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Chapter 48






The two young women were sitting in front of a roaring fire in the den; Lex comfortably ensconced in a chair, with Amanda relaxing in her lap. " Are you sure I'm not hurting you? " Amanda asked the older woman. Lex had a very tight hold on her, and they had been snuggling for well over an hour.

" Are you kidding me? " the rancher nibbled on a convenient ear. " I've never felt better." She was about to get a little more serious about it when Martha walked into the room.

" Excuse me, Lexie…but I've gotten dinner ready, if you can tear yourself away from what you are doing." The housekeeper worked hard to keep the grin off of her face. " If not, I guess I can just throw it out."

Amanda practically jumped out of the dark woman's lap. " Wait! You wouldn't throw out perfectly good food, would you? " she seemed horrified by the thought.

Lex laughed, and stood up as well. " Please…this is the same woman who would save my plate and make me finish it later when I was growing up." She shook her head. " She never throws food away! "

Martha slapped at her as she walked through the door. " That's only because you would barely stand still long enough to eat…then come back an hour later whining about being hungry."

The trio laughed their way into the kitchen. Martha pushed the younger women gently into chairs and joined them as they passed platters of food back and forth.

" I've been meaning to ask you Martha, when do you find time to cook all these wonderful meals? " Amanda asked, enjoying her food with gusto.

" It's not really that big of a deal, honey…and it doesn't take that long at all." The housekeeper answered, jumping when thunder rumbled a little too close by.

Lex looked up at the ceiling and shook her head. " I swear, I'd almost welcome a drought after this past week." Another crack of thunder shook the house.

" Sounds like it's getting closer." Amanda stated, unconsciously scooting closer to the rancher.

" It's only weather…nothing to be worried about." Lex wrapped her arm around Amanda's shoulders, pulling her close. Then she quieted, and listened carefully. " Did you hear something? "

Martha looked at her quizzically. " I hear another storm approaching, why? " she listened as well, but couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary.

" Shhh.." Lex warned, getting up and walking to the kitchen window. " Something isn't right out there."

Suddenly, another crash of thunder, and the lights went off in the house.

" Damn! " the rancher cursed, groping around in the darkness. She reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out a flashlight. " Amanda? Martha? You two okay? " she aimed the beam of light towards the table, highlighting two pale faces. Walking over to the frightened women, Lex squatted down between them. " I don't like the feel of this." She saw the small blonde tremble slightly. Grasping a nearby hand, Lex squeezed it gently. " Hey…it's okay…probably just the storm."

Amanda knew that Lex was only saying that to make her feel better. I think we're in some serious trouble here, she mused, then looked into concerned blue eyes. " Yeah, sure…" she looked over at Martha, who had a concerned look on her face as well. Amanda was about to reassure the housekeeper when the sound of breaking glass assaulted their ears.

Lex jumped up, looking at Martha. " You two get into the storm cellar, I'll go check it out." She started towards the door, when two hands caught her from behind.

" Are you crazy? C'mon down into the cellar with us. I've got the portable radio here in my apron, we'll call Charlie." Martha begged, suddenly afraid of the unknown.

Amanda waited patiently for the older woman to finish. " She's right. If it's those thieves, they have guns, and you don't. Please don't do this." She pleaded quietly, knowing in her heart that Lex couldn't and wouldn't do as she asked.

Lex kissed the small blonde gently on the lips. " Go with Martha. I've got to check this out." She turned to look at the housekeeper. " Go to the cellar…please." She stared at the older woman for a very long moment. " Call Charlie - tell him to come in the back way." She walked over and grabbed a nearby skillet. " You always said I was dangerous in the kitchen." She smiled.

Martha smiled grimly and grabbed the younger woman. " C'mon, honey. The cellar is very well hidden…we'll be safer there." She looked up at the rancher, tears floating in her dark eyes. " Join us soon, okay sweetheart? " She began to lead the small woman towards the table, squatting down and moving the small rug underneath.

