Chapter 14

When they walked into the manager's office, Lex and Amanda noticed that Anna Leigh was sitting behind the desk, with Rick lounging in a visitor's chair with a sullen look on his face.

Hearing the door open, the large man turned then jumped to his feet. "I should have known…" he sneered as Amanda walked by him to sit on the corner of the desk. "This is about yesterday, right?" the large man glared at the young blonde. "You went crying to grandma because I hurt your little feelings?" Not getting a response from the small woman, Rick looked over at Lex, who was casually leaning by the door with her arms folded across her chest. "She's got you on a pretty short leash…eh, Kentucky?" using the old school nickname to taunt the dark woman. "Maybe you'll do a few tricks for us, huh?"

Before Lex could reply, Anna Leigh spoke up. "That's quite enough, Mr. Thompson. Now please have a seat."

Lex smirked, but wisely kept quiet. I'm really gonna enjoy this. Looking over at her companion, she saw the angry set to Amanda's face. It's nice to have someone take up for me, for a change. Wanting to ease the tense lines on the younger woman's face, Lex winked, and got a small smile in return. That's better.

Anna Leigh stood up, walking around the desk. "Mr. Thompson…first, let me assure you this meeting has nothing to do with the events of yesterday - that was outside of this office, and I feel that my granddaughter is more than capable of taking care of herself." Seeing him relax, she continued. "However, it has been brought to my attention that as of late, you have been abusing your position."

"Abusing, my ass!" he sputtered, ready to jump to his feet once again.

"Mr. Thompson!" Anna Leigh held out a hand to forestall his outburst. When he sat back, she walked back over to the desk and sat down. "I have had several complaints about your treatment of the employees of this office." She pulled several sheets of paper from her briefcase. "These are the complaints from this past week." Handing the papers to Rick, she watched as he read over them.

"Harassment? Lewd comments? Intimidation?" He looked up at the older woman, his face reddening with anger. "What the hell is this? Some sort of freakin' witchhunt?"

Anna Leigh shook her head sadly. "No, Mr. Thompson, it isn't. And we're not even going to go over what you did to Amanda last Friday."

"What? I sent her on a call…it's not my fault the little brat can't read directions!" he blustered.

Pulling a discolored paper from her purse, Amanda finally spoke. "Funny…even though it's kind of water-stained, you can still make out the client's name…'L. Walters', and in the space below are the directions, in your handwriting."

"Mr. Thompson, as a woman who almost lost her granddaughter due to your petty games, I am furious. And, as the owner of this business who nearly lost a very valuable employee, I have no other recourse than to terminate your employment with this agency."

"What?!?" Rick jumped to his feet, incensed. Glaring at the young blonde he yelled, "It's all your fault! Things were just fine around here until you showed up!" Pointing his finger at Anna Leigh, "You old biddy! Always looking down your nose at me - well, I'm not gonna sit still for this!" He took a step towards the desk when a hand on his arm stopped him.

"That's far enough." Lex spoke quietly.

"Get your damn hands off me, you meddling bitch!" Rick spun, slamming an elbow into the unsuspecting rancher's side.

Lex grunted and fell to her knees, arms wrapped around herself in agony.

Turning his murderous gaze on Anna Leigh he growled, "You're next, old woman."

When Amanda saw Lex fall to the floor, everything around her slowed. Rick started walking towards the desk, when suddenly his head snapped upwards, the imprint of the young woman's shoe on his chin. Amanda readied herself for another kick when the big man fell backwards, his eyes rolling back in his head.

Lex was able to look up just as Amanda knocked Rick out. Kneeling on one knee, she concentrated all her attention on fighting unconsciousness herself. Closing her eyes, Lex swallowed several times, fighting a wave of nausea that was brought on by the excruciating pain from her abused ribs. This hurts worse than when they were first broken, she focused on taking very small breaths, when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Lex? C'mon sweetheart, look at me." Amanda brushed the dark hair away from the rancher's bowed head, frightened by the loss of color on the normally tan features.

Anna Leigh was on the phone, calling the sheriff to come clean up the office. "Mandy? Should I ask for an ambulance?" She was worried, especially since Lex hadn't moved since she had dropped to the ground.

