A Headstrong Woman (29 page)

“Nonsense, besides you owe him a dance,” her mother nodded to Jonathon as he approached.

Alexandria watched his long legs eat up the distance between them; her heart accelerated at the idea of dancing with him.

“May I have this dance?” Jonathon asked her.

“I can’t, Jonathon.”

“Can’t what?”

“Dance.”

“You can’t dance?” his brow rose inquisitively, while his tone became incredulous.

“Of course I can dance but…,” she replied in irritation at being misunderstood; then blew out an exasperated breath when he smiled.

“Great, so let’s dance,” he tugged her to her feet.

Alexandria was laughing; she knew he had claimed the upper hand.               “Mom, Dad, I’m going to dance,” her tone was one of amusement.

Jonathon led her onto the makeshift dance floor and pulled her close.

“I’ve enjoyed today.”

She smiled, “Me too. You dance quite nicely.”

“You don’t have to be so surprised,” he teased.

“You’re a surprising man, Jonathon. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“I figured you would, and honestly it was meant as one.”

“Alexandria, are you angry with me over last night?” his eyes searched hers.

“No. I was a little uncomfortable this morning but I decided not to let it affect our friendship,” she assured him.

“Thank you. Emily would have liked you,” he told her and watched her smile a small perplexed smile.

“How’s that?”

“Emily wanted to be a strong person but she wasn’t; she admired strong people, especially women.”

“She sounds like a fascinating person.”

“She was,” he admitted.

“Do you still miss her?”

“I do, don’t misunderstand me, but I’m moving on, it’s not as hard as it used to be when I think of her: just some fond memories and bittersweet nostalgia.”

“That’s good. Maybe one of the women at church will steal your heart yet,” she teased.

Jonathon smiled; he suspected that Alexandria might have already done so. “It’s doubtful but not impossible I suppose,” he answered as the song ended. “I guess I have to give you up now huh?” he asked her.

She smiled and nodded. Jonathon handed her off to Tristan who was waiting at their elbow.

“Good evening, Mr. Price.”

“Good evening, Mrs. Morris how are you?”

“I’m well, thank you, and you?”

“I would be better if I’d had the pleasure of sharing your meal with you. How selfish of your foreman to not share when he gets you all week,” Tristan said lightly.

Alexandria smiled. “Jonathon and I are good friends.”

“How good?” he asked; she frowned. “Never mind, I was hoping that after this song you might be persuaded to accompany me on a walk?”

“That’s kind of you but I’m enjoying dancing,” she responded politely. “I failed to thank you for your assistance in Jasper. It was appreciated.”

“I’d be glad to help any time I’m needed,” he assured her.

He had been shocked to see her in his establishment, but had managed to hide his ire that a lady like herself would go to such a place. When he won her hand in marriage he would see to it that she never set foot near a brothel again. It was a men’s establishment and irritated the ladies when their territory was invaded by the marrying kind. They spent the remainder of the dance silent; neither was certain what to say. She thanked him politely as he handed her off to the next partner.

“Hi, Sparky,” she smiled.

“Hi, Alex…Mrs. Morris.”

“Alex is fine. Are you having a nice time?”

“Yeah, realized from the first bid that I couldn’t afford your basket,” his cheeks were as red as his hair.

“Who did you eat with?”

“Nancy Holston.”

“She’s nice.”

“She is,” he agreed. They continued to talk comfortably, Sparky relaxing more and more as the dance continued until Alexandria turned to face her next partner.

She found herself face to face with a tense Lane.

“Hello, Lane.”

“Hello, Alexandria, what’s going on you with you and your foreman?”

“Nothing,” she answered, though her mind automatically flickered to the kiss she had shared with Jonathon.

“I’ve got a better question. What is he after?”

“Excuse me?” Alexandria’s tone was clipped.

“Why would a man hang around and do your bidding if he wasn’t after something?”

“Maybe because he promised Elijah he would look after me,” she was growing angry.

“Or maybe he thinks he can get himself a ranch through you,” Lane countered.

“He already owns a successful farm, besides; Jonathon isn’t that kind of person.”

“You don’t know him, Alexandria, not really.”

“Actually, I do know him pretty well, Lane. We work together daily, we’re friends, and I’ve watched him in his dealings with other people.”

“You see what he wants you to see,” Lane predicted.

“That could be applied to everyone, Lane; you included,” she pointed out and watched him color.

“People think…some people think that there are…inappropriate things going on between you two,” Lane all but whispered in her ear.
              Alexandria was saddened but not surprised by Lane’s news. “There will always be people who talk, Lane. I know the truth, he knows the truth, but most importantly God knows the truth.”

“That’s all you have to say about it?” Lane demanded.

“What else do you want me to say? Jonathon is my foreman that means we’ll continue to work together. But more than that Lane, Jonathon is my friend and I choose not to let vicious gossip change that!” Alexandria said without apology.

“You are ruining your reputation,” Lane informed her rather loudly before he turned and stormed off and left her alone in the middle of the dance floor. Alexandria was aware that several people had stopped to stare.

“There you are, Alexandria; your Mom asked me to fetch you,” Jonathon said as he appeared from nowhere and claimed her by her elbow to escort her from the floor. Alexandria knew that her mom hadn’t really asked for her and she could have hugged Jonathon right there for rescuing her from an embarrassing situation.

