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"No. Don't." Lex felt Amanda wrap an arm about her waist and lead her to the bathroom. "I'd like to see what she has up her sleeve."

  "Are you sure? We can do this later, when you're feeling better." Amanda pulled the damp tee shirt from Lex's body and turned to start the water in the shower.

  "I'm sure. But I wouldn't mind you frisking her before she comes in the house," Lex admitted.

  Chapter Thirteen

  THE NEXT EVENING, Elizabeth followed Amanda out to the ranch and parked her white Saturn rental car behind her daughter's Mustang. Lex stood on the front porch and watched the two women walk to the house. She fought off the unease that washed over her when she spied Amanda's mother. The rancher noticed with relief that she wore dark slacks and a red silk shirt, not the business suit from her dream.

  Elizabeth's knee-length fur coat was unbuttoned, and the cold wind whipped around her. The drive out to the ranch hadn't been long, but the breeze was a welcome change from the stifling heat of her car's interior. She followed her daughter across the well-kept yard, glancing discreetly at the large home. Goodness, it's much bigger than I expected. She observed the silent figure standing on the front porch and squared her shoulders. Staking out her territory, is she? Well, Miss Big-And-Tough, I don't scare so easily. This is one fight I plan to win.

  Lex did her best to ignore the glare she received from her lover, knowing she was in trouble for standing outside without a jacket. Her fever had broken during the early morning, and despite a lingering tightness in her chest, she was feeling much better. Since she promised Amanda she'd try to be friendly, Lex held out her hand to the woman climbing the steps. "Welcome to the Rocking W Ranch, Mrs. Cauble." Lex watched with amusement as Elizabeth considered her outstretched hand.

  Elizabeth slowly accepted the offered hand in a firm grasp and gave it a shake. "Thank you, Ms. Walters." I wonder how long she can be civil, before her lack of breeding comes to the fore? This may be more fun than I thought.

  Lex's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Please, call me Lexington, or Lex." She cleared her throat and released Elizabeth's hand. "I'm glad you could join us."

  Amanda stepped around Lex and gently grasped her mother's arm. "Come inside, Mother." She escorted Elizabeth into the house, although she aimed her parting shot at the tall form beside the door. "None of us need to be out in this cold any longer than necessary."

  "Ouch," Lex grimaced as she followed the two into the house. She closed the door behind her and watched as Amanda led their guest into the sitting room. She quietly cleared her throat and fought the urge to sneeze.

  Martha stepped out of the kitchen and waved Lex over to her. "I take it our guest has arrived?" she asked quietly. After Amanda had related Lex's nightmare to her, the housekeeper had tried to put Lex's mind at ease, telling her there was no way she'd allow them to host such an important guest alone.

  Lex nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Amanda took her into the sitting room." She peeked into the kitchen. "Where's Grandpa?" He had promised her that morning he'd be glad to be a part of the evening's dinner party, especially after hearing of Lex's bad dream. She hadn't known whether to be angry or relieved when Amanda told the entire household about the nightmare she'd had. Lex was glad her dream was completely wrong so far, and Elizabeth seemed to be behaving herself.

  "He ran back upstairs to change. I think he wants to make a good impression tonight." Martha regarded the woman next to her. "How are you doing, Lexie? You look a little pale." She didn't believe for a moment the younger woman was feeling better.

  "I'm okay. Just a little tired from lying around most of the day." The table appeared to be set to perfection with the good china, and a beautiful white lace tablecloth completed the look. "The table looks nice. Where did you get the covering for it?"

  Martha patted Lex on the side. "Your grandfather suggested we use it. It was upstairs in the storage room. Mrs. Edwards gave it to your mother as a wedding gift, and your father packed it away after she passed on. I knew about it, but after all these years, I'd forgotten. I'm sorry, honey."

  Lex wrapped an arm around Martha's shoulders. "No need to apologize. I think there's a lot of stuff upstairs we need to go through soon." She kissed Martha on the temple. "I'd like your help when we do. You could probably tell me a lot about the stuff that's there."

  "I'd be glad to." Martha returned the hug and stepped back. "Now go see to our guest. Dinner should be ready in about half an hour."

