martha…these were priceless!" Amanda was seated in the den, several photo albums strewn about. They had spent the last hour or so talking about each other's families, and just enjoying the companionship of each other.

Martha looked at the clock on the mantle. Been almost two hours since Lexie called…guess we should get back to the main house and get dinner finished up. "Amanda? Do you want to help me with dinner tonight? Lexie should be back any time now."

The young blonde jumped to her feet, scooping several of the albums up. "I'd love to…what do you need me to do?" She practically beat the older woman to the door. "Oh…where do you want me to put these?" She indicated the books in her hands.

The older woman laughed and took the albums. "I'll take those, dear." She put the items on a nearby desk. "C'mon…I put a roast on earlier today - let's go see what we can find to put with it, shall we?"

Lex put the Mustang in the shed, telling herself she'd be back after Amanda went to bed to begin working on it. She was amazed at the lack of damage it had sustained; a medium-sized dent in the rear left panel, and of course the water damage as well as the kicked in back window. But at least the window is still in one piece - shouldn't be too hard to put back in place. She had even found Amanda's purse, and laid it on the workbench to dry out. Can't give it to her yet…she'd be too suspicious.

Now the dark haired woman was busily brushing down Thunder, who was munching contently on the hay she had given him. Reward for beating me back to the barn, she mused. She had actually finished his grooming some time ago, but had allowed the time to slip away form her as she daydreamed. C'mon, Lexington…get your damn head on straight! She patted the horse on his broad shoulder. "Enjoy your snack, boy," then left the stable and walked up towards the house.

Stepping up onto the porch, the tired and dirty rancher stopped and removed her boots. Let's just see if I can sneak upstairs before Martha gets a good look at me.

Slowly opening the door Lex peeked inside, hearing voices in the kitchen. Great…well, maybe I can get by the door without them seeing me. No longer dripping creek water, her jeans and tee shirt were still damp and heavily stained with mud. She could also feel small bits of mud and debris in her hair, but thankfully her hat covered most of her head. Her socks, which had been white this morning were now a reddish brown, and squished on the hardwood floor, making Lex wince with each step. She eased her head slowly around the kitchen door, hoping to get past the housekeeper. Good! They're both busy. She continued down the hallway, walking quickly.

"LEXINGTON MARIE!! What on earth have you done?!?" A very familiar voice boomed.

Uh-oh. Lex spun around in mid-stride, causing her wet feet to slip out from under her, and landing on her rear end with a sodden thump. "OW!" The muck-covered rancher slowly stood up, rubbing her backside with her hands. "Hi, Martha. Did you get your cabinets all straightened out?" she asked, backing up towards the staircase. That's it, Lex…act casual.

"Don't you 'Hi Martha' me, Lexington! You're soaking wet! And I know for a fact that it hasn't rained at all today." The heavyset woman stomped up to Lex, placing her hands on her hips and cocking her head to one side.

"Ummm…well…you see, the jeep was really buried in the mud, and I, umm…" she trailed off, seeing the look in the older woman's eyes that said she meant business.

"Yes?" the word was drawn out, and Martha was impatiently tapping her foot.

How does she do it? One look and I feel ten years old again! "Aw hell, Martha…I was covered in mud, and thought I'd better rinse off before I came into the house." She looked down at her soggy socks.

Martha relented. "I appreciate that, honey…but why all the sneaking around?"

The tall woman looked up, her eyes barely visible under her hat brim. "I wasn't actually 'sneaking'…just didn't want to disturb you while you were cooking dinner." She gave a small smile.

Amanda witnessed the entire scene from the kitchen doorway. She covered her mouth with her hand, not wanting to interrupt. The poor rancher looked so…cute, standing there with Martha chewing her out like a recalcitrant child.

The housekeeper yanked the black hat off of the damp woman's head. "Good lord, child…what is all of that stuff in your hair?"

Lex closed her eyes and sighed. "I told you I got really muddy…can I please go take a shower now?" She grabbed her hat from the older woman and made her way up the stairs.

"Dinner should be ready in about thirty minutes." Martha called after her.

"Thanks." Lex smiled, then squished her way up to her bedroom.

Martha turned back towards Amanda, who was barely containing her giggles.

"I swear, that girl can get into trouble just climbing out of bed in the mornings!" she sighed, leading Amanda back into the kitchen.

The young blonde finally lost it. She had to sit down on a nearby stool to remain at least somewhat upright. "She looked so pitiful…does she do that often?" she wheezed in between her giggles. She looked like a drowned cat that had been drug through too many mud puddles.

"Unfortunately, yes. Mud must be one of her favorite accessories, because she's forever covered in it." The housekeeper stirred a pot of something on the stove. "I swear she could find mud in a drought!"

Amanda laughed. "She was rather grimy. But did you really have to fuss at her like that?"

Martha turned away from the stove, meeting the younger woman's eyes. "No…but if I don't throw at least a token fit, she'll think I don't love her anymore. I think she secretly enjoys the attention."

"Well, I don't think it's hurt her any…she speaks of you with the utmost respect and love." Amanda sobered, wanting this sweet woman to realize just how devoted the young rancher was to her. "She told me the night I met her how much she cared for you - said you were the only mother she'd ever had."

The older woman wiped an errant tear from her eye. "That goes double for me…she's one of the main reasons I never married - I had the only family I ever needed right here." Martha smiled. "I've had several offers over the years, but I never could bring myself to leave her. And I couldn't see me ever having a child I would love half as much."

Amanda walked over and gave Martha a hug. "Well, for what it's worth, I think you've done a fine job of raising her. Lex is a wonderful person."

"Thank you…I'm very proud of the woman she has become, although I think she had more to do with it than I did." She took a deep breath. "Now…let's get dinner on the table - she should be straggling down anytime."

"Martha." Lex admonished, leaning in the doorway, "You talking 'bout me again?" her hair was wet, and she was wearing jeans and the ever present tee shirt, which for once actually had a design on it.

Jake's John Deere? Amanda smirked. Bet ol' Jake would sell more tractors if his billboards looked like that! She helped Martha move the food to the table. "So, how did the fence by the creek look? Did you have to make any repairs?"

Lex reached for a bowl on the cabinet, only to have her hand slapped by Martha. "Hey! I was just trying to help!" she yanked her hand away quickly.

The housekeeper shooed her away. "We have it all under control. Now go sit down." The rancher affected a hurt expression, and Martha turned her around and slapped her gently on the rear. "Don't give me that look. You've been out working all day, and you need to sit down."

Lex raised an eyebrow, but did as she was told. "You two have been working all day too. What's the difference?"

Amanda looked at the housekeeper, who had a perplexed look on her face, trying to think of a good comeback. "Because we actually sat down once in a while and took a break." The blonde replied, "And we know you didn't."

The dark woman frowned. "What makes you think I didn't?"

Martha butted in. "Two reasons: One…you never take a break when you work in the field. Two…you look like you can barely stand up."

Lex opened her mouth, but promptly shut it at the housekeeper's upraised hand. "No…don't you argue with me - I've known you far too long." She smiled triumphantly. "So just sit there quietly while we get dinner on the table."

She knew when she'd been beaten. Lex smiled. "Yes ma'am."