The Way Things Should Be Read online

  All but one of the men stood to leave, some of them giving Lex a less than polite look. One man, wearing wire-framed glasses and an expensive suit, waited until the others left before standing before her. "Excuse me, Ms. Walters?"

  Lex rose and tucked the envelope under her arm. "Yes?"

  "I'd love a chance to talk with you, if you have the time."

  Not wishing to be impolite but wanting to surprise Amanda by making an appearance at the baby shower, Lex said, "Depends on how long you want to talk. I've got another appointment."

  Wilson wiped his sweaty palm on his pants leg before holding it out. "My name's Andrew Wilson." He was surprised at the firm handshake he received from the attractive woman.

  Lex resisted the urge to wipe her hand on her jeans. She couldn't remember the last time she'd be given such a limp, damp handshake, and it immediately put her on edge. "Mr. Wilson, what is it I can do for you?"

  He looked around the empty room as if afraid someone might be listening to their conversation. "Could we go someplace private to talk?"

  Lex left the room and walked down the hallway to the front door. "Like I said, I've got things to do, Mr. Wilson. But if you want to walk me to my truck, we can talk on the way."

  Damn. Billings is going to kill me if I don't get her to listen to reason. He followed her, waiting until they were outside before speaking. "Ms. Walters, I don't know what you paid for that land, but I'd be more than happy to give you double, right here, right now." Wilson almost ran into Lex's back when she stopped suddenly.

  "Double?" Lex turned around and glared at the young man. "I don't know what you're up to, mister, but that land's not for sale. Not at any price." The offer made her extremely uneasy, and she reminded herself to talk to Ed about this stranger. "But thanks." Lex opened her truck door and climbed in. She rolled down the window. "I'm sure you can buy some other land around that's just as good, Mr. Wilson." Lex tipped her hat to the man in the suit before rolling up the window and backing the truck out of its parking place. She didn't see him scramble to fish a cellular phone from his coat pocket, or the look on his face when the person on the other end of the line started berating him.

  "OOH!" WANDA HELD a tiny ruffled dress up to her chest. "It's adorable, Mrs. Cauble." Although she had worked for Sunflower Realty for years, Wanda couldn't bring herself to call the owner by her given name, no matter how Anna Leigh tried. "Thank you!" She had been opening gifts for what seemed like hours, and the group's enthusiasm hadn't waned a bit.

  Amanda felt her smile slip. The constant noise and chatter were beginning to get on her nerves, and more than once she'd found herself making excuses to leave the room. "Let me go check on the coffee," she said, standing and then weaving through the crowd of women.

  On her way back from the kitchen, Amanda ran into one of Wanda's friends, who had left the living room earlier to freshen up. The woman, short and heavyset, gave Amanda a curt look. "Where's that good-looking partner of yours? I thought you two were inseparable."

  "She had another appointment, Judi. Now if you'll excuse me, I really should get back to the party." Amanda edged by the nosy woman, but not before she heard Judi's parting shot.

  "Guess the honeymoon's over. That certainly didn't take long."

  Anna Leigh looked up as Amanda sat next to her. She could tell her granddaughter was upset by the way she bit her lower lip and kept from looking at anyone. Quietly she whispered, "Mandy? What's the matter, dearest?"

  Amanda shook her head, but didn't answer.

  With a quick glance around to be sure they wouldn't be missed, Anna Leigh took Amanda's arm, pulled her out of the room, and led them to the kitchen, where the sounds of the party could barely be heard. Gently pushing Amanda to a chair at the table, Anna Leigh dropped down beside her and tried to look into the younger woman's face. "Now, tell me what's wrong, Mandy. And don't you dare sit there and say 'nothing.'"

  "Oh, Gramma." Amanda leaned over and wrapped her arms around her grandmother's neck, finally allowing the tears to fall. "Do you think that Lex is tired of me already?"

  "What?" Anna Leigh pulled back until they were looking eye to eye. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

  Sniffling, Amanda reached for a paper napkin on the table and wiped her eyes. "We've been arguing a lot lately. Not to mention the fact that she's not even here with me today."

