A Headstrong Woman (28 page)

“Do you like it?” her mother asked.

“It’s beautiful!” Alexandria exclaimed.

“I’m glad you like it, it and two others are your birthday present.”

“Mom, I’m in mourning.”

“It’s time to come out of mourning, Alexandria,” her mother informed her.

Alexandria, ready to argue, frowned at her mother.

“No arguments, your mourning things are wrapped to go home as well as your other two dresses, now let’s go before we’re late for the festivities,” her mother stood and handed her the parasol.

Alexandria was too stunned to argue. She walked out of the store and blinked in the bright afternoon sunlight. She was greeted warmly by several acquaintances and felt herself relax. Maybe her mother was right.

***

Jonathon scanned the crowd for Alexandria. Where was the woman? Any woman as tall as she was, dressed in all black should be easy to find. His eyes passed over a tall beauty in green and he did a double take. It was Alexandria and she was headed straight for him. Breathtaking was the first word that came to mind and he was a little breathless. Gracious, what was the woman trying to do to him? He watched every male in the vicinity track her progress and yet he knew she was completely unaware of their admiring stares. Instead she was smiling brightly and was headed straight for him. He was thankful for the time it took her to reach him; it allowed him to recover enough to speak.

“What do you think?” Alexandria’s eyes were seeking his approval.               He took her hand, and kissed the bare skin between her sleeve and glove. He heard her small intake of breath and smiled.

“I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting,” he teased. “You look great,” his eyes locked with hers.

Alexandria, her thoughts trailing to their kiss the night before, swallowed hard.

“Oh, by the way, I put your basket in the box auction,” her mother announced and continued toward the gathering crowd.

“What?” Alexandria face went red with anger. “You had no right to do that!” Alexandria trailed her mother.

“I’ve already told you, it’s time to come out of mourning,” her mother threw over her shoulder.

Jonathon was smiling, he was glad he had brought his money after all. Alexandria stopped in her tracks so abruptly that Jonathon plowed into her and reached out to steady her.

“Sorry,” he apologized.

“I wish she would stop meddling,” Alexandria complained.

“She meddles because she cares,” Jonathon informed her.

“Because she wants more grandkids close by you mean,” she grumbled. Alexandria’s eyes widened when she realized what she’s said; her hand came to her mouth as her eyes lit with amusement. “That was a highly improper thing to say to you,” she giggled.

“We seem to have a penchant for improper conversations,” he smiled wickedly.

Alexandria colored; Jonathon’s smile widened.

“How rude of you to remind me,” she said primly as she snapped open her parasol and lay against her shoulder as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Alexandria heard him chuckle beside her as they resumed walking and the sound sent a tingle through her. She wasn’t certain what was happening and whether or not she liked it but she had the distinct impression that something had shifted between her and her foreman.

***

Anna stood on the platform and followed the bidding on her basket; she was wondering where Jonathon was. She had seen no sign of him since arriving in town. When she finally spotted him her cheeks heated with anger. He was with her sister! Where had Alexandria gotten the dress she was wearing and when had she changed? She watched as Jonathon leaned over to say something to Alexandria and felt envy shoot through her as Alexandria’s head tilted in laughter.

Anna had lost track of the bidding while observing Jonathon and had to be prodded toward the side of the raised platform. She found herself looking down into Frank Wilson’ smiling face; she inwardly cringed. Frank was nice enough but was a bit of a bore in her opinion. She forced a smile and accepted his hand. He led her away from the crowd and seated her on the blanket she had brought. He seemed content to sit and stare and with a resigned sigh, Anna took the initiative to start a conversation.

***

Alexandria pretended that she hadn’t heard her name when it was called but her mother appeared from nowhere and urged her forward. It was with trepidation that she mounted the platform steps and moved to the center of the stage. Lilly hid behind her skirts; Alexandria wished she could hide. The bidding started and Alexandria tried not to follow but couldn’t help herself. Tristan was the first to bid, followed by Lane and Mr. McAllister from the livery. Then Lyle Taylor, the town lawyer. Alexandria’s eyes widened as the bidding climbed. They were all after her ranch; they had to be. At least Mr. Moody was out of town on business, she mused with relief.

“One hundred dollars!” a bid from the back brought gasps from the audience and quickly gave way to surprised murmuring.

Alexandria felt herself blanch.

The men who had been bidding turned in surprise to look for the source of the bid. Alexandria didn’t have to; she knew the voice well. What was Jonathon doing?

The emcee took the stunned silence as his signal to close bidding. “Sold!” he called as he dropped his gavel.

“I want to up the bid,” Tristan called.

“I said sold, the time to up the bid was before bidding closed,” the emcee barked.

Alexandria moved to the side of the stage and accepted Jonathon’s help in descending the stairs.

“People are going to talk,” she said in a low voice.

“They already are,” he informed her and led her through the crowd.

“What do you mean they’re already talking?” she asked as they moved away from the crowd and past her sister and her companion.

“Haven’t you heard the rumors?”

“No,” she shook her head.

Of course she hadn’t, Jonathon thought, he and everyone else had been shielding her from it.

“They are. You really do look nice in that dress,” he changed the subject.

“Thank you. Jonathon, why did you bid on my basket?” she asked him as he spread out the quilt. The better question might have been why so much, she mused.

“Because I wanted to spend the day with you.”

“Jonathon, we spend every day together.”

