A Headstrong Woman (33 page)

“You really should warn a person before doing that,” she informed him once her feet were again on solid ground.

“Takes the fun out of it; go eat and get some rest,” he pointed her toward the house.

“Come eat with us,” she invited.

“Not tonight; good night, Alexandria.”

“Good night,” she replied as she entered the house.

***

Alexandria stepped from the house and paused to inhale deeply of the fresh morning air. It had rained the night before and the air was clean and new. Despite the issues and challenges before her, Alexandria felt pretty good this morning, light even. It was welcome after the heaviness she had initially felt after Moody’s visit to the ranch and his ultimatum. Alexandria closed her eyes and let the morning’s calm infuse her.

“Good morning,” Jonathon’s greeting pulled her from her reverie.

“Good morning,” she smiled.

“You’re in a good mood,” he noted.

“I am,” she nodded.

“Good,” Jonathon was grinning.

“I slept well and I just…feel good,” she shrugged in explanation.

“I’m glad. You want to help me saddle the horses?” he invited.

“Sure,” she agreed and fell into step beside him. “How did you sleep?”

“Reasonably well,” he sounded vaguely amused with her.

“It’s all going to be okay, I’m not sure how, but I know it will be.”
              “I hope so, Alexandria,” Jonathon opened the barn door and allowed her to enter.

“Hello, Muffin,” Alexandria cooed and lifted a half grown kitten into her arms. “You are such sweetie; aren’t you?” Alexandria had the kitten flipped onto its back and was scratching it’s chin. She set the kitten back on its feet and looked up to find Jonathon grinning at her.

“What?” she demanded.

“Sometimes I can’t tell much difference between you and Lilly,” he teased as he yanked her hat down over her eyes.

“I hate it when you do that,” she growled.

Jonathon leaned down to peer under her hat, “Why do you think I do it?”

Alexandria’s gaze narrowed a moment before she plucked his hat off his head and spun away; she was headed for the door at a dead run.

“Alexandria!” Jonathon bellowed after her.

Alexandria was giggling as she made the door, only to slam into Chris.

“Stop her!” Jonathon ordered.

Alexandria squealed and darted around Chris before he could follow orders.

Alexandria rushed into the house and slammed the door behind her.

“Don’t let him in here!” Alexandria ordered her sister and housekeeper before locking herself into her office.

“What on earth?” Anna queried on the other side of the door.

“Open this door!” Jonathon pounded on the back door.

“Jonathon? What is going on?” Anna opened the door to allow him in. Jonathon stepped to the closed office door.

“Alexandria, open this door and give me my hat!” Jonathon ordered.

Alexandria laughed in response.

“I will get this door open,” he threatened.

Alexandria eased the window open and slipped onto the porch before tip toeing into the yard. Once there she made for the cook shack at a run.

“Can I hide in here?” she demanded of Cookie.

“Sure,” the man shrugged.

“Thanks,” Alexandria was huffing for her breath. “Need help peeling anything?” she offered.

“If you want,” the man shoved potatoes at her.

“Alexandria!” the call came from the yard.

“Shhh,” Alexandria held a finger to her mouth.

“He’s headin for the barn,” Cookie peered out the window.

Alexandria remained where she was for several minutes until Jonathon moved well beyond the ranch yard in his search for her and then returned to her office. She placed Jonathon’s hat and her own on the desk and waited for him to make his way back to the house. It was fun to claim the upper hand on Jonathon for a change.

She was coolly pursuing some papers when he stepped into the office; his face was stormy.

“Looking for something?” she asked sweetly as she placed her papers back on the desk.

Jonathon stalked around the desk and planted his hands on either arm of the chair.

“You don’t take as well as you give,” Alexandria accused with a wide grin. She waited for his reply; her smile faded when he continued to stare at her. A moment later he was kissing her, not the soft gentle kiss of a few nights earlier, a firm, demanding kiss that left her reeling when he pulled away.

“Leave my hat alone,” he ordered before turning and leaving the office.

Trying desperately to gather her thoughts, Alexandria stared after him. It certainly hadn’t taken him long to reclaim the upper hand, she mused. What had he been thinking, kissing her like that? Just what did he think he was doing? Alexandria was frowning now. Her temper flaring, she jumped from her chair and stalked after him. She caught up with Jonathon half way across the yard to the barn.

“Just what was that about?” she demanded.

Jonathon turned to her and stopped.

“You think you can just…”

“Kiss you?” Jonathon arched a brow.

“You have no right!” she challenged.

He looked taken back, but then nodded.

“You’re right. I don’t have that right; I’m sorry I took liberties that weren’t mine to take.”

His apology took the wind out of her sails; she stared at him in frustration. How could he scramble her insides like that and then walk away so casually? She found herself on the verge of tears and had no idea why. She turned and started back to the house; she needed somewhere private to sort through her crazy emotions.

“Alexandria,” Jonathon caught her arm. “I’m sorry, truly.”

“I know. I need to…excuse me,” Alexandria refused to look at him. She pulled free from him and hurried toward the house.

“Please don’t leave here mad at me, Alexandria,” Jonathon insisted on following her.

“I’m not mad,” she informed him and struggled to stay ahead of him.

“You’re upset; I can tell,” he countered.

She turned on him. “I don’t make a habit of going around kissing men, Jonathon.”

“I know that,” he winced at the sight of her tears.

“You do? Well, I wish you had remembered that earlier.” Alexandria turned again.

“Alexandria,” Jonathon reached the door just ahead of her and held it closed. “The last thing I intended to do was hurt you in any way.”

