Chapter 12

Lex closed the front door with a heavy sigh. God, it¹s been a long day. She had just returned from dropping off Lester and Ronnie at the bunkhouse, and had to fight the heavy sleet that had begun to fall on the way back. She had spent the entire trip to the bunkhouse talking to Lester about her grandparents.

"So, Lester," Lex had to drive slowly in deference to the heavy sleet now falling. "Tell me about my grandparents." She glanced in the rear view mirror at Ronnie, who was listening to the handheld cassette player that Amanda had given him. He was silently nodding his head to the music coming through the headphones, oblivious to the conversation in the front of the jeep.

The old man chuckled. "WellŠI don¹t rightly know where to start. And I don¹t think that we have that much time." Lester met the rancher¹s serious eyes. "But I¹ll be more than happy to answer any questions for you." He was still feeling guilty for not mentioning the Edwards¹ sooner.

Lex grimaced as the jeep hit a patch of icy mud and she fought to keep the old vehicle on the road. "Anna Leigh had told me that Mr. EdwardsŠmy grandfather, almost disowned my mother when she married Dad. Is that true?" What kind of man would desert his only child just because of who she married? I¹m not sure he¹d want to have anything to do with me.

"Not really." Lester knew exactly what the young woman was thinking. "Travis adored little Victoria. He wouldn¹t have done anything to jeopardize their relationship."

"Then whatŠ?"

Lester sighed. "I reckon someone overheard him when he told her that her husband would never be welcome in their home. Believe me, he regretted that almost the instant he said it. But Travis is a proud man, and doesn¹t back down very easily."

Lex exhaled heavily. "I wonder why? I know that Dad is not the classiest guy in the world, but surely they didn¹t hold his job against him."

"Hell, no! Travis didn¹t care what the man did for a living. Truth is, he¹d rather she hooked up with someone who did an honest days¹ work." The old cook scratched his beard thoughtfully. "I think that it was the fact thatŠummŠ" He paused, too embarrassed to continue.

"What?" Lex turned to look at the suddenly silent man. The jeep hit another patch of ice and she wrestled the steering wheel to keep it steady. "Damn! This stuff¹s getting worse!"

A loud chuckle answered her. "Sure seems like it," Lester commented as he braced himself against the dash. "You ain¹t fixin¹ to put us into a tree, are ya?"

She steered into the skid and kept the vehicle on the road. "Not if I can help it." They both heaved great sighs of relief when the jeep steadied. "You were about to tell me what caused all the bad feelings between my grandfather and dad?"

"OhŠyeah." Lester shook his head. "TheyŠummŠHAD to get married." He blushed slightly. "Travis was livid, to say the least."

"Had to? What do youŠ?" Lex nearly drove off the road. "She was PREGNANT??" Damn. No wonder they never got along. "They were forced to get married because she was going to have a baby?"

Lester looked at the young woman. "Not really forcedŠjust had to hurry, that¹s all." He patted her gently on the shoulder. "Your daddy was plumb crazy about Victoria ¯ he was thrilled when he found out that she was carrying his child."

That¹s so hard to believe. I don¹t think I can ever remember seeing Dad smile, much less happy. "So it was more of an issue of honor, than anything else?"

"Rawson upset Travis because he was so happy about Victoria¹s condition. He thought that your father must have taken advantage of her and got her pregnant to get at her money," Lester explained. "That made your daddy mad, and pretty much started the whole feud."

Lex pulled the jeep up to the bunkhouse in relief. GodŠI thought we¹d never make it. "So my grandfather isn¹t too bad a guy, then?" She turned and asked Lester.

He laughed. "Travis is one of the best fella¹s I¹ve ever known. I¹d do anything for him, and have. The stuff in that box should help you understand him and Melanie more than the ramblings of an old man like me." Lester turned around and poked Ronnie, whose eyes popped open. The young man pulled off the headphones and smiled. "You Œbout ready to go inside, boy?"

"We¹re here?" Ronnie stuck the stereo in his coat pocket. "Yes, sir. I¹m ready."