“Working; this is playing,” he smiled and helped her ease to the ground. Alexandria opened the basket and started preparing plates. It didn’t matter why Jonathon had bid on her basket, he had paid good money and she would be good company. It wouldn’t be hard; she sincerely enjoyed Jonathon’s company anyway. She was glad he had won her basket, she decided and smiled at him as she handed him his plate.

“Thank you,” he smiled back.

She settled Lilly beside her and watched the child take her first bite of chicken. “Is it good?” she asked her daughter as she pushed a strand of hair off her forehead and watched her nod earnestly.

They sat quietly eating for several minutes before Jonathon spoke.

“Anna looks to be enjoying herself,” he commented.

Alexandria looked over her shoulder to where her sister was laughing at something Frank had said and frowned. She knew her sister well enough to know it was a forced laugh.

“I hope she is,” Alexandria commented. She had the feeling that while she’d had no part in Jonathon winning her basket that she would be the one to catch it from Anna later.

***

Anna forced another laugh at another lame joke and prayed for the plays the children were giving to begin. She owed Frank her first dance and then the night was hers. Anna had tried every ploy she knew to catch Jonathon’s attention since he had passed with her sister but other than a smile and polite nod; she had failed completely. Every other man there had cast interested glances at her but the one man whose attention she wanted. She had thought to make him jealous with her obvious ‘enjoyment’ of Frank’s attention but it wasn’t working. There was a lull in conversation with Frank and she knew she should say something to fill it but could think of nothing.

“Those two look good together,” Frank commented and nodded to where her sister and Jonathon were seated.

Anna frowned. “They’re just friends. She avoids men, he avoids women, and I suspect eating together was their way avoiding others,” Anna quickly explained. It was what she had been telling herself since they passed.

“He’s looks pretty interested to me,” Frank shrugged as though it didn’t matter.

“With Alexandria? No, they’re just friends,” she said a little too sharply.

“You like him,” Frank said with sudden understanding. “Of course, why shouldn’t you? Every other girl in these parts does. Why do you girls do that? Jonathon’s a great guy best as I can tell but what is it about him that makes you girls so all fired interested?” Frank demanded.

“I’m sorry, Frank; I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“I’m fine but I want you to answer my question,” he responded.

“Well to state the obvious, he’s a very good looking man. At first he seemed kind of mysterious and to a lot of the girls I think he still is, but I got to know him and he’s… just the kind of guy you want around,” she finished rather lamely; she was unable to express her thoughts.

“Thank you for answering, I hope that we can still enjoy the evening as friends?”
              “That would be nice,” she smiled and relaxed for the first time that day. The start of the skits was signaled and the scattered crowd reassembled at the stage to watch the children’s performance.

***

Alexandria laughed at the children’s antics and found that she was enjoying herself very much. One of her school chums wandered over and they greeted each other warmly.

“Rose, how are you?” Alexandria asked her friend.

“I’m great, this is little Abigail,” she indicated her baby.

“Oh, she’s beautiful, Rose,” Alexandria stroked the little one’s cheek.

“You can hold her,” Rose offered and gently transferred the baby into Alexandria’s arms. Alexandria, her heart aching, stared down at the little one. Holding the baby was a mistake; it only reminded her of what she was missing.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Rose said to Jonathon.

“Where are my manners?” Alexandria shook herself from her melancholy. “Rose, this is Jonathon Stewart. Jonathon, Rose Perry.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Perry,” Jonathon extended his hand. “You have a beautiful daughter.”

“Thank you, I think she is but I’m biased. You may hold her if you like, you look like you have some experience with children,” Rose offered.

“I’d like that very much,” he admitted.

Alexandria reluctantly handed the baby over. At first she thought Jonathon looked odd holding the tiny baby in his strong arms, but in further reflection decided he looked rather natural with her.

“Hi, cutie,” Jonathon said to the baby. She cooed and flailed her little fist in the air gleefully.

“She likes you, Mr. Stewart,” Rose told him with a wide smile.

“Of course she does, every female he encounters likes him,” Alexandria rolled her eyes. Lilly tugged at Jonathon’s arm and glared at the baby’s bottom.

“I think someone is jealous,” Jonathon acknowledged. “Thank you for your trust, Mrs. Perry,” he said as he handed her baby back to her and lifted Lilly into his arms.

Alexandria looked longingly at the small warm bundle but bit back her request to hold the infant; instead she forced her attention to Jonathon and Lilly beside her.

“Jonathon, you have spoiled her rotten,” Alexandria accused him.

“That’s because she stole my heart,” he smiled.

“The girls at church will be shattered,” Alexandria sighed dramatically.

“You think that would work, if I told them my heart had been stolen but didn’t tell them who?” Jonathon asked hopefully.

Rose smiled at the trio knowingly and moved on.

“No, they’ll have to see a wife on your arm before they’ll give up,” she predicted.

“But would it buy me some time?”

“I doubt it. Give it up, Jonathon, you have admirers, wanted or not.

“So do you.”

“Please, I’d rather not discuss it.”

“Hey where did your friend go?” he asked looking around for her.

“I don’t know,” Alexandria frowned as she scanned those around them.

“I have had a wonderful time today,” Alexandria told her parents as her father helped her lower herself to the ground and onto their blanket.

“The evening isn’t over yet; go dance,” her mother urged.

“I think I’ve pushed the bounds of polite society enough for one day,” she argued.