A Headstrong Woman (21 page)

Within his bending sickle’s compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.’ That’s my favorite,” Jonathon told her.

“Emily must have loved your ability to quote Shakespeare,” Alexandria commented with a smile.

“Actually, no. She was a wonderful woman but didn’t care for Shakespeare at all.”

“Oh,” Alexandria said in surprise.

“I never held it against her,” Jonathon smiled.

“Well, I wouldn’t let the ladies at church know that you can quote Shakespeare,” she teased.

Jonathon groaned. The ladies had church had redoubled their efforts to get his attention. “Please don’t let it slip that I can. I am so tired of being pursued…”

“Jonathon, most men would love to be in your position.”

“I’m not most men.”

“You still miss Emily?”

“I do. Not like I used to, but, at the moment I’m not looking for romance,” he grabbed a kitten from the pile and started petting it.

“Why not?”

“Why not? Excuse me, you’re the one who says she’s never marrying again, what gives you the right to ask that?” his tone was teasing.

“Curiosity.”

“You know what they say about curiosity…”

“Come on, Jonathon, you could have your pick of any girl at church. What’s holding you back?” she cut him off.

Jonathon sighed. “What’s holding you back?”

“I’m still in mourning,” she shrugged.

“Outwardly.”

“You know why I don’t intend to marry again. Why would I want to repeat that?”

“Who says you would?”

“Are you going to answer my question?” Alexandria’s tone was terse.

“I’ve met all of the women at church, if one of them was going to catch my attention; don’t you think that would have happened by now?” Jonathon asked, and then continued “When I meet someone who catches my attention, I’ll consider it.”

“That’s fair enough,” Alexandria conceded.

“What about you, Alexandria? Are you going to carry around your bitterness forever?”

“I’m not bitter!” she snapped.

“Aren’t you?” he asked gently.

Alexandria sighed. “Maybe with a little more time I’ll change my mind. Right now I don’t feel like I’ll ever want to marry again.”

“I need to get busy feeding these animals,” he said as he stood.

“Want some help?” she offered as she started to stand. Jonathon offered her a hand and pulled her to her feet.

“Sure, that would be nice,” Jonathon agreed. “Why don’t you pitch down some hay?”

“Okay,” she agreed and grabbed the nearby pitchfork.

Jonathon started feeding the horses below. He had just finished and was going to check Alexandria’s progress when he made the mistake of stopping beneath the hayloft. A large pile of hay landed on his head.

“Hey!” Jonathon protested.

Alexandria leaned over the side of the hayloft. “That’s what it is,” she responded with a cheeky smile.

“There’s more than enough here, come on down,” he suggested.
              Alexandria hurried down the ladder and turned to Jonathon, who stood, a hand behind his back, smiling.

“What are you doing?” she took a step backward. She wasn’t fast enough. Jonathon grabbed her and shoved a hand full of hay down the back of her dress as she let out an enraged squeal.

“Now we’re even,” he smiled.

Alexandria’s eyes narrowed. She grabbed a hand full of hay and Jonathon started dodging her. They were soon in an all-out war. Several minutes later, Jonathon pinned both hands behind her back to call a truce.

“Truce?” he offered. “Please accept, because I really do have work to do,” Jonathon was laughing.

“Truce,” she agreed.

Jonathon released her hands and wondered if she was aware that more of her hair was now down than up. Alexandria’s eyes were shining and her cheeks flushed. She looked so very alive and untroubled that Jonathon wanted to pause time right there. Alexandria had been through too much already.

“Have you had breakfast?” Alexandria queried after she had finished attempting to pluck hay from her dress and hair.

“Not yet.”

“So join us,” she offered.

“I’ll do that but I need to see to a couple of things here first.”

“Just let yourself in,” she told him as she started from the barn. “Hey Sparky,” she greeted the young cowhand as he passed her. Alexandria let herself into the house and greeted her sister, daughter, and Lilly.

“What happened to you? You’re a mess,” Anna responded.

“Do I look that bad?” Alexandria laughed. She had forgotten how good it felt to let loose and just be silly.

“You do.”

“I got in a hay fight. I haven’t been in a hay fight since we were kids; I’m going to go change.”

“It’s nice to see her so happy,” Millie commented as she stirred a pot of oatmeal.

“Who was she in a hay fight with?” Anna was frowning.

“What’s going on with you and Alex?” Sparky asked after Alexandria had left.

Jonathon frowned at the younger man. “What do you mean what’s going on?” Jonathon inquired as he cleaned up the mess that he and Alexandria had made.

“You two seem awfully close these days,” Sparky said nonchalantly.

“We’re friends.”

“You sure that’s all?”
              “Certain. Why haven’t you told her how you feel, Sparky? Everyone but her already knows it.”

“I like her, heck, I love her, but I’m not the man she needs and I know it,” Sparky admitted as he saddled his horse. “Alexandria…she’s kind of like a thoroughbred…”

“You’re comparing her to a horse?” Jonathon was amused.

“Hear me out. She’s beautiful, but high-spirited. She needs someone who can lovingly keep her in line; I’d be mush in her hands. As much as I admire her, come time for me to settle it will be with a nice quiet woman.”

“Are you calling her a challenge?” Jonathon was starting to laugh.

“No, not exactly. You can word it how you want, she’s special and unique but… high spirited.”

“I’m expected inside, I’ll see you later, oh; I have to run to town today. Would you kind of keep an eye on Alexandria, without her knowledge of course?”

“Of course,” Sparky smiled. “Hey, Jonathon, why don’t you call her Alex like all the other guys?”

“I’ve been calling her Alexandria since before she decided she was Alex, she’s Alexandria to me,” he shrugged.