  Anna Leigh shook her head at her granddaughter's warped logic. "My dear child, you told me she had a very important private auction to be at this morning. And we both know how well Lexington would fit in at a baby shower."

  "I suppose you're right. But what about our arguments? We didn't used to fight all the time."

  Thinking for a long moment, Anna Leigh decided to bring up something that had been bothering her for a few weeks. "Mandy, look at me." When the tearful eyes met hers, Anna Leigh's heart almost broke, but she held firm to her resolve. "You've been somewhat, how should I put this--"

  "Bitchy?" Amanda offered, a wry smile on her face.

  "No, I wouldn't say that, dear. But you've certainly been preoccupied lately. Would you care to talk to me about it?"

  Amanda jumped up and started rearranging the plastic drink cups around the punch bowl. "Why does everyone keep asking me to talk? There's nothing wrong, dammit!" She threw a stack of colored napkins across the room, then spun around to find her grandmother's sturdy presence close by. Amanda easily fell into the older woman's arms once again, sobbing uncontrollably. "Why, Gramma? Why is everyone having a baby except me?"

  AFTER DROPPING OFF her bank draft and signing a large stack of papers, Lex whistled along with the tune on the radio as she drove toward the Caubles' house. She planned on surprising Amanda by showing up for the end of the baby shower, and nothing could ruin her good mood. When her cell phone rang, Lex snapped it off her belt. "Hello?"

  "Ms. Walters?"

  Lex frowned. "Yes?" She thought the caller would be Amanda and was disappointed that it wasn't.

  "I'm sorry to bother you on a Saturday," the voice continued, "but I'm afraid I have some bad news."

  "Oh-kay." Realizing it wouldn't be a short call, Lex turned the truck into a nearby parking lot so that she could give the caller her undivided attention. "Who is this?"

  "Oh, yes. I'm terribly sorry, Ms. Walters. This is Rodney Cline, with Edison Investments." The firm that she entrusted with the large majority of her money had recently changed hands, and Lex hadn't had time to get to know the new people involved with the company.

  "Right, Mr. Cline. What can I do for you?" Lex pulled down the visor and studied herself in the mirror, double-checking for any gray hair, which she did when no one else was around. It was a secret fear of hers, looking older than she was, and the last thing she needed was any reminder that she was older than Amanda.

  The man on the other end of the phone released a heavy sigh. "Ms. Walters, would it be possible for you to come by our offices as soon as possible? As I said before, I have some news that I really don't want to relate over the telephone."

  Lex looked at her watch and thought for a moment. Is he out of his mind? I'm not about to drive all the way to Austin, and on a damned Saturday to boot. "Do you have any idea where I am, Mr. Cline? I've got an important engagement to keep, and there's no way that I can miss it. Just say what you need to on the phone." Although she didn't know what the man wanted, Lex decided that whatever it was, it couldn't put a damper on her afternoon. She was even looking forward to surprising her wife at the shower, and decided she'd stop off on the way and grab a bouquet of flowers for both Wanda and Amanda.

  "All right, if you insist. I'm afraid I have to be the bearer of some rather unfortunate news," he rushed out. "The gentleman handling your account hasn't been to work since Wednesday, and we've discovered some irregularities."

  Lex felt the contents of her breakfast begin to churn. "And?"

  "It seems that he made some unauthorized transactions with your funds, Ms. Walters. We're still trying to figure out what, and why
."

  "Unauthorized? But don't you folks normally just handle things? What's all of this mean?"

  "It means, Ms. Walters, that the stocks and cash in your account are gone." Cline cleared his throat, preparing for the worst.

  Lex slumped down in the truck seat and rubbed her eyes with one hand. "Gone? What do you mean, gone? How the hell did this happen? Don't you have ways of preventing something like this?"

  "Normally, yes, of course. And we'll do a thorough investigation to see exactly what has happened."

  "So, you're saying I have nothing left at all? Why the hell did he pick me?"

  "We can't figure out why it was just you, but the authorities have been notified. I'm terribly sorry about all of this, Ms. Walters."

  "Sorry doesn't bring back the money I trusted you with, Cline." Lex leaned forward and thumped her head on the steering wheel. Okay, don't panic. She had enough in the bank to cover buying the new property, and to keep the ranch running for several months. The sale of the next herd of horses should see them through until spring. She just hoped that nothing unexpected came up in the meantime.