"You wanna bunk down with us tonight, Boss? I¹m a little worried about you trying to get back with the way the roads are getting." Lester studied the rancher carefully. She¹s looking a bit pale, too. "How about it? I¹ll even let you beat me at poker."

"Yeah, right. You couldn¹t bet me if you cheated ¯ which I think you¹ve done on more than one occasion." Lex shook her head. "I¹d better get back to the house, though. I want to make sure none of our guests try to drive home in this weather." She leaned tiredly against the steering wheel. "Just radio if you need anything. I¹ll keep a handheld nearby until we can get someone out to check the phone lines."

Lester climbed slowly out of the jeep and pulled Ronnie out behind him. "You be careful driving back, Boss. I¹ve already bought your Christmas card, and I don¹t want it to go to waste."

Lex laughed. "Don¹t worry, Lester. I plan on being around for a long time. Now get inside before you freeze to death." She watched fondly as Ronnie walked closely behind the old cook to make sure he didn¹t slip and fall. He¹s a good kid. I¹m glad he¹s here to watch out for Lester. Lex shook her head and threw the jeep into reverse, which caused the vehicle to slide sideways and almost hit the nearby corral. "Damn!" She edged it back slowly to the main road and drove very cautiously back to the ranch house.

Lex rubbed her eyes tiredly. I¹ll have to have Amanda sit down with me when I go through that little box. It sure was nice of him to leave it behind for me. She could hear laughter in the den, where Amanda was entertaining her family with stories of her life on the ranch. Lex hung up her drenched duster and hat, then peeked into the brightly-lit room.

"So Lex tried to sneak back into the house, looking like some sort of bog monster or something." The blonde woman was standing in the center of the room, gesturing wildly with her hands.

Martha laughed. "She looked so pitiful, especially with the clumps of mud and twigs all over her." She shook her head regretfully. "And those socks! I had to throw them out ¯ not even bleach helped!"

"It wasn¹t that bad." Lex walked slowly into the room and tried to ignore the amused looks she received from around the den. Everyone was laughing except for Charlie, who was staring blankly into the fire. Poor guyŠhe¹d better pop the question soon, or he¹s gonna go crazy. "I hope you all are very comfortable where you are," the rancher drawled. "Because the weather has gotten really nasty and I¹m not about to let anyone drive home in it." She stepped over to the fireplace and stood close to the fire, rubbing her hands briskly to warm them.

Amanda made her way across the room to stand next to the tall woman. "Are you okay, honey? Maybe I should go get you some coffee or hot chocolate." She rubbed Lex¹s back. "Good thing we¹ve got that second guest room upstairs now, huh?" With her help and support, Lex had boxed up the mementos in Louis¹ room. The rancher had also given most of his clothes to Ronnie and sold off the furniture. Amanda had been in charge of redecorating, and had given the room a completely different look ¯ much to her lover¹s pleased surprise.

"Yep. Shall we give the new room to your grandparents?" Lex asked with a smile. If she knew her friend like she thought she did, Amanda and her sister would spend half the night up chatting anyway. Might as well put her and Frank across the hall so they won¹t have so far to travel, she mused.

Charlie stood up nervously to address the room. "Well, since we¹re all here for the night, I¹ve got an announcement to make." He looked over at Martha fondly. "More like a request, I guess. Since we¹re all practically family anyway." The sheriff took a couple of steps and dropped to one knee in front of the shocked housekeeper. "I¹d like to take this opportunity to ask Martha to become my wife." Charlie took her smaller hands in his and brought them to his chest. "Sweetheart, I¹ve loved you for longer than I can even remember. I¹m not trying to take you away from here, but I think it¹s about time that you started thinking about yourself. Will you marry me?" He reached into his pocket with one hand and pulled out a ring and slid it on Martha¹s finger.

"IŠuhŠ" Martha stammered uncharacteristically. The gold ring had two large diamonds offset by four smaller diamonds on each side. The two rows of gems sparkled brightly on her hand.

Lex grinned at the housekeeper¹s discomfort. "The proper response is yes," she teased.

