A Headstrong Woman (41 page)

“Shall we discuss the latest fashions?” Colton joked.

Jonathon laughed and shook his head. “How about ranching and stubborn women instead.”

“Two subjects I know well,” Colton admitted.

“As do I,” Jonathon smiled. “The reason we descended on you unannounced was because my wife insisted on extending an invitation to dinner to your wife herself. I asked her to wait a few moments but…”

“I understand,” Colton empathized. “I understand that you and Alexandria haven’t been married long?”

“Not long at all, how long have you and Alana been married?”

“A few months.”

“I thought you had been married longer,” Jonathon admitted.

“Kelsey and Kelvin are my step-children but I love them like my own.”

“I feel the same about Lilly. Technically she isn’t even Alexandria’s but the two are so much alike that you would never know it, in personality anyway.”

“I know some things are built in at birth but I think they often pick up traits from those that are closet to them. Kelvin has picked up a lot from me and I’m proud of the boy. Ali and those kids had it rough for a while.”

“Makes you love them more doesn’t it?” Jonathon asked with understanding.

“It does, would you mind waiting while I check on the kids? They were fighting and we put them down for naps,” Colton explained.

“Go ahead,” Jonathon encouraged.

Alexandria watched as Alana expertly aimed and fired her gun before stepping aside for Alexandria to do the same. They were pretty well matched in their skill.

“You’re a good shot,” Alana complimented the younger woman as she looked up at her, Alexandria had the height advantage by about two or three inches.

“So are you,” Alexandria returned.

“Congratulations on your marriage,” Alana offered.

Alexandria offered a strained smile. “Thanks.”

“Did I say something wrong?” Alana’s gaze was fixed on Alexandria.

Alexandria held Alana’s searching gaze and felt an instant connection with the woman. She never made a conscious decision to share with Alana but found herself doing so.

“Our marriage was one of convenience,” Alexandria blurted. “I was about to be put out of my home. Jonathon and I are friends, the best of friends and care a great deal for each other but we aren’t in love.”

Alana started to correct Alexandria. She saw the same look in Jonathon’s gaze when he looked at Alexandria that she often saw in Colton’s. She knew love when she saw it; she also knew fear, it had been her close companion for a long time and she saw it in Alexandria’s eyes now.

“I’ll be praying for you both,” Alana promised. She felt a kinship with Alexandria and welcomed it; she also felt years older in life experience, though that she wasn’t ready to share.

“Thank you.”

“He seems very fond of you.”

“He is, as I said we’re very good friends and attracted to each other even but…” Alexandria’s eyes clouded, “Jonathon lost his first wife in child birth; he was crazy over her. I know firsthand what a hold a deceased wife has over a man,” Alexandria related.

“What do you mean, Alexandria?”

“My first husband was never able to move past the memory of his first wife…I understand, or try to. Love is powerful or so I’ve been told,” she shared with a forced shrug.

Alana studied Alexandria’s profile as she focused on loading her gun. Her new friend looked very vulnerable; Alana bit back a smile. She too had felt that same vulnerability before she realized her love for Colton. She kept this thought to herself.

Alexandria was puzzling over what to wear to her brother’s wedding when there was a knock on the door downstairs. Jonathon was in the house and she heard him answer it. When she recognized Tristan’s voice she moved downstairs; she knew that now, with her husband present, was the time to tell Tristan she was married. He had been out of town on Sunday when the public announcement had been made.

“So what I’ve been hearing is true then?” she heard Tristan inquire of Jonathon.

“What have you been hearing?” Jonathon returned as Alexandria stepped into parlor where the men stood. Their attention shifted to her.

“Hello, Tristan,” Alexandria greeted quietly.

“Did you marry a cowhand? I don’t understand, Alexandria…” Tristan seemed truly perplexed.

“You don’t have to understand; it was my decision to make,” Alexandria explained without apology.

“I see,” he said gravely as he twirled his hat in his hands. “I wish you both the best of luck. Good day,” he slipped around them and left the house.

“That went better than I expected,” Alexandria admitted.

“Thank you, Alexandria.”

“For what?”

“What you said about choosing, I know Tristan had more to offer and considering your motives for marriage I can see why others would be perplexed.”

“I’m not interested in money,” Alexandria reminded Jonathon.

“I know that,” he took her in his arms.

“Are you gonna kiss Mama again?” a little voice asked from the doorway. Jonathon laughed before kissing Alexandria with an exaggerated smack on the lips. Lilly joined them and lifted her arms. Jonathon kept one arm around Alexandria and claimed Lilly with other.

“Bear hug!” Jonathon called as he squeezed Lilly between him and Alexandria until Lilly let out a peel of laughter. Alexandria had to admit that at that moment, her heart felt pretty full.

***

Alexandria smiled as she watched her brother and his new bride receive their well-wishers after the wedding. Her brother looked as though he had just stolen the moon and stars and gotten away with it. She suspected that he felt he just had. Carolyn was glowing. Alexandria hugged her and welcomed her to the family.

“Thank you, congratulations on your own marriage; I’ve been so busy with my own wedding plans that I don’t think I’ve said that yet. He seems to really care for you,” Carolyn responded her voice low and for Alexandria’s ears only.

“He takes good care of me,” Alexandria smiled. “I wish you both a blessed union, Carolyn; I know my brother is head over heels in love with you,” she smiled before glancing back to where her husband was shaking Michael’s hand and smiling at the younger man. Michael blushed at something Jonathon said and a moment later, his retort had Jonathon laughing.

Carolyn watched them warily. “I’m not sure I want to know what they’re talking about,”

Alexandria laughed, “With Jonathon involved most likely not. Best wishes, Carolyn.”