Lex followed, scooting the table off to one side so that the housekeeper could open a trap door. " You two go on in, I'll cover your tracks." She bent down next to the older woman and gave her a strong hug. " I'll see you in a little bit."

Martha smiled, then stepped down into the dark passage. " You'd better." She continued down until she reached the bottom, then picked up a lantern, lighting it with a nearby book of matches. " Thank the good Lord I clean this place up on a weekly basis."

Amanda looked at Lex, tears running down her face. " I'd rather stay with you." She leaned into the strong hand that caressed her face. " I don't think I can stay anywhere without you."

Lex pulled her close for a deep kiss. " I need you to take care of Martha for me." She jumped as the back door was forcibly opened. " Hurry. I'll see you soon." Another quick kiss. " I love you." She whispered, then sent the small woman down the stairs, closing the trap door behind her.

The rancher rearranged the rug and placed the table back over it before she started towards the doorway, armed with only a flashlight and a cast iron frying pan. She could hear voices in the hall, as she raised her makeshift weapon and stood against the wall.

" Shut up, damn it! " a deep voice barked low, just inside the house. " They know we're here now."

Another voice broke though the silence. " Why do we have to do this, Matt? Wouldn't it be easier to just steal a car or something? " a young voice whined.

" Because I don't like being made a fool of, and that damn woman did just that! " the deeper voice intoned, walking carefully down the hall. " You still with us, Darrell? " he whispered.

" Yeah…I'm here. Why, I don't know." Another voice commented, barely heard. He cocked the rifle, making sure a round was in the chamber.

Lex leaned closer against the wall, hearing the three men move nearer and nearer to the kitchen doorway.

 


Chapter 49

Amanda watched with a growing sense of dread as the trapdoor closed, then turned to look around the small room. The lantern's flickering light painted the walls, which were covered with open shelves that were filled with canned goods and other items. Martha had sat down on a wooden bench that ran down the middle of the room with a heavy sigh.

" C'mere, honey." The housekeeper patted a spot on the bench. She pulled the small radio from her apron pocket as Amanda sat down beside her. " Charlie? Do you read me? " The older woman spoke into the small radio quietly.

A small burst of static answered as a faint voice replied, " Martha? Read you loud and clear…what's up? "

The housekeeper glanced at the young woman, a relieved smile on both of their faces. " You need to get to the house, pronto. We've got some unexpected visitors."

" Roger that…" a short pause, " where are you, hon? Are you okay? "

Martha exchanged a worried glance with Amanda. Better not give too much away, just in case. She thought a moment before replying. " Amanda and I are weathering it out just fine." She paused again, giving that time to sink in. " Lexie said for you to come in the back way. The electricity is off, so be careful."

There was a short pause, then the sheriff spoke. " Gotcha. I'm at the previously discussed location - on my way now." He understood the need for caution - the thieves could listen in on their conversation far too easily. " Sit tight, sweetheart." He signed off.

Light thumping from above caught the two women's attention. Martha looked at the ceiling, biting her bottom lip. " Sounds like they're in the hallway now." She glanced over at Amanda, whose shadowed face held a look of alarm.

" I hate just sitting here! " the young woman exclaimed, standing up and pacing the length of the small room. " There's got to be something we can do! "

The housekeeper stood up, getting a firm grasp on the surprisingly strong shoulders. " I don't like it much either, but we are helping in a way." Seeing Amanda take a breath to argue, she continued, " With us down here safe, Lexie can concentrate on those men and not have to worry about us." She pulled the young woman back over to the bench to sit down. " The best thing we can do is stay calm, in case she needs our help." She held Amanda's hand, squeezing it firmly.

Amanda took a deep breath, wiping an errant tear from her cheek. " I know that what you're saying makes sense, but I can't help but feel that I should be doing more." Another loud thump from above made her look up at the ceiling. She was about to say more when a sharp bang came from above. Oh, God, no! " LEX!!! " she screamed.


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