A Headstrong Woman (25 page)

“Your offer is kind, Mr. Price, however, I need to speak with my boss, if you’ll excuse us,” Jonathon took Alexandria by the arm and directed her toward town. He was shocked by how possessive he felt toward her, that couldn’t be good; couldn’t be good at all.

“Could you slow down please? I know I’m freakishly tall for a woman but even I can’t keep up this pace,” Alexandria commented after they were out of earshot of the others.

“Slow down, Jonathon,” Rusty added from behind them.

“Sorry,” he muttered almost under his breath. Rusty parted ways when they reached the street his hotel occupied and Alexandria and Jonathon continued in silence to the Morris’s where they let themselves in the back gate.

They were half way up the back walk when Alexandria decided she’d had enough of the silent treatment.

“It was stupid to follow you, I’ll admit it so would you please stop ignoring me and say something? Anything!” her tone was clipped.
              Jonathon stopped short and turned to face her. “That’s an understatement, Alexandria. Not only did you put yourself in danger, you exposed yourself to things a lady should never see!” he all but yelled at her.

“And you should? Why did you need to meet the man there….”

“He changed the meeting place on us at the last minute as you know. I was no more comfortable in there than you were. In the future when I ask you to trust my judgment…”

“In the future trust me to be grown up enough to hear the truth about why you don’t want me somewhere!” she yelled back at him. “Do you
think
I enjoyed today? That I
wanted
to see those things; that I like the questions it raised? That I like wandering if my own husband, my brother, my father have been places like that? Don’t think that I didn’t know that half the men in there were married. Some of them even were wearing wedding bands in a place like that.

“I
hate
men! I hate the way they treat women, that they can pay to step out on their wives and it’s called
business
,” she spat at him with her hands shaking and tears streaming down her face.

Jonathon was staring at her in amazement. “Alexandria, I’m sorry…” he reached out to take her arms to have his slapped away.

“Don’t!” Alexandria lost her hat as she jerked away from him.

“Alexandria, I’m sorry I was angry with you,” he succeeded in pulling her close. Alexandria stood in the circle of his arms and cried like her heart was breaking. “I’m so sorry,” Jonathon whispered over and over again as he stroked her back gently. He raised his hand to smooth loose hairs from her face; his heart was aching, there was a wealth of pain in the sobs racking the slender frame in his arms. He wanted to take her somewhere away from the pain and doubts that plagued her. The trouble was he couldn’t take her away from herself.

Janice stepped onto the porch and watched with concerned eyes.

“I’m fine,” Alexandria finally said and pulled away from Jonathon. She turned to toward the house and spotted her mother-in-law; her steps faltered before she slipped around her and hurried to her room. Alexandria hated feeling vulnerable and right now she felt as though all her hurts and fears had been laid bare for all to see. Had Elijah visited a place like that? Was that why he hadn’t come to her bed, because he had been in another bed, one that didn’t ask for his heart or a commitment? Would these questions ever stop plaguing her now that they had started?

***

Alexandria was thankful that her mother-in-law never asked for an explanation of what had been going on when she apologized for making a scene. The rest of the afternoon had been uneventful and the next day had been spent touring the Morris’s dry goods store and the town of Jasper. Sunday morning when they loaded into the Morris’ carriage and started for church, Alexandria was feeling much more like herself.

At the church, Alexandria was introduced to Elijah’s childhood neighbors and friends and felt herself growing uncomfortable again. These people had known her husband better than she had. She forced a smile and swallowed her discomfort. She was still talking to the last woman she had been introduced to when a grating voice reached her ears.

“Mrs. Morris, how wonderful to see you, pray tell who is this with you?” the voice, thick with a southern accent, inquired.

Alexandria turned to find herself looking at every stereotype she had ever heard about the south. The woman was petite standing no more than five feet three inches in height. Her hair was golden blonde, her eyes sky blue, and her figure full in all the right places.

“Ellie, this is Alexandria Morris, my daughter-in-law. Alexandria, Ellie Meade,” Janice introduced them.

“Charmed I’m sure,” Ellie smiled. “And who is this?” her eyes were locked on Jonathon with rapt attention.

“This is Jonathon Stewart, the foreman on Alexandria’s ranch. Jonathon, Ellie Meade,” Janice obliged her request for an introduction. Alexandria rolled her eyes and started into the church. She had no desire to watch yet another woman fawn over her foreman. He attracted women like honey drew flies.

Alexandria would have been hard pressed to tell anyone what the sermon was about; her own thoughts had been on preparing for the trip home. Alexandria was relieved when church dismissed and anxious to start packing. If she had known that Ellie was about to invite herself to dinner she might not have been in such a hurry.

“Oh, Mrs. Morris, won’t you come have dinner with me tomorrow evening?” Ellie asked Alexandria.

“I’m sorry, Ellie, Alexandria is leaving tomorrow, however, you’re welcome to join us for dinner now,” Janice invited.

“Well aren’t you a doll. I’d be just delighted to join you,” Ellie beamed.

Alexandria forced a smile and stepped into the buggy. Janice turned back to speak with the pastor and Jonathon politely handed Ellie into the buggy before seating himself beside Alexandria. Nathaniel sat on the driver’s seat with Henry, the Morris’ driver, to make room. Janice joined them and they started the short trip to the Morris’ home.

“You have your own ranch?” Ellie inquired of Alexandria as soon as they were moving.

“It was my late husband’s but I have been running it since his death, well, with a lot of help from Jonath… Mr. Stewart, anyway,” Alexandria answered.

“How fortunate that you have someone of his talents around,” Ellie smiled; it didn’t reach her eyes. Alexandria bristled at the implication the comment held but let it go. “You sure are a pretty thing,” Ellie smiled at Lilly.

