A Headstrong Woman (43 page)

“I’m so sorry, I should have been there with you,” Jonathon said as he led her to the bed, sat down and pulled her into his lap.

Lilly giggled beside him. “Mommy doesn’t fit in your lap.”

“She doesn’t?” Jonathon asked with a smile. “I think she does,” he countered as he invited his stepdaughter to snuggle against him. She cuddled against his side and raised wide blue eyes to his.

“Daddy.”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“It was real scary,” Lilly admitted.

Jonathon’s heart turned over at her admission. All the horses and cattle in the world couldn’t match the value and importance of these two.

“But I’m glad the horsies are okay,” she added almost as an afterthought.

“Do you think my family’s okay?” Alexandria asked Jonathon.

“Ted’s on his way over there if he’s not there already,” he shared; Alexandria nodded against his neck. “Why don’t you two take a nap?”

“I need to clean up…”

“I’ll clean up the mess in here; you need to rest.”

“I’m fine,” Alexandria persisted.

“The doc’s not here to order you to bed so I am,” Jonathon informed her.

“I don’t think I want to be up here by myself.”

“Then you lay on the settee and I’ll pull two chairs together for Lilly and you two can rest in the parlor closer to where Millie will be working,” he suggested.

“Is Mommy sick?” Lilly asked her small brow scrunched up in concern.

“No, Lilly, we haven’t found out for sure from the doctor, but we think you may be getting a little brother or sister,” Jonathon shared. Lilly scrambled onto her knees and smiled at him.

“Really?”

“We think so.”

“I want a little brother,” she declared.

“Well, we don’t get to decide if you get a brother or sister but either way I know you’ll be a good big sister.”

“Oh I will, I’ll help and I won’t get into things,” she promised. “You know I’m real lucky.”

“How’s that?” Jonathon asked her with a smile.

“I got to have two mommies and two daddies and lots of grandma’s and grandpas and aunts and uncles and now I get to have a little brother or a sister. Do you think we can get whichever one we don’t get this time later?” she requested. Jonathon chuckled and could hear Alexandria doing the same.

“I think so, but time will tell,” Jonathon told her.

“What does that mean?” she asked, her little nose wrinkled.

“It means be patient my little pixie.”

“Oh,” Lilly said with a dejected sigh. Patience was not her strong point.

“You want to do your first big sister help?”

“Now?” Lilly asked with wide eyes.

“Now.”

“What do I need to do?”

“You need to go get a pillow and blanket from your bed, take them down stairs and wait for me. I need you to set a good example for your Mommy, she thinks she has to do everything at once but right now she needs extra rest for the baby.”

“I can do that,” Lilly nodded and scrambled off the bed.

“That was low,” Alexandria informed him as she looked up into his face.

“I’m just trying to take care of you, Alexandria. I’ve already failed you once today,” he said as he stood and placed her back on her feet.

“No, you didn’t, I was being…”

“Alexandria, you are far more important to me than horses and had something happened to me…the thought of you working yourself to the bone on this place again, especially now,” Jonathon stopped, his eyes suspiciously moist as he swallowed hard and tried to regain his composure. “I promise to be more careful in the future. Today I reacted from adrenaline; I didn’t even stop and think about it.”

“We’re all okay, that’s the important thing,” Alexandria reminded him.

“I’m glad we’re all okay, now go set an example for your daughter who is trying real hard to be big right now,” he encouraged her.

Alexandria smiled before turning to go.

Jonathon moved to the parlor and scooted two chairs together for Lilly while Alexandria got a pillow and blanket. A thunderstorm had moved in, though it contained none of the steam the other had possessed, both Lilly and Alexandria looked toward the window warily.

“It’ll be fine, I won’t be far away and I’ll be watching things; I promise,” Jonathon assured them before kissing each on the cheek and leaving the room. Alexandria lay down and pulled the blanket over her close. She had gotten a glimpse of what it would mean to lose Jonathon and it had scared her. Alexandria squeezed her eyes shut against the lightening outside and let her tears flow. She was so scared of loving him and losing him.

Anxious to check on his fiancée and future in-laws, Ted urged his horse forward. Unless the tornado had changed course it had missed their place directly but having grown up on the plains Ted had seen plenty of people killed and injured who weren’t in the tornado’s direct path. He spotted the house in the distance and noted no major damage. His heart momentarily slowed and then sped up. He could see movement in the yard as he closed the gap and saw with relief that Anna and her mother were on the porch sweeping debris into the yard. Anna spotted him, dropped her broom, and ran to meet him as he jumped from his horse.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered as she hugged him fiercely.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” he returned around a lump in his throat.

“Is everybody okay at the ranch?”

“One minor injury among the hands, otherwise everyone is fine,” he reassured her. Thunder sounded overhead and prompted them to move to the porch.

“Is everyone okay…?”

“They’re fine,” Ted cut Shirley off to set her mind at rest.

“Thank God!” Shirley breathed. “Michael and Carolyn left to check on her mother and father at the parsonage, did you pass them on the road?”

“No, they must already be there. I could see some minor damage to the church and parsonage, but nothing major,” he related.

“Come on in and rest, Ted, you look exhausted,” Anna invited. Ted smiled and prepared to follow her inside.

***

“Well young man you’re lucky it targeted your leg, if it had gotten you in the torso you would be dead right now.”

“God had to be looking out for me, Doc,” Sparky told the older man.

“You get some rest and let that leg heal, you hear me?”

“Will do, Doc.”

“Good.”