"Honey? Do you want to go to the hospital?" Amanda was still running her hand nervously through the dark hair.

Lex shook her head. "No," she managed to get out, hoarsely. Finally able to look up into worried green eyes, she gave a slight smile. "Just…let me…catch my breath."

"Let's get you off of the floor." Amanda waved her grandmother over, and the two of them helped the still pale rancher into the nearby chair.

The sheriff and two deputies stepped into the room, seeing the big man still out cold on the floor. "Damn…" he looked over at Lex, "Did you do this?"

The dark-haired woman shook her head and inclined it towards Amanda.

"Amanda?" he took off his hat and scratched his gray head. "Well, I'll be damned… what did you use? A two-by-four?"

The young woman blushed, and looked down at Lex. "Ummm…no." She felt the rancher grasp her hand, which had been resting on the tall woman's shoulder. "I, uh…kicked him."

Anna Leigh joined in. "That's right…Mandy took kickboxing lessons during the summer when she stayed with us. Even won a few tournaments."

Charlie laughed. "Damn…remind me never to make you mad…" he teased, watching the deputies pull a groggy Rick to his feet and out of the room. "I know he's a jerk, but do you have any other charges to press? I'll need something to put down on the report."

"Assault." Amanda spoke quietly, and with a touch of anger, still looking down at Lex. "He hit Lex in the side, unprovoked."

The dark-haired woman shook her head. "No. I'm not pressing charges." She whispered, still in agony.

"But…" Amanda started, confused.

"No!" The rancher turned her pain-filled eyes towards the sheriff. "Tell him if he'll leave Mrs. Cauble and Amanda alone, I won't press charges."

Charlie nodded. "Gotcha." He looked at her still-pale face closely. "You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Do you need me to sign anything?" she sat up a little.

"Nah…I'll take care of it." He put his hat back on and walked to the door. "Take care of yourself, Lex." Tipping his hat to Anna Leigh and Amanda, "You ladies just give me a holler if you need anything."

Anna Leigh walked to the door and shook his hand. "Thank you, Sheriff. I certainly appreciate your quick response. Let me walk you out."

"Thanks, Mrs. Cauble…" he turned to leave, "Take care, Amanda." He waved to her as he walked out the door.

Amanda returned his wave, then squatted down beside Lex. "You feeling any better?" she was relieved to see the color beginning to reappear on the older woman's face.

Lex smiled. "My hero." Enjoying the blush on the younger woman's face.

"I really don't know what came over me…I saw you go down, and then he was coming towards Gramma." She pulled Lex's hand up to her face. "I guess I just snapped." The idea that I could easily take down someone that size without thinking scares me, she mused. "What kind of person am I to do something like that?" she whispered aloud.

"A very brave person, who will stand up for their family when they are being threatened." Lex answered. Seeing the serious green eyes still distant, she added, "But damn, Amanda… you're something else! Wanna be my bodyguard?"

That did it. The smaller woman finally broke out of her mood and chuckled. "Oh Lex…" she laid her head down on the rancher's lap, wrapping both arms around the strong legs and squeezing.

Anna Leigh walked back into the room. "Lexington…are you certain you're going to be okay?" She stopped next to the dark-haired woman and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Lex looked up into the kindly eyes that looked so much like Amanda's, and smiled. "I'm okay, now. Just sort of got my attention, that's all." She looked down, seeing her hand running unconsciously through the long blonde hair in her lap.

The older woman gave her shoulder a tender squeeze. Taking a look down as well, she saw her granddaughter's head comfortably pillowed on the rancher's legs. "Mandy? Honey, I hate to disturb you, but everyone is in the conference room…it's time to make the announcement."

Amanda lifted her head with a wry smile. "Well, it's got to be easier that what we just went through, right?" She climbed to her feet and stretched. "You want to sit in? I'm sure the boss won't mind." She asked Lex, then looked to her grandmother for confirmation.

Lex shook her head. "Actually, I need to make a few phone calls, if you don't mind me 'borrowing' your office."

"My office?" Amanda laughed, "Oh, yeah…sure." She kissed the dark head. "I'll be back in a little while." Entangling her arm with Anna Leigh's, "C'mon, Gramma. Let's go harass the help."