  "Yes, ma'am." Lex grinned and hurried back down the hall. She stood outside the doorway to the sitting room for just a moment to compose herself before stepping into the room. "Sorry. I wanted to go and check on the dinner."

  Elizabeth was sitting on the loveseat near the front window, and turned to face Lex. "I see. Are you cooking tonight?" The look on her face showed just what she thought of such an idea. "Forgive me for saying so, but you don't look like you know your way around a kitchen."

  "Mother," Amanda scolded from her chair nearby, "that was uncalled for!"

  Lex raised a hand. "It's all right, sweetheart." She turned her attention to their guest. "You're right, Mrs. Cauble. Martha won't let me near the stove. She says we don't have enough insurance on the house."

  "Really? Is Martha your cook?" Elizabeth leaned forward slightly, hoping for ammunition in her battle for her daughter.

  "Not exactly." Lex didn't want this woman to look down on Martha, and she knew she would if she thought the housekeeper was some sort of domestic help. "Martha is the woman who raised me after my own mother died. She's about the only family I've had."

  Elizabeth nodded. "Of course. So, she lives here and takes care of you? How interesting."

  Amanda jumped to her feet. "She actually has her own house, back behind this one. Martha runs the house for Lex, so she's free to take care of the bigger demands of the ranch. I don't like what you're insinuating, Mother." She started toward the loveseat, but was intercepted in the center of the room by Lex.

  "Hold on there, love." Lex wrapped her arms around Amanda and pulled her close. "Calm down."

  Elizabeth stood up. "Really, Amanda. You need to learn to control yourself." She brushed nonexistent wrinkles from her slacks and sighed. "I need to freshen up."

  Lex turned and pointed toward the door. "Past the stairway on the right. Do you want me to show you the way?"

  "That's quite all right. I've traveled all over the world, I think I can find your lavatory." Elizabeth left the room with an authoritative air.

  "Now she's gone, what's up with you?" Lex looked into Amanda's face, obviously flushed with anger.

  Amanda buried her face against her lover's shirt and sighed. "I guess I'm just a little defensive when it comes to you. Every word out of her mouth sounded like a dig against you, Lex. I won't stand by and let her get away with that."

  Lex led her over to the loveseat and sat, pulling Amanda into her lap. "Sshh." Lex stroked Amanda's hair for a few moments until she felt the body she held relax. "She just seemed a bit curious to me, sweetheart. Maybe you're a little overly sensitive where she's concerned."

  "No." Amanda shook her head. "Before you came into the room, every thing she said was just one step away from being nasty. She's trying to ruin how I see you, but it's not going to work."

  "Of course not," Lex agreed soothingly. "What was it you said about her insinuating something?"

  "Earlier she said the only reason you have me here is because you want someone to wait on you hand and foot, and you're the type who uses people for their own twisted purposes, and dumps them." Amanda turned her head so she was looking directly into Lex's eyes. "I asked her where she got such a ridiculous idea. She said it's what she saw when we were in California."

  "I think she saw what she wanted to, sweetheart. You have to admit, we were inseparable. She's probably jealous." Lex hugged Amanda to her and stood up. "Come on, let's go wait for her in the kitchen."

  "Okay." Amanda ran her hands through her hair to comb it and shook her head. "I'll try not to rip her
head off at the dinner table, but it's not going to be easy."

  Elizabeth joined them in the kitchen a few minutes later. She stood in the doorway with a superior air as she watched her daughter puttering around the stove. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Lex, who stood next to Amanda. "Ahem." Her assessing eye took in a small, slightly overweight woman next to Lex.

  "Excuse me, Mrs. Cauble. I didn't see you standing there." Actually, she had, but Lex enjoyed the look of consternation that crossed Elizabeth's face. She put her arm around Martha and led her over to where the glaring woman was standing. "This is my mom, Martha Rollins." Lex grinned at the surprised look that spread over the housekeeper's face. "Martha, I'd like you to meet Amanda's mother, Elizabeth Cauble."

  Martha held out her hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Amanda's a very welcome part of our family, and I'm glad you could join us tonight."

  Elizabeth gave the woman her best "social" smile. "Yes. Thank you for having me here on such short notice. Lexington tells me you raised her. You must be so proud of what she's become." An uncouth, perverted cowhand that seduces naïve young girls. Every mother's dream.