“I’m not sure what my problem is; just let me in, please?”

“Fine, we’ll discuss this in your office.”

“There’s nothing to discuss,” she argued.

“Then why are you crying?” he demanded.

“I’m not sure!” she snapped.

Jonathon sighed and leaned against the wall of the house; he left the door free for Alexandria to enter. She stood head down, and arms wrapped around herself instead.

“I was mad at you when you took off with my hat. It was a gift from my father and means a lot to me. By the time I caught up with you my anger had turned to frustration. I was simply planning on chewing you out when I leaned over you. But there you sat smiling up at me, your eyes shining and the next thing I know I’m kissing you. I’m not sure I ever made a conscious decision to do so. You looked so beautiful,” Jonathon shrugged, unable to express just what he had been thinking.

Alexandria’s gaze was wide with shock when she looked up at him.

“I keep telling you, you’re beautiful, Alexandria; I don’t know why you don’t believe that. You’re right though; I have no right to kiss you, so I’m sorry for taking what wasn’t mine.”

Jonathon pushed off the wall of the house and left Alexandria staring at the door. She moved slowly into her office and settled in her chair. He thought she was beautiful.

Jonathon was leading Raven and Lady from the barn a few days later when he looked up to find a rider approaching. He and Alexandria had finally managed to slip back into their comfortable routine after a couple of awkward days. He somehow had a feeling in his gut that this man was about to upset the delicate balance they had struck. The crazy thing was he had no logical reason for feeling so. He frowned when the man rode closer and he still couldn’t identify him. He waited impatiently and looked the man over as he neared. The man could be no more than five feet nine inches with a thick build. What hair he had left was brown and he had a rather homely look. When he dismounted, Jonathon noted that his eyes, behind his glasses, were brown as well.

“Can I help you, sir?”

“I’m here in response to the ad,” the man replied.

Jonathon looked the man over; he didn’t look as if he’d even been near a cow before.

“Do you have any experience?” Jonathon queried. He didn’t mind training a hand but this man looked more than a little green behind the ears.

“Experience?” the man squinted at him before shaking his head. “No, and frankly I didn’t think it would be required.”

“It isn’t required, just preferred. I can always show you how it’s done,” Jonathon responded.

“How it’s done? “ the man sputtered, his face was mottled red with embarrassment.

“Why don’t I show you around?” Jonathon offered; what was wrong with this man?

“I think it would be best to meet Mrs. Morris first,” the man countered, his brown eyes were large behind his glasses and his manner affronted.

“All the men go through me,” Jonathon said firmly.

“You her brother?”

“No, her foreman and friend.”

“With all due respect, I certainly don’t want to get started on the wrong foot here, but I’d like to meet Mrs. Morris first. I have my letter from my minister and letters of recommendation right here,” the man thrust several papers at him.

“A letter from your minister is hardly necessary; a former employer would be more useful.”

“Employer? The ad said a letter of recommendation from the family minister.”

“You’re confused sir, I helped write the ad it said letter of recommendation from former employer helpful but not necessary.”

“No, no, please can’t I just meet Mrs. Morris?” the man was seemingly at the end of his patience.

“Sir, do you want a job or not?” Jonathon demanded and watched the man frown.

A job?” the man’s brow furrowed before he smiled. “Whew, I must say, I am relieved; I was getting concerned. Name’s Victor Quentin and I am most certainly not here about a job, I’m here in response to this ad,” the man shoved a paper at him, one ad circled in ink. The man tapped the ad and Jonathon read it in disbelief before looking back at the man in front of him. The man pushed his spectacles back up his nose and watched Jonathon expectantly.

“I’m afraid that there’s been a mistake, you may go,” Jonathon informed the man.

“But the ad’s dated just a few days ago…”

“I said, you may go,” Jonathon repeated.

“Now look here, mister, I intend to meet Mrs. Morris. I think the misunderstanding is on your part,” the man was becoming red in the face, this time in anger.

“The misunderstanding is on Alexandria’s part but believe me it’ll be cleared up when I’m through; you can be on your way,” he told the man and turned to enter the house. “Rusty, see this man off the property,” Jonathon instructed.

“Will do,” Rusty said without question.

“Now look here I intend…whoa now, hey wait, okay, okay; I’ll go,” Jonathon could hear the man, though he never looked back. The last thing Jonathon heard before he entered the house was: “I didn’t even get my paper back.”

“Jonathon, are you okay?” Anna asked as Jonathon entered the house unannounced and looking as angry a bull at branding.

“Where’s your sister?”

“She’s getting ready why?” Anna asked with a frown.

“What’s your sister’s full name?” he demanded.

“Alexandria Camille Morris, why?”

That explained the name she had given the thug on the train he mused before remembering the incriminating piece of paper in his hand. “Did you know about this?” Jonathon handed Anna the ad and watched her face pale.

“Please, Jonathon…. don’t let her do this?” she pleaded.

“I don’t plan to,” he assured her.

“Jonathon… do you care for my sister?” she was watching him closely.

Jonathon glanced at her and hesitated. “Can we discuss this later?”

“A simple yes or no will do,” Anna’s eyes when they met his were firm; she expected an answer.

“Yes.”

“That explains it; I had noticed,” Anna paused, her expression pained but accepting. “Please stop her, Jonathon, however you have to. You’re the only one who can.”

Jonathon nodded at her and continued to the bottom of the stairs. “Alexandria Camille Morris, get down here!” he yelled.