Martha looked over at Lex with tears in her eyes. She¹s rightŠI think that my little Lexie is in good hands now. She glanced over at Amanda and smiled and then looked back at Charlie. "Yes." She pulled the lawman up off the floor. "Get off your knees, you crazy old man and come here."

"Y..yŠyes?" Charlie seemed to have caught her stammer as he stood with her and was pulled into a strong hug. "You mean it?" He picked Martha up and swung her around the room. "All right!"

The rancher watched happily as the couple sealed their engagement with a kiss. ŒBout damn time. I wonder how quickly we can get the wedding together? She looked over at Anna Leigh and Jacob, who gave her a thumbs up. Bet I¹ll have plenty of help in that department.

Once the happy couple broke apart, Jacob stood up and cleared his throat. "Congratulations, you two. I know this is rather sudden, but do you have any idea what kind of wedding, or where you want it to be held?"

"Wedding?" Martha and Charlie both asked together. "I figured we¹d just go down to the Justice of the Peace and have it done." Martha answered then looked at Charlie. "Right, honey?"

"Absolutely not!" Lex practically yelled, which caused the entire room to fall silent.

Amanda clasped her arm lightly. "Lex, what are you saying?" She can¹t be against them getting marriedŠwe¹ve talked about this. What¹s going on in that head of hers?

Lex gently shook off Amanda¹s hand and stepped towards the older couple. "I will not stand by and let you do this." She took Charlie¹s hand from Martha¹s and pulled him towards her.

"LexŠ" Amanda started towards her friend, but was halted by Lex¹s raised hand. "WhatŠ?"

"Shhh!" The dark-haired woman waved her partner off. Lex looked deeply into the old lawman¹s eyes. "I will not let two of the most important people in my life go to the damned Justice of the Peace to get married!" She pulled Charlie to her and hugged him tight. "Congratulations, Uncle Charlie," she whispered into his ear. Lex leaned back and looked at Martha. "It doesn¹t have to be a large ceremony, but you¹ve got to let us do this for you, please." She nodded at Amanda, who gestured to Jeannie and they both sneaked quietly from the room.

"You little brat!" Martha stepped over to where Lex stood and slapped the tall woman on the shoulder. "I ought to tan your backside for scaring poor Charlie like that!" She wrapped her arms around Lex and pulled her into a bone-jarring hug. "Did you know he was going to do that?"

The rancher kissed the top of Martha¹s head. "I thought he was, just by the way he¹d been acting all day." She looked down into the older woman¹s brown eyes. "I¹m just so damned happy that you finally said yes. I know you two are going to have a lot of good years together, Mada." Lex felt the need to call the older woman by the name that Louis had given her all those years ago. "It¹ll be nice to have a real father figure around here again." She remembered the talk that Charlie had with her recently. He had told Lex that if it were all right with her, he would just move out to the cottage. The sheriff knew that Martha would never be able to leave the ranch, nor would he want her to.

Everyone¹s attention turned back toward the doorway when Amanda bustled in with a large wooden tray with eight glasses carefully balanced on it. Jeannie followed closely behind with a bottle of champagne nestled in a bucket of ice. Both women were smiling broadly.

"Here we go!" the blonde cheerfully announced as she sat the tray down on the coffee table.

Martha was stunned. "Where did that come from?" She looked from Lex to Charlie, then back to Amanda. "I know I would have noticed something like that in my kitchen."

"We had it hidden in our room," Lex informed her. "I thought that we¹d find some use for it even if Charlie chickened out." She playfully poked the older man in the ribs. "Right?"

Charlie blinked and shook his head. "Me? Chicken out?" He accepted a hearty handshake from Jacob. "Perish the thought. I decided earlier that if she said no, I¹d just keep asking her today until she agreed."

"Good for you, Charlie. May you both have all the happiness you deserve." Jacob pulled his wife to him with one arm.

Anna Leigh looked at Martha, who was standing with Amanda and Jeannie. "That¹s right. Although I¹ve only known her through my association with Lexington, I feel that Martha is a wonderful woman." She smiled as she watched the housekeeper play with her new ring. "Congratulations, Charlie."

