Following the Leader – Chapter 3

Author:  Cheryl Paulk

Rating:  NC-17

Thanks:  NancyY and Rita, two excellent betas who made this chapter better.

NancyY left us with:

It would be several hours until the plane touched down at their next destination, and Amanda was determined to enjoy the respite.  Mother was exhausted from the excitement of following the President during the tours, and, in the last two seats of the compartment, Phillip and Jamie had their heads together, whispering.  The small charter plane was comfortable but almost empty.  It was quiet.  Nice.

She tilted her head toward Lee.  “So, where did Sturgess come from?”

“I was trying to tell you that he wasn't on the security detail list, when I was interrupted.  Thank God he wasn't out to hurt the kids.”

“I know.  When I think that he traveled with our family, my heart starts pounding.  How did he know my name?  And why was he that bold?”

“Hard to say.  So far, he's not talking.”  Lee caressed her fingers and pulled her cold hands into his lap.  “I sent all the information we have to the Agency boys.  By the time we land, we should have more information on our man Sturgess.”

Amanda sighed.  “Do you think that's it?  If he was the Red February operative, does that mean the threat is over?”

Lee brought her hand to his lips and brushed a quick kiss against her fingers.  “Sweetheart, I just don't know.”

Now on with the show:

Amanda stood behind her family as they watched Air Force One land and taxi to the edge of the red carpet.  The tarmac at Love Field in Dallas bustled with limousines and police motorcycles.  Secret Service agents and city cops readied the motorcade that would take them to the rally, then the hotel, while reporters jockeyed for a better view, hoping to be granted an interview.  The President waved to the people as he descended the steps.  When he stepped onto the carpet, he shook hands with the mayor of Dallas.

As the distinct odor of tar wafted toward Amanda, she wrinkled her nose.  Even though Lee had washed several times and thrown away the clothing he’d been wearing when he landed in the tar pit, whenever the wind blew just right, she could still smell the unmistakable aroma.  At least it did seem to be getting less and less pungent.  Every black pool has a silver lining, though--he no longer had the advantage of sneaking up behind her.  She could smell him coming and turned to face him.

“I must be losing my touch,” he mumbled.

Amanda smiled and arched her eyebrows in response.  The look of surprise on his face when she’d caught him had been priceless.  She turned back around to watch the proceedings.

He caressed her forearm lightly and whispered in her ear to follow him.

Her mother and the boys continued to observe the procession, although Phillip and Jamie seemed to be a little bored, as they kept poking at each other.  First Phillip would rib Jamie in the side with his elbow, then Jamie would retaliate against his brother.  Looking heavenward, she stepped between her sons to halt their shenanigans.

When it seemed like they had settled down, she backed away from them and turned to her husband.

“Did Billy have any more information for us?” she asked in a low voice.

“Sturgess still isn’t talking, and Billy feels that even if he isn’t the only Red February operative, they’ll keep a low profile for a little while.”

“Why?”  Amanda frowned.  “You’d think they’d hit now.”

“No.  They know all the security will be heightened.  They’ll wait until we feel complacent.  Then they’ll strike.”

“Mom.  Lee.  Come on, we’re leaving,” Phillip yelled.

“I hope you’re wrong and the threat is over.”  She sighed as they joined their family in the limo, along with Justin, for the ride to the rally at Texas Stadium.

At the football field, they walked through the tunnel to the rally podium.  “Hey, Mom, can we check out the stadium?” Jamie asked.

Amanda thought for a moment.  She didn’t want them to suspect their true reason for being on the campaign trail and knew she needed to let them be boys and have some fun.  “Okay, but be back here in half an hour.”

“Yeah, I wanna find some of the cheerleaders.”  Phillip wagged his eyebrows.

Lee laughed and winked at Phillip.  “I don’t think they’re here, but if you find one, come get me.”

“Will do,” Phillip yelled, as he and Jamie raced off.

Amanda placed her hands on her hips.  “So, you want . . .”

Screech!

She put her fingers in her ears to cut off the sound of the microphone as the set-up crew tested the audio equipment.  If only the terrorists chose not to strike, she’d willingly suffer a few technical difficulties.

