Студопедия

Главная страница Случайная страница

КАТЕГОРИИ:

АвтомобилиАстрономияБиологияГеографияДом и садДругие языкиДругоеИнформатикаИсторияКультураЛитератураЛогикаМатематикаМедицинаМеталлургияМеханикаОбразованиеОхрана трудаПедагогикаПолитикаПравоПсихологияРелигияРиторикаСоциологияСпортСтроительствоТехнологияТуризмФизикаФилософияФинансыХимияЧерчениеЭкологияЭкономикаЭлектроника






Chapter 12. Amanda had made it to the bottom of the stairs when Martha's voice boomed, All right, young lady






Amanda had made it to the bottom of the stairs when Martha's voice boomed, " All right, young lady, just what do you think you're doing? " The housekeeper had stepped out of a doorway at the end of the hall. She walked over to meet the young blonde, who had kept walking until she was at the kitchen door. Martha had a neat stack of clothes in one hand. " Well? "

Amanda motioned with the tray. " Umm…I thought I'd save you a trip upstairs? " she said, an innocent look on her face.

The big woman laughed and motioned her towards the sink. " Okay dear, I'll let it slide this time." She placed the stack of clothes on a nearby stool, and took over removing the dishes from the tray. " How are you feeling, hon? " She asked as she put the dirty dishes in the sink, and wiped down the tray with a dishcloth.

The younger woman sat down on the other stool, grabbing her now clean socks and putting them on her feet. " I'm feeling much better. My head is barely hurting. How did you find my socks? " She looked up and smiled. " Thank you for washing my things…you didn't have to, but I do appreciate it."

Martha turned to face her, wiping her soapy hands on a dry dishtowel. " You're welcome. I found your socks when I was cleaning up the mud room, and I was washing Lexie's things anyway and thought you might need something clean to wear." She smiled at the small woman. " Although, you look like you're mighty comfortable right now."

Amanda blushed. " Well actually, I am. These, " she plucked at the shirt, " may be big, but I think I'm addicted to them already."

The housekeeper patted her on the leg. " Well, I don't think Lexie will mind…she hasn't worn them herself in years."

The blonde looked at her curiously. " She doesn't seem like the type to keep things that aren't useful. Why would she keep these? " She looked down at the Texas A& M logo on the shirt. " Did she go to school there or something? "

Martha looked as if she were weighing a heavy decision. Well, better she ask me than Lexie. She picked up the clothes on the spare stool and sat down opposite of Amanda. " No dear, she didn't go to college. Oh sure, she certainly planned to, even got a full scholarship. But the spring before her high school graduation changed all of that." She sighed, pain from long ago still showing in her eyes.

" About two months before graduation, Lexie's dad decided he wanted to go back on the rodeo circuit, so he had papers drawn up that gave her complete control of the ranch, and he took the next bus out of town." She shook her graying head. " And Lexie, being the responsible type that she is, did just that." The housekeeper released a heavy sigh. " So, she gave up her dream for college and ran this ranch full time. And never spoke one word of complaint."

Amanda was stunned. " She said she has a brother…why didn't she let him run the ranch while she went to school? "

Martha lowered her voice, anger in her tone. " Now this is my opinion, mind you, but that man would have run this ranch right into the ground within a year… he's a smart enough pencil pusher, but Hubert doesn't know enough about ranching to fill a thimble." She cleared her throat. " Besides, Lexie is a natural. I don't think there's anything that girl can't do." A deep cleansing breath, " Anyway, I wanted to tell you, 'cause I think it still hurts Lexie that she wasn't able to go to college."

Amanda had tears in her eyes. " Don't worry, Martha. I would never intentionally hurt her." She means too much to me, and I don't even know her that well…strange. " Do you know what she was planning on studying? "

The housekeeper smiled a sad little smile. " Oh yes…she told me right at the beginning of her senior year…she was so excited when she got the letter that told her of the scholarship." She paused, lost in her memories. " Oh, sorry dear. She wanted to be a veterinarian. That girl has always had a way with animals. I think that if she didn't feel so responsible for all the hired hands, and me, she would have sold this ranch years ago and gone onto school anyway." She shook her head again. " But no, Lexie will stick with this place until the end of time." She looked over at Amanda, who had a strange look on her face. " What's the matter, dear? "

" That sorry…" Amanda trailed off, anger beginning to flair in her bright green eyes. " He probably knew she'd never sell, and just wanted me to make a fool out of myself."