  "Ms. Walters? Are you all right?"

  "Of course I'm not all right, you dipshit. Your stupid firm just lost hundreds of thousands of dollars of mine, and you ask me if I'm all right?" She took a deep breath in an attempt to control her temper. "That pissant better hope the authorities find him before I do, Mr. Cline, because I plan on taking each and every penny out of his worthless hide." Her final words were so quiet he had to strain to hear them. "You'll be hearing from my lawyer."

  The broker swallowed hard as the angry woman disconnected the call. He was just glad that she was in Somerville and not in Austin, where he would have had to deal with her temper in person.

  THE LARGE TRUCK had been parked behind Amanda's Mustang for over ten minutes, yet the driver still hadn't left the vehicle. Lex leaned on the steering wheel and looked at the neatly-kept two-story house, mentally debating with herself on whether or not to actually go inside. She wasn't sure how she was going to bring up the subject of her lost investments with her lover, especially as touchy as Amanda had been lately. Taking a deep breath, Lex gathered up the three bouquets of flowers she'd picked up on the way and got out of the truck. To make the surprise complete, she decided to ring the doorbell, hoping that one of the Cauble women would answer it. She wasn't disappointed.

  Anna Leigh's face lit up when she realized who stood on her front porch. "Lexington! This is a wonderful surprise. But what are you doing ringing the bell?" Her answer was a large bouquet of roses.

  "Sorry I'm late, Gramma. I hope y'all saved some ice cream."

  "These are exquisite, Lexington. Thank you." Anna Leigh held the flowers up to her nose and inhaled deeply. "Mmm."

  Lex stepped inside and looked around. "Is my beautiful better half around?"

  Anna Leigh lowered the bouquet and kissed the younger woman on the cheek. "Everyone's in the living room, dear. And I believe we were just about to have cake and ice cream."

  "Cool." The rancher mentally prepared herself for the onslaught of women and stepped into the living room.

  Amanda looked up in surprise at the figure in the doorway. "Lex?" She watched in amusement as her partner brought a beautiful flower arrangement from behind her back to give to Wanda.

  Lex went down on one knee and handed the flowers to the guest of honor, who immediately began to cry. "Wanda, I'm really sorry I'm late, but I hope these will help you forgive me."

  "Oh, Lex. These are absolutely beautiful." Wanda looked across the room at Amanda. "Any time you want to trade spouses, I'm more than ready. Dirk never brings me flowers."

  The entire room expressed comments of appreciation, and several of the women stood up and crowded around Wanda to get a better look. Lex took the opportunity to sneak away to sit next to Amanda. "Hey there, beautiful." She handed her wife a dozen yellow roses, knowing that they were Amanda's favorites.

  "Hey there, yourself," Amanda said. Her grandmother had helped calm her after the earlier outburst, and now she was just tired. She couldn't help but smile at Lex, especially knowing how much her lover disliked large gatherings. "Thanks for coming. Did you win the bid?"

  "Uh, yeah. The property is ours. But I'd rather not talk about it right now, okay?" Even though the man she had spoken to earlier at the auction rang all her warning bells, with the new financial developments, Lex was ready to consider selling the newly purchased property to him.

  Amanda studied her partner closely. It wasn't like Lex not to be excited about such a big land deal, especially since she had coveted the grazing area for years. A talk was definitely in order once they got home. "I can't believe you're here. I know how much you hate things like this."

  "True." Lex leaned over so that no one could overhear her. "But you should also know how much I love you, Amanda. You're worth a hundred of these hen parties." She nodded to the bouquet that Amanda held. "So, am I forgiven?"

  "You were never in trouble, you silly thing," Amanda assured her, bumping Lex with her shoulder. "But if you really want to be my hero, you could take me away from all of this."

  Lex stood up and bowed, holding out her hand. "You wish is my command, darlin'. Let's sneak out, and I can drive you in on Monday to get your car."

  Taking her partner's hand, Amanda allowed herself to be pulled from her seat. "I'll call Gramma later to explain." She followed Lex out of the room, relieved to get away from all the reminders of what she didn't have.

