Chapter 21. The enraged woman stormed down the corridor, oblivious to everything around her

The enraged woman stormed down the corridor, oblivious to everything around her. I should have never left him alone with AmandaŠthat son of a bitch nearly killed her! She brushed by a group of people that had just stepped out of the elevator.

"Lex! Where are youŠ?" Frank was nearly knocked down by the upset woman. He looked at his wife. "What¹s bitten her on the butt?"

Jeannie grabbed his arm and began to drag him down the hallway. "I don¹t knowŠbut I think we¹d better follow her."

Lex shoved open the door to Amanda¹s room causing it to slam back against the wall loudly. Michael was sitting on Amanda¹s bed with his arms around his daughter. Both appeared to be smiling. "CAUBLE! Get your slimy hands off of her!" She rushed into the room and grabbed the man by his shirtfront. "You don¹t deserve to be anywhere near Amanda, you bastard!" She picked him up and shook him roughly.

"LEX! What are you doing?" Amanda tried to break the rancher¹s hold on her father. "Have you lost your mind?" She frantically clawed at Lex¹s hands. "Put my father down!"

"It¹s the money, isn¹t it? That¹s all you¹ve ever cared about." Lex tightened grasp on the flailing man¹s shirt. "I ought to toss your sorry ass through that window, but I¹d probably be arrested for littering."

Michael fought the iron grip on his shirt in vain. "What the hell are you talking about? What¹s gotten into you?"

The rancher continued to shake him as she dragged the frantic man away from her lover. "The police traced the calls you made to SterlingŠand they¹ll probably connect you to the poisoning, tooŠ" Lex slammed him into the wall. "Amanda almost DIED, you greedy son of a bitch!"

Jeannie and Frank burst into the room. "Daddy?" she yelled, as her husband rushed over to the older man¹s aid. "What¹s going on?"

"I don¹t know!" Amanda was trying to pull the I.V. from her hand while she watched her lover continue to manhandle her father. "Frank, do something, please!"

"C¹mon, LexŠlet him go." The ex-football player wrapped an arm around the tall woman¹s chest and pulled. "It¹s bad form to kill the in-laws, no matter how much they might deserve it." And the way that he and Elizabeth have treated her, I don¹t much blame the woman.

"I didn¹t have anything to do with this!" Michael pleaded his case as Lex was forcibly pulled away. He rubbed his chest where her fists had dug into him. "Believe me, as much as I disliked you, I would NEVER put my daughter in any danger."

"Let go of me, dammit!" Lex strained to break away from the big man¹s grasp. "I¹m gonna kill him!" She kicked at the older man, trying to make some sort of contact. "Lying bastard!"

Amanda had finally given up on trying to work the intravenous needle loose gently. She ripped it from her hand and rushed over to stand between Lex and Michael. "Honey, please!" She reached up and touched the struggling woman¹s cheek. "What¹s going on?"

Lex stopped thrashing around and looked into the blonde¹s eyes. DamnŠI think I blew this oneŠ "Let me go, Frank," she requested quietly. She¹s never gonna forgive meŠ

He looked at Amanda, who nodded. With a heavy sigh, Frank released his hold on Lex. "You okay?" he whispered in the tall woman¹s ear.

"Yeah. Sorry about that." Lex glared at Michael. "You¹ve got some nerve, showing your face around here." She calmed when she felt Amanda¹s hands on her stomach. Lex studied Amanda with a sad look on her face. "The police traced calls from your father¹s private office to Matt Sterling." Please understand what I¹m trying to tell youŠhe almost killed you just to get to me.

"Is that true, Daddy?" Amanda turned around and looked at her father.

"NO! I swear that I had nothing to do with this entire mess! Someone else used my office while I was out of town." Michael looked back and forth between his two daughters. Jeannie stood skeptically off to one side with her arms crossed over her chest. Amanda was gently patting Lex on the stomach as she tried to calm the tall woman.

The rancher shook her head. "Yeah, right. Who else has access to your house? Are you trying to tell us that the butler did it?"

Jeannie began to laugh at the absurdity of Lex¹s statement, then paused. The only other person who would be in his office isŠ "Mother?"

"No way!" Frank scoffed. "She¹s a lady, aŠ"

"Cold-hearted, two-faced, money hungry manipulator," Michael finished quietly. "She practically admitted everything to me before I left."