  "I certainly am." Martha smiled at Lex, and glanced over to the stove to see Amanda frowning. This woman certainly has a burr under her saddle blanket. Poor Amanda acts like she's about to explode. "Lexie has worked very hard to make this ranch something we can all be proud of. I've never seen it so prosperous, and I've been here twenty-five years."

  Amanda had been on the verge of interrupting her mother's catty comments until she heard Martha's endorsement. She relaxed her grip on the spoon she was using to stir the simmering pot, and tried to calm herself.

  "Why don't you two ladies sit, and I'll bring you each a glass of wine." Lex steered Martha to the table and pulled out a chair for her. She waited until the housekeeper had been seated to go to the refrigerator for the bottle of wine. "I'm not real sure how good this stuff is, but my grandfather claims it'll be perfect for tonight."

  "You're being too modest," a deep voice boomed from the doorway. "You've got a wonderful palate for wine." Travis stepped into the kitchen wearing dark slacks and a multi-colored sweater that accentuated his sparkling blue eyes. His thick silver hair and recently grown mustache was neatly trimmed, and he looked much younger than his seventy-nine years. He met his granddaughter halfway across the kitchen and hugged her gently. "You look a lot better this evening, Lexie."

  She returned his embrace. "Thanks." Lex pulled back and gestured with one arm toward the table. "Let me make the introductions. Mrs. Elizabeth Cauble, I'd like for you to meet my grandfather, Travis Edwards."

  "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Cauble." Travis bowed slightly and gently shook Elizabeth's outstretched hand. "I can see where Amanda gets her beauty."

  Elizabeth found herself doing something very out of character-- she blushed like a schoolgirl. "You're too kind, Mr. Edwards," she demurred. "And please, call me Elizabeth."

  He's laying it on a bit thick, but I think it's working. Maybe she'll back off and leave Amanda alone if she's busy flirting with Grandpa. Lex felt a cold chill run down her back. Ugh. I'm going to owe him big time for this one. She exchanged amused glances with Amanda as she moved over to the stove to help. "Are we ready to get this show on the road?" It had been Amanda's idea for the two of them to serve in order to leave Martha free to enjoy the dinner. Amanda didn't want to give Elizabeth any more ammunition to make the evening miserable, so they decided much earlier Martha would not have anything to do with household chores tonight.

  "Yep. The pasta's strained, the sauce is ready, and the bread will be out of the oven in about a minute." Amanda playfully bumped her lover with a hip. "Think you can handle the salad? It's in the fridge."

  Lex stepped behind Amanda and leaned over to place her lips next to her ear. "I think I can handle more than the salad, sweetheart." She placed a light kiss on the ear and stepped back. "I'll prove it to you, later."

  Amanda fought to keep standing, as her knees almost buckled beneath her. "I'll get you," she growled quietly.

  "I'm counting on it," Lex winked, and deftly removed the salad from the refrigerator.

  THE DINNER WENT better than Lex could have imagined, although she thought she was going to have to tranquilize Amanda on more than one occasion. She took exception to almost every word that left her mother's mouth, no matter how innocent it sounded. Travis continued to bewitch their guest with his southern charm, and Martha had even gotten into the spirit of the evening and presided over the meal as if she were the lady of the manor. After a couple of hours of small talk, the night drew to a close, and Elizabeth regretfully announced she had to get back to her hotel.

  "I want to thank you again for such a lovely evening." Elizabeth extended her hand to Martha, who, along with Travis, had escorted her to the front door. Earlier, Amanda had gone upstairs, citing a terrible headache.

  Martha smiled warmly and shook her hand. "It was entirely our pleasure, Elizabeth. I'm sorry Amanda's not here to tell you goodbye." She allowed the other woman to open the door.

  "Yes. We had a wonderful time, too." Travis pulled the blushing woman's hand to his lips. "It's so nice to have finally met you, my dear. Please don't be a stranger. How long do you plan to be in Somerville? We'd love to have you out again."

  Elizabeth shook her head sadly as she pulled her hand back. "I'm not certain. It depends on my daughter. I'd love to spend more time with Mandy, but not if it makes her feel uncomfortable." She took both of Martha's hands in her own and squeezed. "I appreciate you making me feel so welcome, Martha. If I don't see you again before I leave, I want you to know how much your hospitality means to me. You have an open invitation if you're ever in Los Angeles, so I can return the favor." She turned quickly and hurried from the porch, fighting the freezing wind as she went to her car.

