A Headstrong Woman (13 page)

“In ways you did, Alexandria.”

“Noble of me huh? I’m sorry; I shouldn’t be burdening you with…”

“I offered. Everyone needs someone to talk to and sometimes it’s harder to talk to those close to us, we don’t want to hurt them.”

“Why are you being so nice? Why do you hang around here and put up with all of this?” she demanded.

“Elijah asked me to promise to look after you and I did. His last thoughts and words were of you.”

Alexandria considered Jonathon’s words. She felt angry, confused, relief…. she shoved the thoughts aside, whatever Jonathon’s reasons for being there, she had an ally and she needed one.

“Mad at me?” he asked.

“No, it explains why you put up with a stupid woman.”

“On the contrary, you are one of the most intelligent women I’ve met,” Jonathon countered.

“I’m sure flattery wasn’t part of the agreement,” she said dryly.

“I don’t flatter. I would think my treatment of your sister would prove that,” he commented.

Alexandria smiled and made a sound that might have been a repressed chuckle. “Thank you, Jonathon. I suppose that I should go get some rest.”

“You’re welcome, Alexandria. I’ll see you in the morning,” Jonathon told her and watched her disappear into the house.

Jonathon leaned against the porch railing for some time. His thoughts strayed from his last days with Emily to his conversation just passed with Alexandria. His life had certainly taken an unexpected turn over the past year. He finally pushed off the railing and started across the yard to the bunkhouse. He had a long day ahead of him on the morrow. Teaching a woman how to use a lasso should prove interesting.

Jonathon watched Alexandria swing the lasso in a sloppy circle and shook his head. They were not off to a good start.

“Loosen up!” he called to her.

She shot him an impatient glance and started again.

“We’re having a single’s picnic at church; you should come,” Anna urged Jonathon. Anna and Lilly had taken up post at the fence to watch Alexandria’s progress, if one could call it that.

“Thank you for the invitation, Ms. Cannon, but I’m not interested in a singles picnic. I think I’m a little old for that,” Jonathon responded politely.

“Nonsense, many of the men who attend are widowers.”

“Again, I thank you, but I’m not interested.”

“What am I doing wrong?” Alexandria’s tone was decidedly whinny.

Jonathon smiled and walked out to where she stood.

“First, relax,” he gave her shoulder a quick rub. “The most important thing is to visualize yourself hitting your target and keep your wrist loose; it’s more in the wrist than the arm. Unless you’re ready to give up,” he offered and watched her chin come up. She would do it and he knew it. He walked back to the fence and watched as she started again with renewed interest.

“Do you think she can do it?” Anna asked him.

“I know she can, she just needed to decide she could,” he took Lilly when she reached for him.

Several minutes later, Jonathon applauded when Alexandria’s lasso landed more on the barrel than off it. She turned, bowed, and then resumed practicing. Anna claimed Lilly and returned to the house as lunch approached.

Jonathon found a task that he could work on while remaining close by in case he was needed.

Alexandria paused in what she was doing when she noticed a rider just topping the rise on the drive. She couldn’t distinguish who they were but knew she needed to change. Jonathon emerged from the barn and met her at the fence of the corral she was working in.

“I heard a rider approaching. We all over look your choice of clothing…”

“I know. I need to hurry,” she said grimly.

Jonathon scooped her up and deposited her on the other side of the fence.

“What…”

“You need to hurry, there’s no time to argue,” he cut her off.               Alexandria turned and marched into the house.

Anna came to the door of the kitchen when Alexandria shut the door with more force than necessary and started stomping up the stairs muttering something about ‘that man’. The rest was lost as Alexandria shut her door.

“What was that all about?” Millie asked; Anna shrugged.

***

Lane, hat in hand, knocked on the door. He had planned on calling on Alexandria sooner. He had no intention of waiting around until it was too late to make his suit. He knew that Alexandria had a while before she could marry if one held to society’s codes of conduct but he planned on using his friendship with her to get an advantage over other possible suitors. Millie pulled the door open.

“May I help you?”

“Yes, I was hoping that Mrs. Morris would be available to see me,” he explained.

“Come in and I’ll see if she’s available,” Millie instructed and led him into the parlor. Lane claimed a seat and fidgeted with his hat while he waited for Alexandria. She looked stark in her widow’s clothing and with her hair neatly braided and coiled at the nape of her neck when she entered a few moments later.

“Lane, I wasn’t expecting you,” she greeted him.

“I wanted to check on you. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, thank you for asking. How are you?”

“I’m well,” he answered and was at a sudden loss for words. “I thought of you often while I was away,” he blurted and watched her frown.

“Please, Lane, I appreciate your friendship and concern but don’t feel that you must worry over me. I’m faring well enough.”

“I couldn’t help myself. It distresses me to think of you struggling along on your own.”

“I’m not really. I have my family, my sister’s here with me, and I have a very capable foreman who looks out for the ranch.”

“What does he want from it?” Lane countered and watched Alexandria’s cheeks color.

“He was Elijah’s friend and made a promise. He’s upholding that promise,” she responded evenly.

“I hope that’s all he’s doing. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, as I’ve said, I’m actually faring well,” she answered coolly; she did not like his insinuation.

Lane searched for something to say. Alexandria sat across from him, her hands folded into her lap, and knees bent to one side. He could hear sounds of activity in the kitchen and could smell lunch on the stove. He had hoped she might extend an invitation to stay but none was forthcoming.

“I suppose I should go; I’m certain you have things to do,” he said as he stood.