Lex waited until everyone had a glass of champagne and raised hers in a gesture of toast. "MarthaŠCharlieŠ" she smiled lovingly at the couple. "We may not be related by blood, but as far as I¹m concerned, you two have been the most wonderful parents that any one person could ever hope to have. Here¹s wishing you a lifetime of happiness together."

Everyone around the room raised their glasses with murmured words of encouragement. Charlie grinned as Martha blushed. "Thank you, LexŠeveryone. I know I speak for Martha too when I say that you have always been the best daughter we could ever have asked for."

"That¹s right, honey. I¹ve always been proud of you." The housekeeper stepped away from her fiancé and embraced the now-blushing rancher. Martha leaned back and looked deeply into Lex¹s eyes, noticing with a tiny smile the unshed tears. "But don¹t think for a minute that you¹ll be able to get rid of me easily. I¹d still like to take care of the ranch house, if you¹ll let me."

"Let you? My god, MarthaŠ I don¹t think this ranch could survive without you." Lex saw the agreeing smile on Amanda¹s face. "But I think we can handle it a couple of weeks while you two are on your honeymoon."

Charlie and Martha both paled. "Honeymoon?" they choked out together.

Amanda laughed as she stepped forward. "Don¹t worry about it, you two. You have plenty of time to be nervous later." She turned them towards the doorway. "I¹m sure you have lots to discuss, so why don¹t you go on to the cottage and we¹ll see you both tomorrow?"

"You little sneak." Martha whispered in the younger woman¹s ear. "Not known for your subtlety, are you?" She playfully swatted Amanda on the rear before walking through the doorway. "Goodnight, everyone." The housekeeper grabbed Charlie by the arm and led the blushing lawman out of the room.

"They¹re just too cute," Jeannie chuckled. She stepped over to Lex and wrapped an arm around the rancher¹s waist. "So, SlimŠyou¹re looking a little pale. Maybe you should head off to bed too." She winked at Amanda. "What do you say, little sister? Need some help?"

Lex rolled her eyes. "Lord help me," she muttered. "I¹m surrounded." She looked over at Frank, who was trying to control his laughter. "Aren¹t you going to help?"

The big man shook his head. "I think that the two of them could handle you just fine, Lex. Besides," Frank stepped closer until he was face to face with the tall woman. "I didn¹t think I was your type." He quickly jumped away before Lex could grab him. "What?"

Jeannie pulled the rancher into a protective hug. "C¹mon, SlimŠhe¹s just jealous because you have two women and he doesn¹t." She winked saucily at her husband.

"You kids are all crazy." Jacob shook his head at the antics of the group in front of him. "Peanut, why don¹t you point me in the direction of our room, and we¹ll get out of your way?"

Amanda stepped in between her grandparents and linked arms with them both. "You¹re never in the way, Grandpa. But if you¹re ready to call it a night, then I¹ll show you to the new guest room." She turned to call over her shoulder as they started for the doorway, "Lex? Why don¹t you drag my goofy sister and her brave husband along?"

"BraveŠ" Lex smirked at Frank, who was backing away from her slowly. "More like intelligence impaired, if you ask me." She watched in appreciation as Amanda escorted the Caubles from the room. MmmŠnice. She¹s got the cutest littleŠ her thoughts were interrupted by a grumble from beside her.

"Hey! Did she call me goofy?" Jeannie blustered. "I ought toŠ" she started to chase after her sister, but was grabbed from behind. "Oof!" A strong hand had a firm hold on her belt.

Lex pulled the feisty woman back. "Hold on there." She looked over at Frank, who was now standing by the door. "Why don¹t you come over here and take your wife?"

"Don¹t look at me. She¹s your problem now." Frank laughed as he left the room.

Jeannie looked up at the dark-haired woman innocently. "Make you a deal, Slim."

"Hmm?"

"You don¹t kill my husband," the smaller woman traced a pattern on Lex¹s arm. "And I won¹t attack my sister. Deal?"