Amanda looked at her father with a shocked look on her face. "I don¹t believe it. Mother can be distant at times, but I don¹t think that she would ever purposely hurt anyone."

Michael watched as Lex put her arm around his daughter to comfort her. "I can prove it! All we have to do is find Mark Garrett and ask him. He¹s been working for her since I fired him several weeks ago."

"Won¹t do you any good." Charlie stood in the doorway with Martha behind him. "What¹s going on here? We could hear you folks all the way down the hall."

Lex pointed at Michael. I can¹t believe he¹s trying to shift the blame to his own wife. "Ask him! He seems to have all the damn answers!" She allowed Amanda to pull her back towards the bed and sit her down.

"Calm down, love. Let¹s see if Charlie can make any sense out of this, okay?" Amanda

sat down next to the rancher and held her hands. I can¹t believe that my mother could have anything to do with this. Why would she want Lex hurtŠor killed?

The sheriff moved further into the room. "I hate to ask you this, Mr. CaubleŠbut do you have proof that you¹ve been out of town for the past couple of weeks?"

Michael nodded. "I doŠjust not with me. But I can get my business expense receipts together in the next day or so." He paused momentarily. "Wait a minute. You said that Garrett couldn¹t help? Let me talk to him. I bet I can get him to cooperate."

"I don¹t think so. He¹s dead," Charlie informed the executive. "We¹ve got a man flying to England to bring back his body."

Dear godŠI wonder if Elizabeth had anything to do with that? Michael shuddered. "How did he die?"

Charlie released Martha¹s hand so that she could walk over to check on Lex and Amanda. The young blonde had tears in her eyes, and her companion was sitting with her head hanging down and her shoulders slumped. "He fell in front of a bus. Although witnesses said that he appeared to have been pushed."

"How horrible!" Amanda gasped quietly. She tried to give Martha a smile when the housekeeper put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Martha looked down at Amanda¹s hands and noticed that the top one was bleeding. "Oh, honeyŠlet me call a nurse." She pulled out a linen handkerchief and covered the wound. The older woman was about to reach for the call button on the bed when Amanda shook her head.

Detective Weingart stormed into the room all out of breath. "Walters! What¹s the big idea, running off like that?" He looked around the room at all the people now staring at him. ShitŠnow what¹s going on?

Lex stood up and faced the heavily breathing man. "Get out of here, Detective. This is a family matter." She was still upset and was on the verge of losing complete control. One wrong word out of you and I¹ll gladly tear into your pathetic ass.

"I don¹t think so!" He stepped up until he was directly in her face. "Give me an excuse, ladyŠ"

Sergeant Byers stood in the doorway. "Barry!" He looked around the room. "I¹m going to need everyone to leave, except the immediate family. We have a few questions to ask."

Michael shook his head. "No one will be talking to you without having our lawyers present, gentlemen." He glanced at Amanda, who was now standing behind Lex with one hand on the tall woman¹s back. "My daughter is still recovering from her ordeal, so I¹d appreciate it if you would come back at a later time."

"Your daughter? So you¹re Michael Cauble?" Byers asked. At the older man¹s nod, he took a step forward. "I have some questions for you, sir. If you¹ll just come with me we¹ll go somewhere that we won¹t disturb your daughter."

Charlie saw the worried look on Amanda¹s face. "Why don¹t you fellows step out into the hallway with me, and I¹ll update you on what¹s going on." No sense in upsetting her any more than necessaryŠpoor kid.

"Sheriff, you don¹t have any authority here." Detective Weingart turned around to face the lawman. He¹s related to thatŠwoman, somehow. She called him Uncle back in the office. Probably just as twisted as she is. "WE¹D appreciate it if you¹d just mind your own business." A firm hand on his shoulder caused him to jump slightly.

"I¹D appreciate it if you¹d show Sheriff Bristol the respect he deserves," Lex murmured menacingly. Cocky little bastard. No one talks to Charlie like that!

Weingart spun back around. "That¹s it!" He grabbed the tall woman¹s right wrist and twisted her around, bending her arm painfully behind her back. "I¹ve had it with your attitude, Walters!" He reached behind his back for his handcuffs.

Amanda stepped forward and reached for him when she saw the look of pain on Lex¹s face. "Stop it, please! You¹re hurting her!"