Alexandria escorted him to the door and thanked him for coming. She then hurried to her room. She slipped off her black boots and dress and rolled her denims back down before pulling her shirt back on. She could only pray that Lane hadn’t been aware that she wasn’t properly dressed. After lunch, she returned to work outside.

Hoping for a better grip on her lasso, she had discarded her gloves; she was beginning to regret the decision. Her hands were raw.

“Hey how did your visit go?” Jonathon asked.

Alexandria snorted, “Don’t ask.”

“That well?”

“Lane questioned your intentions.”

“Many people would,” Jonathon said indifferently.

“He had no right,” she said as she grabbed the fence rail to climb over. She winced when the rough plank came into contact with her tender skin; Jonathon frowned.

“Let me see your hands,” he ordered. Alexandria’s chin came up. “Don’t start your chin raising with me, give me your hands,” he insisted and claimed them from her side. “Where were your gloves, Alexandria?”

“They were in the way.”

“I can’t leave you alone for two seconds can I?” he asked.

Alexandria turned on her heel and climbed back over the fence.

“Where are you going?” he was hot on her heels.

“I’m not a child and I don’t have to be treated like one,” she responded.

Jonathon grabbed her shoulder and stopped her. “At least let me get you some ointment first, okay?” he asked.

Alexandria, her green eyes snapping with indignation, was glowering at him. She nodded and he hurried to get his jar of ointment.

Alexandria moved back to the fence and sighed as she leaned on it. Jonathon’s comment had stung. It had been one of her mother’s favorite comments when she was a child and was into something she shouldn’t have been. It still had the same effect on her as it had then; it made her feel embarrassed and that made her angry.

“I’m sorry if I treated you like a child,” Jonathon apologized as he stopped beside her.

Alexandria tilted her chin to look up at him and Jonathon caught a trace of vulnerability in her eyes that he wasn’t used to seeing there. It made him feel worse. “Let me see your hands.”

He opened the jar of ointment and gently applied it to her hands.

“Thank you,” she said when he had finished.

“You’re welcome. Why don’t you knock off early today,” he suggested, “you look tired.”

“I didn’t rest well last night,” she admitted.

“That’s probably my fault. I shouldn’t have burdened you with all that right before bed.”

“I’m fine,” she argued with a small shake of her head.

“Why the bun?” Jonathon asked her.

Alexandria reached up, felt of the bun she still wore and smiled. “I forgot to take it down. I ended up yanking my dress over my rolled up pants and pulled on my everyday boots. I was hoping that it wasn’t obvious,” she said; then colored. “I shouldn’t have told you that,” she informed him with a sudden realization that it wasn’t a proper conversation to have with a man.               Jonathon was laughing. “You didn’t?”

“I did,” she laughed. “I think I should take a break this afternoon I am obviously more tired than I realized.”

“Go on. Go spend some time with your daughter.”

“Thank you, Jonathon,” she said and started for the house. She stopped and turned back to him, “Oh, why don’t you join us for dinner and you can fill me in on how the men are.”

“I’ll do that,” he agreed.

Alexandria nodded and continued into the house.

“Hi,” Alexandria greeted her sister.

Anna, her eyes snapping, turned to her. “You and Jonathon sure were cozy out there, holding hands…”

“He was doctoring my hands, not that it’s any of your business,” Alexandria retorted. Millie entered the room and the conversation stopped.

***

Alexandria entered the church almost cautiously; it was her first Sunday back since Elijah’s burial and she was dreading the well-meaning barrage of sympathy. Anna, however, was only too happy to arrive and inform her friends that she was now living on the very ranch where Jonathon worked. Alexandria smiled at her sister’s antics and the expected looks of envy her position gained. She and her sister weren’t that far apart in age and yet Alexandria couldn’t remember ever indulging in the games that Anna and her friends seemed to forever be engaged in. Just one more thing that made her stand out from other women, she supposed.

“Good morning, Sweetie,” Carolyn greeted her daughter with a smile.

“Hi, Mama; Anna is in her element,” Alexandria hugged her mother.

“I’m afraid to ask. Good morning, Mr. Stewart,” Carolyn’s gaze shifted to the man as he approached.

“Good morning, Ms. Cannon,” Jonathon returned her greeting.

“Thank you for driving the girls to church this morning, I don’t care for the idea of them traveling even that far alone,” Carolyn expressed her gratitude.

“My pleasure, Ma’am.”

“Pick me up,” Lilly demanded of Jonathon.

“Pick you up?” Jonathon, one brow raised and hands on hips, surveyed the child.

“Please?” she offered him her most pleading expression.

“That’s better; you’ll learn your manners yet,” Jonathon scooped the child into his arms.

“Good morning, Mrs. Morris, it’s good to see you back in church,” Tristan greeted her with a warm smile. “How have you been faring?”

Alexandria could only blink at him for a moment; since when did he attend church? “I’m managing; some days are harder than others. Thank you for asking.”

“I’ve been concerned for you, Mrs. Morris. You’ve had a lot to deal with.”

“Mr. Price, it’s good to see you here with us,” Clay came to stand beside his daughter and extended his hand.

“Mr. Cannon, a pleasure as always,” Tristan offered with a smile.

“I believe they are about to start, we should be seated. Alexandria, are you going to sit with us?” Clay turned to his daughter.

“Of course, Daddy; good day, Mr. Price,” Alexandria offered a nod and followed her daddy. Clay stopped beside the pew as Alexandria moved into the pew before stopping abruptly.

“Lilly! Jonathon had her,” Alexandria turned and relaxed when she spotted Jonathon behind her father.