The rancher laughed. "Deal." She wrapped an arm around Jeannie and led her from the room. "But we don¹t have to let them know that, right?"

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

"I can¹t believe you did that to poor Frank." Amanda was curled up beside Lex in their bed a couple of hours later. "The poor man almost swallowed his tongue." She ran a light fingertip down the dark-haired woman¹s chest.

Lex chuckled as she reached over and switched off the bedside light. "Served him right." She pulled Amanda close to her and kissed the blonde head. "You looked a little rattled yourself."

The rancher and Jeannie had unintentionally found a way to get back at their respective partners. They had stepped into the guest room arm in arm and saw Amanda sitting on the edge of the bed next to Frank. Jeannie had taken one look at the scene and practically come unglued. "I can¹t believe it! Mother was right! You¹ve always been after my husband!"

Lex followed Jeannie into the room, her face dark with fury. She walked over to where Frank had stood and jabbed a finger into his chest. "Is that right? Are you trying to take Amanda away from me?" She saw the big man pale slightly.

"Stop it!" Amanda jumped in between the two and quickly pushed Lex away from her brother-in-law. "What¹s gotten into you both?" She was about to continue when Jeannie collapsed onto the bed in laughter.

"Oh, god! You should see the looks on your faces!" The auburn-haired woman chortled. "Slim, you play the jealous lover quite well!" She squealed when her sister jumped on top of her, tickling her unmercifully. "Aaaah! Mandy, stop it! You¹re gonna make me pee my pants!"

Amanda had straddled her sister and was working furiously on the older woman¹s ribs. "I can¹t believe you did that!" She stopped her torture long enough to look over her shoulder at the tall woman still standing behind her. "And you!"

"Now, sweetheartŠ" Lex raised her hands palms up as she backed away slowly. "It wasn¹t my idea. But," she grinned wickedly, "You gotta admit, we got you pretty good." When she saw the look in Amanda¹s eyes, she looked at Frank for help. "You want to hold her back long enough so I can make a break for it?"

Frank laughed at the look on the rancher¹s face. "After you almost made me mess my pants? I don¹t think so." He saw the gleam in the blonde¹s eyes. "You¹d better run now, my friend."

The young woman was about to leap from the bed when her sister wrapped her legs around the slim waist. "Go ahead, SlimŠI¹ve got you covered!" Jeannie yelled.

Amanda kissed Lex on the throat gently. "That was so evil. But funny." She reached up and ran her fingers through the dark hair. "How are you feeling, honey? You looked pretty worn out earlier."

"I¹m okay. Just a little tired, I guess. Been a long day." Lex captured the hand and brought it to her lips. "The dinner turned out well, don¹t you think?" She kissed Amanda¹s palm, which caused the younger woman to moan slightly.

"MmmŠgod. When you do thatŠ" Amanda squirmed even closer and burrowed her head into the older woman¹s chest. "What was the question again?"

Lex sneaked her other hand up the back of the younger woman¹s shirt. "Hmm?" She used that hand to gently massage the soft skin. "Question?" Her own thoughts were beginning to cloud due to the attention her chest was getting from Amanda¹s lips.

The blonde began to unbutton Lex¹s nightshirt, leaving a trail of kisses behind. Amanda smiled as the dark-haired woman moaned and arched up into the contact. "You like that?" she whispered.

"Uh-huh." Lex pulled Amanda¹s tee shirt over the blonde head. "Sure do." She rolled them over so that Amanda was below her. "C¹mere."

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

"Look at this, honey." Amanda handed Lex a small photograph that looked as if it were taken at a zoo. There was a young girl about three years old being held in front of some sort of fenced off pit. The gentleman holding her appeared to be in his late forties or early fifties and was smiling broadly. The two people looked very much alike, dark hair and light colored eyes. "I think this may be you with your grandfather."

Lex accepted the photograph gingerly. She turned it over and saw written in neat writing, Œ Lexie and Travis 1975¹. "You¹re right." She turned the picture back over and studied it carefully. A small smile crept onto her face. "I just wish I could remember him."