Sergeant Byers sighed and grabbed his partner¹s arm. "Let her go, BarryŠlet¹s see what Sheriff Bristol has to tell us."

Michael Cauble moved towards them. "I won¹t let you question me without my lawyer, but I can at least give you a little bit of information. I think I have a thing or two to add."

"She assaulted me, Kent. I have every right to book her!" The detective objected, but pushed Lex away roughly.

Frank laughed. "Buddy, I¹ve seen Lex in action. Believe me, if she HAD assaulted you, I can guarantee that you wouldn¹t be standing there."

When everyone in the room laughed, Byers tried to keep the grin off of his face. "UmmŠ right." He motioned for the other man to join him. "C¹mon, BarryŠlet¹s listen to what these gentlemen have to say." He looked over at Lex, who was cradling her right arm against her chest. "Ms. Walters, if you want to lodge a complaint against my partner, I¹ll be glad to give you my captain¹s phone number."

Lex felt Amanda¹s arm around her tighten. "NoŠI was out of line." She looked at the detective. "Sorry about that, Detective."

"Yeah." Weingart followed his partner out of the room. "Whatever."

"Are you all right?" Amanda stood in front of Lex and looked up into her face. She raised her hand to touch the rancher¹s cheek.

"I¹m okay." Lex covered Amanda¹s hand with her own. She frowned when she felt something wet and sticky. When she looked at her fingers, Lex saw that they were covered in with blood. "My god, AmandaŠ.your hand!"

The blonde woman tried to pull her hand away. "It¹s fine. I just had a fight with the I.V. and lost." She smiled at her friend.

Lex looked at her sadly. "My fault." She pulled Amanda back over to the bed.

Jeannie looked at Frank. "I think we need to go see where Gramma and Grandpa are," she hinted. They both realized that Amanda and Lex needed a little time alone.

"Right." Frank took his wife by the hand and quietly led her from the room.

The rancher sat down next to her friend and accepted Martha's handkerchief to staunch the bleeding. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart." She leaned down and kissed the makeshift bandage.

Martha patted Amanda's shoulder gently. "I called the nurse, honey." She bent down until she could look Lex in the eye. "And don't you start blaming yourself for anything, Lexie." She lightly grasped the dark-haired woman's chin to keep her from looking away. "Thank you for taking up for Charlie. You've always done me proud."

A middle-aged nurse wheeled a small cart into the room. She parked the vehicle next to the bed and shook her head at the three women. "Young lady," she addressed Amanda while checking out her hand. "We put those needles in for a reason, you know." She turned to talk to Martha. "Are you her mother?"

"No, she's mine." Lex offered with a grin. She enjoyed the happy smile on the older woman's face. "Is there a problem?"

"Oh, noŠno problem at all." The nurse finished putting an adhesive bandage on Amanda's hand. "Dr. Barnes just called the nurses station. He said that if Miss Cauble was feeling up to it, her family could take her home." She winked at Martha. "Personally, I think he's doing it in self-defense. We haven't had this much excitement around here in ages." She finished cleaning up her mess and began to roll the cart away. "He'll be by in a bit to sign you out, honey."

Michael and Charlie stepped back into the room, parting to allow the nurse to leave. They wore matching grim looks on their faces. The sheriff put one hand on the younger man's shoulder and spoke quietly to him.

Amanda noticed the look on her father's face. "What's wrong, Daddy?"

"Your mother is gone." He sat down on the opposite bed. "She must have packed up right after I left."

The sheriff walked over to Martha and put his arm around her. "According to the household staff, all of her clothes and jewelry are gone, too. I don't think that she's planning on coming back."

Lex stood up. Time to eat a little crow. She walked around the bed to where Michael was sitting. "Mr. CaubleŠ." She stopped when he raised a hand and stood up.

"Lex, I don't appreciate being tossed around like a rag doll." He looked up into her eyes, which were filled with genuine regret. "Especially from someone that I'm trying to get along with."

"DaddyŠ" Amanda interrupted.

He waved his hand impatiently. "Just a minute, Amanda." Michael stepped closer to Lex and watched as she fought the urge to step back. "But I DO appreciate your protectiveness of my daughter." Michael smiled at the tall woman. "Guess we're about even in the shoving department, huh?"