  Martha closed the door. "Went well, I think," she quipped to Travis. "I don't believe I would have made it without your help. Thank you."

  "My dear Martha," he draped one long arm around her shoulders and guided her back to the kitchen, "it was entirely my pleasure. We're all family here, and there's no place I'd rather be." They passed the staircase and paused for a moment.

  "I hope Lexie can calm Amanda down. She certainly was in a state, wasn't she?" Martha linked her arm with his. "Come on. I think I have some coffee cake left over from breakfast. What say we have a quick snack?"

  Travis laughed, but allowed her to lead him into the kitchen. "That sounds like a marvelous idea. But if you keep feeding me like this, I'm going to have to start jogging in the mornings to compensate for it."

  LEX WATCHED AMANDA pace back and forth around the bedroom. She had been trying to calm her ever since they had gotten upstairs. "Sweetheart, I thought the dinner went well. I mean, at least no blood was spilled, or anything." She hoped joking about her own misgivings would help. Her throat was sore, and she felt a definite chill as her fever was making a resurgence.

  "She was just playing with us, Lex." Amanda spun around and stomped over to the dresser. "Don't tell me you fell for her sweet and innocent act." She pulled open a drawer, glanced down, and slammed it shut. What am I looking for?

  "Well, she did act nice tonight. Maybe she just wants to have a better relationship with you." Lex stood and crossed the room, stopping directly behind her lover. "Don't get me wrong. I'll never forgive her for whatever role she played in your poisoning, but she gives me the impression she has honestly missed you." She placed one hand on Amanda's back. "Part of me can't blame her for wanting to protect you, since I feel the same way."

  Amanda spun around and snuggled into Lex's arms. She shook her head as she leaned into the denim shirt. "No. You don't know her like I do, Lex. She's up to something, I just know it." Lex studied her lover's concerned face. "I'm worried about what she may do. The last time they tried to poison you. What if--"

  Lex caressed the worried face below her. "Sshhh. Nothing's going to happen to me,
sweetheart. She may be a bit crazy, but your mother isn't stupid. If something happened to me now, she'd be the main suspect. We know that, and she knows that." She leaned down and placed a light kiss on Amanda's forehead.

  "It won't stop her from plotting, you know." Amanda swayed slightly as warm lips continued to kiss her face.

  "You could be right," Lex agreed, as she led Amanda over to the bed. Time for a little diversion, I think. She nibbled on a convenient earlobe and whispered, "Even if you are, there's not much we can do about it tonight. Why don't you let me fix you a hot bath and I'll give you a nice, long massage."

  Long fingers slowly began to unbutton Amanda's blouse, ultimately causing the silk garment to fall to the floor. "Mmm." She leaned her head back as Lex continued to place tender nips along her throat. She felt herself pushed onto her back as her lover carefully peeled her jeans down her hips and off her legs. Warm hands traced fiery paths across Amanda's bare skin, causing her to writhe and moan softly. "Lex."

  Lex continued her diversion by caressing the smooth skin beneath hers in long, generous strokes. "Close your eyes, love. Just relax and enjoy the ride," she whispered, right before she bent her head and sucked erotically on tender flesh.

  "ARE YOU SURE you're up to this?" Amanda questioned her lover. "I'd be just as happy spending New Year's Eve at home with you." She looked in the mirror at Lex, who was brushing her hair and trying to appear alert. She had dark circles under her eyes, and Amanda suspected she was fighting off a fever.

  Lex tossed the brush onto the counter. "I'm sure. I promised your family we'd meet them there, and your grandmother owes me a dance." She stepped forward to stand behind her lover and placed her hands on Amanda's shoulders, looking at her in the mirror. "Have I told you how beautiful you look this evening?"

  Amanda wore the same outfit she wore a couple of months before at her parents' house in Los Angeles. The black denim skirt and shimmering green blouse complimented her figure, and the heart-shaped necklace rested perfectly in the hollow of her throat. She covered Lex's hands with her own. "You have. Thank you."