“Just wondered; see you when you get back from town.”

“See you, Sparky.” Jonathon mounted the porch and entered the house. He stepped into the kitchen for Millie to survey him and laugh.

“Who won?” she inquired.

Anna turned to look him over; her face flushed with anger. Her back rigid, she quickly turned back to her cooking.

“We called a truce,” Jonathon answered.

“You’re a mess,” Alexandria smiled as she breezed through the door and pulled a piece of hay from his hair.

“Shoulda changed huh?” he smiled back.

“Nah, just go brush off good,” she suggested.

Anna plunked the biscuit pan onto the stovetop with more force than necessary, and viciously stabbed each biscuit to transfer them to a plate. Friendship was one thing, but flirting?

“What’s wrong with you?” Alexandria asked her sister.

“Nothing,” Anna bit out.

“Could have fooled me,” Alexandria frowned at her sister. “Does this have anything to do with the hay fight?”

“How perceptive,” Anna responded, then clammed up when Jonathon reentered the room. They were soon seated and plates were being passed around the table.

“Did someone attack the biscuits?” Jonathon inquired as he surveyed the damaged top of his biscuit. Alexandria watched her sister turn several shades of red as she busied herself with pouring a ridiculous amount of gravy over her own biscuit. Jonathon’s question went unanswered. After breakfast, Alexandria followed Jonathon outside.

“I need to go to town today; I meant to tell you yesterday. I have some personal business to see to.”

“Oh,” Alexandria looked taken back “okay, I have work here anyway,” she shrugged. She looked so lost that Jonathon almost invited her along, but he couldn’t.

Alexandria walked past him, into the barn, and saddled Spirit.
              Jonathon, anxious to have his trip over with, left for town. Jonathon combed town three times in search of a gift for Alexandria before settling on one. Once he had, he could only pray that Alexandria wouldn’t do bodily harm to him. It was with a smile and prayer that he left town.

***

Alexandria felt at loose ends all morning without Jonathon on the range with her and the men. Nick had been watching her intently and Alexandria finally decided to return to the house about lunchtime. Alexandria had just finished eating her lunch with Lilly and Millie; Anna had taken to her room with a headache, when a knock sounded at the door. She opened it to find a smiling Jonathon waiting.

“I want to blindfold you,” Jonathon announced without preamble.
              Alexandria, her look one of concern, stepped backward.

“Why?”

“I brought your birthday present home and I want to surprise you.”

“Why didn’t you just wrap it?” she was still watching him cautiously.

“Too bulky.”

“Okay, so just bring it in.”

“You don’t want this in the house,” Jonathon argued.

“Oh, fine, blindfold me,” she sighed as she turned her back to him.
              Jonathon blindfolded her and led her from the house.

“Where are we going?”

“Just a few steps.”

“Jonathon, I’m scared,” her tone was teasing.

“I’m the one who should be scared.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see. Stand here, okay, don’t move yet. Now, you can remove your blindfold,” he informed her.

Jonathon watched as Alexandria removed her blindfold, her eyes grew wide, and mouth fell open.

“Jonathon, I cannot accept…no, you’ll have to take it back,” Alexandria was shaking her head.

“Can’t. It’s non-returnable.”

“You’ll have to!”

“Can’t.”

“Jonathon!”

“What?”

“I can’t accept a gift like this from a man!” she protested.

“I thought it was clothes you weren’t supposed to accept from a male friend.”

“Jonathon…I cannot accept this.”

“She’s yours, Alexandria. I’m not returning her,” Jonathon informed her. The beautiful cinnamon colored mare stood in front of them. She had one white streak down her nose and over her right eye.

“What would people say? It’s too much, I can’t…”

“I got her at a steal. No one can do anything with her at the stables and she liked you. She’s as cautious of men as you are, you’re the perfect pair.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“Welcome,” Jonathon’s grin was wide.

“I really can’t…”

“What’s her name?”

“Jonathon…”

“That’s an odd name for a female horse,” he teased and watched her smile. “What’s her name?”

“Lady.”

“Perfect.”

“Jonathon, people will talk…”

“Tell them you bought her or that it was an investment in the ranch. You won’t hurt my feelings any,” he suggested. Alexandria was staring at the horse longingly but hadn’t touched her. “Ride her.”

“I really shouldn’t,” she said without conviction.

“Am I going to have to put you on her?” he threatened.

Alexandria frowned at him and swung into Lady’s saddle. Jonathon had thought of everything, the stirrups were even adjusted to the right height. She urged Lady forward into a trot, and then a gallop and rode her to the top of the hill and back. She stopped in front of Jonathon, dismounted, and smiled.

“She’s great, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Jonathon smiled back.

Alexandria’s next move shocked her as much as Jonathon. She flung her arms around him and hugged him. It took Jonathon a moment to recover before he hugged her back, his arms slowly and cautiously coming around her.

***

Alexandria and Jonathon spent the rest of the afternoon on the range. Alexandria rode around the herd a bit more than usual; Jonathon smiled as he watched her. The men had admired her new horse, only a couple of them asking questions as to where she’d come from. He couldn’t help but recall Sparky’s words about Alexandria as he watched her. There was something in the way that both Alexandria and Lady held their heads that spoke of spirit and life. It was impossible not to take note of it in Alexandria; it was why she turned heads everywhere she went. And like Lady, she wasn’t about to submit to just anyone. Some men would see that spirit, admire it, and would respect her for it. Others would look at her and see that spirit; only they would want to break it; to bring her into submission just as they would a high spirited horse. Jonathon frowned at the thought of what it would take to break Alexandria’s spirit and the thought of any man attempting to do so.