Chapter 25

Amanda sat in the den, watching the fire crackle in the fireplace, a gentle smile on her face. They had finished dinner over thirty minutes ago and Lex had apologetically left the house shortly thereafter, after having received a mysterious phone call. She was so cute about leaving… worried that I'd be upset, she mused.

"Mandy? Where are you, dear?" Anna Leigh's voice echoed down the empty hallway.

"In here, Gramma…" the young woman said in a normal tone. She turned around on the sofa as her grandmother stepped into the room. "Hi."

The older woman stepped over to the sofa and sat down beside Amanda. "Is everything all right, dear? Lexington certainly left in a hurry - you two didn't…" Have a fight or argument, she finished to herself, worried.

Amanda patted her grandmother's leg. "Oh, no…Lex just got a phone call, and left to take care of something. She said she would be back in an hour or so."

Anna Leigh leaned back against the sofa with a sigh. "Thank goodness. I was afraid that you two had an argument about this trip."

"What would we have to disagree about? Lex seems really excited about going." Amanda turned sideways, so that she could get a better look at her grandmother's face. "Has she said anything to you?"

The older woman gave her a gentle smile. "Well, she did mention she's a little afraid of embarrassing you." Seeing the look of shock on Amanda's face, she continued. "Shhh…wait, let me try and explain." Anna Leigh chewed on her lower lip for a moment, thinking. "Earlier while you were upstairs, Lexington came into the kitchen, asking if I needed any help." Seeing Amanda's smile, she nodded. "Yes, I know. Anyway, I could tell that something was bothering her, so I asked."

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"You look a little distracted, dear. Is something wrong?" Anna Leigh studied the quiet form leaning against the counter.

Lex looked up at the concerned tone, and saw only gentle understanding in the older woman's face. "Umm…actually…could I ask you a question? I'd really like your…opinion, on something." She dropped her eyes back to the floor.

Sensing Lex's discomfort, Anna Leigh turned away from the stove and led the younger woman over to the table, guiding her into a chair. "Sure, sweetheart. What is it?"

"Well…" unsure, Lex paused, until she felt the older woman squeeze her hands reassuredly. "I would ask Amanda, but I don't want to upset her. She's got enough on her mind right now." She looked down at their connected hands, startled at just how dainty Anna Leigh's looked in hers.

"Lexington…look at me please." Anna Leigh waited patiently until the shadowed blue eyes locked with hers. "Honey, there's nothing you could ask of me that you should be embarrassed about."

The rancher took a deep breath, momentarily closing her eyes. "I feel like such a hick…" she opened her eyes and gave the older woman a shaky smile. "I don't want to worry Amanda, but I'm a little concerned about this damn…dinner party…we're supposed to attend."

Anna Leigh looked at the younger woman, confusion on her delicate features. "Concerned? Why should you be concerned, Lexington? It's just a dinner…not a Costume or Fashion Ball." She teased.

Lex snorted. "Oh god…that would be a real nightmare, wouldn't it? Although I'm gonna feel like I'm in some sort of costume anyway." She looked into the green eyes that reminded her so much of Amanda's. "You know I love your granddaughter, right?" Seeing the older woman nod, "And that I'd do anything for her?"

"Of that, I have no doubt, dear." Anna Leigh squeezed the suddenly cold hands that were laced with hers. "But…?" she prompted.

Lex sighed, and looked down again. "I want to be there to support her, but I really don't have anything good enough to wear to this sort of thing. And…" another heavy sigh, "anything we buy I'm gonna be real uncomfortable in, and then they'll know what a bumpkin their daughter is hooked up with." She gave the older woman an intense look. "I don't care what they think about me…but I'll be…damned…if I'm the cause for even one second of embarrassment for Amanda." She released Anna Leigh's hands and stood up abruptly. "What am I going to do, Mrs…uh, I mean, Anna Leigh?" she paced back and forth across the bright kitchen like a jungle cat. "I'd die before hurting her."

"Sweetheart, I don't think that's going to be necessary." Anna Leigh stood up and put her hand on the disturbed woman's arm. "Don't worry…we'll figure something out." She rubbed the tense arm soothingly. "Now, why don't you go on upstairs and drag my granddaughter down for dinner? It should be ready in about ten minutes."

The tall woman gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks for listening, Anna Leigh…now I know where Amanda got her heart from." Lex left the older woman standing in the kitchen before she could come back with a sharp reply.

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Amanda felt tears well up in her eyes. "I thought she was just nervous about flying…" Oh, Lex…what am I going to do with you?

Anna Leigh caught Amanda's hand. "Honey, I didn't mean to upset you…I just thought that you should know. Lexington was a little embarrassed about the whole thing."

"I can't believe she didn't trust me enough to talk to me about this." Amanda muttered, an errant tear making its way down her face.

"Oh, Mandy…" her grandmother brushed the tear from Amanda's cheek, "It's not an issue of trust…Lexington was afraid of upsetting you. She knows how worried you are already about this trip, and she didn't want to add to your anxiety."

"That goofy cow-chaser…when is she going to figure out that she's a whole lot more important to me than any stupid dinner party?" The young woman whispered, more to herself than to her grandmother. Wiping her eyes with the back of one hand, Amanda sniffed. "That's it! I'm calling Mother right now and canceling…I refuse to make Lex feel this way." She started to stand, but found her progress halted by a strong grip on her arm.

Anna Leigh pulled the upset young woman back down to the sofa. "Mandy, wait…I really don't think that's a good idea." She waited until she had Amanda's complete attention. "How do you think it will make Lexington feel if you cancel out now?" When her granddaughter gave her a questioning look, she continued, "She'd probably feel that she was right, and that you're embarrassed because she's not used to being in that type of environment."

Amanda opened her mouth to disagree, and then understanding dawned on her face. "Oh god…she would, wouldn't she?" Knowing that her tall, dark, and brooding blue-eyed lover, for all her kiss-my-butt attitude, was emotionally very insecure. "Oh, Gramma…what can I do? I can't hurt her that way… but I don't want her to feel belittled or not good enough for my family, either." Then a devious smile broke out on her face. "Oooh…I think I've got an idea."

Uh-oh…Elizabeth had better watch out - Mandy's got that 'take no prisoners' look on her face. "Ah, sweetheart? You're not going to do anything that you might regret later, are you?"

Amanda laughed. "Of course not! I just have to plan my wardrobe, that's all." She leaned over and wrapped her arms around Anna Leigh's neck. "Thanks, Gramma…you're the best!" she kissed the older woman's cheek then stood up. "If you don't mind, I'm going to go upstairs and finish packing."

Anna Leigh stood up as well. "No, not at all…do you need a ride to the airport in the morning?" The nearest airport was an hour and a half away, and she didn't know if the young women wanted to leave a car there for the entire week.

"No, Lex said she wanted to just leave her truck at the airport, so no one would have to make a three hour round trip drive to take us and then pick us up." Amanda stood at the doorway. "But I really appreciate the offer, and I know Lex would too. I'll see you and Grandpa in the morning, right?"

"Oh yes…do you think we'd miss seeing you two off?" Anna Leigh scoffed. "Your grandfather would never forgive himself otherwise." She crossed the room to meet the young woman at the door. "Try and get some rest tonight, sweetheart - the next few days will run you ragged, otherwise." She pulled her granddaughter into a strong embrace.

"I will, Gramma…I promise." Amanda returned the squeeze. "I love you." She felt a gentle kiss on the side of her head.

"I love you too, dearest. Goodnight." She watched as the beautiful young woman walked down the hall and then practically skipped up the stairs. She's up to something, Anna Leigh smiled to herself, and I can't wait to see what it is.