Chapter 34

Sitting on a slight hill under a large tree, Lex looked down at the massive 'garden'. A beautiful fountain, surrounded by a ten-foot hedge on three sides, soothed the rancher's frazzled nerves. Propping her chin on an upraised knee, Lex stared at the gurgling pool, mesmerized by the play of lights by the sinking sun on the spraying water.

C'mon, Lexington…pull yourself together… she released a heavy sigh. This was just the sort of thing that you were afraid of, wasn't it? That she'd come back here, and pick up where she left off? All of her friends are here, and her family… she angrily brushed away a tear from her face. "Look at this place…what in the hell could I possibly have to offer her to compare with this?"

She murmured quietly, closing her watering blue eyes.

"Your love." A gentle voice whispered from behind her. "Your heart." Lex's view was suddenly blocked by the owner of the voice, blonde hair framed by the setting sun. "Mind some company?" Amanda asked, touching Lex's knee with her hand.

"Uh…sure." Lex shifted so that the younger woman could sit in front of her, framed by the rancher's long legs. She wiped at her eyes, disguising the motion by using the same hand to comb her dark hair out of her face. "Sorry about running out on you like that…the walls were starting to close in on me." Lex wrapped her arms around Amanda and pulled her close.

Leaning back into the embrace, Amanda sighed, then bent her head to kiss one of the strong arms holding her. "Don't apologize…I'm just really sorry that my father said what he did."

"Was it true?" Lex whispered in her ear. "Are you considering staying here, and going to work for him?" Taking a deep breath, she continued, "If that's what you want…I'll…support your decision. I love you, and I want you to be happy." She laid her head on the younger woman's shoulder.

Amanda tangled her fingers into the dark, thick hair spilling over her shoulder. "What about us? Do you think I could just walk away from this…from you?" She felt the body behind her take in a shaky breath.

"No! I don't think that. But I'm also not stupid enough to disregard what a great opportunity this is for you." Lex raised her head slightly, placing a kiss just below Amanda's ear. "I could…um…give you some time to get settled, then come back out here - if you want." The rancher found herself torn between her heart - which was screaming 'Don't go!' and her mind - saying 'this is the best thing for Amanda.' Oh, god…what am I going to do?

Amanda turned around slightly, so that she could see Lex's face. "What about your ranch?" She put a hand up to cradle the older woman's tense jaw.

"I'll…sell it, or hire somebody to run it…I don't care about the damn ranch," Lex closed her eyes and unconsciously leaned into Amanda's gentle touch. "She felt a fingertip brush away another tear from her face. "I do care about you…nothing else matters to me."

Fighting back tears of her own, Amanda brushed the dark bangs from her lover's face. "You'd…give up your ranch for me?" she choked out.

"In a heartbeat." Lex opened her eyes and frowned. "Hey…don't cry…" she lifted a shaky hand to the younger woman's face, brushing the now-falling tears away. "What's wrong?"

"No one's…ever…offered to do something like that for me, before." Amanda looked deeply into Lex's eyes. "Oh, Lex…" she cried.

The rancher pulled Amanda closer, kissing the top of her head. "Shhh…" she began rocking the now sobbing woman. "Please don't cry, sweetheart…I love you. Do you really think I'd let you stay here alone?"

Amanda let herself calm down before continuing. "No…I know you wouldn't leave me… but you don't have to worry. I would never ask you to give something up that means so much to you."

"What are you saying?" Lex felt a jolt of fear shoot through her. "Do you…don't you… you don't want me to stay?" she finished in a quiet voice.

"No…I don't want you to stay…" Amanda smiled to herself, "I would get really lonesome in Texas without you." She finished, looking up into Lex's eyes. Seeing the understanding light up the older woman's features, she grinned. "The movers are going to pick up everything in storage tomorrow…do you still want to stay? We can leave whenever you get ready."

"But what about Friday? Won't your father be upset with you?" Lex almost laughed out loud, she was so happy. She's not staying…she's going home with me!

Amanda wrapped her arms around Lex and squeezed tight. "He's already upset…and to quote a good friend of mine, 'you're more important' than some stupid dinner party."

"Thanks…but we're already here - might as well stick it out." Lex pulled Amanda's chin up and gave her a sweet kiss, which was eagerly returned.

After reluctantly breaking off to catch her breath, Amanda sighed. "You know, this is one of my favorite places…I was hoping I would find you here." She snuggled closer, tucking her head into the older woman's chest.

"Really?" Lex murmured, rubbing her cheek on the soft blonde hair. "It just seemed so… peaceful…secluded. Kinda reminds me of home." She chuckled. "Without the fancy fountain, of course."

Amanda giggled. "Yeah…it would probably scare the horses half to death, not to mention the fuss Martha would probably make over it." She raised up a little and kissed the soft skin on Lex's throat. "I used to sit out here for hours - reading…dreaming…"

"What did you dream about?" Lex asked quietly, enthralled at this peek into her lover's early life.