Three hours later, after a successful rally with no hints of trouble, they were on their way toward their hotel.

“There it is.”  Mother sighed, pointing to the red brick building.

“What Grandma?”  Phillip asked.

“The Texas School Book Depository, doofus.  Where Lee Harvey Oswald shot John F. Kennedy from the sixth floor window,” Jamie said.  “If you studied more than girls and sports, you’d know that.”

“Wormbrain.”   Phillip smacked his brother.

“Stop it, you two.”  Amanda said, as she looked out the window.

“You know,” Lee said.  “Some people, who believe in a conspiracy theory, say there was at least one more shooter over there behind those bushes on top of the grassy knoll.”

“Cool,” Phillip replied.

“I hope we have time to visit the museum.  Do you think we might?”  Mother sighed.

Amanda noticed her mother was a little teary eyed.  “I’m sure we’ll find the time.”  She patted her hand in comfort, remembering the day back in November l963 when the President had been shot.  All the kids had been sent home from school that Friday morning after hearing about the shooting on the news.  Her mother and father were in the den, crying in front of the television, as a news reporter announced that the President was dead.  Later on, she watched as Jackie Kennedy, in a pink bloodstained suit, reboarded Air Force One.

“Mom, we’re here,” Jamie said, as he jumped out of the limo.

Caught up in the old memories, Amanda hadn’t realized they’d stopped in front of their hotel and the driver had opened the door.

The doorman greeted her as she strolled through the antique brass doors of the Hotel Adolphus.  Upon entering the lobby, she stopped to gaze at the baroque architecture.  Cozy, plush chairs surrounded small sitting areas scattered around the large room.  Huge paintings adorned the walls.  It reminded her of the hotels she’d seen while they were in Europe several years ago.  Elegant.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lee and her family at the front desk checking in.  Knowing he would take care of the check-in process, she meandered around the room, admiring the ambiance.  A crystal chandelier hung from the center of the room, light glistening off what seemed like a thousand prisms.

“Ready to go up to our rooms?”  Lee asked.

Mesmerized by the light, she hadn’t heard him come up behind her and jumped slightly at the sound of his voice.

“Guess I haven’t lost my touch.”  Lee smirked.

“You were just lucky . . .”

“Lee, Amanda, there’s been a slight change of plans,” President Marshall said, as he strolled toward them.  “I’ve been invited to the ranch of the widow of an ex-president, and I’ll be gone for two days.  I want you and your family to have some fun sightseeing in the Dallas area.”

“But, Mr. President, we should go with you,” Lee said.  “We don’t know if you’re still in danger.”

“Now, now, my boy, between my Secret Service Agents and the ones assigned to the former First Lady, her ranch is tighter then Fort Knox.”

“Sir, Sturgess was disguised as Secret Service,” Amanda replied, not liking the idea of leaving the President without their protection.

“Yes, but he wasn’t on the list.  It’s been taken care of.  The only agents on the security detail are well known to me, and their loyalty is unquestionable.  I want your wonderful mother and sons to enjoy a little down time.  After Los Angeles, I think everyone can use it.  I’ll send back the limo for you to use while I’m gone.  The driver will take you anywhere you want to go.”

“I’ll agree on one condition,” Lee said.  “You have to bring Justin along as extra security.  You can say he’ll be filming you horseback riding and enjoying ranch life.”

“Agreed.”  Marshall held out his hand to shake on it.  “I’ll be back day after tomorrow.  Now go have some fun.”

“Yes, sir.”  Amanda nodded.

After the President left, they strolled toward the elevators.  Mother and the boys had gone up to their suite earlier.

“You know what this means, don’t you?” Lee whispered.

“No.  What?”

“With Justin gone, I have a room all to myself.”  He winked.  “No roommate for me.”

It’d been a long time since they’d managed to have any time alone.  Amanda shivered in anticipation.  A relaxing evening in her husband’s arms.  Pure bliss.  “I’m sharing a suite with Mother and the boys.  We’ll need a diversion to distract them.”

“We’ll think of something,” Lee placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her into the elevator.