Amanda rubbed her hand across the taller woman¹s back in a comforting motion. "I know, love." She scooted the small box that lay opened between them on the bed out of the way and moved closer to Lex. The rancher had woken her up with gentle kisses earlier, and then at Amanda¹s insistence tiptoed downstairs to get the mysterious box that Lester had left behind.

"It¹s just so strangeŠ" Lex murmured, still looking at the photograph. She also had a letter that Travis had written around that same time. "Could youŠ?" Lex handed the letter to Amanda to read.

"Sure, honey." Amanda accepted the letter and began to read:

My friend,

I hope that things are going well for you at the ranch. Melanie and I finally talked Victoria into allowing us to take little Lexie overnight back up to Dallas. We had promised her a trip to the zoo, and as the enclosed picture suggests, we made good on that promise. What a wonderful child she is! Smart and beautiful just like her mother, although I can see a streak of stubbornness that only could come from Rawson. As you know, there ARE no such personality quirks like that on OUR side of the family.

Have I properly thanked you for taking that position at the ranch? We are forever in your debt, my longtime friend, for giving us some peace of mind while our little girl is stationed out there in the middle of nowhere. She did promise not to give you away to Rawson, but more out of respect for your position than anything else. I did let it slip that since you had been injured in that accident in the oil fields, that you needed the stability of the job you now had. Please forgive an old man for a minor untruth, if you will. Victoria thinks of you as an uncle, as she should. You have always been a brother to me, since we were five and chasing the little girls together.

I¹m sorry to cut this note so short, but Melanie just came in with exciting news. Our little Victoria just called, and she is expecting another child! God forgive me for saying so, but I hope this next child has Lexie¹s personality, and not Hubert¹s. That boy is so much his father¹s son. It¹s a shame, too. We¹ve tried to get him to warm to us, but he is quite hateful towards us both. I can handle it, but I hate to subject my dear Melanie to his childish tirades. Well, I¹ll sign off for now. It seems our daughter wants us to visit the ranch next weekend, to share in her happy news. So I will see you then, my good friend.

Sincerely,

Travis

Lex continued to study the photograph as Amanda¹s voice trailed off quietly. "This must have been one of the last times I actually saw my grandparents." She closed her eyes as she tried to remember the past.

"Honey?" Amanda put down the letter and touched Lex¹s cheek. She waited until the blue eyes opened and tracked to hers. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah." Lex studied Amanda¹s face and smiled. "You think he would mind a phone call from me sometime?"

Amanda smiled back at the rancher and hugged her tight. "I think he¹d love it, Lex. Just like I know he loves you."

The rancher buried her nose in the blonde hair and took a deep breath. "I hope so. But I at least want him to know that he¹s welcome here, no matter what my father or brother may have told him at the time." She felt the younger woman¹s arms squeeze around her tightly.

"He¹ll know, honey. And I¹m sure he will be thrilled to finally get to know his granddaughter again after all these years." Amanda raised back slightly so that she could look into Lex¹s eyes. A strong gust of wind blew against the house, whistling shrilly. "But, do you think we can stay up here for a while and snuggle? It¹s still really early, and I don¹t want to get out of this warm bed just yet." Amanda shivered as she heard the sound of sleet beating against the windows.

"I dunno. What¹s in it for me?" Lex teased. She really had no desire to get out of bed either, but teasing her lover was just too much fun to resist. "There¹s probably a lot to do around here, with the weather being bad and all." She remarked dryly.

The blonde snorted. "Yeah, right. I can tell by the look on your face that you¹re just as comfortable here as I am." She reached up under Lex¹s shirt and tickled the warm stomach.

Lex squirmed and chuckled. "Hey!" She started to reciprocate, but changed her mind and wrapped her arms around the younger woman tightly instead. "Okay, okayŠ you win." She scooted down until she was flat on her back, with Amanda draped across her chest. "We¹ll lie around until Martha drags us out of bed, deal?"

"Deal." Amanda lifted up and kissed Lex passionately, until the world faded around them.

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