"When I was really young, I'd dream about the usual things…who I would marry, what I was going to do when I grew up - you know, that sort of stuff." She felt the strong arms tighten around her. "For as long as I can remember, I wanted to go to work for my father. Of course, I alternated that idea with working for Gramma, or even helping Grandpa Jake - I had a hard time deciding. But mostly, I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps."

"Oh, sweetheart…" Lex murmured sadly, seeing where this conversation was headed.

"No, wait…" Amanda patted Lex's stomach gently. "Anyway, I went to college and took a lot of extra classes so that I could graduate early - I wanted to make my dad proud." She sighed. "But he really didn't take me seriously - just sort of brushed me off and told me to travel for a couple of years, like my mother had. So, in my fit of rebellion, I got my realtor's license instead, and joined a small office here in Los Angeles." Seeing the sad look on Lex's face, Amanda touched her cheek gently. "And I thank God everyday that it all happened that way." She leaned forward and captured the rancher's lips, allowing her passion to take over. "Because…" she punctuated her point with a smaller kiss, "you are…" another, slightly longer kiss, "my greatest dreams come true." She met Lex's lips halfway, pulling the older woman's head down, with one hand tangled in her dark hair.

Lex greeted Amanda's passion with her own, then gasped as she felt a small hand unbuttoning her shirt. "Ah…Amanda…" the insistent hand reached inside, brushing her stomach lightly. "Oh, god…we can't…" a small mouth attached itself to her throat, as the hand began moving upward. "Mmm…No! What if someone…ahh…" the warm hand found it's target, squeezing gently.

"How about…" a sultry voice whispered in her ear, "we continue our conversation upstairs?" Amanda nibbled on the trembling rancher's earlobe. "I want you…right now." She pulled back a little, enjoying the flushed look on Lex's face. "C'mon…" Amanda slowly removed her hand, then buttoned the older woman's shirt back up. "I want to try out that huge bed in the guestroom." She stood up, pulling a slightly rumpled Lex to her feet.

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

Walking back into the house, Amanda giggled when Lex stumbled as they stepped through the kitchen doorway.

"Don't laugh…it's all your fault, you know." Lex growled, her arm wrapped tightly around the shorter woman's waist.

Amanda guided her charge through the kitchen and back towards the main foyer. Just as they were reaching the large staircase, a voice stopped them.

"I've been looking for you, Amanda." Michael stated, stepping into the foyer. "I thought we had a conversation to finish." He glared at Lex, noticing the tall woman's bedraggled appearance. "Just where exactly were you?"

Not relinquishing her hold on her lover, Amanda smiled. " We were just enjoying the peace and quiet of the gardens, Daddy." Feeling Lex begin to tense, she added, "And I think we said all there was to say earlier."

Michael frowned. "I don't think so…come back into my office, and we'll try to get all of this straightened out." He turned, expecting his daughter to follow.

"I'm sorry, Daddy…but we were on our way upstairs. Maybe you and I can't talk some more tomorrow." She turned, pulling Lex with her. "Goodnight."

Knowing when to back off, Michael stormed back towards his office. Dismissed! Like a servant, by my own daughter…all because of that…that…woman!"We'll just have to see about that, won't we?" he mumbled, sitting down behind his desk, and pulling his Rolodex forward. Finding the number he was searching for, Michael grabbed the phone.

"Richards Investigations." A slightly accented female voice answered.

"This is Michael Cauble. Put James on the phone." Michael ordered, not sparing time for niceties.

"Very well, Mr. Cauble - hold one moment, please." The secretary's voice was cool and professional.

Michael waited impatiently, drumming his fingers on his desk. There should be a law against Muzak…As tinny strains of Memories flooded his ear.

"Richards, here." A somewhat gravely voice intoned. "Mr. Cauble? What can I do for you?"

"James, I have a rush job for you - double your usual fee if you can get it together before Friday." Michael had pulled a pencil from his desk and was now doodling aimlessly on a notepad. A stick figure wearing a cowboy hat appeared beneath his sketching pencil.

"This Friday? Must be really important." Richards sounded intrigued. "What is it?"

"I want you to dig up everything you can find on a Lexington Walters - she's a rancher right outside of Somerville, Texas…" Michael growled. "I don't care what it costs, or how many men you have to put on it. I need it quick." The stick figure now stood on a wide platform.

The investigator chuckled. "Not a problem, Mr. Cauble. I'll send out a team in the next hour, and send you a report by tomorrow morning." He had been under Michael Cauble's employ for the past several years, and knew how well the man would pay.

"Excellent. Don't send it by courier, though…just fax it to me. I rely on your discretion, James." Michael hung up the phone, smiling. No two-bit dirt grubber is going to get her hands on my daughter's money. The platform in his sketch became a gallows - a noose now around the neck of the stick figure.