***

Anna scanned the crowded dance floor and looked for Jonathon. She had seen him dance with three women so far: her sister, her mother, and Millie. It was infuriating, especially in light of the fact that he had bid an outrageous amount on Alexandria’s basket. Anna had been hearing about it ever since she rejoined the crowd. Not to mention the scene Lane had made and then Jonathon swooping in to play hero to her sister again. Anna left the dance floor in disgust. She had been dancing all night and her feet were aching. She approached her parents’ blanket and blew out a frustrated sigh when she found Jonathon, with her sister of course.

“I’m exhausted,” she commented as she plopped down between Jonathon and Alexandria.

“It looks like you’re quite popular with the men,” Jonathon teased her.

Anna searched for an appropriate joke but failed to come up with one. She wanted to hurt him.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Shirley asked her youngest.

Anna shrugged, “I guess.”

“I am; I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun, well except for Lane and his implications.” Alexandria frowned as she recalled his accusations. She had long since abandoned her hat and jacket and was enjoying relaxing in her pleated shirt and skirt; a wide black belt accentuated her small waist and dipped over the front of her skirt.

“What exactly did Lane say, before the last I mean; that we all heard?” Jonathon’s brow was drawn.

“It doesn’t bear repeating; let’s just say that my dance turned into a lecture.”

“Be careful of him, Alexandria. He hides it well most the time, but he’s volatile. I don’t want you anywhere near him when he explodes and he will,” Jonathon cautioned her.

“A square dance!” Anna exclaimed as a familiar tune reached them. “I love square dances!” Anna’s tone held just the right amount of wistfulness.

“They’re my favorite, though I haven’t danced one in so long I doubt I remember how to,” Alexandria laughed.

“I bet you can remember,” Jonathon smiled and pulled her to her feet.

“Jonathon…” Alexandria hesitated; her eyes strayed to her sister. She wanted to go with him very badly but had no desire to intentionally hurt her sister. Before she could form a reason not to, Jonathon had pulled her onto the dance floor.

“I think Anna was hinting…” her comment was cut off as she swung away from Jonathon. “Anna wanted you to ask her to dance,” she finished when he pulled her back to him.

“I know,” he acknowledged. “I would rather make it clear that I’m not interested in her as more than a friend than to unintentionally lead her on and she would see a dance as confirmation that I like her,” Jonathon reasoned.

Alexandria nodded before swinging away again. “You’re right,” she admitted. They danced two dances before Alexandria said she needed to get Lilly home and into bed.

“I’ll escort you,” Jonathon offered.

Alexandria smiled. “Thanks, but Mom and Dad said they would be leaving about now and offered me an escort to the ranch. I’ll be fine,” she assured him as they rejoined her parents. “You just stay and enjoy yourself, oh, and stay out of trouble.”

“I’m not the one with knack for getting in trouble,” he teased her.               Clay laughed.

“Good night, Jonathon,” Alexandria said primly as she turned to leave; she was trying not to smile.

“Let me get that; I’ll escort you to your buggy,” he took her basket from her.

“Thank you,” she smiled and tried to ignore her sister’s angry glare. Alexandria moved forward ahead of Jonathon and he watched as every man in the vicinity turned to track her progress through the crowd. He shook his head; he knew she was completely oblivious to their stares.

“She is totally unaware,” Clay’s comment caused him to jump. Jonathon felt heat climb into his cheeks at the realization that her father had caught him staring.

“I know,” Jonathon agreed. “Sometimes I fear dangerously so,” he added with concern as he hurried to catch up with her before she moved off down the dark streets by herself.

They reached her buggy and Alexandria started to get into the buggy, stopped, frowned, tried again, and burst into laughter.

“What is so funny?” Jonathon asked her. Alexandria raised her leg as high as her skirt allowed, without pulling it up and exposing her leg at least and still couldn’t get her foot onto the buggy.

Jonathon laughed with her, “You’re stuck.”

Alexandria looked for a way to get into the wagon and let out a startled cry when Jonathon swept her up and deposited her onto the buggy seat.

“You sure I can’t see you safely home?” Jonathon offered again, his expression was slightly concerned. Alexandria smiled down at him. He seemed to think that if he let her out of his sight for even a moment she would end up in trouble.

“We’ll be fine. Go make a nuisance of yourself somewhere else,” she teased.

“A nuisance? Fine, go on then,” he laughed and stepped away from the buggy so she could leave. Her parents were waiting for her to follow them from town.

Alexandria waved and started out of town behind her parents.

“You had to open your mouth didn’t you?” Anna asked in a clipped tone as soon as they were on their way.

“Excuse me?” Alexandria was lost.

“
’They’re my favorite,’
” Anna mimicked. “He would have asked me to dance…”

“Don’t start on me!” Alexandria snapped back. “Jonathon is a grown man with a mind of his own.”

Anna turned on the seat and ignored her sister. Alexandria focused her attention on Lilly.

Her parents stopped at the end of the drive upon reaching it and waited until she had pulled alongside them.

“Want me to escort you to the house?” her father offered.

“Go on, we’re fine,” Alexandria waved to him and started down the drive.

They reached the end of the long drive where she parked the buggy, took Lilly into bed and stepped into her room to change. She stripped her beautiful new dress and carefully put it away. She removed her corset and rubbed at her sides where the corset had been pinching her all-night and stood dressed only in her shift for a moment as she considered what to wear to see to the horses. She finally pulled on a plain button down and simple skirt after deciding not to bother with the multiple layers of under clothes she usually wore. There would be no one around to see her anyway.

Alexandria opened the barn doors, pulled the buggy in and released the horses from their harnesses before closing the doors. She started grooming the horses, her mind on the evening she had just enjoyed. She was more than a little put out with her sister’s attitude. Spunky stepped back and snorted.