Jonathon escorted the man out of the bunk house and into the yard. “Dr. Carver, I know you’ll probably be very busy the next couple of days but when things slow down…”

“If I wait for things to slow down I might never get around to whatever favor you were about to request of me.” Dr. Carver cut Jonathon off.

“Alexandria may be expecting and we’d like to know for sure but it isn’t an emergency and I’m sure…”

“Where is she?” Dr. Carver again cut Jonathon off.

“Inside resting, the storm gave her quite a scare.”

“It gave a lot of people a scare and killed three that we’re aware of.”

“I didn’t know,” Jonathon said sadly. They entered the parlor to find Alexandria asleep and Jonathon gently shook her to wake her. She smiled at him before spotting Dr. Carver.

“Dr. Carver wants to go ahead and look at you while he’s here,” Jonathon informed her.

“Hello, Dr. Carver,” Alexandria greeted him.

“Hello, Alexandria; let’s go upstairs and see if you’re right, most women are, they know their bodies pretty well.” Dr. Carver waited for Alexandria to lead the way and allowed her a few minutes to change before joining her in the bedroom to examine her.

Alexandria watched Jonathon enter the room after the doctor had left. He lay down beside her where she had made herself comfortable on the bed.

“So what did he say?” he asked her.

“That we’re going to be parents in about seven to eight months give or take a few days or weeks,” she shared with a smile.

Jonathon kissed her and pulled her close. “Then I really need to find you some help around the house,” he commented.

Alexandria snuggled close and would have stayed there had they not heard a buggy rolling to a stop in the yard below. Alexandria sat up and Jonathon stood to offer her a hand off the bed. She accepted and after a quick check in the mirror to assure herself she was presentable, she followed her husband downstairs. She emerged to find Ali and Colton helping Kelsey and Kelvin from the buggy.

“We barely even sustained any damage at our place but thought you might could use some help,” Colton explained their presence there.

“I appreciate that, Colton; truth is I’ve barely had time to do more than make certain no one was seriously injured.

“I figured as much, come on, I’ll help as much as I can,” Colton offered before turning back to his wife. “Don’t overdo it and no heavy lifting.”

“Yes, sir,” Ali responded with amused patience.

“That goes for you too,” Jonathon added to Alexandria.

“Okay,” Alexandria assured him. Colton and Jonathon turned away and a moment later seemed to be patting each other on the back. Alexandria and Alana smiled at each other.

“I’m sure they’re real proud of themselves,” Alana commented with a shake of her head. Alexandria snorted in an attempt to hold back her laughter and failed. Jonathon and Colton glanced back at the women as they linked arms and ordered Kelsey and Kelvin to follow them inside.

“When are you due?” Alexandria asked her friend.

“Dr. Carver estimated about six or seven months at my visit yesterday. You?”

“Seven or eight,” Alexandria related.

“That’s wonderful! Our children will grow up together. When did you find out?”

“Dr. Carver confirmed it today.”

“You’ve had a big day.”
              “Bigger than you know. I hate storms,” Alexandria shuddered.

“Where’s Lilly?” Kelsey asked expectantly. She was older than Lilly but seemed to welcome the opportunity for a female playmate.

“She’s napping in the parlor but you have my permission to wake her,” Alexandria offered. Kelsey happily skipped down the hallway. Kelvin sighed and hesitated.

“Go on, playing with two girls isn’t going to kill you,” Ali instructed her son. Kelvin moved toward the parlor, his shoulders sagging. Alexandria chuckled. Her brother had often lamented at playing with his three sisters and had begged for a brother. The only other boys her mother had borne had not lived past a year in age.

“My brother was the same way, there were three of us girls; my older sister lives in California. I haven’t seen her or heard from her in a while.”

“I was an only child,” Ali shared.

“Things are pretty much seen to in here; would you care for some tea?”

“That sounds wonderful. Our hired help has finally arrived and Colton hired some men and I look forward to being able share cups of teas with my new friends instead of working constantly.”

“My housekeeper is leaving,” Alexandria shared as she prepared tea and set out a plate of cookies. “We’ll invite the children after they’ve had time to play,” Alexandria suggested.

“Good idea,” Ali agreed. “If you’re looking for help I could make some recommendations.”

“Really?” Alexandria asked with interest.

“Daniel Graves, the man Colton hired to be his foreman, his wife Kari, and their two children relocated here from Kentucky. Daniel’s brother, his wife and daughter hope to follow. Daniel and his brother and their spouses were slaves as children, if that bothers you…”

“Not at all, I would be thrilled to get their addresses from you, I know Jonathon could use help too and with Lilly and now another on the way…”

“You need the help; I know. I’ve often wondered how women less fortunate than us manage.”

“I’m sure we could if we had to,” Alexandria said confidently.

Alana smiled. “I like your spunk, Alexandria.”

“Thank you, Ali.”

“How are you and Jonathon?” Alana asked as Alexandria poured their cups of tea.

“We’re doing well; I was upset with him earlier but I got over it. Tell me, Ali…how did you know you were in love with Colton?” Alexandria asked pointedly.

Alana studied Alexandria. “You’re afraid.”

Alexandria blinked against tears. She knew Ali was only a few years older than her but her eyes belied her age. Alexandria now wondered if experience and wisdom were the reason behind this.

“Yes, truthfully I am; my first husband was interested only in my mothering and housekeeping abilities,” Alexandria answered honestly. “My marriage to him was miserable and,” Alexandria paused considering her next words, “I came to my marriage to Jonathon still innocent.”