"What in the hell did you do to my daughter?" Michael Cauble yelled, when he spotted Lex and Amanda walking across the main foyer on their way to the stairs. He stormed towards the women with his fists clinched at his side. The younger woman had a large bruise on one side of her face, which appeared to be in the shape of a hand.

"DaddyŠwait!" Amanda stepped in front of Lex, holding her hand out to block her father¹s path.

Michael shoved his daughter aside and pushed the tall woman up against the stairwell, his face red with rage. "You like hitting defenseless women, cow chaser?"

Amanda squeezed between the two of them. She reached forward and pushed her father back. "Stop it! Lex didn¹t do anything to me, DaddyŠI was mugged at the beach."

"What?! You were mugged?" Michael backed off a step and glared at the rancher. "Where the hell were you while my daughter was being assaulted?"

Lex wisely kept her mouth shut to give Amanda a chance to handle her father. The fuming rancher knew that if she said anything, it would only hurt the woman she loved ¯ so she concentrated on controlling her breathing. Stay calm, LexingtonŠlet Amanda take care of him. She took a deep breath and released it as she felt the younger woman¹s hand pat her gently on the arm.

"Lex was only a few steps away, and she caught the guy ¯ then turned him over to the police." Amanda stated proudly. She stepped back and put a hand behind her to make contact with the silent woman. She could almost feel Lex¹s anger as the woman unconsciously put her hands on the small waist in front of her.

Michael prudently decided to let the matter drop. "Very well." He looked at their matching ragged shorts and frowned. "Is it too much to ask that you two change for dinner? We¹re not having a clambake."

Amanda felt Lex stiffen behind her and the hands on her hips tightened slightly. "Is it too much for me to ask that you and Mother act civil tonight? If not, Lex and I can go out for dinner, then fly out first thing in the morning." She asked in a calm voice, halfway hoping his answer would be negative. PleaseŠgive me a reason to get out of here.

DamnŠshe¹s really grown up in the past year, hasn¹t she? Michael mused to himself, vaguely proud. All right. I¹ll play her little game. "Of course, dear. We just got off on the wrong foot, didn¹t we, Lex?" He reached forward and offered his hand to the dark-haired woman. "No hard feelings?"

"You still owe me a busted lip, too. I believe I manhandled you on more than one occasion when you were in California." Michael raised his chin in an exaggerated manner. "Do you want to take it now?"

The rancher shook her head. "Nah. If it's okay with you, I'll just take a raincheck." She offered him her hand. "I'm really sorry about earlier, Mr. Cauble."

Michael accepted her hand and shook it. "Michael, remember?"

"Mandy! We just passed the doctor in the hallwayŠhe said that all of your tests came back negative and we can take you home now." Anna Leigh breezed into the room carrying a small bag. "We picked you up a few things so that you wouldn't have to wear your nightgown home."

Jacob followed behind her, smiling. "That's right, Peanut. Your grandmother made the ultimate sacrifice and went shopping, just for you." He dodged his wife's playful swat. "We saw Jeannie and Frank in the hallwayŠthey told us that we missed all the excitement." He glanced at Lex and Michael. "Is everything okay in here?"

Lex nodded. "Other than me almost killing your son, everything's just peachy." She grinned sheepishly. "I'm afraid that I kinda lost my temperŠagain." She accepted Amanda's outstretched hand and sat down next to her friend.

"The police thought that Daddy had something to do with what's been happening lately. They told Lex, and sheŠ" Amanda began to explain.

"Charged in here like a maniac," the rancher finished helpfully.

Michael laughed. "Just remind me to try and stay on your good side, Lex." He rubbed his chest with one hand. "I'd really hate to be on the receiving end of your temper again."

"I'm really sorry about that." Lex apologized again. "Did I hurt you?"

"Only my pride." He looked at the other men in the room. "Why don't we sneak out of here and let Amanda get dressed? I'll buy everyone a cup of coffee." He smiled. "If I could borrow a few dollars from someone, since IŠummŠseem to be a little strapped for money at the moment."

Jacob chuckled and wrapped an arm around his son. "No problem there, son. C¹mon." He led the younger man out of the room.

"Free coffee? Now that sounds like something I can handle." Frank kissed his wife¹s forehead and made a hasty exit.