********

Amanda sat on one of the beds, glancing through brochures but not really reading.  After telling her mother and the boys the change of plans, they’d spread dozens of pamphlets out, trying to decide where to go and what to see.  Hopefully, somewhere in the middle of all the sightseeing, she’d figure out a way to spend tomorrow night, or at least some quality time, alone with Lee.

A knocked sounded at the door.

“I’ll get it.”  Jamie jumped off the other bed and ran to the door.

“Hi.  What’s on the agenda for tonight?”  Lee strolled through the door and plopped down on one of the plush chairs.

“I say the rodeo,” Phillip replied.

“Me, too,” Jamie agreed.

“What about dinner?”  Amanda asked.

“I know,” Mother said, as she walked out of the bathroom.  “I read that there is a restaurant called the ‘Trail Dust’ right next door to the rodeo.  You’ll love it, Lee, they have steak.”

“Okay, if everyone agrees to the plan, raise your hand.”  Amanda raised hers and four other hands shot up in the air.  “I think we should change to jeans.  I’ve never been to a rodeo, but I’m sure it’s dusty.”

********

An hour later, they sat at a table in the “Trail Dust.”  Peter, the limo driver, had said he’d take care of getting the rodeo tickets and planned on getting some good ole Texas barbeque for his dinner.

Amanda giggled when she read the menu selection of steaks available--from an eight-ounce one called “Tenderfoot” to the larger  “Rustler,” “Gunslinger,” “Rifleman,” “Cowboy,” “Stud,” and the largest one, the fifty-ounce “Bull Shipper.”  How in the world could anyone eat that much meat?  She wouldn’t have long to find out.  Jamie and Phillip both ordered the second to largest steak, the thirty-ounce “Stud,” and laughed hysterically when they placed their order, pretending to flex their muscles.  Lee ordered the sixteen-ounce “Gunslinger,” and she and Mother ordered the “baby-back” ribs.

A country music band had started playing, and it was a wonder the waitresses could hear the orders being given.  Lee leaned over to speak in her ear.  “I’m glad I didn’t wear a tie.”

“Why is that?”

“Didn’t you notice the walls?”

“No.”  She looked up and scanned the walls.  Every available spot was covered with snipped off neckties.  “They cut them off you?”

“I read a sign as we entered that said all neckties will be cut off and pinned to the walls.”

Dinner soon arrived, and all talk stopped as they enjoyed their meal.  Amanda wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes.  Both Phillip and Jamie ate an entire thirty-ounce steak.  Where did they put it?  The saying was true--teenagers could eat you out of house and home.

Since the rodeo began at eight, they had enough time to check out the arena and gift shop.  Everyone purchased cowboy hats--Phillip and Jamie’s were black, Mother’s was brown, and she and Lee bought white ones.

As they made their way to their seats, Lee grabbed her arm.  “Did you notice the brand of hat everyone picked?”

“No, I just bought the one I liked best.”

“Well, my dear Mrs. Stetson.”  He cocked his hat over his eye.  “We’re wearing ‘Stetsons.’”

“What?”

“The brand of hat is the ‘Stetson.’”

“Oh my gosh!  Now we’re all Stetsons.”

“I wish that were true,” Lee whispered and kissed her lips.

“Someday, sweetheart.”

Finding their seats, they sat down and watched the rodeo--bull riding, chuckwagon races, roping, barrel racing, bronco riders, and the kids’ calf scramble.  Amanda laughed as she watched the younger children race to catch a calf.  Periodically, Mother and the boys yelled  “Yea Haws” and waved their hats in the air.  Once the rodeo concluded, she saw her mother yawn and decided it was time to call an end to their first night in Dallas.

“Time to go back to the hotel and get some sleep for another day.”

********

After breakfast the next day, Amanda spread out a handful of colorful brochures on the table.  What should they see next?  Several locations were bandied about--the Sixth Floor Museum, Six Flags Over Texas, Dallas Zoo, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, the Galleria Mall, and the State Fair of Texas, which was in full swing.  Phillip, Jamie, and Lee all offered their suggestions.