Lilly frowned at her and gazed up at the hat that seemed fixed into Ellie’s curls. When Ellie tried patting Lilly on the head the child scampered into Jonathon’s lap and frowned at Ellie.

“I’m sorry, Lilly can be a little shy,” Alexandria apologized for her daughter. Lilly stuck her index finger in her mouth and laid her head on Jonathon’s shoulder.

“You are a little ham aren’t you?” Janice asked her granddaughter.

“She thinks she owns Jonathon,” Alexandria laughed.

“She does,” Jonathon smiled.

Ellie was surveying them sharply and Alexandria shuddered. The woman came across as almost predatory.

Alexandria was relieved to arrive at the Morris’s and escape the confines of the buggy. Desiree, a gorgeous young maid of the Morris’s, had dinner waiting and served them in a hostile manner; her eyes were shooting poison at Ellie, who spent the entire meal flirting with Jonathon. It was with dread that Alexandria moved toward the parlor after the meal was over. Saying he wasn’t feeling well, Nathaniel excused himself and Janice went to put Lilly down for a nap after telling the “younger people” to enjoy themselves.

“Alexandria, Janice speaks very highly of you and hinted that you actually work out on the ranch, is that true?” Ellie turned to her as they entered the room.

“I do work on the range some, it’s necessary,” she answered.

“How fortunate for you, most of us have to depend on catching a husband for support,” her eyes were nearly slits as she studied Alexandria. “My but you are tall aren’t you?” Ellie asked. “And rather sturdy as well.”

Alexandria flinched slightly at her words and Ellie smiled in satisfaction.

“It must help you in working on the ranch,” Ellie smiled sweetly as she seated herself on the settee.

Jonathon frowned; this catty woman seemed to have a sixth sense for Alexandria’s insecurities.

“Janice indicated that you are a widower, Mr. Stewart, what was your wife like?”

“My wife was kind and generous to everyone, one of many reasons I loved her,” Jonathon returned tersely.

“Well, of course,” Ellie smiled. “I bet she was small and petite; it made you feel manly didn’t it?” Ellie speculated aloud; she was watching Alexandria out of the corner of her eye.

“Why have you never married?” Jonathon questioned.

Ellie colored.

Jonathon avoided Alexandria’s astonished gaze.

“I haven’t met the right man, I guess,” her tone was cool.

“Good luck in finding him. Alexandria, we need to check on the cattle and meet with Rusty,” Jonathon stood.

He had surprised her nearly speechless. Not only was his behavior toward Ellie well outside his usual treatment of a woman, she had hardly expected to be invited back to the corrals after the previous trip.

“We probably should,” Alexandria stood quickly.

Janice was just returning to the room and frowned as she looked among them. The tension in the room was palpable.

“Would you mind terribly giving me a ride home to my aunt’s?” Ellie asked.

Jonathon’s jaw tightened. “Certainly,” his voice was too even. He asked Henry to prepare the smaller buggy and changed into his jeans and a work shirt. He pulled the buggy around front and Henry helped the ladies into the buggy. Ellie had seen to it that she was seated beside Jonathon and preceded to flirt for the five minutes it took to get her home. Jonathon had never been more relieved to be rid of someone in his life.

“That is the first time I have ever seen you be rude to a lady,” Alexandria commented after they were on their way again.

“That is the first time I recall being intentionally rude to a lady,” he admitted.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Why would anyone as pretty as she is act so ugly?” Alexandria was shaking her head in bafflement.

“She perceived you as competition, Alexandria. You’re a beautiful woman and she was threatened. She obviously feels better about herself if those around her feel worse; I’ve seen it many times. You didn’t catch on to that?”

“Jonathon, I’ve never been one to chase the men and I never bothered learning the games; besides, how was I threat to her?”

“She obviously picked up on the fact that we’re good friends.”

“Oh, I noticed she was interested in you. You know, Jonathon, you should start a mission for less fortunate men. You could send your cast offs their way,” she teased.

“If I thought it would work, I would,” he laughed.

Alexandria sighed beside him. “I’ll be glad to get home.”

“Listen, Alexandria, don’t let that catty…” he censored whatever he had been about to say. “Don’t let her words get to you. You may be taller than the average woman but I assure you sturdy does not apply. You have a very delicate build.”

“Delicate may be a stretch,” Alexandria argued. “I think she was referring to the fact that I am not as…curvy as she was.”

“Delicate isn’t a stretch,” Jonathon claimed her wrist from her lap and wrapped his hand around it. Alexandria was fascinated by the way his fingers overlapped each other.

“You look as though any amount of pressure should snap your bones like toothpicks. And I assure you I mean that in a complimentary,
feminine
way.”

“Regardless, I will be glad to be home,” Alexandria avoided responding to his compliment.

“Me too,” he let it go.

“Where is home to you, Jonathon?” Alexandria watched him closely as she waited for his answer.

“Montana. I’ll always consider South Dakota home but I’ve come to love Montana. If you fire me, I’ll have to start my own place.”

“I don’t plan on letting you go until some woman whisks you away,” she assured him.

“That won’t be any time soon,” he said dryly.

“I’m glad to hear that, I hear that good foremen are hard to come by,” Alexandria invoked a thoughtful tone while biting back a smile.

“And I thought we were friends,” his tone betrayed false hurt.

“We are,” she laughed and smiled up at him. “Truly, Jonathon, I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“You’d have made it somehow,” Jonathon glanced down at Alexandria.

“I don’t know about that, I’d be lost without you, Jonathon. Thank you for being so patient with me.”

“You’re easy to work with.” Jonathon shrugged his broad shoulders.

Alexandria snorted, “Now that is a bald faced lie! Just this past Friday I caused you all kinds of trouble.”

“You didn’t mean to,” his smile when he gazed down at her was warm.