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

"Are you sure you don¹t want to go upstairs and rest? It¹s after eleven o¹clock," Lex asked the small woman who was wrapped tightly around her. They were snuggled together on the sofa in Jacob and Anna Leigh¹s den, quietly watching the dying flames from the fireplace. Everyone else had made their excuses earlier and the two women were the only ones left downstairs.

Amanda shook her head. "NoŠI¹m so tired of lying in bed. This is very comfortable, believe me." She buried her face deeper into Lex¹s chest. "Do you think too many people would be upset if we just went home tomorrow? I want to sleep in our own bed, and get away from my helpful family." If Gramma wouldn¹t have practically dragged Jeannie and Dad from here earlier, I think I would have gone off the deep end. "Lord knows I love my sister, but she can be such a pain in the butt at times."

Lex laughed. "I thought your Gramma was gonna have to hog tie her to get her out of the room." Although the thought HAD crossed my mind. Trouble is, she would have probably enjoyed it. "And if you want to go home tomorrow, that¹s where we¹re going. I don¹t care what anyone else thinks." She paused for a moment in thought. "UmmŠdo you want to invite your father out to the ranch? We have plenty of room."

"NoŠnot yet." Amanda looked up at her friend. I know how uncomfortable that would be for you, my loveŠand I don¹t want to put you through any more than I already have. "But I really appreciate you asking, honey." She reached up with one hand and brushed the dark hair out of Lex¹s eyes. She looks exhausted. "Are you okay?"

"YeahŠ" Lex closed her eyes when Amanda began to caress her cheek gently. "Been a long couple of days, though." She leaned into the touch and had to fight back a sudden onslaught of memories. I almost lost all of thisŠherŠoh, godŠ. Tears began to fall freely from her closed eyes as Lex remembered the events of the past couple of days.

The younger woman saw the wetness trail down her lover¹s face. "Oh, LexŠ" Amanda crawled up the rancher¹s body until she could look directly into her eyes, which opened at her entreaty. "HoneyŠit¹s okay." She felt the strong arms wrap around her tightly.

The dark head bent until it was buried in Amanda¹s hair. Lex began to sob quietly, unable to stop. "GodŠ" she gasped in between breaths. "I can¹tŠ"

"ShhhŠI¹ve got you. It¹s all right, baby." Amanda held her lover close. What do you do when the strongest person you know falls apart? I¹m at a complete loss hereŠ She began to slowly rock back and forth, running her hands up and down Lex¹s back. "I¹m hereŠ"

"I¹m sorry," Lex whispered as she fought to control her emotions. Stop it, you damn fool. She¹s been through enough without having to baby-sit you. She pulled back slightly and sniffled. The touch of Amanda¹s hands on her face was nearly her undoing.

Amanda wiped at the tears with her fingertips. When the blue eyes finally opened, they were red and puffy. "Hi there." She smiled at Lex tenderly.

Lex smiled back, although hers wavered slightly. "Hi." She blinked a couple of times and pulled in a deep breath. "Sorry about that."

"Please don¹t apologize, honey." Amanda ran her hands gently down the long arms in an effort to comfort. "Do you realize how much it means to me when you let go like that?" She fought back tears of her own. "I know how hard it is for you to open up, Lex. And when you let me hold you, it means more to me than you¹ll ever know." She leaned forward and lightly kissed Lex. "I love youŠand that means I love all of you, emotional or not. So don¹t ever feel that you have to hold back from me, all right?"

"UmmŠokay." Lex smiled more sincerely this time. "It¹s just that I spent a lot of years trying to be more like my dad. I didn¹t think he¹d respect me if I was a typical emotional female." She looked down for a moment. "Used to drive Martha absolutely crazy." Lex looked back up into the understanding eyes of her lover. "I love you, Amanda. Don¹t ever think otherwise, okay?"

The blonde ran her hand down Lex¹s cheek. "You¹ve always told me that you love me. With your eyes, the way you touch me, and with the little things you do for me. Every day you express what¹s in your heart with your words and your actions. I¹ve never doubted your love for me." She hugged Lex. " Now, let¹s go upstairs and discuss this a little moreŠ." She kissed the rancher again, prolonging the contact. "In depth."

"Works for me." Lex stood up and brought the smaller woman with her. She made quick work of handling the fireplace by stirring the dying coals and then closing the glass doors. "You ready?"

"Yup." Amanda wrapped an arm around the tall woman and allowed Lex to lead her from the room.

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