“Southfork!”  Mother gushed as she came out of the bathroom.  “I want to see where J.R. and the rest of the Ewings live.”

“I wanna go to the fair,” Phillip whined.

“Yeah,” Jamie agreed.  “We wanna ride the ‘Texas Star’ Ferris wheel.”

“I wouldn’t mind seeing the arts and crafts booths,” Mother added.

Amanda blinked and rubbed the bridge of her nose with her fingers to drive away the tension headache that threatened her sanity.  How could she make everyone happy?  When she heard the air conditioning unit cycle on, an idea surfaced.  She smiled, glancing over at her husband sitting in the chair.  Earlier that morning, she’d heard the weather forecast, and the temperature was going to be in the high nineties.  “Look, fellas, the heat here is brutal, and we’re not used to it.”

“Awww, Mom.”  Jamie’s shoulders slouched.

“You didn’t let me finish.  How ‘bout both of you and your grandmother go to the fair later this evening after the sun goes down.  You’ll still have several hours to see everything and go on whatever rides you want to, and your grandmother will be able to see what she’d like, too.”

Phillip and Jamie high-fived each other.  “Can we go to the game room until you decide where we’re going today?”  Phillip asked.

“Go ahead.  We’ll come get you in a little bit.”  She watched her sons leave the room.

“Amanda, what about you and Lee?  You said me and the boys.”  Mother gave her a stern look.

Catching her mother’s look, she realized it wasn’t going to be easy to pull the wool over her eyes.  All she wanted was a little private time with a certain master spy.  Maybe the usual excuse could work this time.  It hadn’t failed them in the past.

“We have to edit some of the footage that’s already been shot and send it back to the studio.”  Amanda glanced over at her husband, hoping he’d take the hint and help her embellish her plan.

“Yeah, our boss called me this morning and told me he wanted me to send him what was already in the can.  We’ll have to spend some time editing the film tonight.”

Amanda let out a slow breath, hoping the ruse would work.  At least Lee had mentioned a phone call.  Surely that would add legitimacy to the plot.  Now if Mother would just believe them.

“Right, so you two will be in the editing room all night.  Alone.  Exactly where would this editing room be located?”

“Well, we have some equipment that I can set up in my bathroom.  We’ll do the rough cut, and our people back in D.C. will finesse it.”

“I see.”  Mother winked.  “You’ll be in Lee’s room all night long.”

“It might not take all night, Mother.”

“Hmm . . . We’ll see.”  Mother rose from the table.  “Shall we order the limo to take us to Southfork?”

********

During the forty-five minute drive to Parker, Texas, Amanda and Lee shared stolen looks and accidental touches.

Peter stopped the limo beside the massive white front gate of Southfork Ranch.  Surrounded by a wooden fence, horses grazed on the expansive green lawn.  Amanda stepped out of the limo and stared at the familiar white ranch house.  It really was impressive.

“I can’t believe I’m really here.”  She snapped photographs rapidly.  “The girls in the bridge club will never believe me unless I have plenty of pictures to show.  I wish they were filming now.  I’d love to see J.R.  I’d like to give him a piece of my mind about the way he treats Sue Ellen.  And I want to tell those writers how dumb it was for them to kill off Bobby Ewing.  Can you imagine the following year he comes back and the entire previous season was nothing but a dream?  How silly is that?”

Amanda smiled at her mother but didn’t interrupt her ramble.  “Why don’t we take the tour of the house?”

It was a short trip down the paved driveway to a parking area.  After buying tickets, they toured the house.  The tour included memorabilia from the show--the gun that shot J.R., his desk, a painting of Jock Ewing, and video clips from the show.  On the way back to the limo, Amanda noticed her mother seemed melancholy.  “What’s the matter, Mother?”

“I wouldn’t have taken the tour if I’d known they didn’t use any of the interior to shoot the show.  I mean, the house looks huge when we see it on television.  Who would’ve thought it’s really very small?”  She entered the limo, a hint of tears in her eyes and her faint smile held a touch of sadness.

“You didn’t read the whole brochure, Dotty.”  Lee leaned back into the soft leather seats, as the driver shut the door.  “It says only the exterior is used for filming.  Interior shots are filmed in Los Angeles.”