  BY THE TIME they were on the road home, a light rain had begun to fall. Amanda peered at the gathering clouds and was thankful that Lex was driving. She looked over at her wife, who seemed completely engrossed in the drive. "Penny for your thoughts?"

  "I could probably use all the pennies I can get," Lex grumbled, still upset about the earlier phone call from the broker.

  Amanda reached across the truck console and grasped Lex's arm. "What do you mean?"

  The rain started falling harder, and a bright flash of lightning lit up the sky in front of them. Lex slowed the truck in deference to the weather, wishing she could slow the conversation as well. "You know that I put my inheritances in investments, while I kept the ranch money in the bank?"

  "Yes. I also remember that your investments were doing pretty well. Why?"

  After turning the truck onto the gravel road that led to the ranch house, Lex glanced over at Amanda. "They're gone."

  "What?"

  "The investments, Amanda. They're all gone." Lex stopped the truck before they reached the bridge, and turned in her seat to look Amanda directly in the eyes. "Some punk the investment company had working for them took everything I had. And with the money I just spent on the new land, I'm close to tapped out."

  Amanda's eyes widened. Although Lex had never acted like she had a lot of money, she had always seemed comfortable that between her inheritances and investments, the ranch would never go broke. Now, it seemed like that was a definite possibility. "Oh, my God."

  "Yeah." Struggling to keep her tears from falling, Lex turned and looked at the bridge, unable to meet Amanda's gaze. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Amanda."

  "There's always what I have. We can use that."

  Lex shook her head. "That's not an option."

  As much as she hated it, Amanda understood what Lex was thinking. Her parents had already accused the rancher of being after her money, and even though that wasn't the case, Amanda knew how proud her partner was. Thinking fast, Amanda blurted, "What about your grandfather? He could--"

  "No!" Lex turned back to face her wife. "He's not doing as well as you might think. I mean, sure, he's got enough to live out his life comfortably, but the oil bust hit him really hard." She sighed. "Besides, the last thing I want him to know is that I screwed all this up."

  "But Lex, it wasn't you." Amanda unbuckled her seatbelt and raised the console so that she could get closer to her lover. "And I'm sure he'd understand that."

  When the stro
ng arms wrapped around her shoulders, Lex was unable to control her emotions any more. She buried her face in Amanda's neck and let the tears that she had held at bay finally fall. Only with Amanda did she feel safe in letting her guard down like this. After a few minutes, she pulled back and sniffled. "He can't know, Amanda. Please. I've got to try to work through this myself."

  "We will work through this," Amanda amended, placing a kiss on Lex's lips. Her eyes darkened as she frowned in thought. "Do you know why this guy targeted you, of all people?"

  "No. I guess he thought because I was a woman, he'd have an easier time getting away with it."

  "Maybe. But the guy obviously doesn't know you, or he would have found someone else to mess with."

  Lex finally smiled. "You think?"

  "Yep." Amanda scooted back across and buckled her seatbelt. "Let's go home."

  "Good idea." Lex put the truck back into drive and slowly navigated across the bridge. As she pulled up to the house, she noticed her grandfather's car in the driveway and sighed. "I hope he's alone."

  Amanda couldn't figure out why Lex didn't get along with her cousin. The woman seemed nice enough to her. "Let's just get inside and worry about it then, okay?"

  "Yeah," Lex grumbled, getting out of the truck and waiting for Amanda to go up the steps to the porch. She didn't trust Ellie any further than she could throw her, and the last thing she wanted to deal with now was some gold-digger trying to swindle Travis out of his money. She followed Amanda into the house and was surprised to hear noise coming from the den.

  Hearing the sound also, Amanda walked into the den. Ellie was sitting on the sofa, watching a loud action movie. She touched the other woman's shoulder but pulled it back quickly when Ellie jumped and turned around. "Hey there."

  Ellie fumbled for the mute button on the remote, settling for the pause and stopping the movie. "Hi, you two. I wasn't expecting anyone home for a while."

  "Obviously," Lex muttered. She frowned when Amanda lightly slapped her on the arm. "What?"