Chapter 55

Lex and Amanda strolled into the kitchen hours later, both looking quite happy and rested. Charlie was sitting at the table talking with Martha, who was at the stove cooking the morning meal.

" Well, well…look who finally decided to get up." She teased the young women, who both had the decency to blush.

Lex recovered first, sitting down next to Amanda. " Well, we woke up earlier, and just decided to take it easy for awhile."

Charlie snickered into his coffee cup, while the young blonde next to Lex blushed again. " Roy stopped by earlier, said he and the boys were going to take care of the horses for you for the next week or so…" he smiled at the housekeeper, who had a smug look on her face. " They felt bad that you had to do all the chores lately, and they want to make it up to you."

Lex looked at Martha. " Sounds like a certain someone has been busy this morning."

The housekeeper turned away from the stove, hands on her hips. " Now you just listen to me, Lexie." She stalked over to the table, putting one hand under the rancher's chin and tilting her face upwards. " You are going to take it easy for a few days - at least until these dark circles disappear from under your eyes." Seeing a stormy look appear on Lex's face, she leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on the young woman's forehead. " Please? For me? "

Lex's face lightened immediately. " Aw, Martha…don't look at me that way." She looked over at her blonde companion, who was trying to control herself. " What's so funny? "

Amanda was sitting next to the tall woman, one hand covering her mouth. " Nothing! " But her eyes were sparkling.

Lex leaned over until she was inches away from Amanda's face. She waited until the younger woman's eyes were locked with her own, then in a quiet voice said, " I have ways of making you talk, my dear."

The younger woman's eyes widened, then glinted with something other than humor. " I'm looking forward to seeing you try." She leaned over and placed a quick kiss on the surprised rancher's nose.

" She gotcha there, Lexie! " Martha chortled as she went back to the stove. " I'm sure you girls are hungry, right? " She started piling two plates with food.

Charlie looked at them, then at his watch. " Wow…it's almost ten o'clock! Getting closer to lunch, isn't it? "

Lex glared at him. " You really don't want to go there." She looked down at the plate the housekeeper had placed in front of her. " Good Lord, Martha…do you actually expect me to eat all of this? "

The older woman sat back down at the table after placing a similarly laden plate in front of the young blonde. " As a matter of fact, I do." She gave the rancher a long stare. " You haven't been eating enough to keep a bird alive…and I'm putting a stop to it! "

Amanda giggled. " I was wondering how she could run a ranch on what she ate…now I know…" she ignored the nasty look the tall woman was giving her.

Lex rolled her eyes. " Fine. But don't blame me for the mess in the kitchen when I explode from eating all of this." She grumbled as she started on her breakfast.

" Poor baby…you'll probably be bedridden for days." Amanda patted her leg in mock sympathy.

" Hrumpph." Another grumble from the rancher, but she couldn't disguise the affection in her eyes. " And this would be a bad thing? " she winked.

Ducking her head, the younger woman prudently didn't answer, but continued to eat her breakfast with a large smile on her face.

Charlie looked at Martha, who was smiling happily. Time to change the subject, I think. Clearing his throat, the lawman looked over at Lex. " Since you don't have any chores to do, what are your plans for what's left of today? " his eyes twinkled.

Placing her coffee mug back on the table, Lex glanced over at the young blonde. " Well, I thought that if Amanda felt up to it, we'd make a trip to town." Seeing the younger woman's answering smile, she continued, " I need to pick up my other truck, and I thought that we could put her car in the shop to get the interior cleaned up."

" That would be great! " The young woman enthused, " My grandparents will be so excited! " Amanda took the rancher's larger hand in hers. " Think I could talk you into staying there for a few days? " Looking into Lex's eyes, she felt the room recede until it seemed that only the two of them were there. " I realize that you know Gramma and Grandpa Jake, but I'd really like to introduce you to them, if you know what I mean."

Lex was so absorbed in the green eyes across from hers, she didn't hear when Martha and Charlie made their silent exit. She swallowed hard, trying to put her thoughts into words. " Are you sure about that? " She saw the shock, and then sadness cross Amanda's expressive face.

" What? " She looked into sad blue eyes. " Why wouldn't I want to show you off? " Amanda used shaky hands to cradle the older woman's face. Leaning forward, she placed a gentle kiss on Lex's trembling lips. " I love you, " she whispered, " and I want the entire world to know it."

Lex felt the sadness squeeze her heart painfully. " I love you too, " she spoke quietly, " but I don't want to see you get hurt." Taking a deep breath, she continued, " People in town have very long memories, and I've got a pretty checkered past." Her voice broke as she felt the soft touch of Amanda's fingertips brushing the tears that had fallen from her eyes.

Amanda stood up, then sat down again, this time in the older woman's lap. She wrapped one arm around Lex's shoulders, and used her free hand to capture the rancher's callused hand. Bringing the large hand to her lips, she placed a tender kiss on the knuckles, then pulled their linked hands to rest between their bodies. " I've already told my grandparents about us, " she whispered, making eye contact with Lex, " and they couldn't be happier." She kissed the older woman's forehead. " And I really don't give a damn what anyone else thinks - so get used to it."

Lex started to speak. " Are…" She cleared her throat and tried again. " Are you sure about this? You're going to hear a lot of nasty stuff, and most of it's probably true." Seeing the fierce determination in those very green eyes, she relented. " I just want you to know what you are getting into." She was about to add more, but was interrupted when Amanda's lips found her own.

Amanda poured everything she had into that kiss - transferring all her hopes, dreams, and love to the dark rancher. When she pulled back, the young woman could see the love shining in Lex's eyes, and she felt her own begin to fill with tears of happiness. " So you'd better get used to the fact that you're stuck with me….'cause I'm not going anywhere." She murmured, leaning up until their foreheads touched.

Taking a shuddering breath, Lex closed her eyes and pulled the young woman against her with all the strength left in her shaking arms. She buried her face in the soft golden hair, trying to come up with something, anything, to express the feeling in her heart. " Oh God, Amanda, " she whispered hoarsely, " I love you with all that I am." She felt the return squeeze.