“Oh, well, at least I do have pictures of the outside, and that’s what we see every week in the opening credits.”  Mother smiled brightly.

Before returning to the hotel, they stopped for lunch in the West End and then toured the Sixth Floor Museum.

********

At last, her mother and boys were off to the State Fair of Texas.  She was finally alone, except not for as long as she’d like; she needed to be back in her room by the time they returned.  After spraying Lee’s favorite perfume on her pulse points, she checked her hair and clothes one last time.  Since she didn’t want to be seen in the corridor of the hotel in a negligee, she’d opted for a sundress.  Easy to remove.

She knocked on his door and waited for him to answer.

Nothing.

She knocked again, this time harder.

Still nothing.

When she touched the doorknob, it turned.  Unlocked.  Her hand trembled, as thoughts of Red February ran through her mind.  Cautiously, she entered the room and scanned it.  No sign of Lee.  Steam drifting through the open bathroom door and the sound of rushing water told her why he hadn’t answered.  Letting out a sigh of relief, she relaxed and stood still for a moment, allowing her heartbeat to return to normal.

Even though she’d showered earlier, another one didn’t seem like a bad idea.  She undressed and entered the bathroom.  Through the glass doors, she saw Lee’s silhouette, his hands running through his hair as he shampooed.  The water cascaded down his taut body.  Instead of the normal single showerhead, this shower had four, allowing water to caress you from different angles.

Silently, she opened the door.  When he leaned his head back to rinse his hair, she slid her hands down his chest.

His eyes snapped open.  “About time.  I thought you’d never get here.”

Amanda laughed.  “I had to wait for them to leave.”

He dipped his head, and his lips caressed her neck.  “You smell good.  You know this perfume drives me wild.”

“Why do you think I put it on?”  She cradled his cheeks between the palms of her hands and brought her lips to his in a demanding kiss.

No private time lately had made them hungry for each other, and their lips and hands wildly roamed each other’s body.  Amanda felt Lee’s cock press into her stomach, and all she wanted was to feel it deep inside her core.  “Let’s go into the bedroom,” she whispered into his ear and nibbled on the lobe.

“Not yet,” he said, as he turned her around so her back was to his chest.  His fingertips rolled the nipples of her breasts, and she leaned into his embrace.  Closing her eyes, her body tingled at his touch.  He nudged her feet apart and placed his hands on her hips.

“What are you doing?”  She opened her eyes and tried to turn around.

“Don’t move.”

He swiveled her hips into the path of a pulsing flow of water.  When the torrent hit her, her knees sagged, and she grabbed behind his neck to steady herself.  Next he slid his hand between her thighs and parted her folds, exposing her swollen clitoris to the relentless stream.

She began to tremble as she felt the onset of her orgasm.  The moment she went over the edge, Lee turned her around, lifted her, and sat her onto his cock.  She cried out as another orgasm rocked her body before the first one subsided.  He thrust into her hard and fast, and, in moments, she felt him stiffen as his own orgasm coursed through him.

When they’d dried off, they moved to the bedroom and made love again.  Waking up from a passion-induced nap, Amanda looked at the clock.  Three hours had passed, and she needed to get back to her own room before Mother and the boys returned.

“Sweetheart.”  She kissed him lightly.  “I need to get back.”

“Don’t go.”  He wrapped his arm around her.

“I have to.”

“I know.  But I don’t like it.”  He kissed her and helped her dress.

Opening the door to their suite, Amanda breathed a sigh of relief.  They hadn’t returned yet.  After changing her clothes, she lay in bed and fantasized about what life would be like if everyone knew she was Mrs. Lee Stetson.

********

The next day found them once again on an airplane, going to yet another rally.  After their long night at the fair, Mother and the boys were dozing.  Mother clutched a teddy bear that she’d won playing one of the midway games.

Amanda and Lee whispered to each other.  Billy had called that morning to let them know Sturgess still hadn’t talked.  And so far, there had been no more threatening notes.  Maybe the threat was over.  Time would tell.

Next . . . What city will our favorite spy team visit next?