Martha grasped the angry woman's hand. " Honey, what's the matter? " concern etched her weathered features.

Amanda shook her head and smiled apologetically. " I'm sorry, Martha. I just realized that someone was trying to make me look like an idiot, and probably trying to hurt Lex as well." Rick probably knew all of this, and realized how it would make Lex feel to talk about selling the ranch. " You see, I work for my grandmother's real estate agency."

Martha placed a hand over her mouth in dismay. " Oh, no…"

Amanda nodded. " Oh, yes. The manager, Rick, gave me an appointment sheet and a map to find my way out here earlier today -"

The shocked housekeeper interrupted her. " Rick? That wouldn't be Ricky Thompson, would it? " Small towns had their bad points too…everybody knew everyone else, and there were few secrets.

Amanda exhaled. " Yeah…he's had it out for me ever since I turned him down for a date." She shivered. " I can't help it, the man makes my skin crawl! " she stopped, thinking. " Why? Do you know him too? " Probably…

Martha laughed. " I guess you could say that you and Lexie have something in common with him. When they were in high school together, Rick was a senior when Lexie was a sophomore…she turned him down for a date. Well, he wouldn't take no for an answer, so she basically flattened him in the main hall." She smiled. " I probably would have never known anything about it, but she got suspended from school for three days - her father just laughed." She paused, trying to gather her thoughts. " I was pretty upset at first, until the school counselor called me and explained. They had to suspend her for fighting, since that was the rule, but they made sure that she didn't miss anything important in class. I think they appreciated that someone had finally stood up to Ricky...he was such a bully in those days." She closed her eyes for a moment. " Poor Lexie…he's always looked for an excuse to get back at her. Without being caught, anyway."

Amanda nodded. " That would explain why he sent me out here today. I was supposed to meet with 'L. Walters' to discuss putting the ranch up for sale - he said that they were tired of ranching." She clenched her fists. " That rat…I ought to…"

Martha stood up next to the angry young woman. " Now, now dear." She rubbed her hand lightly on the girl's back. " Everything turned out okay, didn't it? " Other than the poor child nearly dying in a flooded creek.

Amanda took a deep steadying breath. " You're right. I would have probably never met you or Lex otherwise, so maybe I should call him up and thank him." She smiled an almost evil grin. " Wouldn't that just twist his shorts? "

The housekeeper hugged her. " Oh, it certainly would! I'd love to see his face! " She sobered. " Unfortunately, we're all three stuck here until the weather clears up enough to start rebuilding that bridge, or the creek goes down enough to walk across."

The young woman returned Martha's embrace. " Well, at least we're dry and safe." She stood up and took the folded clothes. " I'll just go put these away for now." She smirked. " I'm pretty comfortable in my present outfit." She started towards the doorway. " But please, let me know if there is anything I can do to help around here. I feel bad that you're doing all the work."

Martha walked back over to the sink. " If you can keep Lexie occupied without her driving me crazy, I'll consider it a fair trade." She put her hands back in the water, then turned and looked over her shoulder. " Try to keep her still for as long as possible - I'd really like those ribs to get at least a little time to mend properly."

Amanda sighed, and rolled her mist-green eyes. " I'll try. But she seems like the type that doesn't like to stay still."

The housekeeper laughed. " Mercy! Have you got her number! Now shoo! Go get some rest yourself, okay? "

The blonde nodded. " I will. See you later." And started for the staircase.


Поделиться с друзьями:

mylektsii.su - Мои Лекции - 2015-2024 год. (0.009 сек.)Все материалы представленные на сайте исключительно с целью ознакомления читателями и не преследуют коммерческих целей или нарушение авторских прав Пожаловаться на материал