Alexandria moved on and waited for Jonathon to catch up with her a few minutes later.

“What were you and Michael laughing about back there?”

“I offered to kidnap his bride and send her into town so he could follow,” he admitted.

“Jonathon!” she protested on a laugh. “What did he say?”

“That if I could pull it off he would be grateful,” he smiled.               Alexandria, her eyes twinkling, laughed.  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Jonathon’s smile widened. “You enlist Anna’s help and I’ll get Ted.”

“Give me about ten minutes.”

“You’ve got it,” he dropped a kiss on her nose. Alexandria first sought out her sister before readying Michael’s buggy. A few minutes later, Carolyn, her look one of concern, rounded the church.

“Anna said you needed help,” Carolyn frowned.

“I need you to step inside the buggy please,” Alexandria instructed.

“Why?” Carolyn asked as she complied.

Alexandria had known she would, it was in Carolyn’s nature. Alexandria closed the door and tapped the side of the carriage. Anna had talked Frank Wilson into giving the bride a ride into town and returning with the mount they would put Michael on in a matter of minutes. He smiled at Alexandria, tipped his hat, and started forward.

“Your groom will be right behind you,” Alexandria called.

She could hear Carolyn’s laughter as the buggy started from the churchyard. Five minutes later, Jonathon informed Michael that Carolyn needed him and led him to where Ted had a mount waiting, Alexandria and Anna stood to the side looking innocent.

“Where is she?” Michael looked perplexed.

“About five minutes ahead of you, if you hurry you can catch up,” Jonathon informed him. Michael’s face slowly broke into a smile.

“I knew I was going to like having you as a brother-in-law,” he joked as he mounted the horse. “Thanks, I’ll see you all later,” he called as he started after his bride.

“Where is your brother going?” Shirley asked her daughter and son-in-law.

“He’s pursuing his bride,” Alexandria smiled.

“You didn’t?” Shirley laughed. “Alexandria, I should have never told you that story.”

“It was his idea,” she defended herself.

Jonathon smiled. “I’m afraid I’m the guilty party, Shirley; though Alexandria, Anna, and Ted were accomplices.”

“Clay’s best friend arranged my bride napping and I thought she had stolen the idea from my stories,” Shirley told him.

“Nope,” Jonathon smiled. “I took a look at the crowd and took pity on them. If you hang around until you’ve spoken with everyone it would take forever.”

“I guess I’ll go spread the word that they’re gone,” Shirley said as she turned back toward the crowd. Alexandria and Jonathon followed her. Anna started to but was stopped by Ted.

“Why do you avoid me, Anna?” he asked pointedly.

Anna frowned at him.

“Do you dislike me?”

“No, in fact I find you very attractive and like what I know about you,” she answered honestly. She felt that if he was brave enough to ask that she owed him an honest answer.

“Then why do you avoid me?”

“Ted, you are a really nice guy and you deserve… I am capable of acting in a highly inappropriate way, just ask your brother,” she said and turned to leave, but not before Ted caught a glimpse of tears in her eyes. Ted frowned after her before going in search of his brother.

“What did you do to Anna?” he demanded after he had pulled Jonathon aside.

Jonathon frowned at Ted in complete confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“She says that she is capable of acting in what she calls ‘a highly inappropriate way’. What does she mean?” his eyes were snapping.
              Jonathon smiled and surveyed his brother with a raised brow.

“I don’t find this amusing. What happed between you two?”

“What’s going on?” Alexandria asked.

“This is private, Alexandria,” Ted never even glanced at her.

“Stay, I have nothing to hide from my wife,” Jonathon countered.

“What is this about?” Alexandria demanded.

“Why does your sister think my brother would know about her ability to act in an inappropriate way?” his tone was clipped.

“She had a crush on him.” Alexandria was the one to answer.

“I don’t think that explains it,” Ted countered. “Did you sweet talk and kiss her or talk her into something?”

Jonathon laughed at his brother’s question.

“Ted you have really got this all wrong,” Alexandria smiled at her brother-in-law.

“Do I?” he demanded. “Are you certain that he…?”

“Ted, listen to me, I think I know what Anna was referring to, however, even if I didn’t; I do know that it would have been awfully difficult for him to be seducing my sister when he spent all his time with me stealing late night kisses and giving me rides back to the ranch when my own horse was right there.”

“Wait a minute now,” Jonathon protested, “you make it sound like…”

“What was Anna referring to?” Ted asked more calmly.

“The night that Nick attacked me Anna was having a particularly hard time dealing with not knowing how Jonathon felt about her. He was sleeping in the parlor in case Nick tried coming back, or rather trying to, and Anna came in to confront him and ask how he felt about her. She also kissed him. No more, no less. He gently set her back and explained that he felt only friendship for her. She feels that she acted in an untoward manner and maybe she did, but she got the answer she needed. Ask her and she’ll tell you the same,” Alexandria took up for her husband.

“Why were you laughing at me?” Ted asked Jonathon.

“Because, she’s really gotten under your skin,” he grinned.

Ted scowled at his brother before turning and walking off.

“Now about these accusations,” Jonathon turned to his wife.

“What accusations? Everything I said was true.”

“I only stole a couple of kisses before we were married.”

“It was two separate occasions but more than one kiss each time,” she informed him as she turned and walked away. Jonathon followed her, not ready to let the matter drop. “Come to think of it you kissed me the day you proposed too,” she added thoughtfully.

“That doesn’t count, I had the right to then,” he informed her and admired her as she laughed; her cheeks were bright with color.